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

[Lewtskie]

The fact that threads like these go on so long should show just how much the playerbase wants this to happen. Whether or not it will, well, can't say I'm holding out any hope.

You can't actually think that every page equates to a complete agreement of the topic, yeah? Most of these pages are filled with the same points merely rehashed by the same people, or tangents that carry on for a few pages. And the \community of a forum is always a small margin of the entire playerbase, so that's inaccurate as well.

This is something the cries for a furrier, more beastly race (the alternative) just can't offer. None. and I mean NONE. of the modern generation of mmo's have ever offered a beast race with character customization that wasn't just a mild palette swap.

Guild Wars 2 has the Charr, which have a very distinct design and plenty of alterations to armor were made. And while one may debate the "modern-ness" of WoW, it's existence can't be brushed aside with the Worgen, who as well had alterations to hands and legs.

And, to be quite frank, SE just will not expand on char creation of current races. Maybe I'm pessimistic but, ya I just don't see them ever doing so. According to them it just takes to much memory to do so.

Just as making completely different models for one equipment piece or another would as well. While they feel honor-bound to support the ps3's hardware neither concept will see the light of day. But as they've said, that support is no longer ensured once 4.0 hits.

[Khaoticsuccubus]

You can't actually think that every page equates to a complete agreement of the topic, yeah? Most of these pages are filled with the same points merely rehashed by the same people, or tangents that carry on for a few pages. And the \community of a forum is always a small margin of the entire playerbase, so that's inaccurate as well.

Of course not lol, that would be silly. However, it does prove that it is a hotly debated topic. Combine that with the race poll SE made a while back where mammal demibeastman (viera) came out on top and you have a general idea of what the playerbase wants. It's impossible to force people to add their vote and things like "everyone I know says" isn't valid to support an arguement. What then are we left with but, more evidence for viera than against at this current time.

Guild Wars 2 has the Charr, which have a very distinct design and plenty of alterations to armor were made. And while one may debate the "modern-ness" of WoW, it's existence can't be brushed aside with the Worgen, who as well had alterations to hands and legs.

You know, its funny you mention those two. When I made that post, those were the two primary examples I was thinking of. Also, I made no reference to armor whatsoever, not even talking about such.

My point I was trying to make was the model of the beast race themselves are so... generic. Now, this is more wow than GW2 but, wow is the epitome of a failed beast race.

ALL of their beast races, are nothing more than pallete swapped models so generic they could be random trash mobs. Pandas you just changed their fur color with maybe some spots here and there on the face... didn't change the fact it was the exact same face repeated. Worgen were the same, fur and fur patterns... same exact face on every model.

GW2 did a better job admitedly... they actually tried to make them look different. Granted it didn't help get the playerbase to actually play them. c'est la vie I guess.

Just as making completely different models for one equipment piece or another would as well. While they feel honor-bound to support the ps3's hardware neither concept will see the light of day. But as they've said, that support is no longer ensured once 4.0 hits.

I hope so... I really REALLY hope so. I never want to see things like PS3 hardware limitations and memory limitations used as excuses for mediocrity in 14 ever again if they do.

New races are fun. I like reading about their lore and culture. However, I also agree the character customization needs to be enhanced greatly.

Indeed, though I hope if SE decides to add a new race they'll do a better job incorporating their lore (both clans lore) in game. Au'ra were just kinda... shoehorned in and forgotten. Though I suppose all the races and their clans are the same in that regard. Just kinda their, all too often you meet npcs who represent nothing of their races culture. Like they were creating npcs for story and side quest purposes and chose their race through random selection (doubly true for clans within a race).

[Reinha]

snip

You mean the poll about beastman / demibeastman / mammalian / reptilian? First of all the poll lacked options outside of those like avian or aquatic. Secondly, mammalian demibeastman doesn't mean Viera. People who want werewolves that can transform, a more human looking Ronso, fox people, satyrs or any beastman with some human features also have to vote for that option. Which means you can't say Viera won the poll if Viera was never an option in it.

I agree about WoW's copy paste faces but you are forgetting that applies to every WoW race, not just the beastmen.

GW2 had a pretty good character creator for all races. Charr, Sylvari and Asura all look distinct from humans and their popularity is about half of that of humans. None are as rare as Roegadyn. It's hard to estimate what amount of players would migrate to a more distinct beastman race in this game, because we actually don't have one yet. Some lump beastmen into the same category as Roegadyn (big and not cute) and claim that it would be equally rare. And yet our demibeastmen are among the most popular races of the game, and there's no doubt some players play them for the exotic features and not just the pretty faces. Who says some Miqo'te and Au Ra players wouldn't be interested in some more beastly looking options (instead of a change of ears)? They don't exactly have a choice at the moment.

