Guild Wars 2

Seems like both?

Giant hairball kitties

They are Charr. Some people think they look like cats, some dogs and some…cows. But they are Charr, a race of beings not found on Earth.

It’s a Charr.

That’s like asking if a Human is a Chimpanzee or a Gorilla.

Charr.

What are Sylvari? Radish, cabbage, lettace, maybe parsnip? Nope. Just Sylvari.

What are Norn? Swedish, Norwegian, Icelandic? Nope. Norn.

They’re Charr. Granted they are feline but it doesn’t make them a “cat”.

I have to say I’m hearing the dog part for the first time. Cat/Bull being the artistic inspiration was my impression.
Which part invokes the idea of a dog to some? Just curious, not judging.

Rouven.7409:

I have to say I’m hearing the dog part for the first time. Cat/Bull being the artistic inspiration was my impression.
Which part invokes the idea of a dog to some? Just curious, not judging.

I was wondering the same thing. The only thing I could come up with is that their warband mentality is a lot more like a canine pack than felines. Granted you have lions and their prides – but overall felines are pretty solitary creatures. Canines are extremely pack oriented across the board.

Pack mentality, barking orders … ok, I get that, thanks

It’s a cat, human, bear, cow, crocodile?

As others have said, they are charr.

But fun fact outside of lore: The idea of their artistic design in GW1 was that of a look of ‘demonic cat’.

They are cats, actually.
It is confirmed in an interview that charr were designed based on the human fear of being devoured by big cats (lions, ect). However, big cats alone weren’t scary enough, so they gave them demon features and an affinity for fire—hell cats.

they look like werewolves to me though, wolves are cousins of dogs right?

Zackie.8923:

Seems like both?

Right! They’re both, see, cuz their bark is as bad as their bite! Nyuk nyuk nyuk

They are confirmed by devs to be “feline” and they are based on the idea of a demon cat. However, that does not make them cats in lore. It means they are inspired by the idea of cats and we have RL animals that are also feline that have no relation to cats.

Enter, the fossa:

To address the OP and clarify, they are feline as opposed to canine. but to call a charr a cat is to call a norn a human. The concept of a giant is the idea of a large human-like creature. But they aren’t human except in appearance and basic mannerisms. Likewise, charr aren’t cats except in appearance and basic mannerisms. e.g: Ree deliberately had the charr refer to Cobiah as a ‘mouse’ when he first encountered them in Sea of Sorrows. So the connection is definitly deliberate.

I agree with the people saying they’re felids. They’re definitely felids.

Dustfinger.9510:

(…)

Enter, the fossa:

This is a rare footage of King Oswald Thorn at a meeting during his reign. Please excuse the poor quality, the cameraman feared for his life.

Lol. King Julian is hilarious. “I will disreguard your hainius comment because you did not raise your hand.”

You never said anything about raising hands, King Julian!

What do you call a male charr?

Bullkitten.

Garambola.2461:

They are Charr. Some people think they look like cats, some dogs and some…cows. But they are Charr, a race of beings not found on Earth.

……I have never heard any say a charr looks like a cow o_o

Celestina.2894:

Garambola.2461:

They are Charr. Some people think they look like cats, some dogs and some…cows. But they are Charr, a race of beings not found on Earth.

……I have never heard any say a charr looks like a cow o_o

The number of WoW-immigrants that equate them to Tauren. …bluuuugh. It makes me want to throw haymakers. :\

Rauderi.8706:

The number of WoW-immigrants that equate them to Tauren. …bluuuugh. It makes me want to throw haymakers. :\

Do not mock them but welcome our brothers, for they have seen the light!

Now bring me – a shrubbery!

Rauderi.8706:

Celestina.2894:

Garambola.2461:

They are Charr. Some people think they look like cats, some dogs and some…cows. But they are Charr, a race of beings not found on Earth.

……I have never heard any say a charr looks like a cow o_o

The number of WoW-immigrants that equate them to Tauren. …bluuuugh. It makes me want to throw haymakers. :\

Yeah… I’ve heard some which call Charr cow-things. But that can be equated to WoW players coming into the game who didn’t do much in the first. Or simply saw them from the first as tauren like people.

