Dawntrail character graphics update - opinions, requests and discussion megathread

[Iscah]

I can appreciate them wanting to add more face bones for better expressions, but the old expressions we had were more than serviceable, and the new faces had some uncanny expressions for a good long while. They're better now, but they're still not quite to how they were before the update.

Not just uncanny expressions but also the unnatural pointed-in-the-middle shape as if they never even looked at how a human mouth and nose is structured, and which has not yet been fixed.

[Kihna]

For the most part I have liked the graphical update. However, while I have tried to like or become accustomed to my character’s new appearance, I haven’t and I find myself really missing my old character. For the most part, updated face 1 for male viera looks near-identical to its pre-Dawntrail version, with exception of the nose, specifically the structure of the bridge of the nose for nose type 4.




Nose type 4 used to have much sharper shadows that helped create a fiercer aura than the current model. The current model has much more rounded shadows which creates a softer look that I do not like. The character I created embodies the ideals of the Warrior of Light, but also is very cold, stoic, and irritable. The pre-Dawntrail model reflects this persona better than the current model. I feel like the graphical update took all the sharp edges on character models and rounded them out without consideration that those sorts of sharp feature helped shape the persona of the characters we created.
I’m not going the ask for the update to be reversed, there are environmental and light changes I do like, but I wish the sharper shadows on the bridge of nose 4 (male viera, face 1) would be restored. (Also, I don’t like the eye bags. They’re not as present as they used to be at launch, but they’re still there and I don’t like them.)

[Argantaelle]

I can't help thinking that the current situation with the graphical update has something in common with World of Warcraft: Cataclysm. Dawntrail and Cataclysm have similar features:

- Ties with the past are broken because of the complete rework of vanilla zones (WoW) or character appearance overhaul (FFXIV).

- Lore and immersion are lacking; both expansions started after a pinnacle of a decade-long story (Wrath of the Lich King was the conclusion of Arthas' storyline, and I'd rather not talk about Dawntrail; there are more than enough people complaining).

- PvE is still good, though.

As for me, I lingered for one more expansion, left WoW at the end of Mists of Pandaria and never looked back. I'm afraid the same process is happening now, and this is very sad.

[baobabkr]

Hello, I'm a player from the Korean server.
I started on the global server last week to post on the forum (it might be late, though).
Since Dawntrail, the face of the character I’ve used for 7 years has changed.



1. My lips became thinner (★especially the upper lip).
2. Due to factor #1, the philtrum has become longer.
3. The upper eyelids became thicker, which changed the eye shape and the amount of exposed iris.
4. She’s got wrinkles under her eyes.
5. The width of the nose has become narrower.
6. A groove has formed below the area where the eyebrows and nose bridge connect.
7. The line from the chin to the ears has become slimmer.
8. Maybe it's a small change, but the irises definitely seem a bit bigger.
9. The eyebrows are different.

Before, my character had a goofy, laid-back, and sturdy look. Now, she looks more brooding, sensitive, and exhausted.

At first, I thought I could adjust, but over time, I found myself logging in less and less.
As I progressed through the story, my disconnect with my character only grew, and I ended up quitting just before the level 93 trial.
Since Femroe Type 1 face players are already a small community, I'm worried about 7.2.

[Doopliss]

Hello, I'm a player from the Korean server.
I started on the global server last week to post on the forum (it might be late, though).
Since Dawntrail, the face of the character I’ve used for 7 years has changed.



1. The upper lip became thinner.
2. Due to factor #1, the philtrum has become longer.
3. The upper eyelids became thicker, which changed the eye shape and the amount of exposed iris.
4. She’s got wrinkles under her eyes.
5. The line connecting the chin and ears has become slimmer.

Before, my character had a goofy, laid-back, and sturdy look. Now, she looks more brooding, sensitive, and exhausted.

At first, I thought I could adjust, but over time, I found myself logging in less and less.
As I progressed through the story, my disconnect with my character only grew, and I ended up quitting just before the level 93 trial.
Since Femroe Type 1 face players are already a small community, I'm worried about 7.2.

This is a devastating change. That lip shape change is by far one of the worst I've seen.

I've said this before to no avail, but I'll say it again: please look at and adjust all faces equally. I stopped commenting here because I'm tired and I could tell from 7.1 they weren't listening, but the fact they're only attempting their lame adjustments on a specific select few faces is evident.

In 7.1 the only faces with any additional adjustments (meaning they had adjustments beyond the blanketed philtrum change) were several of the most popular ones, and even then they were far from hitting the mark.

Roegadyn and Highlander women in particular are still riddled with errors in their face mapping, and the second ♀ Highlander face still has an entirely new set of eyes, making some old customization options impossible to achieve. Only one ♂ Duskwight face had its eyebag issue fixed. ♀ Au Ra Face 2 remains unrecognizable. ♂ Au Ra Face 3 lost all of its boyishness. ♂ Midlander Face 4 is so busted that it can look like an entirely different face depending on the time of day. ♂ Miqo'te faces had all of their mouths replaced with ones of similar widths and curves, lessening their individual characteristics tenfold. The list goes on.

I have zero hope my ♀ Roegadyn with Face 4 will get fixed because she too uses a very unpopular face. This is the second KR user coming here with ♀ Roegadyn Face 1, and it's clearly been hit drastically. There is no objectively singular "worst" face option update here.

So please, look at all faces equally. There are so many players with loads of different customization options that love this game and would like to continue loving it. Put in the goddamn effort; players shouldn't have to point out what got drastically changed for SE anyway.

[glitteringcosmos]

If I want to be very generous, I'll guess that maybe they hope they can slip it in quietly and the people who didn't notice/care about the first change won't care about this one either. But I'm certainly feeling more nervous the closer we get.

This is exactly what they're doing and it really, really sucks. I just want them to walk it all back. Save your stupid new graphics for the next mmo and give us our characters back, gritty textures and all.

[Heavenchild]

They really messed up most characters mouth... :c
And no word from them about plans to fix it. Very frustrating.

[SchwarzwaelderTorte]

Not character related, but:



Kholusia (6.9 , 35.2) used to be one of my favorite fishing spots, especially when stocking up on Blue Crabs during 5.X...

The effects of the graphical update and the new automated processes used on the environment haven't really been discussed here, but I'll just share another example I posted on the Japanese thread a while ago:





Keeping in mind that during the last Tokyo Game Show's Live Letter, Yoshida was praising FFXI, an MMO that came out in 2002 on PS2, for how the texture work was so well made that the tiling (texture repetition) didn't show, at least well enough for him to stand in Jeuno and admire the walls for hours, as he put it.

[Argantaelle]

From the new patchnotes:

"Graphical adjustments have been made to player character models based on feedback from the community.
Read more about our response to feedback on player character models. [here goes the link to Mr. Yoshida's post published in October - A.]

In conjunction with these adjustments, players can obtain a phial of Fantasia from the wandering moogle in Old Gridania (X:10.7 Y:6.4) for a limited period of time.
* This reward will be obtainable until the release of Patch 7.3."

[mallleable]

The small preview for Thavnair looks great! Was not expecting updates to almost every zone up until Endwalker!