Eorzea is a land mottled by war, where city-states have fought to extend and demarcate the boundaries of their feudal kingdoms. The resulting call for mercenaries and merchant travelers have turned Eorzea into a melting pot of races, no longer restricted to their communities of origin. In total there are five races from which you can mold your adventurer, the Hyur, the Lalafell, the Elezen, the Roegadyn, and the Miqo’te.
Hyur
Hyur are humans. For the player who wishes to immerse himself in the fantasy, to don the avatar that is a doppelganger of himself, a Hyur provides the perfect character to do so. Divided into two sects, the Hyur consist of the erudite, artistic Midlanders and the mountainous Highlanders, whose land was torn asunder by the Garlean Empire. They are also the most common race in all of Eorzea, having roamed the land as mercenaries and travelers with no distinct cultural identity. Both female and male Midlanders are playable races, while only males are available for Highlanders.
Elezen
As Final Fantasy XIV Races go, Elezen are elves, the original inhabitants of Eorzea. As is typical in mythological lore, the Wildwood Elezen dwell in the lush forests of Eorzea, whereas the cavern-dwelling Duskwight Elezen share characteristics typical of dwarves.
Lalafell
As is the norm in Japanese culture, a world cannot exist without a soft, miniature, adorable clan of sentient beings. The cherubic Lalafell meet this criteria, roaming the southern regions in two distinct clans. The Plainsfolk live on the prairies and amber thickets of the Eorzean heartland. The Dunesfolk, however, live on the backs of giant beasts, turning living colossi into all-in-one recreational vehicles.
Roegadyn
Roegadyn are built like gladiators, but share largely human facial features and characteristics. Like the other Final Fantasy XIV races, they are separated into two factions. The Sea Wolves have spent their lives on the ocean as pirates and sailors. The Hellsguard dwell iin the fires of the northern volcanoes, manning the very gates of hell. Only males will be available to play.
Miqo’te
Another crowning staple of Japanese fetishism, Miqo’te are catgirls. While cat men exist, only the female version of this race will be playable. They are divided into Keepers of the Moon, and Seekers of the Sun, which is a simple way to distinguish between dark catgirls and light catgirls.
While the history of each race gears to a particular style of play, unlike previous games, Final Fantasy XIV Races will not be fettered to a singular class and skill set. The large, muscular Roegadyn will be no more adept at pugilism than a miniature Lafalell, a Miqo’te no more graceful with a shortbow than a frying pan. Each race will be predisposed to whatever abilities you choose, its appearance customized to your own aesthetic, your style, your fantasy vogue.
Once a race is selected, they can be then customized by a panoply of facial structures and hair styles. Color palettes allow you to alter your character’s skin to a variety of shades, as well as dye your hair and add colorful luminescence to their gemstone eyes. The customization available with Final Fantasy XIV Races truly gives your character a unique portrait in a wondrous and diverse world.
