Dawntrail character graphics update - opinions, requests and discussion megathread

[Shivi]

it's good to know it's not just me - let's cross fingers they this will be taken care of - Fantasia can't fix this issue >_<°

[Joralia]

Hello, I have posted this before on the JP forums, but I wish to share here so that my feedback has a better chance at being seen and other players can perhaps relate to the issues I have.


*Seeker of the Sun Miqote, Face 2, Eye Shape 6, Small Iris, Mouth 1

This is my friend's Miqo'te, and we are both rather upset by the changes. Her eyes are very different; they used to be sharp, giving a fierce look that matched her personality. Now, the eyelid is thicker and rounder, especially in the top corners of the eyes. The eyelashes extend at a different angle and seem less numerous. The pupil is rounder and less cat-like. Overall, the eyes are much rounder and softer. The lips shape has also changed. The bottom lip is thicker, and the slight smile has been turned into a frown.

Because of these changes to the face, the character feels like they have a different personality. This is especially obvious when using facial expression emotes, which don't feel remotely the same as they used to. To echo what others have said or implied in this thread, it really does feel like she is closer to a doll, or maybe a model, rather than the hardened huntress we know her as.



Also, the proportions between the stripe markings is different. The bottom stripe is longer and thicker, so the pleasing symmetry of the old markings is lost.

We have tried to use a fantasia to fix it, but the other selections are similar, or worse. A unique face has been lost and we are both very saddened. My friend played through the entire story with a helmet to avoid looking at the changes. We would be very appreciative if these features could be adjusted.

[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...

[Cheapshot]

I mean yeah if they re-added features shaped like the originals, I wouldn’t be the least bit mad if they were additional instead of replacing the originals a second time. I don’t have much use for the free fanta they gave us, because what would I fanta to? I still have my original free one as well. Even if I didn’t still have them I would happily buy a new one just to get my familiar features back.

[Winyumi]

Man, I've tried but I just can't bring myself to play as much anymore. I can get by with most of the facial changes, but I just want my Au Ra eyes back. It's such a complete change, a bait and switch. How can they just retcon it like this? She looks so stoned. /sob

ShB


DT


Sorry, just feeling desperate. I really really wish the devs would hear us out. I want to play the game I've been playing for all these years.

[Cheapshot]

Man, I've tried but I just can't bring myself to play as much anymore. I can get by with most of the facial changes, but I just want my Au Ra eyes back. It's such a complete change, a bait and switch. How can they just retcon it like this? She looks so stoned. /sob

ShB


DT


Sorry, just feeling desperate. I really really wish the devs would hear us out. I want to play the game I've been playing for all these years.

Eye changes were so wildly inconsistent across races I really don’t understand what happened. Some got lash reductions, and some got mascara, and none of the lash textures are actually higher resolution? Some got their eye corners raised and some got them lowered? Also why’d they make your pupils randomly bigger? So strange.

[Doopliss]

Eye changes were so wildly inconsistent across races I really don’t understand what happened. Some got lash reductions, and some got mascara, and none of the lash textures are actually higher resolution? Some got their eye corners raised and some got them lowered? Also why’d they make your pupils randomly bigger? So strange.

Lips, too. In a way that's driving me equally crazy. Several lips that used to have a slight smile got changed to a neutral or frowning expression (♀ Elezen Face 1, ♀ Miqo'te Face 2, ♀ Roegadyn Face 4, ♀ Midlander Face 1, ♂ Midlander Face 4, ♀ Au Ra Face 3, ♂ Au Ra Face 3, ♂ Viera Face 3), and several lips that used to be shaped in a frown or neutral expression got changed to a slight smile (♀ Elezen Face 4, ♂ Elezen Face 2, ♀ Roegadyn Face 3, ♀ Au Ra Face 2, ♂ Miqo'te Face 4). Just examples off the top of my head. And of course they've been both widened or narrowed inconsistently, too.

It does really make it feel like things were either rushed or just eyeballed rather than it being an intentional beautification attempt. Then again, makeup for all female characters in the first benchmark was thickened significantly across the board... I really wish they could really tell us what the hell has been happening here.

[Aurumis]

So I did a gif using Endwalker and Dawntrail benchmarks.
To everyone who said they didn't change faces.... you are fucking blind.

I want my old face... what they did to my WoL... they just ruined him. Look at his eyes... and the mouth.... the eyebrows are thinner... the chin is rounder than before... I just want to cry...

Male miqo'te face 4 eyes 3 mouth 1, nose 1

[grinkdaboy]

what most people seem to take issue with (at least from my point of view) is the fact that they've added many many more triangles to the face in order to give it a more realistic and rounded appearance as opposed to something more angular and lower fidelity