Gender locked race?

[Theodric]

I'd be very concerned if anyone was trying to objectify someone as young looking as Alphinaud or the equivalent. Especially if they're almost double his age in the real world.

That aside, nobody appears to be stating that there shouldn't be any objectification of the male form. It just so happens that men who are lean or bulky are much more popular than those who are very slender or feminine.

Again, masculinity is a spectrum ranging from classically handsome to ruggedly handsome - Viera men could be anywhere on that spectrum and a lot of people would be happy. Yet if they were to be obese or super skinny, I'd bet a lot of people would turn their nose up at them simply because those aesthetics aren't nearly as popular as some here have convinced themselves.

[linay]

If its ok to objectify female character models then its ok to objectify male character models.

Gotta be morally consistent!

To be fair, character models do not need to be objectified, they're not people in the first place and are already objects.

So, feel free to treat objects as objects, just don't do it to real people in your life, and please know the difference.

[MrKimper]

One more for the road.

[KaijinRhada]

Well then, in between checking this thread in the morning, and looking at it right now this evening, I see it continues to be an emotional and, sometimes, fractious roller-coaster.

Still cheering for all the choices! Always in support of more aesthetics! I just have to distract myself for the next few days while we wait for news. \o/ Just a few more days...

[Duskane]

I get it. With women we can extend our imagination because for you guys sexyness trumps lore. But men? Nah they gotta make the most sense

Where did this even come from i was just filling in lore of male viera you missed out on

[Sehrina]

I'd be very concerned if anyone was trying to objectify someone as young looking as Alphinaud or the equivalent. Especially if they're almost double his age in the real world.

That aside, nobody appears to be stating that there shouldn't be any objectification of the male form. It just so happens that men who are lean or bulky are much more popular than those who are very slender or feminine.

Again, masculinity is a spectrum ranging from classically handsome to ruggedly handsome - Viera men could be anywhere on that spectrum and a lot of people would be happy. Yet if they were to be obese or super skinny, I'd bet a lot of people would turn their nose up at them simply because those aesthetics aren't nearly as popular as some here have convinced themselves.

The traditional mindset: Women are feminine and cute while the men are to be manly and tough. These aesthetics are the most popular; most of us know this full-well, but that doesn't stop some of us, and many others, from potentially liking the opposite. The reality of the situation is that what we get will be designed by what the dev's think will work out best with the community. However, there are people here who are simply hoping that we could maybe get something a little different to satisfy a lesser filled niche. We already have five other races that mostly fill the traditional norms(besides lalafell I suppose), so why not something different?

You mention being disturbed at someone potentially "objectifying" a character as "young looking as Alphinaud". I think you are thinking about this the wrong way. People use Alphinaud as a reference, because we don't really have much else in game to best represent a "smaller and potentially more feminine built male". Just because some may want a race to be built in such a way does not mean they actually want to play as children or underaged characters. Female Miqo'te and Au'ra's youthful appearance and build make some of them almost look like preteens, but that doesn't mean they are or we think of them as such.

Also to people still trying to use Viera lore as an excuse for their males availability or potential appearance... It's a high fantasy game filled with magic; things don't always have to make perfect sense. Look at lalafells or female Au'ra.
3-4 more days to go...

[Theodric]

We could very well get something different. A more monstrous looking playable race inspired by the likes of the Ronso would be just that.

[Mansion]

We could very well get something different. A more monstrous looking playable race inspired by the likes of the Ronso would be just that.

And redesign the one hundred kabillion glamour and gear items to fit new bodies? HAVE YOU THOUGHT ABOUT OUR SERVERS?! We don't have the technology for it!

Joke aside, I guess it's easier for Viera (bunny ears aside) because they will use Hyur model and make it a bit taller and slimer, then it's done. While implementing something like Vangaas or Seeqs... it would be a lot of work

[Theodric]

And redesign the one hundred kabillion glamour and gear items to fit new bodies? HAVE YOU THOUGHT ABOUT OUR SERVERS?! We don't have the technology for it!

Joke aside, I guess it's easier for Viera (bunny ears aside) because they will use Hyur model and make it a bit taller and slimer, then it's done. While implementing something like Vangaas or Seeqs... it would be a lot of work

My assumption is that they'd be along the lines of Byakko. More 'bestial' than the other playable races, though not enough to make it require an immense amount of work to have them fit in gear or perform emotes. There's also the potential for them to look pretty good and expressive if they have facial features along his lines. It'd also make sense from a business point of view. A significant number of FFXIV players are in the West. Which means FFXIV's biggest competitors are WoW, GW2 and ESO. All three of those MMO's just so happen to have multiple playable races that are much more than just taller or shorter humans with animal ears slapped on.

I want to stress that I'm not particularly interested in playing a full on beast-man. Yet something along the lines of Byakko? That'd work very nicely for me.

I'd also be fine with Viera men if they're along the lines of the beefier concept art. Though the short, feminine Viera that some here are pushing for? They wouldn't interest me at all and I'm not convinced that is what the 'majority' desire, either.

[xbahax92]

This whole thread turned into "I wish me this race".
Time to chill down and wait for saturday, few more days. No need to destroy each others wishes. SE will do that for you anyway.