Is a less humanoid race impossible?

It's not entirely impossible - The difference in body shape between a male Roegadyn, Au Ra and Lalafell is preeeetty big, but armors can be refitted nevertheless. Plus, Au Ra prove that textures can be a thing as well.

I wager whenever an armor cannot be easily re-fitted by simply de-forming it, it'll provide an issue. I had lattice presets in blender for my skyrim modding which allowed me to conveniently re-fit armors modeled for one body to other bodies and I'd not be surprised if SE uses a similar procedure - model a base armor, then deform it with preset deformation patterns for the races and do some fine-tuning if things look off. Just a guess, tho.

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Originally Posted by Zojha

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see this is what i think as well, lets us say the next race have digigrade legs e.g that bend back between the paw and the knee where the ancle is. a simple deformation on most of the armour will fix this, plus before anyone says that some armours have to be completely redeisnged such as head gear, the snouts/ muzzles of the race could easily just go though the helmet simmilar to the miqote' ears and au ra horns, tails could easily go though the chest peice armour, any real changes to the torso as long as it is human/anthropamorphic would just need to be 'deformed' slightly to match the body and animations, granted yes it would be some work, but adding in a new race is already alot of work, and people seem to think that they would stop at the half way point. plus once they have designed the deforming program, they would most likely use it as a means to deform future making work much easier for not only playable beast races but for NPC ones as well. plus if the paws or burmecian's rat like feet are making you guys worry just remember really big shoes to cover it up :P

edit: oh and the proportions of a roe male is much bigger in the shoulders and the back to the other races while lalas have a much wider hips and more rounder shape so they do use defmoration touls to change the shape of the amour so adding in a simple 'hump' as most people think the beast race would have would seem like a simple addition.

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Originally Posted by LadyVal

Well, you may get that in their newest concept art of Viera:

http://cdn3.dualshockers.com/wp-cont...5-22_23_33.jpg

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I would honestly leave Au Ra for this race if they ever implemented them. I already have many idea from their RSE alone lol.

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Originally Posted by LineageRazor

There are three big reasons why it probably won't happen.

The first, as has been stated many times in this thread now, is the additional effort it would take to redesign not only new armor, but all existing armor, as well, to fit the new body type. The "Bestial" race would need to be very similar in shape to existing races to mitigate that.

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Have you taken a look at the picture? Its got two legs, two arms, and a head not unlike the size of anything they have conjured thus far. If they can remodel a lala to roe and put horns on an au ra they can give me a ronso.

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Originally Posted by LineageRazor

A third reason is the fact that one of the central story elements of this game is the division between the Beastmen and the Spoken races.

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Wasn't there Beastmen who can speak to Mama Crystal? I'm probably thinking of something else. Either way the minority should always be considered, they're part of the fan base as well.

Personally, I think they wasted some good ideas on the Wolfseye PvP gear (the legs/feet, ears, and tail).

https://i.imgur.com/LqOYRIa.png

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Originally Posted by Marcellus_Cassius

Have you taken a look at the picture? Its got two legs, two arms, and a head not unlike the size of anything they haven't conjured thus far. If they can remodel a lala to roe and put horns on an au ra they can give me a ronso.

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If you mean the picture of Ronzo, the feet are too big. If we get a Ronzo, then with smaller feet that fit into normal designed boots. And with less body hair, so it don't clip everywhere throught the gear.

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Originally Posted by Felis

If you mean the picture of Ronzo, the feet are too big. If we get a Ronzo, then with smaller feet that fit into normal designed boots. And with less body hair, so it don't clip everywhere throught the gear.

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except fur wouldnt clip though, the way this game renders armour is by placing a alpha layer and derendering the main part of the model, e.g the torso for this excample, meaning the skeletal model has an invisable torso, the armour isnt over layed on top due to the fact that would cause more rendering and slow downs, and is a short cut to avoid that.

so the fur on the torso would be insiable then derenderd for the armour overlay, the only way torso fur would poke out is if it was modeld to have that tuft be exposed,

you can see the derendering and alpha layers in effect when some armour fails to render in properly and glitch out.

I'd be all for a less humanoid race. I wouldn't switch to it though, I'm way too attached to my Elezen, but the game could definitely use something in that vein. +1 for Ronso or Burmecian though.

