So as the topic says, I wanna see what real-life races correspond to TES races. Here are some of my ideas

Imperials-Romans
Khajiit-Arabian/Middle Eastern
Bosmer-Native Americans
Orcs-Mongolians
Bretons-French

That's what I've got so far. Thoughts? races you'd change?

Well, there are anologues to parts of the cultures, for example Redguards seem like a sort of Moorish Spain cross Arabia, but there are no 1:1 "x is y" comparisons. For example, you could draw parallels between the Judean, Mongolian, and American Indian cultres in the Dunmer, but there is a spin of their own uniqueness as well.

It would be better to ask what parts were inspired by what, in my opinion.

I'd say Bretons are Bretons though, and not French.

Oh and Nords are obviously inspired from the Norse people. Possibly Highlanders aswell.

Good point. Okay so then, from this post on, post what rl races are closest to the races of Nirn

Ugh, Again?

No real life races correspond directly to TES races. There are parallels, but no direct counterparts. To assume otherwise is boring and narrow minded (and therefore wrong).

We've had this and similar discussions a hundred times before.

What's your problem Nerevar?
if you'd taken the time to read the whole thread instead of rushing to put someone down like usual, you wouldve seen that I admitted my mistake and said "okay from this post on, post what rl races are closest to the races of Nirn"

And how is that different from the original topic? You're still comparing Tamriel races to real life "races" (which don't really exist. Are you talking cultures? Time periods?), which still won't give you any satisfactory answer. The Imperials are like Romans because they use Roman http://www.novaroma.org/wiki/Choosing_a_Roman_name names, have an empire, and are sorta Mediterranean looking. The Khajiit are like Arabs because they live in a desert setting. The similarities are superficial at best.

I don't rush to put people down, I was just repeating the basic idea of the thread and stating that its been discussed many times (I found 10 anologous topics using the search before I gave up)

Well I guess I shouldve known better than to argue with you Nerevar. When I first read your post, I figured I shouldve worded my post better, but when I reread it, I see what your saying. TES races may have similarities to RL cultures, but ultimatley it's a different world, and therefore it's races are it's own.
I guess this thread can be closed :yawn:

Dunmer - African/Tribal
Altmer - English
Redguard - African American
Nord - Icelanders/Norse
Argonian - Italian (Their accents remind me of them, for some reason)

I don't see any similarities here. The only tribal Dunmer are the Ashlanders and they seem to be inspired mainly by Mongolians (They live in yurts, are nomadic, and are led by 'Khans') and Native Americans (some of their clothing is similar)



How so? I don't see any similarities between African Americans and Redguards other than their skin color.




This I agree with; though I also see some Celtic elements too (the face paint in particular).

American Accents, basically.

What are you basing this on, beyond the name? I don't see many (if any) similarities between the inhabitants of Britanny and Highrock, and I would know since I live in Britanny myself. Besides, in modern France there's not much difference between Bretons and other French citizens (that's my personal opinion, though), if you are talking about http://www.grapho-illustrateur.com/blog/images/2007/aout%202007/breton.gif I don't see the resemblance either. Also the names given to Bretons ingame sound like names you can encounter in any region of France and not just Britanny.

In any case I agree with Lady Nerevar, similarities with real life cultural groups are only superficial, at least imo.

Argonians are more closely related to Aztecs. :blush: They have Aztec and Mayan sounding towns and cities and any fans of Warhammer will see the link with Lizardmen.

Argonians are Argonians
Imperials are Imperials

the Snozeberries taste like Snozberries

surely Snozeberries would taste like Snozeberries. Besides, Snozberries have that slightly bitter after-taste that is missing from the Snozeberry.

I have a Master's in Alchemy, and a minor in Destruction. I always preferred the Destruction but it's harder to make a living that way.

Then you should have become a miner. Blow up that hill side, then let the dregs sift through it for the good stuff.


I agree with you on argonians are argonians/ Imperials are Imperials. Drawing these parallels isn't going to get us very far, simply because the dev's are drawing upon an innumerable number of experiences in shaping the game, and I doubt even they are consistent about what inspired them.

Yup, lots of backgrounds on one project. Well, several large projects, of a greater project, within a very rotund project, within a big, big, big project. We're all part of one big, big, big project.

aside: Am I really out of crap to talk about? What does this mean for America?!

turn on CNN. Eventually you'll have something to talk about.

