Why cant we make our characters "look and feel" the way we want?

[Kaalenarc]

<p>See the title of this topic. There are some options I would like to see.</p><p> 1.) Amor Dye - first and foremost - above all else - for the love of the Gods - PLEASE - its time - I am SO sick of looking like the Court Jester. I defy anyone, anywhere to find me a non-eq2 published work that shows a heroic paladin in banana yellow armor! Cut it out already with the stick in the mud outlook. The players, by and large - want this (with the possible exception of PVPers who want to id gear on sight - but then  isnt that in part why we lost the spell effect on the Mark of Awakening Item?)</p><p>2.) Body modding!  Not every person has a superhero physique! Suppose I want a short , fat human chef? or a more muscular elf? While keeping within defined parameters for races, there should be some more options for this other than height and some slight size adjustments.</p><p>3.) Emotes ! Give us some that cause the characters to interact with each other while not in combat. Give us a /hug , /handshake, /bonk and /slowdance that when someone else is targeted and grouped, (or gives consent) then a little interaction happens!  For example - target your intended dance partner and type /slowdance and the other person would get a window saying "(name) has asked you to dance Y/N?" Be great for roleplay.</p><p> 4.) PLEASE give us the ability to SIT in chairs and LIE DOWN on beds! Yeah, I know - re-doing all the items blah blah!  So what? Its a flaw in the game - do it. Or barring that - make the /sit emote just put the person in a sitting postion as if the chair were under them or something. </p><p> Just my annual plea that will most likely go unheralded by the devs. sigh.</p>

[Themaginator]

Kaalenarc@Antonia Bayle wrote: <blockquote><p>See the title of this topic. There are some options I would like to see.</p><p> 1.) Amor Dye - first and foremost - above all else - for the love of the Gods - PLEASE - its time - I am SO sick of looking like the Court Jester. I defy anyone, anywhere to find me a non-eq2 published work that shows a heroic paladin in banana yellow armor! Cut it out already with the stick in the mud outlook. The players, by and large - want this (with the possible exception of PVPers who want to id gear on sight - but then  isnt that in part why we lost the spell effect on the Mark of Awakening Item?)</p><p>2.) Body modding!  Not every person has a superhero physique! Suppose I want a short , fat human chef? or a more muscular elf? While keeping within defined parameters for races, there should be some more options for this other than height and some slight size adjustments.</p><p>3.) Emotes ! Give us some that cause the characters to interact with each other while not in combat. Give us a /hug , /handshake, /bonk and /slowdance that when someone else is targeted and grouped, (or gives consent) then a little interaction happens!  For example - target your intended dance partner and type /slowdance and the other person would get a window saying "(name) has asked you to dance Y/N?" Be great for roleplay.</p><p> 4.) PLEASE give us the ability to SIT in chairs and LIE DOWN on beds! Yeah, I know - re-doing all the items blah blah!  So what? Its a flaw in the game - do it. Or barring that - make the /sit emote just put the person in a sitting postion as if the chair were under them or something. </p><p> Just my annual plea that will most likely go unheralded by the devs. sigh.</p></blockquote>you act as if redoing armor is a small task. The interacting with others emotes are basically un-doable from a programming standpoint, as for armor dye....thats a different argument (only reason EQ1 EVER had it is because the armor all looked exactly the same). now the body modding is a neat idea and maybe with the new skeletons it could be doable, but once again as of now it'd be impossible to do with the limitations. youd have to make the armor custom fit to EVERY single body type possible so nope.  the sitting and what not doesnt really take any armor changing just changing some character model movements and the way we interact with certain objects in the world, itd be hard and it would take a long time but i think maybe doable.  lots of these things are either really really big changes in code or are just plane impossible to do, thats just how it is. oh...and seriously guys...the pally armor is gold not yellow give it a rest lol, plus your new fabled is really cool.

[Chay]

I seem to remember the SWG had more options for customizing characters. I understand that the skeleton update is a huge undertaking but it would be nice to have it sooner than later. Immersion is a very important part of the game to me (which probably causes snickers from the folks who are more interested in loot) and the lack of customization will likely be the reason I stop paying my subscription (whenever that is). When everyone wears the some clothes, looks exactly the same, and acts exactly the same the game becomes less interesting. Oddly enough... I think the developers feel the same way as I do. I think they want desperately to add some visual variety and identity to the game. I think they are probably as frustrated as the rest of us. So the pain is shared!!!

