The babylonians were great archers in history - if I recall correctly.
And I agree with the others that say this whole PC thing is just ridiculous. Just have it so that the characters look and make sense with where they are coming from.
But one question: Am I the only one that thinks that the Wizard isn't Asian but rather Middle Eastern? She doesn't strike me as Far-East Asian, but rather Arab or Persian-esque.
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One becomes strong when they are fighting to protect someone close to them... - Shiro Haku
To be frank, this whole racial differentiation never ever came to my mind until i saw this thread.
I never even thought that the Paladin was black. (and now that i think about it, he doesn't look black, just tanned).
I could care less about characters skin color or eye "orientation" (is that the right word?). As long as they look cool and have agenda and good story behind them, coupled with great voice acting i'm good
To be frank, this whole racial differentiation never ever came to my mind until i saw this thread.
I never even thought that the Paladin was black. (and now that i think about it, he doesn't look black, just tanned).
I could care less about characters skin color or eye "orientation" (is that the right word?). As long as they look cool and have agenda and good story behind them, coupled with great voice acting i'm good
Get your eyes checked, the paladin is most certainly an Afro-American.
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"I want to say something but I'll keep it to myself I guess and leave this useless post behind to make you aware that there WAS something... "
-Equinox
"We're like the downtown of the Diablo related internet lol"
-Winged
*have not read anything but OP*
They already have the Asian with the Wizard, and the Witch Doctor is an African. Blizzard doesn't do stereotypical things in Diablo, it doesn't fit, because stereotypes tend to not be cool or feel powerful, and that's something that's important to the class. However, I do expect that at least one of the characters will be black, just because it's realistic. There are black people in Sanctuary. Same reason as why the Paladin was black in D2.
The witch doctor IS black!!!!!!!!
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"I want to say something but I'll keep it to myself I guess and leave this useless post behind to make you aware that there WAS something... "
-Equinox
"We're like the downtown of the Diablo related internet lol"
-Winged
How silly, Diablo isn't eurocentrist since D2.
The entire Kurast and Act 3 are based at native americans (but south and center america, not north america).
They buildings, huts, looks, cloths. In Act 3 everything is from south/center america natives.
If they can add a center/south america native culture, why not a nothern one ?
Through i greatly agree with Doppel,but I don't think Sanctuary is supose to represent our medieval ages so accuratly.
In our 12'th century the "civilised" really didn't had any contact with America. But unlike our world Sanctuary are just two large continenet very close to each other, so i allways feel that it's natural to be more globalized then our world in its past ages. It looks like blizz philosophy really is to mix all our culture, just like they did in warcraft. I just don't wanna see city made out of totems with wood elevators or other aberrations like that.
how about a stereo-typical anime character (too the likes of DBZ or BLEACH)? like uses spiritual energy and a big over sized sword? or maybe non-type/class energy
I honestly don't see how this has anything to do with political correctness. Its merely a decision made by Blizzard because they want to expand the Universe and want more to play around with. (Increasing the racial diversity that is)
Remember people. Diablo may be an important part of our lives but it isn't political
Well, I definitely know the game is not meant to be political, but in this day and age you gotta watch yourself. I'm not saying this is Blizzard's soul reason, but diversifying the game just a bit surely seems to give it more appeal to people of other ethnic cultures. Diversity makes the world go round, and to me it seems Blizzard wants to implement this. I mean, both existing Diablo games already both include a black character (Sorcerer in Diablo, Paladin in Diablo 2). It only makes sense that there would be at very least the inclusion of a black character, but it seem Blizzard has upped the ante and went fully diverse.
Now, when looking for theories for what the new class will be (racially), I think the best place to look is The Official Map of Sanctuary, provided to us by none other than Blizzard themselves. When you look at the map, you can see that we have a vast variety of areas that can easily be related to places here in our world.
Upon studying their names you can see that they also bear some sort of similarities to existing cultures. For instance, the Wizard comes from Xiansai. The name itself just screams Asian. Mixed with her unmistakable slanted eyes, I think its safe that she represents Asians.
