Guild Wars 2

In this game, all the races of Tyria seem to be segregated to their own people. I’m not talking about just the racial starting towns, but rather the whole open world (PvE and personal story). With love having no boundaries, there should be more biracial people out and about. What that said, would you be open to having NPCs of a mixed background?

I’d like to start a discussion on this idea, and hopefully not get into a debate on how it may or may not work. In game, we already have close biracial relationships. Braham and Taimi or Braham and Rox for example. If we took this further to the next logical step, it could open the doors for Anet story writers to introduce new types of NPCs and drama opportunities.

One day, we could be walking in Lion’s Arch, and meet a Charrsura. Or an adorable Norggan. Maybe a Skrylvari? So many races, so many pairings!

Some seem like species, rather than races, so some of your suggestions don’t seem possible.

I think it’s fine, as is.

Inculpatus cedo.9234:

Some seem like species, rather than races, so some of your suggestions don’t seem possible.

I think it’s fine, as is.

This…

It is because we are talking about species, not races (probably D&D’s fault for starting this by calling them “races” and creating half-elves for those who wanted to have the best of both worlds)

Anet has said that while interspecies relationships happen and even interspecies intercourse happens, interspecies offspring is not a thing.

Gorani.7205:

This…

It is because we are talking about species, not races (probably D&D’s fault for starting this by calling them “races” and creating half-elves for those who wanted to have the best of both worlds)

And how else would you get a half elf? By have a human and an elf have offspring. Half elves are biracial. So take the same concept with a charr and asura, and you get a half charr or half asura. I just combine them to Charrsura for cuteness.

Jeff Grubb in 2012 said that Inter-species hybridization is not plausible, there are no half-norn, half-charr, half-sylvari and so on.

because of that, I’m going to go with no to odd hybrids of races. however, I would like to see (more?) biracial couples

They also said that Heart of Thorns would bring a whole new set of Legendary weapons, and we all know how that turned out. So if they can change their mind on one thing, perhaps they can change their mind on biracial NPCs?

In the real world, there are no pure races anymore, since people intermingle with different partners have made the world a much better place.

Can we not? It would seem forced and unnecessary. You don’t see a mix of goldfish and humans walking around in the real world.

Char and Asura…. I have a dirty mind

Amaris.9135:

Can we not? It would seem forced and unnecessary.

Why would it seem forced? It would be a natural movement of life.

Smooth Penguin.5294:

Amaris.9135:

Can we not? It would seem forced and unnecessary.

Why would it seem forced? It would be a natural movement of life.

Species hybridation isn’t natural and isn’t lore friendly btw

Just why ?????? Not needed or correct , would be nothing but a pile of pc claptrap shoved into a game

nah i wouldn’t

honestly this just seems like a bait thread to get people to say “i don’t like race mixing” or something like that

Its not impossible to conceive romance between two, but it is impossible for them to have children, basic genetics 101 won’t allow it.

As for society, every race has a personal way of dealing with daily life, and for the big part these aren’t very compatible. As a result, you wouldn’t see a human live in Rata Sum if not for the expressed need for that society. As evident in Scarlet’s past, where she attended the Soren Dra communities to get them engineer knowledge.

There is a place called Lion’s Arch where people with one common interest of all races common together, that common interest is Economy, Trade, Swindling and Politics. Thats one thing all races like to have a hand in

Smooth Penguin.5294:

So take the same concept with a charr and asura, and you get a half charr or half asura. I just combine them to Charrsura for cuteness.

you… you can’t. no. they will not do that
No

WTF. No, lol.

InterSPECIES offspring is not a thing, especially when they are wildly different. You can’t mate a cat with a cabbage and expect them to have a cat-cabbage baby.

I’ve seen a lot of horrific ideas on the forums lately but this is definitely at the top of the list.

To be honest I was always wondering whether the humans and the norn were biologically/genetically compatible. Their physiology seems really similar, there’s just difference in size. And even though you can’t see it in game (because I guess engine doesn’t support it or maybe noone at Anet even though about it), it is perfectly possible via random mutations to end up with an individual whose size would be completely off the charts (like 2.5m tall guy IRL). So you could have a human of the size of an average norn and vice-versa.
As for any of the other races of Tyria, I highly doubt they could ever produce living offspring, just like you can’t cross a dog with a cat.

