The Women FFXIV Needs

[aveyond-dreams]

I do not believe that it is sensible to prioritize "muscle women" like Moenbryda over more conventionally attractive, athletic women like Fang and similar heroines like Tifa or Fran, all of which are largely absent from the main cast outside of Stormblood when we had Lyse accompanying us.

These characters are all quite strong and act as a reasonable compromise between niche and standard. People prefer to see attractive characters on screen, and it is perfectly reasonable to focus on designing those sort of characters first and foremost before dedicating some time to additional options. For the time being it is best to concentrate on introducing characters with new color palettes and more of a feminine flair to them.

[Merrigan]

I do not believe that it is sensible to prioritize "muscle women" like Moenbryda over more conventionally attractive, athletic women like Fang and similar heroines like Tifa or Fran, all of which are largely absent from the main cast outside of Stormblood when we had Lyse accompanying us.

These characters are all quite strong and act as a reasonable compromise between niche and standard. People prefer to see attractive characters on screen, and it is perfectly reasonable to focus on designing those sort of characters first and foremost before dedicating some time to additional options. For the time being it is best to concentrate on introducing characters with new color palettes and more of a feminine flair to them.

That doesn't make any sense.

FFXIV is full of "attractive" characters. In reality, no Scion is really ugly (edit : no character, PNJ included, is ugly). We're in an MMO-JRPG, where what's missing are the more atypical, less smooth characters.

I also disagree with the fact that people prefer to see attractive people on screen. On the contrary, I feel there's a general fed-up with flawless actors/actresses; with Geralt having undergone plastic surgery between the book and the video game; and in general with the lack of realism that comes from any content where the participants are too smooth.

So no, on the contrary: give us rougher men. Women who are not feminine. People who look "real", which makes a lot of sense in a game where immersion is central.

[aveyond-dreams]

That doesn't make any sense.

FFXIV is full of "attractive" characters. In reality, no Scion is really ugly (edit : no character, PNJ included, is ugly). We're in an MMO-JRPG, where what's missing are the more atypical, less smooth characters.

I also disagree with the fact that people prefer to see attractive people on screen. On the contrary, I feel there's a general fed-up with flawless actors/actresses; with Geralt having undergone plastic surgery between the book and the video game; and in general with the lack of realism that comes from any content where the participants are too smooth.

So no, on the contrary: give us rougher men. Women who are not feminine. People who look "real", which makes a lot of sense in a game where immersion is central.

Please re-read the OP to gain further insight as to the current issues in the visual designs of the main cast. My post focuses more on hairstyles and color palettes more than any other aspect of their design.

[Merrigan]

Please re-read the OP to gain further insight as to the current issues in the visual designs of the main cast. My post focuses more on hairstyles and color palettes more than any other aspect of their design.

I have already read it. And for me, the problem is really not only the "colour" of the main cast. It's a concern that actually seems quite secondary to me, in the sense that it can be justified by the lore (and by the cultural tendency, in Japan, to distinguish a main character by his or her hair colour).

If you want to introduce diversity, you might as well go all the way and kill two birds with one stone: change the colour AND go beyond the "wax figure" aspect.

[aveyond-dreams]

I have already read it. And for me, the problem is really not only the "colour" of the main cast. It's a concern that actually seems quite secondary to me, in the sense that it can be justified by the lore (and by the cultural tendency, in Japan, to distinguish a main character by his or her hair colour).

Ok so why are all the women in this game blond and nearly all with short or tied up hair? Fire Emblem 3 Houses is also a japanese game and they do not suffer from these sort of issues with visual design in terms of its women. There is sufficient variety in their cast. Naturally, as I have said before, the majority of players want to play attractive or idealized body types rather than some of the alternative options that have been suggested in this thread. Changing things up on the hair and color side of things would be an excellent starting point, along with a pivot back towards more fantastical and feminine clothes for them.