The Arasai (pictures included.)

[Araxes]

An example of the Arasai race. <a href="http://www.freeimagehosting.net/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"><img src="http://img2.freeimagehost...pg" border="0"></a> <a href="http://www.freeimagehosting.net/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"><img src="http://img2.freeimagehost...pg" border="0"></a> <a href="http://www.freeimagehosting.net/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"><img src="http://img2.freeimagehost...pg" border="0"></a>

[Bozidar]

<p>nice!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!</p><p>Thanks for the pics <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></p>

[Ravaan]

oh for all that is fricken holy .. more fairies?!?! You have some of the coolest Races (minotaurs, Centaurs, those half spider people lol, Drovlags<sp&gt<img src="/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> and you pick MORE fairies.

[Polywogus]

I loved the 1/2 spider people in EQLive too <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> I always thought they looked Dark Elvish ~_~ *edit* any more pics?  Thank you too BTW =D

[Silverpaws]

If you want to see pics, just patch the test server and go play.

[Kaishod]

<cite>Ravaan wrote:</cite><blockquote>oh for all that is fricken holy .. more fairies?!?! You have some of the coolest Races (minotaurs, Centaurs, those half spider people lol, Drovlags<sp><img src="/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> and you pick MORE fairies.</blockquote><p> /agree</p><p>Though I'm glad there is a new evil race... it seems like an easy cop-out to take by taking a fae, changing skin tone and calling it evil... </p>

[Deltree_c]

<p>Those wings are pretty neat.  Someone had told me they'd be wingless (unless that's an option).</p>

[Rijacki]

<cite>Kaishodan wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite>Ravaan wrote:</cite><blockquote>oh for all that is fricken holy .. more fairies?!?! You have some of the coolest Races (minotaurs, Centaurs, those half spider people lol, Drovlags<sp><img src="/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> and you pick MORE fairies.</blockquote><p> /agree</p><p>Though I'm glad there is a new evil race... it seems like an easy cop-out to take by taking a fae, changing skin tone and calling it evil... </p></blockquote> LORE Read the lore in Gallenite's message.  That's why they're not just something random.

[Raveller]

<cite>Rijacki wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite>Kaishodan wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite>Ravaan wrote:</cite><blockquote>oh for all that is fricken holy .. more fairies?!?! You have some of the coolest Races (minotaurs, Centaurs, those half spider people lol, Drovlags<sp><img src="/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> and you pick MORE fairies.</blockquote><p> /agree</p><p>Though I'm glad there is a new evil race... it seems like an easy cop-out to take by taking a fae, changing skin tone and calling it evil... </p></blockquote> LORE Read the lore in Gallenite's message.  That's why they're not just something random. </blockquote><p>It's a cop-out no matter how you cut it. This 'new' race isn't new at all, just a recolor of the fae. The 'lore' they gave you is nothing but a spin. This should NOT count as the promised new evil race. </p>

[EvilIguana9]

<cite>Polywogus wrote:</cite><blockquote>I loved the 1/2 spider people in EQLive too <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> I always thought they looked Dark Elvish ~_~ *edit* any more pics?  Thank you too BTW =D</blockquote> They were called Drachnids I believe, and I seem to recall that they were one of Mayong Mistmoore's creations.  They were EQ lore's version of the D&D Drider, which were created by priestesses of Lloth from Drow that committed serious offenses against their goddess. 

[Polywogus]

Thank you, couldn't remember the name <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />  Just started reading DE trilogy 2 days ago too <img src="/smilies/283a16da79f3aa23fe1025c96295f04f.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />

[Kaishod]

<cite>Rijacki wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite>Kaishodan wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite>Ravaan wrote:</cite><blockquote>oh for all that is fricken holy .. more fairies?!?! You have some of the coolest Races (minotaurs, Centaurs, those half spider people lol, Drovlags<sp><img src="/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> and you pick MORE fairies.</blockquote><p> /agree</p><p>Though I'm glad there is a new evil race... it seems like an easy cop-out to take by taking a fae, changing skin tone and calling it evil... </p></blockquote> LORE Read the lore in Gallenite's message.  That's why they're not just something random. </blockquote><p>I did enjoy reading the Lore story... but it really is just a re-coloring as stated... maybe they should've had them larger, more grotesque, bat-like wings... either way, even then... still an easy route to take...  honestly not much thinking to put into the lore either... even if it was a good story...</p><p>"The Carrot" by Kaishodan</p><p>"omg... we need a new evil race to appease the masses and shut them up about this fae glide BS... think ppl"</p><p>"hmmm... an evil ogre king captures the Droag and transmutes them to breed flying ogre??" </p><p>"no... that would be to much work... we needed this done yesterday ppl... "</p><p>"oh, i know... if you took the wings off of a fae, they do look very elven... and since we need an evil race quick, the elven race would be the easiest to dup..."</p><p>"thats it!  change the skin color of the fae to match the dark elves!"</p><p>"Change the color of skin of the fae and call them Arsai????   BRILLIANT!"</p><p>"Dark Elves with wings for the new race and we keep the masses happy???   BRILLIANT!"</p>

[JamesRay]

Anybody else think Red Bull commercial after reading that last post?

[phoenixshard]

<cite>JamesRay wrote:</cite><blockquote>Anybody else think Red Bull commercial after reading that last post?</blockquote>Nah, Guinness Extra Stout with the BRILLIANT!!!

[Silverpaws]

<a href="http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a31/jenerrn/EQ2_000013.jpg" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"><img src="http://i8.photobucket.com...pg" border="0"></a> <a href="http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a31/jenerrn/EQ2_000011.jpg" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"><img src="http://i8.photobucket.com...pg" border="0"></a> <a href="http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a31/jenerrn/EQ2_000010.jpg" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"><img src="http://i8.photobucket.com...pg" border="0"></a>

[Silverpaws]

double post..

[RFMan]

Lore or not, this is just stupid.  Why do they love fairies so much?  I can't think of one logical marketing reason as to why they would choose 2 sets of fairies, because people generally don't like them at all -- especially us males.  So I ask of you: WHY?!  Why do you continue to alienate content from a large portion of your player base by choosing stupid races for us to play?  You know how many males I can think of that play a fae?  None.  Absolutely none.  You make one, and it's cool because of the gliding, but then you realize that you're playing a fairie, and you delete the character.  That's what happened to me, and that's what happens to a lot of people. I suppose at this point it's too late to change anything, but holy crap, people, get it together.  Fire your design team, have them sit at a masculinity brainwashing seminar, do whatever it takes, but stop giving us more effeminate (as opposed to gender neutral, NOT excessively masculine) crap.  It's an overabundance of this kind of content that really irritates me about this game. EDIT: I still like the game a lot, but this is the thing about it that annoys me most.

[interstellarmatter]

<cite>RFMan wrote:</cite><blockquote>Lore or not, this is just stupid.  Why do they love fairies so much?  I can't think of one logical marketing reason as to why they would choose 2 sets of fairies, because people generally don't like them at all -- especially us males.  So I ask of you: WHY?!  Why do you continue to alienate content from a large portion of your player base by choosing stupid races for us to play?  You know how many males I can think of that play a fae?  None.  Absolutely none.  You make one, and it's cool because of the gliding, but then you realize that you're playing a fairie, and you delete the character.  That's what happened to me, and that's what happens to a lot of people. I suppose at this point it's too late to change anything, but holy crap, people, get it together.  Fire your design team, have them sit at a masculinity brainwashing seminar, do whatever it takes, but stop giving us more effeminate (as opposed to gender neutral, NOT excessively masculine) crap.  It's an overabundance of this kind of content that really irritates me about this game. </blockquote>Maybe they are trying to alienate the male base and get females playing.  That's not a bad thing.  Just go play your orc in WoW and leave us alone.

[Jesdyr]

<cite>RFMan wrote:</cite><blockquote> You know how many males I can think of that play a fae?  None.  Absolutely none.  You make one, and it's cool because of the gliding, but then you realize that you're playing a fairie, and you delete the character.  That's what happened to me, and that's what happens to a lot of people. </blockquote> It's ok .. some day you will be comfortable enough with your sexuality that you will no longer think that the model of a character you play in an online game has anything to do with your offline self. I know many guys that play fae character as well as female characters.  Just like I know women who play male characters and non-fae races. The reason I deleted my Fae after about 10 min was that I didnt want a "good" character. I also didnt like the Fae wings .. just could never get them to look evil enough for me. Now the new race I will be deleting one of my low level Alts to make one <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />

[Vyrance]

i swear, some people will complain about anything.  the dark elves are the same exact thing as the arasai.  yet everyone loves the dark elves.