[Lasai]

SWG still has an extensive body customization feature. It is a good thing, and a bad thing. I love the customization options, but, the rendering of so many possible body combinations does add quite a bit of latency, all that stuff has to be processed. That being said though, I would far rather have my processer tied up rendering Character models, then have it tied up drawing hordes of diety pets, fluff pets and useless particle effects. And some of what we ask for could be done without huge technical issues.. I love my Formal gown, but, why is there but one fabric, one color offered? There could be differing looks for this, requiring different Guild levels or something. Dye kits for Crafted armor could be done as a minimum, retain the unique look they want for loots, yet give us some flexibility in creating a look.

[Ciarr]

<p>/hug and /handshake could have been one-side animation just fine, slowdance is something I don't expect to happen... but you could do that to some extend in DAoC with a combination of /face and /stick (/face made you face the target wherever it went, /stick was a short range follow which was switching turn-left/turn-righ keys to 'strife around target' movement, I wouldn't mind having both commands in EQ2.... and of course something like that could be done by 2 separate animations and a little synchronization for RP purposes</p><p>body modding is a major problem, contrary to what some people think the math behind placing armour/body on skeleton is extremlly simplistic (for performance reason) and very prone to misplacement even with minor adjustment. if you look around in RL you will notice that cloths lay very differently on people with different bodies, skelly system is sort of middle-ground placement with weighted system, not really as flexible as required for such task (well.. it's more like performance-complexity trade-off)</p><p> I expect dyes to be a 'big thing' in one of the future expansions (if you look at armour, SoE is clearly using dyes internally to increase armour variety)</p>

[Rast]

<p>Just give me the ability to not look like a clown and be in good gear and I'll be happy...  I for one don't care to look like a reject from the clown factory.</p><p>Either dye or the ability to use the color mask of one piece of armor over the rest would do.</p>

[Siclone]

<p>the op is actually right, I jsut dont get it, look and feel is huge in the player base, but SOE treats it as an after thought.</p><p> Even EQ1 let you dye your armor.  I mean please, there are many steps one can take to help with this mis match problem....</p><p>Take one of them for god sake.  It is a HUGE issue and should have been address at release.  Forget sword of waste my time quest and get on something that matters.  </p>

[Themaginator]

Dye is the way of the old MMOs thats why EQ1 let you do it cmon guys id rather have cool looking unique armor then everyone in..black armor. [I cannot control my vocabulary] people are needy.  they dont even understand how game development works, its sad really, they think that because one thing is being worked on that the entire company of SOE is focusing on that one thing..you know there are teams for these things and just because they PUT IN A NEW QUEST FOR US TO HAVE SOMETHING TO DO DOES NOT MEAN THEY ARE NOT WORKING ON OTHER THINGS SO JUST STOP WITH THE INCESSANT WHINES ABOUT WAAA SOE GAVE US A STUPID QUEST I WANT MORE GRAPHICS CRY CRY. Because yeah....graphics really add to my hours of gameplay its way important than the main quest/story line of the game . this is in response to Siclone btw

[Rast]

<p>Shastan, that is why I think that something like the chest piece should drive looks.</p><p>Right now, my Paladin has a blue bp, orange pants, green boots and silverish arms and if I turn my helm on I look like I have a paintcan with wings ontop of my head...  It isn't a pretty sight...  I'm not fond of the clown reject look.</p><p>And for the record, I don't really want my armor black, I want it to be blue, gold, or silver.</p>

[DwarvesR]

<p>I'd like to be able to set my chest piece to determine my whole look.  Right now if my coercer is wearing all her "best gear" she looks like this:</p><p><img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/176/461176912_f6a38bea4b_o.jpg" border="0"></p><p>ICK!  ICK ICK ICK!!!!!</p><p>As a result of this fashion nightmare, I've spent a lot of money buying this inferior gear for when I'm just running around.  Yes, I could just buy a silly dress, but they're all the same too.  This at least looks a bit different:</p><p><img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/216/463807849_9c29ab177c_o.jpg" border="0"> <img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/216/463807851_b55cc3599e_o.jpg" border="0"></p><p>More like this, less like the 1st -- that's my request.</p>

[Amalth]

I would just like to have the <i>option </i>to set my character's armor to match the breastplate.  Would this really be so difficult?

