Dawntrail character graphics update - opinions, requests and discussion megathread

[Alice9]

While I'm grateful for the response, the whole thing feels entirely overdue. This should never have been an issue to begin with and the fact that we will have to wait even longer for "fixes" to be made is kind of ridiculous when read on paper. 7.2 or longer? Really? For the potential for those aspects to be fixed? There was so much direct and detailed feedback ever since the first benchmark. This calls into question the quality of everything going forward when things like this can come out so rushed but take so long to correct its course.

The downplaying is very apparent here as well. Yes, lighting does play a big part in the appearances- but it does not change the fact that some faces and their parts are just objectively completely different. And so this message does not strike me as having confidence in themselves to even resolve such issues, nor does it give me confidence that it will fix my character. Again, many people just wanted simple upscales, not complete changes. Is it truly so gargantuan of an ask for our characters to look at least mostly like they did before? Maybe it is a tall order at this point because of the drastic changes they already made, but again, one can't help to ask why they bothered making such extreme changes in the first place. Personally, I'd rather them not have bothered at all with the character models at this point.

Again, I am glad it is being addressed in the first place, but this truly does not give me any confidence at all. Ideally- their actions will speak louder than their words. These updates can't come soon enough. I just want to know whether or not I'll continue playing this game. If my 7.0 character that I was with with for years still doesn't feel like mine even after months of trying to get used to the changes, why should I or anyone else feeling the same way bother continuing to play?

[red_fang]

For Hellsguard Roegadyn's dark spot or smudge I feel like it's perfect right now as-is, and I do not want anymore changes. For the first time ever I'm truly satisfied with my character's face, and I like the changes done to bring it up to par with the rest of the game.

Some Hellsguard never had the smudge at all, like Curious Gorge and a few other NPCs, so that tells me it was supposed to be optional at some point in development but Roe players were never given that option.

The correct way to go about this would be to make it a toggle or a setting in face features like scars and extra makeup already are, so one could make it lighter or darker as they please. It would be the easiest way to fix this and make everyone happy.

[Turnintino]

I'm curious if textures were shared across all races before now? I don't think I understand why a higher polygon count would cause a problem and they didn't explain it. How could it be a problem now when it wasn't a problem before?

I mean, I believe that the issue described is related to the new higher poly count, since we can see that many facial features have been shifted and warped by that change (not just because of the new normal maps, as the full statement alleges). But I think it's a little disingenuous for them to imply this happens only during certain emotes, when the difference is plain on neutral expressions as well in some cases.

But... it is what it is, I guess. I understand the trepidation and discontent many of us are still feeling about the statement as a whole, but PR is gonna PR, and I'm still cautiously optimistic about the assurance that the team who'll actually be enacting these changes (not Yoshida himself, if that needs to be said) are pulling from a more exhaustive list of critiques than the ones that were listed more or less arbitrarily here. And although it isn't ideal, in the sense that of course I'd like my character back now (or to have never lost them in the first place lol), I much prefer that they take their time and do the due diligence required for any changes going forward, so I'm not going to complain about that.

[Aco505]

A bit disappointed that they have not talked about updating face paint and markings to have higher resolution. They're just pointing that the issue lies elsewhere. No mention of improving bodies either.

Also, any addition or changes to what we have currently should be added as new character creator options as much as possible whenever suitable. If they go and change eyebrows, it might upset those who like them as they are now. Instead, simply add the tweaks as new options so that everyone is happy and we have more variety. Same goes for mouth shapes such as the ones for the face type 1 of male miqo'te.

[Luca_]

I just hope they buff eyebrows...

[faiarrow]

For Hellsguard Roegadyn's dark spot or smudge I feel like it's perfect right now as-is, and I do not want anymore changes. For the first time ever I'm truly satisfied with my character's face, and I like the changes done to bring it up to par with the rest of the game.

Some Hellsguard never had the smudge at all, like Curious Gorge and a few other NPCs, so that tells me it was supposed to be optional at some point in development but Roe players were never given that option.

The correct way to go about this would be to make it a toggle or a setting in face features like scars and extra makeup already are, so one could make it lighter or darker as they please. It would be the easiest way to fix this and make everyone happy.

The lore is that it's volcanic ash and more or less religious practice, which is why we see some hellsguard get the seawolf flat diffuse that omit the marking (saves them making a unique one per face, too.)

Presently the flat diffuse for femroe faces show that it has been severely lightened. So light you can't see it at all in daytime field lighting as it looks like a random shadow instead of a clearly defined mark.

Dawntrail is on the left, Endwalker on the right.


Ash on skin isn't magically just a light dusting you could mistake for a shadow. An applied ash is bound with oil which means it looks like this:


It 100% should be a toggle because I miss having the actually dark mark, which I have always seen as an important clan trait, as have a lot of other users posting feedback.

[Turnintino]

No mention of improving bodies either.

I don't see this happening maybe ever, unfortunately. They can improve the bump and diffuse mapping on the bodies till the cows come home, but in terms of the poly count (the main issue, some might argue), improving the geometry would require that they edit every piece of gear that reveals any part of the body, since the two are attached. When you put on a piece of gear, you're fully replacing that part of the character's body (this is how things like the 2B glam giving female characters different butts are possible); gear doesn't actually lay over the body.

So, while I hate to beat this particular dead horse, that seems like too much work for a team who still won't let two entire races wear most headgear, new or old. Maybe someday, but probably not today lol.

[Aco505]

I don't see this happening maybe ever, unfortunately. They can improve the bump and diffuse mapping on the bodies till the cows come home, but in terms of the poly count (the main issue, some might argue), improving the geometry would require that they edit every piece of gear that reveals any part of the body, since the two are attached. When you put on a piece of gear, you're fully replacing that part of the character's body (this is how things like the 2B glam giving female characters different butts are possible); gear doesn't actually lay over the body.

So, while I hate to beat this particular dead horse, that seems like too much work for a team who still won't let two entire races wear most headgear, new or old. Maybe someday, but probably not today lol.

As players, we have the right to hold them accountable and provide feedback to improve the game. I will never stop asking for improvements to the game precisely because I know they can do it, they just choose not to for one reason or another.

This is the game keeping the company alive, and even if the executives give them the bare minimum resources to work with, they should still fight internally to get more, as the players request.

[sekkatolire]

I've personally really enjoyed this feature, please don't get rid of it Square! It doesn't have to continue to be red, but the light coming through the horns has been a really great addition in my opinion.

[Tahli]

I don't know if a lot of people just didn't read to the end, but they stated:
"Even regarding items that are spec, although it may be difficult at this time, in the future we will look into adding more character creation options, among other things."

They'll look into adding more CC options. This is GREAT news! Those added options may very well be the bridge connecting people who like the old designs and people who like newer, changed features.