:( This puts me off playing and makes me sick.

[BabyAngel]

<p><img src="/smilies/9d71f0541cff0a302a0309c5079e8dee.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> Whats going on here. This is disgusting, degrading, and makes me cringe. It makes me open my client go through character creation and say this is not the game for me.</p><p>To the left, EQ2 TEST, to the right, my Regular EQ2, her back is about to break its ridiculous. How does she breathe?</p><p>Is my gnomes body about to change into that on live?</p><p>Seriously.... if my gnomes chest changes like that I'm leaving... thats wrong, very very wrong. I don't have huge breasts in real life I don't need them in eq2.</p><p>I know you have people hating many of the changes, but this one is completely cosmetic and decides the feel of the <p>first thing someone see's when they start the game. Your audience has never been horny teenagers</p><p>My suggestion is either add a slider to bring it back to normal regular mortal size. Or don't implement this one. Quiet a few girls of this game won't take this one lightly</p></p><p><p>This is the first thing someone see's when they start the game. Your audience has never been horny teenagers</p><p>My suggestion is either add a slider to bring it back to normal regular mortal size. Or don't implement this one. Quiet a few girls of this game won't take this one lightly. Many of us take character creation seriously.</p></p><p><img src="http://img21.imageshack.us/img21/5541/wrongwrongwrongwrong.jpg" width="1218" height="703" /></p>

[NrthnStar5]

<p>On the test server, new character creation defaults to the Soga Models vs. the original models. The Soga models are not new, so I will assume you were not aware of them. When the patch goes live, you will be able to switch back to the original models, hence keeping your current appearance you are so fond of.</p>

[BabyAngel]

<p>How will that work?</p><p>I was half aware of the whole thing I just didn't notice it all till I went to create a character and the first thing I saw was that. I couldn't see an option to create a new character without them?</p><p>Can you run me through how to create a new character without the back breakers?</p>

[Cusashorn]

<p>Just in case you did not know, The SOGA models are not the direct creations of the development team. A few months back, an issue was brought up about how a lot of Sentinal Fate robes had a wonderbra effect on all females, so the developers changed the Erudites, Gnomes, Ratonga, Trolls, and... I think the Kerra to have smaller breasts to reflect how they are in normal armor.</p><p>I can't really speak for the developers on this, but I don't think there's very much that they can do about the SOGA models in terms of appearance. Only the SOGA team in Korea can.</p><p>What confuses me is that these SOGA models are so big to begin with. When I first looked at the soga models when they were first put in, I almost immediately noticed a reduction in size.. minor, but still a reduction. Why would gnomes suddenly be equipped with the gnomish equivalent of a Double F cup?</p>

[BabyAngel]

<p><cite>Cusashorn wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>Just in case you did not know, The SOGA models are not the direct creations of the development team. A few months back, an issue was brought up about how a lot of Sentinal Fate robes had a wonderbra effect on all females, so the developers changed the Erudites, Gnomes, Ratonga, Trolls, and... I think the Kerra to have smaller breasts to reflect how they are in normal armor.</p><p>I can't really speak for the developers on this, but I don't think there's very much that they can do about the SOGA models in terms of appearance. Only the SOGA team in Korea can.</p><p>What confuses me is that these SOGA models are so big to begin with. When I first looked at the soga models when they were first put in, I almost immediately noticed a reduction in size.. minor, but still a reduction. Why would gnomes suddenly be equipped with the gnomish equivalent of a Double F cup?</p></blockquote><p>Thanks Cusa, I was sure they use to be smaller.. and you just confirmed it (i think)</p><p>But why on earth did they put those on gnomes? It brings such a bad bad taste to my mouth.</p><p>My question is though, can i default back to the old model and will my newly created characters have the old model, the new one is disgusting, degrading and stops me going past the character creation. I'm sure I won't be the only one.</p>

[Kordran]

<p><cite>NrthnStar5 wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>On the test server, new character creation defaults to the Soga Models vs. the original models. The Soga models are not new, so I will assume you were not aware of them. When the patch goes live, you will be able to switch back to the original models, hence keeping your current appearance you are so fond of.</p></blockquote><p>Just to point out, you'll be able to revert to the "classic" models but that only affects how you see characters in your game client. In other words, if she doesn't like the look of the female Gnome, she can change her client to see the classic models. However, that won't change how anyone else sees her character. If someone else comes along that is using the SOGA models (which is very likely, given it's going to be the new default), then they're going to see her using the model that she doesn't like.</p><p>Bottom line, if all you care about is how you see yourself in the game, then the fix is easy; change your configuration to only use the classic models. However, if you're also concerned about how others see you (i.e.: you don't want to be seen as a large-breasted Gnome by other players), then you're out of luck. There's no way to tell the game to force other players to always render your character using the classic models.</p><p>I mentioned this in another post, but this decision is going to have some "interesting" consequences. Folks like the OP who were only vaguely aware of the SOGA models and really didn't have any interest in them likely didn't configure their character using the SOGA options for hairstyle, skin color, size, etc. So they're going to be walking around thinking they look absolutely fabulous (using the classic models) but all of the new players coming in are going to be using SOGA and wondering why all of these players in the game look absolutely ridiculous. The reverse will be true as well, since many of the new players probably won't bother to set their classic model configuration, and just keep whatever was randomly generated.</p><p>Norrath is about to start looking more bizzare (than usual).</p>

[BabyAngel]

<p><cite>Arandar@Everfrost wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p><cite>NrthnStar5 wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>On the test server, new character creation defaults to the Soga Models vs. the original models. The Soga models are not new, so I will assume you were not aware of them. When the patch goes live, you will be able to switch back to the original models, hence keeping your current appearance you are so fond of.</p></blockquote><p>Just to point out, you'll be able to revert to the "classic" models but that only affects how you see characters in your game client. In other words, if she doesn't like the look of the female Gnome, she can change her client to see the classic models. However, that won't change how anyone else sees her character. If someone else comes along that is using the SOGA models (which is very likely, given it's going to be the new default), then they're going to see her using the model that she doesn't like.</p><p>Bottom line, if all you care about is how you see yourself in the game, then the fix is easy; change your configuration to only use the classic models. However, if you're also concerned about how others see you (i.e.: you don't want to be seen as a large-breasted Gnome by other players), then you're out of luck. There's no way to tell the game to force other players to always render your character using the classic models.</p><p>I mentioned this in another post, but this decision is going to have some "interesting" consequences. Folks like the OP who were only vaguely aware of the SOGA models and really didn't have any interest in them likely didn't configure their character using the SOGA options for hairstyle, skin color, size, etc. So they're going to be walking around thinking they look absolutely fabulous (using the classic models) but all of the new players coming in are going to be using SOGA and wondering why all of these players in the game look absolutely ridiculous. The reverse will be true as well, since many of the new players probably won't bother to set their classic model configuration, and just keep whatever was randomly generated.</p><p>Norrath is about to start looking more bizzare (than usual).</p></blockquote><p>Oh gees no, you mean everyones going to see my gnome with HUGE breasts?! <img src="/smilies/9d71f0541cff0a302a0309c5079e8dee.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> and im upset. Can't wait to see what happens on the RP servers.</p><p>And once your wearing armor thats going to look even bigger.......</p><p>And I thought EQ2x was my only concern and worry.</p>

[schizmark]