[Ganlu]

<cite>RFMan wrote:</cite><blockquote>Lore or not, this is just stupid.  Why do they love fairies so much?  I can't think of one logical marketing reason as to why they would choose 2 sets of fairies, because people generally don't like them at all -- especially us males. </blockquote> Hahahaha speak for yourself, when you're confident enough in yourself you'll realize that playing a fairy-type race in an online game doesn't make you feminine. 

[Mwahaha]

<p>The dance animation is pretty emo-ish with their head bobbing side to side then their left hand brushes away their bangs (or where the bangs would be) and ends with a little hop.  They have the same voice selections as the Fae also. </p><p>Here is my Arasai brigand in the Neriak starting area:</p><p><img src="http://img243.imageshack.us/img243/3521/eq2000015pb4.jpg" border="0"></p>

[Kaishod]

Skeez@Nagafen wrote: <blockquote><p>The dance animation is pretty emo-ish with their head bobbing side to side then their left hand brushes away their bangs (or where the bangs would be) and ends with a little hop.  They have the same voice selections as the Fae also. </p><p>Here is my Arasai brigand in the Neriak starting area:</p><p><img src="http://img243.imageshack.us/img243/3521/eq2000015pb4.jpg" border="0"></p></blockquote>so... is Karau, the one behind you with the colorful wings... is that an arsai?  or a betrayed fae in Neriak?

[Mwahaha]

She is a Arasai.  I don't believe there are any betrayal quests to go to Neriak just yet.

[Kaishod]

Skeez@Nagafen wrote: <blockquote>She is a Arasai.  I don't believe there are any betrayal quests to go to Neriak just yet.</blockquote><p> wow... if that is true and she is Arsai... then it definitely proves many ppls point about the cop-out in making an evil race, lol... also... if Karau is Arsai... what exactly is the difference between the 2 races?</p><p>I thought a betrayed fae was funny (not knocking those that have betrayed, just the thought of an "evil" fae makes me laugh)... guess this means that now there is no need for an Arsai or a Fae to betray... if you want an evil fairy, make an Arsai and still have happy, joyously colored wings, lol... </p><p>Even though the recycling of ideas keeps companies afloat... it also helps them remain in a funk... never surpassing or elevating the expectations of its consumers or the industry, which in turn usually ends in demise... guess SOE doesn't want the throne it once sat on... I would not... and do not blame this on the devs... I would blame it on the company leadership for allowing it to happen... allowing recycled ideas like this to take place... </p><p>Though I cannot wait to visit Neriak and the zones... I'm just glad its free and I don't have to pay for such content </p><p>/shrug</p>

[Ravaan]

<p>im sorry but like one guy said lore or not this is stupid and the lazy way out. one fairy race was fine (well not really but whatever) but 2? and the second hardly looks ANY different than the first?</p><p>give me Drachnids give me half elves half snake (similar to those in Nizara). give me something cool to play for god sake.</p>

[Mwahaha]

<p>Fae + emo = Arasai.  </p><p>The things I've noticed so far being only lvl 3 is a few different hair styles, skin/eye color options, and different dance animations.  Still a bit dissapointed that they have the exact same voice options as the Fae.  One thing I'm looking foward to checking out what kind of racial traits they'll have.  </p><p>Still the main thing to keep in mind is that we are getting a new race and a new city for free.  Thats my favorite price.  </p><p><a href="http://eq2.allakhazam.com/db/guides.html?guide=983" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">More pictures here.</a></p>

[Geriden]

<p>Hi</p><p>well firstly i never use these forums and i played eq2 on and of since it was launched </p><p>and just recently came back when i picked up the EoF in the shops but bleh fairies,</p><p>didnt keep my attention for long.</p><p>So i canceld again as i heard this evil xpack was in the works and was like sweet</p><p>il come back when i seen the new evil race i was wishing for a new type of repitile race / ogre mix </p><p>(no paticular reason just wanted a big freaky evil looking guy)</p><p>Now i see diffrent colored fae well woop de doo what a cop out</p><p>i cant be arsed to come back for this its a really huge disapointment </p><p>i wish it was a joke but sadly its not </p><p>Way to take easy route @ the dev team for this xpack.</p><p><img src="/smilies/0320a00cb4bb5629ab9fc2bc1fcc4e9e.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> were not impressed.</p>

[Kizee]

I like the wing selections better than Fae's.

[Raveller]

<cite>Vyrance wrote:</cite><blockquote>i swear, some people will complain about anything.  the dark elves are the same exact thing as the arasai.  yet everyone loves the dark elves. </blockquote>Dark elves suck. They're played exclusively by teen-angst goth wannabes with no lives.

[AdamWest007]

This...absolutely...sucks.

[Velsha]

<cite>Raveller wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite>Vyrance wrote:</cite><blockquote>i swear, some people will complain about anything.  the dark elves are the same exact thing as the arasai.  yet everyone loves the dark elves. </blockquote>Dark elves suck. They're played exclusively by teen-angst goth wannabes with no lives. </blockquote>lol.. that's quite a generalization, don't you think? I'm not a teenager, I'm certainly not goth, and I have a professional career.

[Rabid-Othmir]

<cite>Raveller wrote:</cite><blockquote>This should NOT count as the promised new evil race. </blockquote>It shouldn't, but you should know that it will.

[interstellarmatter]

<cite>Raveller wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite>Vyrance wrote:</cite><blockquote>i swear, some people will complain about anything.  the dark elves are the same exact thing as the arasai.  yet everyone loves the dark elves. </blockquote>Dark elves suck. They're played exclusively by teen-angst goth wannabes with no lives. </blockquote> hahahaha! Was that the best that you could come up with?

[Goaldan]

<p>If there were significant differences, like there are between the high elves and dark elves, I don't think the reaction would be so negative.</p><p>However, when you can't tell at a glance, the difference between a fae and an arasai, there's a problem.</p><p>The arasai are not unique enough looking compared to the fae.   The unique hairstyles and wing patterns don't matter, especially since they have access to nearly the same range of colors.  More needs to be done to make the arasai 'stand out', like the dark elves compared to high elves.</p>

[SillyMonk]

<p>Honestly? I have to agree with some of the opinions here that talk about this being a cop out. A lot of this was brought about, I'm sure, by the crying about not having an evil fae. Slapping some new hairdoo's and different skin coloring onto a fae hardly constitutes it being evil. I really feel cheated (yes, I know it's a FREE update) out of a decent representitive for Team Evil. I would've LOVED to play a Minotaur (loved that race since tabletop D&D), for example. I understand it's easier to do it this way, but it is kinda cheap.</p><p>However, the bringing back of Neriak? Can't wait to get in there and play around a bit.</p>

[Velsha]

Considering this race is part of a free update, rather than content you pay for, I am really not surprised. This also doesn't totally mean that we won't see a new evil race with the allged Kunark expansion. In my opinion, this was simply a race that was always supposed to be added in, but for whatever reason was saved until later. If you don't like the new Fae, then don't play them.

[Kaishod]

<cite>SillyMonkey wrote:</cite><blockquote><p>Honestly? I have to agree with some of the opinions here that talk about this being a cop out. A lot of this was brought about, I'm sure, by the crying about not having an evil fae. Slapping some new hairdoo's and different skin coloring onto a fae hardly constitutes it being evil. I really feel cheated (yes, I know it's a FREE update) out of a decent representitive for Team Evil. I would've LOVED to play a Minotaur (loved that race since tabletop D&D), for example. I understand it's easier to do it this way, but it is kinda cheap.</p><p>However, the bringing back of Neriak? Can't wait to get in there and play around a bit.</p></blockquote><p>I think if they HAD to make an evil flying race, why couldn't the dark elves have enslaved the Droag or something... </p><p>Yea... can't wait to visit Neriak <img src="/smilies/283a16da79f3aa23fe1025c96295f04f.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />  maybe one day Oggok will be found and brought into the game so the Ogre can be a proud and strong race again so we can take over Norrath <img src="/smilies/908627bbe5e9f6a080977db8c365caff.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />... </p>

[cronar]

<p>Heterosexual, masculine adult male piping in here. I love the Fae, have three of them. One even made as a Female because i felt like it.</p><p>It seems that some people DO have a problem seperating reality from video games.</p><p>Go Go 3 station passes. Time to roll up a Aresei. Now which class to make????</p>

[Haz]

I like the Arsai. I think they are really cool. I'm pretty excited, and I'm patching text. (3.6 gigs of files. Never done it before. =[ ) I wished they came up with something really cool, like evil Gnolls or some sort of Wolf race. OMG, if they had a wolf race...awesome. ANYWAY, I think the arsai are neater than the fae and maybe something new will come from the alleged Kunark expansion. =]]

[dalaorn_eq2]

<cite>Raveller wrote:</cite><blockquote>Rijacki wrote: <p>It's a cop-out no matter how you cut it. This 'new' race isn't new at all, just a recolor of the fae. The 'lore' they gave you is nothing but a spin. This should NOT count as the promised new evil race. </p></blockquote> Agreed.  The Arasai are fine, but it shouldn't count against adding a playable evil race for the Kunark expansion (if there will be one).

