Hairstyle Concerns for The New Races

[Brynne]

My point is that if you're concerned about the Hrothgar you should be concerned about the Viera. If you assume there are more to come for Viera then do the same here ... cause really, we have no clue what to expect.

I agree with Penthea on this: there is far more reason to be concerned with Hrothgar than Viera, given how the options are presented. Even if the benchmark represents what we are getting at launch for both races, there's the fact that you (currently) cannot change the face option with the aesthetician. Because hair is tied to face for Hrothgar, this means you'd have to fantasia every time you wanted a new hairstyle (unless SE changes this, which they have given no indication that they are doing). With Viera, at least you can change your hair regularly, and if they later on add in the missing hairstyle options, you don't need a fantasia to use them.

It's possible that SE will have some kind of workaround in the aesthetician, but there's no reason to assume that at this point, so yeah, while there is concern about hair for both races, Hrothgar looks to be in a more worrisome state.

[Fumpr]

Also, not a concern, more of a gripe, how the heck did no one on the team working on hroth think of a "bald" (not furless) hairstyle? I'd gladly play face 1 with no hair.

[zeylos]

I honestly think that this makes me want that they only chose 1 single race even more, since if they did chances are they would have as much customization as the others, and while it's easy to make a female viera stand out its super hard to make a male hrot that stands out, so I wish SE only did 1 but to its fullest potential and with both genders. Guess we will have to see if they decide to add new hairstyles and the missing genders, lets hope so I guess

[reivaxe]

I agree with Penthea on this: there is far more reason to be concerned with Hrothgar than Viera, given how the options are presented. Even if the benchmark represents what we are getting at launch for both races, there's the fact that you (currently) cannot change the face option with the aesthetician. Because hair is tied to face for Hrothgar, this means you'd have to fantasia every time you wanted a new hairstyle (unless SE changes this, which they have given no indication that they are doing). With Viera, at least you can change your hair regularly, and if they later on add in the missing hairstyle options, you don't need a fantasia to use them.

It's possible that SE will have some kind of workaround in the aesthetician, but there's no reason to assume that at this point, so yeah, while there is concern about hair for both races, Hrothgar looks to be in a more worrisome state.

Oh, I agree that the Hrothgar situation is far more perplexing on how it will be tackled in game with the final version. Will they basically allow you to change everything but your race and height to make up for this when you go to the aesthetician? Will they make it so that the hairs aren't locked to their face come release seeing how that replaced promo image from some time ago shows that hair can fit other heads with a bit of work? Will both races be given all the hair and Hrothgar simply have their racial styles stay divided up between the faces? Will the aesthetician have a "face tab" for the Hrothgar that acts as their hair selection (locked to w/e base head you picked) and just give them a number uniquely beastly versions of hairs you unlocked in game?

IDK, but I do find that from a game design PoV it makes absolutely no sense to release a race that demands players pay $10s to change their hair style when playing. Nor does it make sense to take away all the rewards and monetary hair styles people have earned when they play either of the new races. We're kinda very much in unprecedented territory here ... sure, the aesthetician doesn't currently allow XYZ but he also doesn't currently have a "fur" tab and this is the first time hair has been the only difference in some "face options".

As it stands both are showing a severe lack of hair options compared to the last race benchmark and if you are to assume there's more to the story for one it should be assumed that the other has more to be discovered as well. Even more so when the other would require a $10 potion to change styles if nothing with the aesthetician changes.

[xxvaynxx]

I'm actually curious if viera can use lighting hair and noctis and other hair you have to buy

[Cilia]

Much more concerned with the Hrothgar than the Viera.

Viera, at least, can change hairstyles without changing their face. All might not be available on the Benchmark, but there's no reason to believe they won't have every hairstyle available at launch (if not shortly™ thereafter).

Hrothgar, on the other hand... yeah, pretty miffed hairstyle is tied to their face. That's one of the biggest customization options, and if a good deal of headgear isn't available for them at launch (if ever) they're going to get samefaced pretty quickly.

Holding off on the doomsaying, but this is not a good portent.

[Allegor]

Given the fact they're working against the clock I wouldn't hold it against them if they keep working on hairstyle issues for a later date, as was the case for helmets and glasses, but I'd say at the very least Mog Station/Event hairstyles should be prioritized over the normal ones, since people actually paid for those.

[Reinha]

After mulling over the different customization options, I've come to the conclusion that I prefer being able to change the pattern and colors of fur to being able to change hair styles and colors. The former offers a lot more variety. Ideally we should be able to do both independent of the selected face but it's very likely going to be one or the other because of memory limitations. It's amazing how much you can do with fur options and I hope we can have them available at the aesthetician since they replace hair customization for Hrothgar.

I had some fun with my current favorite character trying out how many styles I can wear by changing only the fur, tattoos and face paint.

Here's the original panther design:


Tiger, snow leopard, black lion and cheetah styles seem nice.


Less realistic styles can look pretty amazing as well. The right one is "snowflake obsidian" by MelodyCrystel. Really beautiful! I'll probably wear the blood runes on the left when leveling DRK for that extra edge.

[VirusOnline]

After mulling over the different customization options, I've come to the conclusion that I prefer being able to change the pattern and colors of fur to being able to change hair styles and colors. The former offers a lot more variety. Ideally we should be able to do both independent of the selected face but it's very likely going to be one or the other because of memory limitations. It's amazing how much you can do with fur options and I hope we can have them available at the aesthetician since they replace hair customization for Hrothgar.

My issue with this is that wearing armour will cover up fur patterns/colours, so what is the point of all that customization if its hidden ?

IDK, but I do find that from a game design PoV it makes absolutely no sense to release a race that demands players pay $10s to change their hair style when playing. Nor does it make sense to take away all the rewards and monetary hair styles people have earned when they play either of the new races. We're kinda very much in unprecedented territory here ... sure, the aesthetician doesn't currently allow XYZ but he also doesn't currently have a "fur" tab and this is the first time hair has been the only difference in some "face options".

As it stands both are showing a severe lack of hair options compared to the last race benchmark and if you are to assume there's more to the story for one it should be assumed that the other has more to be discovered as well. Even more so when the other would require a $10 potion to change styles if nothing with the aesthetician changes.

From a game design perspective, and from perspective on the existing characters and their current state of customizations, it indeed makes zero sense and could possibly be a killer for Hrothgar when a player is given so much more customizability concerning the other races. I want to say the benchmark is what we get, on the other hand this sort of logic of perpetually spending $10 is illogical and of ill design.

[Reinha]

My issue with this is that wearing armour will cover up fur patterns/colours, so what is the point of all that customization if its hidden ?

The same could be said about hair and helmets though. I understand that the players who want to enjoy the fur choices without being in various stages of undress will be out of luck.