<p><cite>BabyAngel wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p><img src="/eq2/images/smilies/9d71f0541cff0a302a0309c5079e8dee.gif" border="0" /> Whats going on here. This is disgusting, degrading, and makes me cringe. It makes me open my client go through character creation and say this is not the game for me.</p><p>To the left, EQ2 TEST, to the right, my Regular EQ2, her back is about to break its ridiculous. How does she breathe?</p><p>Is my gnomes body about to change into that on live?</p><p>Seriously.... if my gnomes chest changes like that I'm leaving... thats wrong, very very wrong. I don't have huge breasts in real life I don't need them in eq2.</p><p>I know you have people hating many of the changes, but this one is completely cosmetic and decides the feel of the <p>first thing someone see's when they start the game. Your audience has never been horny teenagers</p><p>My suggestion is either add a slider to bring it back to normal regular mortal size. Or don't implement this one. Quiet a few girls of this game won't take this one lightly</p></p><p><p>This is the first thing someone see's when they start the game. Your audience has never been horny teenagers</p><p>My suggestion is either add a slider to bring it back to normal regular mortal size. Or don't implement this one. Quiet a few girls of this game won't take this one lightly. Many of us take character creation seriously.</p></p><p><img src="http://img21.imageshack.us/img21/5541/wrongwrongwrongwrong.jpg" width="1218" height="703" /></p></blockquote><p>The character on the left is an elf, not a gnome.  Elves are much taller than gnomes, have pointed ears, and don't wear glasses. Try checking your gnome against a gnome on the test server, instead of an elf. If you clicked Gnome and got that image, then the link is bad and you should /bug it.</p>

[Finora]

<p><cite>BabyAngel wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>Oh gees no, you mean everyones going to see my gnome with HUGE breasts?! <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/9d71f0541cff0a302a0309c5079e8dee.gif" border="0" /> and im upset. Can't wait to see what happens on the RP servers.</p></blockquote><p>Only people who use SOGA models and they've always seen you as different anyway since SOGA was put in however many years ago that was now.</p><p>And to the above poster, yup that's what SOGA gnomes look like (the one on the left).</p><p>To create your character in the regular models you click the button to the right of the screen that says "alternate model" that 'll toggle between the two if you want. But only on that screen (which is annoying) they need it in the feature selection part of character creation as well if they are going to do this.</p>

[Kordran]

<p><cite>Finora@Everfrost wrote:</cite></p><blockquote>Only people who use SOGA models and they've always seen you as different anyway since SOGA was put in however many years ago that was now.</blockquote><p>That's the point. With GU57, all new players are going to be defaulting to the SOGA models. The "only people" who will be using them will be <em>everyone</em> joining the game unless they already know how to dig into their configuration and swap in the classic models. Heck, truly new players probably won't even really know that there is such a thing and will think that the SOGA models are it.</p><p>And for the poster a couple of messages up there, what she's showing is indeed the SOGA gnome; it's not the elf model. Apparently in Asia, gnomes have pointy ears drink a lot of milk laced with bST.</p>

[Gladiolus]

<p>Presumably somebody somewhere (none of the people I asked) prefers the Soga models but why make them the defaults? If I'd seen that when I played the trial of EQ2 I would have just uninstalled it. It wouldn't have occurred to me to continue with a character that looks like it was created purely out of testosterone, on the chance that I could later find a way to change it. I would have taken it as a message that the kind of community I'll find are the kind that like this type of display.</p>

[TheSpin]

I think the players, especially on the current servers will do their best to keep new players informed of the option to use the original models. Many people put their preference of model into their bio. Designating that if you want to see what the creator of this character wants their character to look like, you will use (original/soga) models.

[Gladiolus]

<p><cite>TheSpin wrote:</cite></p><blockquote>Many people put their preference of model into their bio. Designating that if you want to see what the creator of this character wants their character to look like, you will use (original/soga) models.</blockquote><p>In all my years of playing here, I've only ever seen two of those "bio" things with anything written on it. I really don't care how anyone else wants me to see him, I don't want to see Soga so I don't use it. The thing is that I know I have a choice, a new person at the creation screen doesn't.</p>

[TaleraRis]

<p>Good God, why are they making those horrible models the default? I haven't known a single person in game who says they actually use them. Quite the contrary, actually.  I've heard of a lot of hate and disgust for them.</p>

[awny]

<p><cite>schizmark wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p><cite>BabyAngel wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p><img src="/eq2/images/smilies/9d71f0541cff0a302a0309c5079e8dee.gif" border="0" /> Whats going on here. This is disgusting, degrading, and makes me cringe. It makes me open my client go through character creation and say this is not the game for me.</p><p>To the left, EQ2 TEST, to the right, my Regular EQ2, her back is about to break its ridiculous. How does she breathe?</p><p>Is my gnomes body about to change into that on live?</p><p>Seriously.... if my gnomes chest changes like that I'm leaving... thats wrong, very very wrong. I don't have huge breasts in real life I don't need them in eq2.</p><p>I know you have people hating many of the changes, but this one is completely cosmetic and decides the feel of the <p>first thing someone see's when they start the game. Your audience has never been horny teenagers</p><p>My suggestion is either add a slider to bring it back to normal regular mortal size. Or don't implement this one. Quiet a few girls of this game won't take this one lightly</p></p><p><p>This is the first thing someone see's when they start the game. Your audience has never been horny teenagers</p><p>My suggestion is either add a slider to bring it back to normal regular mortal size. Or don't implement this one. Quiet a few girls of this game won't take this one lightly. Many of us take character creation seriously.</p></p><p><img src="http://img21.imageshack.us/img21/5541/wrongwrongwrongwrong.jpg" width="1218" height="703" /></p></blockquote><p>The character on the left is an elf, not a gnome.  Elves are much taller than gnomes, have pointed ears, and don't wear glasses. Try checking your gnome against a gnome on the test server, instead of an elf. If you clicked Gnome and got that image, then the link is bad and you should /bug it.</p></blockquote><p>Umm no that is the SOGA Gnome.  NOT an elf.  She did not click the wrong button</p>

[Te'ana]

<p>I believe the reason they have made SOGA the new default is because they are going after the 18-24 male market with EQ2X. Just look at the ads for other F2P games, some even boast about their big breasted female characters. They know young guys with extra cash and no responsibility lust after big boobed virtual babes. After all, sex sells.</p>

[Cusashorn]

<p>It's a gnome. Look at the word "Gnome" on the left. It's illuminated in comparison to the other racial portraits. Elves aren't that short, have rounded-pointed ears, or that hairstyle for SOGA models.</p><p><cite>BabyAngel wrote:</cite></p><blockquote> <p>Oh gees no, you mean everyones going to see my gnome with HUGE breasts?! <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/9d71f0541cff0a302a0309c5079e8dee.gif" border="0" /> and im upset. Can't wait to see what happens on the RP servers.</p><p>And once your wearing armor thats going to look even bigger.......</p><p>And I thought EQ2x was my only concern and worry.</p></blockquote><p>Try not to worry too much about it. It's nothing that can be controlled from the server. It would cost resources to cater to each player individually.</p><p>I admit I don't play on Antonia Bayle, and thus don't experience too many people who enjoy roleplaying on Kithicor, but through my years of playing, I've rarely ever heard anyone comment on a player's exact physical proportions and asthetic characteristics as a character model. People will see you as a SOGA model if they have SOGA female gnomes turned on, but I would like to imagine that a large portion of the game does not care to have them on. I know that I would certainly see you as the gnome you would want me to see you as, since I don't use SOGA models for anyone.</p>

[BabyAngel]

