Male Viera as a playable character! show your support

[Theodric]

I don't think they come across as overly androgynous or feminine. A little boyish, maybe...but that doesn't rob a guy of masculine features altogether. I can tell at a glance that they're clearly different from their female counterparts. With any luck, we'll get an equivalent of the 'dad cat' face that Miqo'te have as well as some options for facial hair, scars and facial tattoos/tribal face paint.

I'm pleased with their height - I've always felt as if the best compromise would be to have a fairly impactful height slider to allow for varied tastes to be appeased within reason. To me, they look like classically handsome JRPG heroes in their early twenties with a bit of muscle to them.

I didn't want them to be child-like, stick thin or overly feminine/androgynous and thankfully we didn't get that as a base. I'm sure some people will find a way to design their own Viera in such a manner but it seems like the development team avoided the worst pitfalls that we could have seen.

In addition, it's a step towards - hopefully - increased character customisation across the board once Hrothgar women are also implemented and the Viera/Hrothgar hairstyle and helmet situation is addressed.

[Senn]

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They look kind of androgynous to me. I don't normally go on twitter, but since I was so excited to see what other people thought, I went to check it out. (Also watched reaction videos.) It seems like people share the same opinion I do more or less. But hey, if you think they are classically handsome and like the design choice, all the better. This is a time for celebration.

[SomeRandomHuman]

If you ask me I think that the genders will be similar in height. Females will probably just look taller because of their heels since it seems the males walk without the stilettos.

[SturmChurro]

They look kind of androgynous to me. I don't normally go on twitter, but since I was so excited to see what other people thought, I went to check it out. (Also watched reaction videos.) It seems like people share the same opinion I do more or less. But hey, if you think they are classically handsome and like the design choice, all the better. This is a time for celebration.

They don't look "androgynous" to me either. They look like guys, young sure, but I can tell. Especially, if they are around Viera height, and using the more recent height comparisons shared, and the way scaling works, I don't think players are going to have any problems telling them from females.

I'm also hoping they get a wide variety of customization options, so players who want a bit more of an aged look can get that. Perhaps even stubble.

[Senn]

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Eh... To me, they kind of do. Not overly so. But whatever, it doesn't matter, they look great. I'm also always for more character customization for people.

[Theodric]

They look kind of androgynous to me. I don't normally go on twitter, but since I was so excited to see what other people thought, I went to check it out. (Also watched reaction videos.) It seems like people share the same opinion I do more or less. But hey, if you think they are classically handsome and like the design choice, all the better. This is a time for celebration.

We can certainly agree to disagree on that front. I know a lot of what I find when I explore the FFXIV tag on Twitter is highly inappropriate and many people seem to heavily alter their character with screenshot filters or something to look completely different to the base character models. I also note that a lot of artists tend to claim to like a particular character but draw them to be completely different to how they actually look.

Each to their own, though. What's seen as simple for some people - such as using chopsticks - is highly difficult for others. I know a lot of people on Twitter, especially in this community, frequently express their frustration with various tasks and concepts so I'm certainly willing to be understanding when it comes to such groups and their view of masculinity.

I'm also hoping they get a wide variety of customization options, so players who want a bit more of an aged look can get that. Perhaps even stubble.

Agreed! That'd be wonderful.

[LisSquid]

I think people are way too logged on into Conan male power fantasies if they think the male viera are androgynous. The one with the flopped ears looks feminine, but I'd never pin them for being andro. Definitely just a feminine guy with liner.

[Senn]

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I don't know what screenshots or filters have to do with this. And I know twitter can be kinda crazy sometimes, but the tweets I'm referring to are just talking about the male viera in the reveal trailer. No art or whatever. It's fine though, agree to disagree then.

[Theodric]

I think people are way too logged on into Conan male power fantasies if they think the male viera are androgynous. The one with the flopped ears looks feminine, but I'd never pin them for being andro. Definitely just a feminine guy with liner.

It reminds me of when I played World of Warcraft years ago and some people insisted that Blood Elves and Night Elves were 'feminine' and 'skinny'. They weren't, really - they just weren't as 'gorilla like' in terms of proportions as the likes of the Orcs and Humans in the setting.

There's also the likes of Adol Cristin in the Ys series of JRPG's. He's similarly boyish in that 'classically handsome' way but clearly more male than female at a glance.

[Senn]

I think people are way too logged on into Conan male power fantasies if they think the male viera are androgynous. The one with the flopped ears looks feminine, but I'd never pin them for being andro. Definitely just a feminine guy with liner.

Well, I guess that's fair. I'm pretty used to seeing conan male power fantasies as you put it.