Weapon Sheaths

[Okipuit]

Good morning!

One thing we have seen players asking about is whether it would be possible to add weapon sheaths. From a technical standpoint, weapons make the same movements that a sheath would make, so it would be possible to add a skin over each weapon; however, depending on the weapon some of the animations may look a bit strange.

The problem is that adding a sheath model for every single weapon would take a considerable amount of work and it is just not possible to address all of the existing weapons.

In the future, however, we’d like to try to use the opportunity when new, unique weapons are added to design sheaths. With that said, as it’s not possible to do immediately, please look forward to it as a future possibility.

[Kalilla]

I created a poll on FFXIAH to gather opinions for this topic. If you would like to vote feel free to, but this is not an official poll and should not be treated like one and is only for gathering the opinions of players.

Do you think FFXI should get weapon sheaths for new weapons, along with possibly R / M / E weapons?

http://www.bumrise.info/images/radio.png Yes, if they do it right and make them look nice. (http://www.bumrise.info/index.php?go=vote-poll=1966-ans=1)
http://www.bumrise.info/images/radio.png No, they will get in the way or for other reasons. (http://www.bumrise.info/index.php?go=vote-poll=1966-ans=2)
http://www.bumrise.info/images/radio.png I don't care as long as they include an option to disable them. (http://www.bumrise.info/index.php?go=vote-poll=1966-ans=3)
http://www.bumrise.info/images/down.png (http://www.bumrise.info/index.php?go=vote-poll=1966-result=1)

[Eric]

Is there any possibility that I could see equipped ranged weapons on my character full-time?

[Kalilla]

Sadly they've answered that in the past and told us it isn't possible.

I would love to see ranged weapons on the back though, feel like ranged weapon players need some love too.

[Washburn]

They said it in the past, but i think it would be do-able. At the tine they said no, they had a whole other list of priorities, and didnt want to mess with new animations, but seeing them make new weaponskills and new jobs coming soon, i see no real reason that they would say "no" other than it being simply a visual stimulant (which is what this game is mainly).

I think doing that would give rng and cor more of an e-peen factor to it and would make the different playstyles easily identifyable without having to check the character. It would definitley be a positive thing.

[cidbahamut]

I would love to see weapon sheaths. I would also like to see them come with display options so that people who don't like them do not have to deal with them if they don't want to.

[Kaisha]

Can't wait to have a floating sheathe for my floating sword.

They'd look weird in the current context of how FFXI stations its weapons on characters out of combat.

[Ophannus]

I like how some of the new armors feature straps/pouches that has the weapon clipping through it(either intentionally or unintentionally) so that the weapon appears to be sheathed inside it. For example wearing a dagger with Loki's Kaftan makes the dagger appear to be inside a strap.

[Gaspee]

Sadly they've answered that in the past and told us it isn't possible.

I would love to see ranged weapons on the back though, feel like ranged weapon players need some love too.

We do ._.

If they can't make the weapons visable all the time, I'd settle for adaman ingots raining from the sky.

[Lienn]

Should start asking for a graphic revamp at SoA now so they have time to prepare this! ^^ It's about time for PC version of FFXI get a graphic revamp patch to have up-to-date graphics. This way it does would have space for shealths and even ranged weapons that don't disappear.

FFXI deservers better graphics already...and if SE plans on keeping it for another 10 years it's an imoprtant thing to do. Also, it can always just stay as a separated expansion so players can install/unistall at will for space management purposes and have at ffxiconfig an option to use enhanced graphics or current ones.

[Tile]

before they add Sheaths i think they should fix how some gear looks with weapons. alot of 2 handed weapons go through your head gear, or the little pack on the lower back of some outfits. sheaths will be doing the samething so fix one before starting on the other.

[Helel]

They need to make ranged weapons visible before they add sheaths period. I feel like a twelve year old saying this but it's simply not fair to the ranged community. With PS2 support slowly beginning to drop, there's absolutely no reason why ranged weapon visibility cannot be implemented on PC.

[Glamdring]

Good morning!

One thing we have seen players asking about is whether it would be possible to add weapon sheaths. From a technical standpoint, weapons make the same movements that a sheath would make, so it would be possible to add a skin over each weapon; however, depending on the weapon some of the animations may look a bit strange.

The problem is that adding a sheath model for every single weapon would take a considerable amount of work and it is just not possible to address all of the existing weapons.

In the future, however, we’d like to try to use the opportunity when new, unique weapons are added to design sheaths. With that said, as it’s not possible to do immediately, please look forward to it as a future possibility.