Actually thinking about it, Tyrian genetics doesn’t have to obey our world’s rules. I mean in a world where you can get attacked by a sentient floating pile of rocks, I can easily see myself meeting a Charrsura or any other horrific freak of that sort.

Never mind all the magic: when asura are involved, all things are possible. If not necessarily practical… or prudent.

Remember, folks, GW2 is not only a fantasy game featuring wonderfully wondrous wonders of magic and (asura) science, but also a game infused with a generous dose of outright silliness (see: people wearing cow costumes in order to teach real cows how to fend off predators over in Ascalon).

Cross-species hybridization is, therefore, by definition, foolproof.

Isn’t Queen Jenna technically biracial?

Edit: Oh, you’re talking about that kind of biracial.

I had asked that this discussion not descend into a “can or cannot”, but I guess I need to address the 500 lb. elephant in the room.

Sylvari are a newer race to this world. Having just been born through magic, their bodies are still adjusting to their preferred humanoid forms. With time, their bodies will be able to reproduce. This is the natural process of evolution.

Speaking on genetics, all life started out as a single cell in an ooze on the surface of the newly formed Earth. We evolved into our current form, but evolution doesn’t stop there. Basic Genetics 101 – changes are not an “if”, but a “when”. So if a quaggan wants to mate with a human, so help me Dwayna, nature will find a way.

Well, Smooth Penguin threads are usually entertainingly ludicrous to read. This one has been no exception so far.

Smooth Penguin.5294:

I had asked that this discussion not descend into a “can or cannot”, but I guess I need to address the 500 lb. elephant in the room.

Sylvari are a newer race to this world. Having just been born through magic, their bodies are still adjusting to their preferred humanoid forms. With time, their bodies will be able to reproduce. This is the natural process of evolution.

Speaking on genetics, all life started out as a single cell in an ooze on the surface of the newly formed Earth. We evolved into our current form, but evolution doesn’t stop there. Basic Genetics 101 – changes are not an “if”, but a “when”. So if a quaggan wants to mate with a human, so help me Dwayna, nature will find a way.

Basic Genetics 101. No, nature will NOT find a way. Evolution is NOT about wants. It’s about change in response to the surrounding environment, but there has to be a “path” possible towards this change. If two species are genetically incompatible then there is no pathway and there will be no pathway because evolution drives species apart not together,.

Vacheron.9870:

Char and Asura…. I have a dirty mind

That’s how hobbits came into being…remember the hairy feet, had to come from somewhere…

Just a flesh wound.3589:

Evolution is NOT about wants. It’s about change in response to the surrounding environment, but there has to be a “path” possible towards this change.

So you’re saying that a charr mating with an asura is due to a change in the environment? Well wouldn’t you know it, Primodus is awakening. When his rein of terror blankets the land in death, nature will call forth a new type of hero. One born of the fires of war (charr) with the intellect to succeed (asura). And there you have it: Charrsura.

Basic Fantasy 101: When a foe is too powerful, you power up. Think of it like Goku’s fusion technique.

Smooth Penguin.5294:

Just a flesh wound.3589:

Evolution is NOT about wants. It’s about change in response to the surrounding environment, but there has to be a “path” possible towards this change.

So you’re saying that a charr mating with an asura is due to a change in the environment? Well wouldn’t you know it, Primodus is awakening. When his rein of terror blankets the land in death, nature will call forth a new type of hero. One born of the fires of war (charr) with the intellect to succeed (asura). And there you have it: Charrsura.

Basic Fantasy 101: When a foe is too powerful, you power up. Think of it like Goku’s fusion technique.

You’re profoundly wrong in your statements about genetics and what’s possible. No, a Charr mating with an Asura is not due to a change in an environment. That again is showing either a basic misunderstanding of genetics or a misrepresentation of genetics and evolution.

Talk about fantasy all you want. Have an Asura invent a magical device if you want but don’t misrepresent science to fit your argument. Don’t say Basic Genetics 101 then say something that’s the opposite of basic genetics. You’re talking nonscience with your genetics argument.

