I am again asking for better curly/textured/African hair styles...

[NegativeS]

(For the purposes of this thread, the use of the words 'curly' or 'textured' are used in reference to the hair you might see on your average African American, and not, for example, the curls or waves you might find on a ginger or a dirty blonde, though they are also lacking decent options)

I've made a post like this before, but it didn't really get much traction. It's been a couple of years, so I figured I'd refurbish it a little with more information.

I am guilty as charged as one of those people who likes to design their character in RPG games after themselves. I'm not a Roegadyn, obviously, but I am tall and broad enough to be closer to it than the average person. So, Negative here is pretty close to what I look like in real life, clothes and maybe the occasional odd proportion nonwithstanding.

When playing east-Asian RPGs, however, it's a trend (or dare I say, a trope) for them to have god-awful options for people like me, and I am thankful to XIV for letting me get as close as I have. We're mostly past the days where every RPG just had 50 shades of paper-white to sandy-peach for skin color, with one option for jet black for the odd blerd (2010s Mabinogi will never not catch strays from me for this), but we're not really at that point yet with hair... which XIV is guilty of as well.

Most RPGs I play (and especially MMOs), it's all just variations on the same straight hairdo, with some odd hair gel nonsense here and there, and maybe a bald and wavy hairstyle. But black textured hair? Only as a joke.

There are so many possibilities for textured hairstyles. Not every black person walks around wearing a '70s doo (well, I do, but that's besides the point). Afro puffs, cruddies, coils, shape ups, short and long braids, waves, fades, sisterlocks, twist outs, frizzing...



You might have your own opinions about hair like this, but many people find it beautiful, stylish. For some people, their hair is what largely defines their style. Like me!

So many things you can do with textured hair. Unfortunately, XIV seems to think otherwise, as all they've given us is...



...the Disco 'Fro.

I do remember being new to this game and seeing that the game had an Afro style unlockable in the Saucer, and being excited, only to find out that it's this no-forehead monstrosity of a hairy orb.

I understand why this is the only textured hairstyle in the game; it's a meme, and it's funny, plus these east-Asian developers probably thought it wasn't worth the time to implement anything actually realistic because their primary audience at the time (Japanese MMO players) wouldn't care. Plus they probably don't really know what good textured hair looks like, on account of Japan being famously (or infamously depending on who you ask) homogenous...

But it's possible. For instance, World of Warcraft, which has taken leaps and strides in terms of inclusivity in recent expansions, has these examples for much more respectable textured hairstyles...



...proving that it can be done in a lower-poly, resource-sensitive manner.

Now, not having these hairstyles doesn't kill the game for me. No, a number of other things are already doing that. But if we can constantly make adjustments to Lalafell armor rigging, would it be at all possible to add some hair I can vibe with without having to reroll to a Hrothgar?

Thanks.

[Arrius]

But it's possible. For instance, World of Warcraft, which has taken leaps and strides in terms of inclusivity in recent expansions, has these examples for much more respectable textured hairstyles...

Let's be real, those ain't looking better than late year 2000 run of the mill cornstick-textured Second Life haircuts.


If you really want a good reference for those hairstyles, look at how GW2 has done it:

[NegativeS]

Let's be real, those ain't looking better than late year 2000 run of the mill cornstick-textured Second Life haircuts.


If you really want a good reference for those hairstyles, look at how GW2 has done it:

I use World of Warcraft as it's the most direct comparison, and has shut down the 'these hairstyles are too complex for FFXIV' argument in the past.

I would love hair like you posted in FFXIV.

[AyahM]

GW (1 & 2) had ample choices, but I believe that stemmed from the lore and history of the game, and not some attempt at inclusivity. The hairstyles we have in FFXIV already lean towards a certain hair type. Overall, we have little curly hairstyles even for women (but we do have some I would consider ethnic). Perhaps not so much for men. I love the skin color range FFXIV has and use it well, although I do wish ample hairstyles become available and "race" majority in these hairstyles diminish. I'd like to see more hairstyles which represent the entire world, as I see more than just this type lacking in quantity.

[Veritas-Ancora]

I'm in 100% support of this.

I'm content with my hair, and everyone should be represented and valued with that same level of contentment.

Yoshi P, please notice. Thank you!

[El_Tigre]

I support this along with giving us more choices in customizing our character faces and more.

[Reginald_Cain]

I just want the version of the afro thats shrunk down when using a hat as a permanent hairstyle. Is it so much to ask them to use the afro texture on a much more normal sized and shape hair do?

[TheRealDesastr]

Huge support for this! I think wanting to look like your character in game is insanely valid and people who say otherwise are a bit ridiculous. (along with any other reason folks want this added, ofc)

[Aidorouge]

Nothing wrong with more choices.

[Catwho]

Yes please. There are four major hair textures in humans and it feels like only 2 really get represented well in XIV right now.