[Suggestion] Paid Race Change Program.

[Eldwir]

Hello Square-Enix.

I've been, like many of your gamers, playing Final Fantasy XI for a long time and for many or few reasons, we started our game prefering a race over another.
However, with time passing and experiencing more and more content of the game, some of us, may have noticed that the race they were playing wasn't the one that they really wanted.
May be aesthetic issues or Stat-related preferences, some may want to be a Tarutaru over an Elvaan or a Hume over a Mithra and vice versa.
Being one of those players, that sadly, after having took a conspicuous number of Jobs to level 75 and so many others to level 90, after the level cap increase and of course after having completed all the Missions of all the storylines of the game's expansions, it would be pretty much a disaster to restart just because of aesthetic or Stat problems. Not to mention equipment transfer, Rare/Exclusive items and of course, access to many areas, Conquest Points, Imperial Standings, Allied Notes, Cruor, Dominion Notes etc...
Reason why I am suggesting, today, a PAID Character Race Change Program, very similar to the Character Reactivation one.
Allowing us players, unsatisfied of our character's race, to change it to another and as well customizing the features such as Gender, Size, Face and Hair color for a certain amount of money, like a World Transfer.
I am pretty much sure that you've had, in the past, suggestions like mine, reason why I am sure many may have already incited you to introduce this kind of service, either through GMs Calls or Email or Customer Live Chat support.
So, here I am, posting it for (maybe everyone) who had my same idea.

Thank you for reading. Hoping to see the suggestion implemented very soon.

Eldwir.

[Vimechue]

Absolutely fantastic.
I've been waiting for ages for someone to post something like that.
(Actually I think in my GM calls I also mentioned that sometimes, but never had the concrete chance to post it somewhere).
Great ! I have my 10 Lv90s and I am very tired of being a Taru :(. And also the incredibly huge number of Rar/Ex items and stuff I'd have to re-hunt if I were to restart a character. And all those Allied Notes ><; I got goosebumps....
I would like to change to Elvaan as soon as possible but without a service it's not going to happen.
Hoping for SE to hear our plea !
Hehe cheers for the post !

[Eldwir]

Ahh I knew someone would've catched the idea too :] !
Just wishing for Square-Enix to actually read this topic now, haha.

[Vimechue]

Hmmm, probably it's the word "Paid" that people do not like much but in many other games, optional services aren't free, so why would SE make free of a "vanity" service like this one ? It would be stupid no ?

[Eldwir]

Agreed. Reason why I specified "Paid".
Of course the topic was created for the ones who are willing to undertake a race change but certainly not for free.
Cmon Square-Enix, read read read this ^^; !

[Nidhogg]

I'd pay for a name change as well.

[Ecko]

I've been spamming messages about this forever and bugging countless GMs lol..I heard they were doin the forums and it's the first thing I wanted to post. It would be great if they offered a "one time change" for free or pay to do so like you suggested. It isn't fair that we're stuck and after years of play know what we want to accomodate our playstyle more and are unable to do anything. Not to derail but it would also be nice if they added a little more variety/customation options...

[Akiyama]

Square-Enix addressed this on the FFXI twitter on Feb 17th concluding:


We’d like to introduce a few ideas that we dismissed. Sadly, items that change race/gender are not possible due to equipment issues. #FFXI

It's a shame since it's something I'd be interested in also, maybe the development team may be able to give some more details on how it isn't possible, even if requirements such as RSE equipment had to be dropped/traded to an NPC for conversion before the race change?

[Nexdeus]

All Melee = Galka
All Mages = Taru
really guys ? cmon this is beyond stupid and would alter the game in a harmful way /facepalm

[Akiyama]

All Melee = Galka
All Mages = Taru
really guys ? cmon this is beyond stupid and would alter the game in a harmful way /facepalm

Who still only has either melee or mage jobs leveled? You're under the impression that all players are going to change their race accordingly for the slight (read: minimal) adjustments that they'll obtain from changing their race?

With the buffs that Atma give, giving attributes in the high numbers, I highly doubt everyone will be jumping to change race for the measly +4 STR they'll get extra on their melee jobs from doing so.

[Chronofantasy]

This idea may be good for most people, but for me personally I still love my Tarutaru that I started out with and its name. I would never want to change anything about my Taru since it's the original. You can't change your race and face in real life, and I know this is a fantasy game, but if you truly get bored of your character after capping everything, then maybe it'd be best to have a fresh start at the game and make a brand new character with your desired race to start?

There is one thing I think should be added one day though. I think there should be extra visual changes you can make on your character like them getting haircuts, getting scars, make-up, etc. for those who may get bored of looking at the same face for years.

[Ecko]

Square-Enix addressed this on the FFXI twitter on Feb 17th concluding:



It's a shame since it's something I'd be interested in also, maybe the development team may be able to give some more details on how it isn't possible, even if requirements such as RSE equipment had to be dropped/traded to an NPC for conversion before the race change?

Exactly. I'm sure the ppl that wanna race change could care less about losing some RSE gear they probably never use or would be fine obtaining new ones. Seriously SE? It seems so simple

[Fallen]

I'd rather have a paid face/hair change than race change, or an ingame NPC that for X amount of gil, you can change.

[Wade]

I always figured they didn't have this option because of RMT. But I still think it would be a nice option to have.

[Eldwir]

If you're willing to change for stats that makes more than sense. However, count Missions, quests, refarming spells for EVERY job and even if it was just an appearance thing....it would still be justified.
Imagine refarming BLU spells or undergoing countless quests for the questable only spells. Not to mention the waste of time re doing Missions, gathering people, waiting for the JP midnights....everything. Think about it. Of course if you're willing to change. If you are okay with your character I don't see how you should be posting in this thread anyways. It would be stupid to come against those who want to PAY for such a service, it's not like it affects the ones who are alright with their toons.

[Tohihroyu]

I would not mind paying for a name change, I wanted to call my Galkan Nostradamus (I figure such a name is suiting for a Galka) but when I clicked it said there was an error & I could not use that name (not an already a PC with that name, just an error) so I chose Cuddleslave, its...cute and well it got me quite well known in levi! lol not many girls playing Galka it seems

[Vimechue]

I completely agree, name change, race change...anything. I'm sick of the look of my character. And I want EVERYONE to look at me and think: Hey she's a Elvaan with a Lance, not a midget playing with a toothpick...

[Dreimar]

My Dream will become true ! from taru to Mithra ! i want a cute tail ! ;_;

[Vimechue]

My Dream will become true ! from taru to Mithra ! i want a cute tail ! ;_;
We still have to wait for SE to EVEN CONSIDER to add such a feature, however, keep posting positive replies, they might hear us ^^;

[Eldwir]

We still have to wait for SE to EVEN CONSIDER to add such a feature, however, keep posting positive replies, they might hear us ^^;

Yeah that's why earlier I mentioned: Don't post in this thread if you're okay with your character, why denying the ones who aren't the chance to change...

[Eldwir]

Also...don't post negatively.

[Vimechue]

Also...don't post negatively.

Ditto, ditto ;p !

[Eldwir]

Of course, the race change could as well be splitted into just Name Change, Appearance Change and Size...anything would be super welcome. So one isn't forced to choose one service pack for everything.

[Coldbrand]

Also would like a salon of some kind, at the very least let me swap between the two colors for my face. (Which is all I really want to do anyhow.)

[Vimechue]

Of course, the race change could as well be splitted into just Name Change, Appearance Change and Size...anything would be super welcome. So one isn't forced to choose one service pack for everything.

Hmmm...it could be very well a player's choice whether to completely change race and then re-customize the character or simply choose another face and size for the one you're using. That is why yeah, I pretty much agree that the service could come into options, divided by fees. Like 9$ to re-customize the character and 5$ for the Name Change, otherwise, 20$ to change race, re-customize and rename. Flexible no ?

[Eldwir]

Keep it positive and we might be able to do it :] !

[Kari]

I want my size changed from Medium to Small.
That is all.
I may use a name change service, if available.

We need more paid services, SE gets more money, we get vanity options. I like it.

[Eldwir]

I want my size changed from Medium to Small.
That is all.
I may use a name change service, if available.

We need more paid services, SE gets more money, we get vanity options. I like it.

Bwhahaha I like your spirit ^^ ! Yeah basically it's profit for both the sides. Square Enix coz of the paid service and us because we so much want our recustomizations and race changes. If like many of the ones who posted here, the +4STR some races have over others at level 90 is true to not affect much, thanks to Atmas and whatnot, what would a race change be if not just vanity at a certain point ^^ ? But of course, consider all the effort one put in the past to just get a Rajas Ring....you can tell how tiring restarting can be.

[HFX7686]

I think race changes are kinda dumb but I would definitely like to see paid name and character model changes.

[Vimechue]

I think race changes are kinda dumb but I would definitely like to see paid name and character model changes.

You won't really call "dumb" something that because it cannot be changed may cause frustration to a certain number of players, regardless of how "dumb" and "weird" it can sound to those who are fine with their character appearance and stats and whatnot...keep the topic positive. After all it won't affect those who aren't going to change their race or name or appearance.

[Akiyama]

I'd rather have a paid face/hair change than race change, or an ingame NPC that for X amount of gil, you can change.


I would not mind paying for a name change, I wanted to call my Galkan Nostradamus (I figure such a name is suiting for a Galka) but when I clicked it said there was an error & I could not use that name (not an already a PC with that name, just an error) so I chose Cuddleslave, its...cute and well it got me quite well known in levi! lol not many girls playing Galka it seems


Also would like a salon of some kind, at the very least let me swap between the two colors for my face. (Which is all I really want to do anyhow.)


I think race changes are kinda dumb but I would definitely like to see paid name and character model changes.

To all those that aren't bothered about a race change or don't want a race change but want services like Name Changes etc., you should probably make a new thread (if one isn't already around) to raise your suggestion. This thread's topic is a service for changing one's race.


General Forum Rules:
Please keep all posts on topic. Making off topic posts will only cause confusion and miscommunication. When you create a new thread, please do not mix multiple unrelated topics into a single thread. Instead, please create an individual thread based on each topic.

This should help the development team see an overview of requests through the thread names rather than requests within a thread requesting a different service.

[Eldwir]

To all those that aren't bothered about a race change or don't want a race change but want services like Name Changes etc., you should probably make a new thread (if one isn't already around) to raise your suggestion. This thread's topic is a service for changing one's race.
This should help the development team see an overview of requests through the thread names rather than requests within a thread requesting a different service.


Thanks mate, I seriously apreciate cooperation~expecially thanks for posting words that may help people to understand why they shouldn't bother using negative behaviour over this feature ;] !

[HFX7686]

Thanks mate, I seriously apreciate cooperation~expecially thanks for posting words that may help people to understand why they shouldn't bother using negative behaviour over this feature ;] !

You mean that people who disagree with you should shut up, go elsewhere, and accept this suggestion?

[Eldwir]

You mean that people who disagree with you should shut up, go elsewhere, and accept this suggestion?

More like, why posting negatively ? I seriously can't see how this might be "dumb" or affect people who aren't going to change their race. We're trying to have this to get to Square Enix eyes, but of course, negative comments such as yours becalling "dumb" over something that might cause frustration to people...isn't really anything people posting in here would be. Additionally never said to shut up, just explain statements after calling something "dumb". Instead of leaving them as they are. Cheers mate.

[Vimechue]

You mean that people who disagree with you should shut up, go elsewhere, and accept this suggestion?

That's right the kind of people Akiyama, some posts above was trying to keep away. People who aren't going to post relevant stuff contained in the thread. We did mention a name change and re customization, however the topic's about changing one's race and yes, I agree with the topic starter. We should try to keep this positive, after all it won't be a big deal to those who won't change their race and so use this service. For money. So it's nothing either granted or free, just trying to raise the topic to SE, exactly. We don't need sorry answers like that one.

[Akiyama]

You mean that people who disagree with you should shut up, go elsewhere, and accept this suggestion?

My post wasn't rejecting your right to disagree or asking you to go elsewhere. Nor was I stating that any negativity was being made towards the subject. The feature request for this thread is a optional extra - and as such, those that disagree are simply stating that they wouldn't use the service. It makes little to no effect on those that aren't interested in the service as to whether it's implemented or not.

On that note, the development team know that many players requested this feature which resulted in their Tweet regarding the subject (http://twitter.com/FFXI_EN/status/38365037122957312). I think the people who are interested want to know more details on why the idea was turned down as the dealing with RSE seems like a minor obstruction - obviously there may be more behind it, but since we were only given that information, we don't know any further details.

[Kari]

RSE is a very, very minor issue.
Slap a warning on it saying you will no longer be able to equip any RSE you've gathered for that race.

Maybe, if SE feels generous, allow conversions of Event RSE. [Swimsuits, etc.]
After all, we did the events and were forced to take that specific RSE, where-as you have a choice in most other RSE gear obtaining.

[azjazo]

I think the RSE would be a small price to pay agains the create a new char, level it up quest all over again, so yeah, the warning that you will lose all that gear would be enough, and if SE is kind enough even give you some kind of brochure to exchage for the equivalent RSE from a moogle or something...

[Ophiuchus]

I have been hoping for this feature to come to FFXI for a few years now. I'd very much be willing to pay for a race/character change for a reasonable rate. And I also agree that issues with RSE could be easily fixed by making a npc that exchanges the items in return for the items of the appropriate race/gender.

The only few other issues lore-wise (or whatever you'd describe it as), beside RSE, are a few instances in the games story/progression where character's race plays an issue(Some part of Chains of Promathia missions and some key items involved with those missions, issues with a handful of other mission/quest details); but I feel a simple prevention from allowing a character change while the character in question is on said missions. As for the key items gained from missions those could easily be exchanged by a generated npc in certain game areas without creating any for of story paradox's.

Though if I may offer and additional suggestion to the suggestion. To please limit the number of changes per Square Enix/Playonline account. I'd suggest either a one-time only change or pershaps a rather extended cooldown between changes, sort of how there's a cooldown between world transfers for characters. This would prevent the only potential abuse I forsee that could come from this.

[HFX7686]

You think that because I feel a proposed 'feature' is dumb that I am exhibiting 'negative behaviour'? Well, despite your pompous and condescending way of putting that, you'd be right. I have a negative opinion of this suggestion. I therefore display some negative behaviour by posting that I have a negative opinion of this silly suggestion.

There needs to be some kind of reality in the fantasy of the game. People don't suddenly change races. There could be no possible logical explanation for people to suddenly switch their race to another. Not even some kind of powerful magic, moogle or otherwise, could possibly stretch to explain this huge gaping hole in suspended disbelief. You'd probably have to get Altana herself to cry some tears on you to have your race changed.

So yes, changing races is dumb. Changing names and hairstyles can be explained within the context of the game. Changing races cannot be.

[Eldwir]

You can use as many terms as you wish to describe my way of "putting that", "pompous and codescending", however you found yourself locked in your own mentality. If you EXPLAINED actually, except lore and storyline wise how a race change would affect you, that aren't going to do it, it would be a nice argument to discuss about. But justifying it by lore only it's "dumb" and also...wouldn't moving from a Server to another be the same way too ? Or deleting a character, making another one with the same name and the using the Character Reactivation Program to put the one you deleted back into the game, so you're allowed to pick another name ? So how's that going to look to Altana's eyes ? It's a paid feature, like every other, reason why it has NO IMPACT on the gameplay or game lore. As many says, the sudden stat change isn't a issue due to the Atmas that will make up for them. It's just for cosmetics reason for many, other than not wanting to refarm that. I don't see how a, yes, negative comment should be there. This isn't going to hurt anybody except to give some relief to those who cannot fit with their characters. So keep all of your hatred away from this. Again, we're trying to get it to Square-Enix, take the "negativity" elsewhere.
Cheers on your solo-crusade against the topic.

[HFX7686]

Wow, you are really against any kind of dissenting opinion on this topic being voiced. You're going to quite some trouble to try to personally discredit me as a 'trouble maker' there, buddy.

Moving a character to another server can be explained in that we can move through dimensions and time in the storylines of Wings of the Goddess and Abyssea. Deleting a character is like death and someone having the same name as someone else is hardly uncommon. Bringing a character back to life through 'magic' sounds much more 'believable' than having them change their race. Having them awaken from a long coma. Having them lost in an alternate dimension over a period of time. It's not hard to stretch belief here.

Lots of things have no impact on the game. The teahouse in Whitegate has no impact. Pankration has no impact. It's just, to me, changing one's race on a whim sounds very silly and very dumb.

