[Female Avatars] How did we go from . . .

[LordFyre]

I have been playing the game from Beta, and I am still mystified (and saddened) that we went from This . . .

(Which we keep seeing in the intro video!)

. . . to the bathrobes we have in game now? 

[Darian]

The armors in this game are simply the worse thing about it imo. compared to EQ1 and all the concept/early beta shots we saw of EQ2.

[Rocc]

I am inclined to agree. I understand that the development is time consuming but that still does not do the armor graphics juctice. Not to mention the treasured drops. An example would be a level 49 requirement and lower stats than a level 31 armor. Why develop it? Isnt there some kind of scale that randomly generates a number or something? Who is making this crap? With all due respect ofcoarse.

Armor dye and COOLER graphics FTW!!! We dont want cute and cuddly. We want MEAN AND WICKED looking armor!! Stun us! Put us in AWE!!!

[LordFyre]

It is not just that . . .

Why keep having the promo video pop-up at the start of each session then.  I almost seems like SOE wants us to see how badly they failed in realizing the look for EQ2 they wanted.

[Kenozh]

i don't wanna defend the art department here but i hope you see how weird it is to compare a rendered promotion video to the game... there's no game which looks like its rendered promotion videos...

[Velsha]

I personally like the realism in the armor compared to other games. Since when does "combat armor" = "lingerie"?

[LordFyre]

Kenozh@Valor wrote:

i don't wanna defend the art department here but i hope you see how weird it is to compare a rendered promotion video to the game... there's no game which looks like its rendered promotion videos...

Of course I do.  But . . .

• They don't even attempt to use the same styles as they have in the promo video.
• And they don't let us just turn the bloody thing off.  (yes, I know that hitting a key will stop it.)

[LordFyre]

Velshara wrote:

I personally like the realism in the armor compared to other games. Since when does "combat armor" = "lingerie"?

Well, since the 1920s with the art styles used on the Pulps for fantasy stories.   

But also, since there is no "social element" to EQ2 to speak of.

[Rast]

wierd, I don't think it shows for me at all now...

[Velsha]

Jalathan@Lucan DLere wrote:

wierd, I don't think it shows for me at all now...

My video disappeared a while ago, also. And stop drooling over [Removed for Content] female video game characters! I don't need to see twenty wood elves running around in their thong armor. That's one of the reasons I left WOW.

[LordFyre]

Velshara wrote:

Jalathan@Lucan DLere wrote:

wierd, I don't think it shows for me at all now...

My video disappeared a while ago, also. And stop drooling over [I cannot control my vocabulary] female video game characters! I don't need to see twenty wood elves running around in their thong armor. That's one of the reasons I left WOW.

Nonsense!  I don't see why I should stop drooling over female video game characters. 

(And I would also want to give High Elves, Dark Elves, and Half-Elves their due!)

"Thank Heaven for Wood Elf Girls!  'Cause without them what would drunken dwarves do!" 

[Velsha]

Ok, when the day comes when I can chain male Wood Elves and Half elves in my basement as House Status Items.. then you can have your thong armor.

[LordFyre]

Velshara wrote:

Ok, when the day comes when I can chain male Wood Elves and Half elves in my basement as House Status Items.. then you can have your thong armor.

I have no problem with that.     But, the male avatars in EQ2 are not especially inspiring. 

(And to capture those Wood Elven and High Elven men, you are gonna want that thong armor.   &nbsp

[Velsha]

LordFyre wrote:

Velshara wrote:

Ok, when the day comes when I can chain male Wood Elves and Half elves in my basement as House Status Items.. then you can have your thong armor.

I have no problem with that.     But, the male avatars in EQ2 are not especially inspiring. 

You're telling me!

[Chay]

Velshara wrote:

I personally like the realism in the armor compared to other games. Since when does "combat armor" = "lingerie"?

Rarely was full plate worn from head to toe. I don't find the armor to be realistic so much as simplified and homogenized. The game is high fantasy which generally means some license between practical and esthetically pleasing. When have you ever seen a wizard wearing a bathrobe? Usually the ropes are flowing and not meant to be protection from anything but the elements. Combat armor would most likely allow freedom of movement and would cover vital organs rather than every inch. Personally, I find it all to be rather sad, uninspired, ridiculous, cookie cutter, and boring. Everyone looks IDENTICAL. Why even have races or classes or genders if everyone is the same? All that said... I'm pretty sure SOE get that they failed. I'm pretty sure their intent was to have more variety. Corners were cut, budgets were slashed, and as usual in big business they compromised quality for bottom line. And we don't even have a belly button

[selch]

LordFyre wrote:

Velshara wrote:

I personally like the realism in the armor compared to other games. Since when does "combat armor" = "lingerie"?

Well, since the 1920s with the art styles used on the Pulps for fantasy stories.   

But also, since there is no "social element" to EQ2 to speak of.

Than this is not THAT kind of fantasy you are imagining. Never been. Armor is looking like armor (even somes colors do suck or look alike) beside that, there are lots of THAT kind of fantasy games around to hang out with. I heard they even started THAT kind of fantasy games in Second Life. They even have whips for that.

