New Cobalt look :D (WARNING) alot of pictures here, and a whole lot of TROLL !!!

[Guzz_Deaths_Door_EF]

<DIV>Da Troll was nice enough to model again for me..... /shivers <img src="/smilies/69934afc394145350659cd7add244ca9.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV><IMG src="http://xs55.xs.to/pics/05466/cobalt1.JPG"></DIV> <DIV><IMG src="http://xs55.xs.to/pics/05466/cobalt2.JPG"></DIV> <DIV><IMG src="http://xs55.xs.to/pics/05466/cobalt3.JPG"></DIV> <DIV><IMG src="http://xs55.xs.to/pics/05466/cobalt4.JPG"></DIV> <DIV><IMG src="http://xs55.xs.to/pics/05466/cobalt5.JPG"></DIV> <DIV><IMG src="http://xs55.xs.to/pics/05466/cobalt6.JPG"></DIV> <DIV><IMG src="http://xs55.xs.to/pics/05466/cobalt7.JPG"></DIV>

[Dolby]

Wow, I really like the new new new look. I think they have it right. Cant wait until it goes live. My paladin will be very happy. Thanks for the pictures Gumse! <div></div>

[Banef]

Wish there was trim on it. <div></div>

[Zhonata]

<DIV>I liek the new design and indenting in the armor it looks absoultly great. You do however need drift back away fro mteh power ranger blue that you are heading back to. It is no where near as bad, but what we have right now is great so dont change it. As for the cheap plastic sheen that you coated over the armor it needs to go. It doesnt looks like metal it looks like a plastic armor. Truefully lsoe this and focus on making it more ruff. I</DIV>

[Evadne]

Shudder, Tranmek, put the hat back on! He has a de eye, he can do green haired dark elf look as well. ~Eva <div></div>

[Xakkoriz]

They got it right!!! THAT LOOKS GOOD! Big thanks to the EQ2 art team... Give Lotus a raise! lol He is awesome! and all the other art designers as well! Good Job this time guys! I love it. <div></div>

[SmEaGoLLuM]

Looks a bit sci-fi but much better than the current look. Btw what graphics settings did you have on and thanks for the pics. <div></div>

[Guzz_Deaths_Door_EF]

<BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> SmEaGoLLuM86 wrote:<BR>Looks a bit sci-fi but much better than the current look. Btw what graphics settings did you have on and thanks for the pics.<BR> <BR> <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE><BR> <DIV><EM>Character tip #30421<BR></EM>For best results to view your character please set the following:<BR>Set character texture resolution to Maximum in Options > Display > Texture Resolution > Character Texture Resolution<BR>Set max complex shader distance to a least 20  in Options > Display > Performance > Complex Shader Distance<BR>Turn on Specualar lighting in Options > Display > Lighting > Specular lighting</DIV>

[Toshikii]

Awesome Pictures! New cobalt looks much better than before, even if its not perfect at least now it has some detail on it =). I copied some of them to another topic into the Art section, hope youd ont mind =D -> <A href="http://eqiiforums.station.sony.com/eq2/board/message?board.id=grph&message.id=20245&jump=true#M20245" target=_blank>http://eqiiforums.station.sony.com/eq2/board/message?board.id=grph&message.id=20245&jump=true#M20245</A>

[SmEaGoLLuM]

<span><blockquote><hr>Gumse wrote: <blockquote> <hr> SmEaGoLLuM86 wrote:Looks a bit sci-fi but much better than the current look. Btw what graphics settings did you have on and thanks for the pics. <div></div> <hr> </blockquote> <div><em>Character tip #30421</em>For best results to view your character please set the following:Set character texture resolution to Maximum in Options > Display > Texture Resolution > Character Texture ResolutionSet max complex shader distance to a least 20  in Options > Display > Performance > Complex Shader DistanceTurn on Specualar lighting in Options > Display > Lighting > Specular lighting</div><hr></blockquote>Unfortunately, my pc can't handle those settings >_<</span><div></div>

[Alevyan]

Having the complex rendering above -1 bogs my framerate. <div></div>

[Praybor]

<P>Aye, black and gold trim would be nice. Elbow plates, spiked armor adornments, belt, knees. You get the picture.</P> <P> </P> <P>But the Model as is is 100% better than current cobalt. Good work SOE. Hurry pls )</P> <P> </P> <P>p.s. - an option to turn the skirt graphic off and on would be nice. I like the no skirt look, but the chain underneath needs to be black. Just a thought</P> <p>Message Edited by Prayborne on <span class=date_text>11-19-2005</span> <span class=time_text>11:10 AM</span>

[cr0wangel]

Thank you much for the screenshots. A texture! The armor have a texture! :smileyvery-happy: Amen.