To be fair, between the horns and one of the male faces, they can be made to look rather bullish.

To answer your question, Charr are a four horned four eared version of this:

It’s little confusions like this that make me wish MMOs, not just GW2, had brief culture guides to their more unique races. I’m a stickler for getting a naming scheme right, and going into a new game makes that impossible, unless you have a way to scout the field first.

For FF14, it was … kitten near every race. Lalafell, Roegadyn, Miqo’te… All with unique and interesting patterns.

For GW2, Charr carry the most weight. Their names actually tell a bit of a story, but I had no idea what they were about at the start.

Rauderi.8706:

It’s little confusions like this that make me wish MMOs, not just GW2, had brief culture guides to their more unique races. I’m a stickler for getting a naming scheme right, and going into a new game makes that impossible, unless you have a way to scout the field first.

For FF14, it was … kitten near every race. Lalafell, Roegadyn, Miqo’te… All with unique and interesting patterns.

For GW2, Charr carry the most weight. Their names actually tell a bit of a story, but I had no idea what they were about at the start.

http://wiki.guildwars2.com/wiki/Charr

Dustfinger.9510:

http://wiki.guildwars2.com/wiki/Charr

Well, yes, that’s there. But I didn’t know that when I started. =P

Thanks for posting the link.

Rauderi.8706:

Dustfinger.9510:

http://wiki.guildwars2.com/wiki/Charr

Well, yes, that’s there. But I didn’t know that when I started. =P

Thanks for posting the link.

Np

Most games don’t do it so not many people would look for something like this, expecting to find it on the site.

Argon.1563:

Charr.

What are Sylvari? Radish, cabbage, lettace, maybe parsnip? Nope. Just Sylvari.

What are Norn? Swedish, Norwegian, Icelandic? Nope. Norn.

Charr =Charr

Sylvari=lettuce

Norn=Drunk

My charr is a cat, but i think that other one next to me is a dog.

MadDemon.7548:

To answer your question, Charr are a four horned four eared version of this:

and since the beast is amazing and one of my favourite childhood “heros” its alright to me

Charr are just straight copies of Kzinti with horns. So decidedly feline.

I dislike these kind of questions.

A Charr is a Charr. A Norn is a Norn. An Asura is An Asura. An Argonian is an Argonian. An Iksar is an Iksar. A Turian is a Turian. I could go across many games. Obviously developers take an animal or mix of animals as a starting point then create something entirely different from them.

Or is there a thread asking what kind of animal an Asura is? That wouldn’t surprise me lol…

zulixia.6871:

Or is there a thread asking what kind of animal an Asura is? That wouldn’t surprise me lol…

Half bunny, half nightmare.

It’s a cow-cat.

As others have said the charr were originally feline inspired but the more recent faces added to the makeover kit are decidedly canine. At least so far the doggy faces don’t look to out of place though imo.

Catcow.

Message Body length must at least be 15.

they are Cats .

In the book Sea of Sorrows , when Cobiah the protagonist aboard the Iron Legion ship , the narrator says that the entire boat smells like "wet cat" lol

Well there is that dialog in ashford about “kitten’s got a sword too”, but that could just be Anet censoring what is actually being said between those NPCs

Argon.1563:

Charr.

What are Sylvari? Radish, cabbage, lettace, maybe parsnip? Nope. Just Sylvari.

What are Norn? Swedish, Norwegian, Icelandic? Nope. Norn.

But.. but… you’re right though.
Charr are big tigerish-cats basically.
Norns are Scandinaviens Vikings.
Sylvari are trees, flowers, salad..
Asura are somewhat of Aliens.
And Human are just…. human.

Charr are Charr.
But they feline-like features, imo.

dragon… cat. cow? catcow? too much uncool.
aha, a demon! or devil, devil himself, yes. catcow… cat…
cat = panther, tiger, etc. mighty hunter.
the ugly charr are cows, the cool ones cats, the super cools are dragons for real.
charr are a race of miniature dragons whose wings have been banished
no…
demon
dragon
demon
dragon
demon
dragon
8 <—

my flow of thought. demondragon. anybody agree? as ugly as demon, as awesome as dragon.