I really think they should get rid of the racial stats. At best it has no impact, but it can be deceptive for new players creating a character and thinking there is some mechanical/power aspect to their choice of race. If this is influencing anybody's character creation even a little bit, that's not a good thing. It should go.
I'm ambivalent about adding "fluff" non-mechanical racial traits for flavour/fun. I like the idea of it in a vacuum. The ideas I've seen in the thread so far seem fine enough. But like I pointed out previously, it could lead new players to believe it's going to be a bigger deal than it is and skew their race choice based on that. For example, faster swim speed SOUNDS useful on paper -- until you find out the hard way that there is barely anywhere you can swim at all until you get to Stormblood -- and then it's, like, ONE map. And you're just going to use your mount to get around anyway.
It could also piss off existing players who feel like their race was given a lame ability while another race got something apparently better or more useful. I doubt it would make someone change their race over it, but it would be something to resent.
I really like this idea. I remember in WoW, classes all had their own neat little gimmicks. Warlocks could cast an underwater breathing spell and summon allies to their location. Mages could create portals to major cities and conjure food/water. Druids could shift into a "travel" form rather than have to purchase a mount. Rogues could pickpocket some NPCs and lockpick chests. Rangers could track beasts on their mini-map. I would love if we could get this type of thing in FFXIV to contribute to the "job fantasy." Although, FFXIV has a LOT of jobs, and continually adds more. It could be a big task to come up with interesting concepts for every single one. They don't even give us Job Quests anymore.



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, is the route to go. If you want the roleplay of a job, you get to roleplay it by... being that job! Wowza!! lol. What's the punishment for choosing the wrong job at the start of the game or something? Not much, level another job.. Visually the game expresses things fantastically, but usually mechanically I hardly feel a thematic difference. PvP has some nice job expression though. 

