Table of Contents
Races on Sundering Shadows refer to different groups of intelligent species that share a set of biological attributes and characteristics, as well as a cultural bond. It is important to note that while the inhabitants of Sundering Shadows use the old D&D term “race”, the modern term “species” would be a better description.
Some races are further divided into subraces, shown with asterisks below. While most races only interbreed, there are a few races that are capable of breeding with others. Their offspring are commonly known as half-breeds.
Standard rollable races
These standard races are known as “civilized races” or “high races” in the setting. Humans are the most numerous of the civilized races, occupying many regions above ground. The elves are mostly withdrawn into their vast forests, while dwarves reside in the mountains below. Most members of a civilized race are welcome in the settlements of another, if sometimes with an air of distrust.
Beastkin*
Centaur
Dragonkin
Dwarf*
Elf*
Firbolg
Gnome*
Half-elf
Half-orc
Halfling*
Human*
Saurian
Voadkyn
Wemic
PK races available to those with a 30+ account:
These advanced races are known as “monster races” or “low races” in human lands. They are dangerous creatures lurking in the darkest forests or lowest caverns. While some form vast and sinister civilizations in the underdark, others lead a marauder's life, ravaging the land of humans and their allies. Members of these monster races are malicious beasts, and are treated as such by the settlements of the higher races.
Bugbear
Drow
Gnoll
Goblin
Half-drow
Hobgoblin
Kitsune
Kobold
Ratkin
Satyr
Strix
Ogre
Orc*
Troll
Yuan-ti
Half-ogre
Ogre-mage
Warning: PK races are advanced races that will impose disadvantages upon your gameplay. Many are banned in most major cities and treated with scorn and distrust throughout the realm. They start play with their NOPK flag turned off by default and their presence may be considered a provocation (see help PK rules). Enter the realm of PK at your own risk!
Note that any race not rollable at creation is considered a PK race. If your character’s race changes for any reason, you are considered a PK race if either race (old or new) is a PK race.
Templates
Besides race and class, characters can sometimes gain something called an acquired template, which represents a major occurrence that changes the character in some essential way. Templates do not take the place of race but are a sort of modifier to race.
There are a few templates which can be taken on character creation:
Wererat
Weretiger
Werewolf
Other templates are acquired through player or avatar plots, the end result of a story, where something major happens to alter the character. Some templates can be the result of divine intervention, some through alchemical or thaumaturgical experimentation, while others can be contracted or be the victim of a curse.
There are several factors that staff will expect before granting a template. One is that it is a request from a main character with at least six months of regular play. We don't expect you to log in every day, but that the focus is on this particular character instead of an alt. Another factor is that there is evidence of RP towards this goal, with a combination of pcnotes and avatarmails displaying the events that have befallen your character, or actions they have taken, that would lead them to the conclusion of this story.
When embarking on a plot to achieve a template or once you feel you have achieved these goalposts in your character's story, we would ask that you send up an avatarmail with the request, as well as a brief synopsis of the story or reasoning for the template. Staff will then review your request, and either let you know which factors need further emphasis (along with specific suggestions to achieve your desired story) or will approve the request.
A character may ONLY have ONE template and should consider them permanent.
General Race Information
Your race determines your make-up. Some races are predisposed to being stronger, sturdier, more intelligent, more sensitive to light, etc. than other races. In addition, different races are physically different from others, having different limbs and other types of body parts. In real life, you had no choice. You were born human. In Sundering Shadows' reality, you do get a choice. Do you want a magical character? Or do you want to play the game by brute force? Or perhaps deception or skullduggery? What do you prefer to explore? Do you like dark, enclosed areas? Or do you like well lit castles or the open outdoors? All these questions face you now. Whatever choice you make, so long as it fits the style in which you like to play, will be rewarding. There is neither a best pick nor a worst pick. There is only what is best or worst for your style.
Towards that end, here are some clues:
- Intelligence and wisdom make the best magic users.
- Strength and constitution make the best fighters.
- Dexterity and charisma make the best roguish types.
Note on Physical Features
A small note on physical features of a race, while most race help files have a small amount of examples, those can be expanded on. There are of course limitations on what those can be. If you are unsure if it is setting and/or lore appropriate, please send up and avatar mail or ask on the newbie channel or lore channel on the discord. It's better the staff help you early on to keep within the game's setting at level 6 than when your character reaches level 50 and we don't notice till then.