Gender Specific Mogstation purchases

[MsQi]

XIV is behind other MMOs in how they handle gear and costumes. With the other games I play (XI, AA, GW2), gear will automatically just change based on whatever gender your character is. No need to buy two separate versions. It's quite nice, XIV should give that a go.

A lot of gear does change with gender. That's a problem for some people who would rather choose which style they wear rather than have it automatically change. A Y'shtola costume that automatically becomes Thancred on male characters would irritate some people.

[Iscah]

A lot of gear does change with gender. That's a problem for some people who would rather choose which style they wear rather than have it automatically change. A Y'shtola costume that automatically becomes Thancred on male characters would irritate some people.

In addition to that, a shared auto-switching outfit can only have one icon attached to it.

See for example the Endless Summer set with the men's shirt and shorts icons attached to the gear even if you're a female character wearing the frilly top and bikini bottoms.

[Skivvy]

A lot of gear does change with gender. That's a problem for some people who would rather choose which style they wear rather than have it automatically change. A Y'shtola costume that automatically becomes Thancred on male characters would irritate some people.

Sorry, I should have been more specific. I was originally posting this with Mogstation purchases in mind.

Most in-game gear does change like you mentioned, but there are still several sets of clothing on the MB that have a male/female variant as well (swimsuits, Quaintrelle/Boulevardier, Thavnairian shirt/dress, Ramie Tabard/Dhalmelskin Coat, Gryphonskin Breastguard/Uraeus Body armor, High House Bustle/High House Justaucorps). I'm missing a few in there, but I think you get the idea. It just seems rather archaic to me that SE intentionally designed a male/female variant for those sets, but instead of simply just letting people buy one item and having it change appearance based on their current gender, you have to buy both if you happen to switch at any point.

And I am not saying that Y'shtola should turn into Thancred, that was only the OP. They obviously are very different characters, with very different outfits. If they're going to release a specific NPC's outfit, why not design an outfit based on that for both male and female right from the start? Or if they want to take shortcuts, just simply unlock the exact outfit as-is for everyone and stretch it to fit. The latter option tends to make some gear look really bad on the non-intended gender, but hey, at least everyone then gets the option if they want it.

In addition to that, a shared auto-switching outfit can only have one icon attached to it.

See for example the Endless Summer set with the men's shirt and shorts icons attached to the gear even if you're a female character wearing the frilly top and bikini bottoms.

This is only how SE has chosen to implement that. But if SE gave you the option to buy an outfit only once that would work for both male & female instead of having to buy both, would you honestly turn up your nose at that option because the icon will show only one version of it?

[Iscah]

This is only how SE has chosen to implement that. But if SE gave you the option to buy an outfit only once that would work for both male & female instead of having to buy both, would you honestly turn up your nose at that option because the icon will show only one version of it?

I'm not saying I would, just that it's a logical reason why they might want to create two separate items instead of one gender-dependent one.

The fact that they don't let you trade between them is a different kettle of fish.

[Skivvy]

I'm not saying I would, just that it's a logical reason why they might want to create two separate items instead of one gender-dependent one.

The fact that they don't let you trade between them is a different kettle of fish.

That seems like it would be a rather horrible reason for them not to implement both genders on one piece of gear. :X "Hey guys, some players will be upset that the icon doesn't match their current gender, we better make them buy two separate items instead!" *high-five*

I know in GW2, some of the outfit icons will show both gender visuals on it while some just show one variant (but the outfit itself still works for both). If icons are truly a concern for SE, I'm sure they could design a better icon.

GW2 icon for reference

Going back to the Mogstation outfits real fast - If they wanted to keep NPC outfits locked to only one gender, I do get that..sort of. I still think they should design the outfit for both genders, but ultimately this is SE's call. However, there are a lot of sets in there that are designed around a single theme, but have been split into two separate purchases (Mun Gaek/Eastern Socialite, Far Eastern Schoolgirl/schoolboy uniform, Far Eastern Maiden/Officer, Faerie Tale Prince/Princess, Nezha Lord/Lady, Loyal Housemaid/Butler, Eastern garb for men/women, etc). That isn't even all of them, but that should be enough to give an idea.

If they can't make it automatically swap apperances due to technical issues, I understand - this is after all XIV and limitations are plenty. But they already have an NPC in game that can do a gender-swap for a select few outfits - they really should add the remaining cash shop items as well. Making players purchase the same outfit twice (if they want to be able to use it when they fanta) with no option to switch the outfit in-game just feels bad.