Phil Xavier

I like humans in fantasy games. I know I’m the exception here: people are all about elves and dwarves, orcs and minotaurs, vampires and werewolves, demons and angels. And I like those too! But for some reason, I always tend to gravitate towards good old, boring, predictable, vanilla, run-of-the-mill humans. Their stories speak more to me.

When it comes to other races, the truth is that, although there are exceptions, they can often be very stereotypical. Elves are long-lived, pretty, magically-inclined, nature-loving, and a bit arrogant. Orcs are brash, hot-headed, and warlike. Dwarves dig and drink. Humans, on the other hand, are more of a blank slate — and for that reason, they don’t have a predetermined set of stories already written for them. I just find that the intricacies of political drama on human kingdoms and the pains and woes of human drama are not only easier to relate to, but they usually scrape a little deeper as well.

And with my defense of what is often called “the most boring race someone could choose to play as in a fantasy game” — I disagree — it’s time to Queue.

“Why won’t she stop dancing?” wonders A. F. Kay amidst her studies, before taking a bite of her sandwich and a sip of her coffee. A study-appropriate version of Daughter of the Sea begins to play on her [Gnomish Ear-Covering Ensmallened Soundblasters 7000-X]. “Why?”

Pirates are cool and all, but ninjas are where it’s at.