Remaking the character models

[re1master]

<p>I was wondering if anyone had any clue on where I can find more information on them?  I tried searching but mostly got information about new necro pet designs and SOGA.</p><p> Thanks for any help you can give, Lex</p>

[Seraki]

<p>I'm not sure I understand the question.  <img src="/smilies/136dd33cba83140c7ce38db096d05aed.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></p><p>Are you asking about changing the look of your characters or if they are going to alter our current models?</p>

[re1master]

<cite>Seraki wrote:</cite><blockquote><p>I'm not sure I understand the question.  <img src="/smilies/136dd33cba83140c7ce38db096d05aed.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></p><p>Are you asking about changing the look of your characters or <b>if they are going to alter our current models</b>?</p></blockquote> The later.  I heard they are remaking the models with some new syste that will allow them to create better more unique armor.

[Mirander_1]

If you mean the whole model revamp thing, here's what we know: Right now, it takes a <i>long </i>time to create new armor models, because they have to be fitted to the model for every race, gender, and the normal and soga models, which comes out to some fifty-something unique models.  The revamp is to condense that down to a smaller number of character models (I've heard the number four somewhere), greatly reducing the time to create new armors, as well as increasing rendering time in-game, I believe. When will this happen?  No clue.  The devs have been staying relatively hush-hush on the whole thing until it gets closer to completion.

[re1master]

<cite>Mirander_1 wrote:</cite><blockquote>If you mean the whole model revamp thing, here's what we know: Right now, it takes a <i>long </i>time to create new armor models, because they have to be fitted to the model for every race, gender, and the normal and soga models, which comes out to some fifty-something unique models.  The revamp is to condense that down to a smaller number of character models (I've heard the number four somewhere), greatly reducing the time to create new armors, as well as increasing rendering time in-game, I believe. When will this happen?  No clue.  The devs have been staying relatively hush-hush on the whole thing until it gets closer to completion. </blockquote> I know I've been hearing about it for a while now, probably since LU21 atleast.

[DanaDark]

<p>Heh...</p><p>Honestly, they should just say FUG it and redo them completely. ONE set that LOOKS terrific hands down, and a skeletal system that scales to the character's size so that armor designing is MUCH simpler and the possibility for SITTING may be in the future.</p><p>With all honesty, I'd be willing to say goodbye to how my characters currently look if it meant the addition of different armors and even the ability to sit in a chair...</p>

[LadyVader]

<cite>DanaDark wrote:</cite><blockquote><p>Heh...</p><p>Honestly, they should just say FUG it and redo them completely. ONE set that LOOKS terrific hands down, and a skeletal system that scales to the character's size so that armor designing is MUCH simpler and the possibility for SITTING may be in the future.</p><p>With all honesty, I'd be willing to say goodbye to how my characters currently look if it meant the addition of different armors and even the ability to sit in a chair...</p></blockquote>I agree, especially after seeing the npcs in Neriak and the beautiful clothing and armor they are wearing, I wanted to cry.  It was like seeing the npcs from KoS for the first time all over again.  The change to the character models couldn't come soon enough for me, hopefully it's soon.

[littleman17]

Just a theory, but I'm thinking the whole new skelly thing may come out with RoK. They launched the new stat cap thingy with EoF didn't they? SOE tends to release the stuff in one large lump rather than making us download several medium sized lumps of content.

[Ponos]

<p>They've been working on it for over a year, if they're going to release it, it will be with RoK, or not at all.  (In my opinion.)</p><p>And to clarify, they want to narrow it down to six skeleton models, last I heard: </p><p>3 models -- small, medium, large -- for each gender.</p><p>This makes me terribly nervous, as certain races look nothing at all like other races -- the frogloks, for example.</p><p>Vanguard employed a similar technique and what happened is you had bodies where the head appeared transplanted on.  Didn't match the skeleton model at all, looking sort of like a G.I. Joe or He-Man action figure.</p><p>But we'll see.  And regardless of the outcome, I'm sure there will be people who don't like it.</p>

[Image_Vain]

I hope they don't touch SOGA

[Zarafein]

I'am looking forward to this if it means more clothing/armor..as long as they don't make non soga as simple and similar(ogre=barbarian with diferent head and color for example..) as soga.

[Naubeta]

I hope they would keep the current ratonga as a seperate model if the new one just looks like a furry gnome or something <img src="/smilies/9d71f0541cff0a302a0309c5079e8dee.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />

[jagermonsta]

New models can't come soon enough. Accept leave normal halfling models alone. SOGA halflings look like they have downs...

