FFXIV 2nd expansion: Viera-like race still a possibility?

[Interstella]

Uh, just because they have concept art does not mean it's guaranteed - that's the whole point, it's a concept, an idea. It's a normal part of game development. They draw up ideas and concepts and through a process of elimination and debate decide what to develop further and what to abandon to the rubbish bin, with the 'viera mkII' designs seeming to be well in the later I'm afraid.

Besides, Yoshi has repeatedly stated why viera are not going to be added - there is already one 'human/animal hybrid' race in the game in the form of the miqote, thus he doesn't want new races to just be 'more humans with animal parts'. Really, he even admitted during the event that artwork was shown that he was "reluctant to show it," knowing full well players would take it completely out of context and believe that it's going to be added to the game, which it will not. But I digress.

In hindsight I should have added more detail to my post to avoid having somebody misconstrued or just blatantly claim I said something I did not and risk it not being read (although I'm not 100% sure you actually read what I posted anyway), blimey you even quoted me...

Moving on...

I think an issue with new races is the amount of effort and time taken to implement that race in the game with regards to armor, emotes - physical movements, clipping issues (besides horns and tails >.<) versus their appeal to the player-base.

It seems like a lot of work for it to only appeal to a handful of your players.

With the Au Ra in mind, I feel that any future race is just going to be "humans with animal parts", a handful of players may not like it and may want something totally new and not just "humans with animal parts", but the majority of the players do like "humans with animal parts" or just plain humans because as many people in my experience believe: Glamour is the true endgame and it's all about how your character looks to you and other people.

I think it's just a question of what animal parts to stick onto humans:

Cat [check]
Lizard [check]
Wolf [ ]
Rabbit [ ]
MouseBatChrismasdecorationonhead [ ]
Fish [ ]

Esper Race

I think the Ascians are sort of FFXIV's implementation of FFXII Espers, but yea I might Fantasia if I too could be a semi-horse woman with a giant thing on her head ^^