Request to unlock Hempen set styles

[Nicodemus_Mercy]

What exactly is so wrong about a little diversity? Why can we not have items that are locked to a group/ race because for them it has cultural significance? Yes the idea that my Highlander hempen gear is a important cultural item is silly and moronic... however it's also the Only thing we have not usable to all. As of right now only one item is racial locked to each race in terms of appearance. Is that fair, is that ok that no one can be unique? You make a choice when you made your character, your representation in the story of this game, some choose to make eye candy in strings and want access to everything so their dolls have every option in bikini's. I chose the characters that were conquerors, after having been defeated now are made to suffer as outcast, vagabonds, and refugees. Request like this undermine my personal hope that we see more gear made exclusive to races (sub races as well, A Midlander male and Highlander male should not look like the shop at the same outfitter), something worthy of cultural significance.

Restrictions are ok, not having access everything is to be expected and for some adds story to their characters. Continuing this kind of mentality just means less incentive for the art team keep trying tp make anything uniqe, why bother when everyone wants to share the same underwear?

But you aren't actually encouraging diversity by keeping them race restricted. If every race could use every hemp style there's a great deal more potential in glamour diversity since more people can use them. The same can be said for the racial starter sets. Everyone isn't going to use the same hemp style, whereas right now they have no choice but to use the same one (within their race). More options equals more diversity. You're not really talking about diversity... you're talking about exclusivity.

[Serilda]

Would the people who feel strongly about their racial uniqueness be ok with the unlocked versions being awarded after a quest with some lore about that race? Because that would be sort of awesome.

(Good luck writing a lore quest about my Elezen long johns, though...)

I don't see the current lock as increasing diversity at all. Some of the hempen sets are popular and often seen (e.g. Miqo'te female, Highlander female). Some are pretty great. Others are less great and nobody equips them; for some unpopular race/gender combinations I'm not sure I've ever seen some of the hempen gear at all. I really don't mind anyone else having access to my Elezen stuff even though I use the top quite often; the more the merrier!

[Aniya_Estlihn]

What exactly is so wrong about a little diversity? Why can we not have items that are locked to a group/ race because for them it has cultural significance? Yes the idea that my Highlander hempen gear is a important cultural item is silly and moronic... however it's also the Only thing we have not usable to all.

Restrictions are ok, not having access everything is to be expected and for some adds story to their characters. Continuing this kind of mentality just means less incentive for the art team keep trying tp make anything uniqe, why bother when everyone wants to share the same underwear?

Diversity and Exclusivity are two things that you are getting VERY confused with one another.

This is not a manner of racial diversity, this is not a matter of a lore-related piece of clothing or equipment—these are throw away sets that are either crafted undyed, or bought form a vendor that come in a default yellow dye and retain the same item icon, yet consist of different graphics depending on your race.

This is two items that have the same icon for all races, that have no racial restrictions on the item icon or description, that include no lore basis as to why they exist that somehow has six different appearances per gender, for a total of twelve different appearances for the same item.

Furthermore, the idea that there needs to be more exclusive gear is uneducated and lacks any form of common sense or reasonable thought put into it. You say that it gives the developers no incentive to create unique gear if everything is universal, but just look at how long they've said it takes for them to make ONE set that is usable by all races. Months, not weeks, not days, months. The Male Bunny suit has been in development for almost two patches now, that's half of a blasted year.

Compound that by adding more racial exclusivity wherein they not only have to make gear that is tailored to all races and model it for each, but also new models and textures for pointlessly exclusive gear that shouldn't exist in the first place for each and that takes up even more resources to create than just refitting an existing piece of gear for the other races or creating a piece that everyone can wear.

Exclusivity is a waste of time.

Diversity comes from how you use the things given to you, not from the things that are exclusive to you. Racial diversity in a digital world is unimportant unless there is an emphasis on it, of which there currently is not, and I hope to God there never will be as it will only justify more ridiculous comments like your own and compound the situation further.