So why are you so against a dissenting opinion on your topic being heard anyway?

[Ophiuchus]

In my personal opinion, saying that race change is unrealistic for a fantasy game is a rather silly objection in of itself. As for your point of no means of lore to possible make it realistic I imply you to look at items/events that impose a costume affect on characters. Even though those are considered costumes I'm sure there's an extreme that can be achieved for a more permanant "costume" effect if you really want to go that route.

People can get surgey in real life to change their apearance to that of another race/gender of someone if they so wish (hell it's probably possible to make one look like a monkey surgically if they really wanted too). So, in actuallity, it's ironic you're argument is about the reality of it being in a fantasy game when it's already possible in the reality of real life.

As far as "changing one's race on a whim" can easy be prevented by my suggestion of having a one-time only use or extended cooldown.

As for what Eldwir is suggesting is that there are quite a number of people that would like this feature to be implemented. And I think we can all (pro-suggestion group) agree that we would like as little reason as possible for Square Enix to turn a blind eye to our suggestion because of a arguement that goes to personal levels is involved. I suggest, if you're opposed to the suggestion(s), to make an opposistion thread to the idea. That way people's personal pride/etc aren't being offended(intentially or otherwise) and thus lead to an unprofessional discussion.

That previous paragraph by the way is intended for everyone involved with this thread not just Eldwir or HFX7686, it's unproductive to have a debate over pure personal biases that is really nothing more than a arguement of dislikes towards others.

[HFX7686]

As for what Eldwir is suggesting is that there are quite a number of people that would like this feature to be implemented. And I think we can all (pro-suggestion group) agree that we would like as little reason as possible for Square Enix to turn a blind eye to our suggestion because of a arguement that goes to personal levels is involved. I suggest, if you're opposed to the suggestion(s), to make an opposistion thread to the idea. That way people's personal pride/etc aren't being offended(intentially or otherwise) and thus lead to an unprofessional discussion.

That previous paragraph by the way is intended for everyone involved with this thread not just Eldwir or HFX7686, it's unproductive to have a debate over pure personal biases that is really nothing more than a arguement of dislikes towards others.

You want me to make a whole new thread to come up with an opposition to the idea posted in this thread? Are you trying to suggest that we should flood the board with multiple threads on the same topic?

Unprofessional discussion about a video game?

Considering that the whole idea of race change is purely an aesthetic desire the idea that this argument is not based completely in personal biases is very silly.

His argument basically comes down to this: Some people like this idea and want race changes to be implemented therefore people who are against such a change should be quiet. My response is thus: Some people are against this and don't want race changes to be implemented therefore people who are for such a change should be quiet.

I think you have misunderstood me. I am against the idea of race changes but I accept that people might want this type of thing. However, I am prepared to argue against such a thing and feel that automatically being told to shut-up when presenting the dissenting opinion is very stupid and short-sighted of the OP. If the OP had stayed on track and argued for his suggestion instead of telling me to go away I would have simply continued to argue the point against the race change idea (or perhaps lost interest). The idea that he feels that someone who disagrees with him is trolling and needs to be quieted is offensive!

[Ophiuchus]

I think you have misunderstood me. I am against the idea of race changes but I accept that people might want this type of thing. However, I am prepared to argue against such a thing and feel that automatically being told to shut-up when presenting the dissenting opinion is very stupid and short-sighted of the OP. If the OP had stayed on track and argued for his suggestion instead of telling me to go away I would have simply continued to argue the point against the race change idea (or perhaps lost interest). The idea that he feels that someone who disagrees with him is trolling and needs to be quieted is offensive!

Yes I do agree with you on this point, which is why I tried to make my last paragraph as least targetting to a single person as possible. You're entitled to your opinion just as much as anyone else and I don't mean to try to take that away.

The personal bias was meant to be about how posters feel about each other, not about the topic; it's obvious some poster now feel negatively about each other and that negativity is effecting their discussions. I'm simply stating that those negative vibes drive postings against each other that don't productivly progress the discussion anyway.

That is also for the base for my suggesting of making another thread. One thread for the suggestion and one thread opposed. To try and keep postings that are purely personal distaste of other posters as minimal as possible. I wasn't intending to suggest having a flooding of forums, just a clear seperation of the pros and cons with as little noise as possible. Though now that you've made that point I can see how it could cause many posts of the same issues and do more harm than good so I concede on that debate.

As for debating the actual suggestion I've stated my arguements against yours and invite you to do the same. What are your points agaisnt mine, or perhaps what are some other points you have against it?

[Akiyama]

I feel this thread is starting to loose it's purpose. If anything, just giving more posts for development team to wade through.

Although I'm not going to reject the fact that people could be against this idea, I still don't see any reason why it'd be such a big deal. If you aren't interested in the service at all then you just won't use it? If the service was implemented, are players against the idea going to seriously rage if they see a linkshell member that was previously Hume but is now Elvaan?

Yes, there is lore, but this is an MMO, a game. MMOs base themselves around character customisation, and it's a big feature that many people enjoy. However people can easily make mistakes or choose options they may later regret, especially if there are a lot of customisation options. If people aren't happy with a choice them made possibly 9 years ago, then why shouldn't they be able to make a that change? Everyone is paying a subscription to play this game and enjoy it, and some people don't enjoy their character's race anymore.

I also find it strange that some kind of debate has evolved from this, seeing as this idea has already been addressed by the development team on the official Twitter, the fact that the reasoning behind not implementing it was regarding RSE, and not any kind of realism or lore related issues. I agree the game has to have a lore that explains various aspects of the game but there is a line in this. What part of lore explains what happens when you log out? How I can hold 80 items, including large weapons and armour, in my pockets? How Cid's teeth (http://forum.square-enix.com/ffxi/threads/1281-Cid-s-Teeth) came to be as strange as they are?

Let's just keep this in mind: Realistic Fantasy is an oxymoron in itself.

[Catsby]

I would like to see this extended to hairstyles and facial markings. I would easily spend a buck or two to change my hairstyle.

[Kendlar]

I would pay good money to be able to change my race for sure.

[Crazze]

I am pretty sure this has been brought up to the Devs on several occasions and believe they have even responded to it a couple times. This is not a new idea anyway. Hell I would just be happy if I could change my hair style, gotta love having red hair when creating a character and then getting in game and having it be orange,

[Orison]

This is my number one, most wanted feature in the game. I don't care how much this service will cost. Please, SE, just make this happen.

[Cruentus]

You know, this is a good idea, but let's upgrade it a little. How about we pay to alter our character entirely? I wouldn't mind some more height on my Elvaan, but I probably wouldn't change much else, personally.

So, basically, we pay to create a new character model that replaces the old one, without losing items, job levels, EXP, merit points, upgrades via merits, or anything else at all.

I wouldn't mind it being restricted on race, though. It really wouldn't make sense for, say, a Galka to suddenly turn into a Tarutaru, and still be the same person. Well, unless moogles were involved somehow. Their magic is insanity given corporeal form, basically.

[Killz]

I would like to see away to change your race it would be nice to see male mithra add it some point but we could only wish rigth

[Chronofantasy]

If for some crazy reason SE does allow us to change races for payment or for whatever means, then I think that SE should give us a few new races to make the race change more worth it. If the new races are in any way good then maybe I will change my race. Otherwise I love being Tarutaru. ^^ Mind you, I really wish I could have a different hairstyle but I don't like the other hairstyles.

[Wheels]

I myself have sent in several request to the old suggestions & feedback site for a race change. Being a taru for a very long time gets annoying looking up all the time to everyone. As for paying for it i think that is reasonable, altho if it is like the world transfer service then it might be an issue. I would say have a 1 time race change for a fee once you change then you are whatever you chose for the rest of your gaming career.

[Auriga]

This idea is already on my thread (with additional things), never the less I'd like to see it happen.

[Avidon]

I would love to have this feature. Back when I was new to this game I was like a 30 warrior or something and realized I wanted to be Elvaan instead of Hume, and I remember telling myself, "No..., you've come to far for that now." STUPID ME!
Humes are boring to watch in combat. Elvaan are all flashy with their weapons and stuff, and their robes and hair wave in the wind while casting. Why don't humes have that feature? It's the small stuff that changes a game entirely for me.
So yes bring on the paid vanity services!

[Primetime]

Signed up just to show my support for this. Please make it happen SE, do you not want free money?

[TearValerin]

Hello Square-Enix.

I've been, like many of your gamers, playing Final Fantasy XI for a long time and for many or few reasons, we started our game prefering a race over another.
However, with time passing and experiencing more and more content of the game, some of us, may have noticed that the race they were playing wasn't the one that they really wanted.
May be aesthetic issues or Stat-related preferences, some may want to be a Tarutaru over an Elvaan or a Hume over a Mithra and vice versa.
Being one of those players, that sadly, after having took a conspicuous number of Jobs to level 75 and so many others to level 90, after the level cap increase and of course after having completed all the Missions of all the storylines of the game's expansions, it would be pretty much a disaster to restart just because of aesthetic or Stat problems. Not to mention equipment transfer, Rare/Exclusive items and of course, access to many areas, Conquest Points, Imperial Standings, Allied Notes, Cruor, Dominion Notes etc...
Reason why I am suggesting, today, a PAID Character Race Change Program, very similar to the Character Reactivation one.
Allowing us players, unsatisfied of our character's race, to change it to another and as well customizing the features such as Gender, Size, Face and Hair color for a certain amount of money, like a World Transfer.
I am pretty much sure that you've had, in the past, suggestions like mine, reason why I am sure many may have already incited you to introduce this kind of service, either through GMs Calls or Email or Customer Live Chat support.
So, here I am, posting it for (maybe everyone) who had my same idea.

Thank you for reading. Hoping to see the suggestion implemented very soon.

Eldwir.

It's an idea people have been asking for for years sadly. Due to some kind of undisclosed complication, name changes, race changes, etc are all unable to happen. We've asked countless times in my LS about it, good luck seeing it come to fruition.

[Ajuk]

Yeah, a Salon would be awesome! I'd say just be allowed to change the player's face and hair style/colour. That would keep me happy. It could go in Jeuno!

[Thuggin]

Hello Square-Enix.

I've been, like many of your gamers, playing Final Fantasy XI for a long time and for many or few reasons, we started our game prefering a race over another.
However, with time passing and experiencing more and more content of the game, some of us, may have noticed that the race they were playing wasn't the one that they really wanted.
May be aesthetic issues or Stat-related preferences, some may want to be a Tarutaru over an Elvaan or a Hume over a Mithra and vice versa.
Being one of those players, that sadly, after having took a conspicuous number of Jobs to level 75 and so many others to level 90, after the level cap increase and of course after having completed all the Missions of all the storylines of the game's expansions, it would be pretty much a disaster to restart just because of aesthetic or Stat problems. Not to mention equipment transfer, Rare/Exclusive items and of course, access to many areas, Conquest Points, Imperial Standings, Allied Notes, Cruor, Dominion Notes etc...
Reason why I am suggesting, today, a PAID Character Race Change Program, very similar to the Character Reactivation one.
Allowing us players, unsatisfied of our character's race, to change it to another and as well customizing the features such as Gender, Size, Face and Hair color for a certain amount of money, like a World Transfer.
I am pretty much sure that you've had, in the past, suggestions like mine, reason why I am sure many may have already incited you to introduce this kind of service, either through GMs Calls or Email or Customer Live Chat support.
So, here I am, posting it for (maybe everyone) who had my same idea.

Thank you for reading. Hoping to see the suggestion implemented very soon.

Eldwir.

Those sort of things should be available as a COURTESY for FREE.
World transfer costs 25.00 already, which is nice (world transfer) but honestly.. IT'S A RIP OFF.. Charging for race change is a rip off, it should be free.

[Haldarn]

I could go for a race change option, though I don't see the necessity of it being a paid for privilege. I suggest that a race-change could be the result of an epic quest that requires an amount of effort akin to a Magian Weapon Trial to complete. That way it can be worked into a plausible storyline (something... Warriors of the Crystal... something... racial aspect... something...) and be a significant undertaking that people wouldn't just be able to do on a whim (which ppl with money to burn can do with a paid for service).

I don't see how RSE can cause a problem? Surely it's just "Select Race Change" -> "Dequip character" -> "Change Race" and then you don't meet the criteria for equipping it? Any KIs that are race-specific are just lost (eg Promyvion lights) and need to be reacquired.

Also, the conquest caravan NPCs should incorporate a hairdresser that can change your hairstyle and colour for a nominal amount of gil!

Personally though, I wouldn't mind starting a whole new character of a different race from scratch on the condition that my Rare/Ex gear can be transferred between all characters on my account.

[Tsukino_Kaji]

I suggest that a race-change could be the result of an epic quest that requires an amount of effort akin to a Magian Weapon Trial to complete.Trial Log 10,001: Hume Trial. Deal the finishing blow to Ark Angel HM x500.

[Haldarn]

Trial Log 10,001: Hume Trial. Deal the finishing blow to Ark Angel HM x500.
Genius!

Though you should prolly make it conditional that it has to be done with Throwing weapons to make it a challenge...

[Tsukino_Kaji]

Genius!

Though you should prolly make it conditional that it has to be done with Throwing weapons to make it a challenge...Bear handed on DRK/WHM only.

[Haldarn]

Bear handed on DRK/WHM only.
On Lightsday.

I really think we're onto something.

[Magicka]

People can get surgey in real life to change their apearance to that of another race/gender of someone if they so wish (hell it's probably possible to make one look like a monkey surgically if they really wanted too). So, in actuallity, it's ironic you're argument is about the reality of it being in a fantasy game when it's already possible in the reality of real life.


Here's a supporting link to the above statement that it is possible to "race change" in the real world. Strange, but true: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zlFAU9iBQ10&feature=related

In any case, I can see why a race change within the context of FFXI might be impossible. As per the tweet from SE that was quoted in an earlier post, there are gear considerations.

Now, a service to change once's appearance (not race) such as face, hair color, size and/or name; this, I can see as being a very welcomed service either as an in-game "salon" where a character pays x amount of gil for the service or as a customization service offered in POL that is purchased for x amount of dollars to make the aforementioned changes.

[Kingofgeeks]

bump

i love my tarutaru, but i get sad when awesome gear looks more awesome on a hume than on me. not that i would actually change race because of this, but having the option there i would love

[Boldheart]

Really I thought of this awhile ago and it's just not going to happen. I took awhile to choose my race b4 i started the game. First I went Galka, then decided to go Hume b4 i got to far cuz Hume's can do any job w/ good stats overall, plus they look awesome in armor. Though I like a Galka and some mean melee armor haha, looks destructive.

[Kamea]

Having recently began playing again, my character was created in 2004. That's 7 years of the same character. When I was restoring my account, I had forgotten passwords and had to contact them by phone and go thru hoops just for them to know I was who I said I was. I asked this question to them and the response was "With the game being so old, there are no plans on implimenting a paid system to change the race or look of one's character."

But... Doesn't hurt to start a petition or bombard them with requests to have them begin a system such as that. I'd pay to change my character. It's obvious others would as well.

[Kamea]

Personally though, I wouldn't mind starting a whole new character of a different race from scratch on the condition that my Rare/Ex gear can be transferred between all characters on my account.

On that note, Changes to the Delivery System (http://forum.square-enix.com/ffxi/threads/239), discusses the future ability to send EX items to other characters on the same account. Doesn't say anything about other types of gear, but it may be a start.

[Alhanelem]

Race change {no thanks}. Shouldn't have picked manthra when you started.

And this topic has already come up before.

[Bonus]

Yes please! Let us change race for a fee.:cool:

[Inches]

Like I've posted in other forums since 2008, I can't stand to play a tarutaru anymore. I have grown up, and I simply cannot identify with the whole "cuteness" of playing a taru. Nor people's reactions towards me. I care not for the stats, as I have already learned how to play the game with taru stats. But visually, I really need to play something that represents more of who I am, and not a race that looks like a little kid.

At this point, I'd pay $100.00 for a race change. If only I had the time to do everything all over again. I'd do it in a heartbeat.

[svengalis]

Square-Enix addressed this on the FFXI twitter on Feb 17th concluding:



It's a shame since it's something I'd be interested in also, maybe the development team may be able to give some more details on how it isn't possible, even if requirements such as RSE equipment had to be dropped/traded to an NPC for conversion before the race change?

WTH?! Items that change race? Why can't they just offer a service like world of Warcraft?

