I can’t decide between an Elezen and a Viera ... Help!!

[Kearion]

Hi all, I want to use my final fantasia (I'm horribly addicted, I've used maybe 30 since ARR launched, and really want this to be the last one I use ...) I've made alts and played them both for the last two hours and really can't decide which one I like more ...

I was a huge FFXI player and mained Elvaan, but the Elezen always felt slightly off to me. However I still love them and feel an intense attraction towards the race over all. However the animations, specifically the run cycle always bug me.

I'm also a huge FFT/FFXII fan and Viera are incredibly awesome. Their run cycle in perfect, and I love their animations, however I can't help but feel that they lean more towards the waifu side of things, and less the dignified like Elezen.

I'll also say I never wear head armor so the lack of helmets on Viera are not a deal breaker to me.

Imgur link to screen shot of both : https://imgur.com/a/lUNPR1w

[Yencat]

Are you someone that changes their hairstyle with some frequency? And how would you feel about losing access to every hairstyle you've bought or earned in the game, with the possibility they'll never be made available for Viera?

I'm obviously biased towards Viera, but if hairstyle variety is important to you at all I'd say go Elezen.

They both look great in the screenshots so you can't go wrong there

[Kearion]

Are you someone that changes their hairstyle with some frequency? And how would you feel about losing access to every hairstyle you've bought or earned in the game, with the possibility they'll never be made available for Viera?

So funny enough, some of the Viera hair styles are my favorite in the game, and I’d LOVE for them to be made available for Elezen because I think it’d solve a lot of my issues with only a select few hair styles actually looking food on Elezen.

[Yencat]

So funny enough, some of the Viera hair styles are my favorite in the game, and I’d LOVE for them to be made available for Elezen because I think it’d solve a lot of my issues with only a select few hair styles actually looking food on Elezen.

I don't think they will ever actually make the Viera hair available for other races as they were not made with hats in mind and wouldn't play nice with them without some heavy reworking, so there's that.

I was mostly asking because if you really want this to be the last time you use a Fantasia it's definitely something to consider. Viera look great and their exclusive hairstyles do as well, but personally I'm pretty bored by now of looking at the same 8 styles we've had since launch with no real news on when we're getting more while other races keep getting more almost every patch.

So if headgear isn't a dealbreaker and you don't mind losing access to whatever hairstyles you currently have unlocked I'd say go for Viera, they don't have the unusual proportions Elezen do so hairstyles aside they're a lot easier to pick glamours for.

[SturmChurro]

Haha! I figured I’d add that little bit in since most people say that if you care about helmets at all to rule Viera out. I almost never cover my head with one, and even then if I do I’ve always found the Elezen look a little silly with the massive metallic ears sticking out.

Oh yeah, helmets look awful on elezen as well, but people are probably referring to hats rather than helmets.

I don't think they will ever actually make the Viera hair available for other races as they were not made with hats in mind and wouldn't play nice with them without some heavy reworking, so there's that.

I was mostly asking because if you really want this to be the last time you use a Fantasia it's definitely something to consider. Viera look great and their exclusive hairstyles do as well, but personally I'm pretty bored by now of looking at the same 8 styles we've had since launch with no real news on when we're getting more while other races keep getting more almost every patch.

So if headgear isn't a dealbreaker and you don't mind losing access to whatever hairstyles you currently have unlocked I'd say go for Viera, they don't have the unusual proportions Elezen do so hairstyles aside they're a lot easier to pick glamours for.

Yeah, viera hairstyles are race exclusive, and any new ones that will supposedly be added will be race exclusive.

Side note, I always complain about viera hair, but I alternate more hair on viera than I do my au ra. I literally only use one style on au ra. Because it's the long one, I can't use several glamours because the hair clips through it.

[Yencat]

Side note, I always complain about viera hair, but I alternate more hair on viera than I do my au ra. I literally only use one style on au ra. Because it's the long one, I can't use several glamours because the hair clips through it.

100%, I had a bit of a fit recently and Fantasia'd back to Miqo'te and it was so nice having such a long list of hairstyles to choose from. That lasted for all of a week or so because I mostly just stuck to Great Lengths anyway (pls SE reconsider giving it to Viera) while mostly just feeling pretty unhappy with not being a Viera anymore.

Viera may only really have 8 styles to choose from but all of them are pretty well made and I use all of them except one, and they don't have any of the weird cone-head morphing other races get sometimes with shared hairstyles.

[kidalutz]

ELEZEN Elezen can wear hats and wear different hairstyles made available in the aesthetics items.

[SturmChurro]

Viera, for sure. Unless you really want the option to wear hats now or in the future.

Are you someone that changes their hairstyle with some frequency? And how would you feel about losing access to every hairstyle you've bought or earned in the game, with the possibility they'll never be made available for Viera?

I'm obviously biased towards Viera, but if hairstyle variety is important to you at all I'd say go Elezen.

They both look great in the screenshots so you can't go wrong there

Most hairs look awful on elezen anyway, in my opinion. Just like you need specific glamour to compliment their proportions, you need hair that hides the ears somewhat, or distracts from them. Stuff that has bangs on the side. etc. I'll update with an image example.

Example using a wildwood preset of mine:


As you can see the ears can be a problem when it comes to choosing hairs. Not only that elezens have an odd face or head shape, and many of their hairstyles like this long one (third image) look very odd. Morphed weirdly. This elezen may look decent despite this, but that is because I put a good amount of time making this preset.

If you want an elezen to actually look good, you are quite limited in options, however they aren't actually limited like viera. You might even find it a fun challenge making a great looking elezen. However, even so their running animation is very stiff - which you can't change. I still say pick Viera, under most circumstances.

Imgur link to screen shot of both : https://imgur.com/a/lUNPR1w

That elezen is unique, that viera isn't, but in my opinion the viera still looks better. Also, while that elezen is unique, I don't think it would look very good with much variation. The viera, if you ever want to change your look somewhat in the future, would work out better.

[Kearion]

That’s my problem too ... I’ve been an Elezen before and always swapped off because while I love them standing still ... the second they move, I’m not a fan of the run cycle. But also there are maybe one or two hair styles that work on them and I’m not able to deviate much. I feel very limited with what I can do with my Elezen and her still look the way I want her to. Where as Viera all look excellent no matter what you do to them.

[SturmChurro]

That’s my problem too ... I’ve been an Elezen before and always swapped off because while I love them standing still ... the second they move, I’m not a fan of the run cycle. But also there are maybe one or two hair styles that work on them and I’m not able to deviate much. I feel very limited with what I can do with my Elezen and her still look the way I want her to. Where as Viera all look excellent no matter what you do to them.

If what you say is true in the OP, and you don't care about headgear. I think you already know what you wanted: Viera.