Dear Devs, please bring the Male and Female Xaela Au-Ra closer to this artwork

[Bourne_Endeavor]

Holy necro bumping batman!

Anywho, the devs did answer questions on why races have less monstrous appearances. Basically, the vast majority of players prefer "cute," especially JP. Case in point, Lalafell are considerably more popular across the ocean. Oddly enough, the Au Ra are not popular in JP. At least, not if Square's census is to be believed.

[demonette]

Holy necro bumping batman!

Anywho, the devs did answer questions on why races have less monstrous appearances. Basically, the vast majority of players prefer "cute," especially JP. Case in point, Lalafell are considerably more popular across the ocean. Oddly enough, the Au Ra are not popular in JP. At least, not if Square's census is to be believed.

Probably because people who like cute races, already have cute races. I they weren't going to commit to designing something actually different, why bother? The original designs were great and distinctive and got good feedback. Just because other folks preferred cute (=existing races) doesn't mean they have to scrap the option for the rest of us.

Also, why does it have to only be beastly or cute? When I saw the succubus concept, I think beautiful, mysterious, and still definitely feminine. JP population sees something that's not a porcelein doll and runs for the hills I guess?

[Belhi]

I think for a future race it is worth exploring a more beastal race. I just likewise think that changing the existing Au Ra models to something more like that is unrealistic and unfeasible for a whole slew of reasons. That said, those wanting a more beastal race would have to lobby against the devoted Veira supporters for the next race added. Veira aren't particularly beastal.

[Hierro]

I think SE just really missed the target when it comes to male Au Ra. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I heard they wanted something more imposing and tough-guyish, no? I think they even said Roes coudln't fill in that gap because they were more "cuddly" than imposing. However, the au ra model for male bodies is so weird with these huge hips and exceedingly tiny waists, with the default pose of an in-training male ballerina, and less relative trapezius mass than male miqotes. Of course, with the right armors, that problem is a lot less pronounced, and it's enough for me to play and main and admire au ra, but it does make me envy the other races for being able to wear all sorts of clothes and have them look not weirdly distorted.

[Blueyes]

I'm not the least bit dissatisfied with the current appearance or personality of Au Ra, but I must say that concept art is still very cool.

[KageTokage]

I can't help but wonder if we'll learn about/see the third Au Ra clan that was off-handedly mentioned in a lore panel.

It was said to be far more ancient then the Raen and the Xaela, which suggests to me that the latter two likely split off from it.

[Tsumdere]

I wish they would go back to Au Ra and change them more similarly to the artwork. I know that is very wishful thinking and current Au Ra are here to stay... but I can dream can't I?

Male Au Ra are okay. They really only have a few combos to look cool, and I wish they had more horns and other beastly traits. I personally dispise dislike how the female Au Ra look. Only race/gender combo I think is legit awful. Showed us cool succubus-like concept art with feral women and we got waifu simulator.

[akaneakki]

Ah yeah the artwork is amazing. I wish very much the same, if they only stuck to that. I think a lot of people would love that design. I also wished they would also expand the option to customize characters for next expansion, but wont happen I guess. People try making their character look cute which is not bad, however there is many people who also would love bad ass looking female characters. Roes are nice but I would love the art work look of the au ra's!

[LineageRazor]

Man, this thread takes me back. Over two years old!

Still, I gotta admit, I'd love for them to change Au Ra females to look tall and fierce like the men, but seriously, it's not going to happen. I'd wager that the vast majority who play Au Ra females now picked that race/gender because they LIKE how they look. Sure, you have oddball outliers like myself (I play the race, because it's the only one in the game NOT based off a FFXI race, and I wanted to play a female character), but for the most part if SE were to drastically change their design now, on top of all the work they'd need to do redesigning armor and such they'll be pissing off a lot of players who now have to purchase Fantasias to change to Midlander Hyur or Mi'qote or whatever to maintain the cute, dainty look.

I'm afraid our lizard-lady waifus are here to stay!

Probably the best folks can do is clamor for a NEW race that has the imposing females we'd like to see.

[Lukha]

It would probably be a bad idea to make major cosmetic changes to currently existing races, since the people currently playing them probably chose them for the way they look now. However, adding a third clan with different features, or with looks closer to the concept art, would be an excellent idea, and has been suggested many times before.

Personally I'd love to see this happen for the Au Ra, since I was super excited when I first saw the concept art and heard the devs talk about how the females would be these fierce succubus-like ladies...and then the actual in-game renders came out and I'm honestly wondering if maybe someone explained 'succubus' wrong to Yoshida or something...