Trans..mogrifi..ca..shun?? or The Art Of Wearing Clothes You Like With Stats You Like

Amongst the bleak landscape of MMORPGs with churning mill style gear progression wherein treasured items Soon Become Obsolete there is at least one game that has solved this problem, even though it took them 7 years to come up with the solution. For from time to time an individual may form an attachment to certain pieces of what we can refer to as Art Assets!

For example consider this:

http://static.ffxiah.com/images/ffxi...N33O4tcp8P.png

It looks so cool and yet it is so not cool to wear it In Times of Need.

So how about a player can visit a certain NPC and apply the stats of an Equivalent Piece of Gear to the appearance of a Beloved Piece of Obtained Gear? And thus preserve the hard work of Final Fantasy XIV's talented artists across many generations of Final Fantasy XIV content whilst assuring much excitement amongst the playerbase as they ruminate their cosmetic ..cosmos!

Imagine That.

EDIT: You know, I was just thinking about the reason Yoshi-P doesn't like vanity slots. They want to keep the job identity. Well this actually solves that. Look how lame my dragoon looks "now":

http://i.imgur.com/q4qyY.jpg?1

I much prefer the appearance of the AF. Under this system, I could simply "transfer" the appearance of the AF to the gear in the picture, and fully represent my job identity. Problem solved.

I fully agree with and support this idea.
It's necessary.

.dat mods people.... .dat mods.

I'll support this thread, much like I support Buttons' vanity slots thread. Either or, I want control over how I look.

I don't support this, how is a cloth armor going to have the same defense as plated armor. Sorry but no. Also there is materia, just stick the materia on it.

Wait, you can do every fight naked, why do you care about stats? Just wear what you want right now anyways.

I do like it, on BLM I am wearing what looks like a woman's blouse right now, as a Roegadyn that's pretty bad... but I also think it's difficult because the art team puts a lot of effort into creating new item looks for us and as we've seen from games like WoW people will find a look they enjoy and then never change it. Personally, I would like to see it happen but I wouldn't be upset if it never did for the sake of the art team

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Originally Posted by Rokien

I don't support this, how is a cloth armor going to have the same defense as plated armor. Sorry but no. Also there is materia, just stick the materia on it.

Wait, you can do every fight naked, why do you care about stats? Just wear what you want right now anyways.

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Yeah ... true ... but i don't like a system where say for paladin, there's just one or two decent pieces and the majority of paladins you ever run into will be wearing it. Materia melding helps offset this a little, but not entirely. I don't want to see a paladin taking the most epic boss in a blouse either. ... but the current gear options in battle are a little more limited than they should be.

I'd rather just have vanity slots. I don't want to permanently (or even temporarily) change a piece of gear. Vanity slots just seems easier.

I'll have to say, I used to really be against this because it was a "WoW" idea, but it's really grown on me since then.
I really hope they add this.


Edit: I now know WoW didn't come up with it. You can stop replying to this saying which MMO's did what.

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Originally Posted by Rokien

I don't support this, how is a cloth armor going to have the same defense as plated armor. Sorry but no. Also there is materia, just stick the materia on it.

Wait, you can do every fight naked, why do you care about stats? Just wear what you want right now anyways.

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Um no bad Rokien! No you can't do every fight naked. Maybe Ifrit Hard but that's about it. Gear matters a lot now. Also level and class restrictions would still apply so you wouldn't be able to put plated armor on cloth if it was restricted to class. And also, eff you because who cares if I'm wearing cloth armor with "plated armor" defense? What is this anyways? Rokien's Island Retreat of Angry Old Men?

Also to the dev team's recent argument: let's try making AF not suck before thinking you want "jobs to be identified with it". I'd like my job to be identified with my balls if I want. If my party can't tell the difference between a tank and healer with TA01 displayed on the screen God Help Us All.

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Originally Posted by Raldo

I'd rather just have vanity slots. I don't want to permanently (or even temporarily) change a piece of gear. Vanity slots just seems easier.

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This is a lot more work than what I'm suggesting. You know how this dev team is, I would suggest the path of least resistance and then if you want vanity slots later.

I too want to choose the way my character looks. If you want to be anal, take the Aion rules. Cloth can look like other cloth, leather like other leather, mail like other mail.

Wear your cool gear in cities, where stats don't matter.

They design each piece of gear specifically for a reason. If you're wearing a militia cuirass, you should look like you are. Why bother not showing off better gear?

I think it's a fun idea, but I like to see what other people are wearing with out checking. If all you want to do is look cool to yourself you can swap .dats for that. If you want to look cool to other people just remember no one cares anyway XD

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Originally Posted by AmyNeudaiz

I'll have to say, I used to really be against this because it was a "WoW" idea, but it's really grown on me since then.
I really hope they add this.

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WoW copied Aion who probably copied someone else being that they are a korean company (no offense).

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Originally Posted by tou

WoW copied Aion who probably copied someone else being that they are a korean company (no offense).