Mentioning armor lookalikes also, I don't think medieval armors looks really distinct from person to person in their categories. 

[LordFyre]

selch wrote:

LordFyre wrote:

Velshara wrote:

I personally like the realism in the armor compared to other games. Since when does "combat armor" = "lingerie"?

Well, since the 1920s with the art styles used on the Pulps for fantasy stories.   

But also, since there is no "social element" to EQ2 to speak of.

Than this is not THAT kind of fantasy you are imagining. Never been. Armor is looking like armor (even somes colors do suck or look alike) beside that, there are lots of THAT kind of fantasy games around to hang out with. I heard they even started THAT kind of fantasy games in Second Life. They even have whips for that.

Mentioning armor lookalikes also, I don't think medieval armors looks really distinct from person to person in their categories. 

You know, selch, I don't think that there is a single posting on these forums that I have ever actually agreed with you?

I actually wasn't going to "THAT kind of fantasy."  Others might have been - I cannot say - but I wasn't quite going there with this subject.

And, with the idea that medieval armors looking similar.  I believe that is why surcoates were invented.

[selch]

LordFyre wrote:

You know, selch, I don't think that there is a single posting on these forums that I have ever actually agreed with you?

I actually wasn't going to "THAT kind of fantasy."  Others might have been - I cannot say - but I wasn't quite going there with this subject.

And, with the idea that medieval armors looking similar.  I believe that is why surcoates were invented.

My my..  I'm sorry that we can't get on together well.

I'm sorry not to understand connection of "Social element" to quote "Lingerie" type of fantasy armor in another way.

[LordFyre]

selch wrote:

My my..  I'm sorry that we can't get on together well.

I'm sorry not to understand connection of "Social element" to quote "Lingerie" type of fantasy armor in another way.

Well, given the way this thread flowed I can see how you would make that connection.  Of course, I still do not understand why it upsets you so. 

In any event, where I was going with this is that for whatever else the visual environment of an MMO is, it is also a piece of art.  So it should look cool.  And, in our western society, for a female looking cool usually does include an element of "sex appeal." 

As to not getting on well, We just have sincerely held, but diametrically opposing, viewpoints on this subject.   

[selch]

It upsets me such desires because in combat there is no such thing as gender. Only thing is to survive AND beat the opponent and to do it correctly, it is necessary to pick best accessories, rather than caring for the look. It is combat, gory, bloody combat.

That's a roleplaying issue. While I hate to wear my purple-pink boots in combat, black pants, red chest plate it is necessary for me to survive. That's not different.

For me reality of art what makes me more into this game. I don't mind having this types of clothes for people to wear around cities unless not categorized as public nudity, just in the degree of real life traditions, I strongly disagree having those as "combat" gear. Because combat is combat, requires armor, not piece of cloth not bigger than a palm to be  stronger than hardest steel. As for me, I wear my formal suit that has zero stats or mitigation in cities or when not fighting and it does not hurt to walk around with that when not fighting.

[Naubeta]

Ratonga don't even have underwear!

[Polywogus]

Robes in EQ2 have always annoyed me. They're understandably boring in the beginning.  But when I see a 70 running about w/ the same robe (altho w/ a different skin)...I never say 'Wow, where can I get that??" I go back to EQLive last week for a few screenies & am suddenly loving my Nec's robe, when prior to leaving I was FD'ing (har) for a replacement. Finding another robe in my bag (lesser stats), I throw it on, & there's a very obvious difference. Colour, obviously, but the cut, pattern, & coverage have all changed.  I would prefer to enjoy how my avatar looks *and* having it grant me +4000 hp/mana/end too. (oops, nvm the endurance, see what too many years of eq does?). Wanting more looks, for all armour, doesn't mean taking away the ultra stuffy matron look & replacing it w/ something akin to pornography. *edited for formatting [curse, expletive, swear]*

[hansomepete]

careful what you wish for, they might just give us more NPC clothes to wear but in diffrent colors... 

There are two but you need status to get them the formal wear has that sexy look, no mit but dam sexy. I don't ask for much just take the leggings out of the robes to show leg like the NPC clothing, and maybe give the chick plate a choice to show a mid drift and possibly the leg plate to show some leg. i have a guild wars char that is good looking and it's something you could go out and fight in.

[Kamimura]

Chayna wrote:

The game is high fantasy which generally means some license between practical and esthetically pleasing.

That's what I'd like to see. No, I do not want my tank to run into battle with a bikini or anything, but I also don't want every inch of my body covered constantly by armor that all looks the same.. I want to see a good mix, different choices, just more. I hope we see that someday.

(Especially when it comes to my casters. I mean, they're sure as heck not wearing their robes for protection against swords or anything like that. Let's see some creative styles! Head to toe robes and those weird pants.. all the time.. ugh..)