<p>I do have a question, can someone link me or write up a step to step guide for changing the models from SOGA to sanity, I think many people on my server including myself when hit will be very confused and upset... I can't figure out how to change them. If I change them will it also be changed on Character creation or just in game?</p><p>I am more worried about <span style="text-decoration: underline;">why</span> the size of the breasts has jumped a few rather to the impact on my playing style. also <span style="text-decoration: underline;">why</span> has this been set to default and thrown on the subscriber playerbase when our EQ2 is suppose to be seperate, a bit like why I am concerned about station cash entering in-game merchants and the SC button but thats for another topic.</p><p>I mean its disgusting.... wrong, the reasoning behind it ... I believe is probably also disgusting and wrong. I think we all know this was probably a marketing decision than a logical game decision.</p><p>To be honest I am sure when this goes live people will be a lot more vocal as many players probably have no idea about the SOGA models, I knew a little but never paid attention as it wasn't the default....</p><p>I am sure I have seen the SOGA models before, I don't remember them being this big.....Someone correct me if I'm wrong, maybe I just didn't notice them as much till character creation when there right in front of me.</p><p>On another note, that gnome does look like an elf doesn't it. Wonder why they gave them pointy ears.</p>

[Wurm]

<p><a href="http://forums.station.sony.com/eq2/posts/list.m?topic_id=483748" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://forums.station.sony.com/eq2/...topic_id=483748</a></p><p>Covic said hes working on fixing it.</p><p>I just wish you could choose to make a female toon's breasts larger or smaller in this game's character creator, its something SWG had that I miss.</p><p>Not every woman has DD or an A cup, most of them have somewhere in between.</p>

[BabyAngel]

<p><cite>Wurm wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p><a rel="nofollow" href="http://forums.station.sony.com/eq2/posts/list.m?topic_id=483748" target="_blank">http://forums.station.sony.com/eq2/...topic_id=483748</a></p><p>Covic said hes working on fixing it.</p><p>I just wish you could choose to make a female toon's breasts larger or smaller in this game's character creator, its something SWG had that I miss.</p><p>Not every woman has DD or an A cup, most of them have somewhere in between.</p></blockquote><p>Thank you Wurm, I had missed that <img src="/smilies/9d71f0541cff0a302a0309c5079e8dee.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></p><p>Lets cross fingers somethings done before they push this out-live as the default.</p>

[TheSpin]

<p><cite>BabyAngel wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p><cite>Wurm wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p><a rel="nofollow" href="http://forums.station.sony.com/eq2/posts/list.m?topic_id=483748" target="_blank">http://forums.station.sony.com/eq2/...topic_id=483748</a></p><p>Covic said hes working on fixing it.</p><p>I just wish you could choose to make a female toon's breasts larger or smaller in this game's character creator, its something SWG had that I miss.</p><p>Not every woman has DD or an A cup, most of them have somewhere in between.</p></blockquote><p>Thank you Wurm, I had missed that <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/9d71f0541cff0a302a0309c5079e8dee.gif" border="0" /></p><p>Lets cross fingers somethings done before they push this out-live as the default.</p></blockquote><p>Looks to me like the models he's trying to 'fix' are the original models when wearing certain outfits.  I don't think the soga models are going to be downsized.</p>

[Nubek]

<blockquote><p>That's the point. With GU57, all new players are going to be defaulting to the SOGA models. The "only people" who will be using them will be <em>everyone</em> joining the game unless they already know how to dig into their configuration and swap in the classic models. Heck, truly new players probably won't even really know that there is such a thing and will think that the SOGA models are it.</p></blockquote><p>What new players? They'll all be playing EQ2X servers so you should have nothing to worry about.</p><p>Personally I love the look of my SOGA high elf male and really dread to think people look at the creepy michael jackson classic model when they see me running around, but I agree the female body shape of the SOGA models is a little awkward. They should just add a checkbox to the character creation screen that turns on the alternate model option for the race you have currently selected so you can switch on the fly and decide which version you think looks better.</p>

[BabyAngel]

<p><cite>Nubek@Permafrost wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><blockquote><p>That's the point. With GU57, all new players are going to be defaulting to the SOGA models. The "only people" who will be using them will be <em>everyone</em> joining the game unless they already know how to dig into their configuration and swap in the classic models. Heck, truly new players probably won't even really know that there is such a thing and will think that the SOGA models are it.</p></blockquote><p>What new players? They'll all be playing EQ2X servers so you should have nothing to worry about.</p><p>Personally I love the look of my SOGA high elf male and really dread to think people look at the creepy michael jackson classic model when they see me running around, but I agree the female body shape of the SOGA models is a little awkward. They should just add a checkbox to the character creation screen that turns on the alternate model option for the race you have currently selected so you can switch on the fly and decide which version you think looks better.</p></blockquote><p>Why is it going to be on the character creator for our servers then?</p>

[Bilil]

<p>If the SOGA models are what I think they are, then they're hideous and someone should pull that change back. <.<</p>

[awny]

<p><cite>Wurm wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p><a rel="nofollow" href="http://forums.station.sony.com/eq2/posts/list.m?topic_id=483748" target="_blank">http://forums.station.sony.com/eq2/...topic_id=483748</a></p><p>Covic said hes working on fixing it.</p><p>I just wish you could choose to make a female toon's breasts larger or smaller in this game's character creator, its something SWG had that I miss.</p><p>Not every woman has DD or an A cup, most of them have somewhere in between.</p></blockquote><p>SOGA models have no customization besides hair color and skin tone.  Everyone looks exactly the same in my opinion (angry teenagers).  Might as well just remove the sliders altogether.</p>

[Rast]

<p>I'm one of those people who use the SOGA models, but it has more to do with the races I play that I feel are better in SOGA (Teir'Dal mainly).  The hairstyles for the mail teir'dal are moronic looking to me and the SOGA males are significantly taller than the default, and since my main is a tank, it helps to see him when I'm tanking <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></p><p>But to make it the default setting is stupid, imo.</p>

[TheSpin]

<p>I admit that the 4 races the extended servers offer for free are some of the best soga models.</p><p>Human males are the one race I hate to see in the original model</p><p>Barbarian males can look pretty bad with original model, but if you take time you can make em look better than soga.  (barbarian females are awful with soga)</p><p>Erudites are ugly no matter what you do, but the soga models are a little easier on the eyes.</p><p>Half Elves have a lot of ugly options for original models, but like the barbarians you can make em look nice.</p><p>Almost every other race that uses soga models looks much worse with them.  Dwarves,  halflings, all elves etc.  all look better with original models 80% of the time.</p>

[Ristan]

<p><cite>BabyAngel wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>I do have a question, can someone link me or write up a step to step guide for changing the models from SOGA to sanity, I think many people on my server including myself when hit will be very confused and upset... I can't figure out how to change them. If I change them will it also be changed on Character creation or just in game?</p><p>I am more worried about <span style="text-decoration: underline;">why</span> the size of the breasts has jumped a few rather to the impact on my playing style. also <span style="text-decoration: underline;">why</span> has this been set to default and thrown on the subscriber playerbase when our EQ2 is suppose to be seperate, a bit like why I am concerned about station cash entering in-game merchants and the SC button but thats for another topic.</p><p>I mean its disgusting.... wrong, the reasoning behind it ... I believe is probably also disgusting and wrong. I think we all know this was probably a marketing decision than a logical game decision.</p><p>To be honest I am sure when this goes live people will be a lot more vocal as many players probably have no idea about the SOGA models, I knew a little but never paid attention as it wasn't the default....</p><p>I am sure I have seen the SOGA models before, I don't remember them being this big.....Someone correct me if I'm wrong, maybe I just didn't notice them as much till character creation when there right in front of me.</p><p>On another note, that gnome does look like an elf doesn't it. Wonder why they gave them pointy ears.</p></blockquote><p>Most the "alternate' soga races that aren't human have some sort of pointed ears.</p><p>To change soga back to original models for your client:</p><p>1. Go to the eq2 button</p><p>2. Go to options</p><p>3. Click on alternate models.  A long list of models such as High Elf Male, and High Elf Female will show with check boxes next to them.</p><p>4.  Uncheck those you do NOT want to see in soga (alternate models).  If you want to keep seeing soga models for that race/sex then keep it checked.</p><p>5. hit save.</p><p>You may beable to do this before you create a character by clicking on options down at the bottom of the character select screen.</p><p>I run with a mix of both, I like some of the original models better and some of the soga, so I make sure to set my toons apperance in both styles.</p>

