Playable Lupin - Please, I beg!

[Wolfie407]

What Square could do in lieu of the lack of hairstyles is do ear edits, starting out at least. Allow the player to choose the size and shape of the ears in its own field of customization, kind of like how you can with worgen in Warcraft.

As far as head pieces, personally, I am fine with not having them but I know others will want them. It'd definitely have to take on the viera/hroth treatment with headgear getting added as they go. Though think about it like this. As this would be a second beast race, wouldn't any other beast race have to undergo the same thing anyways? For races like Miqo/Au Ra it's much easier but a second beast race adds more to the mix despite having a lack of hairstyles and head pieces to begin with.

Lupin males are already fully animated. All they'd really need is a definite skin upgrade and add more of the customization side of things but the model rigging and is all done but I do love the idea of taking on Elezen stances as opposed to fem Roes for females. I completely agree it was not fair for people needing to buy fantasias to change hairstyles. That should have never happened to begin with. They should have been separate from the get-go and I know that sullies the outlook on another race that would fall into the no hats/hairstyles club. It would have to be an over time thing but as I said, any beast race would have this problem to my knowledge.

[Rein_eon_Osborne]

While I do wish to see more 'less human-y' races, there's also this (sorry I can't resist this meme lol):


They would first have to not half-a$$ what they did with Hrothgar/Viera, then maybe people would have more faith in them lol.

[Vespar]

Honestly, I'd love a Lupin race. In fact, Im shocked they werent chosen over Hrothgar to begin with. That said, I'd also be keen on edits to old races that could allow for more customizeability.

I doubt it will happen, but to appease the fans, they could speed development of potential new races (be it lupin or others) by reusing existing body and head skeletons. I'm not a developer, but I understand that a massive amount of work would still need to occur if they did do this, because they'd still need unique face movements, unique starter sets, etc. I would actually be okay if they just reused animations from other races too for movement, etc. I'm always down for more variety of races, character customization, etc.

[RedLolly]

I still have the stance that Lalafell only exist as nicely built as they do because they're a 1.0 race and would've been just as sharply limited as Hrothgar if they came out now.

I also want a new, un-human race. I think though I just want a new race that isn't just "tall person with fantasy parts attached" if they add more races.

Lupin have a bunch of work done by just using Hyur bodies with unique heads and the tails. But I think we'd need at least 6 heads to tweak to start, and most hair styles wouldn't work on the Lupin we've seen.

But alternatively just giving Hrothgar a few head and tail types with canid features would work, too? Shoot, giving Miqo'te ear styles (suns are supposed to have shorter ears in official lore, but models don't reflect this) and more tails, like fox or wolf tails, also open up way more options within the races we already have.

[Wolfie407]

I am incredibly happy for the announcement of more customization for what we have already! For those who pointed that they wanted that in this thread, I celebrate with you! It's a huge win for everyone in the long run!

That said, something struck me during today's Fanfest announcements. That is being the fact Yoshi P brought up that the two new jobs are going to be FF14 originals, not legacy like we mostly expected.

Lupin are a race that is also an original to FF14. Perhaps maybe 9.0 we can explore other areas of our world like where the Lupin originated from before they came to the East? I will still dream for playable Lupin! You guys are all awesome.

[Tabbs]

Just tagging in to show my support <3 I'm glad they're aiming on improving the character customization first, but I would love to see Lupin or a similar canine race some day!

[Wolfie407]

I was thinking and doing some research today on unique customizations that could be given to playable lupin in lieu of hairstyles initially. It really comes down to the ears. Lupin have rather large, pointed ears so of course, we could start with different sizes. Though when you think about it, you can actually go -more- in depth with them.

You can do different shapes of the ears such as ears tips being bent slightly like a collie or folded a bit more like a Jack Russell. You could do one ear up and one ear down, swapping from left and right as to which one is bent/folded. Those aren't wolf-shaped ears, true, but it does add more customization options. Though if we didn't want to do that, we can go into a more feral territory like having the part of the ear severed or having a hole/tear in the side of the ear as a sign that the Lupin character has seen battle or something like that.

Another way to customize the ear is through the inner ear fluff. I've seen many designs where there is a lot of fluff, some fluff that is shaped in certain ways, little fluff, no fluff, so on. The fluffs can be different styles so to say to give each option a sense of flexibility. You could technically even add tufts of hair that the werewolf ears have.

If we want to get cutsie (there are people out there who will want their lupin to look on the more cute side), maybe there be an option to have a little bow or two bows at the base of the ears. Flowers could be added too?

If Square wanted to add hairstyles in, it'd have to be done the same way Hrothgar are (but whatever they do, do NOT attached the hair to the face. People should not have to get a fantasia if they want to change their hair.) Personally, I am fine with no hairstyles, even for female lupin. I believe that if Square added lupin, they should consider at least hat options in a future for them however. Some hats from the past can be retroactively given to them but it's not necessary. They didn't have hats/hairstyles now, no reason to change in my eyes but they should be introduced over time. Of course people will disagree with me on that, and that's okay! I'd actually love to hear your feedback on that.

The only real losing points will be the lack of Online Store revenue for Lupin players. Like hats, when a new hairstyle is created, I believe all races should be able to have them. This includes those of the online store. We are still able to get everything else so there is no real loss in that department.

Just throwing out some ideas for discussion of course! I actually did some more research on the lupin model and yeah, their head would definitely need a rework regardless to get them up to snuff with today's standards. I cannot stress enough that any race that they would add at this point, especially a beastial race, would need to have this work done too. Lupin are far ahead in the game because they already exist, and are fully rigged+animated. They just need some love!

[Tabbs]

...

I'm also cool with not having hair. I've never minded my Vulpera in WoW not having it. Ear customization would be great, and maybe tufts of fur to help break up similarity between individual players?

But then if hair is necessary, I think in addition to what you're suggesting they could make versions of existing hairs continue to work in a different way! Rather than reusing the actual hair models like they've been doing for Viera and Hrothgar, they could try to take the defining features of hairstyles and make "fur" styles out of them. Something that doesnt reuse the same hair model but gives the feeling of a similar style by blending the defining elements of the hair into the fur of the head model.

For example, with something like "Styled for Hire" they could have the long fringe of hair over their face, the two braids towards the back, and the rest would just be their normal fur/head model, maybe with cowlicks or fur tufts styled in directions that help it feel more natural.

In order for that to work effectively though, the hair color would probably need to be tied to the fur/skin color in some way, or they'd need to have a system that gradiates color between the fur on the model and the fur that makes up the hair.


For hats, I can see most of them working with some refit, but I really think people would just need to accept that a wolf cant wear a full helmet or anything that wouldnt fit over a snooter lol

[Wolfie407]

That would be neat! I'm a worgen player and most of the time I don't wear a helmet. If it is, it's something floating like the one crescent moon helmet or something that makes the back of the neck fancy. I like how worgen had their styles tied to their manes. That is definitely something Square could do for lupin! I like this idea of yours, Tabbs! Not sure why the heck I didn't think of that. (It's probably because I saw a pictures online of art of female lupin with a hairstyle.)

[Barghest1210]

This would frankly be a dream come true. The Lupin as presented would definitely need a redesign but I wouldnt care if they started with scant customization options they would still be leaps and bounds better then humanoid wolf races (or lack there of) that we've gotten in other fantasy franchises. And not luke this wouldnt be the perfect time to see them appear, what with Evercolds very apparent Norse inspirations. I want more representation for Wulvers and Faoladh from Scottish and Irish culture.