So... I kind of wish there was an Au Ra clan, that was just “human”...

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07-28-2021, 08:37 AM
Terin

So... I kind of wish there was an Au Ra clan, that was just “human”...

I’ll admit, I still don’t like how “uptight” their regular standing animation is, but I personally hold the Au Ra as my overall favorite race. I love the lore behind the Xaela (and hope we see more one day), but I also think they just have a good overall silhouette, as they look pretty damn good in just about any type of armor (I play a male, so I often find Hyur male animations too effeminate, and Roe and Hrothgar are too chonky).

Problem is... well, I created my Au Ra with the express purpose of becoming a Dark Knight. And the built in horns and scales look quite good with most DRK armor. But since I started experimenting with different Jobs, and started considering new types of glamours... well, part of me feels like I’m sort of painted in a corner.

For one, you can barely even SEE their earrings. But because of their horns and sort of “face mask”, or “jaw armor”, they feel sort of OBLIGATED to wear certain colors. Not to mention, the horns kind of clash with a number of actual helmets (the Helm of Light, for example, looks kind of ridiculous on an Au Ra). And it’s hard to explain, but it’s like there’s no “chill” look for them, my guy just kind of always looks like he’s armored up for battle, even when I try to glamour regular “clothes”.

All that is to say, there’s a part of me that would kind of dig a more sort of “human” type of Au Ra.

I maybe wouldn’t mind keeping the Limbal eyes (the colors are so bright! I wish all characters’ eyes were brighter or could glow), and wouldn’t necessarily mind keeping their hairstyles (despite having spikes and horns and stuff), but I’d love to just keep their overall body type, without feeling like their features dominate their look quite so much.

Just my two cents!
07-28-2021, 08:40 AM
weebtext

Have you tried Elezen?
07-28-2021, 08:43 AM
LisSquid

You want a human Xaela? Then just play a hyur raised by some Xaela clan.
07-28-2021, 08:44 AM
Terin

Quote:

Originally Posted by weebtext

Have you tried Elezen?

I’m admittedly SUPER picky, but yeah, I feel like Elezen are too frail looking. Moreover, they aren’t just “thin”, but actually look a bit “out of shape” in many types of clothing, to me. I came from WoW originally, so I think I just prefer more muscular-looking characters, and the Au Ra have decent muscle but also good proportions. Roe and Hrothgar are muscular, but unusually top-heavy, which makes them seem a bit goofy, imo.
07-28-2021, 08:48 AM
Theodric

You could always just play a Midlander or Highlander, dress them in tribal attire and claim that he was kidnapped by the Buduga and now fights on their behalf.

I'd rather keep the unique features of Raen and Xaela intact.
07-28-2021, 08:49 AM
Soge01

The only thing I find jarring about Au'ra males is there regular running animation. It looks like they are trying to sprint as fast as they can while somehow moving as slow as possible. It's pretty weird looking. xD
07-28-2021, 08:55 AM
Lauront

Quote:

Originally Posted by Terin

I’m admittedly SUPER picky, but yeah, I feel like Elezen are too frail looking. Moreover, they aren’t just “thin”, but actually look a bit “out of shape” in many types of clothing, to me. I came from WoW originally, so I think I just prefer more muscular-looking characters, and the Au Ra have decent muscle but also good proportions. Roe and Hrothgar are muscular, but unusually top-heavy, which makes them seem a bit goofy, imo.

The game is full of little compromises like that, unfortunately - for example, if I were to pick a Highlander, I'd get a similar body type but I just don't like their facial picks (compared to the 2 very handsome ones Au Ra get); so much so that if I am playing a hyur, I'll overlook the build and play a derplander instead as they have much better versatility for designing a unique face, and I just like their animations better.

With Au Ra I like their level of muscularity, albeit I'd have liked it to go a bit further even. Still, it's good, just wish they could set their muscle tone via a slider... hopefully something to come in the future if/when the engine sees an upgrade.

Personally, I like their more "demonic" traits, but I can understand why some people might want to do without given how they interact with the armour, or simply if they don't envision their character possessing such traits.
07-28-2021, 08:58 AM
Ayuhra

I wish I could choose to wear earrings at the tips of my horns.
07-28-2021, 09:05 AM
Terin

I agree, I’d have personally maybe gone even a touch MORE muscular with the Au Ra, but they look good in most stuff all the same.