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Originally Posted by Khalithar

I'd be all for a less humanoid race. I wouldn't switch to it though, I'm way too attached to my Elezen, but the game could definitely use something in that vein. +1 for Ronso or Burmecian though.

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I told myself that but then Au Ra.

I can sort of see the gear re-design argument (though given that Lalafells and Roegadyn already get individual race models clearly means that doesn't completely preclude it with another race).

There are, however a lot of features that wouldn't even affect gear. I'd like to see a Miqo'te sub-race with more catlike (or Ronso-like) facial features. That wouldn't change their head shape enough to involve any change in helmets. Similarly a fur texture for Miqo-te or a fully scaled Au Ra (rather than odd little patches here and there) wouldn't change the body shape at all. If we can't have Ronso-shaped feet, fine, but at least give us the fur and facial features.

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Originally Posted by Roegadyn_Bear

This, unfortunately. A good example is World of Warcraft, before the Burning Crusade. The Horde had no "pretty" races, which resulted in a heavily underpopulated faction. The moment they added Blood Elves, the prettiest character model in the game, that problem was fixed nearly overnight.

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It's unlikely we'd get an ugly race (because you're right - it wouldn't be popular enough). But beast-like doesn't exclude being beautiful. Ronso or Burmecian or something similar can be very attractive.

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Originally Posted by Niwashi

It's unlikely we'd get an ugly race (because you're right - it wouldn't be popular enough). But beast-like doesn't exclude being beautiful. Ronso or Burmecian or something similar can be very attractive.

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The trick is designing them in a manner that can be seen as either cute and/or attractive/beautiful, as those are the two traits that draw in a good chunk of people (with the latter drawing in a larger amount). I have no doubt that a beast-like demi-human can be beautiful, but I do have doubts on their ability to design one that actually appeals to their main demographic.

That's where we run into a brick wall. If the Japanese playerbase cannot be sold to the idea of a more beast-like demi-human, we'll just end up with another Au Ra.

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Originally Posted by Roegadyn_Bear

The trick is designing them in a manner that can be seen as either cute and/or attractive/beautiful, as those are the two traits that draw in a good chunk of people (with the latter drawing in a larger amount). I have no doubt that a beast-like demi-human can be beautiful, but I do have doubts on their ability to design one that actually appeals to their main demographic.

That's where we run into a brick wall. If the Japanese playerbase cannot be sold to the idea of a more beast-like demi-human, we'll just end up with another Au Ra.

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I hear monster girls are popular over there right about now.

I vaguely remember them doing concept art of a kind of wolf/werewolf esque race a long while back, cant find the picture but definitely seen it around a few times. >.<

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Originally Posted by Hanayumi

I vaguely remember them doing concept art of a kind of wolf/werewolf esque race a long while back, cant find the picture but definitely seen it around a few times. >.<

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http://livedoor.blogimg.jp/tekitou_m...a/6af548eb.jpg

There you go.

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Originally Posted by Leep

I hear monster girls are popular over there right about now.

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A good deal of them are practically female Miqo'te and/or Au Ra in terms of appearance though.

Unless you want this kind of sexual dimorphism.

http://www.justkeepswimming.co.uk/wp...2/04/Ariel.jpg http://vignette3.wikia.nocookie.net/...20150309191212

I really don't get this 'every race has to be beautiful' argument.

Humans will always be the most popular race in any MMO, but looking at WoW statistics it was pretty all over the place because there was a ton of variety. Yeah, the humans and blood elves were always the most populated, but we've already got FFXIV's answers to those. Give me an answer to tauren or worgen (like ronso or burmecian).

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Originally Posted by FoxyAreku

I really don't get this 'every race has to be beautiful' argument.

Humans will always be the most popular race in any MMO, but looking at WoW statistics it was pretty all over the place because there was a ton of variety. Yeah, the humans and blood elves were always the most populated, but we've already got FFXIV's answers to those. Give me an answer to tauren or worgen (like ronso or burmecian).

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World of Warcraft is not a Japanese game designed primarily for a Japanese demographic.

Believe it or not, this is a major factor in why World of Warcraft does it and gets away with it.

