7.0 Graphic Update - Male Highlander Suggestion

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Originally Posted by Kileen

And another:

[IMG]https://i.ibb.co/d2Gk8mJ/DT-Before-and-After-2-MH.jpg[/IMG]

It does feel like his 'Superman' jaw got nerfed a bit.

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I feel like I get where you mean it. Personally the jaws are less offending to me, but anyway I made another comparison.
https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachmen...54942fad0527d&
Looks like the live version has sharper edge and deeper shadow that gives more prominent jaw perception,
while the benchmark version has more rounded edge perception. Thus if I were to make outline acccording to what I perceive, I think it is like this:
https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachmen...13d67762d3f71&
Feel free to correct me if I am wrong!
Form wise I think both jaws from before and after is almost identical if not exact the same apart from the shading.
Which honestly if need to be boiled down many of the problem IMO lies on shading and lighting direction the developer have chosen.
(also apparent on the eye area as well, less shading on the upper eye region on benchmark version)
https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachmen...fe56423516255&

https://i.imgur.com/7r0khk0.jpg

I'm really disappointed with the way the update impacted my character. I honestly feel like the older visuals (left) look much better than the newer ones (right). All the life is gone from my character's eyes. The older hair seemed much more detailed and layered, and the two color tones blended together much better with the original art. The lip shape has changed and become larger (particularly the upper lip), and the painted on eyebrows have moved to a higher location on the forehead. The chin has been shortened. The ridge of the nose has been widened. The skin tone has changed.

The quality of the lighting seems to also have taken a hit in the update as that's the same settings/angle/location/time in both captures.

Personally I'm not a fan of sharpening up the detail on the textures for the clothing without updating the model as well, as it just highlights the low-poly nature of it even more.

I really wish you were giving us the option to use the older art assets, although I doubt that's practical. I prefer that you reduce the instances of dramatic difference, as some faces (like Highlanders) were hit very hard by the update. I went from being excited about this update to dreading it the moment I saw how my character from the last 10 years has turned out. I don't recognize the character I'm looking at any longer.

Okay, I had my doubt on my post #4 since it seems the Hildibrand picture I retrieve (not from my benchmark) seemed to have updated eyes. So just incase I ran another benchmark with both Hildies, so variable is as low as possible (face type, environment, lighting, picture quality, frame).

I compare between two, and to make it easier turning it into GIF. Actually it is easier to tell the difference now on male Highlander face #2.
https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachmen...cf318f8079810&

There will be same rehash and feedback of the face, but I hope through the GIF it illustrates easier!
I will divide more into 3 parts: 1) brow ridge, 2) nose, 3) cheekbones

1) Brow Ridge
https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachmen...1011f6d4cd2af&
I mark up the area with red marker to illustrate what I perceive.
The benchmark version feels to me has lighter brow ridge in comparison to the live version, which might be from texture itself?
It translates to more prominent brow ridge but because it is under shadow, it just looks too funny. Please consider lessen the highlight on the brow ridge.

Also the live version retains some more shading on the side of the outer eye corner.
On the perceived image it is shown through sharper turn on live version in comparison to more rounded turn on benchmark version.
I am not sure how the developer's creative direction on that, but if possible I would like to keep that shading as well on benchmark version.

And again, the area between brow ridge shows lots of wrinkles, and now the perpetual frowning expression is not only texture-wise.
Personally I do not like it and would hope it is not as prominent (form-wise, smoothen out so not to be as prominent like benchmark version but not as formless like the live version--middle road)

https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachmen...07d634eb4362a&
(Side note, and this is not serious at all: looks like trace of vengeful ghost of all the shaved eyebrows finally shows on benchmark version)

2) Nose
https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachmen...01a10e7abd4a2&
Now I am sure the reason the nose looking rather bigger on benchmark is because it loses the slight curvature on the nosebridge.
The curvature from live version should be retained to retain its uniqueness IMO
The nostril wings are also rounder and not as boxy. I would like to retain the boxiness, but arguably it might be just because more polygon on the benchmark version.

3) Cheekbones
https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachmen...4d4e2dd977e02&
So that is my perception when I saw the picture of both.
The live version has more prominent cheekbones, thus the cheek is mostly shaped by the cheekbones.
The benchmark version has more prominent muscle. Thus the shape of the cheek is unsurprisingly not the same.
I personally find the live version more aesthetically pleasing and would like to once more bring the cheekbones as the prominent factor.


Thank you for reading this feedback. Keep up the good work for this benchmark update!

Or, here's an idea...
Give us an eyebrow option please. Not just paint ;_;

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Originally Posted by Valcarde

Or, here's an idea...
Give us an eyebrow option please. Not just paint ;_;

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Not the first time, neither will it be the last demand. Eyebrows are such important feature that honestly I question myself if I ever found someone who would not agree to eyebrows.
And don't get me started on beard choices. Would it kill them to let us have brows and 'stache option already? It won't break the game more than now. And pretty sure it won't scare people more than now when we already lacking one.

I posted this in another thread but I figured it'd be smart to post here too for visibility.

There is a visible texture seam for the bald hairstyle between the face and the head, and the scalp appears to not have been upscaled, as it has a low-poly model which is pretty jarring when put next to the new high-poly ears, for example.

https://imgur.com/dOHbEl4

This may hopefully be addressed in their upcoming fixes.

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Originally Posted by Priddy

There is a visible texture seam for the bald hairstyle between the face and the head, and the scalp appears to not have been upscaled, as it has a low-poly model which is pretty jarring when put next to the new high-poly ears, for example.

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Made a thread about it here:
https://forum.square-enix.com/ffxiv/...-Shadow-glitch

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Originally Posted by SKLC

Basically there's a really severe cut into where the "baldness" begins. That, and the skin texture is way too smooth compared to the rest of the face. No pores, blemishes, or anything else that's "new". It looks really off and it's especially prominent and noticeable on darker skin.

It almost looks like I'm wearing a swim cap. :p

I've made an album:
https://imgur.com/a/0VszoCt

Here's some isolated shots:
https://i.imgur.com/l5cIofZ.png
https://i.imgur.com/G6H4tsd.png
https://i.imgur.com/TlWCAEM.png

Additionally, they behave weird with certain lighting (VIDEO):
https://youtu.be/AWbJljtrxDQ

Hope this will be fixed by release. Now if they had more black hairstyles in this game I'd probably be like whatever, but there aren't many options, and the ones that are there are just sad. (Oh yay an afro... :()

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There's a link inside to a japanese post on it so make sure to upvote for more visibility!

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Originally Posted by SKLC

Made a thread about it here:
https://forum.square-enix.com/ffxiv/...-Shadow-glitch


There's a link inside to a japanese post on it so make sure to upvote for more visibility!

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Awesome, thanks. I imagine this will probably be fixed in the next update to the benchmark, as they mentioned some upscaled textures didn't get ported over properly, and this seems like that issue. I upvoted that post, thanks again for the heads up.

I feel the pain bro. Still no eyebrows after 10 years. I thought they upgrade a little the variety for race but nope. The good news is male roe seem looking good.