...Someone like me, who already knows the status of your family, how you/them could have survived for 200 years, and whether or not you or them are synths.

I think that is possibly the debatable point of this game. If it looks human, feels human, sounds human and acts human....for all intents and purposes isn't that being human? I mean we are currently researching tech to grow/3d print real human organs. Would you consider those robotic and non human even though they would be organic material? I personally don't.

Its immortal. It was and always will be a robot. Programmed free will or not. Growing human organs? Not synthetic. 3D printing them? Completely synthetic, whether they work or not. Synthetics are not human.

Sorry but I've seen way too much leaked info to really reply to this ... other than to say ... um no. But it's fun to guess isn't it?

As far as the human race is concerned, no. Race is a category to describe biological/genetic traits and differences in the animal kingdom. Synths not having that, I would not consider them part of the human race. If indeed they were constructed of biological materials I would consider them a separate race. Robots are robots though. Just because they can trick you into thinking they are human, does not mean they should scientifically be classified as such.

Well that's a point of view that could be argued endlessly. So I'm gonna fold. I still think that being a synth in the end is no different than being the dragonborn in skyrim. It's a way to inject you char in a situation and be relevant, memorable, and more than just an average dude.That seems better than just waking up and haphazardly stepping into these random conflicts all like "hey doodz is my wife and kid here? Lolz"

My fear is that the game is going to go overboard at painting the RR as the good guys helping the Synth and the Institute as the Bad guys. Bethesda did a pretty good job of making the choices of Stormcloaks or Empire a grey choice either way you want. I fear that's really isn't happening here, which I'm really disappointed in as my opinion of synths in general is in my sig.

I have full confidence that Beth did NOT make us a Synth. That would be completely whack.

While I wasn't too thrilled with this Synth plot line at first, the release video has really made it grow on me. It looks super awesome, and who would't want a chance to be Rick Deckard and retire some andys?! I think this game is gonna be really effin awesome.

Yea I would appreciate a more neutral setting for factions, where choosing a faction would change how people react to you, or even the actions you commit while working for said faction would alter the light the citizens of the wastes see them in. Then you really could choose who is good and who is bad in a way.

Being the Dragonborn did not mean I was not a human. Being a synth means I am not a human. Regardless of whether we can agree if they deserve the same rights, they are not human. Nothing can change the fact that they are not biological creatures. I, and I am sure plenty of others, have extremely deep seated emotions and feelings about this. I think Bethesda has to recognize that or risk alienating a large core of their fanbase. If you are a synth, I expect the outcry would probably net a DLC mod the retcons it, and even then it may not sit well with those of us opposed to the idea.

I truly hope the PC being a synth is NOT the plot of Fallout 4.

I seriously hope the BoS, Railroad and Institute arent black and white. I hope they learned something from how well they did the Empire and Stormcloaks. I would understand the Institute being pretentious dikes but not outright demon evil.

What about prosthetics? Maybe your char gets mortally wounded and your human conscience is put in a synth body? Your still originally human. Just with a prosthetic(potentially robotic) body.

Y'know, it's actually pretty interesting to know the true plot of the game, and seeing everyones speculation on it here. This must be what Beth feel like waiting for the game to launch.

Man I hope the story is not heavily slanted towards the RR like it was towards NCR in New Vegas, that would be a huge mistake.

Though, that does set up the ye olde Turing Test path. If it fools you into thinking it is a human, it is intelligent and deserves to be treated as such. Or so says common ethics (hello mass genocide and war. Hrm.)

Can Harkness breed?

Didn't you always know you were a Dragonborn? That was no surprise at all.

Thanks tips. What I was getting at is that you turning out to be a synth is pretty much akin to you finding out you are a the dragonborn in your first play through. Any character you ever make again you already know is the dragonborn no matter what outcome/build/playstyle you have. The PC is always the dragonborn. No matter the choices you make. That didn't "ruin" the choices I made or way I played skyrim at all. I was just stating that I personally don't think being a synth would "ruin" your choices/character. That's all.

Even in the trailers like, a year before the game came out, Beth already told us we were the dragonborn!

Yes. I know. I will put it in another way for you: The point I am trying to make is that bethesda choosing a unique ability (that may or may not be a surprise) for your PC, does not automatically mean you have to make certain choices/play a certain way. You can still play any style you want or RP any character of your wish.

To be honest, I would rather see the synth thing as a dlc feature much like vamps/wolves for dawnguard. Choosing to take on a synth body or organs or something giving you abilities or perks. That would be cool. I just do not see the big deal in it either way. If you are, cool. If you are not, cool. Just remember though at the risk of alienating a large group of people that don't want to be synths by making them one, taking that away alienates an equal crowd of people that would enjoy that twist. Not everybody wants to be just a regular human with a gun. Some people want to play as a synth.

I don't mean to imply I wouldn't accept the OPTION to be a synth. As long as it's just that; an option.

Yea I agree. But its fun speculating either way...and personally I dont look at the spoilers, so I am just gonna wait it out and enjoy this either way it goes. The weekend is going to kill me.

This^^. Having the option to be a synth is fine, but please do not make me one. Again, you may be comfortable with being a synth, but I and many others are not. Same for being a vampire in Skyrim. I choose to stay human. Dragonborn I was till a human. Having prosthetics is still not the same. I don't mind having "wired reflexes" or a bionic arm and legs, but even then at my core I am human. A full synth body with a human brain to me is not acceptable.

Fair enough man. Infact I hope they see this and make the dlc for it. I think that could be implemented pretty well. Even add perks and abilities for being a ghoul too. Maybe you could mutate yourself into a Behemoth haha.......jk though.

I don't mind us having the option for being a synth either. I know some people would want to RP this way. Maybe a DLC where the opening we are pretty badly wounded and we have the option to either be healed/recover as a human or to be transplanted into a synth body, while having some drawbacks. "Gaining added strength, greater resistence to damage, and underwater breathing you are now a synth! Some factions may recieve you differently if they realise you're true nature" and basically if they see you getting shot up they'd realise you're a synth? I literally just pulled that from my ass in 2 minutes.

Hire me Beth