[Sappho]

EQ2 and LOTRO both offered a "Barber" who would allow you to go back to the character creation screen and change the physical appearance of your character. An exceptionally player friendly feature.

I would pay $25 to change my character's race or name. I think many other people would pay good money to do so.

Hey, SE, make more money!!!!

[Atomic_Skull]

Hello Square-Enix.

I've been, like many of your gamers, playing Final Fantasy XI for a long time and for many or few reasons, we started our game prefering a race over another.
However, with time passing and experiencing more and more content of the game, some of us, may have noticed that the race they were playing wasn't the one that they really wanted.
May be aesthetic issues or Stat-related preferences, some may want to be a Tarutaru over an Elvaan or a Hume over a Mithra and vice versa.
Being one of those players, that sadly, after having took a conspicuous number of Jobs to level 75 and so many others to level 90, after the level cap increase and of course after having completed all the Missions of all the storylines of the game's expansions, it would be pretty much a disaster to restart just because of aesthetic or Stat problems. Not to mention equipment transfer, Rare/Exclusive items and of course, access to many areas, Conquest Points, Imperial Standings, Allied Notes, Cruor, Dominion Notes etc...
Reason why I am suggesting, today, a PAID Character Race Change Program, very similar to the Character Reactivation one.
Allowing us players, unsatisfied of our character's race, to change it to another and as well customizing the features such as Gender, Size, Face and Hair color for a certain amount of money, like a World Transfer.
I am pretty much sure that you've had, in the past, suggestions like mine, reason why I am sure many may have already incited you to introduce this kind of service, either through GMs Calls or Email or Customer Live Chat support.
So, here I am, posting it for (maybe everyone) who had my same idea.

Thank you for reading. Hoping to see the suggestion implemented very soon.

Eldwir.

Learn to be careful guys because you can't always tell who was born a mithra and who's actually a race changed galka.

[Xpress]

I would just like to change my hair style and color. This should be an easy yet cost friendly todo for all parties.

[Zumi]

If SE wants some extra money they would do this. But it doesn't sound like something they would do and say it would take too long to implement. Blizzard does this for WoW and charges $25 for a race change.

[Camiie]

Race change {no thanks}. Shouldn't have picked manthra when you started.

And this topic has already come up before.


That's why it's optional! You don't want one, don't do it! Others can make the choice they want for themselves.

[Alhanelem]

That's why it's optional! You don't want one, don't do it! Others can make the choice they want for themselves.
It is potentially detrimental to other players. That's why it shouldn't be an option.

But in case you didn't notice, the post you responded to was 8 months old.

[Camiie]

Oh well, it was on the front page already. Anyway, how is it detrimental to other players if someone else changes their appearance or race? How would you be affected if I was a hume rather than an elvaan? How would I be affected if you were a taru instead of a galka or whatever?

[Concerned4FFxi]

I would definitly pay money to change my character's hair, like its been said in other threads if when doing a world change the option is available to change the hair/race/sex, that would be totally awesome, I love bismarck but I'd so switch worlds just to change my hair and maybe go mithra this time even, mwhahahahahaha. Then change back to Bismarck, but I'd do it just to do the hair change in the least. I'd pay for the race or the character/hair model change for sure.

[Zumi]

I actually would pay $25 to race change my adventuring fellow NPC and not lose all of its levels. I picked a Tarutaru NPC way back when I thought Tarutarus were really cool now I am kind of sick of it being Tarutaru and want a different race. I know I can start over but that's so much grinding that I just don't want to do it.

[Atomic_Skull]

SE isn't going to allow transsexual mithras for the same reason they don't allow same sex marriages.

You guys realize that sex changes are actually illegal in Japan right?

[Concerned4FFxi]

You think that because I feel a proposed 'feature' is dumb that I am exhibiting 'negative behaviour'? Well, despite your pompous and condescending way of putting that, you'd be right. I have a negative opinion of this suggestion. I therefore display some negative behaviour by posting that I have a negative opinion of this silly suggestion.

There needs to be some kind of reality in the fantasy of the game. People don't suddenly change races. There could be no possible logical explanation for people to suddenly switch their race to another. Not even some kind of powerful magic, moogle or otherwise, could possibly stretch to explain this huge gaping hole in suspended disbelief. You'd probably have to get Altana herself to cry some tears on you to have your race changed.

So yes, changing races is dumb. Changing names and hairstyles can be explained within the context of the game. Changing races cannot be.

Have you heard of sex change operations? If a Purongo in this game can sing a song and turn me into a frog then a moggle can offer race/sex changing magic.

Besides the race changing, if the rare/ex gear is the problem for changing the race of the character what about changing just the hairstyle of said character? Surely that won't interfer with any gear, and would be totally plausible as far a fantasy/reality goes.

SE stating that gear would limit the change is not the whole story, otherwise why wouldn't they offer a bone such as saying "Dear custromer, we realise as a service provider you have money you'd like to spend on in our virtual world called FFXI, we'll be glad to accept your money in exchange for slight alterations of your character's appearance, such as hair style. Currently, there is no way to change one's race or gender. We appologize for this inconvience, and ask the community for their understanding. Thank you and have a very moogle holiday season"

[Camiie]

SE isn't going to allow transsexual mithras for the same reason they don't allow same sex marriages.

You guys realize that sex changes are actually illegal in Japan right?


You realize that Vana'diel isn't Japan right? You realize that sex changes do occur in Japanese fiction right?

[Meyi]

I'd say yes to this.

Because no race change existed, I started over. I kept my old Elvaan, but I made a new Taru. I'm much happier now playing a Taru Male than an Elvaan female. :) But some days I do miss being an Elvaan, and I wish I could play an Elvaan Male. If a race change never does happen, I just want to add that it's not that difficult catching back up to where we are in the game because of how easy everything has become. All of the difficult capped missions have become uncapped, nations, Zilart, and CoP are almost completely soloable. I soloed most of ToAU too, and a decent portion of WotG. Getting gear isn't that bad, though I'm not sure I'd want to fight +2 gem NMs again...

Still! It's really easy to catch back up. I've debated leveling a third character to 90.

[Xpress]

Again, I just want SE to let me change my Hair color!!!!!

[Soulanubis]

Race Change {Yes Please}

[Tohihroyu]

Well hears some good news:

in the JP forums some have suggested Race change & Face change "tickets" for new mog bonanza prizes & a good handful of em are asking for it so maybe just maybe there will be a way to change your race or at least your race's face.

[Seiowan]

No thanks. Race has too much bearing on your statistics to be fiddled with. I'm against any form of stat-altering which is paid for. I've seen stuff like this in other MMOs, and it rarely ends well.

[Tsukino_Kaji]

Well hears some good news:

in the JP forums some have suggested Race change & Face change "tickets" for new mog bonanza prizes & a good handful of em are asking for it so maybe just maybe there will be a way to change your race or at least your race's face.So like a dozen people will only be able to do it and they'll all be JP.

[Atomic_Skull]

Race Change {Yes Please}

You actually dug this up and necroed it?

[Alhanelem]

Well hears some good news:

in the JP forums some have suggested Race change & Face change "tickets" for new mog bonanza prizes & a good handful of em are asking for it so maybe just maybe there will be a way to change your race or at least your race's face.

just because someone comes up with another idea of how to implement it, doesn't mean it will happen. And it shouldnt happen.

[Meyi]

Just because you say it shouldn't happen, it should happen.

[Cindro]

Yes please!!! I've been wanting a paid race change service since the beginning of this game as it would not only bring in added revenue for SE but it would allow players like myself the option to switch to whatever race they desire regardless of their initial race. It's easy enough to do and who honestly cares if it fiddles with stats? Isn't that part of the point? Once you choose your favorite job (through prolonged period of gameplay), shouldn't you then be able to tailor your race to match your desired profession? Please take everyone's thoughts into consideration and possibly create a simple feature that will make this possible. Thanks!

[Alhanelem]

Yes please!!! I've been wanting a paid race change service since the beginning of this gameIf you wanted it at the beginning of the game, why didn't you just delete your character and make a new one?


shouldn't you then be able to tailor your race to match your desired profession?No, you shouldn't.

What people SHOULD do is pick their race carefully knowing that it can't be changed.

We'll make a deal. Once we have the capbility to change a real live person's race, I'll support race changes. Until then, it should be as unchangeable in the game as it is in real life.

[FrankReynolds]

If you wanted it at the beginning of the game, why didn't you just delete your character and make a new one?

No, you shouldn't.

What people SHOULD do is pick their race carefully knowing that it can't be changed.

We'll make a deal. Once we have the capbility to change a real live person's race, I'll support race changes. Until then, it should be as unchangeable in the game as it is in real life.

Do you have any idea how stupid that sounds?

[Teraniku]

So let's see, you all want a race change because you all are unhappy with your character, yet want to keep all your stuff, accomplishments etc.? Why not make a new character? Oh wait, that will be a lot of work to get all your stuff back that you had with your old character. This is what it basically boils down to.

-This subject keeps getting necro'd every so often. I personally don't care if you all want to change name / race, but the 1st ls leader who basically swipes the ls bank then changes race / name to get away without repercussions will kill this feature once it is implemented.

[Cindro]

Taking the above into account, maybe it is possible to just change your personal appearance, but not how you appear to others- legally. Meaning, no use of a 3rd party program to do so, yet make it available to players who want to change their own appearance for their own satisfaction only.

[Camiie]

-This subject keeps getting necro'd every so often. I personally don't care if you all want to change name / race, but the 1st ls leader who basically swipes the ls bank then changes race / name to get away without repercussions will kill this feature once it is implemented.


Guild/LS Banks have been a scam since before FFXI was created, and their being stolen or embezzled from is nothing new. It's pretty much why they exist in the first place. This is a player problem, not an SE problem.

Personally I don't care for name changes either, but the name can still remain bound to the same player ID. Many things in life have the potential for abuse and misuse, but are generally beneficial. Just because someone could take advantage of something doesn't mean that something shouldn't exist if it will make a lot of other people happier more productive or whatever.

[Smeggles]

I would pay alot for a race change. Literally ALOT.

[Spiriteater]

I wouldn't mind if i could just change the hair... my character looks the same as my brother's and it sucks cause i made mine like years before he did..

[Reiterpallasch]

I don't really have a need to do this myself, but I fully support it and would hope they add it for people that want it.


Do you have any idea how stupid that sounds?
Dude, it's analhelm. I'm pretty sure he logs in each day with the sole intention to spew verbal diarrhea throughout the forums in an attempt shit up every topic he can possibly post in.

[Llana_Virren]

We'll make a deal. Once we have the capbility to change a real live person's race, I'll support race changes. Until then, it should be as unchangeable in the game as it is in real life.

Man, how many times have you argued in other threads about how real world rules don't apply to the in-game world? ...I mean, I'm not surprised by the total disregard for consistency, so much as that I hope you don't expect anyone to take you seriously. If you do, you can turn in your troll badge now.

[Anapingofness]

I'm for race changes, appearance changes, etc.

If that is too problematic for SE to give us race changes, and it really shouldn't be considering this their you know, job but whatever, let's say that it is. Then I would propose to give us barbershops and appearance changes overall. It would be great if we could have actual options when making our character so that you know, people don't get annoyed with their character.

What would really help is if they tightened up the graphics so the character looks proportional. Have you seen how god awful the Elvaan females look in 95% of the gear? In some of the gear they look manlier than the men! (here's looking at you Monk AF! =D )
They did it with the special npc's in pretty much every expansion. Then again, SE is really good at showing off stuff that we can't have.

Really, most games offer these basic services and FFXI's character creation is really, stupidly, limited.
So yes, at the very least, we deserve to have a barbershop option that will let us change our height, face, hair, skin color, eye color, etc. I don't see how that is asking for too much.

[Anapingofness]

Do you have any idea how stupid that sounds?

XDD omg. I love you for this.

[Jackstin]

If you wanted it at the beginning of the game, why didn't you just delete your character and make a new one?

No, you shouldn't.

What people SHOULD do is pick their race carefully knowing that it can't be changed.

We'll make a deal. Once we have the capbility to change a real live person's race, I'll support race changes. Until then, it should be as unchangeable in the game as it is in real life.

I don't understand. You're so reasonable and progressive on the XIV forums, and yet on this issue at least, you're extremely conservative.

You should definitely have the option of changing your race. It's totally unreasonable to say 'pick your race now, if you want to change it you have to start all over again, by the way this game is 10 years long so megatrollz to you'.

I can understand not wanting name changes, because you want to be able to watch out for players you know are trouble. But in a world where there are 12 different appearances, you do not recognise people by appearance, you recognise them be username.

It just baffles me that anyone would support a pseudo-punisment of a decision you made when you were younger, and in all likelihood, eager to actually start playing the game.

[Chilzen]

I wholeheartedly support a premium race change option, since I've actually lost a few pals that ended up quitting since they would roll a Taru, then a few months later complain about how they don't like the looks of the later gear on them but didn't want to restart a new character from scratch. One of them tosses out now and then that he would come back if SE ever took a progressive step forward and let him change from Taru to something less scrunched up on gear, but I have to remind him that it's not an option at this time whenever we have our XI nostalgia talks.

So yeah, SE likes money, people want to give SE money, so what exactly is the problem outside of some RSE and possibly some KIs for a certain CoP quest and a few others possibly? Just don't bother with the name changes, since that'd do horrible things to my blacklist and probably increase the GM calls due to people getting swindled one way or another.

[Reiterpallasch]

We'll make a deal. Once we have the capbility to change a real live person's race, I'll support race changes. Until then, it should be as unchangeable in the game as it is in real life.
So by that logic, you would be ok with someone getting an in game sex change?

[Laurion]

So by that logic, you would be ok with someone getting an in game sex change?


I'm guessing then that Galka would be changed into a Mithra with that service? That or they make female galkas for XI..

[sc4500]

main reason is game not free to play and there afraid make money and alienate people if that have to pay real money for race change or other customized characters since were on paid services should be free, and only thing that make people happy would be if would be able to pay millions gil to change all the appearances.

[Jackstin]

People are only suggesting paid change in desparation. If SE were truly worried about alienation they would offer ot as a free service, but limit it to once a year or whatever.

[Kiyomi]

I Have 2 char lvl >.< took me a while but i haven't been playing long either but it would be nice to have race change alot of friends complain about it GL on it guys and yes lvl a new char is a pain in the you know what ^_^

[Camiie]

main reason is game not free to play and there afraid make money and alienate people if that have to pay real money for race change or other customized characters since were on paid services should be free, and only thing that make people happy would be if would be able to pay millions gil to change all the appearances.

World of Warcraft. $14.99 per month subscription fee. Race change at $25 per use. Millions more subscribers than FFXI and FFXIV could ever hope to have (combined).

[angeleus]

Hi...ok this is my first time in forum so after more than 5 years playing and 3 chr 2lvl 70 hume and galka and 1 lvl99 tar..the point is after starting as a hume i saw it lacking in mp as blu was a cool job....so i thought ok lets try giving it max str and def and make up for mp with armour and made a galka....noway...ok they say taru is the mp carrier so i went with it....bad idea...now that i can confront stats ...tarus lvl99 minimum mp extra (and with the hp str ecc merits capped)is no challenge against a galka lvl70 extra hp str ecc...so yes after spending literally hours(first 2 chr was before the GOV revolution...so old time exp crunching)i would like to chng my taru into a lvl99 hume,if SE had considered that with the merits all chr would have a sporting chance to solo,or at least fight NM for AF's then i would say ok reach lvl99,but its not the case.I'd consider even a high ...one time change fee,to continue playing,so SE as a long FF fan(played all the games since Snes)gives players more flexability.Nuff' said

[Jackstin]

Do race stats really make any difference? Early on, sure, but I see many taru Dragoons and Galka White Mages. It can't be that much of an issue.

[Zumi]

If you wanted it at the beginning of the game, why didn't you just delete your character and make a new one?

No, you shouldn't.

What people SHOULD do is pick their race carefully knowing that it can't be changed.

We'll make a deal. Once we have the capbility to change a real live person's race, I'll support race changes. Until then, it should be as unchangeable in the game as it is in real life.

Real Life != A Video game

FFXI is a game they can add some microtransations to add race changes other mmos have this feature to make some extra money. Give players a chance to change up their char if they get bored of their current one and keep all their progress.

