Character graphical changes are NOT in an acceptable state, please make it optional

[Hejligan]

I wish I felt that way. If my characters looked different but still good or better than before, I'd be satisfied. My problem is that I feel the new textures and shapes are a huge downgrade and make the characters look much worse.

I could accept them being different. But them being worse is another level...

I do think that there are as close to objective downgrades as can be in many cases too, like the skin looking weird for the vast majority of characters, and the eyes often lacking lustre. But what I mean is that identity is so important that even in the cases where a character happens to look better according to the majority of observers, it does not counter our arguments: we want our characters.

[Ceetee]

I really think this is just the tip of the iceberg for criticism over the graphics update.

Only a small fraction of the player base has actually used the benchmark. Some aren't able to, most don't even know it exists. Heck, I bet most players probably haven't even watched any fanfest footage of them showing off the best examples of the new changes.

Oh god I didn't even consider that. How many people are going into the expansion blind? How many people are going to excitedly log in on day one and realize that the character they are playing as is not the one they created?

I got very lucky with my main, and I don't think I would notice the changes that quickly. With my two alts, I would notice it the moment there was the first closeup in a cutscene.

Oh man, that also leads to another issue. In order to make any changes, people are going to have to deal with the login queue TWICE. Once to grab the fantasia, and once after you actually use it in the menu. And if you aren't the kind of person who keeps up with this stuff, you probably haven't fantasia'd enough times to know to strip down first.

That's going to be an AWFUL launch day experience for these people. Dealing with the awful launch queues that can take up to 30 minutes, only to find your character changed. Chugging a fantasia only and logging out only to find it won't let you change cause you didn't disrobe. Having to wait in queue a second time just to take your clothes off. Changing your character and then finally getting back in-game after a third queue.

I'm not saying this scenario is going to happen to everyone. Not even saying it will happen to a lot of people. But I think this will almost certainly be the experience of a non-negligable chunk of the fan base.

Anyway, I'm absolutely going to be setting a reminder for myself to chug the fantasia I already have, and stripping down BEFORE maintenance starts.

[Yencat]

snip

She looks young, but personally I wouldn't say she looks that young compared to before, especially in the benchmark screenshot.

The hairstyle does more of the heavy lifting in that regard than the actual face.

[Reinha]

That's going to be an AWFUL launch day experience for these people. Dealing with the awful launch queues that can take up to 30 minutes, only to find your character changed. Chugging a fantasia only and logging out only to find it won't let you change cause you didn't disrobe. Having to wait in queue a second time just to take your clothes off. Changing your character and then finally getting back in-game after a third queue.

Anyway, I'm absolutely going to be setting a reminder for myself to chug the fantasia I already have, and stripping down BEFORE maintenance starts.

I too have a fantasia already from a previous sale and I plan on using it before maintenance. Haven't decided on the race yet but if it's not Hrothgal then I can also finalize the changes before the game goes down for maintenance.

Launch/early access queues took 3-5 hours in Endwalker so there is no way I'm logging in more than once by choice lol. The people logging in multiple times to use their free fantasia (rightfully so) are also going to increase other people's queue times, not just their own. It's going to be a mess.

I wonder, where is that free fantasia we're getting? It wasn't tied to preorder or collectors edition. I'd like a free one for all of my characters since they are all being changed.

[SerKurisu]

Combine the very young face with the bustslide all the way down and you get a girl that looks like she has just started puberty, and I rather not post that here. You can check that in the benchmark for yourself.
I did send her into the benchmark and....she looks like a very very young girl in the fights. It is just giving me the creeps....or maybe Im just old..?

I'm feeling a bit more creeped out by the implication that a videogame character you created with your own hands is comparable to something absolutely reprehensible in your mind. This looks nothing like a child in any universe.

[LuciaMirain]

I'm feeling a bit more creeped out by the implication that a videogame character you created with your own hands is comparable to something absolutely reprehensible in your mind. This looks nothing like a child in any universe.

This is why I debated posting it, because I knew someone would comment that it is my mind that is wrong. But I will say, there was nothing impure in my head when I saw her, only the thought that she looks VERY young in a game where the devs have stated time and again that they dont want to create children. For me I saw something to protect. But I also know this game has alot of lewd content. And it gave me the ick that someone would most definitely take advantage of the new graphics. That isn't me being wrong, that is just me being aware.

[xbahax92]

That's all I could've ever really wanted
some higher quality textures, improved lighting
there was absolutely no need to make these random changes to the faces

Overdramatizing won't help, though. Some of the issues are clearly bugs and let's not forget some other issues are man-made, which need to be corrected.

I'll rather use this chance and tell them how bad their character creator is. It's probably one of the most outdated CC. Some of the facial features are limited. There are clearly not enough beard, fang, tail, scale, etc. options.
The color palette is very limited and untouched. There is no proper lighting option and this should be adressed first. It's really annoying when you cannot design your character with proper "sunlight".

[SnowStar]

snip

I'm sorry but you're really exaggerating

[ThaCa]

This update is pretty good material to eat popcorn to.

[LuciaMirain]

I'm sorry but you're really exaggerating

Which is fair to say, I did comment that I might be. It was just something I saw and when shared with friends that have children, they agreed that the characters look very very young and that the smoothness makes them look like children. But if the majority think it is ok then it is, I suppose.