[Rakyn]

<cite>Raveller wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite>Vyrance wrote:</cite><blockquote>i swear, some people will complain about anything.  the dark elves are the same exact thing as the arasai.  yet everyone loves the dark elves. </blockquote>Dark elves suck. They're played exclusively by teen-angst goth wannabes with no lives. </blockquote> Yep. That's why I cut myself, cry about life and pray to satan every night before I go to bed. Good job ya fallacious [Removed for Content].

[Rabid-Othmir]

All the naysayers can relax, I have personally seen the differences between the two races. <img src="http://img205.imageshack.us/img205/1039/fairies2qn1.png" border="0"> And to think that some people were afraid that the only difference would be the wings.

[Mion da Peon]

<p>Ok <span style="font-size: x-small">SOE</span>... <span style="font-size: small">don't panic...</span> there is still time to fix this before the new race goes live.  Here's how:</p><p>Give the Arasai  6 arms.</p><p><span style="font-size: medium">No. Seriously. </span><span style="font-size: x-small">Scrape up some new animations, give them more weapon slots (modify weapon values by 1/3rd), and Vwala! novel content.</span></p>

[Darian]

<cite>Rabid-Othmir wrote:</cite><blockquote>All the naysayers can relax, I have personally seen the differences between the two races. <img src="http://img205.imageshack.us/img205/1039/fairies2qn1.png" border="0"> And to think that some people were afraid that the only difference would be the wings. </blockquote> LOL [Removed for Content] omg wow those Arasai look WAY different its so obvious they are a new completely different race.

[Azzikai]

<cite>RFMan wrote:</cite><blockquote>Lore or not, this is just stupid.  Why do they love fairies so much?  I can't think of one logical marketing reason as to why they would choose 2 sets of fairies, because people generally don't like them at all -- especially us males.  So I ask of you: WHY?!  Why do you continue to alienate content from a large portion of your player base by choosing stupid races for us to play?  You know how many males I can think of that play a fae?  None.  Absolutely none.  You make one, and it's cool because of the gliding, but then you realize that you're playing a fairie, and you delete the character.  That's what happened to me, and that's what happens to a lot of people. </blockquote><p>There were many a "what race would you like to see" posts on the EQ forums and guess what always came out as number one? Yeah, that would be Fairies <img src="/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> I think you're projecting some weird insecurities you have regarding your online persona onto a whole bunch of people who don't exactly agree with you. Seriously, there are guys out there who have no problems with playing a feminine character, including the guy sitting next to me <img src="/smilies/69934afc394145350659cd7add244ca9.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> </p>

[Sphiriah]

I like the Arasai. I really do. But, really, how hard would it be to add some horns and a tail?

[Mwahaha]

One thing to remember is that the new race isn't live yet so changes still can be made which I'm sure will happen since having a Arasai say something like "For Tunare!" just doesn't fit.

[baguetteovenfresh]

since they only have a couple new hairdos i would say there probably will be at least  new hair. disfiguring scars or grotesque tattoos if not tails/horns would be nice - id rather play an imp than a fairy!

[Mion da Peon]

<p>A <span style="font-size: medium">Six armed </span><span style="font-size: x-small">imp! (See page 3)</span></p><p>Please add more content which actually pertains to game mechanics.  It doesn't always need to scale up, just be new and interesting.  This'll give people some incentive to re-roll a new race besides pretty wings to look at.  Added mechanics also should increase the potency, recollection, and popularity of any given content.  This was the success story of the beastmaster class, replaying old content but from a some what novel solo position.  In a way, I think all the controls implemented in EQ2 take away from a novel gaming experience, but this framework should also make it easier to balance new additions to the family like a race with 6 weapon slots.</p><p>At least make sure they have almost completely different racial traits...</p>

[Catsy]

Oh, good grief. Take a step back and think about how many different types of elves there are in EQ2. Half Elves, High Elves, Wood Elves, and Dark Elves all have their differences, yes--but for the most part they amount to available coloration and and hairstyles. There are subtle differences in size and facial structure, depending on what models you have enabled, but they're so subtle as to be unnoticeable if you're not zoomed in closely. I agree that the Arasai need more distinct color ranges. Part of the problem is that fae are already so colorful that it's hard to pick any given color range that would stand out as not-fae. But the new wing designs and hairstyles are very unique, and unless you play so zoomed out that all fae look alike to you anyway, they'll be very distinct. Sure, you can game the appearance generator so that it makes the two races look very similar if you really try. You can do the same thing with all but the Dark Elves, and not the latter only because of how dark their coloration range is. I'm interested to see what the racial traditions of the Arasai will be like.

[Dartessa]

I'm not one to complain cause I'm really happy about the addition, though some bat-like/demon-like wings would be a nice addin =)

[Drewx]

<p>By the gods more fairies?! MORE FAIRIES?! I had hoped and prayed the rumors were false...I really did not want to see Arasai....</p><p>This cannot count as the promised evil race...this is a slap in face of every evil player. Then SOE gives us some freaking lore bull crap. Thats a load of crap. Whats next a rehash of a froglok? Why can the evil races get no new ORIGINAL race? The Good side has gotten original races and we get rehashes...this is not "love" for the evil side.</p><p>I wont lie...I am THRILLED about Neriak...but the Arasai are better left never created, they must not leave that test server. I doubt the Good side would be thrilled if you had given them some "Light/Blessed" Version of the Ratonga rather than the Fae.</p><p>They hardly look different aside from the color scheme...this is just...insulting. I'm guessing SoE wants to [Removed for Content] off every evil player? What about the Fae who have betrayed? They gonan get a race change option? Only way to truely justify and make some difference is to ban Fae and Arasai betrayal. We have enough [I cannot control my vocabulary] fairies.</p><p>Whats next...a new neutral Fairy Race?! I'm sorry but SOE truely did drop the ball on this one. No MMO has an exact clone of another race. There is like a 5% difference in the Arasai...Neriak is best added in alone. </p><p>What is next? Neutral Fairies followed by Gnolls and Orcs joining Qeynos while Freeport is joined by Menlings and Toadloks?!</p>

[Tandy]

I was a bit sad to see just different hairstyles, colors and wings for the arasai. But I guess for something totally free we cant get too upset <img src="/smilies/69934afc394145350659cd7add244ca9.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> Hopefully next expansion will have lots of cool new things.

[Ravaan]

Sotanyavejin@Guk wrote: <blockquote>Oh, good grief. Take a step back and think about how many different types of elves there are in EQ2. Half Elves, High Elves, Wood Elves, and Dark Elves all have their differences, yes--but for the most part they amount to available coloration and and hairstyles. There are subtle differences in size and facial structure, depending on what models you have enabled, but they're so subtle as to be unnoticeable if you're not zoomed in closely. </blockquote><p> sorry but this is just a cop out, but to be honest if i had known about the "different" elves before EQ1 was made I probably would have complained about it as well. I mean really this is just Laziness.</p><p>Whats next? </p><p>Toadgoks - Frogloks that were corrupted by inny Trills - a sect of peaceful trolls that are trying to prove thier worth to Qeynos. Riksarian - a race of lizards that have been hidden for years and despise the Iksar. </p><p>So on and so forth?</p><p>New content right?</p>

[Kyouki]

<p>...I don't know what to say....</p><p> IT'S FREE! ! ! What the hell are you [I cannot control my vocabulary]' about?! IT'S FREE ! ! ! and speaking of which... Fairies are ment to be evil in asian tradition, yet are seen friendly in our.. It seems fair to rub them the right way too.</p>

[kenm]

Let me get this straight... (ALL IMAGES COMPLETELY STOLEN TO DEMONSTRATE MY POINT.) They took this: <img src="http://www.pixyland.org/peterpan/palmbeach/pixie1.jpg" border="0"> And then combined it with this: <img src="http://i.a-13.net/emo_fag.gif" border="0"> In order to make this: <img src="http://img504.imageshack.us/img504/5579/2029463c38079f9e4zy1.jpg" border="0"> Yeah, that's awesome.  Really.