Smooth Penguin.5294:

Just a flesh wound.3589:

Evolution is NOT about wants. It’s about change in response to the surrounding environment, but there has to be a “path” possible towards this change.

So you’re saying that a charr mating with an asura is due to a change in the environment? Well wouldn’t you know it, Primodus is awakening. When his rein of terror blankets the land in death, nature will call forth a new type of hero. One born of the fires of war (charr) with the intellect to succeed (asura). And there you have it: Charrsura.

Basic Fantasy 101: When a foe is too powerful, you power up. Think of it like Goku’s fusion technique.

Hybrid species are not happening in gw2 for a multitude of reasons.

Not to mention the occasional asura gate boo-boo possibly serving as a catalyst for evolution. Wouldn’t it be funny if the charr were the result of some long forgotten asura progeny who was goofing around one day with his or her asura gate playkit and who decided to send a kitty and a calf through the gate… into DESTINY!

Genetic reasons.
Biological reasons.
There is no elves in this universe, so that argument does not work for tyria.
We cant have heroes half asura half Char.
Sylvari asexual reproductions, they dont have germinal cells.
Human and norn? Meh, could it be.
Bur we are talking of diferent species, not human races.
Char, asura, humand and Norns have diferent number of chromosome. Besides the spermatozoa of the male could not recognice the proteins of the pelucid zone of the egg of the other spiece.
The only solution, ICSI, but the asisited reproduction is not a thing in Tyria. And the embrio only grow to 2 or 4 cells state.
And the evolution is not finalist, that is not how it works.

Swagger.1459:

Smooth Penguin.5294:

Just a flesh wound.3589:

Evolution is NOT about wants. It’s about change in response to the surrounding environment, but there has to be a “path” possible towards this change.

So you’re saying that a charr mating with an asura is due to a change in the environment? Well wouldn’t you know it, Primodus is awakening. When his rein of terror blankets the land in death, nature will call forth a new type of hero. One born of the fires of war (charr) with the intellect to succeed (asura). And there you have it: Charrsura.

Basic Fantasy 101: When a foe is too powerful, you power up. Think of it like Goku’s fusion technique.

Hybrid species are not happening in gw2 for a multitude of reasons.

You mean like centaurs?

All jokes aside though, I don’t have anything against it but it probably will get more people upset than happy in the overall balance.

Darn it, there goes my hopes for a playable Quaggodan!

Smooth Penguin.5294:

Gorani.7205:

This…

It is because we are talking about species, not races (probably D&D’s fault for starting this by calling them “races” and creating half-elves for those who wanted to have the best of both worlds)

And how else would you get a half elf? By have a human and an elf have offspring. Half elves are biracial. So take the same concept with a charr and asura, and you get a half charr or half asura. I just combine them to Charrsura for cuteness.

You clearly lack basic knowledge in biology (genetics & evolution) and mix up terms like “race” and “species” among other things.

But coming back to the initial question:
No, I don’t think we need or would benefit in any way from mixing any existing “fantasy race” in GW2. The “fantasy races” in GW2 provide us with different cultures, looks, styles or philosophies – that’s why they are in the game.
A sudden “mix’ed creature” would add nothing to the game, because it will add nothing new we have already from its “parent race”.

Smooth Penguin.5294:

Gorani.7205:

This…

It is because we are talking about species, not races (probably D&D’s fault for starting this by calling them “races” and creating half-elves for those who wanted to have the best of both worlds)

And how else would you get a half elf? By have a human and an elf have offspring. Half elves are biracial. So take the same concept with a charr and asura, and you get a half charr or half asura. I just combine them to Charrsura for cuteness.

Horses and Donkeys are similar enough species to breed, and the result is the Mule, a sterile offspring that can’t breed itself. All Mules exist because of Donkey/Horse interbreeding.

Horses and Cats are not similar enough species to interbreed. There is no creature in the world, sterile or otherwise, that is a combination of these two things.

Humans and our closest living relatives of the great apes are not similar enough to interbreed… probably. I don’t think it’s ever been tested, but I assume it to be true.

In DnD Humans and Elves should not actually be able to breed. If they can it should be like Donkeys and Horses. Producing sterile offspring. Humans and Orcs also no. Dragons and everything, very no.

