Why so few additions to customization options?

[A_Cat_Man]

I know this isn't a priority for the game, so I don't expect this to really gain any attention, but why is it that the only customization options that seem to get added are new hairstyles? I know there was the new face that got added for midlanders, but that's practically nothing considering the lifetime of this game. I'm sure that there's a lot that goes into the rigging for facial animations among other things, but I feel like we should get more customization options added besides hairstyles, such as full-on beards for midlanders instead of just some stubble. And that's just one example, I'm sure there's plenty more ideas that other people can think of.

[Iscah]

I don't think they're able to add new options to the "template" that each character has and gets transmitted to other players.

They can add more hairstyles because you can only have one hairstyle equipped at a time. But the "face options" (that for some characters are beards) are just toggle switches so the template is just "option 5 on/off" and they can't add an option 6. The most they could do would be to add an identical new face option with a different beard style.

That said, I think there is some opportunity that the devs could explore, because they've figured out how to make Hrothgar change hairstyles, which apparently is by switching out otherwise-identical faces in the back end, so there could be room to add one more option for other characters in the same way. Different horns for Au Ra, different beards for other races, things like that.

[Theodric]

I'm hoping that when they complete the texture updates for the character models for 7.0 it also involves rebuilding the character customisation system from the ground up so that new options can be added more easily. That'd future proof the game more.

They're already well aware that glamour, minions and mounts are extremely potent carrots on a stick to dangle before players as incentives. They could do the same thing with special customisation options - such as adding more facial hair options for male characters, things like tattoos (both the regular sort and glowing, runic tattoos) and also scars.

[Zanarkand-Ronso]

I'm hoping that when they complete the texture updates for the character models for 7.0 it also involves rebuilding the character customisation system from the ground up

Thats....a mighty fine Pipedream.
They are simply updating textures, I dont think this means a Completely new CC and character models. As much as we all would like that....
But...hmm, there could be potential for more options, I dont see why that cant happen. But Id still temper my hype.
The characters will possibly look better, but I dont think its this giant Overhaul

[SturmChurro]

Thats....a mighty fine Pipedream.
They are simply updating textures, I dont think this means a Completely new CC and character models. As much as we all would like that....
But...hmm, there could be potential for more options, I dont see why that cant happen. But Id still temper my hype.
The characters will possibly look better, but I dont think its this giant Overhaul

There's a lot of potential for minor customization options, especially as rewards. Especially considering how heavily people like to customize their characters in this. It'd be great if it could happen, but yeah it's typically more realistic have your expectations, or hopes, fairly low in regards to all that, unfortunately.

[Packetdancer]

They can add more hairstyles because you can only have one hairstyle equipped at a time. But the "face options" (that for some characters are beards) are just toggle switches so the template is just "option 5 on/off" and they can't add an option 6. The most they could do would be to add an identical new face option with a different beard style.

To add a bit to this, the eyes/nose/mouth are actually part of the facial models—basically different 'options' within the facial model that you can flip between. And moreover, it seems like the characters basically have a set number of "slots" to contain values. The meaning of some of those values is common to every race, but others are race specific. So to use purely pulled-from-thin-air examples, it might be like:

• Slot 1: Which face to use (from the set valid for that race/gender).
• Slot 2: Which eyes to use (from the options specific to the face in slot 1).
• Slot 3: Which nose to use (from the options specific to the face in slot 1).
• Slot 4: Which mouth to use (from the options specific to the face in slot 1).
• Slot 5: Which hairstyle to use (independent of any face chosen).
• Slot 6: Muscle definition (Hyur) or ear type (Viera) or fur pattern (Hrothgar) or horns (Au Ra)...

And so on.

So as Iscah notes, if you want to add a new feature type, you'd have to add an entire new slot to how characters get described. Which is potentially a lot more work than it might sound like. But moreover, if you want to add new possible details to faces... they either have to be new versions of face-specific options (e.g., adding a new 'eyes' option to one specific face), or they have to be entire new faces. This is almost assuredly why the 'beard stubble' for Hyur midlander males is not available on all faces; they had to add it as an entire new face instead, because even if they added a stubble variant to all the faces, they likely don't have an unused slot to record 'stubble [Y/N]?' in.

The practical upshot is that about the only thing they can add in the way of customization options without doing rather more extra work than you might think is... well, hairstyles. Which are reasonably self-contained.

[Krotoan]

I think it's weird that in like 5 years we've gotten maybe 2 facepaints ever. Both halloween I think.

[TabrisOmbrelame]

Some feature I would like to see into the customization option :

• Separation of the horn of Au Ra, so they don't are linked to a particular face (Some of the NPC in Endwalker already have this particularity.)
• No more "Race specific" hair. Allow them on all race to maximise customization
• Add a new option : Beard for every male character (Except for Au Ra, because they have Scale instead)
• Add the remaining Hairstyle we couldn't have before, like Hilda or Lucia just to name a few.
• Add a new option allowing to choose the "Eyes" from the other tribes (For exemple Viera, Miqo'te and Lalafell have different type of eyes depending on their tribes : Sun Miqo'te got those "Cat's eyes" while Moon got the Rounded eyes)
• Give more specific racial feature (Excluding hairs !) like the fangs for miqo'te for exemple

[Deveryn]

Thats....a mighty fine Pipedream.
They are simply updating textures, I dont think this means a Completely new CC and character models. As much as we all would like that....
But...hmm, there could be potential for more options, I dont see why that cant happen. But Id still temper my hype.
The characters will possibly look better, but I dont think its this giant Overhaul

I've seen a couple of these updates and they're never more than reskins of existing options. I'm curious to see if they'll follow the pattern and allow for the old looks to remain for those with older setups.

[Dzian]

I'm hoping that when they complete the texture updates for the character models for 7.0 it also involves rebuilding the character customisation system from the ground up so that new options can be added more easily. That'd future proof the game more.

They're already well aware that glamour, minions and mounts are extremely potent carrots on a stick to dangle before players as incentives. They could do the same thing with special customisation options - such as adding more facial hair options for male characters, things like tattoos (both the regular sort and glowing, runic tattoos) and also scars.

Honestly I'd be happy if they just fixed clipping issues.. some nice looking hairstyles and stuff already on game but they clip so heavily its horrendous. Your paladins shield is strong enough to block powerful hits from gods. But a locke of your long hair goes straight through it..

Same with axes / bows and some hats.. and even a few capes when your run in your legs go through the Cape rather than have it flick up behind you..

Oh and some weapons ninja stands out for this. Some inja weapons are bigger than paladin swords and you amputate your arm every time you swing them.