[BabyAngel]

<p><cite>Starseeker@Crushbone wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p><cite>BabyAngel wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>I do have a question, can someone link me or write up a step to step guide for changing the models from SOGA to sanity, I think many people on my server including myself when hit will be very confused and upset... I can't figure out how to change them. If I change them will it also be changed on Character creation or just in game?</p><p>I am more worried about <span style="text-decoration: underline;">why</span> the size of the breasts has jumped a few rather to the impact on my playing style. also <span style="text-decoration: underline;">why</span> has this been set to default and thrown on the subscriber playerbase when our EQ2 is suppose to be seperate, a bit like why I am concerned about station cash entering in-game merchants and the SC button but thats for another topic.</p><p>I mean its disgusting.... wrong, the reasoning behind it ... I believe is probably also disgusting and wrong. I think we all know this was probably a marketing decision than a logical game decision.</p><p>To be honest I am sure when this goes live people will be a lot more vocal as many players probably have no idea about the SOGA models, I knew a little but never paid attention as it wasn't the default....</p><p>I am sure I have seen the SOGA models before, I don't remember them being this big.....Someone correct me if I'm wrong, maybe I just didn't notice them as much till character creation when there right in front of me.</p><p>On another note, that gnome does look like an elf doesn't it. Wonder why they gave them pointy ears.</p></blockquote><p>Most the "alternate' soga races that aren't human have some sort of pointed ears.</p><p>To change soga back to original models for your client:</p><p>1. Go to the eq2 button</p><p>2. Go to options</p><p>3. Click on alternate models.  A long list of models such as High Elf Male, and High Elf Female will show with check boxes next to them.</p><p>4.  Uncheck those you do NOT want to see in soga (alternate models).  If you want to keep seeing soga models for that race/sex then keep it checked.</p><p>5. hit save.</p><p>You may beable to do this before you create a character by clicking on options down at the bottom of the character select screen.</p><p>I run with a mix of both, I like some of the original models better and some of the soga, so I make sure to set my toons apperance in both styles.</p></blockquote><p>Thank you, <img src="/smilies/9d71f0541cff0a302a0309c5079e8dee.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> Now if you never told me, I would have never known.</p>

[BabyAngel]

<p>Why gnomes should not be default, YES THIS IS A GNOME, NOT AN ELF</p><p><img src="http://img217.imageshack.us/img217/5567/sogaishorrible.jpg" width="694" height="966" /></p>

[circusgirl]

<p>I do love that they gave gnomes massive gnoses in SOGA though.  It makes me giggle.</p>

[Excalibre33]

<p>This change is a voluptuous win. Thank you SOE.</p><p>I understand that some women will take offense to disproportionate cartoon characters but, please understand that not all women will and certainly no men will. <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" /></p>

[Kain-UK]

<p>You're complaining about SOGA now?</p><p>Seriously???</p><p>It's been in the game for years. You really need to find something more important to complain about. Just turn off the SOGA models (oh, and did you get past the screen in character creation that you decided to kick up a fuss about??? There is a HUGE freaking button that swaps back to the old style <strong>AT CHARACTER CREATION!</strong>), put in your bio something like ((Non-SOGA model, please)) and move on.</p><p>There's more important things to worry about with GU57 than the size of your Gnomes [Removed for Content]... which have been like that for years.</p>

[BabyAngel]

<p>No... I'm just a bit grumpy they are setting it as the default and not giving us a toggle button in the character creator, and everytime you change character while creating a character it defaults back to soga even if you have the boxs ticked (or at least it did for me earlier)</p>

[Kain-UK]

<p>Actually, the fact it's default is certainly an issue.</p><p>I mean, I understand it to a certain degree for new players... but when you make a character, it should go by your individual settings that are in the option screen. I use a mix of SOGA and non (I hate non-SOGA humans and half elves... but can't stand SOGA gnomes and ogres), so character creation should go by that.</p><p>But like everything else in this GU, i'm sure our complaints will fall on deaf ears and SmokeJumper will just steamroll through whatever the hell he wants.</p>

[Finora]

<p><cite>Oizen@Befallen wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>This change is a voluptuous win. Thank you SOE.</p><p>I understand that some women will take offense to disproportionate cartoon characters but, please understand that not all women will and certainly no men will. <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" /></p></blockquote><p>Just to get this out of the way...I don't care about large breasts being there as a woman.  I don't think large breasts look unnatural or disgusting. I don't see them as a game breaker.  </p><p>HOWEVER the SOGA models are NOT the best quality models. As the OP showed in her later post they've got issues. They break many armor pieces, they are animated/jointed poorly. Some of the body proportions are absolutely terrible (not counting breasts) particularly the female models. They either seem to have been taking testosterone to beef up or have spindly creepy spider arms and legs. Some (particularly the ogre) really just do NOT work with Norrath. Seriously, green Klingons...in Norrath...</p><p>The sliders barely do anything to the SOGA models.</p><p>Whether SOE knows it or not, for many FTP games, character creation is as far as some people get. If they characters they see there are blah, then they don't go any further. Looks often play a big part in FTP games.</p><p>What really needs to happen is the alternate appearance toggle button needs to be placed more prominantly and you need to be able to set both appearances through out the character creation process if you so choose. They also need to adhere to the settings existing players have. If someone has all SOGA off or only part on, they should not see any SOGA models at character creation they didn't select unless they toggle the alternate appearance themselves. </p>

[Alenna]

<p><cite>Nubek@Permafrost wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><blockquote><p>That's the point. With GU57, all new players are going to be defaulting to the SOGA models. The "only people" who will be using them will be <em>everyone</em> joining the game unless they already know how to dig into their configuration and swap in the classic models. Heck, truly new players probably won't even really know that there is such a thing and will think that the SOGA models are it.</p></blockquote><p>What new players? They'll all be playing EQ2X servers so you should have nothing to worry about.</p><p>Personally I love the look of my SOGA high elf male and really dread to think people look at the creepy michael jackson classic model when they see me running around, but I agree the female body shape of the SOGA models is a little awkward. They should just add a checkbox to the character creation screen that turns on the alternate model option for the race you have currently selected so you can switch on the fly and decide which version you think looks better.</p></blockquote><p>or a way to work on each of them so that you can get something that you like for both models.</p>

[Alenna]

