Character Creation, Customization, and Gender

[TheSweetestTart]

I always feel a bit goofy for posting on the forums about stuff but I figured I would put forth some thoughts I've been having in case other people might be feeling the same way and wanted an area to sound off.

Hello! I'm non-binary, they/them. I would love if Final Fantasy added more options to accomodate androgyny, being able to choose to be referred to by non-gendered pronouns as a baseline would be really cool even if character creation didn't see any major changes. A lot of non-binary people don't go for androgyny in appearance, but they do still appreciate being referred to in a certain way. Being able to select how the game refers to you would be really great as a low scope change.

However, if I were to speak my Dreams Into Reality, I really wish Final Fantasy would allow for more freedom in character creation. I couldn't help but notice that Zero seemed to be using the male midlander rig in order to achieve the androgyny that she does. Female hyur have an insanely girly run and Zero doesn't seem to use it, either. It breaks my heart that I can't really do the same thing with the tools the game gives me.

Even sliding the bust sliders down to 0 on a character still leaves them with visible chest, and there's a lot of gendered gear that turns into crop-tops and shorts and feminine stuff on a female character. At least being able to have an actually flat chest without the additional physics would be a welcome addition.

The closest I've been able to get for playing a character who's they/them has been male viera, on account of that they're of a pretty average height and masculine gear tends to be more modest and androgynous (I would say the Yorha outfits are the worst offenders of this). I recognize what I'm asking for is extremely niche, so I don't have high expectations, but I wanted to voice my earnest thoughts in hopes that maybe the conversation could be started about expanding the options players have available. I wouldn't want the devs to stop making extremely feminine outfits for the players who enjoy those outfits, either, I'd just like the option to opt out of them.

Unlocking further height scaling as an option for characters, as well as maybe the ability to choose the animation set you want to use, since as far as I understand Final Fantasy shares a lot of animation rigs between player characters. I love Zero, and I wish I could make a character who looks like that, and it makes me sad that only the devs have the tools to do so. With races that have extreme sexual dimorphism in the way that Au Ra do, I understand there's only so much that can be done, but it'd be really nice if we got some more quality of life options in the future.

[Emitans]

I'm happy with my character's appearance but I would love it if I could choose to use they/them pronouns. Even if it was only for the story going forward (since every single line that uses pronouns would have to be slightly rewritten due to they/them generally being grammatically treated as plural)

[DeathNoodles]

I usually stick w/ male lalafell since they're more uh, gender ambiguous other than voice.

[Nyxs]

Nah waste of time for them to make extra scripts or clothes for this..Why does it even matter or need to be a thing? Just play the game and leave your politics for outside.

Also Zero uses a female midlander model but wears bulky armor. You can make her for the most part using the character creator. She is not weird.

For reference from the wiki:
Gender: FEMALE
Race: hyur
Clan: midlander
Body type:adult
Height: custom
Muscle:50%
Bust size:50%
Jaw:1
Eye:1
Iris size: Large
Eye color: (some shade of grey)
Eyebrows:1
Nose:1
Mouth:1

Custom: weapon,clothes,hair ,face shape and skintone

[Emitans]

No one brought up politics but you

[Boblawblah]

Just play the game and leave your politics for outside.

That's definitely a take lol. How is the OP political?

[TheSweetestTart]

The wiki says that because that's how it classifies NPCs who use unique faces-- such as Lyse and Minfilia as well. Zero's face is unique to her. Additionally, I can prove she's not using the midlander female run, it's uh...distinctive. Any footage of a quest where Zero is accompanying you will show clearly that she's not doing the super exaggerated midlander female hyur jog. Additionally, the concept art book for Endwalker includes Zero's art, and notes that she was designed to be intentionally androgynous, not male or female with any clarity. If this is what you call Politics, then Squeenix is bringing it already, sorry to tell you. Also it's not My Politics, it's My Me. I can't exactly leave that out, lol.

Concept art source: https://x.com/aitaikimochi/status/1627924515001860098

Zero's paladin concept art (in which you can see she's clearly flat-chested): https://sjc1.vultrobjects.com/cucdn/...ladin-zero.jpg

[Doopliss]

My friend who plays a male Midlander was literally able to walk up to Zero and see that her proportions and running animations were the exact same as their character's. Her armor is specifically designed around a male Midlander body regardless of what the wiki says.

Anyway to respond to OP; I really sympathize and in general would love for these type of options to eventually open up too. I've been wanting to play a female character as androgynous as Zero for like, a decade now, and am pretty excited for female Hrothgar since their proportions in armor appear to be the closest I'll ever get.

Unfortunately, I would also temper expectations since it seems like they often do multiple takes with the voice actors for references to your character's gender using he/she pronouns (and this has been the standard since ARR, which means these takes include voice actors that they no longer work with). I feel like the only possibility of a "they" pronoun option ever happening would require people to be awkwardly okay with some voiced cutscenes in previous expansions only using "he" or "she"...

[Roda]

Ye I've got a couple of nb characters and getting the wrong pronouns and honorifics is always a bit jarring. Every time I see them getting overly gendered it takes me out a bit.
The pixies get the consideration, I think it's only fair players can have access to something similar.

On a similar note it would also be nice to choose to be referred to by your forename or last name when casually being referred to by one name, (and vice versa for being referred to formally by one name) or having the option of only being referred to by both names.

Would help a lot with Hellsguard Roegadyn players who would prefer not to be casually referred to as [Adjective] or Mx [Noun], and even though we have lore written to get around the current limitations for Raen Au Ra/Othardian Hyur and Roegadyn, it would be cool to allow them to take the [Surname] [Given name] naming convention.

[Doopliss]

On a similar note it would also be nice to choose to be referred to by your forename or last name when casually being referred to by one name, (and vice versa for being referred to formally by one name) or having the option of only being referred to by both names.

Would help a lot with Hellsguard Roegadyn players who would prefer not to be casually referred to as [Adjective] or Mx [Noun], and even though we have lore written to get around the current limitations for Raen Au Ra/Othardian Hyur and Roegadyn, it would be cool to allow them to take the [Surname] [Given name] naming convention.

God, sorry, this just reminded me of how much it drives me nuts whenever I'm on my Seeker guy and he's referred to as "Ser Tia," or "Lord Tia," or "Commander Tia," since it's a title rather than a surname.

I mean, I'm used to it! And honestly I think it's more funny than anything; it genuinely gives me a little chuckle every time it happens. Just, at the same time, I'm always thinking "damn...I wonder which guy he's referrin' to..." considering the vast majority of Seeker men out there adventuring should be a Tia.