The Witch Doctor hails from the lower Taganze, which doesn't seem to be labeled on the map. We can presume its close to the Torajan Jungles (any confirmation?). The Witch Doctor obviously represents a black tribal culture.
Now the Barbarian may be a little tricky at first. While I don't can't name a society in our world that would fit the discription off the top of my head (any ideas?), they are definately a hardy group of caucasians, dwelling in the mountainous regions of Sanctuary, mainly Mt. Arreat and Bastions Keep. At this point in time they are our only representation of true caucasians.
Now, this leaves a lot of other races up for grabs (especially ones we have seen in Diablo in the past). It is very easy I found it highly ironic that with so much desert area there was no real middle eastern looking character in D2, it would have fit the lore so well. Lut Golein is a fine example of this, as you can see on the map this port city is surrounded by desert. Any area in Kehjistan could also easily bear one of our new classes. At this point all we can do is speculate, but we do have some pretty hard to pass up evidence that the ranged class has at least been at one time depicted as a Middle Eastern, as seen in the There's your ranged class! post. I myself would not be surprised if this artwork makes it into the game as a Middle Eastern assassin type character (much like the often stereotyped Assassin's Creed model). It would definately fit the racial diversity theme, while making sense with Diablo's lore.
As for a final class, its really hard to speculate. My guess would say that it would come from somewhere in the areas surrounding the Gulf of Westmarch. This could also easily be the source of our ranged class (D1 Rogue anybody?), but there are other class types that could come from this area as well. Anyone's guess is as good as mine for that one. I do not, however, feel that we would necessarily be seeing anything from the Skovos Isles, as this is the home of the Amazons, a class Blizzard does not intend to bring back at this point.
Anybody else have any ideas? I would love to hear more on this topic, but it hasn't changed in like 4 days XD
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There are no stupid questions, just a bunch of inquisitive idiots.
I would say the Barbarians main culture is influenced by early Celtic/Gaelic and Conan the Barbarians Cimmerians *which in turn are Proto-Celtic culture created by Robert E Howard*
These Barbarians though are blizzards Barbarians so you can't exactly trace them to anyone Barbarian culture. You don't see names or places with any real Celtic influence but looking at the culture and their relation to the Druids; whom have Gaelic names and towns.
I would say their closest real world counter parts to the Barbarians are the Scots with some Pict, Viking and other barbaric influences thrown in. Fantasy wise the Barbs home and culture remsembles the CImmerians from Conan the most. Xeno phobic Giants that spurn Civilized man and are impossible to conquer.
this based off of the assumption that the WD is meant to be black/African eventhough he is from the jungle. If he is meant to be more south American (jungle) than swap 2. With a more pronounced black guy.
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Like scyberdragon said, middle eastern for a physical ranged, and the fifth...
Could be like they said shapeshifter native american (could be like north american natives, if south american is too similar to the witch doctor) or something like a greek/roman soldier maybe???
And I agree with the others that say this whole PC thing is just ridiculous. Just have it so that the characters look and make sense with where they are coming from.
But one question: Am I the only one that thinks that the Wizard isn't Asian but rather Middle Eastern? She doesn't strike me as Far-East Asian, but rather Arab or Persian-esque.
One becomes strong when they are fighting to protect someone close to them... - Shiro Haku
To be frank, this whole racial differentiation never ever came to my mind until i saw this thread.
I never even thought that the Paladin was black. (and now that i think about it, he doesn't look black, just tanned).
I could care less about characters skin color or eye "orientation" (is that the right word?). As long as they look cool and have agenda and good story behind them, coupled with great voice acting i'm good
Get your eyes checked, the paladin is most certainly an Afro-American.
-Equinox
"We're like the downtown of the Diablo related internet lol"
-Winged
The witch doctor IS black!!!!!!!!
-Equinox
"We're like the downtown of the Diablo related internet lol"
-Winged
The entire Kurast and Act 3 are based at native americans (but south and center america, not north america).
They buildings, huts, looks, cloths. In Act 3 everything is from south/center america natives.
