Dawntrail character graphics update - opinions, requests and discussion megathread

[Tarath]

Something that has bothered me since the start of the graphics update is the pores. I find them excessively detailed compared to the rest of the character model. Everything else has lower texture resolution where each pixel can be seen, such as the moustache and gear texture, and the chest piece is jarringly low poly in comparison to the face.

The sideburns are also detached/falling off from the face.

It’s much worse on elderly faces where it looks like they do not belong in the game when seeing them next to a youthful one.


Even when being next to a more sculpted face the pores still feel too much on an elderly face. The hairstyle also feels “fake” with how smooth and uniform it is.


It’s better from afar, but I still find the texture gritty while there’s no hint of it on the rest of the faces.


In a way I get the impression that the pores are meant to be admired up close, yet to me it simply highlights how it doesn’t belong with the style and limitations of the game.

Some additional notes I want to point out from this shot: The lips and jaw have visible polygon edges and the silhouette of the neck shows the neck seam.
There’s also this odd glow around the earring and on the neck.

Generally I notice it on a daily basis and I can’t deny it bothers me a bit, however it’s faint.

Glow between eyepatch and skin.


Under armpit and on arm.

It’s more noticeable with movement.


Standing next to a window in a house highlights how intense this effect can get, the light gets this duplicated effect from the eyepatch and the scale tips.

Sidenote, the stark light shows a rather grainy texture on the sclera and this weird bump near the treaduct.

Sometimes this highlight frames a character.


I’ve noticed something similar with the hair previews on the mog station which certainly is a choice that doesn’t look good in my opinion.


In regards to the hands, I personally would still have liked a more refined look, but regardless it’s an upgrade. However as far as I’m aware there has been no words about updating old gear to match the updated hands.



I intended to write about how lighting interacts with the new sculpts, but seeing mention of improved shadows in the patch notes, I’ll hold on to that. However I have my doubts that there will be much improvement on these matters, but I wouldn’t mind being surprised in that regard.

[Daralii]

snip

The blurry halos of light around models is a symptom of TAA, especially when poorly implemented. If you ever notice objects or terrain leaving weird afterimages as they get out of render range, it's the same thing at play, and I think that's also visible in other recent SE games like the VII remake/reboot/sequel series and XVI.

[CidHeiral]

However as far as I’m aware there has been no words about updating old gear to match the updated hands.

Every piece of gear is getting graphically updated eventually, it's just a matter of when. As each piece of hand gear is addressed they'll update it to match the higher poly fingers.

[Larirawiel]

Standing next to a window in a house highlights how intense this effect can get, the light gets this duplicated effect from the eyepatch and the scale tips.
https://i.imgur.com/wD6Cm9U.png
Sidenote, the stark light shows a rather grainy texture on the sclera and this weird bump near the treaduct.

The reason for it are completely wrong normal/parallax maps. I still can not believe, that they messed them up.


Cheers

[Tarath]

Every piece of gear is getting graphically updated eventually, it's just a matter of when. As each piece of hand gear is addressed they'll update it to match the higher poly fingers.

In terms of textures yes, but no words in regards to updating the polycount. They probably will, however I find it odd that they have already updated gear showing bare feet, but not done the hands in the same batch. Don’t they want to reflect their new work upon gear considering players are more likely to wear fingerless gloves than bare hands? And will they update old gear that’s based on the old hands such as Hempen Dress Gloves?
We don’t know.

I won’t deny that I’m being sceptical of how the graphics update is being handled, but that's because they aren’t being very transparent in their roadmap. Just as they’re saying they’re making adjustments to the faces without even listing the differences, making us players have to look for them.

[CidHeiral]

In terms of textures yes, but no words in regards to updating the polycount.

There would be no point in updating the hand poly count at all if it's not being applied to most of the gear in the game. I don't disagree that they should have made upgrading fingerless gloves a higher priority but I've seen no evidence to suggest they're skipping the upgrade entirely for old gear.

And will they update old gear that’s based on the old hands such as Hempen Dress Gloves?
We don’t know.

We do know. The answer is yes. Everything is getting updated eventually.

[Tarath]

We do know. The answer is yes. Everything is getting updated eventually.

What makes you so certain of that?
The only mention of updated hands I've seen was on a PLL before DT release where Yoshi-p tried (and failed) to showcase the new hands on his lala.
They did update foot gear with bare feets which gives a good indication that hands will get similar treatment, I'm not denying that. However ARR and HW shoes that are based on old toes were not.
In addition shouldn't I be able to critique what's currently in the game with no mention of when it'll be updated?
Should viera and hrothgar players stay quiet about not being able to wear all head gear because there was once a mention it will be updated, despite years of silence since?

I would be delighted to be proven wrong, but only SE can do that by following through with their statements.

[SchwarzwaelderTorte]

I can't provide a link because it was probably in Japanese and thus hard to google, so you'll just have to trust me on that one, but as far as I know Yoshida said in an interview a while ago that the objective was to have the double dye channels fully implemented by 7.3.

Even if I've been puzzled by their logic and priorities that sometimes feel very counterproductive (even aside from the graphical update: releasing that new housing interior remodeling feature that requires you to remove every item BEFORE increasing the number of items that can be placed and stored, which is something that was announced some time before 7.0.....? and it's not available for FC rooms and apartments...? why???), it's safe to assume that textures, models, and dye channels are being updated at the same time. They've been prioritizing AF gear, relics, and lvl 1 gear like Island Sanctuary and premium stuff for now because they're probably the most popular (according to stats or their own biased opinion, who knows), but eventually they'll have to deal with every piece of gear.
I think that on this particular point it's simply a question of patience, even if it is frustrating that it's taking so long, and that so little official, international communication about it is being released.

But are the double dye channels on old gear going to be any good, or will it be another "you can now dye the thread on this button!!" situation, that's another question...

[Cherrizini]

So are we getting a new fanta from the same NPC in Gridania? I'm a bit confused.

[Daralii]

I can't provide a link because it was probably in Japanese and thus hard to google, so you'll just have to trust me on that one, but as far as I know Yoshida said in an interview a while ago that the objective was to have the double dye channels fully implemented by 7.3.

Even if I've been puzzled by their logic and priorities that sometimes feel very counterproductive (even aside from the graphical update: releasing that new housing interior remodeling feature that requires you to remove every item BEFORE increasing the number of items that can be placed and stored, which is something that was announced some time before 7.0.....? and it's not available for FC rooms and apartments...? why???), it's safe to assume that textures, models, and dye channels are being updated at the same time. They've been prioritizing AF gear, relics, and lvl 1 gear like Island Sanctuary and premium stuff for now because they're probably the most popular (according to stats or their own biased opinion, who knows), but eventually they'll have to deal with every piece of gear.
I think that on this particular point it's simply a question of patience, even if it is frustrating that it's taking so long, and that so little official, international communication about it is being released.

But are the double dye channels on old gear going to be any good, or will it be another "you can now dye the thread on this button!!" situation, that's another question...

Yoshida also said that viera and hrothgar hat compatibility would be something that would be gradually introduced throughout Shadowbringers, nearly 6 years ago. I can't take him at his word anymore, especially with timeframes.