New Race Selection

[Ibsen's Ghost]

This is a small thread designed to offer an overview of the playable races that are currently on offer over at TesNexus. I'm not suggesting using any of these but I have picked them out specifically because I quite liked them and/or thought that they may have some application for use in Black Marsh, whether as directly involved, as a base model for a new race with just small alterations in their colouring or as a resource for identifying potential recruits to work on such races as the Naga, Paatru, other Argonians and so on.

My main idea is that here in the Black Marsh there is a much stronger likelihood for exploiting the creativity of talented modding folks, as there are gaps in the lore and a legitimate claim towards creativity as a result of the Hist's enigmatic powers. However, by all means, don't trample on the lore just to get these races in.

Note that I have left out the 'Mystic Elves' and things like the Tabaxi and Ainmhi because I didn't think they fitted in with the mod.

I have split them up into different categories for ease of browsing and will update this thread as and when I come across something new that might be used, should we require it:

Drow (Dark Elves):

Revenant Drow Elves: http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=17106
Drow Races of Faerun: http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=18898
Drow Race set with expansion pack: http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=19753

Potential Marsh Elf bases:

Dreamwalker Race: http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=20101
Nymphae: http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=16539
Ghost race v2 (he's changed the colour of the shade): http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=6112
Chocolate Elves (weird name but good): http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=18247
Maormer (got the right sort of texture, I think): http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=15971
For a race set that features a ghost-like, see-through effect, see the 'compilations' section for a link to the 'Fantasma' race or these ghost race sets: http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=5984 & http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=3576

Potential Lilmothlit:
Khajiit Predators: http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=17304
Lilmothlit (no pictures): http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=9280 (+ fixes: http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=10384 )

Naga:
Waalx's 'Gnolls' combined with Grey Wizard's 'Naga' head model.

Argonian Variants:
Aregh race: http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=15843
Undernethe Saurian race: http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=11291
Draconian: http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=6185
Desert Argonians: http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=19366
Tiny Gecko race: http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=5638
Argonian Race Pack: http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=26856

Relevant to the Sarpa:
Breezes Seducers (got wings): http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=13510

Paatru base model?:
Atlantean Descendents race: http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=17394

Kothringi & Orma:
None found as yet. Senten has chosen to work on these.

Compilations of various races:
10 playable races: http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=18761
Moloch's new races (could be good but no pics): http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=8260
Vexend races (and wolvends) - both very impressive rat-like creatures: http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=19373
Dune Races: http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=12260
Rinnegatamante Race Pack (check out the winged 'Angelo' but, far better still, check out the 'Fantasma' race): http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=9457

Other miscellaneous stuff

A pig-race, the 'Sapiens': http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=14540

'Wolvens': http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=8671

'Rock Atromer': http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=3401

Possibly good for the forests, perhaps (it's got antlers), the 'Sprif' race:
http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=15299

Gnomes (Good fun, I think):
http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=19571

Probably not appropriate except perhaps for the hinterlands between Cyrodiil. 'Red Indian'-style 'Southlanders':
http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=14921

Probably not relevant but nice, the 'Garbon' humanoids: http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=12200

I liked this one for the armour, the 'Altmer Orcs':
http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=13034

And finally, a unique race resource set:
http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=14326

Obviously, before using these resources, you will need to consult the modders first.

[Deeza]

Fantastic work! I actually think we could potentially use a lot of these:

First of all, I love those Gecko things! Adding a few of those running round our Argonian cities would really create a weird and alien feeling. All of the other Argonian mods are definitely usable - combined with the headsets and extra horn styles that we already have permission to use, we now have an almost limitless variety or Argonians, so much so that we could give every tribe a unique appearance! (Except for the Areghs, I think they look too much like orcs to be useful).

It's a good thing you found the Saurians, because I was working on a design for albino argonians anyway (my idea was that they lived deep in Murkwood, and hardly ever saw direct sunlight).

The sea Argonians in here are good: http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=18761
but more importantly those Zuili would make great Lizardmen (the ones that show up in Arena)!

As for the Lilmothlit, I think those predator Khajit look amazing but would fit better over in Elseweyr. Those rat men would be much more suitable (they look a bit like foxes to me, and the Lilmothlit are mentioned as being fox-like).

The Garbon humanoids would do nicely as the Orma (marsh-people who are born blind but have supernatural hearing powers). We could use the Southlanders as either the Hespest or Orwalii (whichever name you think sounds cooler - we shouldn't include more than one). Both of these races are supposed to be extinct, but we were going to put a few in somewhere to keep the map varied and interesting.

The DUNE races look amazing, particularly the ape-men, but unfortunately using them is complicated unless you know the mod creator personally. Basically he demanded that everything anyone uses, must be "paid" for by making content for his mod - and seeing as it's now dead, that could be a problem for us.