[Image_Vain]

I, have complete faith in the DEV team, I believe right now they're sweating and pulling 19 hour days to revamp the armor, yes SOE will Update the game and when we log in our characters will look like abunch of badasses

[Novusod]

Chayna wrote:

Velshara wrote:

I personally like the realism in the armor compared to other games. Since when does "combat armor" = "lingerie"?

Rarely was full plate worn from head to toe. I don't find the armor to be realistic so much as simplified and homogenized. The game is high fantasy which generally means some license between practical and esthetically pleasing. When have you ever seen a wizard wearing a bathrobe? Usually the ropes are flowing and not meant to be protection from anything but the elements. Combat armor would most likely allow freedom of movement and would cover vital organs rather than every inch. Personally, I find it all to be rather sad, uninspired, ridiculous, cookie cutter, and boring. Everyone looks IDENTICAL. Why even have races or classes or genders if everyone is the same? All that said... I'm pretty sure SOE get that they failed. I'm pretty sure their intent was to have more variety. Corners were cut, budgets were slashed, and as usual in big business they compromised quality for bottom line. And we don't even have a belly button

When have you ever seen a wizard? Last I checked they don't exist and never did. Maybe they all just like to take a lot of baths and don't have time for real clothes or maybe they just want to hide that they have no belly buttons.

[Cersiana]

I'm tired of hearing that eq2 armor is realstic. Its not... At all.. Monks tank in scraps of cloth and helms protect you even if you can't see them. Not to mention but I'm sure you wouldn't walk through a desert luggin round mass amounts of plate armor.. And heck you wouldn't go even near a volcano in the first place, much less in silk or plate which would melt or something =p. This is a fantasy game there can be a little bit of fantasy in it!

Now no, I'm not askin for chain mail bikinis or nearly nothing in the way or cloth armor. But my "evil" enchantress looks more like a court jester in bright yellow than well... an evil enchantress. ((I like the conju white/gold combo of the exact same model mind you just the yellow/black is very unappealing.. specially for an evil race...)) So if a monk can tank with nothing.. And I'm not supposta get hit at all.. Why can they get cool looking armor and I have to look like I'm layered up for winter in the robes or well.. W/e you wanna say the class sets look like.

I have respect for the art team building models that look nice and don't take up tons of memory isn't an easy job. I just wanna see a little more thought go into this "realisim" arguement. And maybe something a little more magey for my mages! Btw my ranger loves her fabled class set I think it looks great. I just thing the fabled set for Coercers is well.... a bit silly for what they are.

[Chay]

Novusod wrote:

Chayna wrote:

Velshara wrote:

I personally like the realism in the armor compared to other games. Since when does "combat armor" = "lingerie"?

Rarely was full plate worn from head to toe. I don't find the armor to be realistic so much as simplified and homogenized. The game is high fantasy which generally means some license between practical and esthetically pleasing. When have you ever seen a wizard wearing a bathrobe? Usually the ropes are flowing and not meant to be protection from anything but the elements. Combat armor would most likely allow freedom of movement and would cover vital organs rather than every inch. Personally, I find it all to be rather sad, uninspired, ridiculous, cookie cutter, and boring. Everyone looks IDENTICAL. Why even have races or classes or genders if everyone is the same? All that said... I'm pretty sure SOE get that they failed. I'm pretty sure their intent was to have more variety. Corners were cut, budgets were slashed, and as usual in big business they compromised quality for bottom line. And we don't even have a belly button

When have you ever seen a wizard? Last I checked they don't exist and never did. Maybe they all just like to take a lot of baths and don't have time for real clothes or maybe they just want to hide that they have no belly buttons.

Maybe... You could be on to something there. Maybe their robes hide the fact that shhh they really are wearing some kind of armor. And sure wizards exist... just as much as minotaurs, centaurs, and any other taurs you can come up with. Stating "When have you ever seen a wizard? Last I checked they don't exist and never did" would suggest that the whole point of the game is lost on you. Then again, I've never seen you so maybe you don't exist. SOE just needs to get on the stick. Give us a time table. They've been on this for a year now (at least) and pardon me if I'm a little impatient. I'm tired of my characters looking like they can't dress themselves, have no style, and can't be more than clones of every other character I see.

[Allisia]

Cersiana@Lucan DLere wrote:

I'm tired of hearing that eq2 armor is realstic. Its not... At all.. Monks tank in scraps of cloth and helms protect you even if you can't see them. Not to mention but I'm sure you wouldn't walk through a desert luggin round mass amounts of plate armor.. And heck you wouldn't go even near a volcano in the first place, much less in silk or plate which would melt or something =p. This is a fantasy game there can be a little bit of fantasy in it!

None of that has anything to do with whether or not the armors in the game are realistic in an artistic sense. The armors look quite a bit like their real world counterparts, but with a bit of artistic license. Some people just want the artists to have more license and less accuracy than others. None of that has anything to do with deserts or volcanoes.

[selch]

Cersiana@Lucan DLere wrote:

I'm tired of hearing that eq2 armor is realstic. Its not... At all.. Monks tank in scraps of cloth and helms protect you even if you can't see them.

Hey there, we tank by dodging... not getting hit , beside you can see our helm kilometers away