Character graphical changes are NOT in an acceptable state, please make it optional

[Loggos]

I've tried something to illustrate why for some people certain changes may completely alter a character's perceived personality and why people like me are unhappy about it.

I hope with this I can communicate a bit better how some of the changes feel to me (and perhaps to some other people) and why something seemingly small like resculpting a mouth can be "such a big deal" and lead to people saying "this looks like a different person".

I have drawn two pictures of my EW char and my DT char (full disclosure, I traced it and just stylised her features):

The goal was not to 1:1 trace her features and accurately document the differences (I've done that here).
It was to depict how I would interpret, capture and stylise her personality if someone asked me to draw the character in the respective screenshot.

It's about the vibe/feeling/emotion I get when looking at the EW and the DT models (not how I physically *see* them on a sensory level).
That's why her features are exaggerated to be more stern/cute (like when a caricature exaggerates certain features to emphasise certain character traits).

(To clarify for later readers: Yes, the actual differences in the screenshots are more subtle. Again, for an actual comparison of how I physically see the changes please follow the link above.
And I completely agree that fem au ra, even face 4, are unfortunately not very stern in general. I know they are still quite cute. But that is precisely why these changes bother me so much. Face 4 had a hint of sternness at least.
In DT even that hint has been completely removed and I really wish I could have kept it.)

[Doopliss]

I think this is a fantastic, simple explanation on how the brain perceives and simplifies stylistic character design. Although I know the 3D images are not 1-1 with the artwork, this is also how my brain automatically read the two faces, and is similar to the level of difference I felt toward my fem Xaela and fem Viera.

I often fumble my words, so I'm very glad to have something like this to show to my friends. Thank you.

[Loggos]

I think this is a really great example of how slight changes to proportions can change how the "soul" of the face is read. I feel bad saying it but I feel like everyone let down by the less severe look has been misled somewhat by wishful thinking in regards to the Au Ra female faces. They have -always- looked very milky and gentle to me and like any harshness in their face is very subjective. I'm not saying anyone is wrong in feeling this way - personally I prefer severe faces and the illustration on the right is very close to how i -wanted- that Aura face to look from when they were first implemented. I'm not even denying that there are differences to how the new face looks but they have never looked that severe and it's a shame they've strayed even further from it.

No I see what you mean haha. Female au ras were unfortunately always on the milque-toast side as opposed to male au ras but face 4 did have a bit more bite. I think the smaller pupil and the more convex lip shapes really changed the soul as you put it. And also, the old face 4 does have a very skeptical look and does very much not smile whereas the new face 4 has a subtle smile that in my eyes wasn't there before.
Also if you look at Sadu, the Stormblood NPC, they really did play her harsh look up. I don't think it's a coincidence that they used the slightly more severe looking face 4 for their bloodthirsty hot-headed pvp addict.

Like, look at that devilish smile. I do think some of the edge and sternness was put into that face on purpose.
https://youtu.be/FDg1cSmLWaQ?t=409

[OgruMogru]

I've tried something to illustrate why for some people certain changes may completely alter a character's perceived personality and why people like me are unhappy about it.

I hope with this I can communicate a bit better how some of the changes feel to me (and perhaps to some other people) and why something seemingly small like resculpting a mouth can be "such a big deal" and lead to people saying "this looks like a different person".

I have drawn two pictures of my EW char and my DT char (full disclosure, I traced it and just stylised her features):

The goal was not to 1:1 trace her features and accurately document the differences (I've done that here).
It was to depict how I would interpret, capture and stylise her personality if someone asked me to draw the character in the respective screenshot.

It's about the vibe/feeling/emotion I get when looking at the EW and the DT models.
That's why her features are exaggerated to be more stern/cute.

I think this is a really great example of how slight changes to proportions can change how the "soul" of the face is read. I feel bad saying it but I feel like everyone let down by the less severe look has been misled somewhat by wishful thinking in regards to the Au Ra female faces. They have -always- looked very milky and gentle to me and like any harshness in their face is very subjective. I'm not saying anyone is wrong in feeling this way - personally I prefer severe faces and the illustration on the right is very close to how i -wanted- that Aura face to look from when they were first implemented. I'm not even denying that there are differences to how the new face looks but they have never looked that severe and it's a shame they've strayed even further from it.

[Doopliss]

I think this is a really great example of how slight changes to proportions can change how the "soul" of the face is read. I feel bad saying it but I feel like everyone let down by the less severe look has been misled somewhat by wishful thinking in regards to the Au Ra female faces. They have -always- looked very milky and gentle to me and like any harshness in their face is very subjective. I'm not saying anyone is wrong in feeling this way - personally I prefer severe faces and the illustration on the right is very close to how i -wanted- that Aura face to look from when they were first implemented. I'm not even denying that there are differences to how the new face looks but they have never looked that severe and it's a shame they've strayed even further from it.