<p><cite>Finora@Everfrost wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p><cite>Oizen@Befallen wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>This change is a voluptuous win. Thank you SOE.</p><p>I understand that some women will take offense to disproportionate cartoon characters but, please understand that not all women will and certainly no men will. <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" /></p></blockquote><p>Just to get this out of the way...I don't care about large breasts being there as a woman.  I don't think large breasts look unnatural or disgusting. I don't see them as a game breaker.  </p><p>HOWEVER the SOGA models are NOT the best quality models. As the OP showed in her later post they've got issues. They break many armor pieces, they are animated/jointed poorly. Some of the body proportions are absolutely terrible (not counting breasts) particularly the female models. They either seem to have been taking testosterone to beef up or have spindly creepy spider arms and legs. Some (particularly the ogre) really just do NOT work with Norrath. Seriously, green Klingons...in Norrath...</p><p>The sliders barely do anything to the SOGA models.</p><p>Whether SOE knows it or not, for many FTP games, character creation is as far as some people get. If they characters they see there are blah, then they don't go any further. Looks often play a big part in FTP games.</p><p><strong>What really needs to happen is the alternate appearance toggle button needs to be placed more prominantly and you need to be able to set both appearances through out the character creation process if you so choose.</strong> They also need to adhere to the settings existing players have. If someone has all SOGA off or only part on, they should not see any SOGA models at character creation they didn't select unless they toggle the alternate appearance themselves. </p></blockquote><p>+1 I want folks to see the toon as I envision her for a couple of years some of my guild mates saw my half elf toon with blond hair not the red with blond highlights I choose because they had soga on. I have since went back and made sure that both models on all my toons that use them have the same basic color hair eyes etc. now when I can get bck ot the game I shall have to do that with my newest toon</p>

[Novusod]

<p>They should have defaulted to SOGAs 4 years ago TBH. The "classic" models look like playdough unless you have the graphics set at max. Thank you SoE.</p>

[Ahlana]

<p><cite>Novusod wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>They should have defaulted to SOGAs 4 years ago TBH. The "classic" models look like playdough unless you have the graphics set at max. Thank you SoE.</p></blockquote><p>It is 2010 if you can not play on settings that look good even in a Raid.. then it is time to step back and goto the cartoon world of WoW; not endorse horrible models</p>

[Seashell]

<p>I just want to point out that even though the SOGA models are on the "thin" side.  It is still a viable size as I AM actually that thin in real life so the SOGA actually looks more like me than the chubby originals.  Except for the breasts, I wasn't graced with SOGA like breasts and I giggle all the time about it, as it is like a free breast job since I spend so much time playing the characters.  Plus the fae/arasai are pretty much the SOGA models of elves just shrunk and the face options changed slightly.  I have never heard anyone complain that the fae/arasai are terribly modeled other than the usual eww little bugs /squish.</p>

[Knappy]

<p>It's an avatar. They aren't real breasts...[Removed for Content]! I needed an 'out there' call of outrage to make my day.</p><p>Though this did make me smile, Eq has hands down the most 'ugly' character models in the mmo market atm. If you want to get worked up over something maybe protest the fact that every race in-game is awful looking.</p><p>Thanks, perhaps next week we can get an outraged call for reduction in the male groin areas.</p>

[Juggernaught]

<p>I guess my male ogre SOGA package is just too much for the ladies to handle, not to mention my abs. /flex</p><p>Seriously the SOGA models look 110% better than the original ones. Like someone else said the original models look like bad claymation. The haristyles are rediculous and very badly rendered not to mention the face details.</p>

[Juggernaught]

<p><cite>Aesome@Kithicor wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>It's an avatar. They aren't real breasts...[Removed for Content]! I needed an 'out there' call of outrage to make my day.</p><p>Though this did make me smile, Eq has hands down the most 'ugly' character models in the mmo market atm. If you want to get worked up over something maybe protest the fact that every race in-game is awful looking.</p><p>Thanks, perhaps next week we can get an outraged call for reduction in the male groin areas.</p></blockquote><p>EQ2 Extenze!!</p>

[Ahlana]

<p><cite>Aesome@Kithicor wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>It's an avatar. They aren't real breasts...[Removed for Content]! I needed an 'out there' call of outrage to make my day.</p><p>Though this did make me smile, Eq has hands down the most 'ugly' character models in the mmo market atm. If you want to get worked up over something maybe protest the fact that every race in-game is awful looking.</p><p>Thanks, perhaps next week we can get an outraged call for reduction in the male groin areas.</p></blockquote><p>No EQ1 and WoW have the worst looking Models of the MMO market atm</p>

[TheLopper]

<p><cite>Ahlana wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p><cite>Novusod wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>They should have defaulted to SOGAs 4 years ago TBH. The "classic" models look like playdough unless you have the graphics set at max. Thank you SoE.</p></blockquote><p>It is 2010 if you can not play on settings that look good even in a Raid.. then it is time to step back and goto the cartoon world of WoW; not endorse horrible models</p></blockquote><p>Actually, EQ2 runs best on hardware that is typically considered obsolete, meaning hardware from 2010 is NOT optimal (at all) for EQ2 . . .meaning your post is absolutely baseless.</p><p>Btw, I'd really, really like to see you raid with "Very High Quality" or better, 'cause that's about the level that the game looks "good."</p><p>If you could get the info from SOE, I'd bet you'd find that most people play at lower-end settings simply because EQ2 is so god-awfully written.</p><p>Disclaimer: not supporting SOGA models.  I use the standard ones.</p>

[Sydares]

<p>In an effort to balance out this thread:</p><p>I personally find the original models to be hideous. Despite their many sliders, few if any actually appear to give an aesthetic boost to the character. Taking for example the Wood Elf male, you have the option to choose between looking either like a prissy fae, a child molester, or a post-op botched facelift patient.</p><p>SOGA models are what brought me back to the game.</p>

[d1anaw]

<p><cite>BabyAngel wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p><img src="/eq2/images/smilies/9d71f0541cff0a302a0309c5079e8dee.gif" border="0" /> Whats going on here. This is disgusting, degrading, and makes me cringe. It makes me open my client go through character creation and say this is not the game for me.</p><p>To the left, EQ2 TEST, to the right, my Regular EQ2, her back is about to break its ridiculous. How does she breathe?</p><p>Is my gnomes body about to change into that on live?</p><p>Seriously.... if my gnomes chest changes like that I'm leaving... thats wrong, very very wrong. I don't have huge breasts in real life I don't need them in eq2.</p><p>I know you have people hating many of the changes, but this one is completely cosmetic and decides the feel of the <p>first thing someone see's when they start the game. Your audience has never been horny teenagers</p><p>My suggestion is either add a slider to bring it back to normal regular mortal size. Or don't implement this one. Quiet a few girls of this game won't take this one lightly</p></p><p><p>This is the first thing someone see's when they start the game. Your audience has never been horny teenagers</p><p>My suggestion is either add a slider to bring it back to normal regular mortal size. Or don't implement this one. Quiet a few girls of this game won't take this one lightly. Many of us take character creation seriously.</p></p><p><img src="http://img21.imageshack.us/img21/5541/wrongwrongwrongwrong.jpg" width="1218" height="703" /></p></blockquote><p>I have to somewhat agree here. It's painfully obvious who designs the character models and that they have a pretty distorted view of the ideal female even in a fairytale world. Perhaps they can have some more mature people making these decisions in the future? or are the powers that be looking to indulge their male clients at the expense of their female ones? Isn't it ironic that the majority of male characters do not even begin to envelope the average female fantasies, but the vast majority of female character types over-indulge the male ones. Isn't this supposed to be the 21st century?</p>

[kelvmor]