Charr and Asura are in no way related genetically. They are two disparit species. They cannot breed. Norn look like humans, but they are very much not human. They were created by the Koda, polarbear people, they are more likely to have commonality with them than humans. Humans aren’t even from Tyria. They’re from another planet, probably Earth. They should have no genetic compatibility with anything on the planet.

Species, generally speaking, cannot interbreed. Those few that can are the exception rather than the rule.

Tachenon.5270:

Swagger.1459:

Smooth Penguin.5294:

Just a flesh wound.3589:

Evolution is NOT about wants. It’s about change in response to the surrounding environment, but there has to be a “path” possible towards this change.

So you’re saying that a charr mating with an asura is due to a change in the environment? Well wouldn’t you know it, Primodus is awakening. When his rein of terror blankets the land in death, nature will call forth a new type of hero. One born of the fires of war (charr) with the intellect to succeed (asura). And there you have it: Charrsura.

Basic Fantasy 101: When a foe is too powerful, you power up. Think of it like Goku’s fusion technique.

Hybrid species are not happening in gw2 for a multitude of reasons.

You mean like centaurs?

Centaurs, in Tyria, are not hybrid. They have humanoid parts, the torso, but the entire rest of their bodies are beastial in nature. Their heads are more similar to goats than humans, even than horses.

The only creature that can truly be considered a hybrid is most likely the Norn, who were created by Koda magic more than evolution. It’s more than a little unclear how they were made and if humans were involved in any way. But even they are not compatible with humans, primarily due to an incredibly increased body temperature that would kill off human sperm, and would probably damage a human egg as well.

Smooth Penguin.5294:

They also said that Heart of Thorns would bring a whole new set of Legendary weapons, and we all know how that turned out. So if they can change their mind on one thing, perhaps they can change their mind on biracial NPCs?

In the real world, there are no pure races anymore, since people intermingle with different partners have made the world a much better place.

There’s no comparison:

• Legendaries are cosmetics and the issue there is that it turned out to be more work than they expected. And so they all-but-cancelled their plans for the future.
• In contrast, it would take more work to change all significant lore about inter-Tyrian species reproduction, add new character models (and match skins to them), etc. Not to mention potential retcons and rewrites.

Regardless of whether there’s any value to the concept, accept at least that introducing this would add to the development team’s workload.

Tachenon.5270:

Swagger.1459:

Smooth Penguin.5294:

Just a flesh wound.3589:

Evolution is NOT about wants. It’s about change in response to the surrounding environment, but there has to be a “path” possible towards this change.

So you’re saying that a charr mating with an asura is due to a change in the environment? Well wouldn’t you know it, Primodus is awakening. When his rein of terror blankets the land in death, nature will call forth a new type of hero. One born of the fires of war (charr) with the intellect to succeed (asura). And there you have it: Charrsura.

Basic Fantasy 101: When a foe is too powerful, you power up. Think of it like Goku’s fusion technique.

Hybrid species are not happening in gw2 for a multitude of reasons.

You mean like centaurs?

You really going to dig deep into the unknown origins of centaurs in the Tyria universe and assume a human and horse mated?

Are we really going to have stuff like charr males impregnate a sentient plant?

Do we need the devs to waste time justifying a new existence of unions between species and waste resources creating multiple hybrid species to put in game?

Why don’t we just line up all Tyria females and have elder dragons impregnate them so we can play hybrid dragon"things"? Maybe then we can rename the game Dragons Guild Watch Wars 2?

Let’s ressurect glint and have her give out eggs for different species to inseminate?

When does “no hybrids” from the devs mean “no hybrids”?

Kal Spiro.9745:

Tachenon.5270:

Swagger.1459:

Smooth Penguin.5294:

Just a flesh wound.3589:

Evolution is NOT about wants. It’s about change in response to the surrounding environment, but there has to be a “path” possible towards this change.

So you’re saying that a charr mating with an asura is due to a change in the environment? Well wouldn’t you know it, Primodus is awakening. When his rein of terror blankets the land in death, nature will call forth a new type of hero. One born of the fires of war (charr) with the intellect to succeed (asura). And there you have it: Charrsura.

Basic Fantasy 101: When a foe is too powerful, you power up. Think of it like Goku’s fusion technique.

Hybrid species are not happening in gw2 for a multitude of reasons.