That deer-man thing is great but I think maybe it would fit better in Valenwood (those guys need something to cheer them up).

The Maormer are excellent but useless in Black Marsh - however, they really need them over at Summerset Isles...

[Back2Murder]

Fantastic work, I'll be sure to look torugh them when I am done with my homework.

[Deeza]

I would also like to add to the list this awesome Tsaesci snake-man under development for Akavir:

Tsaesci-fication anyone?

When it's done it will be a modder's resource. Stick an argonian head on it, make a quality retex, and voila, we have our Naga!

Those gnomes and Geckos look great by the way. And the whole "not able to swim" thing adds a really interesting new dynamic to the game. I really should start a new game and try it out...

I think the Fantasma in the spanish guy's pack are the way to go for the Marsh Elves. That dark outline effect would look doubly creepy in a dark, flooded ruin. Kind of like walking shadows. Change the mesh to Altmer and we'd be away!

But what are we going to do about Kothringi ghosts (a long-term problem I know, because Kothringi ghosts won't we an issue until we make their ruins, which will be in the second or third release, but we should still sort it out now).

[Koniption]

Deeza, actually, I think Prometheus who started the DUNE mod way back in the day, has given Darkness Eternal the green light to use his DUNE resources in Darkness Eternal's own desert mod, called "Sands of Time". For instance, Darkness Eternal uses Prom's 4 legged Lizard Mount as a rideable beast in his mod, among many other things.

The "Sands of Time" forum is open now and active, and is located here:
http://z11.invisionfree.com/sandsofdestiny/index.php?

You might could check with Darkness Eternal, but he might be operating under the same rules as "contribute something in exchange for something".

Koniption

[nick_op]

I think Vality is in charge of the DUNE resources now, I remember him/her posting such in this thread, I think.

[Back2Murder]

Contacting them seems wise, They have a lot of resources and we also have quite some. Exchanging things will only make both mods better.

[Ibsen's Ghost]

I've spoken to Darkness Eternal before about trying to get him and Vality working together with the 'Elsweyr' team and, although they're not up for it (they want to go their own way), I think that Vality and Co. will probably permit the use of the Dune models. I don't see the fact that Dune is dead as a problem, but rather a bonus. Now they have no need to hang on to their resources and unless Darkness Eternal's mod now basically 'owns Dune' then I don't see anyone reserving the models.

If no one's contacted him about this yet then I guess I could but you need to tell me which of the models and stuff you'd like us to obtain.

In the meantime, regarding other issues raised, those Tsaesci look gooood, Deeza! And I totally agree with 'Argonianising' their heads.

My own personal recommendations pretty much match with what Deeza picked out and go as follows:

Naga - 'Akavir's' Tsaesci.

Marsh Elves - 1) the 'Fantasma' race (although perhaps using an Elf base as this base looks a little Imperial to me....?)

2) A green-retextured 'Dreamwalker' race for the Marsh Elves that actually attack you...?

Lilmothlit - The Vexend race. Good choice, Deeza! Thanks for the lore update.

Argonians - (should only be used as required because we could go crazy here) - the Saurians (1st), Sea Argonians (2nd), Dune Argonians (3rd) and Draconians (4th) are my favourites but I really like the idea of using Aregh and/or Zuili in arenas.

Sarpa - If 'TheModaxJago' does what we all know he's capable of (again) then I'd automatically go with his work.

Paatru - 'Greenified Atlanteans' or a remodelling of the Grummites and Baliwogs? I favour the latter, personally.

Ape-race (is there a reference to such things in the lore?) - the Dune races.

Others to consider - Gecko/Gnomes, Sapiens, Garbon, Southlanders.

Suggested course of action

Is it possible to set up a voting system here on this thread? If so, we could do with several points to vote upon. Some, like the 'Lilmothlit', seem to me like obvious choices. So if Tlo1048 and the core can confirm those ones then we'll take it as an official decision. Can the core accept the above as an official shortlist?

Others we can put to the vote. Once enough decisions are in, or if the voting deadline has passed, then either myself or another can set about contacting the race-modder and acquiring the model.

[Senten]

I think the paatru doable with your 'Greenified Atlanteans' idea.I can make smaller and green version without hair,and done.If ok,i going to working on the paatru.

Edit: Oh and im working on the kothringi & orma as requested by deeza.

[Ibsen's Ghost]

I'm sure your work will be fantastic Senten, and I'm delighted that you're working on this, but at the same time I worry about not using the excellent resources of SI seeing as we have chosen to make this a necessary requirement for the playing of BM.

Of course, we could always keep the base SI models as a platform for races as opposed to creatures....especially my favourites, the Elytra!