[Dimgroth]

are there any screenshots of new Ebon around? <div></div>

[Jindris]

<DIV>I wish they would make the trim on the armor a different color, like silver or gold. Gold goes nice with blue.</DIV>

[Grumpy_Warrior_01]

<P>That looks dang nice.</P> <P> </P>

[Sonic X]

That's nice, too bad im stuck with generic VLA and the same 3 robe textures since lvl 30. Gotta love how armor always pertains to plate and no one else...<div></div>

[Lairdragna]

Finally!  Thank you SOE!<div></div>

[Mr_Isht]

It still looks like armor-made-by-Mattell. <div></div>

[Naggyba]

Now THAT is a nice looking suit of armor. Finally.Nice job art team.<p>Message Edited by Naggybait on <span class=date_text>11-20-2005</span> <span class=time_text>11:53 AM</span>

[Flor]

<P>This is one nice looking set of armor.  And one really cute, cuddly troll who is wearing it.  </P> <P><<Floria is in love>></P> <P> </P>

[Guzz_Deaths_Door_EF]

<DIV>you're going to give this Troll a big head =/</DIV>

[Camor]

<P>First I would like to express my gratitude to SOE and the EQ2 team for actually dealing with the new cobalt and ebon issue and making an effort to improve what was by a vast majority of the cobalt vanguard wearers a big disapointment originally. This new look on test is again an improvement from before but it still looks way to tranformer sci-fi and does not have the right tint to blend in with the rest of the wonderful discrete details and colours in the game. The surface seems to still have that cheap plastic look that do not blend in with the rest of the rest of the game and the spaulders still look way to bulky. </P> <P>My biggest concern however is that once again it looks boring with no nice highlighted details in other colour(s) on it. The details are made in a way to sci-fi/transformer style instead of in a more realistic medieval-fantasy style that you have seen on so many good loking previous armour sets. What I would like to see is more of the approach they had in the old rubicite, fulginate etc armour sets with more realistic, details highlighted in other colours but still presented in a more matte discrete way. A good example of a new armour that has got this can be seen in the armour worn by the NPC in Nekt forest at the Timber falls camp in the picture below that so many players have referred to in other threads lately. I just wish they took that armour and made that set the new cobalt armour.... If not please at least make some interesting details on the cobalt armour that makes it more interesting and not so sci-fi looking. After all this is a medieval-fantasy game right, not space marines...</P> <P><IMG src="http://gr3yh4wk.50megs.com/images/EQ2/armour.jpg"></P> <P>Camoran (the loyal) </P> <P>Lvl 54 paladin </P> <P>Antonia Bayle server </P>

[thorvang]

at least it's just cobalt. not from some epic quest or dragonslaying. it's just crafted. therefore it shouldn't look extremely uber. it should look nice and t6, but keep the better looks for harder to get items <img src="/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />

[Beghard]

That armour is for sure bad [expletive haxx0red by Raijinn] looking. I think that a tank decked out in plate meteal should look awsome and that sirtinly does! The BP remonds me a little bit of Batman fro mthe Batman Begins movie and that good because BATMAN ROCKS! For sure some cool looking stuff. Cant wear that around and not feal like a badass. GREAT JOB DEVS! <div></div>

[ZababEW]

<DIV>its there anything new for chains leather cloth?</DIV>

[Camor]

<P>Aye Beghard the plate does remind you of the Batman armour and that is exactly the problem here. If this was a marvel superhero game or a Batman begins game that would be great but EQ2 is not that. It's a medieval fantasy game and should thus contains weapons and armour that looks like medieval fantasy and not something from space marines or the transformers (or batman for that matter…). The design approach should – in my opinions – be medieval fantasy and not science fiction or cartoonish as the approach seems to be in the art team right now.</P> <P>The original approach before LU#15 was just great and please stick to it SOE and does not turn this game into another City of heroes or, god forbid, World of Warcaft with that games bulky, crap cartoonish graphics…</P> <P>What should be great here on new cobalt vanguard is some nice details highlighted in other colours like on the armour on the NPC at Timber falls in the picture in my previous post here. The new cobalt vanguard does not have to look exactly like that of course but that approach has certainly got the right fantasy feeling to it. The pattern on the cobalt on test now is way to sci-fi/"Batman-like" to fit in and the chain parts (around the elbows and the crouch) have a lot cheaper looking textures than the previously created chain in the game (unless its supposed to be scale or padding and not chain of course…)… </P> <DIV>Camoran (the loyal)</DIV> <DIV>Lvl 54 paladin</DIV> <DIV>Antonia Bayle server</DIV>

[Sokolov]

The indents are cool, but doesn't negate the fact that it's basically one swathe of plastic blue. <div></div>

[Taval]