[Mirage]

I would be willing to pay something like 10 dollars for a name/race/gender change, and 5 dollars for a face/hairstyle/color change. Name/race changes should probably be limited to once every 3 or 6 months, but I see absolutely no reason why you shouldn't be allowed to change your hairstyle within the same race as often as you damn like. It would just be an easy way for SE to cash in on indecisive/vain people, which is entirely fine!

Considering the size of the game's population, if even just 10% of the active characters wanted a hair style change just once during the course of the rest of the game's lifetime, that's potentially over a 100k dollars at the rates I suggested. I dunno how hard it would be to implement an automatic web-interface that let you do these changes, but I doubt it would cost a hundred thousand dollars to add it.

For those who are going to complain about "oh no then someone could change their name if they have a bad reputation, the only thing SE would have to do to prevent this would be to stick a "Formerly Oldname" notice on the character for like up to a month after their name change whenever someone /checked them. If you're then worried that people will just not play for a month, have the notice work with logged-in time instead. Something like idk, 200 logged-in hours, I don't even know.

Personally, I don't care if people use namechanges to avoid bad reputations. I'm just pre-emptively arguing against people who wouldn't want this to be implemented.

[Zerich]

tbh, it doesn't effect anyone except the player. it's a way for SE to collect extra revenue. I say this should be implemented.

[Tsukino_Kaji]

What? Who dug this thread back up? >.<

[Jackstin]

What? Who dug this thread back up? >.<

Dunno but I'm glad they did. It is more likely to get implemented if it is shown to be a consistently popular request.

[Mirage]

I would also like to say that if the gender/race specific equipment really is the reason why we can't change, I personally would be entirely fine with having to re-do the quests that grant these pieces of equipment.

Other than the RSE chest quest, I can't think of any quests that give race/gender specific gear. I also can't think of any questlines where your gender in an earlier quest changed the rewards of one of the later quests. Besides, RSE gear isn't even exclusive. You could just sell your Mithra RSE on the AH and buy new Galka RSE (fictional example, this will of course never happen).

[Eldwir]

Even though my thread's been dead for a while now and it was just necro-bumped, I'm absolutely glad that someone performed a search on the forums about this cause ! :p

[Anapingofness]

I would also like to say that if the gender/race specific equipment really is the reason why we can't change, I personally would be entirely fine with having to re-do the quests that grant these pieces of equipment.

Other than the RSE chest quest, I can't think of any quests that give race/gender specific gear. I also can't think of any questlines where your gender in an earlier quest changed the rewards of one of the later quests. Besides, RSE gear isn't even exclusive. You could just sell your Mithra RSE on the AH and buy new Galka RSE (fictional example, this will of course never happen).

They could also implement an NPC that changes one RSE to another. Not like it'll be game breaking since it's bloody RSE.

If they're worried about "balance" then they could make it so that the player performing the race change has an key item that is used up on use when talking to said NPC when changing one races RSE to another. i.e. Mithra RSE -> Galka RSE
This key item would then be obtained when/if the player changes race again.

[Camiie]

I know in WoW when you change race your race specific mounts and faction levels are changed automatically by the system to the corresponding mount/faction for your new race. There is no gender specific gear that I know of.

I wouldn't think it impossible for SE to set up something similar where any gender/race specific gear or KIs are automatically changed.

[Winrie]

I don't know why SE would bother to think we'd care about old outdated RSE over a chance to change our race/sex/looks

Simple suggestion, add a cosmetics npc or whatever barber whatever you needa call it person somewhere in game, make buyable changes to appearances that you can only alter say once a month for x amount of Gil. And race could be changed via this npc once every three months to whatever SE chooses for x amount of Gil. This isn't remotely difficult go implement and I'm sure a lot of do not care about RSE that badly, simple adds like this are nice and I'd love something like this to be added, I'd care not to restart to be a different race/look considering the gear I have and time spent. Trust me SE small changes like this that we scream about is worth trying.

[Mirage]

Not to mention, this sort of feature has come sort of an industry standard.

[Eldwir]

I must say, it is very nice that new positive posts are spawning, because when I started this thread, a year or something more ago, very few were okay with the suggestion I made.

In fact there were more bashing posts than actual contributions, since apparently the biggest problem with it was the fact that the change would've been "game-breaking" according to the majority of the posts that have been against this suggestion.

I won't say how they should be doing it in detail, however looking at how the things are now, if we can switch to a different server through the SE Account Management System, I could very well say they allow us to do it from there as well, without having to implement a feature in game such as a barber NPC or alter the graphics and whatnot that would so "drastically" alter the game...(Playstation 2, sigh).

From your FFXI Options Panel, let us select the "Character Recustomization", allow us to "check boxes" according to which kind of race/gender/face we desire and then press "Confirm". Race swap isn't mandatory since as I said, boxes checking would allow you to skip the Race Change option.

Once more, there would be no real need to tweak the system and implement a visually entertaining 3D race/gender/face creation screen with the ONLY purpose of letting us re-customize our hero...since IF they won't update the models, that is pretty much how they are going to stay, and we pretty much know, consequently, how they look like in game.

Also considering that what we saw in the character creation 10 years ago wasn't AT ALL what they ended up looking like in the actual game EITHER WAY, so no big loss in having your character wiggle their arms in a 3D environment in a fluid way, if they will be the way they are right now the game, at the end of the eye candy presentation.

The payment is processed and next time you log in, just as when you change servers, your character will be in his/her new model of your choice.

Cannot think of anything better. (For now.)

[Scuro]

I disagree with changing your race, BUT I totally support the ability to change your character's hair style and facial features. Changing race and sex is over the top, but for someone that has changed his views on how his character looks now vs how it looked then, I would definitely change somethings, but I wouldn't make a new character after putting in 10 years of my life into Scuro. Changing races doesn't seem like a good idea because people would abuse it to change their race to that which will benefit their class or w/e, and in the realism of the game just doesn't come out well, the same with sex changes. Yet I full well support hair and facial changes. Even if I have to pay for it like when one wants to server transfer, I would gladly throw down a 10 or a 20 to alter my character's physical appearance again.

[Eldwir]

Changing races doesn't seem like a good idea because people would abuse it to change their race to that which will benefit their class or w/e, and in the realism of the game just doesn't come out well, the same with sex changes.

Considering nowadays a Galka BLM can nuke as big as a Taru and an Taru WAR can deal as much damage as an Elvaan/Galka one, because the stats difference mean not as much as they did, when the cap was 75, I cannot see your point.

Assuming that even if they take in consideration the Race Change, I'm sure they'd apply a "cooldown" to it just like Server Transfer, of 90 days, which would prevent you from race change-exploiting that easily. After all they apply the same cooldowns in WoW Paid Services and some other games.
And...well about the sex change, people are free to do whatever they are pleased with in real life, can't see why not in a virtual 3D environment.

It's not going to affect you, me, him, her or the Manthra at the other side of the street, if you're concerned about guys going girls to exploit gamers for gil and equipment, it's happened before and it will keep happening.
Same goes with identity wipes if you have a bad reputation in your server, you can always delete your character, clean your friend list, create a placeholder character with the same name, use the Character Reactivation Service, have your deleted character restored and since there will be a name conflict, you will be forced to change it to another name.

So in other words, if you want an Identity Wipe, it is already possible, it already happens, without even changing servers.
Ethics, if it's that what you're suggesting with your answer...even if enforced by Devs and Producers, in MMOs..do not exist. Knowing SE wants possibly your blood other than just your money...paying for a Race/Gender/Face Change, is probably a very efficient way for them to make extra money and keep pleased a decent amount of players that were not exactly satisfied.

But yeah..."It's over the top".

:p

[Camiie]

Changing races doesn't seem like a good idea because people would abuse it to change their race to that which will benefit their class or w/e,

So, what? If that's how they want to play the game it's not our place to judge. I don't really see how that's "abuse" of anything except their disposable income, but that's none of my business.


and in the realism of the game just doesn't come out well, the same with sex changes.

Just look at it as a magical retcon. Once you change your race and/or gender, to the rest of the world that's what you've always been. It's not much different than when you change nations and "your" (aka. everyone but you) memories are sealed. The game world seems to adjust itself accordingly. Your new nation readily accepts you and your old one forgets the over 9000 times you saved their collective ass and treats you like the worthless foreign trash that you now are.


Yet I full well support hair and facial changes. Even if I have to pay for it like when one wants to server transfer, I would gladly throw down a 10 or a 20 to alter my character's physical appearance again.

I would accept this only if they added new hair and face options.

[Tsukino_Kaji]

Dunno but I'm glad they did. It is more likely to get implemented if it is shown to be a consistently popular request.It's not going to happen and it's not a popular request. It's just a few vocal people who thought tarus were awsome and then learned otherwise. Just be thankful that you don't have to make a new character for ever job like you have to in every other game.

[Mirage]

I'm not a taru and I don't plan on changing my race. I still support a paid race change program whole heartedly. Happy customers are paying customers. Paying customers make the game stay online longer.

[Jackstin]

It's not going to happen and it's not a popular request. It's just a few vocal people who thought tarus were awsome and then learned otherwise. Just be thankful that you don't have to make a new character for ever job like you have to in every other game.

I think it is quite a popular request actually. It's not just a couple of people in this thread, there's a lot of people just chiming in to say they support this. I'm not saying its definitely mega popular, neither you or I know this, and if you say you do you are delusional. All I am saying is that I think it actually could be a popular request.

[Tsukino_Kaji]

I think it is quite a popular request actually. It's not just a couple of people in this thread, there's a lot of people just chiming in to say they support this. I'm not saying its definitely mega popular, neither you or I know this, and if you say you do you are delusional. All I am saying is that I think it actually could be a popular request.And I'm sayign that it's no where as near as popular as some people would want you to believe. If they did, I'd say it's have to be paid and the same price that it costs to change servers.

[Camiie]

And I'm sayign that it's no where as near as popular as some people would want you to believe. If they did, I'd say it's have to be paid and the same price that it costs to change servers.

As far as I can tell that's exactly what's being asked for...

[Aramyth]

I'd like a race change and/or a sex change. I have a female mithra character that I wish I had created differently, but it's too late to change her now.

I doubt this is something we'd ever see though.

[Jackstin]

And I'm sayign that it's no where as near as popular as some people would want you to believe. If they did, I'd say it's have to be paid and the same price that it costs to change servers.

And I will say once again. There is no way either you or I could know how popular, relative or otherwise, this request could be. It's pretty sad to decry this request purely on the basis of how popular it is, when in truth you have no idea.

[Xantavia]

I wouldn't mind this if it was a one-time quest that was a pain to complete. That way, people who really want to do it will jump through the hoops necessary to complete, and they would be fully aware it can't be done again.

[Okipuit]

Greetings,

I apologize that I can't say much but we would like to thank you for your suggestions to allow race changes as well as alter other character features. This feedback is being taken into consideration. :)

[Rekin]

Greetings,

I apologize that I can't say much but we would like to thank you for your suggestions to allow race changes as well as alter other character features. This feedback is being taken into consideration. :)
Good to see that it'll be considered....

off topic: what happened to the other team members?

[svengalis]

Well at least we finally got a response to this.

[Antanias]

Greetings,

I apologize that I can't say much but we would like to thank you for your suggestions to allow race changes as well as alter other character features. This feedback is being taken into consideration. :)
This has nothing to do with Tanaka's departure, does it? Now that he's gone, our suggestions are more valuable? :)

[Mirage]

We got an actual comrep to post, and it's not a negative answer!

I am so satisfied right now.

[Duvemora]

I cannot express how happy I am to hear that this is even being considered.

[Emitremmus]

No joke. I made a female character a long time ago, not realizing the implications of doing so. When the marriage system was introduced, I must have been proposed to at least 10 times a day. I've also grown older and my reasoning of being able to look at a ladys backside constantly has lost is value, especially after getting married in real life. I would hope there is some way in the future to be able to change my hume female into a hume male in order to get some masculinity back into my life, lol.

[Reiterpallasch]

Lore and reasoning be damned, shut up and take my money!

I'd absolutely do this in a heartbeat for my alt.

[Unaisis]

Greetings,

I apologize that I can't say much but we would like to thank you for your suggestions to allow race changes as well as alter other character features. This feedback is being taken into consideration. :)

When ever an employee of any company says that they cant say much about a certain topic, it USUALLY means that something is already in the pipes~

Notice i said Usually

[Camiie]

Greetings,

I apologize that I can't say much but we would like to thank you for your suggestions to allow race changes as well as alter other character features. This feedback is being taken into consideration. :)

What is this? Where are we?

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/d/df/TheTwilightZoneLogo.png/250px-TheTwilightZoneLogo.png

Oh...

[Eric]

I'm pretty surprised with a lot of the changes that have been announced since Vana'Fest. It seems that SE isn't just quite ready to toss FFXI aside.

[Mirage]

And isn't that just fantastic?

[Reiterpallasch]

But guyz, if they add this then the game will be swarmed with people stealing items and guild banks that change their race and name every day so they can do it again!

I seriously hope nobody is against this for that reason though. People have stolen crap and caused problems in the past, and if it was bad enough the community always found out. You can change your appearance, you can change your name, you can change your server. But you can't change douchebag, and if you fuck people over enough they will find you and make it very well known to everybody of the things you have done.

[FrankReynolds]

But guyz, if they add this then the game will be swarmed with people stealing items and guild banks that change their race and name every day so they can do it again!

I seriously hope nobody is against this for that reason though. People have stolen crap and caused problems in the past, and if it was bad enough the community always found out. You can change your appearance, you can change your name, you can change your server. But you can't change douchebag, and if you fuck people over enough they will find you and make it very well known to everybody of the things you have done.

What's an LS bank?

[Zerich]

But guyz, if they add this then the game will be swarmed with people stealing items and guild banks that change their race and name every day so they can do it again!

I seriously hope nobody is against this for that reason though. People have stolen crap and caused problems in the past, and if it was bad enough the community always found out. You can change your appearance, you can change your name, you can change your server. But you can't change douchebag, and if you fuck people over enough they will find you and make it very well known to everybody of the things you have done.

LS banks...lol

Sounds like you enjoy being duped.

[Kikorimo]

When ever an employee of any company says that they cant say much about a certain topic, it USUALLY means that something is already in the pipes~

Notice i said Usually

first: LOVE your youtube videos Unaisis, they make me smile :)
second: that this is even being considered makes me happy. I tried asking about this a very long time ago within my first year or so of playing and was told it was impossible (thought my character was going to be a brunette, and in game actually looks like a ginger... and wanted to change but didn't want to rename my character so I just lived with it...)
I do hope this goes through :)

[Esakara]

Greetings,

I apologize that I can't say much but we would like to thank you for your suggestions to allow race changes as well as alter other character features. This feedback is being taken into consideration. :)

Praise the lord...

[Jackstin]

This is awesome news. Can't wait to be a Taru Dragoon :P

[Eldwir]

Hello once more guys !
I would like to express my sincere gratitude to all the people who have...and also those who haven not supported my topic---our topic.
Not to mention how glad I am to notice that many more answers are flowing down the discussion.
Seeing that after one year and some necroposting, this was finally labeled a relevant thread to Square Enix Reps, makes me happy and I can tell that it's making everyone rejoice as well.

We finally brought this where we wanted !

Thank you guys, you rock !

[Winrie]

I hope it's an actual consideration as it would generally make a lot of people happy, and not a "let's just say we will consider it so they stfu" kinda thing D:

[Mirage]

Hello once more guys !
I would like to express my sincere gratitude to all the people who have...and also those who haven not supported my topic---our topic.
Not to mention how glad I am to notice that many more answers are flowing down the discussion.
Seeing that after one year and some necroposting, this was finally labeled a relevant thread to Square Enix Reps, makes me happy and I can tell that it's making everyone rejoice as well.

We finally brought this where we wanted !

Thank you guys, you rock !
Moral of the story:
Necrobumb all the threads!

[Ica]

This is great news! I too hope they are seriously considering this. I need a tail.

[Tsukino_Kaji]

Praise the lord...It's mearly a stock responce to playcate people until they forget about it.

[Mirage]

I will never forget.

[Camiie]

It's merely a stock response to placate people until they forget about it.

You may be right. Even though they said they'd forward it for consideration, I don't think we should let up the pressure. Keep expressing happiness that they're looking into it. Keep the reasons coming as to why we want it. Keep saying that we hope that it's added. Don't allow it to seem as though we've forgotten about it. We only got past the starting line. We still have a goal to reach!

(No I won't quit my day job to become a motivational speaker.)