[MiaPage]

<p>ARMOR DYE YES!  And don't tell me it can't be done, because it can if they want to do it.  They just dont care to spend the time it would take to develop it.</p><p>We look like a bunch of fools in this unmatching armor.</p><p>Come on guys, lets fix this one.</p>

[Dragowulf]

Kaalenarc@Antonia Bayle wrote: <blockquote><p>See the title of this topic. There are some options I would like to see.</p><p> 1.) Amor Dye - first and foremost - above all else - for the love of the Gods - PLEASE - its time - I am SO sick of looking like the Court Jester. I defy anyone, anywhere to find me a non-eq2 published work that shows a heroic paladin in banana yellow armor! Cut it out already with the stick in the mud outlook. The players, by and large - want this (with the possible exception of PVPers who want to id gear on sight - but then  isnt that in part why we lost the spell effect on the Mark of Awakening Item?)</p><p>2.) Body modding!  Not every person has a superhero physique! Suppose I want a short , fat human chef? or a more muscular elf? While keeping within defined parameters for races, there should be some more options for this other than height and some slight size adjustments.</p><p>3.) Emotes ! Give us some that cause the characters to interact with each other while not in combat. Give us a /hug , /handshake, /bonk and /slowdance that when someone else is targeted and grouped, (or gives consent) then a little interaction happens!  For example - target your intended dance partner and type /slowdance and the other person would get a window saying "(name) has asked you to dance Y/N?" Be great for roleplay.</p><p> 4.) PLEASE give us the ability to SIT in chairs and LIE DOWN on beds! Yeah, I know - re-doing all the items blah blah!  So what? Its a flaw in the game - do it. Or barring that - make the /sit emote just put the person in a sitting postion as if the chair were under them or something. </p><p> Just my annual plea that will most likely go unheralded by the devs. sigh.</p></blockquote>dont flame me for this but have you seen any of the other games compared to this?  Look at wow, you have to pick a face, body, arms, legs, out of 10 choices.  What VG did was an improvement but their char models  sucked [Removed for Content] 1.if someone doesnt want a rainbow person running arround just have a toggle on/off button to turn off the armor dyes, or at least neon. (probably will happen when skel. models go live) 2.i agree 100% 3.i agree 100% 4. almost impossible, how you you size a chair to an ogre? if possibe, i'd pay for it. I'd pay for some cool emotions.  Like you could pick the different ways to sit down, kinda uniquely, like the fae and froglock.  You can pick to kind of lay down, or kneel, sit, etc.

[Mirander_1]

Well, ok, lets go through these suggestions: Armor Dyes- The devs have decided against it.  Although, I would actually like to see an option to let the color of your chest piece determine the color of the rest of your armor Body Modding- Won't happen for the same reason they're doing that model skeleton revamp.  It creates too many new body types that all armor needs to be fitted to. Emotes- The ones being suggested, with two characters physically interacting, seem like they would be an utter [Removed for Content] to program.  If they can pull it off, then great, but I wouldn't get my hopes up about it. Furniture Usage- I think this might actually be easier to program than some might think.  Lets use chairs for example, what you do, is label each chair as being one of three sizes: small, medium, and large.  You then do the same with races.  Then create three animations for sitting.  If the size of the chair and the character match up (eg. both are medium), then they just sit normally.  If the chair is one size too big, then the character has to kinda clamber to get into it, and sit with their feet dangling, like a small kid.  If the chair is one size too small, then they sit with their knees high up; if you've ever sat in a chair in a kindergarten classroom, then you have an idea of what I'm picturing.  If the chair is two sizes too big or small, then you simply can't sit in it.

[Spindle]

Are you kidding? Hell, I'd go and pay for armor dyes, emotes, and more customization. In a heartbeat.  When my character who has only one eye MAGICALLY REGROWS IT EVERY TIME HE PUTS ON HIS HOOD well...that shows you something....

[Maroger]

Although Klutzy in spots the character customization in Vanguard is a lot better than that in EQ2. I would like them to bring some of those customization options to EQ2. There is more to a character than just changing their hairdo.

[Xalmat]

The devs have repeatedly said that armor dyes probably won't happen. The last thing they want is an Ogre in neon pink.

[Maroger]

<cite>Xalmat wrote:</cite><blockquote>The devs have repeatedly said that armor dyes probably won't happen. The last thing they want is an Ogre in neon pink. </blockquote><p>Why should they care!! In EQlive I see characters in multi-colored rainbow hues. Frankly I like it -- it makes a nice change from some drab olive green or grey stuff. Besides the player obviously likes it so what is the difference. </p><p>I am all for Armor dyes -- I thought they were one of the cool features of EQlive. </p>

[curtcleancut]

<p>Ok, I've been seriously opposed the Dyes. I don't want a game called Power Rangers and Bozo Clowns.</p><p>However, a very good idea that I will support is a single piece of armor that determines all other pieces colors. who color can be changed and affects all other pieces i.e. the chest piece.  This is a fantastic idea. I am still hesitant on the idea of colors. If I see people running around in pink armor I will puke and quickly follow up by canceling my account. Seriously. It detracts from the game.</p>

[MysidiaDrakkenbane]

