u/N0VAK137

Why did you add the races you add? Why did you make them the way they are? What does that say about the world you made and, by extension, you?

Decided to be a bit philosophical today ig

For me, in some of my works, certain races represent certain parts of humanity and what would happen if we let that part of us govern ourselves? In one world (I call it a urban fantasy but it's more dystopian so idk), I have vampires who represent the lust for blood and power that corrupts the individual. Shapeshifters represent our basic instincts and animalistic tendencies that we have to suppress, such as mindless violence. Fae represent an excessive emphasis on bodily image and beauty to the point of neglecting character. Some examples, but hopefully you get my point.

Even though some of you may say "oh just for fun, no reason" (which is fine, no shame) there has to be some kind of reasoning behind why that particular race, because whether you realize it or not, your story sends a message to your all-human audience. What are you trying to tell them about their humanity? Think deep, and if there isn't, no big deal.

This can go for anything such as your typical vampires or werewolves to the strongest of the strongest of the celestial or eldritch gods. Vampires could use humans as livestock, but couldn't they feed off another race? Gods need worshippers, but can't they convert other races?

Why would they need humans, if they do at all?

In one of my sci-fi stories, I have a magic system in which magic—powered by the soul and using the body as a conduit—can be channeled through either your mind or your heart (essentially meaning you either use logic or reason to use magic). Problem is, I really don't know if I did it right, even though I feel like I'm on the right track.

I've thought that maybe magic through your mind is kinda like spellwork where it requires either written or spoken echantment or rune or whatever to use it. This means there's not much room for it to become more powerful even though some spells are stronger than others, especially those within the same category (i.e. a spell that can summon giant beams of solar energy to strike your enemy down vs. a spell that conjures a mini sun to light up a dark room, but they're both technically "light" or "sun" magic)

Heart magic would be more like kinesics, where, for example, if you can manipulate fire, you can essentially do whatever you want and aren't restricted to spells. But it can get out of control much easier since it's channeled through emotions.

idk I feel like I'm close but also not at the same time

Most complex, most annoying, scariest, whatever

Basically the title

Mine would be SJM and Rebecca Yarros, no I will not apologize

I've always heard about ppl online getting bored with the same old reused Tolkien-esque fantasy races and I (as I imagine a bunch of you do too) kinda want to change it up a bit.

The basic premise of the world is that humans used to be the dominant race because they were very good at crafting, building, and some could even use magic. They were kicked out into what technically would be our world, and the other races that were left behind took the opportunity to take power for themselves and starting learning magic. Eventually it was prophesied very vaguely that humans would return one day and reclaim power and everybody was up in arms

But I digress. The idea I personally like the most is combining your basic fantasy races (i.e. elves, dwarves, vampires, etc.) with certain animals. I felt like elves gave off very feline vibes and vampires could either be more batlike or more serpentine. I also wanted to throw in less-used races like centaurs and merfolk and whatnot, and I'd give them some more animalistic traits and less of a literally-just-a-human-with-pointy-ears kind of vibe. I had the idea of making dwarves more canine just because they tend to be more family-oriented than elves do but idk

What do you guys think and what do you guys have?