Dawntrail character graphics update - opinions, requests and discussion megathread

[gllt]

This game is definitely my special interest game as well, or perhaps was. I battled a lot of personal issues I don't want to discuss here in order to continue to play this game just because I love it so much.

Then this graphics update removed the ability to turn off bloom, among other things. So now I can't play the game at all, even though I've had to overcome several barriers to continue to try and enjoy it. It straight up hurts my eyes.

I haven't even spent time seeing if I like or dislike the changes to my characters because I dislike the appearance of the whole game currently.

[Iscah]

That's quite a lot of difference in those comparisons! You know what's really interesting about them, though--the amount and shape of the actual visible eyeball looks almost the same from before and after, but the outside of the eyelids are so very different that it changes our perceptions of how open the eyes are. Subtle things making a big difference. I do hope people get options for things like that--some of the "after" eye are quite pretty, but I wouldn't have wanted to lose the original shape for them.

I've been saying this all along, about all of the faces.

They seem to have been redesigned with the mindset that keeping the eye surface the same equates to keeping the look of the eyes the same, and have restructured the surrounding face quite freely – and the changes to eyelids change the shape of the eye itself.

Additionally, these alterations largely seem to tend towards lowered eyelids and increased rims on the eyelids, which is probably blocking out light from reflecting on the eyes.

As for the colour of the whites of the eyes, some of them are a bit overly white in the old designs but it probably didn't need to be toned down as much as it did.

[Khryseis_Astra]

The settings can never be exactly the same, because Dawntrail changed the lighting in the entire game. It's very likely that people who had portraits they liked in EW will need to adjust them in DT because of this, to take better advantage of those changes.

What I meant by “exact same settings” is that I did not change anything I had the option to change. I opened it up in Dawntrail and immediately took a screenshot without changing anything.

As GreenLeafy said, just look at our eyes… my EW eyes are closer to your DT ones and vice versa! lol so yes I do think yours look better!

It’s not just portraits, but also cutscenes and gpose… the eyes, along with the nose and the mouth, she just looks like a totally different person to me.

[Sairaag]

I wonder what happened to the people that posted early on in the thread when DT first launched. Have you guys gotten used to the changes or has the graphics update just demotivated you from logging in whatsoever?
I ask because it looks like a lot of people didn't fanta into something else despite their grievances. Not trying to antagonize or belittle anyone; disliking the update is totally valid. Just curious where you all stand 2 months later.

Personally I've been trying to get used to the changes since the first benchmark and haven't succeeded. Still, I wanted to play the expansion I paid for. I've finished the Dawntrail MSQ and most of the side content by now, so I've spent quite a lot of time staring at my Miqo'te's face. He still looks like he had eyelid enlargement surgery and lip fillers. While I've been able to play the game and all that, looking at my character always feels weird to some extent now. And still, that's my WoL and the thought of switching to one of my few alts or making him look completely different makes me want to rather give up on the game altogether. My main has always been a specific male Keeper with a specific look and anything else feels wrong.

The fantasia, though... There's nothing I can do about the shapes of the eyes and the mouth, but I might make my character's eyes a slightly lighter colour at some point. I actually like the very dark colour I got in the update, but Miqo'te eyes still have that film-like thing over them, which has a tendency to make his eyes look almost matte black. That would look cool on a different character, but it's not what I want on my main. I'm also thinking of changing his voice; I like the one he has now for the emotes, but not so much for the combat sounds, and unfortunately those are what I hear far more often. I appreciate the extended voice sample menu we have now, really makes things easier.

But above all, I hope for good news when the devs are done preparing the upcoming announcement.

[Khryseis_Astra]

I just wanted to say that her expression looks a little different because they fundamentally changed how ♀ Highlander Face 2's eyes are to a degree that feels a little too extreme to me, and I don't even use the face. I really do hope that is something that gets fixed.

In fairness, they did raise the upper eyelid a little bit since the initial benchmark release, but the eye shapes on this face are still pretty fundamentally different... They took away the rounded, friendly feeling they used to have.

The thing that strikes me seeing them all lined up in that is how much the same all the DT eyes look in shape, while you can clearly see the shape variety in the benchmark pictures!

My Highlander is using Face 2, Eyes 6 in both of my portraits. But yeah I haven’t played her much beyond keeping her island going.

Honestly I could deal with the color issues (ie: eye whites, eyeshadow/liner) if the shape issues (eyes, mouth and the horrible philtrum) were fixed.

[Doopliss]

Honestly I could deal with the color issues (ie: eye whites, eyeshadow/liner) if the shape issues (eyes, mouth and the horrible philtrum) were fixed.

Honestly I feel the same way. I don't really care too much about things like eye textures or pores one way or another... I'd just like missing clan features to come back, makeup that got scuffed on specifically dark skin colors to be a little edited, and shape options that got extreme changes to return closer to their original shapes. If all of my characters still had the same features but in a different art style I'd care a lot less, if that makes sense. I feel like my Elezen is almost there and just needs her lip line corrected. Of course this is just the ultra simplified version of my opinion.