The artwork by Loggos is indeed one subjective interpretation. However, I said this in another thread--I can't even remember which anymore, I really need to take another break from the forums after this--but artists regularly work within their restrictions, not against them. Square Enix is full of professional character designers, and the art team working on the original impression of the faces absolutely knew what they were doing. Do you think they chose to design Sadu with this face accidentally? I'm sorry, again, if this sounds like an attack. I only wish people wouldn't readily discredit artist intention so easily when it's on something they perceive as old. I just personally don't think, for example, the people who carefully crafted the delicate lip shapes and other features of male Viera truly believe the curves, corners, and edges that make those up getting sanded down was actually their true intention after all. More people interpret things correctly than one might think, even subconsciously.

[OgruMogru]

The artwork by Loggos is indeed one subjective interpretation. However, I said this in another thread--I can't even remember which anymore, I really need to take another break from the forums after this--but artists regularly work within their restrictions, not against them. Square Enix is full of professional character designers, and the art team working on the original impression of the faces absolutely knew what they were doing. Do you think they chose to design Sadu with this face accidentally? I'm sorry, again, if this sounds like an attack. I only wish people wouldn't readily discredit artist intention so easily when it's on something they perceive as old. I just personally don't think, for example, the people who carefully crafted the delicate lip shapes and other features of male Viera truly believe the curves, corners, and edges that make those up getting sanded down was actually their true intention after all. More people interpret things correctly than one might think, even subconsciously.

No worries I know things can get fraught and people are emotionally on edge because it's a big change! I'm not trying to discredit artist intention or anything like that! Like I said I prefer severe faces and actively try to seek out those options whenever possible. Because of this I'm probably more discerning over what I consider severe enough and the Aura fem faces to me have never expressed that strongly enough. If it had been me doing the upscaling, I would have leant more into the severe look as per Loggo's illustration because I look for and enjoy those aspects, along with making the eyebrows slightly more angular and reducing pupil size would be a good starting point , likewise using this face for Sadu is the obvious choice. I understand the intention I just disagree to the extent of the execution. Sadu's characterization and animations do a lot of the heavy lifting so I'm curious to see how much the new facebones help with expressions and mitigating that placid vacant look.

[Loggos]

Because of this I'm probably more discerning over what I consider severe enough and the Aura fem faces to me have never expressed that strongly enough.

I actually completely agree. This is why I'm clinging so hard to the tiny bit of edge that's offered in face 4, haha. Because now even this pathetic hint of severity is gone.

If it had been me doing the upscaling, I would have leant more into the severe look as per Loggo's illustration because I look for and enjoy those aspects, along with making the eyebrows slightly more angular and reducing pupil size would be a good starting point.

Please infiltrate SE and become their new character artist. I would love more harsh looks for fem au ras. ;0;

[OgruMogru]

I actually completely agree. This is why I'm clinging so hard to the tiny bit of edge that's offered in face 4, haha. Because now even this pathetic hint of severity is gone.



Please infiltrate SE and become their new character artist. I would love more harsh looks for fem au ras. ;0;

I really hope this isn't overstepping any boundaries and I absolutely would never dictate to someone else how they should make their character but curiosity got the better of me and I made a very rough version of your face 4 Aura girl because I was curious how smaller irises and altered makeup could work to make the brow appear angrier. It means no cute star facepaint tho sadly! These are obviously in conjunction with emotes and animations but now I'm convinced we need some kind of setting for a permanent facial expression emote because the difference the brow makes even in the first 2 frames of an emote makes a huge difference! Again I'm so sorry if this is weird I just wanted to share how much of a difference even a slight tweak to the brow angle can make ^^ /grovel

[Evergrey]

... now I'm convinced we need some kind of setting for a permanent facial expression emote...

ESO have a nice costumization feature where one can equip a Personality.
Some do more than others, but many of them alters the way a character either stands, walks, runs and idle animations & facial expressions.
This could solve a lot of things and add a whole new way of people to express their characters personality.

However, I can already see that some might be locked behind raids/pvp/achivements and people will complain as to "why lock something behind something only x% of people play" reactions.

[Mouthbone]

I've tried something to illustrate why for some people certain changes may completely alter a character's perceived personality and why people like me are unhappy about it.

I can see the differences in the eyebrows and the eyelashes that make the DT expression more kind, but I would disagree that the difference is as severe as it is in your drawings
To me, the current expression reads as more neutral rather than stern
I feel like its a pretty faithful adaptation