[Iseabeil]

<p>Sure, you *can* make an arasai that looks like a fae, but why would you? You can make serval of the elven races look similar, but whats the point in that? If you make an arasai with the intention of it looking as it should, lore wise, it will be hard to make a fae copy cat, althou Id love to see someone try make a successfull fae version of my evil little girl:</p><p><img src="http://www.ladiesempire.com/arasai2.jpg" border="0"></p>

[Catsy]

On a subject that doesn't involve whinging about free content, can anyone who's currently playing on Test post their observations about the Arasai racial traditions? I'm still at work and have to wait til I get home to check this out. I expect that since they have wings they would also have access to glide, but I'm curious as to whether or not they'll get the option of that wonderful run speed boost. Edit: gotta admit, Kenman's last post was hysterical. And Iseabeil, your Arasai looks frakking incredibly cool.

[zaun2]

I like the Arasai.  Its a race that is not in any MMO in any shape or fashion, and is unique to EQ2. As for Arasai racials, as of now, they are similar to Fae, where you can get glide and a 5% run speed boost.

[Darian]

Sotanyavejin@Guk wrote: <blockquote>Oh, good grief. Take a step back and think about how many different types of elves there are in EQ2. Half Elves, High Elves, Wood Elves, and Dark Elves all have their differences, yes--but for the most part they amount to available coloration and and hairstyles. There are subtle differences in size and facial structure, depending on what models you have enabled, but they're so subtle as to be unnoticeable if you're not zoomed in closely. I agree that the Arasai need more distinct color ranges. Part of the problem is that fae are already so colorful that it's hard to pick any given color range that would stand out as not-fae. But the new wing designs and hairstyles are very unique, and unless you play so zoomed out that all fae look alike to you anyway, they'll be very distinct. Sure, you can game the appearance generator so that it makes the two races look very similar if you really try. You can do the same thing with all but the Dark Elves, and not the latter only because of how dark their coloration range is. I'm interested to see what the racial traditions of the Arasai will be like. </blockquote> If you try??? It wouldn't take much effort really to make a Arasai look like a Fae the dev's have already done that for you, they have 4? new hairdos and Very cool looking wings but they LOOK to similar to the Fae, Now if this was released with EoF which it probably was going to but then they decided to give us "Free" content as a gimmick and to grab some WoW players with the Emo like characters like the Blood Elves.

[Snowdonia]

I'm not getting into the "debate" about Arasai being a good/crap new race since it's irrelevent, but I will say I do wish they had gotten a bit more creative with them and given them hooves, claws, horns, or something bodily that makes them a bit more distinctive. As for Racial Traditions, the Arasai get the crafting traditions for Artificing and <b>Trasmuting</b>. Here are links to all the new hairstyles and wings available for Arasai (I'm not posting the rehashes from Fae hairstyles since everyone should know what those look like). For the wings they will be the "stock" wings and not the color customizable ones. <u><b>Female Arasai Hairstyles </b></u><a href="http://www.ulujain.org/temp/arasaifrebellious.jpg" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Rebellious Dame</a> <a href="http://www.ulujain.org/temp/arasaifmalign.jpg" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Malign Debutant</a> <a href="http://www.ulujain.org/temp/arasaifmalicious.jpg" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Malicious Dowager</a> <a href="http://www.ulujain.org/temp/arasaifviolent.jpg" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Violent Sprite</a> <a href="http://www.ulujain.org/temp/arasaifqueen.jpg" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Queen's Crown</a> <a href="http://www.ulujain.org/temp/arasaiffount.jpg" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Fount of Fury</a> <u><b>Female Arasai Wings </b></u><a href="http://www.ulujain.org/temp/arasaifpearlescent.jpg" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Pearlescent Coil</a> <a href="http://www.ulujain.org/temp/arasaifveined.jpg" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Veined Heartbeat</a> <a href="http://www.ulujain.org/temp/arasaificed.jpg" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Iced Lightning</a> <a href="http://www.ulujain.org/temp/arasaifbelladonna.jpg" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Belladonna Leafwing</a> <a href="http://www.ulujain.org/temp/arasaifprismatic.jpg" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Prismatic Wisp</a> <a href="http://www.ulujain.org/temp/arasaifspattered.jpg" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Spattered Canopy</a> <u><b>Male Arasai Hairstyles </b></u><a href="http://www.ulujain.org/temp/arasaimboiling.jpg" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Boiling Hate</a> <a href="http://www.ulujain.org/temp/arasaimcrown.jpg" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Crown of Angst</a> <a href="http://www.ulujain.org/temp/arasaimdreadguard.jpg" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Dreadguard's Coif</a> <a href="http://www.ulujain.org/temp/arasaimquills.jpg" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Quills of Hate</a> <a href="http://www.ulujain.org/temp/arasaimwellspring.jpg" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Wellspring of Nightmares</a> <a href="http://www.ulujain.org/temp/arasaimdespondent.jpg" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Despondent Trickster</a> <u><b>Male Arasai Wings </b></u><a href="http://www.ulujain.org/temp/arasaimspiked.jpg" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Spiked Batwing</a> <a href="http://www.ulujain.org/temp/arasaimchromatic.jpg" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Chromatic Triad</a> <a href="http://www.ulujain.org/temp/arasaimseraph.jpg" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Seraph's Darkwing</a> <a href="http://www.ulujain.org/temp/arasaimcoldlight.jpg" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Coldlight Daggerwing</a> <a href="http://www.ulujain.org/temp/arasaimprismatic.jpg" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Prismatic Dragonfaery</a> <a href="http://www.ulujain.org/temp/arasaimemerald.jpg" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Emerald Leafwing</a> Enjoy! EDIT: Please do not hotlink these pictures to other forums/sites on the internet without asking for permission first. Use referal links only. I'm getting (understandably) a lot of hits on these screenies from these boards alone as it is and I don't need unauthorized traffic causing my site to come down. Do feel free, however, to copy the images and host them yourself for hotlinking use. Thanks.

[Xalmat]

*double-post*

[Xalmat]

Flippin double posts. That very, very evil Arasai above cannot be reproduced with the Fae. Not even close!

[Xev]

<cite>Kaishodan wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite>Ravaan wrote:</cite><blockquote>oh for all that is fricken holy .. more fairies?!?! You have some of the coolest Races (minotaurs, Centaurs, those half spider people lol, Drovlags<sp><img src="/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> and you pick MORE fairies.</blockquote><p> /agree</p><p>Though I'm glad there is a new evil race... it seems like an easy cop-out to take by taking a fae, changing skin tone and calling it evil... </p></blockquote>Yeah, but at the same time there are tons of players that love the fae race and want to be able to play evil classes with them.  I know you can betray, but that is a huge pain, especially for anyone that rerolls a character.  While they did only make minor changes to the Fae, they are good changes and do really give the race a kind of twisted appearance while leaving them a beautiful, elegant race. And considering this is a free update for everyone, I think it is awesome that they are doing all this.  I'm personally very excited to start an evil Fae in Neriak. I do think with the next paid expansion, if they add a new race (which I think they will), it should be unique.

[Xev]

<cite>RFMan wrote:</cite><blockquote>Lore or not, this is just stupid.  Why do they love fairies so much?  I can't think of one logical marketing reason as to why they would choose 2 sets of fairies, because people generally don't like them at all -- especially us males.  So I ask of you: WHY?!  Why do you continue to alienate content from a large portion of your player base by choosing stupid races for us to play?  You know how many males I can think of that play a fae?  None.  Absolutely none.  You make one, and it's cool because of the gliding, but then you realize that you're playing a fairie, and you delete the character.  That's what happened to me, and that's what happens to a lot of people. I suppose at this point it's too late to change anything, but holy crap, people, get it together.  Fire your design team, have them sit at a masculinity brainwashing seminar, do whatever it takes, but stop giving us more effeminate (as opposed to gender neutral, NOT excessively masculine) crap.  It's an overabundance of this kind of content that really irritates me about this game. EDIT: I still like the game a lot, but this is the thing about it that annoys me most. </blockquote>I'm not sure where you get the idea that no one likes the Fae.  I see tons of people playing them and I myself play them as well.  I'm a male and I love them.  I think they are the one of the best races from any MMO.  What is so great about them is that the Fae are a race that should be very, very feminine, and while they are somewhat feminine or androgynous, they can still be made to be a normal, masculine character (ignoring the dance of course). Just because you feel like playing one threatens your masculinity, that doesn't mean that everyone else feels the same way or that any other male player feels that way. Now as for the reason for making the Arasai and evil version of the fae...well that is what a lot of people have wanted since EoF came out.  I've personally betrayed to Freeport to make evil Fae before, but not having to do that will be so much better and help balance things out some more. And seriously, unless you just make the race look intentionally feminine by giving them pastel pink wings or something, they don't have to be feminine.  Aside from the wings, they look very similar to the humanoid races...give them black bat wings or blood red demonic wings or something of that sort and they don't look feminine at all.  I think making the Arasai is a great move on SoE's part and can't wait for them to release this GU.