This mindset that somehow either solution will lead to less creativity is simply false and lacks any real thought being applied to the situation at hand. It's time people like you stop with these kinds of comments and actually make an effort to discuss why these items need to be locked rather than just pulling a reason out of a magical hat and tossing it to the wolves, because there is no justifiable reason that anyone can give for these sets to be exclusive.

Furthermore, have you actually SEEN some of the sets?

Female Au ra look like they should only be wearing their set in a bedroom, while Miqo'te get something that could easily pass as; and often is seen in modern society and as a very popular glamour items, as a casual outfit— not dissimilar when compared to work out clothes if you will. I'd also like to point out that the designs further false stereotypes of the races as well; stereotypes that are implied rather than outright spoken, which is also another problem with them being exclusive. As many of these designs being exclusive gives this false idea that these are cultural norms for these races, when for all intent and purposes they likely just designed them that way because they wanted to.

There is absolutely no reason for them to be locked, try as you might to argue it, but you can't. That's why many of the arguments in this thread have died out whenever they are in favor of keeping the gear locked, because no one can substantiate that view without being completely blown out of the water by someone who tries to put even an inkling of thought into their responses.

This is not a topic of equality, exclusivity, equity, race or even entitlement— this is an argument for providing us with more diversity and allowing us the right to make our characters look different than some pre-concieved stereotyped gear allows us to currently be, and if that's wrong I most certainly do not want to be right.

Edit: Massive Disclaimer after someone on the previous page accused me of insulting people—
I am in no way insulting anyone here, nor is that my intent.

Saying an opinion is "Uneducated" is not attacking the person who has it, as opinions do not define a person as opinions can be shaped, reformed and changed over time. An opinion can be referred to or classified by any number of colorful adjectives one might direct at it; much any any object or subject is subjected to the same, but the holder of said opinion could very well be that of an alumni just with a bad sense of reasoning on one subject. That does not mean one is uneducated.

Referring to a comment and saying it is ridiculous does not mean I think you are meant to be a subject of ridicule, but rather your comments are worthy of scrutiny, and again...
That is not an attack on a person, but rather someone disagreeing with something you said and believe "that" statement is silly/false/stupid or otherwise. I don't know anyone who defines themselves with a single statement, and I do sincerely hope that people here realize that they can be criticized for a stupid statement without actually being called "Stupid."

Just like:
Accusing someone of idiocy is not the same as calling someone an idiot.
You can act like an idiot without being one, it's all in the context; which which some have clearly failed to understand or ever attempt to read into properly.

With my colorful language, I am hoping that people will 'try' to substantiate their opinions and that some meaningful discussion that the developers can ACTUALLY use will be on display for them to actually consider rather than this roundabout of conflicting opinions wherein no one is willing to question the others.


If you want my simple opinion that falls in line with the theme of this thread, here it is:
This is an MMO and cross-cultural relations are normal. We can buy gear from the Vath and Vanu that are based off of their actual physical appearances and no one bats and an eye despite them: 1) not being playable and 2) being a different race from our player character If that is not a problem, then nor should unlocking a generic set of gear's varied appearances for all players to use freely as they see fit.

[KABESSA]

Well, you are still going to play with your favorite race on your main. The only think that's going to change is that you are going to be able to wear other races outfits too. Just make one way to censored the female highlander hempens on Lalas to prevent against the pedophilics ones.

[Serilda]

I don't think the female Highlander one will look any worse on female Lalafell than it would (hypothetically) on male ones since the erm, flatness, will reduce its provocativeness. We survived the bikinis on Lalafell, we will be ok with this.

Unlocking also opens up roleplay potential, like you could have someone who will strictly only wear their racial underwear for personal reasons or someone who was raised in the 'wrong' clan could deliberately pick the underwear they find most fits their identity (e.g. several NPC examples of adoption, and what does The Mongrel wear?)

As opposed to forcing everyone to be the same.