/agrees with Camoran The color is much better. It's a much nicer cobalt blue instead of a bright blueberry color.  The rest of the "build" still needs work though, in my opinion.  It still has that plastic look.  It still has that space-agey look.  It could definitely use more detail and texture.  It doesn't look "heroic". And for cripes sake, please give people a /hide skirt command. <div></div>

[Emerix]

<P>Well i dont want to brag or anything but i can tell that armor would work quite well against most slashing weapons ... as im not spoiled with those marval comics i was thinking about old ancient roman armors whe i saw this .. although i got to admit that the armor should be more .. how to say it ? heavier ? thicker ? It looks as if it would be very close to the skin and we all know that the old medieval armors used to have some free room under it .. just that this free room was filled with er ... a gambeston ? ([expletive haxx0red by Raijinn] english !) and honestly i would love to see some really new armors and not just new textures ...  Imho SOE should look a bit at the  Lineage ][ armors .  They arent realistic but look good at least ...and have variety .</P> <P><A href="http://img382.imageshack.us/my.php?image=shot000322fe.jpg" target=_blank>http://img382.imageshack.us/my.php?image=shot000322fe.jpg</A></P> <P><A href="http://img371.imageshack.us/my.php?image=shot000405cm.jpg" target=_blank>http://img371.imageshack.us/my.php?image=shot000405cm.jpg</A></P>

[Naggyba]

Just goes to show, no matter what they do, they will never please everyone.It looks great as it is.

[Sokolov]

<div></div>The old ebon, lightened up, looked great - one could see runes, dents and scratches and looked very impressive.  This newest stuff is an improvement over the solid blue plastic, but still looks ridiculous to me. What I would've liked to see was ebon lightened, not replaced with... whatever this is. <div></div><p>Message Edited by Sokolov on <span class=date_text>11-21-2005</span> <span class=time_text>12:35 PM</span>

[Sulas]

<span><blockquote><hr>Prayborne wrote:<div></div>;;snip;;<p>p.s. - an option to turn the skirt graphic off and on would be nice. I like the no skirt look, but the chain underneath needs to be black. Just a thought</p> <div></div><hr></blockquote>I know it's a virtual world and the armor isnt really *real*, but that skirt is there for a reason.  Without it, you'll get gutted and your genitals will get cut off.  But hey... if you dont want groin armor... go for it. <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></span><div></div>

[Screamin' 1]

<span><blockquote><hr>Naggybait wrote:Just goes to show, no matter what they do, they will never please everyone.It looks great as it is.<hr></blockquote>Maybe is just shows that some people are easy to please, while others are a bit more demanding. Cobalt looks better, but still looks plastic to me. The t6 common crafted armor looks a lot better. In fact, I don't recall anything but positive comments about the current t6 common look. </span><div></div>

[Rarlin]

MUCH better! Although I would still like it a tad darker, it's still much much better!

[ironman2000]

HOW DO YOU GET TROLLS TO STAND STILL LONG ENOUGH TO TAKE ALL THOSE PICTURES?

[Camor]

<P>The fact remains that the T6 common vanguard – indium – still looks way better than the T6 rare vanguard – cobalt - and I have so far not seen any post(s) where people have complained about the look of indium/chitin armour. Why does not SOE realise this and then go about and design the new cobalt vanguard with that in mind. The indium armour have all those features that so many players have asked for as in discrete, detailed, with a tint that blends in well with the rest of the game, nicely highlighted details in other colours which makes the amour more interesting and appealing to any person that looks at it etc etc. </P> <P>I just feel sad because it seems like SOE is heading off with the design in EQ2 away from the realistic, discrete, earth-coloured design where it started and now try out a more sci-fi, cartoonish design with cheaper looking textures and less interesting details on the different sets of armour than before. To me the original graphics in EQ2 were way superior to that of other MMORPG games f x WoW but I don’t know if I think that’s the case any more. The recent changes in EQ2 are to me seriously simpler and more appealing to a younger, maybe less demanding, audience than the original approach.</P> <DIV>Camoran (the loyal)</DIV> <DIV>Lvl 54 paladin</DIV> <DIV>Antonia bayle server</DIV>

[Suta]

<BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> Camoran wrote:<BR> <P>The fact remains that the T6 common vanguard – indium – still looks way better than the T6 rare vanguard – cobalt - and I have so far not seen any post(s) where people have complained about the look of indium/chitin armour. Why does not SOE realise this and then go about and design the new cobalt vanguard with that in mind. The indium armour have all those features that so many players have asked for as in discrete, detailed, with a tint that blends in well with the rest of the game, nicely highlighted details in other colours which makes the amour more interesting and appealing to any person that looks at it etc etc. </P> <P>I just feel sad because it seems like SOE is heading off with the design in EQ2 away from the realistic, discrete, earth-coloured design where it started and now try out a more sci-fi, cartoonish design with cheaper looking textures and less interesting details on the different sets of armour than before. To me the original graphics in EQ2 were way superior to that of other MMORPG games f x WoW but I don’t know if I think that’s the case any more. The recent changes in EQ2 are to me seriously simpler and more appealing to a younger, maybe less demanding, audience than the original approach.</P> <DIV>Camoran (the loyal)</DIV> <DIV>Lvl 54 paladin</DIV> <DIV>Antonia bayle server</DIV><BR> <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE><BR> <DIV>I agree with all of your posts to date.   EQ2 needs to remain a stylish high-fantasy artistic approach and stop moving toward this cartoonish junk.   My plea to SOE is to hire more talented modellers and texturers.</DIV>

[Laoch69]

<DIV>Looks great!</DIV>

[Kordran]

<DIV>I'm left to wonder whether or not "looking like Batman" is a ringing endorsement, or not... :smileyvery-happy:</DIV> <DIV> </DIV>

[Sasaki Koji]

Finely! Some design to it. even tho it looks like silver t5 fabled <img src="/smilies/69934afc394145350659cd7add244ca9.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> but better than what it was before.

[Ta]

T5 fulginate is the best looking armor in the whole game, because it has more than one color.  Details.  Making all the armor one color looks like a beginning 3d project.  Textures,  use textures. <div></div>

[Kingm]

The dev's don't seem to take this product seriously. Or they don't understand the importance of authenticity. looking at this armour... there is little to aspire to... I dont want to get to 60 so i can look l ike a circus clown. EQ2 is really struggling to find its identity. The world of Norath does not feel real to me. I'd love to put my finger on it but I think it is actually a whole series of issues that need to be fixed as opposed to and single over riding problem. <div></div>

[cr0wangel]

Anyone have an ETA about the update #17? I want to know when the new cobalt armor will be in game. The new style is not perfect, but better than what we have right now (plain blue plastic).

[Bantel]

<P>Unless you turn on Specular Lighting, the armor looks like a bright blue fuzzy blob.</P> <P>Options > Display > Lighting > Specular lighting, check on the checkbox.</P>

[Ls]

T5 Fabled Armor Skin in Blue... WoW thats shows skill!! Mhh lets see Heavy armor upgrades. 1000000000000000000, Medium Armor... hmmm,hmmm oh i got it fulginat looks like ebon, while ebon looks like indium, while indium looks like cobalt, while cobalt looks like t5 fabled, while t5 fabled looks like t6 fabled ! Oh Wait theres a t5 fabled skin ! Oh sry but its mainly on the sucky items. We have medium armor droping like ******* but after 11 Months you still run around in fulginat skin. Fix plz. <div></div>

[DanielAtchison]

<DIV>looks nice <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> i like the change, i just hope they fix barbarians shoulders... they are to wide</DIV>

[infernus006]

i think it looks pretty good in these screenshots and i am anxious to login and see it for myself.  i'm very glad to see they left the skirt on this time, i couldn't stand the way it looked without it, looked too "exposed" i guess, especially when you're so used to having it.  i guess a /showskirt command would be nice but i know that i would never want to turn mine off. from what i can see here...good job soe! <div></div>

[Cuz]

<BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> Camoran wrote:<BR> <P>The fact remains that the T6 common vanguard – indium – still looks way better than the T6 rare vanguard – cobalt - and I have so far not seen any post(s) where people have complained about the look of indium/chitin armour. Why does not SOE realise this and then go about and design the new cobalt vanguard with that in mind. The indium armour have all those features that so many players have asked for as in discrete, detailed, with a tint that blends in well with the rest of the game, nicely highlighted details in other colours which makes the amour more interesting and appealing to any person that looks at it etc etc. </P> <P>I just feel sad because it seems like SOE is heading off with the design in EQ2 away from the realistic, discrete, earth-coloured design where it started and now try out a more sci-fi, cartoonish design with cheaper looking textures and less interesting details on the different sets of armour than before. To me the original graphics in EQ2 were way superior to that of other MMORPG games f x WoW but I don’t know if I think that’s the case any more. The recent changes in EQ2 are to me seriously simpler and more appealing to a younger, maybe less demanding, audience than the original approach.</P> <DIV>Camoran (the loyal)</DIV> <DIV>Lvl 54 paladin</DIV> <DIV>Antonia bayle server</DIV><BR> <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE> <P><BR>Make a brawler or a druid, you'll get all the earth tone armour you can handle. I'm sure in 60 levels you'll see shades of brown you never knew existed :p</P>

[Grumpy_Warrior_01]

<P>Cobalt vanguard on Live looks very nice.  Good job as usual, artists.</P> <P> </P>