<p>People calling out against Ogres in neon pink...Is it really different than seeing an Ogre in the full paladin relic armor? Or your so called "power rangers"... it's not all that different than the mismatched patchwork armor that up and coming raiders are subjected to wear.</p><p>With all the layered textures our armor has compared to WoW graphics, the armor dyes won't be as bright and obnoxious as you might think they'd be. Even the "Barney Look" from KoS wasn't that vibrant. And if you can handle an Ogre Inqy wearing the purple plate pants from KoS or the paladin banana relic, adding a few more colors won't be such a bad thing.</p><p>People are tired of not matching. Why would you think they would go out of their way to not match anymore than we already do?</p>

[Rast]

<p>I don't care how they do it...  but this looking like a clown is for the birds!</p><p>Personally, with the BP I wear (Cuirass of the Shadowfire) I'd love my whole set to use that color.  Nice blue would make me very happy.</p>

[Guy De Alsace]

<p>Of the games I've played...<b> </b></p><p><b>EQ2: c2004</b></p><p>Interesting designs. Some armour that actually looks good. Realistic motion captured, blended animations. A few pieces of gear dont match for min/maxers but plenty of nice looking gear exists for non-combat/RPing in the game. Some of the fine detail on items in this game really is incredible. Weapons that actually <i>look</i> like weapons for the most part instead of clunky pieces of metal. On high detail, Kerra and Ratonga actually look like they have fur. Best horse models (updated version) IMO. No option to show your bow as well as your hand weapons. Animated cloth looks good if a little buggy at times.</p><p><b>DDO: c2006</b></p><p>Uses full body models. Whatever armour you wear covers your entire body. Jerky, hand animated animations. Totally unanimated faces. No RP/Out of combat gear. Undetailed weapons - some covered in clunky sprite/particle effects. No Cloaks. No mounts. </p><p><b>Vanguard: c2006</b></p><p>Full body models that are really pretty awful. Very few toon customisation options. Shields are tiny and stand out 3ft from the back of your toon. Hand animated, unblended animations. Quite possibly the worst ever horse models seen in a recent game. Weapons are drab and dont look anything special. no out-of-combat/RP gear.</p><p><b>LotRO: c2007</b></p><p>Uses individual armour pieces but there is so little variation in the designs I've seen that many people look the same. Available colours are extremely drab indeed. While cloaks are in, there are only very few designs. Animation is hand animated and unblended. Weapons range from looking really good to looking freakishly unwieldy. A few have sparse particle effects. It *does* have the best bow firing animation I've seen yet however. No out-of-combat/RP gear. Horse models are fairly good. Toons have bows and crossbows visible at all times (still no quivers though). </p><p>EQ2 still has by far the best looking toons. I'm perplexed at the backward slide in technology thats happening at the moment. </p>

[selch]

<cite>Lasai wrote:</cite><blockquote>SWG still has an extensive body customization feature. It is a good thing, and a bad thing. I love the customization options, but, the rendering of so many possible body combinations does add quite a bit of latency, all that stuff has to be processed. Dye kits for Crafted armor could be done as a minimum, retain the unique look they want for loots, yet give us some flexibility in creating a look.</blockquote><p>Believe me... Those particle effects trend on every item is more than twice cpu power than any possible body modifications. SWG did it really well.  </p><p>I really don't like to see Neon Pink Ogre myself too, but with limited palette depending on armor type dye kits are a god-sent. On the other hand with current itemization of art team really creates Neon pink ogres without dyes.</p>

[varilite]

I like the idea of armor dyes, it seemed to work pretty well in DAOC.  I don't understand why there would have to be neon colors added, could be a very limited color pallet to choose from, perhaps.  However, I do also like the idea of having the armor match the chest piece.

[Polywogus]

Surely armour dye could be implemented in a good way. Tarnishing, blending, bleeding, highlighting - thus limiting the OMG that ogre is wearing full pink plate effect. & please, more robe types, because the bathrobe w/ a hoodie (even when you have your hood showing =p ) is awful stuffy. Leave it in for those who enjoy, however. Oh, & no more oven mitt gloves =p I'm a fan of emotes, bring em on. The customization of body in terms of lighter or heavier... I think it'd take forever to implement & IMO things are alright as they are. Other customizations such as scars or what not are always welcome (& easier to implement certainly). Actions in terms of sitting/lying down are dandy.

