Viera males should be smaller like Au Ra females

[Jaywalker]

Stats from the unofficial census show that players play the cuter races the most, with Roegadyn last on the list of races played, with second last going to Elezen.

In fairness I think it's arguable whether the reason those races are popular draws from cute or more conventional proportions. Lalafell I definitely think cute is why they're popular, but when it comes to miqo'te, hyurs, and au ra of both genders and subtypes I think this might be some uncanny valley principles at work.

Lalafells don't look remotely like they have realistic human proportions and don't aspire to it. They play into soft features and big eyes (reasons people feel affection/protectiveness for babies) and that brings them a measure of popularity. Roegadyn and elezen both are closer to human proportions but without the cute buffer and while having certain features that read as humanly impossible, such as head-to-shoulder ratio. This can be balanced visually, but alienates some players who are't looking to do that. Hyurs, au ra, and miqo'te basically read as either human or human with some exotic features attached.

[Nestama]

Whatever SE goes with, I know it's only going to annoy a group of players who wanted X and not Y. I've argued with (against?) enough Viera fans to know this much :I

[JunseiKei]

This sounds at odds with the lore around male viera. Something as small and dainty as a female au ra, but it supposed to be survival-hardened specialists that are just as tough, or tougher, as their taller statured females? At least the Lalafell are known to be cunning and have a knack for the arcane. Push comes to shove, I don't think in the reality of the world in the game, a lalafell would not have the same physical prowess as some of the larger races on their own.

[Sokutaban]

In fairness I think it's arguable whether the reason those races are popular draws from cute or more conventional proportions. Lalafell I definitely think cute is why they're popular, but when it comes to miqo'te, hyurs, and au ra of both genders and subtypes I think this might be some uncanny valley principles at work.

I agree that Lalafell are the only race the relies exclusively on cuteness as a draw. My definition of cute perhaps was meant to be a bit broader than others may define it is. I meant cute in a way that is simply "note overly muscular or masculine". Personally I would not mind a human type male Viera of average proportions, similar to a hyur. I mainly meant to challenge the reasoning behind the addition of another overly masculine race, in addition to the Au Ra male with respect to player preferences indicated in the statistics. The number of players preferring overly masculine race types is small by comparison to those who aren't, and, considering that they had already gained access to a new race, male Au Ra, their reception of new races now stands at a disproportionate 50% of all new playable character types (M/F Au Ra, Viera, Hrothgar).

In light of that, and agreeing with your assessment of the other races, we have no new races that cater exclusively to players who desire cute races, one race for those who wish to have a humanoid race and one/two for those who wish to have an human/exotic race (Female Au Ra to me is close enough to both of these).

[username1234]

This sounds at odds with the lore around male viera. Something as small and dainty as a female au ra, but it supposed to be survival-hardened specialists that are just as tough, or tougher, as their taller statured females? At least the Lalafell are known to be cunning and have a knack for the arcane. Push comes to shove, I don't think in the reality of the world in the game, a lalafell would not have the same physical prowess as some of the larger races on their own.

Female au ra are at odds with female au ra lore. Didn't stop them from making them dainty anime girls. In a world where toddlers are running around killing gods I don't think being ripped is a prerequisite to being able to survive in the forest.

[Sokutaban]

This sounds at odds with the lore around male viera. Something as small and dainty as a female au ra, but it supposedly to be survival-hardened specialists that are just as tough, or tougher, as their taller statured females? At least the Lalafell as known to be cunning and a knack for the arcane. Push comes to shove, I don't think in the reality of the world in the game, a lalafell would not have the same physical prowess as some of the larger races on their own.

I agree that it is a possibility that male Viera could exist in this manner, however, considering that the females seem to take on a provider/protector role, it could be the case that the males simply did not need to develop in such a manner. A role reversal of our human ancestors. Naturally this may have required the males to take on a role that would include tending to their young and such, leaving it as a less likely, although not impossible possibility (since I'm not sure how long Viera live and how often they have kids).

[Gwenorai]

No thank you, I'm not interested in them being that small. Smaller than females, yes - but not that small.

I agree that it is a possibility that male Viera could exist in this manner, however, considering that the females seem to take on a provider/protector role, it could be the case that the males simply did not need to develop in such a manner. A role reversal of our human ancestors. Naturally this may have required the males to take on a role that would include tending to their young and such, leaving it as a less likely, although not impossible possibility (since I'm not sure how long Viera live and how often they have kids).

I'm at odds with this. While Viera are known for being good summoners and the likes their primary weapons are the lance and bow. The women aren't protectors of the males. The males do not receive protection when they hit puberty - they are taken by an older male and trained to be Wood-wailers; this training usually results in them dying. Only a small amount of them survive and those that do are the ones who are able to repeat the cycle. Of course, the lore also has it that they're fierce killers who are cold-hearted and will murder you for stepping into their wood regardless of why you're there. This is ff14 Viera lore - lore they don't even wish to break in regards to the males being seen.

And finally, the dimorphism for the Viera isn't as vast as one would think. The tall male Viera was paired with the tall female Viera. The small female with the small male. The small type looks like children; the idea that the small version 'breeds' with the tall version is extremely uncomfortable to me. It's bad enough with Au'ra having such a silly height scale, I don't wish it on another race.

[Solarra]

Considering the females we have, I don't think small and cute would work. According to the dramaturge the males are highly aggressive, if you see one it's very likely to be the last thing you see. So on that basis I think it would make more sense to have the taller ones shown in this concept art https://nightwing.stevivor.com/wp-co...male-viera.jpg
And yes, there is personal preference coming in there as well. I wouldn't play the small and cute version, but I would definitely play one of the taller type.

[MikkoAkure]

I feel like a lot of people here are setting themselves up for disappointment all over again. If Yoshi didn’t add male viera because he thought bunny boys were “weird” and also the dev costs involved, what makes you think that they’ll invent a whole new body type that they’ll have to re-rig all of the game’s equipment to? Especially one that it appears he seems loathe to implement?

With the hrothgar now added, every race shares its body with another except for the lalafell so it doesn’t seem likely they’ll change it up now. It’s more likely that if/when male viera are added,
It’ll be on a re-proportioned elezen body like the female viera are. If not that, the closest they’ll get to what is being asked for in this thread is a hyur/miqo body.

[Sokutaban]

I feel like a lot of people here are setting themselves up for disappointment all over again. If Yoshi didn’t add male viera because he thought bunny boys were “weird” and also the dev costs involved, what makes you think that they’ll invent a whole new body type that they’ll have to re-rig all of the game’s equipment to? Especially one that it appears he seems loathe to implement?

With the hrothgar now added, every race shares its body with another except for the lalafell so it doesn’t seem likely they’ll change it up now. It’s more likely that if/when male viera are added,
It’ll be on a re-proportioned elezen body like the female viera are. If not that, the closest they’ll get to what is being asked for in this thread is a hyur/miqo body.

While I would like for male Viera to be cute, I agree with everyone's points, yours included, and think that it is entirely hopeless. Especially after seeing what was done with Hrothgar.