A comprehensive survey of Final Fantasy XIV roleplayers has shed light on the commonalities and unique aspects of player-created characters. The Crystal RP Census, compiled by Reddit user CevicheLemon over two months, meticulously gathered data from more than 10,000 participants, anonymizing the information before analysis. The findings reveal fascinating trends in character origins, race, and backstory.
Among the most prevalent character archetypes, a female Miqo'te originating from Ishgard and who has not significantly relocated within the game world appears to be the most common. Conversely, the least popular character profile identified is a non-binary Lalafell from the now-extinct magical empire of Mhach, who is currently residing with the Omicrons. The survey's author noted that while this character combination is statistically rare, some players are deeply invested in such unconventional origins.
The data suggests that certain in-game locations may be overrepresented in character origins compared to their lore significance. For instance, the survey indicates a high percentage of Miqo'te players, but the lore suggests that Elezen and Hyur populations are more traditionally associated with Ishgard. In contrast, the Azim Steppe, lore-wise, is expected to be the primary origin for the Au Ra race, which is the second most popular race in the survey results. The survey also highlighted the existence of two players roleplaying as Omicrons, an alien robot race, indicating a niche but dedicated group of players engaging with obscure lore.
The survey's creator also shared personal insights into their own character's backstory, noting their male Hyur, originally from Ul'dah and now more associated with Limsa Lomsa, falls into relatively common categories for gender, race, and origin. This self-reflection underscores the survey's value in providing a measurable perspective on character creation within the Final Fantasy XIV roleplaying community.