[Themaginator]

<cite>Sphiriah wrote:</cite><blockquote>I like the Arasai. I really do. But, really, how hard would it be to add some horns and a tail? </blockquote>why does everything evil need horns and a tail

[Xev]

<cite>Drewx wrote:</cite><blockquote><p>By the gods more fairies?! MORE FAIRIES?! I had hoped and prayed the rumors were false...I really did not want to see Arasai....</p><p>This cannot count as the promised evil race...this is a slap in face of every evil player. Then SOE gives us some freaking lore bull crap. Thats a load of crap. Whats next a rehash of a froglok? Why can the evil races get no new ORIGINAL race? The Good side has gotten original races and we get rehashes...this is not "love" for the evil side.</p><p>I wont lie...I am THRILLED about Neriak...but the Arasai are better left never created, they must not leave that test server. I doubt the Good side would be thrilled if you had given them some "Light/Blessed" Version of the Ratonga rather than the Fae.</p><p>They hardly look different aside from the color scheme...this is just...insulting. I'm guessing SoE wants to [Removed for Content] off every evil player? What about the Fae who have betrayed? They gonan get a race change option? Only way to truely justify and make some difference is to ban Fae and Arasai betrayal. We have enough [I cannot control my vocabulary] fairies.</p><p>Whats next...a new neutral Fairy Race?! I'm sorry but SOE truely did drop the ball on this one. No MMO has an exact clone of another race. There is like a 5% difference in the Arasai...Neriak is best added in alone. </p><p>What is next? Neutral Fairies followed by Gnolls and Orcs joining Qeynos while Freeport is joined by Menlings and Toadloks?!</p></blockquote>This is a <b>Free</b> update to the game.  They are adding a new race to the evil faction that lots of players have wanted and thought should be available in some form since EoF came out.  Now players can make evil characters that are like the fae and start the game out with lore and quests and a zone suited for them rather than starting out in Kelethin and having to do a lot of "good" quests.  For a free update this is huge! If you want to get upset about races, wait and find out what is coming in the next paid expansion.  If there is no new evil race that is unique, then get upset and start doing what needs to be done to get SoE to add one.  Personally, I don't think that this will be the "promised evil race", but rather I think this is something that they had either intended to add at some point anyway or decided to make and put in just to give so many of the players that have wanted something like this, the option to make an "evil Fae".  I know you think this is crap, but I am very excited about it and I know there are a lot of other players that feel the same way. And once again, the Arasai and Neriak are being given out for <b>free</b>.  No other MMO updates their game with entirely new starting areas, races and quests that are anywhere near this extensive, without charging players for it via a paid expansion.  If players were being charged for all of this, then I would be upset too, but this is free and is a lot of new content, lore and a new race to play with.  What more could we expect to be given to us for free?

[Maroger]

<cite>Drewx wrote:</cite><blockquote><p>By the gods more fairies?! MORE FAIRIES?! I had hoped and prayed the rumors were false...I really did not want to see Arasai....</p><p>This cannot count as the promised evil race...this is a slap in face of every evil player. Then SOE gives us some freaking lore bull crap. Thats a load of crap. Whats next a rehash of a froglok? Why can the evil races get no new ORIGINAL race? The Good side has gotten original races and we get rehashes...this is not "love" for the evil side.</p><p>I wont lie...I am THRILLED about Neriak...but the Arasai are better left never created, they must not leave that test server. I doubt the Good side would be thrilled if you had given them some "Light/Blessed" Version of the Ratonga rather than the Fae.</p><p>They hardly look different aside from the color scheme...this is just...insulting. I'm guessing SoE wants to [Removed for Content] off every evil player? What about the Fae who have betrayed? They gonan get a race change option? Only way to truely justify and make some difference is to ban Fae and Arasai betrayal. We have enough [I cannot control my vocabulary] fairies.</p><p>Whats next...a new neutral Fairy Race?! I'm sorry but SOE truely did drop the ball on this one. No MMO has an exact clone of another race. There is like a 5% difference in the Arasai...Neriak is best added in alone. </p><p>What is next? Neutral Fairies followed by Gnolls and Orcs joining Qeynos while Freeport is joined by Menlings and Toadloks?!</p></blockquote><p>I agree this was a slap in the face to those of us who play evil characters. It is bad enough that they let the Fae betray to Freeport but NOT NERIAK. Take them out. Personally I hated the Fae and played one for the EOF beta but absolutely hated the look and feel of the character. I am not into fairies in a big way.</p><p>But I think it is a real insult to think they can just give the Fae a new hairdo and give them Neriak as a starting city. That is a real insult. They should not even be allowed in the city never mind starting there.</p><p>I was so hoping that it was not true about the Arsai and I feel as if I had been stabbed in that back by having Neriak full of dirty little Fae.</p><p>If they want to do that then let Trolls and Ogres and Iksar start in Qeynos or Kelethin please -- it is only fair. I think SOE has truly insulted a lot of people with this change and I hope that they reconsider and this does NOT go life.</p><p>Let the Fae be happy with betrayal - so it is a PITA - tough if you don't like it don't play a FAE. But that doesn't mean they have to fill Neriak with dirty little fairies. This is SO HUMILIATING> <img src="/smilies/e78feac27fa924c4d0ad6cf5819f3554.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></p><p>And then they played silly games with the LORE just to force the fit of the Arsai -- how dumb do you think people are?? DO the developers think we don't see through these word games ???</p>

[DudeSupreme]

Denuve@Mistmoore wrote: <blockquote><a href="http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a31/jenerrn/EQ2_000013.jpg" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"><img src="http://i8.photobucket.com...pg" border="0"></a> <a href="http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a31/jenerrn/EQ2_000011.jpg" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"><img src="http://i8.photobucket.com...pg" border="0"></a> <a href="http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a31/jenerrn/EQ2_000010.jpg" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"><img src="http://i8.photobucket.com...pg" border="0"></a> </blockquote> Where did the armored Wargs come from?

[Xalmat]

Y'all can rant and complain all you want, but the Arasai were hinted at as far back as the Echoes of Faydwer beta. For a long time, the Fae had a voiceover option of "Arsai 1" and "Arsai 2", in addition to "Fae 1" and "Fae 2". Personally, I'm delighted that the evils get an equivalent to the Fae. I might even go and create an Arasai Shadowknight or Brigand to compliment my Fae Berserker.

[Raith]

What are the racial abilities? I saw that there were bonuses pertaining to Transmuting and another tradeskill, I was wondering what the other ones were; Are they pretty much just a cut and paste from the Fae racial abilities?

[Rijacki]

<cite>RaithVZ wrote:</cite><blockquote>What are the racial abilities? I saw that there were bonuses pertaining to Transmuting and another tradeskill, I was wondering what the other ones were; Are they pretty much just a cut and paste from the Fae racial abilities? </blockquote> Mostly, but they also might not be done yet.  There are several things which are still in transition on Test.

[Darian]

<cite>Xalmat wrote:</cite><blockquote>Y'all can rant and complain all you want, but the Arasai were hinted at as far back as the Echoes of Faydwer beta. For a long time, the Fae had a voiceover option of "Arsai 1" and "Arsai 2", in addition to "Fae 1" and "Fae 2". Personally, I'm delighted that the evils get an equivalent to the Fae. I might even go and create an Arasai Shadowknight or Brigand to compliment my Fae Berserker. </blockquote> Exactly which makes me believe they didn't have time to finish them or held off on them on purpose to spin this "Free" nonsense. The new LFG interface is nice but in order to look for players there must BE players, just not enough of them imo.

