I like the race ideas lusternia has at the moment. Others are better at balancing the
mechanics so I'll leave that to them.

I've taken a look at the stat packs in Aetolia and while I was initially very interested,
I think it completely drains all uniqueness from any race.

I would like to see some customization within a race however so a vanilla human isn't
the same as some other vanilla human.

So what about BACKGROUNDS, minor benefits that are mostly RP based but have a mechanical
effect and tie the character to the game world. Say you have to pick a background before
lv 20 or you get locked into a generic one.
For Example

Human

BACKGROUNDS

Joie de vivre -- A child of Delport, character gets +1 (whatever that is) on Seduction
influence battles and Passion debates.

Strong Soul -- Having grown up in Duum and survived the baleful influences
from beneath, you are accustomed to horrors beyond imagining. Your outlook on life
is bleaker than most, but the rate at which you acquire insanity is 5% less than most.

Can't think of one for Stewartsville

Dracnari

Favored of Dracnoris -- The mark of the Dracnari, your ability to breath fire, is
stronger and more potent than most. Boost to Breathe Fire damage.

Beastmaster Whelp -- Trained in the elementary skills on handling wyverns, coatels
and dragons, you know what to expect from these beasts. 5% damage reduction from
these creatures.

Sandstalker -- Growing up with the Dracnari in the Skarch Desert allows you
to become invisible ONLY in the Skarch Desert. Or maybe Desert rooms in general.

Viscanti

Noble Blood -- A member or bastard of a Great House or Bannerhouse of Magnagora, all your ego battles with
viscanti mobs (not village influencing) are slightly more potent.

Pariah -- A deformity or social stigma forced your family to live in the Blasted Lands. Your attunement to the Tainted
landscape allows you to never automatically fall into gravedigger pits. In addition your knowledge of these monsters
prevents all gravedigger and related beings (Tainted Broadcasting Center) from being aggressive towards you or
breaking shields.

Lucidian Nemesis -- As a young child you were rescued from Lucidian experimentation and your hatred of the creatures
has consumed you. You get a 3% ( or 2%) bonus on damage inflicted to Lucidian players and 5% bonus to damage vs
Lucidian mobs.

Orclach

Defender of Shallach -- As a young Orclach you were filled with a sense of duty
to defend the ur'dead. Orclach warriors/monks get +3% to hit when on Sacred
Ground (Shallach and Catacombs?). Orclach mages/guardians/wiccans/bards/druids get
+ lv 1 mana regeneration in this area.

Aslaran

Tribal Warden -- You get +15% a exp bonus for slaying any enemy of an Aslaran group.
Ie Shanthmark and the Aslaran Camp.

Aslaran's Quickness -- When moving the message "now now don't be hasty" occurs slightly
less often.

Merian

Cosmopolitan -- Expensive tutors and close contact with the many races of Celest
has allowed you to speak another tongue as fluently as your own. Learn one Language.

Cultural Pride -- Stuyding under the aquamancers in Bondero Bay you are distraught
that your race contributed to the creation of the unnatural Gorgogs. 5% exp bonus for
slaying Gorgogs.

Reverence for Ancestors -- You may influence any spirits on Spectre Island.

Lucidian

Xyl's Clarity -- At times your mind is inspired. + 1 Int for one hour.
Can be invoked once per day (same limitations as as Fortuna?)


And of course a description of the Background would be appropriately expanded so a new
player would be inspired to search out these places.

The purpose here is to come up with interesting and useful abilities that do not copy one another.

I approve and I'll add something more constructive at a later date. My only concern is if we could get both backgrounds and racial skills on top of mechanical changes. But if we just could...

On the other hand, it actually promotes roleplay and racial balancing, as beforehand most people would choose a race solely for their stats. Nowadays in Aetolia this is hardly the case, as any race can have pretty much any stat. There are racial features and abilities, but the stats are still there - there ARE, of course, intelligent Dwarves and very fast humans, as well as muscular atavians, right?

I say that statpacks should be introduced into Lusternia, as well.