New ranger: Char or female norn

[cesmode.4257]

About to make a new ranger but cant decide on a race. Female norn or male char?

How does medium armor look like these? How do you like the animations?

i cant decide!

[Elspereth.1280]

Always go Norn

[DietPepsi.4371]

Norn culture is quite interesting, what with it being based on Nordic culture, but visually they aren't very interesting in my opinion.

Charr have a very cool militaristic steampunk industrial culture with influences from Roman culture, and they look pretty damn cool in my opinion; being big cats (Like lions and tigers) with massive claws and horns. They even act like big cats too, and that includes their animations.

I'd go Charr, but I'm incredibly bias. Since I myself am very interested in military technology, the steampunk aesthetic, and anthropomorphic big cats. The only issue is armour skins on Charr, unless they're cultural, premium skins, or outfit skins, are often overstretched, and often clip with the tail. Up to you whether that bothers you or not.

[Brycar.2651]

I usually picked based on the pets I want to focus on. For example my Male Norn follows bear ? spirit and uses all bear pets (I know they aren’t the best.)

Does your Charr want other big cat pets? Does Norn follow wolf ? spirit and bond with canines?

[artemis.6781]

Both! Because Norn and Charr are awesome.

Edit: I really like the female Norn cultural armors. I use T3 on mine.

[Tyger.1637]

Medium Male charr armour isn't too bad. Some nice kit that fits rather well. More charr are always welcome.

Female Norn do get access to that wonderful T2 cultural set which is just wonderful. My keyfarmer atm tends to be a female Norn Ranger. The Common clothing is nice and there isn't anything armour wise that doesn't look good.

It's a bit of a coinflip choice. Charr and Norn are great drinking buddies for me.

[Rhyse.8179]

Norn racial armor is awesome. Norn are also better for dressup in general because most outfits look best on humanoid races.

Charr do have more unique character animations.

[phs.6089]

Norn Fem, don't question it :)

charrs are best in heavy armor

[Tommo Chocolate.5870]

You can look on the Wiki at the medium armour galleries for Charr male and Norn female to help you decide. I'd also recommend previewing the medium armour options in the wardrobe tab of the bank - you can do this even with a character that can't use medium armour. If you don't have a male Charr or female Norn already, you can just make one in an empty character slot - once you've done the intro instance you can go straight to the bank in the Black Citadel/Hoelbrak to do the preview. Don't forget to look from the back, since that's what you'll be seeing most of the time!

This doesn't help you with the animations though. If you have a level 80 booster, you could make a new character and boost them temporarily to try out the animations, then undo the boost and try the other option. The Silverwastes has a weaponsmith who sells basic versions of all the weapons, so it would be easy to test them out. (This isn't so easy with a brand new character, since weapons bought from weaponsmith vendor require at least level 5.)

[alchemist.6851]

i recently bought a character expansion slot and went with a female norm for the ranger.. pretty neat

[cesmode.4257]

Went with charr male. Deciding factor was the fact that id never done charr storylines before

[altermaven.7385]

Norn in general have some good looks but it all really boils down to what you haven't played yet. I have a rule in regards to new characters I follow: "level now, looks later". You'll be getting a decent amount of skins if you've never ran a medium-armor class (aside from those you've unlocked via salvage). Charr is pretty interesting and the starting pet selection is actually a bit more appealing than norn, in my opinion (though you can get them in Hoelbrak as a charr - alpine wolf, snow leopard, arctic bear).

[rdfaye.4368]

Norn, always! My female norn ranger is the very first character I made, and is still my main. Their culture works well with the ranger professions. Charr would be a good second choice.