<p>Allow me to say something. The picture below is an ogre.</p><p><img src="http://eq2players.station.sony.com/images/en/features/articles/faqaltmodels/ogre.jpg" /></p><p>The next picture is a poorly-animated, poorly-designed green Klingon that does not fit with the very-well documented appearance of ogres in lore.</p><p><img src="http://eq2players.station.sony.com/images/en/features/articles/faqaltmodels/ogre_soga.jpg" width="200" height="243" /></p><p>Let's move on here. The picture below shows a dwarf.</p><p><img src="http://eq2players.station.sony.com/images/en/features/articles/faqaltmodels/dwarf.jpg" width="200" height="243" /></p><p>The next picture shows a poorly-animated, short, bearded elf that cannot even remotely be classified as a dwarf using Western standards.</p><p><img src="http://eq2players.station.sony.com/images/en/features/articles/faqaltmodels/dwarf_soga.jpg" width="200" height="243" /></p><p>That is all.</p>

[Palleon]

<p>I like the SOGA models much more than the originals, and have been using them since they first came in <strong>years</strong> ago. </p>

[Ahlana]

<p><cite>TheLopper wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p><cite>Ahlana wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p><cite>Novusod wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>They should have defaulted to SOGAs 4 years ago TBH. The "classic" models look like playdough unless you have the graphics set at max. Thank you SoE.</p></blockquote><p>It is 2010 if you can not play on settings that look good even in a Raid.. then it is time to step back and goto the cartoon world of WoW; not endorse horrible models</p></blockquote><p>Actually, EQ2 runs best on hardware that is typically considered obsolete, meaning hardware from 2010 is NOT optimal (at all) for EQ2 . . .meaning your post is absolutely baseless.</p><p>Btw, I'd really, really like to see you raid with "Very High Quality" or better, 'cause that's about the level that the game looks "good."</p><p>If you could get the info from SOE, I'd bet you'd find that most people play at lower-end settings simply because EQ2 is so god-awfully written.</p><p>Disclaimer: not supporting SOGA models.  I use the standard ones.</p></blockquote><p>While EQ2 is written poorly.. and does not take adequate usage of new hardware.. it doesn't run better on antiques.. It is a processor driven game and the better the processor the better it will run. You will get some amazing quality out of a core i7 OC'd in this game.</p><p>I run a custom of High-Very High Quality with an average of 50+ FPS in normal play and about 30ish in Raids /shrug</p><p>The things I opt out of are Flora (that is a PVP thing that I just never liked esspecially with the opponents who run in cat form lol) and I keep particles to myself only.. just because I like to see. And my computer is far from high end. So no I believe anyone with a decent computer can get the game looking good without playdoh people.... anything above balanced will do that.</p>

[Bremer]

<p>If you don't cut off the right part of the character creation screen it looks like this:</p><p><img src="http://img132.imageshack.us/img132/9161/unbenannt1yv.jpg" /></p><p>There is a pretty big button "Alternate Appearance."</p>

[Keikoku]

<p>If I remember correctly, the SOGA models were originally intended to only be for the Asian servers for EverQuest 2 East.  Also, I believe that these models were created by another company that was working on the localization of EQ2 for EQ2 East.  They were later brought to everyone in LU16 in 2005.</p><p>Like others have stated, to me, this models are more aesthetically pleasing to look at versus the originals.  When I have them on, and in a raid, I feel like I'm in the California Grapes Claymation Christmas Special.  This, like all the other posts about the models, is my personal believe and preference.</p><p>As for settings, I turned everything up, with the exception of lighting, particle effects, and shadows.  And I run a solid 40 fps during raids.  That's with all the SOGA models turned on.</p><p>The point of this is that model choice is a preference.  Always has been.  The major problem with character creation prior to this is that if you weren't in the proper model setting you wanted, you'd either have to start over, or finish your character and then click on the other appearance button at select.  What they are doing here is letting you do both with minimal effort.  I say kudos on this update, SOE.</p><p>Also, I have ZERO clue as to what my characters look like in the original models.  I'm too afraid to look.</p>

[BabyAngel]

<p><cite>Bremer wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>If you don't cut off the right part of the character creation screen it looks like this:</p><p><img src="http://img132.imageshack.us/img132/9161/unbenannt1yv.jpg" /></p><p>There is a pretty big button "Alternate Appearance."</p></blockquote><p>Alternate appearance button to switch from soga to non soga? I hope so, if so... thats a new change to test and wasn't there at the creation of this post. There was nothing to the right when this was made.</p>

[Kuulei]

<p>The Alternate *Soga* models have been around for years!</p><p>the OP not knowing about soga is rather comical.  Do they know the fact that 'render mounts' options are the same way?  You pick what <strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">YOU</span></strong> want see, not what everyone else will see?</p><p>I prefer the Soga models simply for the fact the human model is frumpy looking!</p>

[BabyAngel]

<p><cite>Kuulei@Befallen wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>The Alternate *Soga* models have been around for years!</p><p>the OP not knowing about soga is rather comical.  Do they know the fact that 'render mounts' options are the same way?  You pick what <strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">YOU</span></strong> want see, not what everyone else will see?</p><p>I prefer the Soga models simply for the fact the human model is frumpy looking!</p></blockquote><p>I still think there breasts grew bigger.</p><p>and no, I didn't have any idea there were alternate models because its not something I have had to look into. I haven't been playing as long as y'all. Only a year or two, theres been no reason to go out of my way to change the models. Soon they will default to SOGA, and although some soga are good.... the females on quiet a few of them seem to have been given breasts implants.</p><p>In particular... gnomes.</p><p>When mounts didn't show up in combat the first thing I did was ask people how to fix it. I don't mess with the options often, everything works so I like it.</p>

[Anastasie]

<p>I really wish you could make people see your toon the way you design them. My toon is most definitely original model High Elf and would like people to see her as such. It has always seemed backwards that we have no control over how our toon is seen in game. I don't care so much about hiding mounts as that affects performance, but I really don't like people seeing my toon as an anemic soga model. Just as I'm sure other people who take a lot of time designing their own toon wish the same.</p>

[Kuulei]

<p>I do see the button and it is pretty big, 'Alternate Appearance' to the right.  I also notice during creation, that you have to select that button after selecting the race (it will only show up for the original game-launch models as Troll, ratonga, iksar, etc. were added later).</p><p>I do love the new character creation.  Maybe experienced players do not, but for new players, it seems easier to play for the first time.</p>

[Kain-UK]

<p><cite>Kuulei@Befallen wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>I do see the button and it is pretty big, 'Alternate Appearance' to the right.  I also notice during creation, that you have to select that button after selecting the race (it will only show up for the original game-launch models as Troll, ratonga, iksar, etc. were added later).</p><p>I do love the new character creation.  Maybe experienced players do not, but for new players, it seems easier to play for the first time.</p></blockquote><p>Incorrect.</p><p>The only races added AFTER launch were Froglok (was in-game at launch but not a player race until unlocked), Fae, Arasai and Sarnak.</p><p>The reason that was given for some of the races not having a SOGA counterpart, was something along the lines of  there not being a compariable asian version... hence why Iksar, Troll, Ratonga do not have a SOGA model.</p>

[Enna]