[Magic-Mal]

I have an idea. Kind of like a compromise. A way for everyone to get the glamours while at the same time, making race very important as well as culture(kinda)

How about turning the Hempen sets into items that can only be crafted by that race, and that gender of the creator? These items will then only be tradeable BUT market prohibited.

Example: to get the female Miqo'te set, you would need a female Miqo'te to create the set and trade it to you. However she can't make the male Miqo'te set. You need a male Miqo'te for that.

This would make race absolutely important to what is easily accessible to you while still being able to have a chance at all other sets some how. The Spread of racial gear would be in the hands of the races themselves so they could either spread it, or not. Perhaps they could sell it(cringing at the thought.. those prices), or you could just have a friend to make it free.

The more rare races(like Roegadyn) will have great importance. Because unless everyone fantasias to Roe to make Roe gear, Roe female hempen would be the rarest set. That should make all Roe female players feel even more special.

Maybe a friendly Elezen lady is in a happy mood and is selling 50 sets.

And again, those who wish not to spread their "culture" with their friends just won't have to. And if no one is selling or willing to give them one.. well tough luck.

[Aniya_Estlihn]

Snip

This makes sense and falls in line with how the Beast Tribe gears sets are handled. Sharing of culture is not a bad thing, and is already shown to be a norm in Eorzea as a whole.
Thank you for this post, as you've given me hope that maybe others will see fit to actually contribute ideas and discussion similar to this.

These are the kinds of responses I've been hoping to see while lurking in this thread. The lack of things that are similar to this kind of suggestion is why I've even resorted to colorful metaphors and using seemingly insinuative and insulting language, because no one has been willing to pose ideas like this that could actually be of use to the development team in any form or fashion and I've been hoping that my combative attitude would lead to people calling me out with a possibility of them maybe at least offering a form of compromise or spurring some sort of discussion that goes beyond the mundane and predictable. I've been tired of the running in a circle mindset that everyone has taken on and was hoping to see come collaborative effort to come up with a solution for what is perceived as a problem; albeit a problem that has been a source of contention among many inside and outside the forums.

Discussion, feedback, suggestions and compromises, that's what we should be providing them.
Simple one liners or watered down discussions as to why they should or shouldn't be locked are unproductive and provide no real information past the general idea of "We want/don't want this", which I can tell you having been in administrative and development positions in the past, is worthless feedback that provides little to no information.

They asked for feedback and suggestions, but all people have been doing is giving their opinions and not providing anything meaningful or worthy of merit.
So I am thrilled to see responses like this.

[Serilda]

Female Roegadyn gear would be completely unavailable on my server :s

It's a really nice idea though, I like it. Give the people with rare combinations a little boost (and potentially a nice moneymaking hobby) while everyone gets the chance to wear more clothes.

[Aniya_Estlihn]

We could even expand upon the idea of them not being available for trade to people who are not on your friends list, that way the idea of "cultural exchange" is very much kept in tact for those who wish it to be.

This would lead to less cases of people simply scalping the prices to take advantage of others, and actually give reason for us even having a friend's list, making use of a feature that has very few practical uses outside of quick way to send a tell or to find them. (We know we all do so from time to time)

[Sterre]

Snip.

Again, insulting other party just because they have different opinion from you is rude and pointless, no matter how you try to justify it. And yes, calling someone's opinion ridiculous and uneducated is insulting. Learn to debate without insulting others, or don't do it at all. There's way more polite ways to voice your opinion and getting your point through. Usually, if you're making a good point, you don't need to reinforce your statements with insults. Your behaviour towards people who disagree with you is hostile, and, in my opinion, not very mature.

Also, it's not up to you decide what opinions are useful and contributing to the conversation, everyone see things differently and that's why people have different reasonings for and against this topic. The best we can do is to respect everyone's opinions and suggestions, even if you don't agree with them, and wait and see what DEVs will decide.

Thank you and good day o/