There are more things to consider when it comes to the addition of new races. Variety and new players. Would I have tried GW2 if they only had humans and big humans? It's a 100% no from me. I picked the plant and cat race for my character and the alternative would have been no characters at all. I can play human IRL. There are very likely people who never even try this game because there are no interesting races for them to try like Charr, Sylvari, Tauren, Worgen or Troll. In game they would be surrounded by cat girls, lizard girls and plain girls. This is not appealing to some people, but we never really hear from that side because they never entered the game. Rabbit girls would hardly make this game appealing to any new audience. A lot of people think it was a good idea to include female Roegadyn and male Miqo'te to ARR even though the former has always been among the least played combos in the game. It may not be the most popular but it adds variety and attracts new audiences. I probably wouldn't have started the game if it wasn't for femroe because no other race "clicked" for me. Right now my game+expansion purchases and sub fees would have paid for almost 50 fantasia potions. That's how valuable new players are compared to fantasia purchases. Food for thought. :P

[Khaoticsuccubus]

You mean the poll about beastman / demibeastman / mammalian / reptilian? First of all the poll lacked options outside of those like avian or aquatic. Secondly, mammalian demibeastman doesn't mean Viera. People who want werewolves that can transform, a more human looking Ronso, fox people, satyrs or any beastman with some human features also have to vote for that option. Which means you can't say Viera won the poll if Viera was never an option in it.

Eh, the poll literally listed viera as an example. Which is why YoshiP was able to dismiss the poll results as he believed tacking viera on like that skewed the poll results in mammal demibeastmans favor. Thus Au'ra were born ;P (reptilian demibeastman were 2nd place iirc... that or hybrids, can't recall lol)

I agree about WoW's copy paste faces but you are forgetting that applies to every WoW race, not just the beastmen.

Technically, this is only true as of wow's recent upgrade from n64 to gamecube graphics ;P Ironically enough, before the upgrade most races had unique faces to choose from... ya know... for wow standards that is lol.

GW2 had a pretty good character creator for all races. Charr, Sylvari and Asura all look distinct from humans and their popularity is about half of that of humans. None are as rare as Roegadyn. It's hard to estimate what amount of players would migrate to a more distinct beastman race in this game, because we actually don't have one yet. Some lump beastmen into the same category as Roegadyn (big and not cute) and claim that it would be equally rare. And yet our demibeastmen are among the most popular races of the game, and there's no doubt some players play them for the exotic features and not just the pretty faces. Who says some Miqo'te and Au Ra players wouldn't be interested in some more beastly looking options (instead of a change of ears)? They don't exactly have a choice at the moment.

There are more things to consider when it comes to the addition of new races. Variety and new players. Would I have tried GW2 if they only had humans and big humans? It's a 100% no from me. I picked the plant and cat race for my character and the alternative would have been no characters at all. I can play human IRL. There are very likely people who never even try this game because there are no interesting races for them to try like Charr, Sylvari, Tauren, Worgen or Troll. In game they would be surrounded by cat girls, lizard girls and plain girls. This is not appealing to some people, but we never really hear from that side because they never entered the game. Rabbit girls would hardly make this game appealing to any new audience. A lot of people think it was a good idea to include female Roegadyn and male Miqo'te to ARR even though the former has always been among the least played combos in the game. It may not be the most popular but it adds variety and attracts new audiences. I probably wouldn't have started the game if it wasn't for femroe because no other race "clicked" for me. Right now my game+expansion purchases and sub fees would have paid for almost 50 fantasia potions. That's how valuable new players are compared to fantasia purchases. Food for thought. :P

Unfortunately, these players are purely hypothetical at this time. Until they emerge from the shadows to let others hear their voice and have their presence know in polls and the like we have to go with the data we have. That data states, especially in this game, that beastman type races just aren't appreciated. As you said they might make up a number of the Au'ra and Miqo races however, I just can't see that number being anything significant. More likely, most who enjoy that sorta look have stuck to roes as you have. Roes who are the least played race in the game.

And I say this as one who does prefer the more exotic appeal of a race... within reason ofc. Roe's make my eyes bleed 90% of the time after all ;P but, I did prefer the concept art of the more demonic looking Au'ra than what we ended up with. But, from a company perspective I understand why and at the very least they, as a race, helped diversify things by converting a number of the miqo population lol.