[DEV REQUEST] Balancing Character Customization

[Noka]

To be super fair, I'm pretty sure most of this is riding on 1.0 code (as 1.0 characters kept their customized options). 1.0 was one of the least optimized games I've ever seen, so...

It's entirely possible my views on How They Could Have Properly Optimized Allocation (tm) aren't right. It's just a good way to look at it; if they used flagging certain parts, then the maximum hairstyles will be about 32 before they need to squeeze out more memory. If they didn't, and have a different method, then Fitzy is correct; they'd most likely be metering it out solely based on what slots are what.

[Magis]

To be super fair, I'm pretty sure most of this is riding on 1.0 code (as 1.0 characters kept their customized options). 1.0 was one of the least optimized games I've ever seen, so...

It's entirely possible my views on How They Could Have Properly Optimized Allocation (tm) aren't right. It's just a good way to look at it; if they used flagging certain parts, then the maximum hairstyles will be about 32 before they need to squeeze out more memory. If they didn't, and have a different method, then Fitzy is correct; they'd most likely be metering it out solely based on what slots are what.

You are correct... I found this out yesterday actually looking at the source code to a 1.0 server someone made. Face info is sent as a single 32bit integer to the client. In 1.0 the characteristics, the characteristic color, mouth, nose, features, ears, eyes, and iris all into 32 bits using a bitfield.

Characteristics were 5 bits. (31 options) <- This is probably as flags rather than a number though, so actually 6 options
Characteristic Color was 3 bits. (7 options)
Face type was 6 bits. (63 options) <- This is probably as flags rather than a number though, so actually 7 options
Ears was 2 bits. (3 options)
Mouth was 2 bits. (3 options)
Features was 2 bits. (3 options)
Nose was 3 bits. (7 options)
Eye shape 3 bits. (7 options)
Iris size 1 bit. (2 options)
Eyebrows 3 bits. (7 options)
With 2 bits remaining that the author didn't know or were unused. (3 options)

(Add up the bits and you get 32, or 4 bytes)

Look very similar to the caps we have now. Assuming SE still uses that in 2.0, those are the hard caps until they change the data size. I'd assume that SE would've restructured how the info was stored but I guess due to time constraints, worked with what they got since this setup is probably referenced all over the game.

[Vejjiegirl]

I decided to bump this thread in hopes of a developer or NA community dev to see it...
After reading the Devblog I noticed we are not only getting the contest winner hair but 5 more hairstyles.

Is it possible in 3.2 to get some more jaw options or Faces instead of hairstyles? Especially for Roegadyn for example since they are missing a lot of options compared to other races.

[Riardon]

Been asking for more character customization options since the game launched. I love new hairstyles but I would love to see more faces, noses, eye shapes and a more detailed body as well. Do not like that we are all siblings in this game and the only thing that changes is our names and gears. More faces should do the trick and differentiate us all. Not just for Roes but for all races. I would like a Dev comment about our request. I think we are not asking something out of this planet or something that is hard or cannot be done. I hope a Dev to see this.

[Vejjiegirl]

Bumping this thread yet again. It was mentioned in the last live letter there are no plans to add anymore customization options to the character creator and they plan to just keep adding more hairstyles.

Developers please reconsider, a lot of races like Au Ra, Elezen, Hyur Highlander, and Roe desperately need more options.

Muscle slider for Miqo'te and au ra should be a possibility as well with the dropping of PS3

[SomeRandomHuman]

Muscle slider for Miqo'te and au ra should be a possibility as well with the dropping of PS3

Even though the PS3 had nothing to do with not having more options. They've said in several live letters that its server stress keeping things out, not PS3.

[Kosmos992k]

Even though the PS3 had nothing to do with not having more options. They've said in several live letters that its server stress keeping things out, not PS3.

Please explain how adding a few bytes of extra data to character definitions will affect server stability in a game where we are getting 40 new inventory slots with SB already and +10 positions per category in the Armory Chest. Remember *ALL* rendering is done locally on the client and all graphical assets reside on the client - the server is not involved at all.

[Vejjiegirl]

Even though the PS3 had nothing to do with not having more options. They've said in several live letters that its server stress keeping things out, not PS3.

Adding 2 new hairstyles every patch and the servers are ok, but heaven forbid they add new Jaw Options to every race with only 3 jaws the servers would explode!