Having studied mideval weaponry (it's a hobby) sheaths would generally only apply to 1 handed weapons, specifically swords and daggers. most others were held in place by a strap on some type of belt or a harness for those carried on the back, with almost all polearms being carried in the hand (if not carried on a pack animal). The shield was also carried by most professional soldiers on the back (actually, more like on 1 shoulder) to reduce fatigue. The 2 handed weapons were not sheathed due to their size, as getting it clear of a sheath would usually exceed the reach of even the longest armed person. So you don't really need to cover all weapons.

[Mooshywooshy]

Technical standpointtttttttttttttttttttttt!

The only sheathes that are in the game work for Elvaan M and Hume M GKT. The reason for this is that the sword/club skeleton bone is animated to ACT like a sheathe (possibly due to early dev or some NPCs having sheathes) but even then not every animation works with the sheathe. (support dropped mid development/no npcs would be doing said animations) Sometimes you'll see the sheathe popping back onto the GKT.

To explain further say Tachi Gekko for instance, the Great Katana has animation for that, however the sword does not have an animation in Tachi Gekko, thus if something is weighted to the sword bone, it will simply show up on the floor between your legs.

So to put this in they would have to redo every animation for every weapon that would have a sheathe. If more than just GKT were to have a sheathe, they would probably not have any choice but to add more bones into the skeletons of PCs, which would be a hassle (probably just as much of a hassle). Beyond modifying every animation for weapons, they'd have to edit all of the emotes and other things just to incorporate sheathes.

As for ranged weapons on back, im not entirely sure, I only ever (not really) messed with it a little bit and there is a call that hides certain weapons etc (for instance when you dance/cast your weapons disappear, this is that call in action, if you can confuse/overload so it doesnt do the call, you'll sometimes dance with weapons out). I totally photoshopped this picture

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y198/Elfkin/anitst.jpg

Which shows (if it werent a blatant photoshop) that animations can be edited to have the weapon on back, but I dont think I (totally dont know what im talking about) took out the correct hide weapon call, so its probably possible. But again if this were to happen, an entire animation overhaul would be in order (although it would probably be much easier than sheathes).

Is this beyond the FFXI team? No. Is it beyond what I think they would be willing to put forth this far into the game? Yeah, probably.

I think you'd be better off Poll-ing the return of /kiss, which was advertised in a POL email post card, but was never in the game.

(all that being said there are bones on the skeleton that the normal weapon bones are mothered to that follow a similar but not exact motion of the weapons, those might be able to be used, but still would need an overhaul of animations)

[Xantavia]

As much as I would like visible ranged weapons, I think they could end up too difficult to implement. Would bows go on the back and xbows on the hip? This is where I see a problem. If you are toting a fire staff with a bow, they would both end up being on your back. Using an xbow on thf would interfere with the daggers you dual-wield. It just seems like too many conflicts would be created if both weapons hang in the same spot.

[Mefuki]

I don't remember a single post, here or otherwise, about wanting sheaths. Where did this request even come from? Haven't we sent in enough requests that effect the game in a more meaningful fashion? Why did they even field this question while continuing to remain silent on so many more pressing issues?

I don't know...do we really want the devs to do this? Yeah, it would be neat and all but if even at this stage they're warning us that it would take a lot of work. Do we want them to work on something that will benefit no one and be completely superfluous?

[Yespa]

Visible Ranged Weapons on our Backs would be a wonderful visual addition to add to the realness of the game environment. Would like for it to be implemented if there is time possible to be set aside, thanks!

[Daniel_Hatcher]

Good to see important stuff being worked on...

[Avidon]

What they could do instead of making a different sheath for every weapon, is instead add a new equipment block for sheaths and have a limited amount of graphics for sheaths. Also they can be like weapon straps in the sense that they add a small stat bonus to further personalize the players play style. But all in all, for now make them!

[Komori]

I don't remember a single post, here or otherwise, about wanting sheaths. Where did this request even come from? Haven't we sent in enough requests that effect the game in a more meaningful fashion? Why did they even field this question while continuing to remain silent on so many more pressing issues?

I don't know...do we really want the devs to do this? Yeah, it would be neat and all but if even at this stage they're warning us that it would take a lot of work. Do we want them to work on something that will benefit no one and be completely superfluous?

Probably the Japanese asked for it often. This IS a japanese based game not NA, of course so it really kind of makes sense that they would look more to their own culture for content to add.

[Mirabelle]

Another vote for visual ranged weapons. And we all know it can be done since its been done in many other games. And since we can toggle head gear, no reason not to be able to toggle ranged weapons if players think it looks too unwieldy.

[Twille]

I could think of better things to spend Dev time on, but whatever. I'll take what I can get I suppose.