Thancred's new face

[sylphlands]

God, I thought I was crazy for feeling like his face had changed more than anyone! His eyes weird me out, I can't explain it...and his nose got smaller which took some charm out of his design. Is it just a Hyur issue?? I feel like no one else had their actual face bones change this much.

[SiriuslyEmily]

Agree, I miss his old look. And his mouth is especially noticeable when he smiles or smirks which is often! No other Scion is this noticeably different and I struggle to see why they felt the need to smooth out his unique features when he looked perfectly fine (and perfectly himself) for over a decade. I hope they’ll at least update his mouth shape.

[mouse_marple]

I'm glad you made this thread. I've been thinking about how best to bring this up. I'm a major Thancred enjoyer so I am probably too sensitive to the changes, but I think they are noticeable. I do like the idea of making 5.0--Thancred look a little older. I think that is a good idea that matches the story. However, I think the change from ARR--SHB+ is too drastic now. In some lighting and at some angles, 7.0 Thancred looks alright, but at times he looks really different. Here is a comparison taken from a cutscene in an SHB questline ("Dirty Jobs" I think was the title or close to it).



Click for full version of pic

This side-by side makes the differences very obvious. His mouth just does not express in the same way any more.

Another comparison (Endwalker opening cutscene) where he is facing the camera more directly:



Click for full version of pic

If I had to list the most serious issues:

1) mouth
2) skin texture
3) eyes
4) cheeks

I think the skin texture issue is a problem for most male midlander right now. It creates this blotchy/acne like appearance that wasn't there before.

Do we have to report these things as bugs to hope for change?

[Rainnea]

I miss old Thancred face so much. His old face had so much character and dimension and now it just looks flat. He looks like a completely different character.

[Kiet]

The mouths of all characters got downgraded but Thancred and Cirina got destroyed. Cirina is completely unrecognizable. I'm scared to look at HW Minfilia now after what someone said about her.

[Hyperia]

I believe he got a default looking face because they do not plan on using him much anymore. I see a comfy retirement for him as Ryne’s dad before 8.0.

[Turethir]

I believe he got a default looking face because they do not plan on using him much anymore. I see a comfy retirement for him as Ryne’s dad before 8.0.

They massively updated his textures on his armour (if you check the player version of the armour it doesn't have the updates, it's only on Thancred's unique model). His coat and his gauntlets look much more realistic now, with proper metal and leather textures. So they have put some love into him.

But regardless of what you think of the story/what will happen to him, these changes don't just affect Dawntrail, they affect all of his cutscenes in Shadowbringers onwards, so I would consider that a much larger issue.

EDIT: To show what I mean, here's my Thancred alt (left) with NPC Thancred (right) in game - notice the difference in the gauntlets.

[mouse_marple]

I believe he got a default looking face because they do not plan on using him much anymore. I see a comfy retirement for him as Ryne’s dad before 8.0.

This take doesn't make much sense. If they weren't planning to use him for much, why not just leave him with one of his pre-DT models? What they have done to him actually implies the contrary--they want to use him for more and thought it would look odd if he was un-updated.

Side note, but they fully updated his trailer model as well. I don't think he is getting sent out to pasture yet

[moonji]

I am also bothered with the changes because he lost all his uniqueness to his face, it is so hard not to think it does not look like him at all. His eyebrows, nose, lips, jaw shape are all different. It is disappointing.

[ElHeggunte]

Leave him alone. He heard about “mewing” from Ryne and has been giving it a shot.