I would like things like her slightly colored pupils to come back (they were really subtle compared to like, female Roegadyn, though, so I don't think my Elezen deserves the same attention as theirs), but if they don't I can deal with that. The way light interacts with a bunch of hairstyles and lights them up like LEDs genuinely feels horrible to me now, but I can wait longer for that to get corrected. My ♀ Au Ra who uses Face Type 2 now has her dark grey limbal rings blast light at night time and gives her an uncanny stare, but I even feel like I'd get over that super easily if her mouth was still the same shape, you know?

I know not everything weighs the same for everyone, though, and I don't say this to dismiss other peoples' opinions. I still sympathize greatly and hope they can satisfy as many people as possible. And for you, especially, because while I do agree the new eye shapes are also pretty, they had essentially removed the impression of all of your ♀ Highlander face type's previous eye options.

Sorry again. I'm rambling and feel like I explained myself extra shittily here, lol.

[Gaddes]

I wonder what happened to the people that posted early on in the thread when DT first launched. Have you guys gotten used to the changes or has the graphics update just demotivated you from logging in whatsoever?
I ask because it looks like a lot of people didn't fanta into something else despite their grievances. Not trying to antagonize or belittle anyone; disliking the update is totally valid. Just curious where you all stand 2 months later.

I had to fanta my eyebrows, but overall I still log in and I still play my character, but I would still go back to my old Elezen's face in an instant if I could. I still intensely dislike how they fundamentally changed most mouth/lip shapes to look much blander and flatter, and how my elezen just can't seem to look as intense/angry as he used to when doing an angry face.

[Hatsuoki]

Additionally, these alterations largely seem to tend towards lowered eyelids and increased rims on the eyelids, which is probably blocking out light from reflecting on the eyes.

I agree. This is exactly why I'd ask for people with complaints or the people who like the update provide their character creation settings when posting. It could very well be some niche lighting/graphical glitch or it could be due to eyelid/eye shape. For the ones commenting on how they haven't seen a comparison where the old one looks better, that is an opinion on other people's characters that isn't a helpful comment to make.

[SaraSin]

I wonder what happened to the people that posted early on in the thread when DT first launched. Have you guys gotten used to the changes or has the graphics update just demotivated you from logging in whatsoever?
I ask because it looks like a lot of people didn't fanta into something else despite their grievances. Not trying to antagonize or belittle anyone; disliking the update is totally valid. Just curious where you all stand 2 months later.

2 months later and I'm still not a fan. I hardly play anymore and I try not to look at my characters as much as possible. Can't remember the last time I took a gpose. I think what annoys me the most is the lips and hair lighting, like the hair looks shaded(?) completely different than the body at times. My ol PC also does not like the update, been having to play with 30 fps and lowest graphics settings. The environment is beautiful though with higher settings.

Left is before update, right is me trying to get as close as possible to the same lighting and expression as before. It feels too different for me to enjoy. Happy for those that do like the update though

[Risough]

I wonder what happened to the people that posted early on in the thread when DT first launched. Have you guys gotten used to the changes or has the graphics update just demotivated you from logging in whatsoever?
I ask because it looks like a lot of people didn't fanta into something else despite their grievances. Not trying to antagonize or belittle anyone; disliking the update is totally valid. Just curious where you all stand 2 months later.

I was one of the people who provided feedback both early in this thread and in the second benchmark thread. My feelings regarding the update remain unchanged. The improvements to world lighting and detail are incredible, but I find it harder to feel connected to that world due the changes to my character's appearance. Whenever he shows up in a cutscene I'm distracted thinking "I wish they'd handled his brow differently" or "His smirk looks off here..."

As others have said, I opted not to fantasia because my character's appearance is defined and has story attached to it. I just wouldn't feel right replacing him with a new person. I'm not satisfied with the way the current settings look, but they're still the closest to what feels right among the current offerings.

This picture from my earlier post best shows the things that bother me. The furrowed area between his eyes, the harsher circles under his eyes, and the lip shape make him look quite different:



Endwalker is on the left and Dawntrail is on the right.

With regards to your question about how the changes have affected my motivation to play, yes I would say I feel less motivated to log in. I used to log in because I enjoyed seeing the world through the eyes of my character and imagining what he'd be thinking of his adventures. I'd spend a lot of time exploring and immersing myself. Now I spend a minimal amount of time in game collecting gear to ensure I'm ready to raid with friends. I have a lot of close friends that I play this game with and staying in touch with them has become my primary motivator to keep playing.

I'm hopeful that the feedback I left reached the right ears and they'll make some adjustments. I hope that they're able to tweak things to the point where everyone in this thread can enjoy their time in Eorzea again. You're all obviously very passionate about FFXIV, so I hope one day it will make you happy again.