7.0 Graphic Update - Elezen feedback

[Tsumdere]

Those changes are propably bugfixes due wrong normal maps for Elezen faces. Normal maps are used for structure simulation. I guess, the players got used to the wrong normal maps or built their character around them. And with the fixes their character looks different. And yes, it happens relatively often, that players start to like some bugs in games if the bugs stay long enough.



Cheers

Some of them are 100% just normal map updates. I know because I purposefully chose rounded features but they still had shadows regardless of the actual shape of my face. A problem like this is lose-lose situation because they were absolutely incorrect. Retaining the feel of these parts and resculpting all of the options is probably beyond the scope of their original idea and probably can't be saved before DT.

Some parts are completely changed. The biggest offender is the thicker lips people have been posting about. These drastic differences that really can't be disputed by anyone should get first priority even if the rest of the perceived changes have to wait however long.

[GalaFrost]

Making a different decision at the initial design stage and changing that decision now are two very different matters, as this whole business is proving.

At this point, Elezen are lanky and relatively small-headed because they are tall overall. Changing it is what would make our existing characters look off.

Right. I'm talking about small fixes however, not drastic changes that would make our characters look like Hyurs. Still, there's the fact that we remain one of the least played races due to most glams not working for us and several people stating that Elezen females look "weird".

[Tsumdere]

Right. I'm talking about small fixes however, not drastic changes that would make our characters look like Hyurs. Still, there's the fact that we remain one of the least played races due to most glams not working for us and several people stating that Elezen females look "weird".

It doesn't matter if we're one of the least played races. Elezen will never overtake the Viera/Cat/Lizard/Lala/Hyur no matter what they do unless they make them generic elves. Look how many people beg for Hyur with pointy ears.

A lot of Elezen players like how we look and frankly, it's not our fault that people cannot make good looking glams. All gear looks good on Elezen if you know how to dress yourself.

[StarKorg]

My elezen looks..... okay (not necessarily better but I can cope) but my biggest complaint is actually the inverse of what my issue is with my main character (a roe).
I've found that my elezen's signature "raccoon eyes" are significantly lighter.. (As a result of the changed lighting) They look so much less devious

I also miss the static eye shiny but biggest complaint on my Elezen specifically is the eyeshadow facepaint I gave them is way too light now (it is on the darkest colour on the dark setting!)

[Iscah]

I've been taking more screenshots tonight and I'll try to get those sorted out tomorrow, but one thing that particularly stood out to me is the lack of detail on a scar.

Specifically I've got a face #2 male Duskwight using the left cheek scar. The current version looks like it has depth to it while being a similar colour to the rest of his face, but the benchmark version just looks like a dark line painted on the surface with no texture to it at all.

[Liamont]

So to summarise most of the problems I've seen here and around the boards for Elezen so far:

• Faces are too rounded and have lost definition of chins and cheekbones
• Darker skin tones look waxy and strange
• Duskwood have been drawn using Wildwood face textures, giving them dark eye circles that they didn't have before
• Some lips have completely changed shape
• Some lips have been turned up at the corners creating a 'smiling' effect that wasn't there before
• Some lips have an odd stripe of light added above them
• Some noses have been made straighter, narrower and less pointy
• Some eyes have changed shape
• Lack of eye highlights is causing a dead look in the eyes
• Eyelashes are longer and thicker, changing the visible shape of eyes and also contributing to the dead eye look by covering any highlights that may be there
• Facial expressions and 'feeling' of many characters have changed significantly due to these changes in features

Also add in that eyebrow shapes have been completely changed for some. I've seen at least 3 now where the eyebrow shape is completely different.

[SpiritMuse]

Those changes are propably bugfixes due wrong normal maps for Elezen faces. Normal maps are used for structure simulation. I guess, the players got used to the wrong normal maps or built their character around them. And with the fixes their character looks different. And yes, it happens relatively often, that players start to like some bugs in games if the bugs stay long enough.



Cheers

Then they should update the normal maps to reflect the structures they have been showing until now. It doesn't matter if it's a bugfix. The facial features have been visually changed to the point where characters don't look like themselves anymore.

[WistfulWind]

I'm generally happy with how my elezen looks. I love his pale gold eyes, but with current graphics the lightness does have the unfortunate effect of making him look a bit absent, so I'm glad the update has given them life.

Admittedly, his lips have a noticeably different shape, but I think I prefer it that way. That said, I can understand being put off by that sort of the change.



One thing that does bother me is the eyebrows have a strange shape now. Before they had a very smooth curvature, but now they look oddly bumpy toward the outer part of the brow.

Also I notice that his face mark looks more washed out. I've noticed this sort of thing with any sort of dark marking on characters like hellsguard noses. I'd like it if they returned the boldness to these sorts of dark-colored marks.

Last thing, with the update his beard looks sparser in places. Especially on the sides of the chin you can see more of his skin underneath making it look patchy. I think it could use less transparency.

[Larirawiel]

Then they should update the normal maps to reflect the structures they have been showing until now. It doesn't matter if it's a bugfix. The facial features have been visually changed to the point where characters don't look like themselves anymore.

I doubt, that they will re-implement very old bugs.




Cheers

[Naseilis]

Alright, my turn !

< ENDWALKER LEFT | DT BENCHMARK RIGHT >






Overall, the result is a mixed bag, but mostly positive. Here are the elements that called to my attention the most :

EYES :
Actually pretty happy about the changes to the shape of this set of eyes. They were the most innocent but also "out of place" looking so that's why I picked them initially, but now they are more in line with the other designs and it makes him look more mature like the rest.

HOWEVER, he's a duskwight, and now he has dark circles under his eyes ?? No can do ! I took a duskwight face specifically to avoid those dark circles... !

The new eyebrows make all the elezens look angy or evil now, help- And I've seen some who have lost their eyebrow identity... It's not all bad, but for the most detailed ones to lose their identity is a shame for sure.

HAIR :
The hair seems to have lost some shine in parts and gained in others, and the new hair shader doesn't make it look like hair. Idk, I'm gonna be real, it looks kind of "cheap"... The previous hair had more definition somehow, albeit not always lighted correctly. Something about the previous shader made it shine more like actual hair strands ?

I also find the coloring much less saturated in the benchmark version that the previous one (except for the secondary hair strands coloring which in turn looks extra saturated in some places), and seems to go in line with people's observations so far.

SKIN TONE :
The model seems to gorge itself with a tad too much lighting which makes it glow and wash out the shadows in high lighting areas. The problem also subsides in low lighting (e.g. first pic) as expected of SSS, so there might be some tuning to do ? I'm a BIG fan of the reddish ear tips, of course ♥

TL;DR : Nice eyes upgrade, but please, NOT the dark circles under his eyes ! Also eyebrows, varied lighting and coloring "issues"