[Ceinwyn]

Unneccesary feature in my opinion nor do i think SE will implent it.
If they wanted to they would have done it already.
If u want another race, u can start another char and experience the game that way
but changing gender like in WoW from one moment to the next, i dont like that idea to be serious.
I like FFXI for being a very story given and atmospheric game not for being able to let u do such weird stuff as a race change, imagine everyone doing that, no thanks.
There are more than enough people out there doing just that, starting another char and i think it's an awesome experience to play "again" as another race, if u not up for that u probably don't need a race change either.

[Mirage]

Why imagine everyone doing it, when that is an unrealistic outcome of the implementation of such a feature?

[Reiterpallasch]

And in comes Ceinwyn with the c-c-c-combo breaker to put an end to the streak of positive posts.

It's not like every single person will magically become a new race overnight, nor do I think they'd even let us do it enough to abuse it. It's something that make more money for SE and make people happy.

Just start over? Some people have been playing since the game was released, and over time may have taken a liking to a different race that they wish they had chosen. Anyone who thinks that you can "just start over" and have it not be an issue probably has never really accomplished much in game.

[Ceinwyn]

Point is a lot of people would it and i dont like that idea like i just said.

[Mirage]

How many people do you actually know that would use the feature? I mean I'm sure there would be like a couple, but this leads to my next question: Why wouldn't you let your friends change race if they wanted? Isn't it a bit selfish of you to tell them that they should stay the race you want them to be, rather than them being able to switch to what they enjoy the most?

Most race changers would be people you didn't know, do you really think you would notice a significant difference? Do you actually remember the names, races and genders of your your 3 last pickup groups?

I sure don't.

[Ceinwyn]

And in comes Ceinwyn with the c-c-c-combo breaker to put an end to the streak of positive posts.

It's been a pleasure.



It's not like every single person will magically become a new race overnight, nor do I think they'd even let us do it enough to abuse it. It's something that make more money for SE and make people happy.
Will cost SE effort also and money, i think there are reasons they havent done it so far and some like me wont like it,so not everyone would enjoy such a feature.



Just start over? Some people have been playing since the game was released, and over time may have taken a liking to a different race that they wish they had chosen. Anyone who thinks that you can "just start over" and have it not be an issue probably has never really accomplished much in game.

Just start another char and try that one out if u feel that way.
Not much accomplished? What do u mean by that? This is a game and most play it for fun.
You can send most rare/ex items now not all though.
And COP ZM missions are easier now, u would have to do em again if u need em though but
if u play as another char thats obviously.
Maybe it's not fun for everyone starting another char? Ok, i understand that.
Why u even want another race? Appearance? Way they move, act?
I guess so but thats not they way its meant to be, at last not in my opinion.
It's like u get "another" char without a "past".
Hardly to belive someone could enjoy playing a zombie because thats it for me but well...
Im just an old school player liking final fantasy games what do i know.
SE can do that if they want thats up to them but i wouldnt like it.

[Ceinwyn]

How many people do you actually know that would use the feature? I mean I'm sure there would be like a couple, but this leads to my next question: Why wouldn't you let your friends change race if they wanted? Isn't it a bit selfish of you to tell them that they should stay the race you want them to be, rather than them being able to switch to what they enjoy the most?

Most race changers would be people you didn't know, do you really think you would notice a significant difference? Do you actually remember the names, races and genders of your your 3 last pickup groups?

I sure don't.

Of course, u wouldn't notice this at all but u would know it's going on and im against it for asthetic and atmospehric reasons which plays a big role in games like this i think.
And i would tell my friends to try another char and if they liked it more they should play that char and do some stuff again with their new char.

HOWEVER u brought another thought to me.
IF SE would do this, what about all the people who started several new chars because there wasnt a race change in the first place? Don't u think they would have to come up for this? Don't u think it's a bit selfish to demand something for a few dollars that other peoples put a lot of work in? Starting all over again?
OH, thats their own fault? Really? It was their own will to start a new char instead of just playing their main?
What u not say.... >Mirror< >Do you need it?<

[Milva]

I'm against the OPs idea. This shouldn't be a paid/RMTd feature, but embedded within game as a standard, maybe with some time restrictions.

[Camiie]

Unnecessary feature in my opinion nor do i think SE will implement it.
If they wanted to they would have done it already.

If they wanted a new expansion they would have done it already. If they wanted a new UI they would have done it already. If they wanted a Play-as-Monster system they would have done it already. If they wanted new jobs they would have added them already.


If u want another race, u can start another char and experience the game that way

I didn't realize you were in charge around here to tell us what we can and can't do. Please forgive me, Your Majesty.


but changing gender like in WoW from one moment to the next, i dont like that idea to be serious.

There's a cooldown and a substantial fee. No one is changing gender/race/faction from one moment to the next.


I like FFXI for being a very story given and atmospheric game not for being able to let u do such weird stuff as a race change, imagine everyone doing that, no thanks.

Changing jobs/classes on a single character is weird by most MMO standards, but you freely accept it as if it were commonplace. You have people running around in different costumes all the time looking weird. It's OK for someone to actually transform into a non-humanoid life form but becoming a different race or gender is somehow unbelievable or unrealistic?


There are more than enough people out there doing just that, starting another char and i think it's an awesome experience to play "again" as another race, if u not up for that u probably don't need a race change either.

That doesn't even make any sense.

[Rekin]

The opposition has given a poor argument. Said argument could be supported if the game was like most MMOs and encouraged multiple characters in the form of limiting the actions each race could do(like jobs). But FFXI does not discriminate with jobs for each of the races.

[Ceinwyn]

That doesn't even make any sense.


Just because u don't understand it, doesn't mean its not making any sense.



Changing jobs/classes on a single character is weird by most MMO standards, but you freely accept it as if it were commonplace. You have people running around in different costumes all the time looking weird. It's OK for someone to actually transform into a non-humanoid life form but becoming a different race or gender is somehow unbelievable or unrealistic?


U cant compare turning in a temp mandy with a permament rance change, no. That is unrealistic.
One is an item or costume another what u meant to be.


The opposition has given a poor argument. Said argument could be supported if the game was like most MMOs and encouraged multiple characters in the form of limiting the actions each race could do(like jobs). But FFXI does not discriminate with jobs for each of the races.

And who are u and what are u talking about anyway?

Why are people bumping this thread anyway it's been here long enough...
If u like discussing/hoping for/ a feature that will probably never occure, so be it.
I'll play my char now, which i love and leave u all alone bumping unnecessary threads with unlikely content.

[Rekin]

Agreed, its unlikely to happen but doesn't mean one should instantly swat it down. It was once thought it unlikely for the level cap to increase... well look where we are now. Just because it's unlikely just shooing it away doesn't stop the possibility of it being developed.

[Demon6324236]

Agreed, its unlikely to happen but doesn't mean one should instantly swat it down. It was once thought it unlikely for the level cap to increase... well look where we are now. Just because it's unlikely just shooing it away doesn't stop the possibility of it being developed.

Same could be said of the expansion as well, after so long we got it on the way now, I think that shows something.

[Camiie]

Just because u don't understand it, doesn't mean its not making any sense.

How does not being willing to level a new character from scratch mean that someone doesn't "need" a race change? That's what doesn't make sense.


U cant compare turning in a temp mandy with a permament rance change, no. That is unrealistic.
One is an item or costume another what u meant to be.

The vast majority of what happens in Vana'diel is unrealistic. You're worrying about Superman's pitiful disguise as Clark Kent while forgetting that he is a space alien that can fly, shoot lasers from his eyes, survive nuclear blasts, and juggle aircraft carriers.

[FrankReynolds]

The vast majority of what happens in Vana'diel is unrealistic. You're worrying about Superman's pitiful disguise as Clark Kent while forgetting that he is a space alien that can fly, shoot lasers from his eyes, survive nuclear blasts, and juggle aircraft carriers.

Lol I love this. Great analogy.

[Mirage]

But guys, know what i would *really* like to see?

For this race/gender/face/hairstyle change capability to be accompanied by new hair styles, faces, hair and skin colors. Make it happen in Seekers of Aldouin, SE, please!

It wouldn't have to be that big an addition either. If they somehow managed to let us combine any existing face with any existing hair style (within the race, anyway) and any existing hair color, we'd have gotten a long way already.

Now, I'm aware that the game stores whole, separate head models+textures for each of the existing combinations, but by going this route, you would only need to copy/pasta the stuff they've already made with their 3D editing programs, and just reuse the textures they already have. It would be less work than making entirely new hairstyles and textures, for example.

The problem might be to make the PS2 deal with this extra variety in possible haracter models that would be on screen simultaneously. If it wasn't possible to let PS2 clients in on this use, maybe just keep a placeholder standard-face+hair to display to them?

[Bloodrain]

Hello Square-Enix. Reason why I am suggesting, today, a PAID Character Race Change Program, very similar to the Character Reactivation one. Allowing us players, unsatisfied of our character's race, to change it to another and as well customizing the features such as Gender, Size, Face and Hair color for a certain amount of money, like a World Transfer.

YES PLEASE!


I am pretty much sure that you've had, in the past, suggestions like mine, reason why I am sure many may have already incited you to introduce this kind of service, either through GMs Calls or Email or Customer Live Chat support

I've actually called into their support service and requested it before and they gave me some lame excuse how the files are permanent once they are created for your character.. I then said "But you guys control those files, you could just change my file..."
"Sorry sir, but there is nothing we can do."

I fully support this thread and I really really really hope that SE reads, listens, and creates this...

[MakkotoParinne]

I've been feeling rather bored on my current character, and would very much like this to be implemented. When Oki dropped by, he said that the development team was thinking about it, with a smiley, even! That has to mean something.

Is there any news regarding a paid race/sex/size/face/name change at this time?

[wildsprite]

hurray for more necrobumps
I fully support this idea, although I really only want to change the face/hair I think the whole race change idea is a good one

oh and you naysayers who are comparing this game to reality, it is a FANTASY based MMO, NOTHING anywhere says it needs to be based on any sort of reality, so stop with that stupid argument, its old, its lame,

you are talking about a game that has super tall lanky men and women with pointed ears, super short child like men and women with pointed ears, hulking men of unknown origins many of which have green skin, and cat like women, and you want to compare this to reality? you are just weird

oh and you should also keep in mind that Final Fantasy as a series is created by Square Enix, a company based in Japan, the land of some of the weirdest strangest coolest things you can find, and that all comes from imagination NOT reality.

[sweetidealism]

On the off-chance male Mithra were ever made to be playable, I would pay for a change without hesitation.

[MakkotoParinne]

Anyone who supports this idea, please, please, please, like the main post and keep this a topic of discussion. :(

After a while, people make threads so often, many quickly fall from "New Posts" into the bowels of the forum subcategories that no one (players or community reps) really looks in.

It would be very much appreciated if a community rep could give us some more information. Many people are willing to pay for something to keep their character fresh and interesting.

[solodragon1984]

it would be a good Program cause few people made a character cause of someone else or a friend ,what have you. But originally wanted a different race,gender,size,face,hair w/e and would LOVE to change it BUT don't want to restart AGAIN so this would be a good program to put in the works so please help us out

[Miradel]

Yes, yes please give us this option!

Alternatively, since FFXIV will have male mithra and female galka, perhaps you can open those race options for FFXI, and then give everyone a one time appearance change.

Please :)

Pretty pretty please with rainbow sprinkles on top? :)

[Alhanelem]

Holy necrobump, batman!


Alternatively, since FFXIV will have male mithra and female galka, perhaps you can open those race options for FFXI, and then give everyone a one time appearance change. No. First, FFXIV won't have male mithras and female Galkas, because the game doesn't have either of those races, as it is not FFXI-2.

FFXI has explicit lore reasons why female galka don't exist at all (technically, they arent male or female, as they are asexual), and why male mithra are not playable. FFXIV had no such lore reasons, and in fact a female Roegadyn was the leader of one of the Grand Companies. To add females to an asexual race doesn't even make sense, and would be a massive retcon of the game's lore.

[Elphy]

While I am (surprisingly) very happy with my race/hair/etc choices I know my roomie is constantly moaning about the choices he made when he started out. But with all his ranks done, expansions completed, hard earned gear, jobs/crafts leveled, etc. he really, and understandably, doesnt wanna start off at square one and throw away about 7 years of work just to have a new face.

I dont really think it should be that big of a deal. Unless the coding has some weird things in it that prevent it I think this could make se a pretty penny. I mean technically you can pay for a name change if your ok with server jumping back and forth so I dont see where this should be an issue. Anyone who would want to fight this tooth and nail because they feel it breaks the game or whatever really needs to take a pill and relax a bit.

[FrankReynolds]

Holy necrobump, batman!
No. First, FFXIV won't have male mithras and female Galkas, because the game doesn't have either of those races, as it is not FFXI-2.

FFXI has explicit lore reasons why female galka don't exist at all (technically, they arent male or female, as they are asexual), and why male mithra are not playable. FFXIV had no such lore reasons, and in fact a female Roegadyn was the leader of one of the Grand Companies. To add females to an asexual race doesn't even make sense, and would be a massive retcon of the game's lore.

Any time you are thinking about using lore as an excuse to deny something, please refer to this quote:



The vast majority of what happens in Vana'diel is unrealistic. You're worrying about Superman's pitiful disguise as Clark Kent while forgetting that he is a space alien that can fly, shoot lasers from his eyes, survive nuclear blasts, and juggle aircraft carriers.

[Alhanelem]

Any time you are thinking about using lore as an excuse to deny something, please refer to this quote:
The quote is irrelevant, it's still a massive retcon. Besides, even if a re-customization service is ever offered, you and I both know they are never going to add new races or "missing" genders.

The Galkan race is not male or female. They are treated as males for their appearance, but even the original instruciton manual states they have "no specific gender."

You could release male mithra without messing with the lore TOO much (though it would be weird for all the men of the mithran race to suddenly come out of the closets they're being kept in). The Galka however, it doesn't make any sense.

I don't understand why races with non-human designs and social structures are so taboo. You can't have a non-gendered race because that's somehow sexist or something- it suppresses creativity.

I want a race like Species 8472 on Star Trek Voyager- They have 5 genders. Thattl' never happen though, because anything that doesn't have just males and females will get shot down.

[Elphy]

I don't understand why races with non-human designs and social structures are so taboo. You can't have a non-gendered race because that's somehow sexist or something- it suppresses creativity.

Anthropologically speaking it would be incredibly hard to do so simply because our brains like to catagorize and we would always see something as inherently male or female. Which is also why the few cultures that have more than 2 genders still see the third as more masculine or feminine. So it would take an absolutely brilliant dev group to come up with an actual third, forth or fifth sex (sex btw is completely different from gender) and have it not fall into a male or female catagory. Which is why the Galka, being sexless, fall into the male catagory. Their bulky frames are better suited to what we perceive as traditionally male clothing and armors that would be designed for men would fit them better. Also the reason people have a hard time thinking about them as being sexless.

Species 8472 is a bad example simple because they lacked clothing, a descriptive culture or anything that could be seen as a gender catagory. It was simply multiple sexes by reference. Even if they had 5 sexes they could still only have 1 gender and being human we would percieve it as masculine or feminine. As we would all 5 genders if they have 5 genders to accompany their 5 sexes. Its complicated when you really get into it.

But away from the scientific stuff. Everything has to fall into the lore somehow, you cannot have a game without lore, if you break lore every time its convenient you would have one heck of a disorganized game which would lead to many many problems

[FrankReynolds]

The quote is irrelevant, it's still a massive retcon. Besides, even if a re-customization service is ever offered, you and I both know they are never going to add new races or "missing" genders.

The Galkan race is not male or female. They are treated as males for their appearance, but even the original instruciton manual states they have "no specific gender."

You could release male mithra without messing with the lore TOO much (though it would be weird for all the men of the mithran race to suddenly come out of the closets they're being kept in). The Galka however, it doesn't make any sense.

I don't understand why races with non-human designs and social structures are so taboo. You can't have a non-gendered race because that's somehow sexist or something- it suppresses creativity.

I want a race like Species 8472 on Star Trek Voyager- They have 5 genders. Thattl' never happen though, because anything that doesn't have just males and females will get shot down.

I completely agree with you about the lore not matching and that they would have to make some silly stories up to explain it. I just don't think that's a problem. Hell, just last week we discovered an entire continent and kingdom wrapped in lore that we had no idea existed for 10 years.