[Ariellia]

Geriden wrote: <blockquote><p>So i canceld again as i heard this evil xpack was in the works and was like sweet....</p><p>Now i see diffrent colored fae well woop de doo what a cop out</p><p>i cant be arsed to come back for this its a really huge disapointment </p><p>i wish it was a joke but sadly its not </p><p>Way to take easy route @ the dev team for this xpack.   </p></blockquote> Well for one thing it is not an "xpack," it is a PATCH (i.e.: free content). As I said in earlier threads, creating an entirely new and different race is likely too much work for a free content patch. If this WAS an expansion I would be annoyed, but it isn't. They are giving us a lot of stuff for a patch. As for the Arsai appearance, the only thing I will say is I think they should get eliminate the "normal" skintones from the palette. An Arsai with normal "white/peach/whatever-you-wanna-call-it" skin /does/ look too much like a Fae. If a new player does not know the differences between the wing-styles and hair-styles, they might not even be able to tell a Fae from an Arsai up close if the Arsai has a normal skin-tone - whereas a dark elf with their dark skin it is immediately obvious. Making this change would make me very happy <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />

[Breezin]

<cite>Maroger wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite>Drewx wrote:</cite><blockquote><p>By the gods more fairies?! MORE FAIRIES?! I had hoped and prayed the rumors were false...I really did not want to see Arasai....</p><p>This cannot count as the promised evil race...this is a slap in face of every evil player. Then SOE gives us some freaking lore bull crap. Thats a load of crap. Whats next a rehash of a froglok? Why can the evil races get no new ORIGINAL race? The Good side has gotten original races and we get rehashes...this is not "love" for the evil side.</p><p>I wont lie...I am THRILLED about Neriak...but the Arasai are better left never created, they must not leave that test server. I doubt the Good side would be thrilled if you had given them some "Light/Blessed" Version of the Ratonga rather than the Fae.</p><p>They hardly look different aside from the color scheme...this is just...insulting. I'm guessing SoE wants to [Removed for Content] off every evil player? What about the Fae who have betrayed? They gonan get a race change option? Only way to truely justify and make some difference is to ban Fae and Arasai betrayal. We have enough [I cannot control my vocabulary] fairies.</p><p>Whats next...a new neutral Fairy Race?! I'm sorry but SOE truely did drop the ball on this one. No MMO has an exact clone of another race. There is like a 5% difference in the Arasai...Neriak is best added in alone. </p><p>What is next? Neutral Fairies followed by Gnolls and Orcs joining Qeynos while Freeport is joined by Menlings and Toadloks?!</p></blockquote><p>I agree this was a slap in the face to those of us who play evil characters. It is bad enough that they let the Fae betray to Freeport but NOT NERIAK. Take them out. Personally I hated the Fae and played one for the EOF beta but absolutely hated the look and feel of the character. I am not into fairies in a big way.</p><p>But I think it is a real insult to think they can just give the Fae a new hairdo and give them Neriak as a starting city. That is a real insult. They should not even be allowed in the city never mind starting there.</p><p>I was so hoping that it was not true about the Arsai and I feel as if I had been stabbed in that back by having Neriak full of dirty little Fae.</p><p>If they want to do that then let Trolls and Ogres and Iksar start in Qeynos or Kelethin please -- it is only fair. I think SOE has truly insulted a lot of people with this change and I hope that they reconsider and this does NOT go life.</p><p>Let the Fae be happy with betrayal - so it is a PITA - tough if you don't like it don't play a FAE. But that doesn't mean they have to fill Neriak with dirty little fairies. This is SO HUMILIATING> <img src="/smilies/e78feac27fa924c4d0ad6cf5819f3554.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></p><p>And then they played silly games with the LORE just to force the fit of the Arsai -- how dumb do you think people are?? DO the developers think we don't see through these word games ???</p></blockquote>Jesus, you act like SOE took your birthday away, get a life..seriously Neriak looks cool the Arasai are alright, give em a try. If you dont like it dont roll an arasai

[Draknishar]

Personaly I think the arsai are cool enough and they do the job of evil fae well enough but I would have prefered something along the lines of mixing the fae with those female demons in EL ( among other places, they are also found as a necro pet ) that mix could have turned out much more interesting in my mind but still, Im happy with the way neriak looks and I will roll an arsai for sure.

[D-DevilK]

Needs more glowing eyes. I think they did well with the Arsai. People wanted evil Fae with release, they spent time, and even gave you Neriak to shut you up, and yet the hens do not stop clucking. If you don't like it, don't play it. You aren't being "gipped", Its free, and very good for free at that. On a brighter note, the other day I was musing to myself about a better LFG window and crap, there it is, pretty much exactly as I pictured it. :O

[lilmohi]

<cite>Draknishar wrote:</cite><blockquote>Personaly I think the arsai are cool enough and they do the job of evil fae well enough but I would have prefered something along the lines of mixing the fae with those female demons in EL ( among other places, they are also found as a necro pet ) that mix could have turned out much more interesting in my mind but still, Im happy with the way neriak looks and I will roll an arsai for sure. </blockquote><p> A tail and or some horns would have been sweet.  However i think the main point behind keeping the arsai so similar to fae is that they wouldn't have to create new variants of every armor model in the game to fit them.  I don't think most people realize how much work goes into creating a unique racial model and making the armor fit as well as other animations such as mounts.  For free content i think the arsai are right on the mark, i just wish the females had access to the batwings too.</p><p>BTW for all you people wanting another unique race with the next expansion remember that doing so will mean less content.  After all the developers have limited resources and every hour spent making a new race (not to mention supporting quests/newbie zones) is an hour they aren't adding zones, raids, quests and armor for the much needed high end (especially if they up the level limit).</p>

[Coniaric]

<p>Snowdonia@Runnyeye wrote:</p><p> <a href="http://www.ulujain.org/temp/arasaifprismatic.jpg" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Prismatic Wisp</a> <a href="http://www.ulujain.org/temp/arasaifprismatic.jpg" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Spattered Canopy</a></p><p>Those two linked to same image. </p>

[Valdaglerion]

<p>I get both sides of the debate on this one but personally, I think we have enough races in the game at the moment. I would much rather see some of the illogical things in the game fixed and more new content created than time spent on creating yet another variable to the equation.</p><p>Just my two cents worth...</p>

[Snowdonia]

<cite>Coniaric wrote:</cite><blockquote><p>Snowdonia@Runnyeye wrote:</p><p> <a href="http://www.ulujain.org/temp/arasaifprismatic.jpg" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Prismatic Wisp</a> <a href="http://www.ulujain.org/temp/arasaifprismatic.jpg" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Spattered Canopy</a></p><p>Those two linked to same image. </p></blockquote>Fixed. Thanks for the heads up.

[Xantinya]

<cite>Ravaan wrote:</cite><blockquote>oh for all that is fricken holy .. more fairies?!?! You have some of the coolest Races (minotaurs, Centaurs, those half spider people lol, Drovlags<sp><img src="/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> and you pick MORE fairies.</blockquote><p> I was so hoping they would add an evil fae for us on the Freeport side and that Neriak would be a starting town.  Thank you so much SOE!!! </p><p>And Ravaan (and all the others who are complaining about the new evil fae)  really some people just complain about anything and everything lol its simple just don't make one if you don't like them.  You just got a new mount and I'm sure they will add new races in future expansions.  Personally I absolutely love the fae race and their ability to glide and I am very very happy they are adding evil ones.</p>

[Laoch69]

<p>Ugg, what a cop out, thats the new race?  oy.  I was so hoping this was a really bad, bad, bad april fool's joke, too bad it's may <img src="/smilies/9d71f0541cff0a302a0309c5079e8dee.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></p>

[Noaani]

Kaishodan wrote: <blockquote>"The Carrot" by Kaishodan <p>"omg... we need a new evil race to appease the masses and shut them up about this fae glide BS... think ppl"</p><p>"hmmm... an evil ogre king captures the Droag and transmutes them to breed flying ogre??" </p><p>"no... that would be to much work... we needed this done yesterday ppl... "</p><p>"oh, i know... if you took the wings off of a fae, they do look very elven... and since we need an evil race quick, the elven race would be the easiest to dup..."</p><p>"thats it!  change the skin color of the fae to match the dark elves!"</p><p>"Change the color of skin of the fae and call them Arsai????   BRILLIANT!"</p><p>"Dark Elves with wings for the new race and we keep the masses happy???   BRILLIANT!"</p></blockquote><p>As, umm, amusing as this was to read, your forgetting one simple fact. News of this race was "leaked" before the release of EoF. The Arasai were planned, named, and probably finished off before EoF was released, which was most certianly before there was anyone complaining about fae glide as a racial trait.</p><p>While it is true that re-coloring an eexisting race is less work than making an entier new race, that doesn't mean it is no work at all. New hairstyles are not something that can be thrown together in the last 15 minutes of your day when you have nothing else to do.</p><p>This race, and probably Neriak, was at the very least in the advanced planning stages (likely already in full blown development) when EoF was released. It was <b><i>NOT</i></b> a knee jerk reaction to player complaints as you are trying to make it out to be. Look at facts like timelines before throwing crap at people, ya? </p>

