Question (b1uemchen) - Since almost all races have a city sub-race, why don't elves?
Ailashaar - Initially we thought of having city elves, but after we'd outlined the subraces we weren't satisfied. They lacked a history or culture to really separate them from Kvyr or A'lure elves. As we've described them, some Kvyr and A'lure elves do indeed dwell in human cities but they still consider themselves to belong to either of the two elven cultures. They are not really inspired by human culture, but rather keep their own. Plus their longer lifepsan, not many generations of elves have lived in human cities.
Question (Varadrion) - So would choosing a different starting sub-race change where you begin the game? i.e. hill dwarves as opposed to one from the city sub-race.
Ailashaar - When the game opens, and functions like it should - in beta. It depends largely on how far the area building has proceeded. One solution is that all races will begin in Tildruin, since (almost all) may be represented there. When the world has grown it's quite possible that the subraces will begin at the origin of their culture, as you suggest, hill dwarves from the hills etc. There is another good thing about everyone initially starting at the same point [Kalypse - get to know each other]. In a small community it can be hard to be the only troll in Gordawir.
b1uemchen - Problem with different location is that all players won't get an equal start.
Ailashaar - Which may be a challenge later in the game. If it's hard to be a Gordawwir troll, there will not be as many, and they will gain some amount of recognition because of it. And it will be reasonably easy to come up with a story as to why you start in Tildruin; even an Isenvor human may wander as far south to seek some urban adventure. Although it'd be a long walk...
Question (Kalypse) - Do elves actually like cities?
Ailashaar - Well, they may find human cities a bit crowded, and dirty perhaps, especially the wood dwelling A'lure elves.
Kalypse - What I mean is...of course they live in communities and such but I mean a real city with lots of people and noise and movement...like Tildruin probably will be. Considering the ammount of different people and races.
Ailashaar - The Kvyr elves have cities of their own, and they construct large buildings. They are more of an advanced seafaring people who reached their renaissance long before the other races. But while they are used to cities, they don't particulary like human cities, and largely dwell there (in small numbers) to influence the sea trade.
Question (Kalypse) - The impression I have is that most races will have some affinity with cities... how about the ones who just prefer more quiet places? How about those who prefer some kind of isolation?
Ailashaar - There are many races who prefer solitude, or closeness to nature. There will be camps outside Tildruin for elves and trolls for example.
Question (b1uemchen) - Will race effect different paths you are allowed to take?
Ailashaar - Yes, most races will have access to the basic classes but even some classes will not be for all. Trolls may not join the magician guild for example. At profession level there will be even more division, and specializations will many times be related to race.
Question (Varadrion) - Will your starting race have any effect on the languages you know to begin, or will you have to learn the native language of your own race as well as others.
Ailashaar - You will always know your own racial language, and probably common as well.
Question (Enox) - Do races have a favored class? Example: like if you want to be a fighter you could the best be a Troll?
Ailashaar - Well, troll are very strong and tough so they have a natural advantage in combat. But being experienced in skills will always be better than stats. So an agile and experienced halfling fighter will hopefully defeat an unexpericed troll by disarming him, dodging his attacks and slowly gnawing away the trolls health.
Kalypse - But if both have the same experience do they have differences?
Ailashaar - Well, the troll would deal massive damage, and be ready to take quite a beating. But on the other hand the hafling would be likely to be fast. In a fair fight confined to a small area I'd bet on the troll, the halfing would loose if he fought on the trolls terms.
Question (Zorlen) - Okay. Can different sub-races have different dialects of the same language?
Ailashaar - Not as we've decided right now. We discussed it, but decided that since they would be likely to understand each other.
Zorlen - What about ancient human language? Can it be learned and used (like Latin) ?
Ailashaar - Yes it can. There will be some different languages - not dialects - among the subraces. Isenvor humans speaking ancient human for example.
Question (DrCBVI) - Not to drag you back to a previous answer (even though that happens to be my exact intention...), but when you say that characters will have their native language and 'probably' common, does that mean there will be instances of a character not knowing common?
Ailashaar - It's not decided yet, but most likely everyone will know common in the beginning. If we have starting points at different locations it will be more likely that people don't learn common. If you start in Isenvor you'll have other Isenvor humans to chat with in ancient human.
Question (Kalypse) - Well, its more like an english problem I have...what will a 'guild' mean in Tildruin?...I still couldnt figure that out...
Ailashaar - Ok a guild will have several meanings but they are related. A guild is the same as your Class, Profession or Specialization. But at the same time it is a physical place, where you access your class/prof/spec teachers, items et cetera. So a fighter will belong to the fighters guild, only he and other fighters will have access to the 'weapons master'.
Question (Kalypse) - Well, I hear a lot about fighting abilities and such and how the races will react to them... and of course there will be differences, but what about the non-violent part? I mean.. cooking, etc...
Ailashaar - There will be many racially related skills and abilities. Halflings will have many opportunities to learn cooking skills, while dwarves have easy access blacksmithing skills. There will be many such 'common' skills where a player can learn them from an NPC. And if the NPC favors people of his own race, there will be natural selection.
Question (DrCBVI) - Will players be 'forced' to pick between say, the Kvyr elves and the A'lure elves, or will there be a 'grey' area of sorts?
Ailashaar - I can't seem to remember that we've quite decided this yet, but my answer is...
Kalypse - Can't that be roleplayed? I mean... you could have your origins on either of those but gone elsewhere after you were born.
Ailashaar - Precisely, I'd say it would be rp'd. There will be no physical differences, since they are the same race. And appearance, clothing etc. will be chosen by the player. So if you want to be a Odar human you'll be better off not choosing a dark-skinned human or dressing up in silk.