If we are going to have another short race, I would prefer it to be the short viera shown in the concept art. It'd be taller than a lalafell, but shorter than female au ras.
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I still feel Viera would be a welcome addition to FFXIV, While many argue they lack uniqueness, I would say that is one of the main reasons they should be implemented. On the whole The FF series is known for it's use of impossible beautiful characters, two decades later and they still go with this standard.
Dissidia FF
Asking them to deviate from what they have always done begs the question, is the Final Fantasy aesthetic something you really enjoy? Yes there are instances of more monstrous races throughout the series, however they to a one are not main characters of title representations of any FF i can recall (by all means, if you know of a beastmen centric Ff, enlighten me.)
in my opinion Viera fit this aesthetic, they belong beside the current warriors of light, one only need look at previous art assets to see the trend is not abandoned, indeed it has over these many years only strengthened.
1.0 FFXIV
2.0 FFXIV
3.0 FFXIV
4.0
There is cohesion there, a nod to past FF entries and an adherence to an aesthetic that as a fan i have always enjoyed from FF titles. There is a reason why they chose to create the "Return to Ivalice" content, it pulls at our sense of nostalgia, no matter what the story, setting, system, era, you know your in a FF title. Why should Viera not belong?
FFXIV FATE Viera concept art
FFXII Fran
Lalafell are gnomes. Dwarves are stocky and the opposite of childlike (which would actually be different and offer players who want to play a short race that doesn't look like a child or waifu another option).
More different than another "-mimi" race that happens to be tall and slender, anyway.
No thanks. We need a short race that isn't cute by default and doesn't look like a child.
Why does Ivalice = Viera, though? Why not the Rev (probably requires less work than Viera), Bangaa, Nu Mou, I.Moogle and Seeq? (excluding Gria because Au Ra are pretty much wingless and earless versions of them). Dunno if I missed any others, but there's more to Ivalice than just Viera.
If that's what you're going to focus on, sure.
I would welcome Viera in either a short, or tall iteration. I just have one more thing to say. Ivalice moogles!
You may look to images i posted earlier and my entire post for that matter as to why i believe Viera are more believable than Rev, Bangaa, Nu Mou, Moogle, Seeq. They simply do not fit the aesthetic of main characters in FF games, you may believe other wise however i would remind you that the story telling in FFXIV does use facial expressions to convey story elements, could you say for certain the same level of emotion can be garnered fro a Seeq? What pray tell does a Bangaa look like when told "A smile better suits a hero." Do you feel it's plausible to spend resources on character races few will bother playing when more sensible, popular, better received races can be implemented? How much work would need to go in to a Nu Mou two seater mount?
To say nothing of Dwarves... in fantasy one of the most popular but least played races across many fantasy styled mmorpg's, unless you count the disturbing trend of grizzled war veteran male dwarf and loli bait females...
Arche Age Dwarves
I ask again, if the established aesthetic of the Final Fantasy series does not meet your exacting standards why play FFXIV? There are games that let you play as monstrous races WoW, GW2, Arch Age to name a few. Options to play everything from Orcs to Dwarves, to large bipedal Canine inspired even space goats... However i play FFXIV because none of those games have the story, character presentation, character interaction, emotion conveyed through facial expression (while not perfect, is loads better than perpetual Worgen snarl...)
This scene in particular, you would have me believe could be replicated with a Seeq?
I feel thats a bold face lie sir. The facial expressions our characters are able to produce are important enough to put work into, the task of making that attempt with a beastial face would be both herculean and unfair, particularly when considering just how much of the player base would actually use it. Remember the census is out the race distribution shows clear what is most picked when making avatars in the world of FFXIV.
2015 race census
Im not against a new race but first thing first please allow us to create half-elezen like Alisae and Alphinaud.
I want one !
I'd honestly like to see Viera added before Dwarves. I feel like they would fit a bit better, since I can't recall FF ever adding dwarves ever.