[Noaani]

<cite>Rabid-Othmir wrote:</cite><blockquote>All the naysayers can relax, I have personally seen the differences between the two races. <img src="http://img205.imageshack.us/img205/1039/fairies2qn1.png" border="0"> And to think that some people were afraid that the only difference would be the wings. </blockquote><p>I could do the exact same thing with high elves, wood elves, half elves and dark elves. The only diffrances between them, as has been pointed out, is a few colour options, a few hair styles, and the size the race is limited to. There are hair styles common to all 4, and with the exception of dark elves having to have a slightly darker skin, I could easily make 4 of them all look almost identical. No one seems to be complaining about it. Why? This is 4 races that are almost identical, as opposed to the 2 which people are [Removed for Content] about now.</p><p>On the other hand, I could take a fae and an asarai and send them in the opposite direction. make them as diffrent from each other as is possable. No one would get them mixed up. Try and do the same with elves and a lot of people would still get high, half and wood elves mixed up. Again, why are people not complaining about this?</p><p>Then again, barbarians are nothing more than overweight humans. Dwarves are short barbarians, Halflings are short dwarves, gnomes are short humans, erudites are just bald people with funny skin, half elves may as well be humans with pointy ears, and dont even ask about Iksar, Kerra, Ratonga, Trolls, Froglks or Ogres, I dont want to know how those things came in to being. So really, for races, we have humans in a variety of forms (including mixes with various animals), we have elves (which could be considered short people with pointy ears) and we have Fae, which could well be people mixed with fragonfles. OMG! we were promised 18 races and we only have 1 with 17 variations! FIX IT SOE! </p>

[Josgar]

Arasai are the almost free new race... deal with it.

[Rabid-Othmir]

<cite>Noaani wrote:</cite><blockquote>I could do the exact same thing with high elves, wood elves, half elves and dark elves.</blockquote>No, you can't. Despite the similarities of all elves, they all have different models. The Fae and Arasai share the same model. Not that I'm a fan of the many different kind of elves, I have always found that four types of them was too many. <span style="font-size: x-small">Four too many to be exact. But the Elves have long had a part in the lore of Norrath, leaving them out would be foolish, while the Arasai have only been planned with the latest expansion.</span> <cite>Noaani wrote:</cite><blockquote>Then again, barbarians are nothing more than overweight humans. Dwarves are short barbarians, Halflings are short dwarves, gnomes are short humans, erudites are just bald people with funny skin, half elves may as well be humans with pointy ears, and dont even ask about Iksar, Kerra, Ratonga, Trolls, Froglks or Ogres, I dont want to know how those things came in to being. So really, for races, we have humans in a variety of forms (including mixes with various animals), we have elves (which could be considered short people with pointy ears) and we have Fae, which could well be people mixed with fragonfles. OMG! we were promised 18 races and we only have 1 with 17 variations! FIX IT SOE! </blockquote> Your comparisons are flawed, you must take into account the degrees of differentiation. While a Dwarf may be labelled as a "short human" the difference between Dwarves and Humans is far greater than the difference between Fae and Arasai.

[DrkVsr]

<cite>Vyrance wrote:</cite><blockquote>i swear, some people will complain about anything.  the dark elves are the same exact thing as the arasai.  yet everyone loves the dark elves. </blockquote> <span style="font-size: small"><span style="color: #993300">Zactely. What really is the difference between the Dark Elves and High Elves other than a change in skin colour and hair-dos?</span></span>

[DrkVsr]

<cite>Rabid-Othmir wrote:</cite><blockquote>All the naysayers can relax, I have personally seen the differences between the two races. <img src="http://img205.imageshack.us/img205/1039/fairies2qn1.png" border="0"> And to think that some people were afraid that the only difference would be the wings. </blockquote><span style="font-size: small"><span style="color: #993300">Nice photoshopping job there</span></span>

[Drewx]

<p>Unfortunately there is nothing that can be done.</p><p>It just upsets me that the former Bastion of Evil is going to be filled with fairies. Everywhere I turn in Freeport I see Fae...soon there numbers will double but rather than the bright colorful Fairies doubling in number...the increase in fairies will be there formed by their emohaired, grumpy(?), "twisted" clones.</p><p>I don't hate the Arasai, but honestly...this is like the Devs releasing Cabilis and having Ratonga or an evil Froglok...which I'll call a Toadlok, or Dark Halflings being the new race that starts in it. It feels like a slap in the face. I know every Iksar would skin themselves should such a development come.</p><p>Personally I think awhile back people were debating making Fae neutral and having various skins and wings...this was pre-EoF though. I maybe mistaken though. Atleats neutral Faeries could fill both Arasai and Fae Roles. *shrugs*</p><p>Serious a Bastion of Evil filled with fairies just seems wrong. I'm sure TONS of Fae in FP will move to Neriak too...so like in Qeynos, Kelethin, and Freeport...wings will be EVERYWHERE fluttering now with all the colors of the rainbow and all the colors of the rainbow's shadow in every city! I have no idea how this "outbreak" can be controlled. However lot of people seem to hate how Dark Neriak is...and well Neriak has always been dark so maybe it's dark lighting will give me a sanctuary from the swarms of Fae and Arasai. As Infra-vision would only make it worse...so I see Fae hopefully staying in FP with it's incredible room sizes. While Arasai will scatter and make a run for FP once they finish wih Darklight Woods and the other starting quests. Either way Arasai are coming...I'll just be watching the Devs from now o and hope they make even for this injustice by disgracing some famous good city. </p><p>Maybe Halas will return...but with Mushroom men as it's keepers...*shrugs* Perhaps...Neriak could erect a barrier that defiles the very DNA and physical make-up of the fae with the power of hate thus killing them on contact due to their origins being of sacred growth....*keeps dreaming...*</p>

[Rabid-Othmir]

<cite>DrkVsr wrote:</cite><blockquote><span style="font-size: small"><span style="color: #993300">Nice photoshopping job there</span></span> </blockquote>I don't know how to use photoshop. <a href="http://img53.imageshack.us/img53/9771/faecl8.png" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Fae</a> <a href="http://img159.imageshack.us/img159/1879/arasaiep6.png" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Arasai</a>

[Astrlidia]

I tired to log in to TC, but the new content wasn't avaiable for me, again.<img src="/smilies/9d71f0541cff0a302a0309c5079e8dee.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> As befroe, i'll must wait for it to hit live.<img src="/smilies/69934afc394145350659cd7add244ca9.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />

[WodinAu]

<p>All I can say is if someone gives you something FOR FREE do you always complain? I guess most people that have posted here would.!!..</p><p>"Here's $1000 to do what you want with"</p><p>"But its not in the right currency!" or "I want more"</p><p>Jeez people be thankful that SOE have been kind enough to give back to you FOR FREE a complete xpack size live update. And get over the past. This is EQ2 not EQ and alot has changed as all history does. Slave races in our own history now live side by side with those races that use to enslave them so why cant it happen here?</p><p>Also if you have tried the test server you would know that there is a hatred between the Dark Elves and the Arasai right from the start.</p><p>The only suggestion I would like to make apart from the male Arasai wings discussed in another thread is to add Tattoos and/or scaring just to give them a more evil edge.</p>

[Serso]

