Hybrid FAQ-Draft-trashed

Can I have a hybrid character?

Yes, but be sure to check the racial profiles for more information about them first. Also, because of the limitations of our skill system, there are restrictions:

• You must choose which of the hybrid species is dominant in your character. This will determine which of the racial skills is available to them, what classes and specialties they can choose from, and their general appearance. It may also determine how they're raised, what education they receive, and how they're treated by others.
• The relations between Elysia's races are such that a character can't (officially) choose more than one class.
  • Quarter-breeds can only access their dominant species' powers, so you don't need a Hybrid pack for them. However, they can inherit physical features as long as they're not active (eg. they can have wings but can't fly).
  • Only half-breeds created with a Hybrid skill pack can access their secondary skills, and then (usually) only basic, non-class skills.

How do the Hybrid Packs work?

Buying a Hybrid skill pack allows your half-breed character to learn basic, non-class secondary skills. If you'd like your character to learn class skills from their secondary side as well, please read this.

Can I create a hybrid now and buy the Hybrid Pack later?

Yes! However, until you've purchased the pack, your hybrid will only have access to the skills of their dominant species.

What does "basic, non-class skills" mean?

EF's races are divided into classes (and sub-classes called specialties), all of which require some sort of ceremony (like the Sylvan Rite of Bonding) to begin learning the skills of that class. Racial politics are such that your character cannot (officially) join two separate classes, thus they can only learn the skills of one. (This applies to all character types, but the races are especially exclusive when it comes to hybrids.)

Is there a way to give my Hybrid class-based powers from both their races?

Legally and officially and a whole bunch of other -allies, a hybrid cannot join two separate classes because the races and the groups within them just don't like each other that much. (Think of classes as factions who jealously guard their secrets: Peteulani don't teach Viridi how to read minds.)

However, there are ways around those -allies if you like a bit of spice and danger in your character's diet. If you can find a way for your character to perform their ritual(s) unofficially¹, and if they can then find a mentor willing to actually train them², then go ahead!

Please be aware that doing all this will be difficult and dangerous — even potentially fatal! — for your character and whoever helps them. Some of the races are more aggressive in defending their secrets than others, but they all have rules meant to 1) prevent outsiders from spying on them, and 2) prevent any one person from gaining too much power. The number of people willing to risk their necks so your character can become more powerful are astronomically low, and the officials will no doubt catch on sooner or later. Add to that the fact that only a select few higher-ups even learn the ceremonies and rituals required to bond into a chosen class, and you've got your work cut out for you — and your roleplay should reflect that.

What is a half-breed?

Half-breeds are hybrids who have inherited both their dominant and secondary races from a parent, so to be half-Anyeli and half-Nymph, a hybrid should have one parent who is Anyeli, and the other parent who is a Nymph.

What is a quarter-breed?

Strictly speaking, quarters are hybrids who have inherited their secondary race from a grandparent. For example, a Dracovarian whose parents are both 'Vari may still exhibit Zanaryan features (such as wings or horns) if just one grandparent is Zanaryan.

The term "quarter-breed" can, however, apply to any hybrid not a half-breed, though they're usually just called hybrids.

What is a pure-breed?

This one is probably self-explanatory. Pure-breeds are characters who have no, or virtually no, genetic material coming in from other races. Few Elysians are strictly pure-breeds because there's enough interracial mixing that even the most xenophobic could quite easily be one-tenth something without even realising, but the term is fairly common among the more exclusive races. (Dracovari and Zanaryans, in particular, are fond of using "pure-bred" as a symbol of their superiority.)

What is "dominant" and "secondary" species?

For hybrids, there is a dominant side and a secondary side. The dominant side is the race they've inherited from the most, whether by sheer numbers (for instance, most of a character's family tree being made up of Therians) or from genetic dominance.

A hybrid's dominant species usually dictates the features they inherit and the abilities they can learn. Half-breeds may gain more from their secondary species than quarter-breeds can.

Okay, I want to make a hybrid! Do these have to be approved first?

All characters need to be approved through the application process, and hybrids are no different — but admins will usually need to consult more on half-breed characters because they're far more complex and complicated than pure- or quarter-breeds. You currently don't need to ask before creating one, but please do keep in mind the in-character considerations!

Will my hybrid be affected by the Weaknesses of both races?

Half-breeds are definitely affected by the weaknesses of both their races: They start out at Level 0, but (unlike their actual skills, which require a Hybrid Pack) you can upgrade these using normal methods (primarily post-count-based skill points).

Quarter-breeds are only affected by the weaknesses of their dominant species. (It would be unfair for them to suffer when they have nothing to gain.)

How will my Hybrid be treated by the other races?

It really depends on the pairing, the outcome (in terms of the appearance of the hybrid — a half-Zanaryan without wings is no Zanaryan at all), and the races they interact with. For instance, a hybrid whose secondary physical traits are more obvious will suffer more prejudice than one who can hide their dual nature, and some species are more aggressive in their shunning than others. It's best to read the "A Word on Half-Breeds" sections of the racial profiles for more information.

¹ There are a couple of ways to perform a ritual unofficially, such as being the son or daughter of a Sylph-in-training, bribing a shrine attendant, and more. ⇑

² For the most part, racial skills must be learned from someone else. They are not intuitive, and it's very easy to hurt someone (or yourself) if you try to teach yourself. ⇑