-The Imperials weren't Roman until Morrowind. In fact Morrowind was the height of the Cyrodiils being Romantic.
-Khajiiti are obviously Arabian; no argument there, but Bethesda has the same thing going on with the Redguards, though not to the extent of the Khajiiti.
-Bosmer are more generic elves than any real ethnicity parallel. What ethnicity in history has lived in trees, been renowned for thievery and murder, and been cannibalistic?
-Orcs are also generic fantasy more than anything else. Their history and naming etymology doesn't seem to fit anything extant or historical in my opinion.
-Bretons can be trickier than they seem to put a convenient tag on. Sure, they have French names, but all French can't be grouped together so tidy. Southern France has always been different from the country's center and east as far back as the 8'th and 9'th centuries. For that matter, the French share a lot (more than they'd wish to admit/accept) with western Germany (something the western Germans would also wish to admit/accept) It was considered one region, "Frankia" up until the Capetian dynasty I'd suppose. Plus, Brettony could refer to a variety of things.

To add to that list I propose these:

-Redguard: North African/Ivory Coast/Barbary
-Dunmer: Chinese/Indian (look at the names of the Ashlanders)
-Nord: duh
-Altmer: Hell if I know, but they also seem generic fantasy.
-Argonian: Here are your Native Americans. Their animism-like culture and naming schemes really fit that more than the Bosmer.

I am amused by the amount of depth that you put into your response there. Even if the topic is "pointless" that post had some good stuff. Good job :thumbsup:

I agree that the Argonians have a more Native American theme. with some Maya or Aztec elements as well. I imagine their architecture would be very similar to the Mayan temples or the cliff dwellings of Anasazi (sp?) people.

I like the Bosmer culture, and I think if anything in real life can be compared to them would probably be maybe some central. southern American and Amazonian tribes would fit. The connection with nature, the cannibalism, and some of their appearance also fits with those cultures.

Other than that, I really think the other comparisons are more superficial than anything. Although I do have this to say about the Orcs; they are not like other Orcs in other fantasies. They are far more civilized and are actually more like the stereotypical Dwarves in other fantasies.

At 3:00 AM, even pointless things can become profound heheh.

Argonians-
Their culture of worshiping trees and having naming rituals seems pretty tribal. They also reject any forms of a unified government and live in places that only they can survive due to the diseases. It sounds like the "people who reside in jungles" sort-of race.

Bretons-
Aren't actual like the French Bretons. They're more... Renaissance mixed with Wizards. They're magical, have a thing for fashion and art, are abstract thinkers, like poetry and are prone to eccentric. They're essentially the "right-brained" people of Tamriel. Think European attitude during the Renaissance. Many artists, abstract thinkers, poets, eccentric people, etc.

Orcs-
Now, here's the interesting thing. Orcs seem to have a very militaristic society, they've also got equal treatment among the sixes and have their "berserker rage". They're kinda the stereotypical "Huns", minus the equal treatment thing. People even called the Huns ugly and said that they were stupid. :shrug:

Imperials-
Imperials are like Romans, but at the same time they're like the imperialistic countries during the time every country was colonizing something. They've got the attitude to bring their culture and their views into everyone they take over's lives, and don't take things over in a militaristic way but instead take them over economically or diplomatically. However, they've also got Counts and Countesses, so they're sort-of like Europe during the middle ages.

Redguards-
They're desert-dwelling warriors. I honestly haven't been able to think of many things for them... I found it kind-of ironic that they made them have "quickness of foot" in their description no matter what though.

Nords-
The Nordic people of Scandinavia.... they've even got the accent and the facial features. :shrug:

Altmer-
They're kind-of like the stereotypical "magical elf" race. They're tall, haughty, and they're obsessed with magic. They don't trust the other races and view the other elves that aren't like them as "Fallen", they don't let many people outside of their race have many rights in their country, and they feel they deserve special privileges. Maybe China from their ethnocentrism days, where people who weren't Chinese were viewed as "lesser" and they believed themselves to literally be the center of the world.

Bosmer-
The other kind-of "stereotypical elf" race. They're short, quick, live in nature, and are very odd. The females are taller than the males, they're cannibalistic (somewhat), and have some ritual where people become ravenous beasts. They're probably closest to the people of Central America, if you account in the odd customs and the cannibalism.

Dunmer-
With the Great Houses competing, ethnocentrism, and other things, I'd be guessing they're very close to 1800's America, surprisingly. The Great Houses are like Political factions, the ethnocentrism has gotten very high at times, people used to (and a few still do) talk to people from outside of the country sort-of like they're an "outlander", the slavery, etc. They're also similar to China in that everybody who isn't like them is viewed as an "outsider".

Khajiit-
Nothing I can really think of. Probably Middle-Eastern, and it's not about the sand. They've got a lot of things similar in culture.

---

All-in-all, however, I think Bethesda made some pretty original races.

People don't make races to be similar to real-life ones usually. I mean, when I make up a race (don't worry, not for TES ), I just get a basic idea and go with the flow of how it just seems to fit right.

Not all of Hammerfell is desert though. You have lots of coastal and island landscapes too.

There's also two groups of Redguards, the Forebearers and the Crowns, a race that are practically swordsmen from birth and produce the best (or at least their Yokudan brothers), and have an interesting take on the merrish myth about Mundus.