Why is there a lack of capes?

[Tanama]

I felt this deserved it's own thread.

The fabric physics are there. Just look at how Vanya robes flow in the wind and while you're running or walking in one. Odin is clearly wearing a cape while you're fighting him but when you actually wear Odin's armor, the cape is nowhere to be found? Why did they decide to omit the cape from the armor?


And sadly, it looks like the yellow cape on the Warrior of Light armor was also omitted... What gives?

[Raldo]

They've mentioned in the past that capes would be too much of a graphical hassle to display (think PS3 limitations).

[Xystic]

You need to watch "The Incredibles."

[Kettle]

Cos capes look silly. I'm playing a brutal and battle hardened lalafell warrior. Not superman.

[JagerForrester]

Clipping issues and massive information processing.

The cape would have to be coded to blow during windy weather/effects and blow based on direction. Baking a simple animation cycle is one thing, keeping the physics engine on to blow every cape in the direction of the blowing wind, massive information lag.

If you know the computer animation field, you know physics are not cheap calculations.

Edit: Turning on/off physics not something individual configuration can fix, I don't think individual configuration is even possible. But even to say it is possible, the server would still need process that information for each cape on the screen. From a technical standpoint, it's too expensive with multiple capes in all different rotated origins and colliding against objects, and then have the server process those calculations constantly for each cape.

I don't own Vanya or know anyone who wears it, but I watched a video who did have Vanya, and all I could see is baked cloth simulations and animation cycles. What I mean by baked is that they turned on the physics, recorded the simulation into keys (or recorded locations), turned off the physics, and put the animation in the cycle.

Cardboard capes are mentioned because of polygon limits. For each edge, a cape can bend. 1 edge, can fold in half, 2 edges, fold into a triangle or fold in half twice. So think, "How many edges does a cape need to bend and fold naturally?" The answer is a lot. The more polygons you have, the more the cape can bend, which is more calculations for the physics engine to process, which is more strain on the servers. All this for basically vanity.

Realistically, I don't see adventures in capes. I see royalty and high ranking officials or lords wearing them (I would consider Odin a lord and the Warrior of Light a high ranking official). Even then, they would take capes off because a sword or an enemy's hand can grab it and disrupt their technique. Batman has a cape because he actually uses it as a distraction and to glide. Superman doesn't need one except to hide his ass.

[Tanama]

If that is the case then a simple [Cape Visibility/Physics] On/Off options could be implemented to control and minimize lag.

It's to bad seeing capes being cut from armors that originally had them. As awesome as that WoL and Odin armor are, it just doesn't have that same feel without their full original look. On top of that, I believe Odin's buckler isn't available for purchase either.

[Ksenia]

Short answer, they didn't think of it at the time.

Other games have done it, yes it looks like a board tied to your back when you run or ride but when you are standing still for screen shots it flows and looks good.

[Darkwerk]

I am glad this is one game with no capes. I mean srsly, does a raid have to look like the justice league?

[Tanama]

Other games have done it, yes it looks like a board tied to your back when you run or ride but when you are standing still for screen shots it flows and looks good.

If back-cardboard cape graphics are the best they could achieve then no. None of us would want back-boards for capes. It sounds like flowing capes would only be capable with the DX11 upgrade.

Cos capes look silly. I'm playing a brutal and battle hardened lalafell warrior. Not superman.

I am glad this is one game with no capes. I mean srsly, does a raid have to look like the justice league?

Why do you lalafells continue to bring up DC comic characters in this topic? When I mention cape, I have characters like these in mind:

Golbez


Garland


Red Mage


Dracula & Alucard


Magus


Odin

[BlackShroudMercs]

DC is brought up because if you want a cape thats who has them.

In DCUO, they have capes that blow with the wind and look decent, problem is clipping is a serious issue with capes, they constantly cut into your feet and other parts of you as you move. Its a pain, though I agree, when standing still it looks good.

If I see another "ps3 limitation" excuse I think I will laugh myself to death.