But yeah, just kind of bothersome that when trying to play around with different “looks”, those built in traits feel like they sort of “lock you in” to looking a certain way. If anything, I’d almost enjoy trying to “cosplay” other characters, but there again, those horns and scales just make everything look sort of “like a Dark Knight” to me.

I suppose in my mind, the Au Ra is probably the closest body type to the OG Warrior of Light.
07-28-2021, 09:06 AM
Soge01

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ayuhra

I wish I could choose to wear earrings at the tips of my horns.

Oh my god, I completely forgot about this! I feel the same way. My Au'ra Xaela has the insect mandible like horns and I can't see her earrings at all unless I either wear short hair that shows off narrow parts of the horns (where the earrings are hooked at) or wear earrings that are just long enough to be barely visible with mid and long length hair.
07-28-2021, 09:49 AM
Iscah

Quote:

Originally Posted by Terin

But yeah, just kind of bothersome that when trying to play around with different “looks”, those built in traits feel like they sort of “lock you in” to looking a certain way.

Having multiple characters, I feel like that goes for all of them to varying extents. No one character looks good in all outfits; you have to figure out what works for them and suits their looks.

That said, if you want to look relatively "human" as an Au Ra, you don't go for Xaela with their dark scales and demonic eyes. They're designed to look inhuman.

Raen colour scheme makes a big difference, as does your choice of face.
07-28-2021, 09:51 AM
Ayuhra

Quote:

Originally Posted by Iscah

Having multiple characters, I feel like that goes for all of them to varying extents. No one character looks good in all outfits; you have to figure out what works for them and suits their looks.

That said, if you want to look relatively "human" as an Au Ra, you don't go for Xaela with their dark scales and demonic eyes. They're designed to look inhuman.

Raen colour scheme makes a big difference, as does your choice of face.

It's be Au Ra or Miqo'te and look amazing in some things or be a male Hyur Midlander and look fine in everything.
07-28-2021, 09:53 AM
Iscah

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ayuhra

I wish I could choose to wear earrings at the tips of my horns.

I think the problem is that earrings appear at a fixed position for the whole race, so they have to be placed at a point that equally exists on all four horn types. So it gets placed near the base before they spread in different directions.

At least they have some built-in decorations that show on the outer edges of the horns.

(I feel like earrings should be uncomfortable for them anyway and would make unpleasant sound vibrations through the horns.)
07-28-2021, 10:29 AM
grinkdaboy

Quote:

Originally Posted by Terin

I’ll admit, I still don’t like how “uptight” their regular standing animation is, but I personally hold the Au Ra as my overall favorite race. I love the lore behind the Xaela (and hope we see more one day), but I also think they just have a good overall silhouette, as they look pretty damn good in just about any type of armor (I play a male, so I often find Hyur male animations too effeminate, and Roe and Hrothgar are too chonky).

Problem is... well, I created my Au Ra with the express purpose of becoming a Dark Knight. And the built in horns and scales look quite good with most DRK armor. But since I started experimenting with different Jobs, and started considering new types of glamours... well, part of me feels like I’m sort of painted in a corner.

For one, you can barely even SEE their earrings. But because of their horns and sort of “face mask”, or “jaw armor”, they feel sort of OBLIGATED to wear certain colors. Not to mention, the horns kind of clash with a number of actual helmets (the Helm of Light, for example, looks kind of ridiculous on an Au Ra). And it’s hard to explain, but it’s like there’s no “chill” look for them, my guy just kind of always looks like he’s armored up for battle, even when I try to glamour regular “clothes”.

All that is to say, there’s a part of me that would kind of dig a more sort of “human” type of Au Ra.

I maybe wouldn’t mind keeping the Limbal eyes (the colors are so bright! I wish all characters’ eyes were brighter or could glow), and wouldn’t necessarily mind keeping their hairstyles (despite having spikes and horns and stuff), but I’d love to just keep their overall body type, without feeling like their features dominate their look quite so much.