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No offense taken, I never played any of those MMO's btw.

While it's not the exact same concept, it's pretty close, and unfortunately we won't have this with launch, and probably not in the future knowing SE.

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Originally Posted by Interview

RPG Site: Has there ever been any consideration to add fashion/vanity slots to the game? Basically separate slots for equipment that actually gives you stats, with the option of a second row of slots where you can put in other armor. The armor would then be your visible gear—something like that which has been present in other modern MMOs.

Yoshida: This has been talked about, but will not be available at the time of relaunch, as we feel that it will make it harder to distinguish between classes/jobs if their appearance does not match their party role. However, we have not abandoned the possibility of implementing such a system in the future.

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Kind of a lame answer, if you ask me.

reason people want vanity slots, but any stats you want will be game breaking.

I seriously want this feature.

i wonder how complicated it would be to further develop the colour modifications? instead of just dying something one of a few different shades, could we micromanage it? Like, sleeves, collar, buttons etc?

I've always wanted to see my monk in gryphonskin gear. I'm all up for this.

Vanity slots are all we need.

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Originally Posted by Dawiichan

I've always wanted to see my monk in gryphonskin gear. I'm all up for this.

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Well, the way this is traditionally done is that stats carry over, including the ones that won't let your monk wear the item. lol

I support this idea for certain.

Yes, I know Yoshida said they're not doing vanity slots for now since it might muddy class distinction, but this idea gets around that problem.

All you need do is make it so that only gears of the same type/material/Discipline requirement can be given eachothers' looks. Class distinction preserved, aesthetic considerations allowed for.

I support this or the vanity slots. I want control over how I look. This game has gorgeous armor and I'm sure in 2.0 that there will be even more. It would be nice to wear what I like. :)

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Originally Posted by AmyNeudaiz

I'll have to say, I used to really be against this because it was a "WoW" idea, but it's really grown on me since then.
I really hope they add this.

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WoW is not the only game to have done this...

Vanity slots are easier to code, the framework is already in place as shown by /display head off.

Merging gear requires a whole new mechanic to be coded and is more work, plus as already said it consumes items (one of the equips being merged) which is unnecessary.

However, since another one of these threads came up, I would like to point out to the devs (although I doubt they will read this...) that putting the same job/class restrictions on the vanity slots completely negates the issue of class identity, so there really is no excuse not to include them, we won't have any WARs running around in BLM AF etc.

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Originally Posted by Rokien

I don't support this, how is a cloth armor going to have the same defense as plated armor. Sorry but no. Also there is materia, just stick the materia on it.

Wait, you can do every fight naked, why do you care about stats? Just wear what you want right now anyways.

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And who's to say that there would be no restrictions on what can be used as a visual substitute for each class/job? With the proper restrictions, are you still against this being implemented? If so, why?

The best way to go about this, would in my opinion be what has been previously suggested, "vanity slots". A separate set of slots where you can equip what should be visually shown to yourself and other players. These slots should still bound to the same rules as anything else is, so if your current class/job can't wear said item, then you can't use it as a visual substitute. There are of course a few items in the game that All Classes can wear, but these could either be excluded, or it could be further narrowed down to the type of equipment it is—Cloth like the Yukata's? Then only White Mage, Conjurer, Black Mage and Thaumaturge can equip it.

There's a number of ways this can be implemented without ruining visual class distinctions completely. And besides, I don't think it should necessarily be doable on our weapons, meaning at the very least, you can tell a players class based on the weapon they carry. All the game would do is take the stats out of one file, ignoring the visual data, and then the visuals are taken out of another, if an item is placed in the "vanity slot".

PS: Pretty much any online game, has rules about tampering with the local files, and doing file-swaps is likely just going to get you into trouble if they care enough. So no, I would not recommend anyone to do this. If I missed the memo where they state clearly that they allow this, by all means, point those interested in that, in the right direction. But I doubt it's not frowned upon by those in charge of the game. (http://support.na.square-enix.com/ru...seragreement_e)

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Originally Posted by FINAL FANTASY® XIV User Agreement

2.7 Modifying or Creating Derivative Software. You may not modify or cause to be modified any files that are a part of the Game or Service in any way not expressly authorized by SQUARE ENIX, and may not make any derivative works of the Game.

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Before you defend it by saying it's likely not to be detected, which may be perfectly true, that doesn't mean it's potentially not allowed, and that I don't think that you should go around suggesting for other players to "risk" their accounts. At least back it up with a link to someone with the authority to state that it's allowed, stating so. It wouldn't be out of the question that the game (if not now, at some point) does a checksum on the files to see if they've been tampered with. Plenty of online games do this.

I think if they add this kind of feature, I think every player should be able to turn it on and off in their own menu if they view peoples fake outfits or not.

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Originally Posted by Absconditus

PS: Pretty much any online game, has rules about tampering with the local files, and doing file-swaps is likely just going to get you into trouble

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Nobody got banned for .dat mods in XI because for one they don't scan your local client side files. Secondly unless you tampered with files to gain a unfair advantage unless your shouting in town that you .dat mod they didn't care...hell even then they didn't care.