<p><cite>Lateana@The Bazaar wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>I believe the reason they have made SOGA the new default is because they are going after the 18-24 male market with EQ2X. Just look at the ads for other F2P games, some even boast about their big breasted female characters. They know young guys with extra cash and no responsibility lust after big boobed virtual babes. After all, sex sells.</p></blockquote><p>The thing that so many marketers keep forgetting is that irresponsible young males are *not* the only market, nor even the most loyal. Playing up to them, and their inclination to objectify females, is more likely to chase off long-term customers than to attract them.</p><p>SOE tried pursuing that market with EverQuest the original. It still has exaggerated, semi-clad female characters. One of the things about EQII that appealed to me over EQ was less figure exaggeration and obligatory skin exposure.</p><p>A flood of hormone-crazed adolescents who want to "hit on" my characters, because my female characters tantalize their fantasies... this is *not* an appealing image. I had plenty of sexual harassment in the real world, and do *not* want it encouraged in Norrath also. <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/2e207fad049d4d292f60607f80f05768.gif" border="0" /></p><p>"Sex sells" ... yes, so I hear. Constantly. But what is it selling? Is it really selling <em>the game</em>, or is it just selling more sex?</p><p>What ever happened to valuing the intellect? The mind lasts longer than the body, unless one destroys their brains with controlled substances. Unlike "animal attraction," the intellect has much more to do with making each of us unique.</p><p>I know it's not currently culturally popular to remind people that they have minds and that using them can be a good thing. But perhaps 'tis time to start a new trend?</p><p><cite>Oizen@Befallen wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>This change is a voluptuous win. Thank you SOE.</p><p>I understand that some women will take offense to disproportionate cartoon characters but, please understand that not all women will and certainly no men will. <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" /></p></blockquote><p>It sounds like some folks, exemplified by this type of post, forget that women are roughly half the human population. Our opinions are just as important as theirs. Perhaps our opinions are even more important, when it impacts how our characters are viewed *and treated.*</p><p>From what I hear when I talk with guys, most of them wouldn't want their toon stuck with an exaggerated figure any more than we would.</p><p>If boy toons looked like they was trying to run when their lower body looked like ... a tripod ... with a super-bodybuilder arms and shoulders, and the character is an Erudite / Gnome (etc) who's supposed to be a reclusive scholar... perhaps those guys might be at least a little bit annoyed also.</p><p>All the rich lore, quests, adventuring, tradeskilling, etc that Norrath has to offer should not be submerged under cheap sensuality.</p><p>Anything that "objectifies" another human being is offensive to many people, on both sides of the gender line.</p><p>SOE was improving in that respect, by having a wider variety of body shapes that did not all cater to or implicitly encourage sensual fantasies. IMHO, this is a step backwards.</p><p>Yes, SOGA / Anime is currently in vogue. However, they really are not the best representation of Norrathian races. SOGA character creation options are much more limited, the options make less difference in their appearance than the options for the classic models, and SOGA models have more joint and costume-distortion issues than the classic models.</p><p>I agree with prior posters, who have expressed that making SOGA models default is not the best representation of the character options in the game.</p><p>Perhaps the "alternate model" button should specify "Anime look" or "General Fantasy" or some such, to help people choose which style they prefer.</p><p>Even if SOE decides to change what is default, loading a saved customization for the classic characters should *not* auto-swap to SOGA.</p><p>SOE should allow those of us who prefer the classic character models to load a saved version and stay on the classic character models.</p><p>My few coppers added to the pile. <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></p>

[Keikoku]

<p><cite>Annelise@Guk wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>I really wish you could make people see your toon the way you design them. My toon is most definitely original model High Elf and would like people to see her as such. It has always seemed backwards that we have no control over how our toon is seen in game. I don't care so much about hiding mounts as that affects performance, but I really don't like people seeing my toon as an anemic soga model. Just as I'm sure other people who take a lot of time designing their own toon wish the same.</p></blockquote><p>But you DO have control.  You can edit both appearances.  You can make them both look how you want.  The only thing you can't do is force a player to use the models.  My suggestion is if you care about how the people look at your character, edit both.  Make them both so that you're happy.  You don't have to use SOGA yourself to make this happen.</p>

[Diern]

<p>Their are a few SOGA models that actually look better than the originals. mainly the humans and Dark elf males. NONE of the others look better and the Ogre's are a joke that don't even fit the lore of the game.</p><p>If you like them more power to you, but they shouldn't be the default option. Technically they are inferior, with fewer polygon counts. They don't fit the look of the game, and in some cases they are outright broken with some of the armor sets. They were designed for an eastern audience, for a game which is a western RPG. They were originally the alternative appearance and should remain that way.</p>

[Te'ana]

<p><cite>Enna wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p><cite>Lateana@The Bazaar wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>I believe the reason they have made SOGA the new default is because they are going after the 18-24 male market with EQ2X. Just look at the ads for other F2P games, some even boast about their big breasted female characters. They know young guys with extra cash and no responsibility lust after big boobed virtual babes. After all, sex sells.</p></blockquote><p>The thing that so many marketers keep forgetting is that irresponsible young males are *not* the only market, nor even the most loyal. Playing up to them, and their inclination to objectify females, is more likely to chase off long-term customers than to attract them.</p><p>SOE tried pursuing that market with EverQuest the original. It still has exaggerated, semi-clad female characters. One of the things about EQII that appealed to me over EQ was less figure exaggeration and obligatory skin exposure.</p><p>A flood of hormone-crazed adolescents who want to "hit on" my characters, because my female characters tantalize their fantasies... this is *not* an appealing image. I had plenty of sexual harassment in the real world, and do *not* want it encouraged in Norrath also. <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/2e207fad049d4d292f60607f80f05768.gif" border="0" /></p><p>"Sex sells" ... yes, so I hear. Constantly. But what is it selling? Is it really selling <em>the game</em>, or is it just selling more sex?</p><p>What ever happened to valuing the intellect? The mind lasts longer than the body, unless one destroys their brains with controlled substances. Unlike "animal attraction," the intellect has much more to do with making each of us unique.</p><p>I know it's not currently culturally popular to remind people that they have minds and that using them can be a good thing. But perhaps 'tis time to start a new trend?</p><p><cite>Oizen@Befallen wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>This change is a voluptuous win. Thank you SOE.</p><p>I understand that some women will take offense to disproportionate cartoon characters but, please understand that not all women will and certainly no men will. <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" /></p></blockquote><p>It sounds like some folks, exemplified by this type of post, forget that women are roughly half the human population. Our opinions are just as important as theirs. Perhaps our opinions are even more important, when it impacts how our characters are viewed *and treated.*</p><p>From what I hear when I talk with guys, most of them wouldn't want their toon stuck with an exaggerated figure any more than we would.</p><p>If boy toons looked like they was trying to run when their lower body looked like ... a tripod ... with a super-bodybuilder arms and shoulders, and the character is an Erudite / Gnome (etc) who's supposed to be a reclusive scholar... perhaps those guys might be at least a little bit annoyed also.</p><p>All the rich lore, quests, adventuring, tradeskilling, etc that Norrath has to offer should not be submerged under cheap sensuality.</p><p>Anything that "objectifies" another human being is offensive to many people, on both sides of the gender line.</p><p>SOE was improving in that respect, by having a wider variety of body shapes that did not all cater to or implicitly encourage sensual fantasies. IMHO, this is a step backwards.</p><p>Yes, SOGA / Anime is currently in vogue. However, they really are not the best representation of Norrathian races. SOGA character creation options are much more limited, the options make less difference in their appearance than the options for the classic models, and SOGA models have more joint and costume-distortion issues than the classic models.</p><p>I agree with prior posters, who have expressed that making SOGA models default is not the best representation of the character options in the game.</p><p>Perhaps the "alternate model" button should specify "Anime look" or "General Fantasy" or some such, to help people choose which style they prefer.</p><p>Even if SOE decides to change what is default, loading a saved customization for the classic characters should *not* auto-swap to SOGA.</p><p>SOE should allow those of us who prefer the classic character models to load a saved version and stay on the classic character models.</p><p>My few coppers added to the pile. <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" /></p></blockquote><p>I second this.</p><p>At Fan Faire one panel member stated that they (SOE) had learned their lesson with the "enhanced" females that were presented with the current expansion and that they (SOE) were committed to keeping female characters in EQII looking like they did at launch. Apparently using SOGA models as the default model is their (SOE's) underhanded way of getting around that "committment."</p>