Just my two cents!

well have i got the race for you: hyur
07-28-2021, 01:03 PM
SturmChurro

Color clashing is one of the main reasons I do not play xaela. Raen has a much more neutral tone, and can go with more glamour options and dyes.
07-28-2021, 01:15 PM
Duskane

I find it easier to Match Xaelas colors as the horn and tail doenst stick out as much compared to Raen color
07-28-2021, 01:37 PM
LisSquid

Quote:

Originally Posted by SturmChurro

Color clashing is one of the main reasons I do not play xaela. Raen has a much more neutral tone, and can go with more glamour options and dyes.

It would have been so much better if they just made the scales black and white. This dark navy and burnt eggshell design they went with really makes even choosing skin color a tour of disappointment. What is the point of that brilliant red skin color if it just looks like a Fisher Price toy when matched with Xaela scales?
07-28-2021, 02:11 PM
Infindox

Quote:

Originally Posted by Soge01

The only thing I find jarring about Au'ra males is there regular running animation. It looks like they are trying to sprint as fast as they can while somehow moving as slow as possible. It's pretty weird looking. xD

They run like Crash Bandicoot.
07-28-2021, 02:16 PM
Iscah

Quote:

Originally Posted by LisSquid

It would have been so much better if they just made the scales black and white. This dark navy and burnt eggshell design they went with really makes even choosing skin color a tour of disappointment. What is the point of that brilliant red skin color if it just looks like a Fisher Price toy when matched with Xaela scales?

I like the eggshell colour. White would look strange.
07-28-2021, 02:20 PM
Duskane

Quote:

Originally Posted by Infindox

They run like Crash Bandicoot.

people say this like its a bad thing.
07-28-2021, 04:13 PM
Lersayil

Quote:

Originally Posted by Infindox

They run like Crash Bandicoot.

I hate you so much. I can't unsee that now!
07-28-2021, 04:30 PM
Tsiron

I'm sorry they're not (entirely) to your liking OP but I'm basically of the opposite opinion and wish Au Ra were even less human... More scales (and ideally more natural looking), bigger tails etc.
07-28-2021, 04:45 PM
Lersayil

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tsiron

I'm sorry they're not (entirely) to your liking OP but I'm basically of the opposite opinion and wish Au Ra were even less human... More scales (and ideally more natural looking), bigger tails etc.

*sigh* I still get sad sometimes when I come across the original concept art for them.
07-28-2021, 06:40 PM
KageTokage

I noticed a lot of people make their Au Ra females as scale-free as possible.

I guess I'm one of the weird ones who actually likes the scales and mostly use shorts/short-sleeved glams so I can see them.
07-28-2021, 10:05 PM
Jin-

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lersayil

*sigh* I still get sad sometimes when I come across the original concept art for them.

One of many concepts I bet. Who knows if it's the first one or 100th they showed to us
07-28-2021, 10:21 PM
Caitlyn

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tsiron

I'm sorry they're not (entirely) to your liking OP but I'm basically of the opposite opinion and wish Au Ra were even less human... More scales (and ideally more natural looking), bigger tails etc.

The amount of scales are good. Sometimes I wish I could add some more colors to them (just a few golden scales among the normal bright scales).

Did somebody noticed, that the scales are matching the skin tone just a tiny bit? The scales of Raen are different if you have characters with different skin tones.

I would like to have claws (like in the original concept arts) and a bigger/longer tail. And to have the earings on the tip of the horns.
07-28-2021, 10:30 PM
Soge01

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lersayil

I hate you so much. I can't unsee that now!

A Paladin Au'ra could replicate Crash's spinning move. xD
07-28-2021, 10:34 PM
Caitlyn

Quote:

Originally Posted by Soge01

A Paladin Au'ra could replicate Crash's spinning move. xD

Its Au Ra. Not Au'ra. Apostrophes belongs to Miqo'te.
07-29-2021, 01:06 AM
Infindox

Quote:

Originally Posted by Duskane

people say this like its a bad thing.

I don't think it's bad, I think it's funny lol
07-29-2021, 01:09 AM
Infindox

Quote:

Originally Posted by KageTokage

I noticed a lot of people make their Au Ra females as scale-free as possible.

I guess I'm one of the weird ones who actually likes the scales and mostly use shorts/short-sleeved glams so I can see them.

I love the scales, actually, and enjoy seeing them when I'm wearing short sleeves.
I've said this before, I will say it again and will continue to say it: people who mod off the scales and horns/tail off of au ra becuase they want "that look" (usually for an Asian look) are cowards :)