I say if charging people $29 to add a continent and all the other crap that goes with it doesn't ruin the lore of the game, then adding some cross dressing galkas and some male cats for a nominal fee won't hurt either. If people wanna pay money for something, then SE should be happy to oblige. I wish people would go on my website and give me new ideas for making money off of them.

[Mirage]

That's not correct. The continent of Ulbuka and the existence of the Adoulin area has been known since early in WotG. There is a campaign NPC that claims to come from there.

[Demon6324236]

I completely agree with you about the lore not matching and that they would have to make some silly stories up to explain it. I just don't think that's a problem. Hell, just last week we discovered an entire continent and kingdom wrapped in lore that we had no idea existed for 10 years.

I say if charging people $29 to add a continent and all the other crap that goes with it doesn't ruin the lore of the game, then adding some cross dressing galkas and some male cats for a nominal fee won't hurt either. If people wanna pay money for something, then SE should be happy to oblige. I wish people would go on my website and give me new ideas for making money off of them.More people would have a problem with it than you give them credit for I think. One of the things people love most about Final Fantasy games or rather SE games in general, is the story, by breaking lore in a dozen ways it could easily anger many. Would it be so many people the game would go under? No, but it seems to me like SE would be spending more time and money for something that is mostly pointless in the end and breaks their lore a ton so they would get complaints for it anyways.

[Ophannus]

It's so annoying how Elvaan seem so complete as a race as far as animations. When they cast magic, their clothing and hair are animated but no other race has that detail. Their weapon stances look more thorough and aggressive than humes which simply look awkward holding their weapons.

[Camiie]

I think having them add new race/gender options is a bit much to ask for as far as lore and time/effort. I'm not against it, but I'd completely understand it not ever happening. Let's not let it stand in the way of us getting support from our fellow players for re-customization options.

[Clou777]

i would like to change my race from hume to strong independent black woman

[MakkotoParinne]

From a lore standpoint, sexually female Galka do not exist, as Galka reincarnate. Adding them into the game just doesn't seem likely.

Also from a lore standpoint, male Mithra do not leave their home continent of Olzhirya. Lehko Habhoka is a very rare example of this, and adding male Mithra as a playable race would ruin the continuity of Mithran culture.

Even if they ventured to create new race/gender options (overall inconsequential to gameplay and might make many people happy), no one would be able to switch to them unless they establish a race change/character recustomization program. :) Let's stay positive and hope for an informative response! :D

[FrankReynolds]

I've been running around for ten years killing gods and other enormous monsters with a knife. Gods. Not critters. Gods. Not average adventurers. Gods. I've killed dream lords, fire gods, giant bugs, dragons, FFS I've killed pure light elements. I have an idiot friend who appears out of thin air when I put on an certain earring. I can summon a giant toad from thin air and ride it just by using magic. I can raise people from the dead. I can walk through walls, transcend the heavens, speak to celestial beings, conjure magical beasts to do my bidding, talk to animals, make things out of crystals...

But yeah. I think you're right. A male cat guy thingy would totally ruin the integrity of the game and just make it seem fake.

[MakkotoParinne]

1. "(overall inconsequential to gameplay and might make many people happy)"

I never said I was against it (not many people are, I don't think). I'm merely stating that the developers may opt to not include it for the reasons listed. Just keep in mind that the devs have a say in the matter, and might not feel like animating a new character model to go along with all the armor, emotes, weapon/weaponskill animations, etc.

2. Continuity does not equal integrity. I highly doubt that people will think the game is garbage if male Mithra are playable. If 80% of the Mithra are suddenly male, they should create a quest line that shows that male Mithra aren't as rare as they appear. Problem solved.

3. I probably wouldn't have necro'd this thread if I was going to shoot down what other people want as far as character customization goes.

4. Sarcasm makes your point come across in all the wrong ways.

[solodragon1984]

Please let this happen cause it would be a nice change and good way to fully let people enjoy this game on original characters it would help out big time cause restarting with all new content would be a waste of time it would be easier just to STOP playing instead of having to restart cause invested too much time in 1 character wrong race cause friends that aren't your friends anymore cause they became stuck up like most people do anymore when they join few elitist LS and the ignore their friends of long times and would be nice if this system happens
Thank you for letting me rant and TRYING to get my point across without elitist Trolling it

[Tiffy]

Please let this happen, and when it does ill buy two please :D

[Kelg]

squeenix plz

[Jackstin]

Final Fantasy XIV is my paid race change :P

[Teishi]

bump! take my money se!

[Teishi]

BAMP
get it done

[OmnysValefor]

This game does so much with cross-dimension story, that I always thought they could make a quest (that you had to pay for), in which you effectively pulled yourself from another dimension, and that particular self was another race.

[Teishi]

time travel
defeating gods
cid's teeth
kk

[Spectreman]

Why not? I'm not changing anything but why not give the option to others? It's a win-win situation.

Oh, i forgot, SE is being run by a bunch of amateurs.

[zataz]

>.> i say if it makes some happy why not?

[Splinters]

Admit the truth, you all regret not being a taru. It's understandable. I would argue further that if you selected galka or elvaan, you should be given the choice to change to taru for free, and have some kind of singing telegram with candy and flowers delivered to you.

[Daemon]

If SE allows Race, Gender change, then they will have to allow Name change too. Otherwise you will see people like Mike, Steve, Dave, Chris, Danny running around looking like a female Taru, Hume, Elvaan for the fun of it..


And you know it will happen regardless.

Sounds like one of those crime stories where the criminal runs into hiding changing his name/gender. Steve became Eve to avoid being caught for conning someone.

Imagine the girl next to you was actually a dude.

Edit: Not so much as a problem for girls because they actually think before doing something stupid. Where as us guys do before thinking and say screw it after its been done.

[Mirage]

Good, because we could use a name change feature too.

[FrankReynolds]

If SE allows Race, Gender change, then they will have to allow Name change too. Otherwise you will see people like Mike, Steve, Dave, Chris, Danny running around looking like a female Taru, Hume, Elvaan for the fun of it..


And you know it will happen regardless.

Sounds like one of those crime stories where the criminal runs into hiding changing his name/gender. Steve became Eve to avoid being caught for conning someone.

Imagine the girl next to you was actually a dude.

Edit: Not so much as a problem for girls because they actually think before doing something stupid. Where as us guys do before thinking and say screw it after its been done.

Rule number one: There are no girls on the internet. Unless you have seen her lady parts live in the flesh in real life, that chick is a dude. I personally have 8 mithra mules all named after porn stars.

Who says there arent Mithras named billybob already in the game? There is no gender rule for naming your character.

[Daemon]

Rule number one: There are no girls on the internet. Unless you have seen her lady parts live in the flesh in real life, that chick is a dude. I personally have 8 mithra mules all named after porn stars.

Who says there arent Mithras named billybob already in the game? There is no gender rule for naming your character.

Well Mithras only have 1 gender. Difference is you choose the name from the start knowing that your character will permanently be named that til the dying end or until SE allows you to change it.

Also big difference naming a mule than naming a character you will be playing a good majority of the time. And depending on how SE implements race/gender change if its destined to see the light of day.

Players could abuse the system if not implemented properly. I mean if you could just change you race / gender at any given moment, whose to say that bad things will never happen?

On another game I've seen someone befriend someone else, borrow equipment and money only to vanish after changing their race/gender/name.

And yes I've seen crazies change gender to be funny. Walking around named billybob as a female "Dude like my new dress?"

P.S. let me put on a record for you. Aerosmith "Dude"

Edit: Unless all men don't have wives to play with and have vocal chords surgically enhanced to make them sound like females on Skype. Just thinking about it makes me shudder..

[Karbuncle]

I'd of named my Character Blaise and it'd still be a female mithra. I'd call it RickyBobby and make it a female Mithra. For every person who tries to match their name to the sex of the race they chose on an MMO, theres 1000 people who name it their favorite thing or the name they've used on every MMO before it.

I Personally didn't look at races and go "Imma be Hume Male cause it fits my name he best", I wanted to play THF, so I Picked Mithra as it was the best race for the job back then. I named it Karbuncle cause at the time, Carby was my favorite Avatar from FF8 and I was a FF nerd, I was also like 12, so, yah, creativity wasn't completely on my pallet yet.

Either way, If i could change my name, i wouldn't, I don't think many people would no matter how silly their name is, because its their identity. Plus, IDK If you've seen some Server-hop LS Bank drama from back in the day? No amount of Name/Server changing is erasing your identity, your a** is still getting found by someone. Theres one dude who's created new characters even and is still tracked for the sh*t he pulled.

IDK why someone would be crazy for 'Changing gender' in an MMO as a joke... Or why It'd be a bad thing? I mean, seriously, what harm does it bring to you if your friend went from a Galka to a Mithra, are you going to have funny feelings in your special place cause it has majestic pixel boobs now instead of manly Galka boobs?

Regardless, I see what your fear is, but everything you're afraid of already happens in FFXI, and depending on the price, no ones going to rip off some random dude and pay to change their race/name, effectively erasing their identity, when they could probably just buy the gil for cheaper (If they're ripping people off for gil they've likely considered doing that anyway). Even if they did go through with this identity change, and they were part of a LS, each of the LS members would have to be okay with the rip off or someone will out them... or their friends, so forth, unless they were dropping that too.

The chances are miniscule at this point, and they could just add a 1 month timer on it like Server hopping. limiting the amount of frequent name changes and so forth. Or they could just as easily make it a "One time Deal", like Item restoration.

P.S if this comes off as a bit rude, sorry, I make jokes, sometimes at others expense, Don't mean too, just happens. You're an allright guy Daems just saying you're fear of what this could bring is wholly irrational.

[Daemon]

P.S if this comes off as a bit rude, sorry, I make jokes, sometimes at others expense, Don't mean too, just happens. You're an allright guy Daems just saying you're fear of what this could bring is wholly irrational.

Not at all, your response did not come off as mean or rude and believe me I've seen plenty.

I agree if SE did limit the change that makes it worthless to fool around and be stupid then yeah it could work out. Stupidity does happen. As I said before.

Girls actually think before they do something stupid however us men do it without thinking and then say screw it after its been done.

I'm not homophobic, if I'm going to swing the other way, I'd rather be with a dude and not a man posing to be a girl especially role-playing the part just to make them-self fit the description.

Galka to Mithra isn't a great example in my opinion. I just think if I knew someone like my good buddy Demonjustin play the entire time as a man, and then switched over to a Taru-female it might be funny at first. But then after awhile it would just feel awkward.

Edit: Yes the jokes will come pouring in if I know you as a man who purposely changed into a woman. Although it may not be severe as it possibly could be from others.

Edit2: Still to this very day I still get confused if I'm actually talking to a Mithra or a Mantra D: Difference is we know Mithra is limited to 1 gender and anyone who wants to play the class has no choice.

[Karbuncle]

Personally when/If i play FFXIV, I'm still going to be a Female Mithra, Male Mith's be damned. Probably going to make it resemble Karby too. At this point, Karbuncle isn't really me, In my mind Karby is Karby, Kinda like how I don't picture Squall from FF8 as me, But as a Character, i see Karby as a Character now... So if i make that jump to FFXIV, Still going to be a Female Manthra.

My motto when it comes to FFXI/Mithra/FemChars, Always assume its a dude until proven otherwise, NOt because "NO WOMENZ ONLINE", but simply because its much safer to assume so... Less confusion, Less being ripped off, less everything.

[Daemon]

Personally when/If i play FFXIV, I'm still going to be a Female Mithra, Male Mith's be damned. Probably going to make it resemble Karby too. At this point, Karbuncle isn't really me, In my mind Karby is Karby, Kinda like how I don't picture Squall from FF8 as me, But as a Character, i see Karby as a Character now... So if i make that jump to FFXIV, Still going to be a Female Manthra.

My motto when it comes to FFXI/Mithra/FemChars, Always assume its a dude until proven otherwise, NOt because "NO WOMENZ ONLINE", but simply because its much safer to assume so... Less confusion, Less being ripped off, less everything.

Lol I can't wait to play 14 also! Not saying you are wrong for wanting to play a female character. If that's what you want, I've seen some guys play it because they like female names more than guys and to see a dude play a girl character better than a girl is also the same as seeing a chick play a dude character better than a guy.

I just think its awkward playing with a male or female the entire game only to see them switch over later.

Atleast starting out knowing the person as a man choosing to play as a female is easier to understand than a man switching over to a female after being use to hanging out and playing with them up til this point.

Last time I assumed someone was a guy, the girl was offended. So I never assume but ask from the start.

At anyrate I dunno if its going to be awesome or weird to login one day and a good portion of friends you know decides to change gender and race.

It's kinda like the moment SE allowed people to switch servers and those people you knew with certain names left and changed over only for you to find out those who took their place after seeing them or messaging those people with the same names were not the friends you knew anymore.

Edit: Last time I did something nice for a person I thought was a chick playing a female character assumed I was hitting on him. I didn't even know she was a dude...

[Karbuncle]

Generally the best advice is to try and keep it platonic/neutral? IDK. If they get offended (either being a man or women or whatever), They're probably either attention wh*ring or looking for some sympathy or making you feel bad so they can iurierfouefierewind: Attention whoring.

I learned most of this from games like Borderlands/Borderlands2/Diablo 2 where they have a heavily involved online mode, where classes are defined by characters and not customization, so if you wanted to be X Class you'd have to play as a Female character (I.e Mechromancer in BL2, or Sorcerer in D2).

I guess it just depends on what you've played over the years and how accustomed to such things you've grown. Personally if i logged in and half my friends changed races, I don't think it'd even remotely phase me, I'd just be like, whatevs, and move on, I love my char so I'll keep her, but other people don't feel that way, so as long as it was implemented right I think this would be nice.

But SE, Is kinda like Me and you here, They feel people should be attached to their characters so just swapping their junk on a wim cheapens it, unfortunately they aren't like me(maybe you too!) in the aspect of thinking that just cause I like X, doesn't mean the whole population should be forced into liking it too... So they're doing the whole "No cause we said so" routine, which honestly is probably "No cause our servers would commit suicide in trying to process this crap"

[Daemon]

Generally the best advice is to try and keep it platonic/neutral? IDK. If they get offended (either being a man or women or whatever), They're probably either attention wh*ring or looking for some sympathy or making you feel bad so they can iurierfouefierewind: Attention whoring.

I learned most of this from games like Borderlands/Borderlands2/Diablo 2 where they have a heavily involved online mode, where classes are defined by characters and not customization, so if you wanted to be X Class you'd have to play as a Female character (I.e Mechromancer in BL2, or Sorcerer in D2).

I guess it just depends on what you've played over the years and how accustomed to such things you've grown. Personally if i logged in and half my friends changed races, I don't think it'd even remotely phase me, I'd just be like, whatevs, and move on, I love my char so I'll keep her, but other people don't feel that way, so as long as it was implemented right I think this would be nice.

But SE, Is kinda like Me and you here, They feel people should be attached to their characters so just swapping their junk on a wim cheapens it, unfortunately they aren't like me(maybe you too!) in the aspect of thinking that just cause I like X, doesn't mean the whole population should be forced into liking it too... So they're doing the whole "No cause we said so" routine, which honestly is probably "No cause our servers would commit suicide in trying to process this crap"

Yeah totally agree with you lol

[FrankReynolds]

I actually didn't know that my character would have this name / race forever. I created it during the xbox 360 beta fully expecting the thing to be deleted when it went live. I had stock piled all sorts of items that were expensive on the live servers at the time and leveled whm, red, blm and thf to 30+ (I can't remember the exact levels), gotten an airship pass and set my hp in jeuno and leveled a few crafts into the 30s as well which was no small feat in that environment.

So when I found out that I could keep the character data, I of course kept it despite the fact that it had been named something silly by my drunk friend. Knowing now that this character would spend the bulk of it's time on red mage and black mage for the first several years, I would have loved to have been able to change to a taru and name it something awesome like "Mrkillface" instead of the random group of letters my friend picked which were intended to spell out "Mister F--- you man" but instead made so little sense that everyone just assume I was Chinese.

I finally caught a break when my server merged with Cerberus and I was able to create a character on Cerb ahead of the transfer with my same name which forced a name change on this character. Apparently you can also get your name changed if you can get people to complain to the GM that it is offensive. My friend was forced to change his from "Mexicant" (A name he earned by being super lazy at work and wore with pride) to the more socially acceptable(?) "sixmillionpesoman".


