Updated benchmark

[kikovoras]

I like the benchmark update - the lighting, especially, is 100 times better and more pleasing to the eye. I play a male Viera (Rava). My main issues with the 1st benchmark were the flatness of the face, the dead eyes, and the weird lip colour/lipstick. Thankfully, these aspects have been updated. However, one thing I actually *enjoyed* in the 1st benchmark was that for the face I use (male Viera face nr 3) they darkened the nose shading. But in the updated benchmark, I was disappointed to see that it's practically gone now. It's barely visible on pale characters, let alone on darker-skinned ones.

BASE GAME/NO BENCHMARK



BENCHMARK 1



BENCHMARK 2



Nose shading is practically gone. And not only on dark skin. Here's my friend's Viera, same face:



Here is my female Viera character for comparison (note how much lighter the nostril area is):



I am aware of the fact that some people complained about the nose shading being "too dark" in benchmark 1 - however, getting rid of it/making it barely visible is not the way to go. I love how Viera are designed as a race and their noses are a unique racial trait - if one wishes to remove that trait, then they are no longer Viera, but simply a Hyur with bunny ears. To me, it's the equivalent of getting rid of the scales on Au'Ra or removing fangs from Miqo'te.

There is a nose shading toggle for face 1 - I think the solution for this nose fiasco would be adding a nose shading toggle for ALL faces, both Rava and Veena.

I think it's imperative to take into consideration how character-building shows on darker skin. A lot of details disappear or are barely visible once you choose anything that's not pale skin.

[Loops]

I'm grateful to the development team for all of the effort that was put into updating the lighting for the benchmark, character creation, and the game itself. It is a major improvement on the visual quality of my skin.

I am, however, very disappointed that none of the other issues that I had with visual changes were not addressed. I am somewhat lucky that the changes made to my appearance are seemingly easy fixes, and I am hopeful that with the continued disappointment that the team decides to make these adjustments.

These are the issues that I still have with Miqo'te (F) Face 3:

• The eyelashes on Eye Shape 3 are too dense on the inner eyelids (by the nose), and it causes my eyes to appear much more round as others have noted. The previous eyelashes were less dense and swept towards the outer eye, making the shape of my eyes more apparent.
• As others have notes, the corners of my mouth look unnatural as if I am pursing my lips; this appears to be the case on every mouth option.
• Facial Feature 1 (bushy eyebrows) paired with Eyebrows 2 are wider, shorter, and do not fully taper off on the inner brow.
• Facial Feature 4 (nose scar) has been moved to be significantly lower than it was before.

Here are screenshots and a slide comparison for review:
https://imgsli.com/MjY5MzUx

Thank you again to the development team for all of your hard work, especially so close to the launch of the expansion. My hope is that your leaders provide you with the opportunity to address the issues that we have with preserving our beloved characters.

[Vvera_Fhar]

I'm also pleasantly surprised by this updated benchmark! Looks way better than the first release, good job and thanks to the development team. <3

These caved-in dimples with Keepers (F) Face 3 (and others, but especially 3) are my main remaining issue. They severely alter the feel of characters, making their faces look unnaturally plasticky, as if they had a faceful of make-up or as another user put it "a bad face lift". They used to look more natural. This seems like a pretty common opinion, so I've gathered some posts about this:

I really can't get over how much my face 3 Miqo'te looks like she had a bad face lift in the lower half of her face as soon as she isn't in shadow. It looks like her mouth is squished inwards or something and the lighting react with a high contrast in light and shadow to make it more obvious.

It is on all the mouths for face 3... it's way too much

THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING the corners of the mouth are completely off for our face now!

• As others have notes, the corners of my mouth look unnatural as if I am pursing my lips; this appears to be the case on every mouth option.

Here are screenshots and a slide comparison for review:
https://imgsli.com/MjY5MzUx

Here's my own set. Current patch | Updated benchmark.