XI had some sweet cosmetic .dat mods.

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Originally Posted by Jynx

Nobody got banned for .dat mods in XI because for one they don't scan your local client side files. Secondly unless you tampered with files to gain a unfair advantage unless your shouting in town that you .dat mod they didn't care...hell even then they didn't care.

XI had some sweet cosmetic .dat mods.

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Indeed they did, I remember someone made an awesome Gabranth judge armor. I tried it out on my PLD and it looked spot on.

Vanity slots are must in this game, but it has to have restrictions. The same gear rules have to apply "Only if you can wear it." and doesn't count for seasonal items. Yoshida claimed it would give people a hard time telling who is what. I don't get this, last I recall people can tell who you are just looking at your weapon. I think this is a poor excuse to not have the system and he should reconsider this.

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Originally Posted by AmyNeudaiz

I'll have to say, I used to really be against this because it was a "WoW" idea, but it's really grown on me since then.
I really hope they add this.

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If EverQuest II released appearance slots in 2004 (8 years ago!), I don't think there should be any reason the latest AAA online games shouldn't do the same. World of Warcraft, Rift and many other MMO's have followed EQ2's idea and I think it has become an important MMO-standard nowadays.

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Originally Posted by Akira_Tenshi

WoW is not the only game to have done this...

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I never said it was.

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Originally Posted by KujinRen

If EverQuest II released appearance slots in 2004 (8 years ago!), I don't think there should be any reason the latest AAA online games shouldn't do the same. World of Warcraft, Rift and many other MMO's have followed EQ2's idea and I think it has become an important MMO-standard nowadays.

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I've never played any of those so I wouldn't know. But although I hope they add it, I wouldn't call it important.

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Originally Posted by Neptune

Well, the way this is traditionally done is that stats carry over, including the ones that won't let your monk wear the item. lol

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Wouldn't it make more sense if lets say I put the corselet stats into the CSE, making it still be used by a monk? If not then it's not a very good idea...

Count me in as a major major supporter of this, I have always been in favor of vanity armor / transmogrification.

To help address the argument of not wanting to see mages wear plate, or warrior wearing robes, they can just do it like Aion/EQ2/WoW dealt with it. You can only wear armor of your type, so if you're a mage you can never equip plate. But you can equip other mage-gear armor-skins. Not a big deal.

It's about time that we look how we want it in MMO, and not defined and forced and locked down by the stats. I hate having to forsake a piece of good-looking armor, for the sake of better stats. In the end, I'm wearing mismatched gear?

No. I want to look good, and this is a roleplaying game, and I want people to look good as well.

It's an interesting idea, but I'd much prefer fashion slots. I'd also like a command to turn their display to self and others on and off as a whole. Individually would be a hassle, and you could just remove the item from a slot if you wanted what you were wearing to show. And if you wanted nothing to show, the /display command could take care of it. Then for people who don't want to see this there could be an option to disable the viewing of all equipment set to fashion slots.

That's the closest to "everybody wins" you're gonna get.

Imo, vanity slots sound like a much better idea but that's just me :)

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Originally Posted by Soulfire

It's an interesting idea, but I'd much prefer fashion slots. I'd also like a command to turn their display to self and others on and off as a whole. Individually would be a hassle, and you could just remove the item from a slot if you wanted what you were wearing to show. And if you wanted nothing to show, the /display command could take care of it. Then for people who don't want to see this there could be an option to disable the viewing of all equipment set to fashion slots.

That's the closest to "everybody wins" you're gonna get.

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Yeah there are somany ways and solutions that have been done by almost every MMO from LOTRO, to WOW, to SWTOR, to TERA, to Aion, to EQ2. Vanity/fashion slots are not new ideas. I'm sure SE can find a way to deal with it.

Anyone agaisnt this idea is oblivious... Why would it matter to you if someone puts the stats from a better item on an item they enjoy wearing? "Oh noes the PLD will be in a blouse"? whoTF cares.. they can display /off horrible hats, whats the difference?... Unless your server is a rainbow parade the PLD's wont be wearing swimtrunks anyway, but if they want to, why hate? +1 for great idea. my BLM blouse is f*&^ing stupid looking.

transmog in wow to me always seemed to be a way for the art team that had delivered like 3 tiers of generally bad looking gear to find an excuse to continue delivering bad looking tiers :P I for one would rather have the art teams keep making new gear that looks good, I can always run around in w/e gear i like while I'm in towns anyway. (subligars are hawt!)

If for some reason they do add this kinda mechanism though i hope they at least keep the restrictions from wow somewhat intact...such as you can only xmog down not up, and the armor types have to match (ie plate to plate, leather to leather, etc)

As long as vanity gear is limited to what your class can actually wear, then I'd be okay with it. So no BLMs with Vanya, and no Bards with monk AF etc~