Dawntrail character graphics update - opinions, requests and discussion megathread

[SchwarzwaelderTorte]

@GrizzlyTank yeah like Rui0057 said your post will be deleted very quickly if you post directly in English without bothering to translate anything, the moderators are super active there.

[Fawkes]

Noticed some very wrong lighting(?) while flying in The Tempest

[Gaddes]

I cannot, for the love of me, fathom how and why so many are clinging to old graphic flaws as if their life depends on it

The thing I'm bothered with isn't a "graphical flaw," it's a fundamental change to a stylized design. They made a conscious choice to change shapes and curves that have nothing to do with a poly count. Many male elezen players are displeased about how the overall appearance of facial characteristics have lost the more intense edge that male elezen had before. I want to make it clear, I'm not disappointed at them improving graphic fidelity/quality, I'm disappointed that style changes are taking place that took some character features/traits that looked unique compared to other character races, and then made them appear more generic and less emotive.

If you're happy with your bunny, then that's all well and good. But that doesn't negate people's questions and concerns about why some of these changes took place.

[Cheapshot]

The only thing frustrating me right now is the mindset of this forum. For an opinion thread it doesn't seem to be open for BOTH sides - For those who like the changes AND for those who dislike the changes.
All I'm seeing now is that the few people who don't take a ride on the hate train because they're actually satisfied are being called out and barked at. Very rudely at that.

Well, if you’d like an honest answer, it’s because nearly without fail anyone coming in with a differing experience aren’t posting their own characters and saying “I’m happy and this is what I like”. They’re coming in and telling others their opinions and feelings are wrong, that they’re overreacting, that the changes are in their heads, that they’re just whiners, that it’s all minor stuff they should get over, etc etc. It’s that combative and rude hostility that people are responding to in kind.

I’m just going to go ahead and bold/underline a few things in the very same post of yours I’m responding to now. I want you to reflect on if there’s a reason you’re seeing people like yourself be responded to negatively.

REAL issues are another matter, of course, like textures not having been upscaled properly. But too many are getting a crisis and an emotional breakdown over slight and subtle changes, stating they don't recognize their characters when they're looking almost exactly the same.
I'm sure if all had the DT graphics first and would have gotten the EW graphics after, they would whine all the same, just the other way around. I don't know what's at work here, but it's neither reasonable nor constructive.

I, for one, am gonna enjoy the game and be happy with the new graphics and stop looking into these threads because it's weighing me down. The only hope I have left is that the developers won't go back on any more choices they've made - because unfortunately, they already have - to appease an unhealthy over-attachment to an outdated character model display. Goodness.

Do you perhaps not realize you’re doing this? Do you truly not understand why you’re seeing negative reactions to posts like yours?

[BeoCat]

Noticed some very wrong lighting(?) while flying in The Tempest

I've noticed some older areas have weird lighting, for example ul'dah looks way too dark at night, or Zordiark's area also looking very dark. I think they mentioned that older stuff will get fixed during patches so we'll just gonna have to wait it out.

[Angelivia]

Well, if you’d like an honest answer, it’s because nearly without fail anyone coming in with a differing experience aren’t posting their own characters and saying “I’m happy and this is what I like”. They’re coming in and telling others their opinions and feelings are wrong, that they’re overreacting, that the changes are in their heads, that they’re just whiners, that it’s all minor stuff they should get over, etc etc. It’s that combative and rude hostility that people are responding to in kind.

I’m just going to go ahead and bold/underline a few things in the very same post of yours I’m responding to now. I want you to reflect on if there’s a reason you’re seeing people like yourself be responded to negatively.



Do you perhaps not realize you’re doing this? Do you truly not understand why you’re seeing negative reactions to posts like yours?

You are right, I got a little emotional there, too, because I liked some changes from the first benchmark that got reverted in the second, which left a sour taste in my mouth.
I'm not going back on my opinion but I could have phrased it better, less aggressive and more diplomatic. I apologize if I have given needless offense.

[Boblawblah]

omg, wtf did they do to my character??? The benchmark looked fine, but now her cheeks are MASSIVE, and her lips/nose/eyes looks super tiny compared to it. I can't take screenshots right now because I'm on PS5 but wow, it's awful.

[Angelivia]

The thing I'm bothered with isn't a "graphical flaw," it's a fundamental change to a stylized design. They made a conscious choice to change shapes and curves that have nothing to do with a poly count. Many male elezen players are displeased about how the overall appearance of facial characteristics have lost the more intense edge that male elezen had before. I want to make it clear, I'm not disappointed at them improving graphic fidelity/quality, I'm disappointed that style changes are taking place that took some character features that made certain traits look unique compared to other character races, and then made them appear more generic and less emotive.

If you're happy with your bunny, then that's all well and good. But that doesn't negate people's questions and concerns about why some of these changes took place.

Of course my feelings don't negate other people's feelings and it wasn't my intention to make it sound like that. There are some valid arguments and I don't know what exactly you're referring to with your character but it's a good example nonetheless, because some edges were due to low poly count and with a higher poly count it's only natural that the lines connecting are looking way more rounded and smoothed over. On the other hand, that doesn't mean that you can't have sharp features and, for example, a strong jawline - So if it's the latter you mean, not the outlines/contours but the actual shape being significantly different, you have my sympathies.

[ElysiumDragon]

I would strongly advise people in this thread visit the aesthetician, and I say that with all sincerity. There's a small chance the devs accidentally reset people's non-Fantasia facial features like lip color, shadow, and eyebrows, and those can have a significant effect on how a face looks. I just did the same and managed to get back most of the features that defined my character, just by changing a few small things!

[VessLynn]

I really really hate it. They added puffy bags under my characters eyes (Hyur Middie Face 1) and it's bothering me so much. So much to the point I finally made a forum account cause It's genuinely ruined a lot moments in the game so far in the expansion.