(Also, it seems longer eyelashes near the nose aren't a thing anymore. Kinda makes me sad, they look more like fake eyelashes now.)

I've also noticed these dimples have the unfortunate side effect of giving all mouths a more serious/angry resting pose, as seen here (besides the changes to lip shape):

The mouth shape is pretty different especially in regard to the top lip. She has less heart shaped lip type than before and the neutral curve is more of a slight frown. She looks annoyed/unimpressed/mad compared to before.
Order: Live | Bench2

I said this in the previous thread in relation to many aspects now improved, but I'll say it again here because it still applies to the dimples: they make characters resemble some models I've seen who try to look like dolls, to the point of sometimes getting uncanny, which feels very unfitting here compared to the previous dimples.

Loops' comment just before mine mentioned these dimples too, but also other issues that are worth bringing attention to.

[LlymlaenGreene]

I am sincerely happy for those who are happy with the new version and their characters really look beautiful and similar. I'm reading the forum and I see that there is really good progress *la la, buns, and a few other things*, but what about Rooegadryns, Auras, Hyurs? Here, for example, this is my hyur I'm not happy. I'm just disappointed already. Why are some races literally ctrl c ctrl v with improvements, and some * like Hyur 1* literally with a redrawn aesthetic. Excuse me, but for me to say that their task is to keep the same characters as they were all the time - it's just a lie now. This one is a brazen lie. As similar as possible, this means that you copy, add polygons and that's it. But the company decided to create aesthetics from scratch for some races. Why the new lighting looks even uglier, *see screenshot, in some places * than what was in ARR? I really appreciate and respect developers, and I wish them to work in the most comfortable environment and without crunches, and therefore I do not offend anyone in any case. I think it's very stupid that they released such a large-scale graphic update and literally a few months before the release they started to receive feedback. Imagine if they released a released benchmark last summer and accounted for all feedback feedback. No crunching, redrawing, and so on. Good luck to Everyone, hehe :3





Is this twins? They have something in common, nothing more. And it should be like Alphinaud and Alisaie :3

[Joeking]

My only problem is that black hair ain't black, its dark blue.

[Halivel]

Okay...

Generally, I'm very happy with the changes at least for face 3 on male Viera. I definitely prefer the way their eyes and lips look in the new benchmark over live.

My only point of concern, really (and it was already pointed out by other people as well, so I'm just adding my vote into that pile), is that the bunny nose became nearly invisible on them. It was already barely there on this face, and in the new benchmark you need to actively squint to see it, especially on darker skintones.

It's not a change I can't deal with, so it wouldn't be the end of the world for me if it stays this way, but I also think it's a shame to take it away, as it's a feature that is intergral to this race identity. Especially when there's face 1, and also female Viera who have their fuzzy bunny tip perfectly intact (as they should).





Regarding the benchmark cinematic: Elja still looks like black hole incarnate, but it's not as bad as it is in live, so I'm content.

[LlymlaenGreene]

ерthe same character huh?

[Irishfae]

I like the hyur updates - My feedback for other races are linked: Au Ra and Viera

The only weird thing I found what that it is most prevalent with light colored eyes (in almost all Midlander faces) look like they are looking up and to the side. Not really sure if it an issue, but thought I would report it anyway.

[xirune]

Just gonna repost part of what I said in the Au Ra thread:

I’m still very disappointed in the way Au Ra pupils have been made larger, as it completely changes the way the characters’ expressions look. Now so many Au Ra have a really unfocused and listless look to them. Our characters are canonically supposed to be fierce warriors, they should look alert and ready for action, not zoned out.

Personally, if I was given a choice of changing only one thing about the updated graphics/models, it would be to restore Au Ra pupils to their original size. They’re just way too large now and it completely changes the look of the characters.

[Noelani]

It's so weird but across the races Face 4's seem to have taken the most dramatic changes. I can see it really clearly here on your au'ra that the whole head/face is squashed vertically by like 5%. My miqo has the same problem. T____T