That said, I cannot help but imagine if FFXIV does make dwarves playable, it will not be what people are thinking.
People are probably thinking of this:
http://entropymag.org/wp-content/upl...rf-fighter.jpg
When SE will give us this: (For any who don't recognize, Kili from The Hobbit, one of the Dwarves)
https://www.cosplayhouse.com/images/...rsion-01-2.jpg
Absolutely do NOT add this as a new "race" to FFXIV. If you are going to add a new race, make it unique. The amount of people frothing over Hyurs with bunny ears on their heads is absolutely astounding to me. Cat people, dragon people, and now bunny people? Are you people so boring that you can't let SE develop unique and cool things? Seriously this has to stop. Stop making FFXIV vanilla and bland. #noviera
SE -did- develop a new and unique race. We call it the Au Ra. Its comparatively underplayed to other races. Lots of females of course, but males are about as rare as Female Roe's at this point.
Personally, -I- want to see the game succeed and flourish and prosper. -I- want SE to add a popular race with a lot of demand that will draw new players to the game and increase its longevity. I can understand why some people want something new and original and different, but when they act like self-righteous jerks and dismiss anything popular as, 'Boring,' they come across as self-entitled hipsters trying to soothe their own desire for individuality by imposing it on others.
Stop making FFXIV into your personal art crusade. #addviera
You tell people to 'stop making FFXIV into your personal art crusade' but yet you demand they add a race?
BTW no one is telling riveira is boring because its popular, we are just telling riveira is boring because it *IS* boring, we alredy have an animal ear race, we dont need two, specialy when the one we have alredy looks a lot like the one you want.
LMAO, the hypocrisy is strong in this one.
Au Ra is Hyur with scales and horns. It's not unique at all or iconic. Look at other AAA online RPGs like the GW2 races. They are all very unique. That's the kind of cool artistic design I am talking about. Not Hyur with more skin or more ears or more whatever. That's what I am saying. Our expectations should be higher. This is Square Enix for cripes sakes, surely they are able to be artistically ambitious. It's not some 2-bit studio trying to make a buck. This is AAA development and we should expect AAA content. Also, Au Ra aren't played much because their animations are terrible and they look dumb. Do you think bunny ears are going to solve this? Don't make me choke on my own laughter.
Better looking dumb than being a generic catgirl >: P
Nevermind. There is actually no need to add Viera as a "brand new" race into the game. Just extend the Miqo'te race with bunny ears and stuff. I hope SE will add more costumization options into the character creation.
I'm not demanding a race at all. I support the addition of Viera, but it won't ruin my gaming experience if they're not added. Heck, I even supported the idea of Dwarves.
Saying Viera are, "Boring," is not a fact, its an opinion. To you and others, they are boring. To other people, they are interesting. Considering they were the top pick on polls taken by players for the new race, wanted over the Au Ra even, I would say you and those like you are in the minority.
Firstly, they're more like Elezen with horns (Males) and Miqo'te with horns (Females), but are still different.
If you want a game where the races are all very visually different like GW2 or WoW, go play those games. The setting of FFXIV specifically pits us against, 'Beast Tribe,' races, the monstrous races. That is why they are not playable. Perhaps SE will add a playable, 'Monstrous,' race in the future. Given all the previews we saw for new races, it doesn't seem to even be a consideration. Rather than asking for something they don't intend to give at this time, I'd say focus your energies on other parts of the game.
Well I mean, I'm not sure what else there is to focus on. You're telling me you personally want dwarves, and it's like... Ok?
I'm not a fan, but I wouldn't tell you to stop liking it or whatever.
You could make a thread for it and see if people would be interested in a stocky dwarf race. I highly doubt it, but you could try. Your post will just get buried here anyway, Mr. Bara man.
You suggested that if we were to get another short race, it should be the cute adorable childlike rabbit people. I said no, because we already have a cute, childlike race. This is why I suggested dwarves because they are not childlike in appearance.