[Seraki]

<p>Revamping the normal models?  That could be dangerous unless they are really going to deliver something good.  I just came back to this game after a year in wow and if they make the models less attractive I probably wont stay.   </p><p>Anyone know the where abouts of the dev post on this subject?</p>

[xOnaton1]

I think the last official word was in February of this year: <a href="http://eq2.warcry.com/scripts/news/view_news.phtml?site=68&id=68663" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://eq2.warcry.com/scripts/news/...68&id=68663</a> Scott Hartsman: Yes. We’ve had a character project going for the past year or so. The goal is to reduce the number of distinct times that we need to re-create and re-fit armor whenever it gets created. Between the US and SOGA models, each piece of wearable armor that we create needs to be fitted 40+ times. This makes wearable production exceptionally painful. In the current character model system, it is no exaggeration to say that wearable production is a logical impossibility to be done on a reasonable time scale. The most obvious evidence of this is what you’ve seen with the class hats and why they’ve been taking so long to get done. With four new class hats coming out in the next update (Furies, Necromancers, Wardens, and Warlocks), we’re getting there. We’ll have more details about this project as it gets a little closer to fruition. Meanwhile, while that longer scale project gets worked on, we continue tweaking mount and character animations, as well as illusion and other-form animations as well. Expect interim improvements there over the next few live updates. -------------------------------------------- It was also mentioned at least once last year. Here's the Stratics chat from August of 2006: <a href="http://eq2.stratics.com/content/hoclog/hoclog8.php" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://eq2.stratics.com/content/hoclog/hoclog8.php</a> Brekkee - *Harobel* BG, in a recent interview, mentioned converting the PC models to 4 basic skeletons to reduce lag and allow for more armor quicker. Any updates on this? Also, are there any current plans for a revamp of all PCs to make them more customizable? Dymus - This is not a quick process and it will take quite a bit of time to get it completed. It is in the works, we do plan on doing it, but it will not be anytime in the near future. However, the benefits from taking on that project should allow us to grant quite a bit more diversity in appearance and making new armor will be considerably faster. Othesus - Dirge - Lucan DLere Vaspar - Fury - Lucan DLere

[Chay]

I'm guessing its going to be pretty bad. The races look too similar now. If you squeeze them down you might as well throw out certain races. I expect the worst of this. Hopefully I'll be "disappointed" and what they come up with will blow my socks off and make me weep with joy. Mostly likely its going to take the personality out of the characters... not that they have much there. Yes, I'm negative about this. I've been patient. But any patience is running out.

[Josgar]

It should not change much. If they are just changing the skeletons, it should not really change how the character looks. Generally the skeleton decides where the joints are and how tall the model is. They are obviously using the skeletons as the hook points for the armor... so if they make the skeletons the same for each one... then it should be easier.

[petrov26]

<p>This skeleton remake concerns me also as much as I want to see more armor and clothing in the game. Frankly I actually *like* most of the original standard character models though admit they could be updated. The "beast" races in particular I have always thought were done really well and would seem the most likely to get screwed up with a big change.</p><p>I am skeptical new models are the answer anyhow; it seems to me they never have really taken advantage of what they already have. Better and more varied retextures of existing models would go a long way towards helping provide some variety. Also they could use a little imagination; some of the status clothing models for instance could probably be used for mage robes and such and would be better than the same old stale robe.</p>

[sorn]

 Quality, quality, quality  If they at least maintain the same quality look of the characters as they are now, when this apparent change comes about, then ok.  If they actually increase quality, then even better (doubtfull, but anything is possible)  If they *decrease* quality of the current look of characters avaliable for this new change, it may very well be the end of Eq2, Imho  The concept to me sounds awsome, and like the developer stated in the review about this new change, once they have revamped the system and allowed for many types of fitted armor to be made and put on various character types due to new character build system, they can even expand this, and make more, and more, and more...  Sounds awsome to me as long as my repetitive word here *quality* is maintained.  This reminds me of how Swg has formed over time, looking at it now there is so much to choose from to customize your character its not funny, no one need ever complain they look the same, although it is an outdated game with "old" graphics and imo decreased gameplay function due to restricting "chapter" updates, nonetheless, it shows what sort of expansions can be implimented over time - just browsing thru the clothing/armor areas on Swg Bazzar's reveals litterly TONS of options to "individualize" ur character. L2 of course goes a far step past even SWG and offers up awsome styles and "coolness" to armor and clothing, radical designes that really blow me away, too bad their gameplay suks big time LOL - hopefully SOE does this right and gives us some kick a#$ looking stylish armor and clothing over time once they get this new change done (provided the characters still at least look the same as now....)

