STOP Genderlocking Cosmetics!!

[Amnmaat]

By all means, and if you're cool with the way things are in terms of gender locked gear then that's obviously on topic and fine, but there's a lot of "I don't want X I want Y instead" about different things going on.

If people want more masculine hairstyles and glamours (which is a totally fair request) but they only ever seem to bring them up in topics about other things and then go back to quietly stewing about it, is it that surprising it's not getting much attention?

There's no need for any of that, we're fine with what they're adding. Opposing the idea of more crossdressing here is by all means the correct way to go about it. Until such a time that I choose to make a thread opposing this kind of exposure.

[Theodric]

If people want more masculine hairstyles and glamours (which is a totally fair request) but they only ever seem to bring them up in topics about other things and then go back to quietly stewing about it, is it that surprising it's not getting much attention?

I don't think that's the case. People have made threads on the subject asking for more masculine looking hairstyles and glamour or contributed to threads where it's a viable part of the topic only to be drowned out by a very vocal minority who appear to have some issues with anything that isn't overly feminine or androgynous.

For example, despite a lot of people asking for masculine options for male viera an aggressive minority decided to effectively hijack the thread and shouted down those of us who asked for a compromise in the form of a generous height slider, at least one traditionally masculine base face option and a decent amount of muscle mass.

Then there's the simple fact that many of us arguing in favour of more masculine hairstyles/gear have been doing so, as this thread proves:

https://forum.square-enix.com/ffxiv/...ale-characters

[Stormfur]

I'm all for making every set of gear available to every class and gender. Be a battle-mage. Be a robe-wearing tank.

[Yencat]

There's no need for any of that, we're fine with what they're adding. Opposing the idea of more crossdressing here is by all means the correct way to go about it. Until such a time that I choose to make a thread opposing this kind of exposure.

Good to have you back Amnmaat, smoochies!

[Yencat]

Then there's the simple fact that many of us arguing in favour of more masculine hairstyles/gear have been doing so, as this thread proves:

https://forum.square-enix.com/ffxiv/...ale-characters

With a last post in 2018 I'm not sure that proves what you think it does?

In any case I do agree and it's annoying you have to keep being vocal about it, same with Viera/Hrothgar hairstyles and male Viera, but I guess that's how it works.

[Theodric]

With a last post in 2018 I'm not sure that proves what you think it does?

In any case I do agree and it's annoying you have to keep being vocal about it, same with Viera/Hrothgar hairstyles and male Viera, but I guess that's how it works.

It's just one of many similar threads and it has a grand total of 122 likes, so clearly there's demand for such things. I could be annoying and bump it constantly to keep it at the front page at all times, though I prefer petitioning for the community representatives to have a more visible presence and speak actively on what feedback they're gathering and giving to the development team.

As evidenced here:

https://forum.square-enix.com/ffxiv/...epresentatives

Unfortunately a lot of feedback is taken from Twitter these days, which isn't giving a fair voice to the majority of players who do not use it and prefer to avoid the place due to how much of a one sided echo chamber it can be.

[Yencat]

I mean if you want something you don't need to be above 'being annoying'.

I'm sure it was annoying for people seeing posts about the hairstyle issues and male Viera, but it did pay off so people will just have to deal with it? It's of course not a wishlist where you're guaranteed to get what you want in the exact way you want it if a thread is active so maybe I'm way off base.

I don't know where they take most of their feedback from so I won't comment on that.

[Bright-Flower]

Yeah there's nothing wrong with making threads or advocating for what you want. You might get people that disagree with you, or who don't disagree with you but don't think it's feasible/likely to be implemented, but there's nothing wrong in asking for it. Just be aware there's likely to be people arguing against it, but that doesn't mean you can't make your case. The only thing I'd keep an eye on is try to avoid spamming the forum with multiple active threads on the same subject, but short of that, post to your heart's content.

I've heard the devs find it more useful to have one big megathread than multiple separate threads but that's just what people here say, I don't know what the devs themselves have said on the subject.

[BaconBits]

Clearly the only option left is to lead a holy crusade on XIV Twitter and demand more masculine glamours and hairstyles with a fervor the likes of which they have never seen. They will rue the day they deigned to listen to the vocal minority over their loyal, studly customers.

Naturally, I will be leading the charge.

[LisSquid]

snip

This exactly. A big problem on this forum is that people simultaneously believe that the devs don't listen to the forums, but also every suggestion thread is going to happen unless they spam it with their grievances at the very suggestion of whatever is in the OP. The irony is that it adds post count, thus giving the CMs the idea that maybe they should look at the suggestion being made. Engagement makes the digital world go round, people! Which is why I still have severe doubts about these Twitter overlords I keep hearing about.

On topic: I've said it before but I'll go further into my own thoughts now. I've been playing a lot of other games in the past few years, and become accustomed to devs committing to making gear for all. They want to make a strappy lil thing or a big spikey plate of armor? They made their bed and pushed it out for all models and classes. I put the ranged outfit on my tank and mix it with some caster pieces.

This lock behind class and role, and by extension gender, is pretty stifling. Not just because it is more work (and trust me, it really is more work.) The trade-off is more aesthetics but less options for the individual. Gender/race locking isn't a bad thing when you can have alts. The harsh truth of FFXIV is that alts are a novelty, and not exactly viable in a game like this. Racial gear in GW2 is awesome because I, the player, can enjoy all of these aesthetics without losing anything. I just hop onto an alt!

FFXIV? Do hundreds of hours of MSQ, lose access to my house, gil, and all of my progress OR that will be a $10 fantasia, please. If you design a game around how one character can do all things, then I don't see how that philosophy cannot extend to aesthetics as well.