So in short, not everyone treats character creation like it was planning for their kids college fund. If I had to guess, I would expect that most people didn't / don't plan on playing the same character for 10 years. They just end up doing it because they are too invested in that character to quit or make a new one. And for us, it's worth a few bucks to change things up.

OFF TOPIC: When they shut down the servers, people had a big party at the auction houses in all the towns and counted down. It was actually kinda cool.

[Daemon]

OFF TOPIC: When they shut down the servers, people had a big party at the auction houses in all the towns and counted down. It was actually kinda cool.

Oh gawd you are so funny lol. That's why I like you. As for the other stuff yeah I agree which shows that you would be the type of person who would not abuse the system or do something stupid and say screw it after its been done.

That too was a funny story though lol. Made my day and earned you a +1 like.

[Mirage]

A lot of the things in this thread is completely realistic, but that's never stopped SE from ignoring things before, remember!

[Daemon]

Name change and hairstyle change are realistic & should be implemented. They would have to add a sticky to the forums here listing everyone who changed names with old/new names, so that you don't end up in a Ls with somebody who stole your KC or w/e and is going under a new name & you don't know its them.
Hairstyle changes is of course realistic and should be possible if you want to, say once per year. Face change is unrealistic, as is gender and race. What people don't appreciate is that in ffxi some of the core storylines involve marriage between NPCs and the whole storyline hinges on it. If it were a world where the bride could suddenly change gender and race or get a new head, that would make such plotline romances meaningless. Also re; FFxi has magic spells & teleports etc. and is therefor a fantasy and not like Earth, there are shamans in Mexico and the Amazon who for thousands of years have possesed magical powers, and mastery of 'dreams' to they extent they can fly in spirit. Whether or not you believe it is irrelevant, many people on Earth believe in magic and claim to have witnessed it. So FFxi and Earth are actually more alike than some might have it. But neither Earth nor FFxi have people that are born from magic spells, we are all born by natural process, and to suddenly change Vanadiel to a place where people overnight change their heads, bodies, race and gender, would rob the game of its realism.

I agree, before I chose blue hair color for my Taru. Then a good portion of the time I got sick of looking at it. At one point I even imagined my Taru was a grandpa and I was staring at a bald spot. =p

Speaking of Grandpa, in Japan elderly men dye their hair blue and elderly women dye their hair Purple. I found that out when I first went to Japan with blue extensions only for my Jp friends to laugh at me and call me granddaddy.

[Mostfowl]

Speaking of Grandpa, in Japan elderly men dye their hair blue and elderly women dye their hair Purple. I found that out when I first went to Japan with blue extensions only for my Jp friends to laugh at me and call me granddaddy.

Is that a cultural thing over there? Elderly ppl do that here as well but its due to the eyes loosing the ability to see colors as they once did so purple looks gray and true gray looks something else I don't remember. Which is why there are so many purple haired grannies :D they think they are dying their hair gray

[Daemon]

Is that a cultural thing over there? Elderly ppl do that here as well but its due to the eyes loosing the ability to see colors as they once did so purple looks gray and true gray looks something else I don't remember. Which is why there are so many purple haired grannies :D they think they are dying their hair gray

Honestly I'm not sure. I went to Japan in 1999. At the time girls were rockin these white long socks with School girl dresses and they all dye their hair whitish grey. I hung out with a music producer and his artist Mao Denda during the time who told me that Elderly woman and men dye their hair blue or purple.

[Camiie]

Name change and hairstyle change are realistic & should be implemented. They would have to add a sticky to the forums here listing everyone who changed names with old/new names, so that you don't end up in a Ls with somebody who stole your KC or w/e and is going under a new name & you don't know its them.

Said it before, but just because something can be abused doesn't mean it shouldn't exist for those who won't abuse it.


Hairstyle changes is of course realistic and should be possible if you want to, say once per year. Face change is unrealistic, as is gender and race.

I'll paraphrase the MST3k Mantra: "It's just a game, you should really just relax."


What people don't appreciate is that in ffxi some of the core storylines involve marriage between NPCs and the whole storyline hinges on it. If it were a world where the bride could suddenly change gender and race or get a new head, that would make such plotline romances meaningless.

We're adventurers. As such, we have crazy adventures that the vast majority of NPCs could only dream of. By our nature we encounter strange and ridiculous things that they never will. Much of Vana'diel understands this because they hear tales of our exploits and probably wouldn't be all that surprised if one day that wacky, heroic elf suddenly returned to town as a wacky, heroic mithra.

Even if that doesn't do it for you, the 3 nations seem to possess what can only be described as Retcon Magic. They explain it as "sealing your memories," but what is the real effect of that magic? Reality changes such that to the rest of the world you never completed any of the missions for that nation. Who is to say such magic could not be used to explain a change in one's identity? I don't mean that if we use one of these services that we get our missions reset, but reality itself could be altered such that, to the rest of the world, that wacky, heroic elf was always that wacky, heroic mithra.

Or, "It's just a game, you should really just relax."


Also re; FFxi has magic spells & teleports etc. and is therefor a fantasy and not like Earth, there are shamans in Mexico and the Amazon who for thousands of years have possesed magical powers, and mastery of 'dreams' to they extent they can fly in spirit. Whether or not you believe it is irrelevant, many people on Earth believe in magic and claim to have witnessed it. So FFxi and Earth are actually more alike than some might have it. But neither Earth nor FFxi have people that are born from magic spells, we are all born by natural process, and to suddenly change Vanadiel to a place where people overnight change their heads, bodies, race and gender, would rob the game of its realism.

http://thefrailestthing.files.wordpress.com/2010/07/ellipsis.png

[FrankReynolds]

I am relaxed, thanks.


I don't agree with your angle of 'adventurers are so special and different to shopkeepers etc. that we should be allowed to change race/heads etc. just because we put on armor and hit mobs.'

Windurst is the city of magic, almost all NPCs there have innate magical abilities, and yet they are ALL born to real flesh and blood parents, and raised as children. Taru and mithra kids go to magic school in Windurst, to learn about the elemental spectrum etc. But they don't change into humes magically, as that would break their parents heartarus.This is called REALISM.

Re; its just a game, its a 'role playing game' in an online cybernetic ecology (virtual world). Vanadiel has seasons, days and nights, NPC's with active A.I., and hugely immersive game content. This sets it apart from "just games" which would include Tekken etc.

Just because you don't understand that changing the basic rules of life in an RPG actually sabotages the whole atmosphere which is what many people play RPGs for. Example, the marriage of two famous NPC's in a ffxi storyline, what happens if the handsome groom wakes up in bed the morning after the wedding and discovers his beautiful wife has overnight changed into a galka. That would have knock on effects if they were supposed to be parents to a plotline character. If players can do change race and swap heads overnight, then that also means it is the base reality of all Vanadiel, which means that next time you go see Prince Trion or Ghatsad, they might have turned into mithras or something. Don't you understand that kind of basic logic, that you can not build realistic rpg's unless they have "constancy", realism and a sence of permanence.

What you seem to be saying, is that you don't like being Elvaan and want to be mithra. I also played an Elvaan female briefly in 2004, but I personally didn't like the Boeing 747 ears, or the 'running underwater' animation on that model. I realised this after 10 levels, and deleted the char and built a mithra which I then played for 9 years. My point is that you have got hundreds or thousands of levels on your Elvaan, and didn't stop to think that maybe those ears were not your thing. You should have realised that around level 10, or level 50 at worst. Its actually your fault, for not changing race when your character was still early stages. Its not the developer's fault, they made a realistic virtual world, with weather and fluctuating market prices and food you can eat. etcetcetcetc. Asking them to sabotage the intrinsic realism of their whole RPG just because you decided too late that you don't like your ears, is actually absurd. Especially as you can build a new mithra to competent game standard in a month, starting your new character's storyline from the beginning, as it was always supposed to be, in Earth and Vanadiel.


In my magical fantasy RPG world, This character model you see is just a magical skin that I have created to hide my true form because it is so terrifyingly beautiful that merely gazing upon it would disintegrate your entire being and leave nothing behind of your soul. Not even a hint of a memory of your existence. ANd I can change it any time I want cuz I'm just that bad ass.

There is no intrinsic realism in this game. Only what you have created in your head. And if they decide to allow character model and name changes, you'll just have to create a new reality in that crazy head of yours.

[Demon6324236]

Coz ppl want easy > anything in ffxi 2013.Yes, I want everything easy because I am not willing to make an entirely new character just to change my race, face, or name, that I picked years ago and now hate. I want everything easy because I rather them add a single simply feature other games offer which would allow me to change this, so that I am happier with my character. I understand how this can be compared to asking for free Mythics or free gear, yes, this is exactly the same... Oh by the way, your an idiot if you really think that.

Its a feature to enhance someone's game experience, this is a feature, only a 1 sided feature, but a feature never the less that Windower has, via plastic surgeon, which allows someone to change race or appearance at will. Names can only be changed by a long and stupid process of paying real money to switch to another server for a while just to change back so I can change my name after making a new character with my name on my old server. So really, no, this should be done, it makes people happy. Your talking about NPCs changing race, that's retarded, you know its retarded, and your saying it in a retarded way, story and gameplay are different. Want an example of gameplay & story being different? In any story CS, my friends have never been around, I have known them for years, done every mission I have done recently with my GF, yet, she does not exist. In a CS I may have had a NPC ready to help me in a battle, but they are not there when the fight begins, or at all till it ends, then they magically pop up and we all act like they helped out. Gameplay =/= Story in every instance, this is one of those instances.

Besides that, as Camiie said there could be a magical explanation for this, the way you could explain that away if you so wish is we are special as we have done so much and it has allowed us to do so without something like Death occurring. Just make it so that the magic which would do this would kill any normal person, but we are special, I know I know...


I don't agree with your angle of 'adventurers are so special and different to shopkeepers etc. that we should be allowed to change race/heads etc. just because we put on armor and hit mobs.'

I killed a god, killed another god/avatar, killed the first god in a different reality, went to Provenance, went to various other dimensions for various events and reasons, and more, I think I am special, you disagree? Who's to say what effects these things would have upon me? Why should I not be special after such things, and as such, allowed to be granted this power? None of the NPCs have done all of this, in fact, very few have come to any of these events, so its not like they would instantly be the same as us, they could say since we have become so strong, we are now able to withstand this magic, and only allow lv99s to change. That would mean its not to early in on your character as you say we should have changed by, but at the same time has some realism in it, as it would be a powerful magic that would kill a normal, weak, person.

Last thing, not everyone initially cared about their character, I myself did not care 1 bit how my character turned out, I made it and went because I wanted to play the game, and at the time, the friend who got me into it had me so excited I was rushing. Now, many years later, I'm stuck with it still. I will not restart, there are many reasons as to why I will not, one for instance is this character is married to my GF, I am not simply going to make a new character, because, you can not marry twice, or divorce. My character is bound to hers, completely, so she would have to make another as well, and that's not going to happen. Not only that, but many of my items are lost, all mission progress, quests, my Excalibur, and so on. You want another thing of realism? Might I ask why Excalibur is bound to me? Almace? Half my gear? Why only certain jobs can wear certain things, when my stats are in nearly every way the exact same when on another job? My RDM can not wear BLU gear, not because my VIT is to low or something, but I am not a BLU, and Altana would kill me where I stood if I wore armor she did not make for me.

In the end, I disagree with you strongly.

[Demon6324236]

You make it sound like someone is just going to stand in Jeuno and cycle races all day. People are talking about a paid feature where if you do not like the name, race, or look of your character you may change it accordingly. I am sorry to inform you not everyone is going to accept that you have to go out and do everything you have done over the last few years just to get back to where you were all for the sake of having your character look different. In my particular case I hate my Hume, why, not because its a Hume, but because he looks like he's pissed off all of the time, my characters face & hair are something I picked quickly without care, if I could, I would change it. I no reason at all why it would be a bad thing, you make it sound like it would break the games lore in to little tiny pieces and all sense of realism would be lost, no, I have a cousin, he was a girl, now, he is not, changing sex was not impossible, magic, or unrealistic. At the same time, race may be a bit different, but we are the only humanoids on earth who have evolved into the same kind of race, unlike Vana, where the 5 races are all very similar, so that comparison is impossible to really give. But in the end, we also do not have magic, and to place limits and bounds on what such magic can do to a person seems stupid, this is not D&D no matter how it is based off of it, so in the end, there is no telling what can and can not be done with the magic.

As you said, we can die and come back, we are basically immortal, but any other character in the story is not nearly the same, to them, home points might as well not even exist, like in most games. Why would it be so much of a game breaker for my immortal adventurer who can not truly die by any means, to be able to change his race or gender, when he's already so different from the others in this world? If anything, going by the logic you presented before, the idea that they should not allow us because then NPCs should be able to do the same, well, I propose home points should not exist any more, if you die, that's it, your dead. If we can come back to life that breaks lore doesn't it? I mean, what if all of a sudden after killing Kam'lanaut he just popped back up at his home point in Jeuno? I mean, that would completely break the story, so no more dying and home pointing, either you get raised, or your dead forever.

[Demon6324236]

We are not "immortal" in the Vanadiel storyline aspect, NPC's sending you off to battle pray for your safe return and even near to tears (Star Sibyl etc.). We are allowed to revive from KO because that is a fundamental aspect of every videogame ever made, you can play again after you are beaten, its just that in an evolving online world you don't start at lvl 1 every time you die, you are classed as KO only. That is a fundamental game mechanic, it has nothing to do with Lore, and certainly doesn't mean you are immortal. You are the same as all the NPC soldiers in the game, just another mortal born of the flesh, its just that for the purposes of gaming you can only be KO not killed entirely. I'm sorry if you can't see that, you buy a game and your char dies and then you have to create a new char, that kind of game never actually existed. At worst you would have to start on lvl 1 with the same char like in the arcades (sometimes).So when its for life or death of a players character, its ok to allow them to be resurrected for the sake of the game, but, when it comes to changing ones appearance, gender, or race, its not allowed?


Also killing a mob would not count as killing an NPC, they are monsters not 'non-player characters' so your NM homepointing thing is a miss.I did not pick a NM, I picked a character in the story you kill for story reasons, who is a living breathing person important to the story line, who conveniently dies, it is not a miss, because he is a NPC. It would be like if Wolfgang died in Adoulin, it could be a dramatic moment, up till he comes back to life in Western because that's where his home point was set. That was my point I was attempting to make, not every gameplay related feature effects NPCs, our ability to come back to life at a crystal as we please while NPCs can not is simply an example.


My issue as I said is that changing your racial origins with a mouseclick is not something that fits into a stratified online world. It goes against the whole structure of a realistic RPG scenario. I also question gender change in a medieval world due to the surgery & pharmacueticals required.This again, ignores the ideas of magic. Magic can be made to do a great many things. I gave an explanation earlier of how it could simply be explained in game as a powerful magic that would kill an ordinary person, but due to our power we have gained, we are able to withstand such things. There are many forbidden magics, this could surely be one of them.


My beginnings in FFxi was that I played hume F, taru F, elvaan F and then four different mithras,(on one content ID, deleting each char as I went along) I chose F because I'm a woman and I feel more comfortable role-playing something I know about. I played each char for a few days to see their animations and the frame-specific battle noises they made, and then I picked my personal favourite.
That seems like an easy and failsafe route to getting a frame you like.Things are not always so clear cut and simple though. For instance, say someone wants to marry someone they met in game, they are a Mithra, but a guy, and their partner is a Female Hume, now, thanks to the rules of the game, an official marriage is impossible. What should someone do? Pay to have a character change that would then allow them to marry the one they wish, or create an entirely new character just to do so? Remember, in this scenario the person has been playing a long time, and never expected to find someone, let alone be effected by these restrictions. What exactly would be fair in this instance?

This is a simple and single example, but my point is, its not as easy as you seem to want to make it sound. Yes, some people can just instantly do that, I mean I used to play the PSU Demo with my Cousin who would remake his character on a weekly basis because the outrageous cost to change your characters appearance in that game, and he wanted to change 1 or 2 features of his character. I myself, am not one of those, and I doubt I am the only one not willing to redo all I have already done just so I can change these minor aspects of my character.


Earlier on there were comments like "I don't see why not" & so I replied because as a role-player I can see why not, and I just input what seems like common sense in an rpg game.You shared your opinion, and I am sharing my opinion on your opinion in return, explaining to you what I see that makes little to no sense. I do think you have some inconsistencies for instance where some things are allowed to effect the game but not lore while others can not be done because they would effect both, in the case of sex/race changes vs death/KO.