You mean like centaurs?

Centaurs, in Tyria, are not hybrid. They have humanoid parts, the torso, but the entire rest of their bodies are beastial in nature. Their heads are more similar to goats than humans, even than horses.

The only creature that can truly be considered a hybrid is most likely the Norn, who were created by Koda magic more than evolution. It’s more than a little unclear how they were made and if humans were involved in any way. But even they are not compatible with humans, primarily due to an incredibly increased body temperature that would kill off human sperm, and would probably damage a human egg as well.

You seem to be referring to the centaurs from Elona, which are a three-way between horses, gazelles, and big cats. However, see —

https://wiki.guildwars2.com/wiki/Centaur

— for the Central Tyrian variety.

Swagger.1459:

Tachenon.5270:

Swagger.1459:

Smooth Penguin.5294:

Just a flesh wound.3589:

Evolution is NOT about wants. It’s about change in response to the surrounding environment, but there has to be a “path” possible towards this change.

So you’re saying that a charr mating with an asura is due to a change in the environment? Well wouldn’t you know it, Primodus is awakening. When his rein of terror blankets the land in death, nature will call forth a new type of hero. One born of the fires of war (charr) with the intellect to succeed (asura). And there you have it: Charrsura.

Basic Fantasy 101: When a foe is too powerful, you power up. Think of it like Goku’s fusion technique.

Hybrid species are not happening in gw2 for a multitude of reasons.

You mean like centaurs?

You really going to dig deep into the unknown origins of centaurs in the Tyria universe and assume a human and horse mated?

Are we really going to have stuff like charr males impregnate a sentient plant?

Do we need the devs to waste time justifying a new existence of unions between species and waste resources creating multiple hybrid species to put in game?

Why don’t we just line up all Tyria females and have elder dragons impregnate them so we can play hybrid dragon"things"? Maybe then we can rename the game Dragons Guild Watch Wars 2?

Let’s ressurect glint and have her give out eggs for different species to inseminate?

When does “no hybrids” from the devs mean “no hybrids”?

When no grind means no grind.

Smooth Penguin.5294:

Just a flesh wound.3589:

Evolution is NOT about wants. It’s about change in response to the surrounding environment, but there has to be a “path” possible towards this change.

So you’re saying that a charr mating with an asura is due to a change in the environment? Well wouldn’t you know it, Primodus is awakening. When his rein of terror blankets the land in death, nature will call forth a new type of hero. One born of the fires of war (charr) with the intellect to succeed (asura). And there you have it: Charrsura.

Basic Fantasy 101: When a foe is too powerful, you power up. Think of it like Goku’s fusion technique.

You escaped from the Inquest biologic test rejects area didn’t you?
YOU GAZED FAR TOO LONG INTO THAT FORBIDDEN ZONE!

nottsgman.8206:

Jeff Grubb in 2012 said that Inter-species hybridization is not plausible, there are no half-norn, half-charr, half-sylvari and so on.

because of that, I’m going to go with no to odd hybrids of races. however, I would like to see (more?) biracial couples

how about for hilarity, lady kasmere ends up with some new norn hero.

I don’t want to bring logic to a fantasy game, but no… Just no. I mean, how the hell is a plant meant to reproduce with an animal? This is putting aside the fact that we learn that Sylvari have no reproductive organs. And I don’t even want to think of the abomination that would be a Charr and Asura hybrid…

The only one that would make some sense to me would be a Norn and Human hybrid, since they at least looks similar… putting aside the whole shapeshifting thing… and the size difference.

Sometimes humans force two species who have similar features to breed. Such as horses and donkeys to make mules. Mules are typically sterile and can’t breed with each other when they are fertile (there are rare cases of fertile mule females being able to breed with a pure horse or a pure donkey). And the mating of a donkey and horse doesn’t always produce a viable offspring either.

So it’s not completely true that two different species can’t breed and produce a viable offspring. That offspring will just likely be infertile.

So Norn and Humans could likely produce a viable offspring to some degree, but it likely wouldn’t be fertile except maybe with other pure Norn and Humans. Sylvari likely would have a more plant like reproduction and would therefore not be able to reproduce with the other species given their other types of reproduction.