I'm not desperate for a new race, so I won't be making a thread. I only bring up dwarves because they'd be different. More so than viera, anyway (it would also be neat to see what else SE could make, as Luca is pretty much the only dwarf they have decent art of that isn't the FFIX dwarves).
http://vignette2.wikia.nocookie.net/...20121012004238
Not at all loli-like in appearance.
There's also this thread...
If they can get a Yagudo from FFXI to smile/show any kind of emotion (they did and it was adorable), then yes. I see the Census as a bullet to the foot rather than support for argument. If SE stick to following the Census and make races based on what is popular, we're only going to get short cute waifish waifu females (eventually to the Elin point) and whatever for males.
...Or you could continue to play dumb/be dishonest about that data.
And that thread is a unified 'No' to Viera.
I'm not forgetting, but it's still a unified no. We can't make polls on the FFXIV forums (where they would be fair. Strawpolls can be 'abused' and therefore cannot be trusted).
Whatever floats your boat.
People who wanted something unique? :D. I mean like I said before seems like a lot want Viera so that's something. Maybe a lot who don't I'm not sure that appears harder to quantify at the moment - maybe SE should do an in depth poll for the next race.
But.. yeah other MMOs that are competitors to FFXIV have provided far more unique options, so I think people are seeing that and thinking "why not here!". For WoW I might suggest that it's massive pauldrons and slightly painted on chest, but still there is Charr/pretty much anyone on the Horde side, Terra panda bears, big demon men, etc etc. In comparisons FFXIV has very low variation from the regular human look.
I suppose if they really emphasize the Vierra we have seen, like the skin, features, hair, something more akin to FFXI's Mithra vs what happened to Miqote in FFXIV.. it might feel more unique than "usual" but I'd still imagine a strong argument that you could have gone further. Like Au Ra original design vs the very humanoid with skin problems and ultima horn attachments we got.
To reiterate from last time though, just because I think SE is really lacking in unique races doesn't mean I think all the races are horrible - just that it feels lacking and comparatively speaking also again feels lacking.
I like people's suggestion that they go over all the races and add more options, maybe more clans, even interbreed. Since it seems Yoshida/FFXIV is loathe to add too much that will change the formula in gear (would cost a bit more time, when they accommodate for the shapes - although to argue it seems they don't do that all the time since tail holes, ear placement, and horns don't always fit right).
If SE did the poll right now, it would be the majority leaning towards Viera. No if's no buts, it doesn't matter how many people say otherwise, the silent majority out there would vote for it.
I am also all for it, lil ones as one tribe, big ones as the other. gogogo SE want me to buy 5.0, add them. Money talks.
It would, its high time SE do another poll, we've had a few years of the new formula now that ARR-HW was, its time to see what the community wants, race wise, class wise and for the game.
I meant also include a part that shows dislike for something, like it's the most liked and disliked - an argument that has popped up a few times. The whole bunny ear thing has already been voted on and was most voted, but I just meant it's also been suggested that it's a contentious popular choice.
Like 50% want bunny, 35% hate bunnies, meanwhile 35% might like kupo nuts and only 2% dislike them.
Anyway, if we use ONLY popular vote then I assume Vierra would win too, it pretty much already has since that last poll was done. However, it would be nice if SE could add polls in game like I've seen in other games. Could be really freaking cute to get like a monthly or so poll from the moogle mail, get like some cute reward at the end (nothing OP, just a qauint offer). I just find the data is really fun to look at, most favorite quest, etc etc.
Iirc last poll was advertised forum only, which isn't the best spread.. Perhaps in game might get more attention.
There was an in-game race poll back in 1.0 that I had participated in. I voted for mammalian demi-beastmen, obviously because viera was used in the example.
I don't really see a point in voting to dislike something. Obviously, players will dislike the race they didn't vote for, so I feel it would be a bit redundant. Just keep it simple, and make a poll that shows which race is the most desired.
I really like your idea about the moogle-mail poll thing. I'd like to see this.