[Crymsyn]

<p><cite>Gwyneth@Najena wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>Good God, why are they making those horrible models the default? I haven't known a single person in game who says they actually use them. Quite the contrary, actually.  I've heard of a lot of hate and disgust for them.</p></blockquote><p>Just so you know I have nothing but disgust and hate for the <span style="text-decoration: underline;">original</span> models. SOGA is what brought me back to play the game. I WANT to play a big breasted, willowy bodied female. And I am a woman IRL with DDD's.. no way in heck do I want to be some flat chested thing in the game! I'm pleased these are becoming the default. They're slightly more modern model wise than the game's launch figures. Really what the game needs is a complete revamp of all the figures but having lived through the chaos and complaints when they did it in EQ1 I don't see it happening here.</p>

[Felshades]

<p><cite>Arandar@Everfrost wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p><cite>Finora@Everfrost wrote:</cite></p><blockquote>Only people who use SOGA models and they've always seen you as different anyway since SOGA was put in however many years ago that was now.</blockquote><p>That's the point. With GU57, all new players are going to be defaulting to the SOGA models. The "only people" who will be using them will be <em>everyone</em> joining the game unless they already know how to dig into their configuration and swap in the classic models. Heck, truly new players probably won't even really know that there is such a thing and will think that the SOGA models are it.</p><p>And for the poster a couple of messages up there, what she's showing is indeed the SOGA gnome; it's not the elf model. Apparently in Asia, gnomes have pointy ears drink a lot of milk laced with bST.</p></blockquote><p>Why in hell would they use SOGA models?</p><p>The team that did those no longer has anything to do with SOE, and from what I remember they weren't supporting them anymore at all period due to not having a team working on them.</p><p>This is just mind boggling, especially since the hairstyles for the elves particularly look stupid, and if I wanted to play lineage looking elves, I'd play lineage.</p><p>The beast races have no SOGA models last I checked and the ogre ones looked like crap too.</p>

[Felshades]

<p><cite>Crymsyn@Lucan DLere wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p><cite>Gwyneth@Najena wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>Good God, why are they making those horrible models the default? I haven't known a single person in game who says they actually use them. Quite the contrary, actually.  I've heard of a lot of hate and disgust for them.</p></blockquote><p>Just so you know I have nothing but disgust and hate for the <span style="text-decoration: underline;">original</span> models. SOGA is what brought me back to play the game. I WANT to play a big breasted, willowy bodied female. And I am a woman IRL with DDD's.. no way in heck do I want to be some flat chested thing in the game! I'm pleased these are becoming the default. They're slightly more modern model wise than the game's launch figures. Really what the game needs is a complete revamp of all the figures but having lived through the chaos and complaints when they did it in EQ1 I don't see it happening here.</p></blockquote><p>Gimme the original model hairs and you MIGHT have an arguement.</p><p>ALL of the hairstyles for the SOGA dark elves, for example, look like crap. The bodies don't bother me.  The stupid oversized ears and (*^ty hairstyles do.</p>

[RAYVEN2]

<p>I say make um bigger, make um jiggle and add skimpy bras.  <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/283a16da79f3aa23fe1025c96295f04f.gif" border="0" />  I'm no teen but i dont wanna see chicks i mistake for boys.  Its bad enough most female characters in game are really male anyway.  </p>

[Amphibia]

<p><cite>Ahlana wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p><cite>Novusod wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>They should have defaulted to SOGAs 4 years ago TBH. The "classic" models look like playdough unless you have the graphics set at max. Thank you SoE.</p></blockquote><p>It is 2010 if you can not play on settings that look good even in a Raid.. then it is time to step back and goto the cartoon world of WoW; not endorse horrible models</p></blockquote><p>And here we go again...</p><p>When will you people realize that just because someone likes something you do not, doesn't mean they have "horrible" taste? Take a chill pill, this is not exactly the end of the world as we know it. Geez. <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/2786c5c8e1a8be796fb2f726cca5a0fe.gif" border="0" /></p>

[Solarax]

<p>i said it in the other thread and ill say it here.</p><p>IF it aint broke DONT FIX it .</p><p>the majority of the people dont like the soga models .</p><p>why waste time with something like this and [Removed for Content] peole off when you could do something much more usefull</p><p>like re stat the lower level fabled items since you changed the stats function . would go along better with your new free service much better if the gear was teaching new players what to look for in gear instead of the garbage it is now .</p><p>(T6 and below)</p>

[Nashia]

<p>I hate the SOGA models, have since the first time I saw them. I play female characters a lot, just like the way they look most of the time. I guess I'm a strange man in that I prefer the female to not be giant breasted and anorexic, I prefer a more "realistic" looking body shape and medium to smaller sized breasts.</p>

[EndevorX]

<p><cite>Annelise@Guk wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>I really wish you could make people see your toon the way you design them. My toon is most definitely original model High Elf and would like people to see her as such. It has always seemed backwards that we have no control over how our toon is seen in game. I don't care so much about hiding mounts as that affects performance, but I really don't like people seeing my toon as an anemic soga model. Just as I'm sure other people who take a lot of time designing their own toon wish the same.</p></blockquote><p><span style="color: #ff6600;">I agree, but I feel SOGA models seem mostly out of place in-game, relative to other graphical styles.</span></p><p><span style="color: #ff6600;">But, that's just because SOGA male Gnomes are so entirely ridiculous.</span></p><p><span style="color: #ff6600;">Detestable, repugnant, repulsive, bile-worthy, I dunno what it is but their entire body and cranial dimensions are modeled like crap.</span></p><p><span style="color: #ff6600;">I do apologize for being so frank about whoever modeled the male SOGA Gnome, but it just...isn't cool.</span></p>

[Nightho]

<p>I haven't been on test in months so I didn't know about this till now.</p><p>Defaulting to the SOGA models is stupid, it should still be there as an option for anyone who would like to use them, but as the defaults? Please no. I personally only use SOGA for male elfs, because then they actually look male. </p><p>The biggest thing that drew me to EQ2 over WoW back in Jan '05 was that WoW looked like a cartoon, and EQ2 looked like I had always pictured the character's/landscapes in my fantasy books would look like. I still love the way the character's look and don't see me ever using the SOGA for anything other than male elfs.</p><p>The only reason I can see them making it default is that they are hoping it will make WoW deserters feel more at home in EQ2.... </p>

[Twinklin]

<p>My opinions on what race looks best in which setting...</p><p>SOGA- Humans, High Elves, Dark Elves, Barbarian Males, Erudites, Halflings (though a bit too skinny they're still super cute), Wood Elves</p><p>Original- Gnomes, Dwarf Males, Barbarian Females, Ogres</p><p>Dwarf Females and both Sexes of Half Elves need major revamps as they're horrid in both models.</p><p>I have enjoyed the SOGA models of most races for the past 4 years or so but I would love to see them add more customizing options for features. Also both models could use better hair options for the females. There are like 2 choices of hair for each race that I end up using over and over on all my characters because the others are terrible. Playing fae is my easy way out of having to decide on which model to use for myself or wondering how ugly I look to others if they happen to be using Original models.</p><p>As for the large chests on the SOGA ladies. I'm a female and I have no issue with it. I prefer it actually. I hate that running around as an original model gnome I look like a 90 year old woman with my [Removed for Content] sagging to the floor it's one of the reasons I haven't played a gnome much.</p>