[FrankReynolds]

Seriously... You're arguing that one thing can't happen because it's not realistic... in a game with gods, avatars, time travel, alternate realities, talking cat people, wizards, geomancers,, evil spear carring lizard people, goblins, moogles, power crystals, luopans, magical bards and dancers and well pretty much an entire world of make believe, often completely nonsensical stuff.

You're gonna have to come up with a better reason. No one is buying into this argument.

I mean just a couple of months ago they went "Hey guys, there's a whole other continent over there now and apparently those gods you guys killed aren't really gods, cuz uhh the grasshoppers over there will whoop your arse. Ohh, by the way, trees and rocks are your enemy now and you will need to save this land from.... well, we haven't made that part up yet, but here. Do some gardening while we figure it out..."

[Tanama]

A paid race-change program would bring in some extra funds for FFXI. I hope this is on their to-do list down the line after they get all of their current plans sorted out and implemented.

[Babekeke]

The Galka population would go from 10% to 90% overnight.

[kewitt]

I would switch from Hume to kitty in a second. I'm 5 jobs ways from having everything at 99, and really see no really effect on over all game play.

[Babekeke]

You are either not reading my posts

I don't know about anyone else but I'm certainly not, did you see the size of it!?

Definately needs a TL:DR at the bottom next time.

[FrankReynolds]

I don't know about anyone else but I'm certainly not, did you see the size of it!?

Definately needs a TL:DR at the bottom next time.

I breezed through a few of them and saw words like "Intrinsic reality" and "living breathing character" and my brain just shut off. I don't think a TLDR; would have made it any easier to digest. There is so much broken logic, that it's terrifying really.

[Umichi]

I personally find no benefit to race change in a game where our characters are our avatars especially when you invest time into them (sometimes years or more)... I would be interested in maybe alternate colors for hair that you can change like via new linkshell color or customizing chat colors and haircuts that you don't get to pick from, from the start. Perhaps a quest that allows me to change the size of your character and quests that give you different hairstyles.

I won't be quiet because SE needs to know the opinions of people who are neutral or against such topics, otherwise they would think every idea is a great idea because everyone in the community (who were present and speaking) voiced positive comments thus showing a very biased opinion which is not good for any gaming community.

The arguements about "Reality" are moot. If SE wishes it they can and will make it happen regardless what the player base thinks about how they execute it.

[FrankReynolds]

Additionally, ten paragraphs in a post, is not difficult reading, unless your normal books are called things like "Henry the happy pig finds a balloon."

It wasn't difficult in the sense that I couldn't comprehend the words and or feelings that you were attempting to convey. It was difficult because I could understand and there are huge gaps in your logic. You're whole argument that race changes would break some weird reality that you have created in your head makes no sense.

People / things that should not even exist do things like leveling up (WTF is that in reality?), live, die, get resurrected, get possessed by gods, live in alternate realities, go from being immortal blue mages to mystical ninjas to pirates all in the blink of an eye by talking to fat little happy slaves that they keep in their one bedroom magical warpy houses (Which have no bathrooms or showers ewwww...). Reality went out the window a long time ago.

Anyone who has played this game knows that. Anyone who can read above a "Henry the happy pig finds a balloon." level could discern that your entire argument was wrong from the get go and skip the entire post.

[Demon6324236]

If its a mob you kill then it is an NM not an NPC. Also the "living breathing" part made me laugh, coz mobs and NM's are also living and breathing.Some are undead, some story characters are undead or immortal, this character was not, he was a story character, we killed him, and boom, dead, didn't come back. I picked him because he is a NPC who does not come back except in a ghost like form for another battle, but not a normal living form like we do. The point of that which seems to go over your head, is that story characters can die, and they do not return like we do, at best they become ghosts, or something similar, this is because for the sake of gameplay, they bent the rules. We are allowed to come back because we are players, thus, a distinction between a player and a NPC is formed, where the two follow a different set of rules, we have the ability to do that which they can not, changing race/gender is another option we could have.


Well obviously, you are really stretching this out. You are either not reading my posts or you don't understand the difference between altering the basic rules of an RPG, and the fundamental rules of all videogames which is that if you die you can play again, in FFXI is called KO and because it is a progressive evolving online world (as opposed to a platformer) you don't die and go to level 1 again, you just KO. That is a "GAME DEVICE" it has nothing to do with the actual roleplaying world itself, including races.Yes, its a game device to allow players to change their race/gender too. If people roleplaying with you have as much a problem with it, they wont do it either. I doubt you are going to see some guy running around who is a Hume one day, Galka the next, and then a week later hes an Elvaan, and in the end your going to be broken because, oh no, 1 random guy changed it multiple times! Its something you would not really notice unless its people you know probably, would not effect your roleplaying at all unless you specifically let it, or they let it.


Re; powerful magic can change your genetic race DNA. No it cannot. Magic ingame is healing, nuking, supporting, and transportation magic such as warp and teleport rely on the inherent power of crystals in the case of telepoints and homepoint crystals, and the power of your moghouse security-option in the case of door-homepointing. Again you are completely ignoring what I have said before.As I said, there are forbidden magics, these magics can do many different things I am sure, spells like this often have a terrible cost for their use, or do something horrible. Now, if this spell took the life of the user, boom, lore preserved. Its a forbidden spell, we find someone willing to cast it, the penalty for it is that no normal person can survive it, we are special because of how strong we have become on top of how much we have done, we can survive it. The strain such a spell would have on our body prevents its use for a long time, a month in real life, but it lets us do such a thing. I have said this same kind of thing again and again, you apparently are the one who ignored me. You are placing limits on magic based only on what we see, why is it impossible for there to be magic we do not see that exists all the same? Oh wait, its not, that's how new spells come out, they always existed in lore, we just could not access them, and this is just the same.


IF Vanadiel had magic spells that could change your racial origins, then A) NPC's such as Star Sybil could turn into a galka, this would devalue her current existence as the person she is. I personally like the game NPC's the way they are, and the permanence of their existance over many years, this would be devalued if the world had power to transform into other races overnight and entirely change the NPC in question. And more importantly, B) orcs goblins etc. could change to humes etc., travel to Jeuno and kill all the citizens there without having to storm the city first. That would COMPLETELY kill the WOTG storyline instantly, as the story revolves around this whole defending all the cities from beastmen. If beastmen could change race magically, WOTG story would cease to exist, everyone in your home nation would be dead because armies of Orcs disguised as Elvaans etc. would just lay waste to everything from the inside, all NPC citizens in the whole of Vanadiel would live in constant terror because the person standing next to them could be a Troll who changed into a taru magically. As you know, beastmen have very powerful magic already, so in your hypothesis they would also have the change race magic too.Yes, at the cost of every single one of these people mentioned, dying in the process. Maybe you forgot that whole death penalty unless your strong enough thing that I added in? Yeah... so Star Sybil, would be dead, a dead Galka, but still, dead, shes not stupid enough to just die like that for no reason she knows the magic would kill her in the first place. Goblins, Orcs, Quadavs, Yagudos, and all of the other Beastmen, they are not strong enough. The only ones in that list which meet my original requirement, being level 99, are the newest of the Beastmen, that's it. Some Beastmen in the past might be that high too, not 100% sure, but we have so many other special things about us which could be made into part of why we can do it as well. Like I said before, we killed gods, we went to Provenance, we went to the lost city of Al'Taieu, we traveled to multiple other dimensions and planes of existence, I think its safe to say our bodies could have built a resistance to some special kinds of magic. In the end this all would give reasons as to why we can go through this change. Others can not because it would cost them their life, but we have been through so much, we can withstand such a thing every so often if we choose.


Then the RPG argument I put forward, which you have completely avoided answering. I have good friends in game who are Elvaan (and very happy with their ears etc.) and don't want to change race, but if I logged in tomorrow and they were taru, it would actually be very strange to me, as a role-player, that my Elvaan friend I partied with for 9 years is now a taru. Especially as they were a patriotic Sandorian knight (traditionally Elvaan), who had played the cultural aspect of that race/city for years in countless quests etc.So your afraid someone who roleplays like you do is going to just instantly change their race for the hell of it, breaking the exact same feel that you yourself are afraid of being broken? Do you understand how little sense that makes? If they were going to do that, maybe its not such a big issue, after all, the people around you who are similar to you in the aspect of roleplaying apparently are fine with it. In the end, I have no idea why someone would change their race if they are that kind of person, really, no idea, but whatever.


Next is just repeating the fact that when you create a character (in Windurst) you are given a boot-up scene in which it says "and now a new star of hope is born into this world, etc." and you get your intro welcoming CS from an NPC. This signifies the beginning of that character's adventures. And it is the race/gender you begin with, which is the fundamental start of your individual storyline. Really you can not change the 'birth' stage of your character without bypassing every single RPG element in the game. Your suggestion would change FFxi from a realistic and immersive RPG world, into a sort of cartoon arcade game, where anybody can morph races with a few $ and totally ignore the entire storyline of your rpg character from stage 1 onwards.Except that startup CS you are talking about I believe is the same one you get if you change nations, and the fact that I gave a story reason why this would be allowed, and the fact that I never asked to go back to the birth stage of my character, and the fact there is apparently magic which for a minor fee of gil, will make every story related NPC in the world which is related to a story mission in the 3 main cities forget my existence while reviving people from the dead, all for the sake of letting me go back through the story again for a different nation. Yes, you are completely correct. By the way, that super magic, costs a minor fee of gil, and completely changes the world, I guess they should take that out too, since you choose your home nation when you start the game, and if you really~ wanted to change it, you would have known when you started playing, right?


Fundamentally it is you personally who made a big mistake if you built 1,500 or more levels and a REM on a character that you actually hate the race of. SE did not make that mistake for you, and neither did the other players like me who you called an "idiot" and "retard" earlier in this thread just because I love Vanadiel the way it is with its progressive rpg storyline system. We didn't make that mistake for you, but you are blaming SE for your mistake and how you can't undo what is a very easy-to-avoid mistake, and you call other players idiots because they like the way the game already operates.As I keep saying, you will not always know you want to change something in the first few days, weeks, or even a month. Originally I did not care what I was, I picked to main RDM, which was the 'everything' job, so I picked Hume, the perfect middle. If I had a choice now, when I see all of the differences in stats, Elvaan being Stronger with more MND, Galka with more HP, and so on, I might change, if I knew the stats mattered very little, I might have picked something else, for more of a fun race, than a strategic race. This goes on forever, not everyone picks for roleplaying, and you can not expect everyone to know these things when they first start. As for not addressing certain things in someones argument. I would like you to answer my question about the person wanting to marry their partner, just because one is a Mithra and the other a Female Hume, they are screwed, which means either Altana has to change her views on Gay marriage, or we need race/gender change to fix that issue, that, or you ask 2 people who want to marry to go out and make brand new characters, or at least one of them, just so they can marry in this game.


The other reason SE might feel reluctant to change this core game rule, aside from the sabotaging of the realistic rpg atmosphere that they carefully created, is that 1000s of players over the years have deleted chars(some with HQ gear) to begin a new character of a different race. To suddenly alter the core game rules would be a huge slap in the face for people who have already done the extra work of building a new character.They added new weapons which had double the DMG rating and crushed the damage of every other weapon in the game by far, even though a great deal of players had spent months and years making RME weapons. They originally had no plans to enhance these weapons, but rather, let us learn the WS from them and that was it. I think they are ok with slapping people in the face no matter the work the person puts in, that argument, not a very good one, sorry.

[Babekeke]

#1) Everyone knows that Henry was a hippo, not a pig.

#2) In a magical world of time-travel, alternate realities, Gods and so-forth; the only argument for or against being able to change race is that the balance is completely wrong now, and everyone that's not a Galka feels cheated.

When I gear up my SMN and stand next to a Galka SMN, only to see that he has 100 MP less than me, but 500 HP more, it's clear to see the imbalance. The minuscule amount of extra MP gained by other jobs does nothing to compensate the massive extra HP gained by a Galka.

Having the best WHM in the world means nothing if you don't have enough HP to avoid getting 1-shotted. Therefore, Galka > all. And we'd all like to join the elite club, tyvm.

[Umichi]

pfft I prefer to be a mana tank IDK about you..... and Being taru has its benifits to subbing mage jobs compared to galkas doing it.... Drg for example.... I have 400mp as a taru drg/whm... I'd like to see a galka have that much.

[Babekeke]

pfft I prefer to be a mana tank IDK about you..... and Being taru has its benifits to subbing mage jobs compared to galkas doing it.... Drg for example.... I have 400mp as a taru drg/whm... I'd like to see a galka have that much.

As a taru drg myself, I can honestly say that when I go drg/rdm, I only need MP for the initial buffing. After that I only need enough MP for those occasional bar-spells, and to keep re-casting refresh. About 60 MP total should do it after you're buffed.

[Camiie]

Stompa, if you have to go through Olympic-level mental gymnastics to justify your case then I don't think you have much of one. You don't like the idea of race or appearance changes which is fine, but the realism angle just isn't going to fly. I think people have already given you plenty of examples of FFXI's copious amounts of completely unrealistic things.

The "omg if we can change race NPCs can change too" idea is also rather weak. What about the ability to change jobs? That already exists, and I'm pretty sure I've never seen an NPC do it. That ability could certainly bork up a few storylines, or at least make things confusing. Imagine if Zeid was suddenly a WHM yet still started you off on the DRK job. Imagine if Lilisette showed up as anything other than DNC. Changing her race would screw up her storyline irreparably, but so too would changing her job.

Oh, but wait they're NPCs. They don't get a say in what they show up as. They are what SE makes them

[Daemon]

#1) Everyone knows that Henry was a hippo, not a pig.

#2) In a magical world of time-travel, alternate realities, Gods and so-forth; the only argument for or against being able to change race is that the balance is completely wrong now, and everyone that's not a Galka feels cheated.

When I gear up my SMN and stand next to a Galka SMN, only to see that he has 100 MP less than me, but 500 HP more, it's clear to see the imbalance. The minuscule amount of extra MP gained by other jobs does nothing to compensate the massive extra HP gained by a Galka.

Having the best WHM in the world means nothing if you don't have enough HP to avoid getting 1-shotted. Therefore, Galka > all. And we'd all like to join the elite club, tyvm.

Hmm. I saw a Taru with over 1,500 MP and HP in Adoulin, not Abyssea, although I do support your comment incredibly however I'm still trying to figure out how he did it because I did not see him wearing impossible to obtain gear. Was awhile back that caught my eye therefore I cannot give you precise details. Sorry if my statement is quite vague however knowing SE, they may have implemented certain gear to achieve this and most likely will ignore us based on "Go explore and figure it out" mentality.

As for 1 shot death, all jobs can cap 50% -PDT gear and have some DEF+VIT items plus boost/gain and protect/Shell with phalanx. Not to forget Stonekin with full enhance gear.

Earthcry Earring
Haven Hose
Shedir Seraweels
Siegel Sash
Stone Gorget
Stone Mufflers

There is also Def food..
Just my opinion though.

WHM would survive pretty well compare to most jobs.

Barspells, shell, Magavan pieces with merman, dark rings for MDT which can be further increased with Geomancer fend, bar carols or Rune knight abilities.

Also having Brachyura earring or shelter ring is a small detail meant for greater outcomes.

[Daemon]

> Time Travel : Without wanting to add spoilers, WOTG doesn't have time-travel, the maws are mirror images of a certain NM seen near the end of the story. It is his power that distorts time. Not the power of adventurers. See below for why gods such as that NM are realistic not fantasy.

>Gods : Earth has Gods too. People in Greece still worship the Ancient Greek gods. People in Scandinavia still worship their ancient gods. See also Native Americans, Mexicans, Amazons, Australian Abo's, and of course the mainstream Churches/Mosques etc. You might not believe in those gods, but other people on Earth do, ergo gods in Vanadiel is realism not fantasy, it mirrors Earth.

>Alternate realities ; many people on Earth claim to have experienced these on psychedelics or on hospital medications, under hypnosis, through dance and meditation. Ergo, realism not fantasy.

Lol this was in the news yesterday .... http://www.foxnews.com/science/2013/07/21/reality-check-is-our-universe-real/

What humans perceive as reality may be no more than an illusion.

[Daemon]

And I'm still wondering when we are going to the learn the same Meteor Spell King Behemoth and other monsters cast, because the one my black mage learned is pathetic..