I don't think it's possible. Every race is some form of humanoid. Au Ra had a bunch of cool bestial concepts when it came to Demonic Voidsent or something on par with Draconians or Dragonborn. Instead they took one of the more tame concepts and applied that for the female. In the end it became Female Hyur with Horns and a Male Elezen with Horns. Plopped some unique hairstyles and faces and sprinkled some scaly textures and gave you a cute tail. We had some fierce intimidating female designs with claws on the hands and feet and a tail at half the size of the body and it got turned into cuteness. Males kinda got turned into Anime badass with girly hips and cute tails as well. It's okay for a new race but doesn't really offer anything new and compared to the concept phase is completely different.

I don't think a Ronso race will happen because the hair wouldn't reach the race because clipping issues although Auri horns clip through every helm ever so I don't really see an issue. And of course a feline race already exists in Miqote, even though I'd prefer the Ronso by a milestone. Would love waist long hair too!

Judging by their Viera concept it just looks like a Lalafell with bunny parts. If that's what you want great, but again doesn't offer anything new IMO. Would love to be wrong. Lots of people want Viera though so if any new race gets added it'll be them.

I'm afraid Westerners like me will have to settle for Roes to get close to monster races.

If nothing new can be offered I'd vouch for more customization options for already existing races instead. I see quite a few elderly Elezen/Hyurs and have always wondered why we can't look like that as well.

Eh, if roes had tails like in xi then I'd prolly roll one. Which leaves me with kitteh. I was kind of hoping for a fur option or a more catlike face like Niwashi was suggesting, but alas.

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Originally Posted by Ovenmitts

Eh, if roes had tails like in xi then I'd prolly roll one. Which leaves me with kitteh. I was kind of hoping for a fur option or a more catlike face like Niwashi was suggesting, but alas.

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I miss My Galka Tail .....

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Originally Posted by Bracken

I miss My Galka Tail .....

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I miss my Galka's tail and his larger body.

I love my Roegadyn, but it's not quite the same.

Just a random question, if they did take the time to develop one "bestial" race, couldn't that be used as a template for other beast races? Say they design the wolfman race... well then they have the legs for the wolfmen and Viera done, and the snout for the wolfmen and Bang'aa done, and they could even swap out the snout on the wolfmen and add the Roe torso to make Ronso. So really if they make one bestial race doesn't it make it easier to mix and match the new parts with existing parts to create even more races? Seems like a worthwhile time investment imo.

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Originally Posted by LadyVal

Just a random question, if they did take the time to develop one "bestial" race, couldn't that be used as a template for other beast races? Say they design the wolfman race... well then they have the legs for the wolfmen and Viera done, and the snout for the wolfmen and Bang'aa done, and they could even swap out the snout on the wolfmen and add the Roe torso to make Ronso. So really if they make one bestial race doesn't it make it easier to mix and match the new parts with existing parts to create even more races? Seems like a worthwhile time investment imo.

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It would, but then you get the idiots who will ask "We gave up a dungeon for THIS?" or otherwise claim that new races would get in the way of content. In addition, such an endeavor would also have to take into account the time constraints of development possibly delaying the patch or winding up into the list of "things that were promised, but ate taking so long that we should save ourselves the heartbreak and assume its not happening".

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Originally Posted by Morningstar1337

It would, but then you get the idiots who will ask "We gave up a dungeon for THIS?" or otherwise claim that new races would get in the way of content

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You should hear the World of Warcraft developer excuses.

"We could give you X, but that would cost you a raid tier."

Sad part is, that one is used as both a joke and actual excuse.

I am worried for FFXIV, at this rate we will only get cute short hyur female with some animal feature and a tall more muscle male race. One of the things that I love about Final Fantasy and mmorpgs in general is the different races living toghter on the same planet. Characters like Kimahri, Fran and Freya are not ugly and I reckon alot of players would love to play those races. What makes them unique is how different their body is from their human companions.

SE needs to bring back the Fantasy in Final Fantasy.

Considering this is a game where any anthromorphic, intellectual creature is considered a "beastman" or a Sub Human, I doubt it'll be allowed. Most of those races are flat out tribal in their origins to the point of causing mass Xenophobia for a lot of the humanoid races. People just don't trust the monster races, and so they're forced out of their society readily. Trade is done in outside camps and in places like Limsa, im guessing only because Limsa is a trade hub and you can't really police an entire forest for bomb tossin' goblins.

(also easier to make consistent gear for humanoid players. Ever seen a Beastman with an entirely different outfit from their overall race and body models?)

