Did you race change, and did you stay?

[Brightamethyst]

Looking back at old posts I noticed this thread about Viera/Hrothgar from just before ShB launch.

https://forum.square-enix.com/ffxiv/...arewell-Thread

What's interesting is that while most of the people who said they were switching to hrothgar still are (according to the forum avatars at least), most of the viera seem to have either changed back, or never actually switched in the first place.

So my questions are, did you race change, and if you've since switched back, why?

[Vyrerus]

Nope, but this trend was a thing back in Heavensward too when Au Ra were introduced. Almost every catboi catgrill changed into lizards, and for a few months, lizards were supreme though like the other big chunk were still catgirls. Most people changed back sometime mid Heavensward.

People who weren't cats in the first place and switched generally stayed Au Ra, either for a lot longer or permanently.

My guess nowadays for people switching back from Viera would be the lack of headgear options. Life's about dat glamour after all.

[Mirhd]

Heck no, and I never will - fem Roe all the way.

[Lonkkis]

I'm not gonna change, except if SE adds male Viera to the game and they look good. But that's just a gender change.

Viera is my favorite race since their inception to the FF franchise, so I'm happy being able to play as one.

[Enla]

I switched to Lalafell for awhile because I need to indulge my inner gremlin since I'm on an extended hiatus from RP. Less of an issue with being Viera and more just wanting to be small and have access to the lala death spin emote again.

[Penthea]

I was flirting with the idea of going viera since the ShB benchmark was released, but I was unsure about it because I loved my miqo. I thought about it for around eight months. I bit the bullet when my boyfriend convinced me to give it a try. I never used a fantasia on my main before so I still had the free bottles you get from the game, which meant I could change to viera and then change back without spending any money. There was no loss in trying out being a bunny so I decided I may as well give it a go. The hat issue basically doesn't affect me much because I always wear flowers in my hair or glasses on my DoH/DoL glam, which are things that are displayed on viera so I didn't have to think deeply about that aspect of changing.

And I fell in love with the race almost instantly. The viera emotes suit who I think my character is far more than the miqo emotes. Even my glams looked better. It feels like my character was supposed to be viera all along.

My only gripe, on a personal level, is the lack of choice in hairstyles. Only this one suits my character. The hairstyles I used on my miqo could be easily adapted for viera with minimal work...so that annoys me quite a lot. Not enough to change back but enough for me to think about it nearly every day. I really really really miss having the Asahi hair.

I'm quite frustrated that more than a year after ShB launch there has been zero updates on the viera and hrothgar head options situation. We've been told more are coming but nothing about when and not even the tiniest sneak peek as to what is to come. At this point I'm not expecting anything before 6.0, especially with covid complicating everything about developing and maintaining games : /

I seriously doubt I'll change race again, however I know a lot who have due to the lack of head options. Among those I know the lack of hairstyles is the most common reason that lead them to switch back to their previous race. Some who are still viera and hrothgar are in the midst of considering changing back due to that reason.

I understand that the head options issue is not a quick and easy fix overall, but certainly adjusting hairstyles is much less work than adjusting hats. There are significantly more hats in the game than hairstyles. I don't think players would mind too much if we get only a handful at a time, as long as we get SOMETHING every so often. I'd rather that than wait well over a year to get a big update.

[kelevra13]

I switched to Hrothgar. Lack of headpieces annoyed me. Went back to lala.

[Hysterior]

I did a Bunny girl for the main story and reverted to my "main" look (Lala) afterwards.
While I love the "model" esthetics, making a long-legged glamazon (and high heels by default!) the lack of customization and boring emotes made me feel unengaged with my characters very quickly.
But I like to change race pretty regularly so I am maybe not a relevant case.

[lolicon09]

A few times, and always went back to Keeper of the Moon. Reason being the lack of hairstyles (when tried to be a Veena), and/or awful emotes/animations ( when tried Midlander)

[Rosenstrauch]

I did it twice—first from a Miqo'te girl to a Highlander lady midway through Stormblood, then from that same Highlander lady into a Viera at the start of Shadowbringers. If Highlanders had the same texture quality as Viera, I might actually change back 'cause of how much I love Highlander emotes and the variety of hair selections, but otherwise my Viera is pretty much perfect in my eyes. I still miss my old hat collection, but I usually went without hats anyways.