So what is a Hrothgar?

[JamiaHaab]

I hope they a least show a Hrothgar in the final story patch. Even though the Au ra got flung into HW at least Yugiri was already there. Maybe they arrive with the other Far East reinforcements.

[AvenoMatt]

I seriously doubt that they would add Ronso or any beastial race. They've made it clear that playable races are suppose to be closer to humans then beasts. If they are a lion like race like the Ronso they would end up being more human then lion, think Thundercats. Reason being square has made it clear that making gear for every race isn't easy and the reason for holding off on adding another race was because of how much time it would take. Which is why I think Male roegadyns and lalafells will be the only unique body shapes we'll get. They want future races to be more closer to standard humans since modifying models for each of those race will take less time. Now for the most part Ronsos would have gear exactly the same as any other race but their feet are pretty beastly and I just can't see square taking the time to give them unique foot wear for every item. Plus just the idea of ronso with human feet gives me a chill down my spine and not in a good way. So I'm betting on Thundercats.

[Shougun]

Now for the most part Ronsos would have gear exactly the same as any other race but their feet are pretty beastly and I just can't see square taking the time to give them unique foot wear for every item. Plus just the idea of ronso with human feet gives me a chill down my spine and not in a good way.

Ronso feet and Viera feet are almost exactly the same. If they made a system that works for Viera then Ronso-like feet will not be any sort of issue. I imagine the "heel" part of the system for Viera will be removed (making it lion like) or replaced by a different claw type making it more Ronso-like. Of course the scale will be bigger with a lion-like race, but probably still smaller than their FFX counterpart for shoe fitting reasons (making it easier to fit Viera and Ronso/Lion-like at the same time).



Also they talked about a new helmet system to handle the ears, could be used to handle other things like horns or weird face shapes. Although I would agree if it's Ronso-like they might humanize the face a little bit more to fit the nose inside helmets easier (like a Lupis/Pantera from BLESS or a little bit more beastly Mithra from FFXI).

[Karl0217]

You know I was thinking there might be a chance we might have already seen a modified version of a Hrothgar character model. The devs have been known to use character models of the player races, including ones in development, and modify them slightly for boss fights. Case in point, the first example of a Viera character model in-game is not Fran but Tsukuyomi:

Her Primal form is nothing more than a Viera character model scaled up in size with some other slight modifications. This is not the first instance of this, for example Iceheart uses a Elzen character model that has been modified. Now let's take a look at Byakko's Human Form:

Scale it down to size of a Roedyragen or an Au Ra, give it two normal arms and you end up with something that actually matches what little description we have of the Hrothgar and has the same foot structure as the Viera.

[Shougun]

Scale it down to size of a Roedyragen or an Au Ra, give it two normal arms and you end up with something that actually matches what little description we have of the Hrothgar and has the same foot structure as the Viera.

The feet are compellingly similar to what I was thinking of with Ronso/Lion like.. Put a claw in the back and it's very similar to a Viera foot which we know a system has been made in some capacity to make those work (though of course a lion/ronso-like would be enlarged at bit lol).




So the question would be, if this is true, how similar to him is the facial model then?

[Karl0217]

The feet are compellingly similar to what I was thinking of with Ronso/Lion like.. Put a claw in the back and it's very similar to a Viera foot which we know a system has been made in some capacity to make those work (though of course a lion/ronso-like would be enlarged at bit lol).




So the question would be, if this is true, how similar to him is the facial model then?

Probably pretty close to the facial model if this little theory is accurate. They said once before they want the player characters to have a human-like face and Byakko does have a human-like face.

[Iscah]

You know I was thinking there might be a chance we might have already seen a modified version of a Hrothgar character model. The devs have been known to use character models of the player races, including ones in development, and modify them slightly for boss fights. Case in point, the first example of a Viera character model in-game is not Fran but Tsukuyomi:

Her Primal form is nothing more than a Viera character model scaled up in size with some other slight modifications. This is not the first instance of this, for example Iceheart uses a Elzen character model that has been modified. Now let's take a look at Byakko's Human Form:

Scale it down to size of a Roedyragen or an Au Ra, give it two normal arms and you end up with something that actually matches what little description we have of the Hrothgar and has the same foot structure as the Viera.

Interesting points, especially Tsukuyomi being a Viera!

Byakko seems to have a similar body shape to a male Au Ra, other than the feet - although it's possible that they're designing Hrothgar with the intent of sharing Au Ra's weird body shape and thus gear models. Disappointing from a design viewpoint if both "added" male races have the same body type though. I was already thinking that with the male Viera concept art.


(On a side note, I realised just the other day that Phlegethon seems to be using a modified Au Ra model too!)

[cicatriz313]

I would be 100% down with a byakko looking race. I honestly think it'll look a lot more human than that, but anything more beast looking than what we have now would be appreciated.

[myahele]

The body type reminds me of the scrapped Au Ra concept art they had

[Theodric]

Something inspired by Byakko is exactly what I am hoping for.