Suggestion: Differentiate Playable Race's Tribes More

[Mimilu]

I was going to necro my More Character Creation Options, Please but decided it could use it's own thread.

Looking at the two Hyur Tribes, Midlander and Highlander, they are so physically different from one another, they even have their own separate face option and hairstyles from each other.

Then we look at the other races...

Every other race in the game only has a few cosmetic differences between their two tribes. Stuff like one having slit eyes, while the other doesn't, one having natural skin tones, while the other having cooler colored tones, etc.

I know that Hyurs are the wide-spread-filler race and they need the differences to help make the world not look so repetitive but I would like to suggest that the races are given more differences between their two tribes. It could something as simple as giving them different faces and hair or more complex like giving them more different physics.

For example, Elezen:
The lore says that Duskwight have lived for centuries underground and have keen hearing from it, so why not make them shorter, to make traveling in underground passages easier and give them more exaggerated ears? I would also think that their eyesight would have to adapt to being in such a dark conditions, so maybe larger pupils to help capture more light.
As for the Wildwoods, they are said to have exceptional sight, so maybe their eyes could be larger.

[KingOfAbyss]

Would that be different?

or this one?



Can't wait to see the next race, like a rabbit.. or.. close to the same other ones..

[CyrilLucifer]

snip

I feel like you didn't read the OP. The OP is asking for more differences in currently existing races, not new races.

For example, my character is Duskwight, but you can't tell that at all because, other than skin tone, there's basically no difference between a Wldwood and Duskwight.

[KingOfAbyss]

I feel like you didn't read the OP. The OP is asking for more differences in currently existing races, not new races.

For example, my character is Duskwight, but you can't tell that at all because, other than skin tone, there's basically no difference between a Wldwood and Duskwight.

I think I clearly read it and got it.

The only thing we can make different is how big our ears can be for example. Still, 2 female elezen would still look pretty close, and Hyur and miqo'te well.. beside the tails, which can be resized. But who wants a small tail?

I proposed these mecha as a way to feel a bit more different than human - beast races. Even if the Bunny race would come, it still would be the same.. looking too close to each other.. just like the unisex, they want everything to blend in, instead of making us feeling unique. That's where the clothes can set us apart.. a bit..

Eyes do not need to be big to have a better view.

I do agree with OP, too identical. But it's been like that, and I doubt it's QoL for SE to do something about it >.<

[myahele]

All races' tribes should have been different from each other as Highlanders vs Midlanders.

Based on lore, the Xaela females are probably the biggest disappointment. Xaela are tribes of hardy hunters, gatherers and warriors (each with different culture) yet the females are just as cute and dainty as their Raen cousins. The males could've been a bit more muscular, too.

[Magis]

All races' tribes should have been different from each other as Highlanders vs Midlanders.

Based on lore, the Xaela females are probably the biggest disappointment. Xaela are tribes of hardy hunters, gatherers and warriors (each with different culture) yet the females are just as cute and dainty as their Raen cousins. The males could've been a bit more muscular, too.

The biggest letdown is what Au Ra were originally going to look like and what we got.

[Anova]

The biggest letdown is what Au Ra were originally going to look like and what we got.

Great find.

Something to remember is that there are designs and aesthetics that don't cross over between the JP and NA mainstream audiences. Trust me when I say there are a lot of designers who do push the envelope on both sides of the Pacific, but you're much more likely to see those in indie games than AAA flagship titles. One look at the original designs and I immediately realize Au'ra would have been unpopular in JP.

I would like different body types too, but understand it is a lot of work to develop distinct body models that appeal to NA and JP design sensibilities. You're basically designing an entirely different race for each one, not to mention completely different sets of armor for all existing armor pieces. It's not impossible, but it is a lot of work and there needs to be a benefit to match. If someone did a study on Xbox users or the NA market and reported that it would increase their subscriptions in NA by 50%, that'd be something to get the execs to sign up on. Otherwise, I'm afraid designers have as much say as we do on the final look of these things.

Somewhat related to the topic of executive meddling: Anyone else remember Vaan from FFXII? SE execs literally forced the character in to the game because they needed a young prettyboy to sell the game in JP, and he's only relevant in the first 5 hours of the story. There's also Mr. Tinkle of Zelda fame... both are pretty much hated in the NA community, but loved in JP.

[Annana]

All races' tribes should have been different from each other as Highlanders vs Midlanders.

Based on lore, the Xaela females are probably the biggest disappointment. Xaela are tribes of hardy hunters, gatherers and warriors (each with different culture) yet the females are just as cute and dainty as their Raen cousins. The males could've been a bit more muscular, too.

By far my biggest issue with the Au Ra.

Xaela should've been large and Raen small, regardless of gender.

[dinnertime]

All races' tribes should have been different from each other as Highlanders vs Midlanders.

Based on lore, the Xaela females are probably the biggest disappointment. Xaela are tribes of hardy hunters, gatherers and warriors (each with different culture) yet the females are just as cute and dainty as their Raen cousins. The males could've been a bit more muscular, too.

Miqo'te are largely a tribe of hunters and are as cute and dainty, and that doesn't bother you?
Anyway, female Xaela's slender bodies would make them more suitable as agile hunters.

[Niwashi]

I agree it would have been a lot better if they were designed with more differentiation from the start, but it's a feature that would be a lot harder to implement now after the game's been out a while and people already have established characters. For instance, taking your example of Duskwights being shorter, that might have made a good differentiation if it was established that way when the game came out, but what about players who have been playing a Duskwight for a couple years now based on the current designs and don't want their character shorter? If changing the options now, SE would have to be careful about ensuring that current options remain viable along with the new ones.

Oh, if the next expansion brings another race, though, I'd definitely support a greater tribal difference there than we've seen in most of the existing races. Or another possibility would be a third tribe of existing races rather than a new race. That would be another place they could add more differentiation. (I'd really welcome a Miqo'te variant whose features are more cat-like.)