If they can add a center/south america native culture, why not a nothern one ?
In our 12'th century the "civilised" really didn't had any contact with America. But unlike our world Sanctuary are just two large continenet very close to each other, so i allways feel that it's natural to be more globalized then our world in its past ages. It looks like blizz philosophy really is to mix all our culture, just like they did in warcraft. I just don't wanna see city made out of totems with wood elevators or other aberrations like that.
but don't forget about indians and middle eastern cultures... somthing inspired on those could fit quite well on D3
lol, you should check your eyes! What makes you think he is african-american and not just black or african?
lol, check his face features, nothing even close to African-American. Maybe Ethiopian, even hindi, but no way african-american.
Remember people. Diablo may be an important part of our lives but it isn't political
Now, when looking for theories for what the new class will be (racially), I think the best place to look is The Official Map of Sanctuary, provided to us by none other than Blizzard themselves. When you look at the map, you can see that we have a vast variety of areas that can easily be related to places here in our world.
Upon studying their names you can see that they also bear some sort of similarities to existing cultures. For instance, the Wizard comes from Xiansai. The name itself just screams Asian. Mixed with her unmistakable slanted eyes, I think its safe that she represents Asians.
The Witch Doctor hails from the lower Taganze, which doesn't seem to be labeled on the map. We can presume its close to the Torajan Jungles (any confirmation?). The Witch Doctor obviously represents a black tribal culture.
Now the Barbarian may be a little tricky at first. While I don't can't name a society in our world that would fit the discription off the top of my head (any ideas?), they are definately a hardy group of caucasians, dwelling in the mountainous regions of Sanctuary, mainly Mt. Arreat and Bastions Keep. At this point in time they are our only representation of true caucasians.
Now, this leaves a lot of other races up for grabs (especially ones we have seen in Diablo in the past). It is very easy I found it highly ironic that with so much desert area there was no real middle eastern looking character in D2, it would have fit the lore so well. Lut Golein is a fine example of this, as you can see on the map this port city is surrounded by desert. Any area in Kehjistan could also easily bear one of our new classes. At this point all we can do is speculate, but we do have some pretty hard to pass up evidence that the ranged class has at least been at one time depicted as a Middle Eastern, as seen in the There's your ranged class! post. I myself would not be surprised if this artwork makes it into the game as a Middle Eastern assassin type character (much like the often stereotyped Assassin's Creed model). It would definately fit the racial diversity theme, while making sense with Diablo's lore.
As for a final class, its really hard to speculate. My guess would say that it would come from somewhere in the areas surrounding the Gulf of Westmarch. This could also easily be the source of our ranged class (D1 Rogue anybody?), but there are other class types that could come from this area as well. Anyone's guess is as good as mine for that one. I do not, however, feel that we would necessarily be seeing anything from the Skovos Isles, as this is the home of the Amazons, a class Blizzard does not intend to bring back at this point.
Anybody else have any ideas? I would love to hear more on this topic, but it hasn't changed in like 4 days XD
These Barbarians though are blizzards Barbarians so you can't exactly trace them to anyone Barbarian culture. You don't see names or places with any real Celtic influence but looking at the culture and their relation to the Druids; whom have Gaelic names and towns.
I would say their closest real world counter parts to the Barbarians are the Scots with some Pict, Viking and other barbaric influences thrown in. Fantasy wise the Barbs home and culture remsembles the CImmerians from Conan the most. Xeno phobic Giants that spurn Civilized man and are impossible to conquer.
This is just what I've come up with though
1. Middle eastern - ranged melee/ holy
2. South/Latin American - shape shift/ traps
this based off of the assumption that the WD is meant to be black/African eventhough he is from the jungle. If he is meant to be more south American (jungle) than swap 2. With a more pronounced black guy.
Find any Diablo news? Contact me or anyone else on the News team
Middle Eastern I can see, though.
Could be like they said shapeshifter native american (could be like north american natives, if south american is too similar to the witch doctor) or something like a greek/roman soldier maybe???