Yep! That was exactly the poll I was talking about, the bunny ear one haha :D. Iirc it was a strong lead compared to the other options (mammalian obviously won). I was just noting that another poster commented that Viera is probably the most disliked option too, which we would have difficulty proving. Of course as I said before I just really want something not 98% hume / hyur.
I probably cared more against Viera in the past but meh it does feel fitting now that we're having a strong Ivalice fandom coming our way. That and I've seen a lot of people really want it - sort of eroded my care against it. The only thing I care for now is that either SE gives us new customization options including eyebrows, or at some point in the recent years (5? years) a race that doesn't look like "human, but different ears, and maybe tail".
I would love to see polling information too :D. Like what's your favorite leveling content? SE can also pull what people do the most, could be interesting to see if people love X but do Y more often. Also, even if they don't act on it.. it sort of gives the feeling that they're interested.. haha :P. Besides that I just really want to see the game (NPCs) and developers use my mail more often. I loved mognet in FFIX, moogle usefulness in FFXI, and just want to see moogles be used more XD.
My only request if Viera is made is that they try really hard to keep every unique feature, and perhaps add a few or in a different clan an re-imagination of it with something a bit different. Bring in some new hairs, like Frans, of course they should have default option for fingernails (not have to use items for it).
Because if they get lazy at all on Viera then it will really just feel like a slight different version of Miqote. So. . don't be lazy on it! lol. Of course I assume people who want Viera would prefer if SE didn't get lazy on it, but it is a fear of mine. Yoshida, at least in the past, seemed mindful of costs. Good thing as producer, maybe creativity limiting mindset as a developer though.
Yeah, I would want SE to take great care in designing the viera, and would love to see Fran's hair included in ffxiv. It looks like due to some limitations, they can't design a race with digitigrade feet, but that's fine. I would be ok with normal feet. Doesn't bother me. As long as they base the viera off the concept art they drew. When you mention wanting an ffxiv re-imagination of the viera race, I think of the short viera in their concept art. It seems like that was going to be their re-imagination of it for ffxiv. (Although, I would prefer BOTH tall and short. As I've said before, if they could only develop one, I would be ok with either tall or short).
I wonder what kind of new characteristic they would give the viera in their re-imagination. For example, au ra's have limbal rings. I wonder what viera would have.
I agree to a point, another short race would be detrimental since it would be regulated to the aforementioned "short cute waifish waifu females (eventually to the Elin point) and whatever for males." However this i feel only further illustrates the idea that we could use the Ivalice interpretation of Viera to balance out the sea of cat/ demon girls we have running around. Not only were they presented as a strong matriarchal society, they were a serious, stoic race that was both elegant and ferocious (that's right SE some how made bunny girls scary) they are uniquely Final Fantasy in that regard.
SE missed the opportunity with the Xaela Au Ra , they had a chance to cover this very aspect woven into their lore. The aspect of the warlike Dusk mother could have been deeply explored and rooted in the presentation of female Xaela had they be allowed to look more like proposed concept art.
Proposed Au Ra Concept art
I see Viera as a second chance at this, a way to break the monotony of tiny waifu sea far to commonly seen in Erozea, and a chance to enjoy a mature, elegant, refined and cultured option. While you may understandably see more of the same, i see a natural progression presented in the setting of and through the Final Fantasy series.
I truly feel the "Return to Ivalice" event will be nothing more than something to the effect of the recently completed "Shadows of Mhach" story line. That being said, I do hope our we see call backs to Ivalice centric themes through out. A Vieran npc would be epic, a story in which we are teased at the possibility of their integration would be even more so (highly doubtful but one can dream).
To be clear. I do not want the child like race, i feel that what was presented was just that, a child version of proposed Viera in FFXIV.
Yes to adult Viera.
No to baby bunnies. Child like races invite more trouble than they worth and open up censor issues that could, would be detrimental to FFXIV as a whole. Better to leave them as NPC's persistant in the world with limited interactions as we have currently.