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Originally Posted by Roegadyn_Bear

You should hear the World of Warcraft developer excuses.

"We could give you X, but that would cost you a raid tier."

Sad part is, that one is used as both a joke and actual excuse.

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That's disgusting.

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Originally Posted by Leep

http://orig01.deviantart.net/05e9/f/...ne-d5rs1pz.jpg

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I would be this race alllllll day!

I'd give up a dungeon in a patch for it. Dungeons only last for a patch and sure lacking one in a patch may be boring but... A race lasts throughout the game's life and the model can be used for other races.

Either way, give me the rat people race O_O!

I am sick of all these "pretty" races. It's getting on my nerves. IS EVERYONE IN THIS WORLD BEAUTIFUL AND DOLL LIKE!? :mad::mad::mad:

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Originally Posted by Morphiana

IS EVERYONE IN THIS WORLD BEAUTIFUL AND DOLL LIKE!? :mad::mad::mad:

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Yes, even you. :D

I'd rather them focus within the existing races rather than further spread themselves thin making even more races.

I would change my character's race as soon as possible if a mermaid race was playable (and I love my Elezen girl), but sadly I don't think it's possible because of trousers and shoes

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Originally Posted by Jynx

I'd rather them focus within the existing races rather than further spread themselves thin making even more races.

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I agree with this sentiment, but only because I know any additional race we get is going to essentially be Miqo'te/Hyur 2.0.

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Originally Posted by Jynx

I'd rather them focus within the existing races rather than further spread themselves thin making even more races.

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What would you do to improve the existing races?

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Originally Posted by Leep

What would you do to improve the existing races?

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What I think he means is stuff like more sub-races/clans within the already existing ones, which will obviously have their own flavor, facial features, and other such things.

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Originally Posted by Ovenmitts

That's kind of what I was hoping for with au ra. I mean their concept art, especially for the males, was very tribal.

http://livedoor.blogimg.jp/umadori07...f/cfe35148.jpg

Gorgeous design aesthetic.

I have no idea what they were thinking with the girls, but I wish they at least made them look more compatible with such tall men. The goth designs with the crazy forehead horns was alright in concepts, but even then still looked too human in comparison to me. :/

If they made male au ra have something more like a roe body with less thick arms and legs, and stretched slightly thinner like, I'd get behind that.

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Well considering the fact that two out of the seven Great Wyrms of the First Brood haven't been introduced, it could be possible that they might make this a playable race in the future and have them be descended from one of those two wyrms, but this is just me making theories.

As someone with a great respect for artist i can't help but feel people are forgetting the amount of emotion our characters have come to convey over the course of this expansion. While some races can be argued are nearly identical to humans in cosplay it can't be said that certain times in some more ... poignant scenes the depth emotion made not only by our characters but by those around us is not easy work by any stretch.

To say (rather flippantly) that bestial races should be added is tantamount to asking the development team to go back to ARR and re code every cut scene to have a race with no lips/ multiple eyes/ extra limbs/ snout/ ect... not only fit the setting of the game in but also plausibly express human reactions to developing scenarios/ story elements.

That's before the gear, mount, character interactions (to include marriages, two seat mounts, ect...), animations, ect... The list really does go on and on, there is a reason for it all, a design concept that is being followed. Other games have these options, there is a reason why we choose to play this one.


the assets are easy enough to find by all means photoshop one of these guys into the CS at the end of "The Vault" and remember a smile better suits a hero...
http://i.neoseeker.com/neo_image/525...ation_crop.jpg

I just want the Kimahri race to come to FFXIV with male and female versions of them. It would be completely different from our current cat race, and I think lore between those twos differences would be very fun. cx

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Originally Posted by Leep

I never got that argument. Aren't these races the same from 11? What about the hundreds of cameos of enemies, allies and such that appear in FFXIV?



I hooope.

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The Miqo'te in FF 11 are different to the FF14 counter parts. FF 11 Miqo'te was more cat like when it comes to their body's ears, face, arms, feet and so forth.

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Originally Posted by Blackcanary

The Miqo'te in FF 11 are different to the FF14 counter parts. FF 11 Miqo'te was more cat like when it comes to their body's ears, face, arms, feet and so forth.

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Mithra (11's "Miqo'te) had the same human body as the other races. Other then their ears, faces, and tails, they were exactly like female Humes (11's "Hyur").