- Determine their purity.
- Quarter-breeds are hybrids who have inherited their secondary race from a grandparent, so they cannot inherit secondary skills. However, they can inherit inactive physical features (so they could have wings but not be able to fly).
- Half-breeds are hybrids who have inherited their secondary race from a parent, so they can inherit secondary skills and features by using a Hybrid Pack.
- There are also "mutts" who have inherited bits of one race or another from various ancestors, but their blood is never strong enough for them to inherit racial skills or even physical features. They are created as non-hybrid characters.
- Decide which of their races is dominant and which is secondary.
- Genetic dominance will determine which skills are available to your hybrid, what classes and specialties they can choose from, and their general appearance. It may also determine how they are raised, what education they receive, and how they are treated by others.
- A hybrid's "dominant side" is the race they have inherited from the most, whether by sheer numbers (for instance, most of a character's family tree being made up of Therians) or from one side's genes being stronger. Their "secondary species" is the opposite of that. To upgrade secondary skills, you need a half-breed and a Hybrid skill pack.
- Decide on your hybrid's skills.
- Hybrids can learn skills from their dominant species without use of a Hybrid Pack. Half-breeds can also learn basic, non-class skills (those open to all the members of a particular race regardless of their faction, Sept, etc.) from their secondary species if you have purchased a Hybrid skill pack.
- Legally speaking, Elysians cannot choose more than one class and specialty because the races and the groups within them do not like each other that much. Unofficially, there are ways around the legalities if you like a bit of spice and danger in your character's diet, but your roleplay should reflect the dangers inherent in breaking such rules and your character needs to:
- Find a way to perform their rituals without official sanction. (There are a couple of ways to do this, such as being the son or daughter of a Sylph-in-training, bribing a shrine attendant, etc.)
- Find a mentor willing to train them at sometimes significant risk to themselves.
Hybrid Questions
Can I create a hybrid now and buy the Hybrid Pack later?
Yes! However, until you have purchased the pack, your hybrid will only have access to the skills of their dominant species.
Do hybrids have to be approved first?
We will usually need to consult more on half-breed characters because they are far more complex and complicated than pure- or quarter-breeds, but there are currently no restrictions on creating one. Just keep in mind the in-character considerations.
Will my hybrid be affected by the Weaknesses of both races?
Half-breeds are 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 appearance (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 is best to read the "Half-Breeds" sections of the racial profiles for more specific information.
