Suggestion: Differentiate Playable Race's Tribes More

I was going to necro my More Character Creation Options, Please but decided it could use it's own thread.

Looking at the two Hyur Tribes, Midlander and Highlander, they are so physically different from one another, they even have their own separate face option and hairstyles from each other.

Then we look at the other races...

Every other race in the game only has a few cosmetic differences between their two tribes. Stuff like one having slit eyes, while the other doesn't, one having natural skin tones, while the other having cooler colored tones, etc.

I know that Hyurs are the wide-spread-filler race and they need the differences to help make the world not look so repetitive but I would like to suggest that the races are given more differences between their two tribes. It could something as simple as giving them different faces and hair or more complex like giving them more different physics.

For example, Elezen:
The lore says that Duskwight have lived for centuries underground and have keen hearing from it, so why not make them shorter, to make traveling in underground passages easier and give them more exaggerated ears? I would also think that their eyesight would have to adapt to being in such a dark conditions, so maybe larger pupils to help capture more light.
As for the Wildwoods, they are said to have exceptional sight, so maybe their eyes could be larger.

http://jolstatic.fr/www/captures/648/8/88878.png

Would that be different?

or this one?

http://nwn.blogs.com/.a/6a00d8341bf7...f699970b-500wi

Can't wait to see the next race, like a rabbit.. or.. close to the same other ones..

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Originally Posted by KingOfAbyss

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I feel like you didn't read the OP. The OP is asking for more differences in currently existing races, not new races.

For example, my character is Duskwight, but you can't tell that at all because, other than skin tone, there's basically no difference between a Wldwood and Duskwight.

All races' tribes should have been different from each other as Highlanders vs Midlanders.

Based on lore, the Xaela females are probably the biggest disappointment. Xaela are tribes of hardy hunters, gatherers and warriors (each with different culture) yet the females are just as cute and dainty as their Raen cousins. The males could've been a bit more muscular, too.

I agree it would have been a lot better if they were designed with more differentiation from the start, but it's a feature that would be a lot harder to implement now after the game's been out a while and people already have established characters. For instance, taking your example of Duskwights being shorter, that might have made a good differentiation if it was established that way when the game came out, but what about players who have been playing a Duskwight for a couple years now based on the current designs and don't want their character shorter? If changing the options now, SE would have to be careful about ensuring that current options remain viable along with the new ones.

Oh, if the next expansion brings another race, though, I'd definitely support a greater tribal difference there than we've seen in most of the existing races. Or another possibility would be a third tribe of existing races rather than a new race. That would be another place they could add more differentiation. (I'd really welcome a Miqo'te variant whose features are more cat-like.)

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Originally Posted by Niwashi

I agree it would have been a lot better if they were designed with more differentiation from the start, but it's a feature that would be a lot harder to implement now after the game's been out a while and people already have established characters. For instance, taking your example of Duskwights being shorter, that might have made a good differentiation if it was established that way when the game came out, but what about players who have been playing a Duskwight for a couple years now based on the current designs and don't want their character shorter? If changing the options now, SE would have to be careful about ensuring that current options remain viable along with the new ones.)

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Then just give everyone who's been playing for a month+ a free fantasia. :D

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Originally Posted by Mimilu

Then just give everyone who's been playing for a month+ a free fantasia. :D

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That doesn't resolve the issue of those who do NOT want to change their character to whatever plausible lore-related sttandard their character's tribe would be adopting.

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Originally Posted by CyrilLucifer

I feel like you didn't read the OP. The OP is asking for more differences in currently existing races, not new races.

For example, my character is Duskwight, but you can't tell that at all because, other than skin tone, there's basically no difference between a Wldwood and Duskwight.

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I think I clearly read it and got it.

The only thing we can make different is how big our ears can be for example. Still, 2 female elezen would still look pretty close, and Hyur and miqo'te well.. beside the tails, which can be resized. But who wants a small tail?

I proposed these mecha as a way to feel a bit more different than human - beast races. Even if the Bunny race would come, it still would be the same.. looking too close to each other.. just like the unisex, they want everything to blend in, instead of making us feeling unique. That's where the clothes can set us apart.. a bit..

Eyes do not need to be big to have a better view.

I do agree with OP, too identical. But it's been like that, and I doubt it's QoL for SE to do something about it >.<

It's a good idea, but If they would give each tribe their own unique physique like how it is with Midlanders and Highlanders, gear modeling comes to question.
Instead of 7 clans to work with, 13 types of models because of gender (except Lalas because both male and female have basically the same bodies) they would work with 24 models.

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Originally Posted by Ykronix

That doesn't resolve the issue of those who do NOT want to change their character to whatever plausible lore-related standard their character's tribe would be adopting.

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They could use the Fantasia to change into what they want to be then. :D
As it is right now, most of the tribes are just the same thing painted differently, with maybe one or two things pasted on.
Using the Duskwights as an example, they are literally Wildwoods with their skin painted blue or grey AND don't even have the luxury of having anything else to differentiate them, like the other races' tribes.
With this, we could have more diversity.

My static was talking about this a couple days ago. The answer is simple, the designs were made by Japanese for Japanese. We are not interested in crazy look races, it has to be either 1. cool 2. cute 3. cute 4. cute. That's probably why Au'Ra were designed to look like humanoids instead of actual lizard people.

I agree with Niwashi, this would have been a very cool feature if it had been included from the beginning of the game, but not now after the various clans are all well established.

