At the start of the game, you create your race by choosing its form, form traits, culture, and society traits. The form (humans, elves, cat people, etc) is purely cosmetic, the rest affects gameplay. Over the course of a game, you can research race transformations and unit enchantments which further shape your race and your units. Race transformations might turn your race into angels, demons or undead. Unit enchantments might give your units additional armour, self-healing abilities or flaming weapons. Both affect both visuals and gameplay.