Is ff 14. Too feminine?

[Gilraen]

Those so insecure in their masculinity that a game can threaten them should probably play something else, and work on their self confidence. Also, your nephew might wish to research the regency period in history for feminine influence on male dress....and of course the Scots and their kilts....

Seriously, your nephew needs to be set straight on a few things - and wear a pink shirt occasionally, with flowers on it...

Leave hula shirts out of this!

[Welsper59]

Just because it's cloth doesn't account for this. There's plenty of potential, even with cloth, to offer options that are a bit less frilly. Not one that SE seems keen on offering for any but crafters, however...

It's not about potential, it's about general understanding and realistic expectations. Besides that though, there really isn't a whole lot you can do with cloth to make it feasible in design that gives you the idea of "magic". Can you provide an example that would undeniably showcase that, in a fantasy world, this IS a magic users outfit that isn't robe/gown/coat-like or "girly"? Ideally multiple examples, since I'm pretty sure a one-off isn't really anyones idea of "plenty" lol. Honestly, there isn't much in the way of magic user to work off of. I mean, we can easily do that heavy armors to indicate "tank" or "armored physical dps". You can't really add too much jaggy edges to a material like cloth, as you can with metal, without it looking like a cheap cosplay.

BTW, I'm not saying that I wouldn't be for it, nor for the idea of using metal armor for aesthetic purposes, but rather that it's why a default design for magic users is what they are.

[KittytheSheGeek]

This thread is exactly why I am a feminist.

[Risvertasashi]

I think a lot of the armor designs are too feminine for male characters. I don't the game caters to female players but does cater to female characters. Which is one reason why men play female characters (yes I brought it up). Also, even the most masculine characters you can make looks like a fashion model, very meterosexual.

This I have to flat out disagree with. Have you seen highlanders and roes? Elezen males also get an option for a face that is very masculine and not really smooth at all.

But you rolled a miqo'te. Well, yeah. Miqo'te are definitely more suited to a more childlike look. The options are there, but if that's what you want, lalafell, miqo'te, and midlander are all bad choices. Highlander, Roe, Elezen, etc are the way to go.

[kyuven]

snip

Ooookay I'm gonna use some visual aids for this one. Fair warning.
Google this: "Men's hairstyles"
If you're in the US like I am, this is one of the first results that crops up:

Now, do a search for this: 男性のヘアスタイル (copy and paste it)
Now note the more wispy, less "hard" appearance of all the models. Those are all men, "masculine" men.
Then remember this is a Japanese game, and that the developers look like this:

He's pretty normal lookin' by Japanese standards, yet by American standards his style of dress and hair could be seen as "feminine."
This is because American ideas of masculinity are a lot different, and this carries over to our games.
After all, contrast Yoshida with Smedley (EQ):

or Pardo (WoW)

Noticeably different, right?
None of these guys look BAD, per se, but they're good example of the different aesthetic ideals of masculinity in the culture, which carries over into their game design. It's actually a form of "culture shock," but we don't always realize it because we don't have to enter the culture physically to be exposed to it.
...and don't even get me started on the teeth.

[Ashkendor]

Now they are telling me they are not going to play the game with me because it is too girly. Are we going a bit too far in the aesthetics department of design as of late in this depiction that would cause a lot of male players not to even try this game?

Yep. Super girly. And that's without busting out the old Noct armor. We have plenty of "non-girly" options. We have plenty of girly options. Basically, we have options. Male characters can be androgynous, or they can be the pinnacle of manliness. Hell, you can make em downright ugly if you want. Females can be hyper-feminine (i.e. running around in a bikini, covered in flowers, etc) or actually gear up to look like a tank. If your nephews (or any other boys/men for that matter) can't look past the more feminine options available ingame, then it's their loss. ^^

Look at how womanly Alphinaud, Cid, Thancred, that guy from Ishgard from the last patch whose name I forgot. All very girly looking men.

Wait, Cid? Seriously, you're saying Cid looks feminine? Thancred too? They are attractive/handome, but not girly.

Alphinaud is androgynous as all get-out, but you could say the same about Alisaie.

[Darki]

Wait, Cid? Seriously, you're saying Cid looks feminine? Thancred too? They are attractive/handome, but not girly.

Alphinaud is androgynous as all get-out, but you could say the same about Alisaie.

I think when people say "girly," what they really mean is metrosexual which I can agree with. Don't really care though I still like the game.

[Risvertasashi]

Can you provide an example that would undeniably showcase that, in a fantasy world, this IS a magic users outfit that isn't robe/gown/coat-like or "girly"? Ideally multiple examples

SCH AF, BLM AF. Direwolf Healing set is almost there. The SCH AF2 preview we saw in the Heavensward stream.

Actually I'm OK with the WHM AF, though some might not be. But the Syrcus Tower, WoD and Swan sets, for example, really take it to the extreme. Not that having these is bad, I'd just like some balance. This is a healer specific criticism, as AFAICT most other classes do have a good range of options.

I don't actually mind robes (robes do not precisely share the same characteristics as dresses, despite all the jokes and naysayers). I'd kill to have a BLM AF-esque robe available to healers. Or even "Gandalf the White" would be fine by me. Following the Heavensward SCH AF2 theme, I bet there's a lot of steampunk (magitek punk?) options that could be explored.

edit to add one more: Take the PLD AF2, make it all cloth instead of having chainmail/plate bits, and that would do it too. (And still perfectly suited to female characters as well))

[AmaiHanakaze]

I am not intending this thread to insult people. It is just an issue occurred where my nephews were going to play ff with me noticed the little lady's day event and looked up the outfits in the game. Now they are telling me they are not going to play the game with me because it is too girly. Are we going a bit too far in the aesthetics department of design as of late in this depiction that would cause a lot of male players not to even try this game?

Seems like a good time to educate your nephews... get that insecurity out of their heads!

I'm a male in person and look at the adorable ball of lalafell-ness I run around Eorzea as... xD

[SpookyGhost]

Yoshida's fashion sense is inspired by Visual Kei - it's why he (and Nomura) look like older japanese men trying to be anime characters.