Charrs and necromancers are the least popular right now.

[CHIPS]

LMAO didn't know they actually have an armor of Maleficent.

[Raye]

Oh yeah, i thought that's what you meant by that picture chips! lol.

[Fluffball]

Thing is, I could easily see humans with almost the exact same culture that Norns have. And considering that they look nearly identical to humans... except bigger... why not just play a human?

Because that isn't a choice for humans. I'm not at all offended that you aren't interested in Norn, I didn't create them. I am confused that you don't understand Norn are pretty different than what is offered from humans.

What I think you're saying is you would have made Norn differently, but that doesn't really apply to why people find them appealing.

Playing the personal story of a Norn might help you*; it made me fall in love with them after not caring about them.

* Edit help is the wrong word, since you don't need assistance, but you get the idea.

[nkuvu]

I'm not sure that I'm explaining myself very well here, I do know that I've been struggling to find a decent way to express what I think of them. They're just... dull. I mean no offense to the people who enjoy the Norn, of course, and I'd never criticize someone for liking a race that I don't, I just find them boring.

I am not trying to say that they should be redesigned, and I have no ideas on how they could be made better -- aside from "more different than humans." To be honest I didn't find them interesting in Eye of the North either, so it's not like they've suddenly turned dull for me.

Maybe an analogy would help. Maybe I'll make a mess of it.

Consider the Krytans in comparison to the Ascalons (referring to the GW1 time frame, same time the Norn were first introduced). Their culture is different from the Ascalons, especially when you consider the whole deal with the Mursaat and essentially that whole pseudo-religion. Now if ArenaNet had made them a foot shorter than the Ascalons and called them a new race... would that be interesting to you? Same physical characteristics as the Ascalons, but different culture and slightly smaller in stature. New race? Or minor variation to an existing race?

The same could be said for Vabbians or Kournans. Their culture is exotic and foreign, they look like humans, but make them a bit taller and poof! New race! Meh. Meh, I say.

At this point I feel like I've been repeating myself a lot, and I still am not sure I'm getting my thoughts across the inter-toobs.

[Two Ducks Later]

Sure, the Norn are just big humans, same as the dwarves are small humans - though if I recall correctly: the dwarves were on tyria waaaay before humans were. According to the lore, when did Norn people sprout up? I wonder... Anyway - one could also say that norn are actually shapeshifters.

[sorudo]

just because they are humanoid doesn't make them human, dwarf's are as far from human as a duck is from an eagle.

[kokabel]

I personally love the Charr, and may be making two of them eventually. Certainly one of them, anyway, for my Guardian. Probably. They are pretty much what I imagine would happen if felines evolved into the dominant sentient species on Earth (as opposed to humans). Besides, who doesn't love kitties?

Norn, I was not enamoured with. Humans are okay, I like how they are the absolute underdogs now. Asura are hilarious to hang around - "yo momma's IQ so low, she thinks Sylvari and Golem are precious metals." Or that little ditty between two Asura discussing the good old days of being able to experiment on humans, with finally one Asura saying, in a resigned tone "Well, you know, humans are people too..."

Sylvari are a bit weird and interesting, I didn't think I would like them, but I think the tension playoff between those who follow Ventari's teaching, and those who go to Nightmare, is quite well done.

As for necromancers... well, there was a fair few in PvP, mainly because they're still rather strong there. I wasn't too impressed with the PvE play though.

[nkuvu]

Sure, the Norn are just big humans, same as the dwarves are small humans

Except the proportions on a dwarf are completely different than a human. In many (if not most) fantasy settings, a dwarf is extremely stocky and muscular, and may weigh as much or more than a human. It's not the same as just hitting a human with a shrink ray and poof, there's a dwarf.

Take a human, slide up the size scale, and poof, you have Norn. Exact same proportions, features, et cetera.

Anyway - one could also say that norn are actually shapeshifters.

So are humans, particularly in GW2. Consider dervishes in GW1 shapeshifting into the various avatars, or Avatar of Melandru for any human in GW2.

[Alaris]

I just find them boring.

I know. I feel the same. I feel that humans are just so boring, they are just short norns. But hey, there's always going to be people wanting to play humans, so they had to include them.

But I see norn & humans as two kinds of humans, with different lore. The lore is different enough for me to want to play through both. Not the most exciting lore imo but then, I really think that is more a matter of preference. I much prefer charr lore but others hate it.

[nkuvu]

Ahh, I just hate the Charr. Lore schmore, the Charr are evil. They destroyed my beautiful Ascalon, and yes I'm still bitter.