Male Viera as a playable character! show your support

[Allegor]

It's probably because of the lack of muscle slider and them being super tall, but I've honestly always seen Au ra males as flat, smooth even - not buff at all.

[Theodric]

I think you can go a bit above Highlanders and still have it look fine, but not too much. I wish they had done so for Au Ra, since a lot of their concept art had portrayed such builds. Personally I don’t like the Roe or Hrothgar build, as it’s at the point where I find it too large. Something like male Raen being left as they are and Xaela achieving a build a bit above Highlanders would’ve pleased me. Something like these guys from DQXI:



For Viera that'd probably be a bit too far, but a man can dream about them going back and re-doing Au Ra to be like that!

Yeah, something like that would be perfect! I'd be more inclined to play a Raen or Xaela if I could design them to look that way.

[Mochamonarch]

It's probably because of the lack of muscle slider and them being super tall, but I've honestly always seen Au ra males as flat, smooth even - not buff at all.

Au ra men are quite unique in where their character models do indeed have a more muscled silhouette, however there isn't much of a muscle texture in their bodies, it's very strange. But Au ra still look plenty masculine and imposing. I don't think you need a 6 pack to look strong. (not to mention that the presence of pronounced abs is unnatural and is usually the result of dehydration but that's beside the point.)

[Lauront]

I don't disagree, they do look strong and imposing, but a muscle tone slider would go a long way. It's also why I hope they add one for Viera should they add the males.

[Theodric]

I don't disagree, they do look strong and imposing, but a muscle tone slider would go a long way. It's also why I hope they add one for Viera should they add the males.

Agreed. I think it should be standard across the board at this point. I'm fairly optimistic that it'll be one of their customisation options if they're added, though.

With that said, I found some of the naming convention stuff to be a disappointment. The game has an unfortunate obsession with cutting away the stuff that makes each race unique when it comes to setting off into the world as an adventurer.

Interesting, so you see Highlanders as the max amount of muscles to what you enjoy but still wanted Byakko type for Hrothgar? And seeing some posts here (especially with Sturms art) even that type for Viera?

I am just a bit curious because I honestly thougth with the posts in this thread that you wanted really muscled men and that Midlanders, Elezen or even Highlanders was not enough for male Viera.

But I agree with you, I find that muscles beyond Highlanders often turn out a bit strange. (Not that people cant like that)

Of course any male Viera is better than none but I still hope that they fit with the females.

It's 'roughly' my limit, yes. I like tall, muscular men but only when the proportions go up to a certain point. Highlander or a bit bigger is pretty much my limit, perhaps with a few exceptions. I don't have much interest in a Hrothgar or Roegadyn build since they're far too bulky to the point where they look comical to me.

It was the same issue I had with Draenei men back in WoW - their faces were great yet they were just too 'blocky' and oversized.

[Lauront]

Agreed. I think it should be standard across the board at this point. I'm fairly optimistic that it'll be one of their customisation options if they're added, though.

With that said, I found some of the naming convention stuff to be a disappointment. The game has an unfortunate obsession with cutting away the stuff that makes each race unique when it comes to setting off into the world as an adventurer.

It's silly. I would have been happier if they at least provided some kind of consistency to the types of names they take on in their new life, e.g. since it's likely to be in Dalmasca, something inspired by that.

[Kobalos]

I think you can go a bit above Highlanders and still have it look fine, but not too much. I wish they had done so for Au Ra, since a lot of their concept art had portrayed such builds. Personally I don’t like the Roe or Hrothgar build, as it’s at the point where I find it too large. Something like male Raen being left as they are and Xaela achieving a build a bit above Highlanders would’ve pleased me. Something like these guys from DQXI:



For Viera that'd probably be a bit too far, but a man can dream about them going back and re-doing Au Ra to be like that!

If my boi got changed to that I would change race. But I can see the appeal for beefer looking guys

[Zanarkand-Ronso]

Because it amounts to little more than tea leaf reading. The ‘multiple problems’ they specify all resolve to resource issues. It is a maybe as much as some would like to stamp their feet and insist otherwise. There is no commitment to adding them and that is all there is to it at this point.

Also please don’t pretend as if people who work within the industry itself have not given their input on the comments. I can link these when I’m at my PC in case you want to pretend it didn’t happen.

When did I pretend anything? Feel free to quote.
But since you sound so eager to disprove...something. Feel free to link.

[Zanarkand-Ronso]

i dont play wow but i know Blood elves basically saved Horde

Really? What did Alliance have before Cataclysm which...I THINK introduced the Worgan as Playable

[Lauront]

When did I pretend anything? Feel free to quote.
But since you sound so eager to disprove...something. Feel free to link.

I am rather eager to dispel the notion that the rationale they gave cannot be questioned, so here ya go. Keep going down and follow the chain.

If my boi got changed to that I would change race. But I can see the appeal for beefer looking guys

Fair enough, although if they went with a midlander/highlander type split with Raen males staying as they are and Xaela adopting such a model, I think it'd work just fine. That, or giving Au Ra such a build whilst re-working Elezen so as not to be a write-off to most players interested in a build like theirs.