[Josgar]

it sounds to me that they are making good quality redos.. because they are taking so long.

[Skua]

<cite>Josgar wrote:</cite><blockquote>it sounds to me that they are making good quality redos.. because they are taking so long. </blockquote> lol QFT

[Cynziel]

O.o oh no... I really love the SOGA models, I hope they don't change the 'skin', textures of the models but just the body skeleton? And what's wrong with the beast races? I thought they looked the best, especially the Kerras, I wan to to run up to one and hug the person when I see one, they're so cute.. ^^ So if I get this right they will scrap both the original character models and the SOGA models and give us a brand new one? This makes me apprehensive about the game again.. <img src="/smilies/9d71f0541cff0a302a0309c5079e8dee.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />

[soulpurge]

<p>I vote for 10x the amount of hair styles, facial hair styles, markings, accessories, tattoos, skin/scale and fur patterns.</p><p>i mean why not... are  you seriously gonna tell me that all the cultures in EQ and 80%( no actual fact behind the percentage ) of the population of each race want the same hair style?</p>

[Nakaru-Nitepaw]

I hope they don't mess up the way the ratongas look. I like them how they are, but improvements are welcomed. Simple things need to stay intact though. Such as the Digitigrade style legs, hand shapes, arm muscles, TAILS (as vanguard players know Sigil Sucks for not applying tails to their beast races), and the finger/toenails. Ratonga is basically the only thing i play hehe.

[Deson]

I wonder about the models. Since the goal is to improve performance, quality and within those the ability to add in gear, is SOGA being dropped as a body type but kept as a facial/hair option? I only noticed the facial differences the few times I used SOGA. If they left it as just face and hair, would the game take a performance hit if it allowed the full range of views up(original and SOGA)? Players have expressed a strong desire since SOGA launched to be seen the way they choose and I wonder if that was a part of the R&D.

[Frain]

<a href='http://eq2.allakhazam.com/sdetail.html?story=9776' target='_blank' rel="nofollow">http://eq2.allakhazam.com/sdetail.html?story=9776</a> Here they ask a developer about the new models. Some nice info there=D Apparently it's ETA is at the end of this year

[mellowknees72]

Nevia@Lucan DLere wrote: <blockquote><a href="http://eq2.allakhazam.com/sdetail.html?story=9776" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://eq2.allakhazam.com/sdetail.html?story=9776</a> Here they ask a developer about the new models. Some nice info there=D Apparently it's ETA is at the end of this year </blockquote> Awesome!  Thanks! <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />  That was very informative.

[IeU]

would be nice to see it with the new xpack coming soon.

[Apocroph]

<blockquote><span style="color: #ffffff"><b>{gallenite}</b> At the moment, we’re targetting having it out by the end of calendar 2007. Expect us to start talking more about it this fall.</span></blockquote> That, to me, gives us two possibilities: 1. It will be rolled out with RoK. OR 2. Scott Hartsman's got a real nice Christmas present for us this year. Also, something I think Josgar brought up that I wanted to discuss a bit... Altering a model's skeleton isn't always as simple as just moving the virtual bones around.  Many times, changing a bone changes the way the mesh (the muscle, so to speak) lays over the bone, which in turn changes the way the texture (the skin) lays on the mesh and bone.  This is very likely a project on par with the creation of the new graphics engine that was introduced with Luclin, if not even more demanding. For example: If I wanted to lengthen the SOGA Barbarian Male's bicep and shorten his tricep (which I think he needs; looks a bit too simian for my tastes), simply changing the lengths of the bones in question in the model's skeleton may not adjust the model's mesh and texture accordingly.  The result could end up as ridiculous as the elbow visually hinging somewhere in the middle of the model's radius and ulna.  In this case, the mesh would need to be adjusted to reflect the new position of the elbow, as would the texture if there are any visual landmarks at the elbow. I'm glad they're taking their time though.  I'd rather wait for quality the first time around than get crap intially and wait for numerous bandaids on bulletholes. Edit: Stupid quoted text was black on black.

[Image_Vain]

Wood Elf soga kicks so much [Removed for Content] it's not even worth mentioning.

[Winter]

<span style="font-size: medium; color: #ff99ff; font-family: comic sans ms,sand">You know, I could be terribly wrong, but I believe they've been slowly working on it over the past year. I wonder if parts of the streamlined models have already been implemented in some capacity.</span>

[IeU]

dont think so . . .