<p>Iseabeil wrote: </p><blockquote><p>Sure, you *can* make an arasai that looks like a fae, but why would you? You can make serval of the elven races look similar, but whats the point in that? If you make an arasai with the intention of it looking as it should, lore wise, it will be hard to make a fae copy cat, althou Id love to see someone try make a successfull fae version of my evil little girl:</p><p><img src="http://www.ladiesempire.com/arasai2.jpg" border="0"></p></blockquote><p>Hotness btw ^, lol</p><p>Too bad the male Arasai get fantastically [Removed for Content]-erotic emo hairstyles. Give them like...at least...some bad [Removed for Content] Cloud Strife-ian or vampiric Vincent-ian dew (from Final Fantasy VII). Look, they fugged up Peter Parker with emo-dos, they dont need to get the faes too! [Removed for Content]...well...kinda'...cause it really isn't that funny...=</p><p>One thing I think Arasai should be limited from doing is generating light skin tones (something also mentioned by Kaelinara of Antonia Bayle). They do not need to have the cool evil wings and look like pansy beige-toned Fae (no offense, you guys are cool, just not cool enough for Neriak).</p><p> - Seliri D. of Nagafen</p><p>(P.S. If, down the road in that there development of "The Rise of Kunark", you decided to add Minotaurs to Qeynos and Drachnids to Freeport [psh, Lore team power, go!], that would be cool, too. I did remember hearing of winged Iksar...aaaand...was thinking that...if there was an awesome quest line -- one that spans at least a week to accomplish, even for hardcore players -- you could do as an Iksar to get your wings upon the release of this expansion pack, that would be tizzight. Logically though [kinda'], they should have feathered wings of great variance in shapes and colors, but no brights [reptiles are the evolutionary predecessor to their progeny of aves {birds}].)</p>

[Terayon]

I think it starts off Red bull then fades to Guiness

[thirteenthse]

Drewx wrote: <blockquote><p>It just upsets me that the former Bastion of Evil is going to be filled with fairies. Everywhere I turn in Freeport I see Fae...soon there numbers will double but rather than the bright colorful Fairies doubling in number...the increase in fairies will be there formed by their emohaired, grumpy(?), "twisted" clones.</p><p><i><span style="color: #ffcc33">You forget, within a lot of mythology [biblical and otherwise] the most evil of creations are always the ones twisted from good [In christianity Lucifer was previously reguarded as one of gods most beautiful angels.. and then he like fell and stuff].  So why shouldn't it work with the same way with the fae?  One of tunare's purest creations twisted and turned against her?  The same thing happened with Dark Elves, so what.. you guys just aren't a big fan of being colorful or something?</span></i></p><p>I don't hate the Arasai, but honestly...this is like the Devs releasing Cabilis and having Ratonga or an evil Froglok...which I'll call a Toadlok, or Dark Halflings being the new race that starts in it. It feels like a slap in the face. I know every Iksar would skin themselves should such a development come.</p><p><i><span style="color: #ffcc33">Ratongas rock, they always have, and always will!!</span></i></p><p>Serious a Bastion of Evil filled with fairies just seems wrong. I'm sure TONS of Fae in FP will move to Neriak too...so like in Qeynos, Kelethin, and Freeport...wings will be EVERYWHERE fluttering now with all the colors of the rainbow and all the colors of the rainbow's shadow in every city!</p><p><i><span style="color: #ffcc33">You forget, Fae, and even more so the Arasai, can be made to look dark.  I've seen tons of Fae with black and grey wings.. It's all within the customization.. you don't like the color of the fairy wings.. dont hate the dev's hate the player who made it.</span></i></p><p><i><span style="color: #ffcc33">The fact is, not every race is going to be for everyone else.  I wouldn't play an Erudite cuz they're a little too lanky.  I wouldn't play a barbarian cuz they're a tad too tall.. but I see those races running around everywhere.. think I care?  No, not really.. so why does everyone [and I'm not specifying the author of this quote] care so much.. you don't like the Arasai?  DONT MAKE ONE, and QUIT COMPLAINING.  The fact is the Fae/Arasai are just another option we as players are given, and due to the fact that these little critters are fluttering around every city its a choice that A LOT of people enjoy.</span></i></p><p><i></i> I have no idea how this "outbreak" can be controlled. However lot of people seem to hate how Dark Neriak is...and well Neriak has always been dark so maybe it's dark lighting will give me a sanctuary from the swarms of Fae and Arasai. As Infra-vision would only make it worse...so I see Fae hopefully staying in FP with it's incredible room sizes. While Arasai will scatter and make a run for FP once they finish wih Darklight Woods and the other starting quests. Either way Arasai are coming...I'll just be watching the Devs from now o and hope they make even for this injustice by disgracing some famous good city. </p><p><span style="color: #ffcc33"><i>Exactly how are the Fae/Arasai a disgrace?  What.. is it the fact that they're fairies?  Woodelf males look just as pansy-ish, Highelf males look so thin that a strong wind could blow them over, Halfelves all look like they're dealing with some personal issues, ratonga, kerra, and iksar have ALMOST no distinctive features between male and female.. every single city is filled with them why don't you go pick on them? </i></span></p><p><span style="color: #ffcc33"><i>..or is it the colorful wings?  I sense you have a strong hatred of color and I just cant pinpoint why.  One of my friends is a good therapist, I can for sure recommend you if you like!! <img src="/smilies/283a16da79f3aa23fe1025c96295f04f.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></i></span></p><p> Perhaps...Neriak could erect a barrier that defiles the very DNA and physical make-up of the fae with the power of hate thus killing them on contact due to their origins being of sacred growth....*keeps dreaming...*</p><p><span style="color: #ffcc33"><i>Theres this one quote:  "The prettiest people, do the ugliest things"</i></span></p><p><span style="color: #ffcc33"><i>Just remember, that evil is not about how someone looks; its about the actions they take.  In a lot of mythological history forms of evil tend to appear to people as being very attractive, charming, or suave.. so why give the arasai such a hard time.  Why not pick on all the Highelf SK's or the Woodelf Brigs?  Let's face facts.. its not just the Arasai that are going to be flooding Neriak, you're probably gonna see a few other good races there as well.</i></span></p><p><span style="color: #ffcc33"><i>One of the great features in EQ2 is the fact that any character can be any class and inhabit any city.  This freedom lets us players immerse ourselves in the playstyle we choose, and if it means that I have to put up with the random Fae fluttering next to me while I'm on the EFP broker, then so be it.</i></span></p></blockquote>

[Kamimura]

<cite>DrkVsr wrote:</cite><blockquote> <span style="font-size: small"><span style="color: #993300">Nice photoshopping job there</span></span> </blockquote><p>You don't need photoshop for that. I've done the same thing, only in green. <a href="http://s16.photobucket.com/albums/b44/sirenatsea/?action=view&current=arasaifae.jpg" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://s16.photobucket.com/albums/b...t=arasaifae.jpg</a> If only I had used photoshop, the quality wouldn't have been so crappy! Heh. <img src="/smilies/49869fe8223507d7223db3451e5321aa.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></p><p>I enjoy how the "look how evil!" Arasai from this thread looks a heck of a lot like the "see! evil!" Arasai from the other thread.. only that one had red instead of white. I think that is my problem.. to be clearly evil, it seems everyone is going with red, black, or white. I don't think you should have to be so limited in colors to show that you are an Arasai, to look like everyone else. Don't get me wrong. I love the Fae, and the Arasai (why else would I have two Fae on live with plans for two Arasai?). I just wish there was a little something more to really set them apart. A little more skin glowing.. something like that, to see and go oh yes, that is an Arasai - or oh, that's a Fae. Oh, and you can't make the four elves look truly the same. I tired. <a href="http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b44/sirenatsea/elves.jpg" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b...atsea/elves.jpg</a> Sure, they look similiar... but all of their faces are differently done. You can't get the same skin tones with anyone but the high and half elf - and their faces are still different. The half elf is wearing eye make up, for example. The structure is just different for the face and head. I'm not going to even honor the 'dwarves, barbarians, and humans' thing.. come on. You know you can't make them look nearly exactly the same as anyone else. </p>

[Frigid2000]

<p>One of these days I'm going to invent the cure for stupid, but I'm afraid it would take out half the EQ2 community.</p><p>It's a free update. Looks pretty cool. If you don't like one, don't play one. Stop filling the forums with your "ZOMG THE WORLD IS OVER *SLICEWRISTS.*" crap.  </p>

[Xs-142]

<cite>Frigid2000 wrote:</cite><blockquote><p>One of these days I'm going to invent the cure for stupid, but I'm afraid it would take out half the EQ2 community.</p><p>It's a free update. Looks pretty cool. If you don't like one, don't play one. Stop filling the forums with your "ZOMG THE WORLD IS OVER *SLICEWRISTS.*" crap.  </p></blockquote><p> By assumption that you don't start in WoW.. In that case you better aim for a cheap way to make more of it......</p><p>Either way, I agree, it's free first of all and second, well, Arasai are twisted darker and look rather evil, if you WANT them too.</p><p>Still want tiny tiny horns on them but that's just me <img src="/smilies/69934afc394145350659cd7add244ca9.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></p>