Running with the ongoing example of Elezens; even if all Duskwight features were given to Wildwoods so it would be possible to keep a current Duskwight's features the same, it would still force a change in the character's lore. Even if my character looked identical to how he is now, I wouldn't want him to be anything else but a Wildwood and I'm sure there are Duskwights who feel the same.

But again, Niwashi has a great solution. I would love to see a third clan added to the various races.

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Originally Posted by WellFooled

But again, Niwashi has a great solution. I would love to see a third clan added to the various races.

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The problem with adding a third tribe is that you would then have two tribes that are almost identical and a third that is far more different.

Would it perhaps be a good compromise to include a differentiating look to each clan as a choice in character creation (sort of a features check box)? Thus if players want the current look of the races, they can, and those that want something different can also choose to do so. It may be more complicated, but it could alleviate the troubles that would come from such an addition.

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Originally Posted by KaijinRhada

Would it perhaps be a good compromise to include a differentiating look to each clan as a choice in character creation (sort of a features check box)? Thus if players want the current look of the races, they can, and those that want something different can also choose to do so. It may be more complicated, but it could alleviate the troubles that would come from such an addition.

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That's not a bad idea. :-D
They could add two unique faces to each tribe, putting them on par with male Midlanders, who have six faces already. >w>

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Originally Posted by myahele

All races' tribes should have been different from each other as Highlanders vs Midlanders.

Based on lore, the Xaela females are probably the biggest disappointment. Xaela are tribes of hardy hunters, gatherers and warriors (each with different culture) yet the females are just as cute and dainty as their Raen cousins. The males could've been a bit more muscular, too.

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The biggest letdown is what Au Ra were originally going to look like and what we got.

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

http://i.imgur.com/eDNCL9D.jpg

http://cdn4.dualshockers.com/wp-cont...5-22_29_38.jpg

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Originally Posted by Magis

The biggest letdown is what Au Ra were originally going to look like and what we got.

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

http://i.imgur.com/eDNCL9D.jpg

http://cdn4.dualshockers.com/wp-cont...5-22_29_38.jpg

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To be honest, there's not much change from the females coming from the third picture aside from looking very voluptuous (though, we've been lied before with concept art of other races not looking like their in-game counterpart). The second one is literally a succubus.

I uderstand why they didn't go with the first one, lore wise. It would've been cool if it happened but I'm also fine with Au Ra the way it is now.

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Originally Posted by Mimilu

The problem with adding a third tribe is that you would then have two tribes that are almost identical and a third that is far more different.

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Why is that a problem?

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Originally Posted by Mimilu

That's not a bad idea. :-D
They could add two unique faces to each tribe, putting them on par with male Midlanders, who have six faces already. >w>

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They could also do with a body type selection or something for every race and gender that would be wanting for a clan difference (give something else to Hyur since they already have it?). Alas, limitations, but maybe one day! Maybe... ;-;

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Originally Posted by Magis

The biggest letdown is what Au Ra were originally going to look like and what we got.

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Great find.

Something to remember is that there are designs and aesthetics that don't cross over between the JP and NA mainstream audiences. Trust me when I say there are a lot of designers who do push the envelope on both sides of the Pacific, but you're much more likely to see those in indie games than AAA flagship titles. One look at the original designs and I immediately realize Au'ra would have been unpopular in JP.

I would like different body types too, but understand it is a lot of work to develop distinct body models that appeal to NA and JP design sensibilities. You're basically designing an entirely different race for each one, not to mention completely different sets of armor for all existing armor pieces. It's not impossible, but it is a lot of work and there needs to be a benefit to match. If someone did a study on Xbox users or the NA market and reported that it would increase their subscriptions in NA by 50%, that'd be something to get the execs to sign up on. Otherwise, I'm afraid designers have as much say as we do on the final look of these things.

Somewhat related to the topic of executive meddling: Anyone else remember Vaan from FFXII? SE execs literally forced the character in to the game because they needed a young prettyboy to sell the game in JP, and he's only relevant in the first 5 hours of the story. There's also Mr. Tinkle of Zelda fame... both are pretty much hated in the NA community, but loved in JP.

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Originally Posted by Anova

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Sometimes people forget that this game is Japanese...

But some may say 'We demand more focus for the western audience!'.
But do American developers consider the east in their designs? No.
There is a reason why the 360 and X1 still flops in Japan today.

Gears of War reaction.
NA - GoW FTW, suck on that PS!
JP - Ewww, that guy looks grotesque (pointing at main character).

FFXV Reaction
NA - F**kin homo piece'o boyband ****.
JP - ... Do we get moogles?

A little exaggerated, but you get my point.

As a Japanese person myself, I would have been shocked if that design of Au'Ras made it into the game.

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Originally Posted by myahele

All races' tribes should have been different from each other as Highlanders vs Midlanders.

Based on lore, the Xaela females are probably the biggest disappointment. Xaela are tribes of hardy hunters, gatherers and warriors (each with different culture) yet the females are just as cute and dainty as their Raen cousins. The males could've been a bit more muscular, too.

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By far my biggest issue with the Au Ra.

Xaela should've been large and Raen small, regardless of gender.

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Originally Posted by myahele

All races' tribes should have been different from each other as Highlanders vs Midlanders.

Based on lore, the Xaela females are probably the biggest disappointment. Xaela are tribes of hardy hunters, gatherers and warriors (each with different culture) yet the females are just as cute and dainty as their Raen cousins. The males could've been a bit more muscular, too.

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Miqo'te are largely a tribe of hunters and are as cute and dainty, and that doesn't bother you?
Anyway, female Xaela's slender bodies would make them more suitable as agile hunters.