Charr and Asura would likely not be able to successfully reproduce with any other species given the differences between them and Norn and Humans and each other.

Now I would really like to see the Krewe notes of those Inquest who have tried the genetic ‘experiments’ for hoots and giggles- I wonder…..You know they DID.
C’mon ANet….we want to know!

Seera.5916:

Sometimes humans force two species who have similar features to breed. Such as horses and donkeys to make mules. Mules are typically sterile and can’t breed with each other when they are fertile (there are rare cases of fertile mule females being able to breed with a pure horse or a pure donkey). And the mating of a donkey and horse doesn’t always produce a viable offspring either.

So it’s not completely true that two different species can’t breed and produce a viable offspring. That offspring will just likely be infertile.

So Norn and Humans could likely produce a viable offspring to some degree, but it likely wouldn’t be fertile except maybe with other pure Norn and Humans. Sylvari likely would have a more plant like reproduction and would therefore not be able to reproduce with the other species given their other types of reproduction.

Charr and Asura would likely not be able to successfully reproduce with any other species given the differences between them and Norn and Humans and each other.

Your argument is flawed when you compare horses/donkey to humans/norns

Horses and donkeys can produce mules because they share a common ancestor and still are closely related enough that they are not completely separated into incompatibility. Basically they are not yet completely separated into 2 species. Species separation can take hundreds of thousands of generations and with horses/donkeys, they are still in the process of separation.

Norns and humans do not share a common ancestor. Norns come from Kodans and humans aren’t even native to Tyria but are from another planet. Therefore they are completely different species and always have been different species.

Just a flesh wound.3589:

Norns and humans do not share a common ancestor. Norns come from Kodans and humans aren’t even native to Tyria but are from another planet. Therefore they are completely different species and always have been different species.

This. Since Humans are aliens on Tyria, they could not possibly produce offspring with any Tyrian species. You could speculate that Norn and some of the other human-like species (giants, Jotan, etc.) might have a common ancestor, but I couldn’t see why that kind of relationship would happen. And I couldn’t see a relationship among the more “animal-like” species either. And I don’t see what value it would have to the stories other than base gossip-y stuff.

Well, whole idea is ridiculous and impossible in lore, but there is a way around it.
evil Inquest crossbreeding experiments
don't ask me why they will do that

Balkarrie Legacy.9175:

Just why ?????? Not needed or correct , would be nothing but a pile of pc claptrap shoved into a game

Where is interspecies offspring in the DNC platform? Has “pc” just become a hand wave for things you don’t like but can’t directly complain about?

I agree with the people saying it wouldn’t make sense.

Interspecies relationships? Yes, absolutely go for it. In fact I think it’s already happened. But they would not be able to produce children.

Some Tyrian species may be able to interbreed. For example I don’t think it’s been confirmed but there is a theory that the norn and the kodan used to be one race (this is mentioned in-game by some kodan, not simply a fan-theory) so they may be able to reproduce. But like horses and donkeys or lions and tigers it’s likely the offspring would be infertile.

But in real life those examples are extremely rare and very much the exception (even with human intervention, trust me we’ve tried all kinds of combinations that don’t work, even with artificial insemination). I can’t see any reason it would be different on Tyria.

The sylvari are especially problematic given they can’t even have children with each other. It might be possible to cross-pollinate the Pale Tree with other plants (especially some of the others in the Maguuma), especially since plants are generally more easily hybridized, and can even have fertile offspring. But I’m not sure that would be a good idea.

Smooth Penguin.5294:

In this game, all the races of Tyria seem to be segregated to their own people. I’m not talking about just the racial starting towns, but rather the whole open world (PvE and personal story). With love having no boundaries, there should be more biracial people out and about. What that said, would you be open to having NPCs of a mixed background?

I’d like to start a discussion on this idea, and hopefully not get into a debate on how it may or may not work. In game, we already have close biracial relationships. Braham and Taimi or Braham and Rox for example. If we took this further to the next logical step, it could open the doors for Anet story writers to introduce new types of NPCs and drama opportunities.

One day, we could be walking in Lion’s Arch, and meet a Charrsura. Or an adorable Norggan. Maybe a Skrylvari? So many races, so many pairings!

A plant rat sounds good. Where do I sigh?