Male Viera as a playable character! show your support

[Theodric]

Apologies for double-posting, but I think another good example of the discrepancy between character model and roleplayed intent is my main character, who's supposed to be very large and burly and muscular. Unfortunately, that isn't really achievable with the male Au Ra base because there's no way to broaden the shoulders, bulk up the chest, or add muscle tone. Technically I could just play as a Hellsguard with succubus horns, but then my character couldn't have a tail or body scales or race-exclusive hair. I do wish all the races had muscle tone sliders, but until that's an option, I have to work with what I've been given.

Do I have a problem with male Au Ra being canonically twunks and not bears? No, but it's creatively limiting if I'm just going off of what the game is presenting to me at face value. But as somebody capable of using their imagination, I'm fine with using the in-game model I'm given and extrapolating the details in my head.

There's no way to win with people who only think in literals. If I used a male Elezen base and gave it the bunny crown, people would just respond with the argument that it's just an elf in bunny gear. "Yes, FFXIV forum user alacruxe, that's the point! I'm so proud of you for getting it!" Yeah, but your point sucks. Let people use their imagination.

I mean, I'm not seeing anyone arguing that the characters in cutscenes aren't actually handing each other items, therefore those items don't exist. We use our imagination to work around the limitations of the game.

edit Hey, other people posted! Looks like I didn't have to double-post after all. ;D

It's not difficult to imagine Xaela men as bigger than they are, though. They're already fairly beefy. Lauront and I have both been advocating for a muscle tone slider for the races that lack it.

As for using imagination, that has a limit. It's far easier to imagine an already muscular guy as being beefier than he is in-game compared to imagining a female viera as a male viera. One requires a much greater leap than the other.

I wouldn't say it's down to a lack of imagination, either. Aside from people who do not role-play at all, as Gwenorai pointed out, some of us who do role-play aren't interested in stretching things to a significant degree.

You're free to do as you please, though so too are others free to refuse to acknowledge such things as being plausible in their eyes.

[StrongBear]

It's not difficult to imagine Xaela men as bigger than they are, though. They're already fairly beefy. Lauront and I have both been advocating for a muscle tone slider for the races that lack it.

Just wondering, several people have mentioned implementing a 'muscle slider', but what exactly would it do? Would moving the slider up/down make a character more/less muscular, or do you mean simply making the muscles that are already there more visible(that is, with more definition, shadows, etc.)?

[alacruxe]

Just wondering, several people have mentioned implementing a 'muscle slider', but what exactly would it do? Would moving the slider up/down make a character more/less muscular, or do you mean simply making the muscles that are already there more visible(that is, with more definition, shadows, etc.)?

The latter. Some races already have one, like Roegadyn. It doesn't actually add to the character's bulk, but it adds definition to what's there.

[zeylos]

Just wondering, several people have mentioned implementing a 'muscle slider', but what exactly would it do? Would moving the slider up/down make a character more/less muscular, or do you mean simply making the muscles that are already there more visible(that is, with more definition, shadows, etc.)?

I would really like that tbh, I'd use it specially on male miqote since I'd like them to have more defined muscles

[Theodric]

Just wondering, several people have mentioned implementing a 'muscle slider', but what exactly would it do? Would moving the slider up/down make a character more/less muscular, or do you mean simply making the muscles that are already there more visible(that is, with more definition, shadows, etc.)?

Either would work for me. I think we should have both options if customisation is ever revamped, though if I had to pick one it'd just be definition. There's a pretty drastic difference between a 0% muscle tone on the Midlander male model compared to what it looks like at 100%. Ideally I'd like to use something like Hien's model as a base, though. I'm pretty sure he uses an edited Highlander model to have such beefy arms.

[Lauront]

I mean Au Ra and Highlander men, who are typically described as beefy, are the same in sheer bulk. I too wish you could make them somewhat bigger, because it'd suit them, but as Theodric said, they're already pretty large and it's not a huge flight of imagination.

Regardless, outside of RP, it's fairly obvious what female Viera are. They just don't have much capacity to look like a male at all - virtually none of the females do, although you can in some cases go with a tomboy look.

Just wondering, several people have mentioned implementing a 'muscle slider', but what exactly would it do? Would moving the slider up/down make a character more/less muscular, or do you mean simply making the muscles that are already there more visible(that is, with more definition, shadows, etc.)?

For toning. For an actual muscle slider, SE would need to be willing to invest a bit more in the game character creation wise.