[Rast]

<p>It would be nice to see more 'normal' clothes with stats for the finger wigglers, instead of robes.</p><p>In general, armors that look a little less like traditional DnD armors, a bit more like clothing.</p><p>And for goodness sakes, can we have the paladins look a little more like holy warriors and less like yellow lego space man????</p>

[Chomsky]

<p><span style="font-size: x-small; font-family: comic sans ms,sand">Well, my first comment would be: you get more flies with honey than with vinegar.  Try to be more positive when making requests or recommendations.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-small; font-family: comic sans ms,sand">That said, I like the idea of a matching outfit and dying as well.  Sometimes the best pieces of armor are not all from the same set.  It would be nice to look like you didn't just roll out of Faymart, rather from a custom shop.  Dyes are/were a part of EQ1.  You would buy a dye for each major armor location, then adjust the color you want.  This dye would be applied to the slot (such as chest) rather than to the actual armor.  I liked to be able to make my toon look different than every other dwarf out there.  As for emotes, I really don't have an opinion.  I'm not big on emoting... maybe I should talk to my therapist.  I do see some folks who really get into role playing, which emoting plays a very large part.</span></p>

[Guy De Alsace]

If dyeing armour makes the original models as bland, samey and uninteresting as the ones in LotRO, I can live with not implementing dyes.

[kenm]

I honestly cannot see how anybody could be opposed to armor dyes.  Even if they allowed 100% control over the colors, nobody in their right mind would dress up worse than they already do thanks to how horrible armor looks to begin with.  Unless you're lucky enough to get all your set armor to drop, you're reduced to looking like a mismatched imbecile where even neon pink would look nicer.  And even then, EoF berserker fabled?  Yuck, it's like they went out of their way to make it look as terrible as humanly possible! I'm all for any way to make my character not look incredibly idiotic.  Armor dyes, heck, even being able to hide every piece of armor so it looks like I run around naked... ANYTHING!

[phoenixshard]

I'm all for the armor dye/chestplate selection for color determination of the armor.  People can say they don't want to see a neon pink ogre running around.  That is so simple to keep from happening, don't include neon colors in the selection of colors.  Easily handled.  I'm tired of my characters running around looking like poor farmer's kids picking up whatever armor pieces they can find and putting them on.  We're supposed to be adventurers that can afford decent gear, not hand me downs from uncle Bozo.  Give us the choice for the matching colors, I'd be very happy.

[Siogai]

Someone asked for a banana-yellow Paladin? <a href="http://www.howlinggriffon.co.uk/resource/howling_griffons_full.jpg" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://www.howlinggriffon.co.uk/res...iffons_full.jpg</a> Viola! Warhammer 40K, Space Marines! Imperial Fists! <a href="http://members.iinet.net.au/~crismate/DodgyBrothersMiniatures/images/IFTacMontage.jpg" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://members.iinet.net.au/~crisma...FTacMontage.jpg</a> ... and if you don't think a Space Marine isn't a Paladin...

[Batelu]

Kaalenarc@Antonia Bayle wrote: <blockquote><p>See the title of this topic. There are some options I would like to see.</p><p> 1.) Amor Dye - first and foremost - above all else - for the love of the Gods - PLEASE - its time - I am SO sick of looking like the Court Jester. I defy anyone, anywhere to find me a non-eq2 published work that shows a heroic paladin in banana yellow armor! Cut it out already with the stick in the mud outlook. The players, by and large - want this (with the possible exception of PVPers who want to id gear on sight - but then  isnt that in part why we lost the spell effect on the Mark of Awakening Item?)</p><p>2.) Body modding!  Not every person has a superhero physique! Suppose I want a short , fat human chef? or a more muscular elf? While keeping within defined parameters for races, there should be some more options for this other than height and some slight size adjustments.</p><p>3.) Emotes ! Give us some that cause the characters to interact with each other while not in combat. Give us a /hug , /handshake, /bonk and /slowdance that when someone else is targeted and grouped, (or gives consent) then a little interaction happens!  For example - target your intended dance partner and type /slowdance and the other person would get a window saying "(name) has asked you to dance Y/N?" Be great for roleplay.</p><p> 4.) PLEASE give us the ability to SIT in chairs and LIE DOWN on beds! Yeah, I know - re-doing all the items blah blah!  So what? Its a flaw in the game - do it. Or barring that - make the /sit emote just put the person in a sitting postion as if the chair were under them or something. </p><p> Just my annual plea that will most likely go unheralded by the devs. sigh.</p></blockquote>I'll just add my support for these items, they'd be great for the game. Difficult to implement? Absolutely. Worth the effort? Definitely.

[DanaDark]

<p>For me, character appearance is a MAJOR factor. I want my toon to look good. I'll even pass on a small upgrade if it means I get to stay looking good. But that's me.</p><p>I think the character models need some little work, and the skeleton system NEEDS to be revamped ASAP. I think they locked that team in a closet and forgot to feed them =</p>