Dawntrail character graphics update - opinions, requests and discussion megathread

[Mr_Gucky]

I really HATE!! the graphic update.

now the chars look lifeless/soulless and like bored (sorry) s*x dolls.

the male chars look like they didn't sleep for weeks and smoked weed (did you see the BIG eye bags especially at elezen and male hyuran faces?!)

no character look like before (in a bad way!!). its not about shades, etc.... the SHAPE of eyes and lips were changed!
so the chars became something you NEVER would have created...

since the update I didn't log into the game, neither renewed my abo payment...

I completely understand you.

Since the update, my playing time has been reduced by 80%. As soon as I log in and see the character screen, I no longer have any motivation.

Before the update, my female Au Ra WoL had a cool and tomboyish look. All the clothes are matched to it (Omega-M Attire , Lucian Prince's Set etc.), mounts too (SDS Fenrir, Regalia Type-G). Oh, of course she wears short hair, and only uses emotes that do her justice (so nothing cute). The face was the core element, it fitted the look perfectly. But unfortunately not anymore. Now she looks like a doll.

I used to love just spending time in the world of FFXIV, but it doesn't feel the same anymore. It's like playing someone else's character. Now I have to think about whether the game subscription is still worth it for me.

[Aurumis]

I feel this so much... I believe when you cancel a subscription, there's an option to say why you're choosing to do so. If you do decide to unsub, and to anyone else who decides to because of the character model changes, I would really encourage you to write a message there that the changes to character appearance are the reason why you're unsubbing. Make it clear to SE that people care enough about this that they're going to lose money over it.

Also before leaving the game, inside the game, use the /supportdesk and use bug report and suggestion box to send them your problem with the new appearance and links to images and etc. I know they say to people to engage here with feedback, but do it also inside the game to reach them there too.

[Mr_Gucky]

I've been seeing players in the JP forums growing frustrated and hopeless by the lack of communication from the devs. Sorry for the rant, but I'm also feeling the same and wish to be heard.

The more feedback we give to the devs, the greater the chance that something will happen, even if it is small I'm afraid. That's why it's so important that we continue to voice our disappointment about the face changes in the forum and also in the Japanese thread (please be polite and objective there).

It is possible that not much will happen for the time being, as the development resources are still being taken up by the recent update. But maybe there will come a time when decisions that have been made will be reconsidered and we might see a wonder after all (pre-DT facial features/mouth shape as an additional option in the character editor, no glossy lips if no lipstick etc.). This would also show that SE takes criticism seriously, even if it doesn't come from the masses. And it would mean that every player is important for SE.

So maybe there is hope for hope after all...

[Einnecy]

The more feedback we give to the devs, the greater the chance that something will happen, even if it is small I'm afraid. That's why it's so important that we continue to voice our disappointment about the face changes in the forum and also in the Japanese thread (please be polite and objective there).

It is possible that not much will happen for the time being, as the development resources are still being taken up by the recent update. But maybe there will come a time when decisions that have been made will be reconsidered and we might see a wonder after all (pre-DT facial features/mouth shape as an additional option in the character editor, no glossy lips if no lipstick etc.). This would also show that SE takes criticism seriously, even if it doesn't come from the masses. And it would mean that every player is important for SE.

So maybe there is hope for hope after all...

I'm still hopeful because, and I don't mean to spread negativity by saying this, until things get addressed I'll be speaking with my wallet even if it's mostly involuntary which REALLY saddens me to think about. My subscription is up again but my time in-game has dropped by 80-90%. I currently only play because of PvP and deep dungeons, and besides the daily Frontlines match I am not really in-game anymore and it's very likely that this might be my last subscription for a very long time. I'm starting to feel like not even the series FOMO will be able to lure me back. What's the point in collecting mounts, minions, and glamours if I don't care to match them up to my characters anymore?

I can deal with a bad storyline, for me the MSQ is predominantly a "suggestion". If I don't like something I can and will simply erase it from my headcanon or rewrite it (<cough> EW alliance raids and the timetravel stuff in MSQ) but what I can't deal with is my characters, my muses and entries into this world, the one thing that imho should be absolute, changing.

On the up side, the update has given me the push I needed to spend more time writing my non-xiv OCs and the time to play more games. I save some money from buying glamours on two characters too, I guess...

[Cheapshot]

I completely understand you.

Since the update, my playing time has been reduced by 80%. As soon as I log in and see the character screen, I no longer have any motivation.

Before the update, my female Au Ra WoL had a cool and tomboyish look. All the clothes are matched to it (Omega-M Attire , Lucian Prince's Set etc.), mounts too (SDS Fenrir, Regalia Type-G). Oh, of course she wears short hair, and only uses emotes that do her justice (so nothing cute). The face was the core element, it fitted the look perfectly. But unfortunately not anymore. Now she looks like a doll.

I used to love just spending time in the world of FFXIV, but it doesn't feel the same anymore. It's like playing someone else's character. Now I have to think about whether the game subscription is still worth it for me.

Your experience echo’s mine so closely. I didn’t play au’ra, but I think a lot of people used to choose miqo face 4 as the tomboy, less feminine option too. They changed it so much though, and needlessly I think. Completely restyling the eyelashes, or putting permanent lip gloss on weren’t necessary changes. It seems like it was their intention to make the less conventionally feminine faces look like pretty dolls with this update. I’m really frustrated by that outdated mentality. With multiple faces to choose from, why do they all have to be the same style?

I’ve also lost all motivation to play. Haven't logged in since early access and have barely touched dawntrail. I also used to just enjoy spending time in game because I felt such a connection to my character. I don’t anymore and it’s very demotivating.

[Ashenfall]

Your experience echo’s mine so closely. I didn’t play au’ra, but I think a lot of people used to choose miqo face 4 as the tomboy, less feminine option too. They changed it so much though, and needlessly I think. Completely restyling the eyelashes, or putting permanent lip gloss on weren’t necessary changes. It seems like it was their intention to make the less conventionally feminine faces look like pretty dolls with this update. I’m really frustrated by that outdated mentality. With multiple faces to choose from, why do they all have to be the same style?

I’ve also lost all motivation to play. Haven't logged in since early access and have barely touched dawntrail. I also used to just enjoy spending time in game because I felt such a connection to my character. I don’t anymore and it’s very demotivating.

Ironically, I would've expected that female seeker face 1 would already be a generic cat girl kind of face. My original intention was to make my character doll-like, with big eyes and long lashes and other smaller, soft facial features. Instead, she looks like an exaggerated, uncanny wax figure with most of her delicate, feminine aspects gone. I'm guessing that wasn't the developers' intention, since female keeper face 4 seemed to have the reverse situation. Seeker Face 1 and Face 3 have similar facial features, too. I don't understand how they translated Face 1 to feel so different. Why can't they make even the most generic cat girl facial features cute and feminine?

I don't mind slight adjustments to the original features, but I don't want them to look uncanny or swollen either. I'm just now starting Shadowbringers and whenever I see her new face in cutscenes, my eyes keep straining to look at her, as if I'm manipulating myself to like it. And I guess I'm getting used to the new emotes, but I still want the old facial animations, which enhanced my character's cuteness factor.

Of course I want to keep playing for the story, but I play this game especially because I'm attached to my character. I spent hours on creating a character I liked and never used any fantasia for her face. I already tried other customization options but there really are none that would fit this character. I already invested so much into her and just want my character to be cute and pretty.

I've been seeing players in the JP forums growing frustrated and hopeless by the lack of communication from the devs. Sorry for the rant, but I'm also feeling the same and wish to be heard.