Thematic awesomeness is important. Frankly I don't think there's nearly enough. I'd like to play a Jedi in ToR that is usually robed but can toss the bulky robe aside if desired (with thematic wind possibly carrying it off). I'd also like the Jedi to never wear anything fancy, since they are as frugal as possible. Hopefully Bioware will make sure that last bit is possible at least, though I don't think any games really have embraced having various thematic animations (like the above mentioned version of a "let's get serious" animation).
My character's appearance is pretty far down on my list of what I like in games.
But if given things like appearance slots, I do play around with his look.
All that said, people can't really see your character unless they take the time to zoom in. Aion is a good example of that. You have a thousand ways to customize your character in Aion, but sill everyone looks more or less the same in that game with size being the only factor that makes them stand out. I think it's because you can't see much detail in a game even if you're a short distance away from a toon.
It's not really about the other people, but about how YOU identify with YOUR toon. That little bundle of pixels is YOU and the fact that most of us in RL dress for ourselves vice other people carries over into the MMO world.
I think it's very important for getting into the feel of the game, no matter if you RP or don't. I didn't really RP in SWG, but my toon always wore some version of an Imp uniform, which became an easier feat once the appearance tabs came out. It was just about the look and getting into the spirit of the game.
Currently a common reaccuring suggestion on the AoC boards is for Social Clothing and/or an Appearance tab, mainly from the RP'ers but from others too because the armor is just so fuggly and is pretty much a stock look for all with very few exceptions.
If my character (never a "toon") doesn't look good to me, I won't play it. I've gone to absurd lengths to match equipment iin WoW and even taken a hit in attributes just because some lower-level piece looked better. Everquest 2 drove me up a wall with its ridiculous hairstyles and mitten armor. I couldn't get into Fallen Earth because the male characters look like Neanderthals.
Yeah, appearance is important.
"Soloists and those who prefer small groups should never have to feel like they''re the ones getting the proverbial table scraps, as it were." - Scott Hartsman, Senior Producer, Everquest II "People love groups. Its a fallacy that people want to play solo all the time." - Scott Hartsman, Executive Producer, Rift
id still be playing wow to this day and id gladly resub
if it had appearance slots like lotro or eq2
wow is a very polished and beautiful game
but i need to be able to wear what i like while keeping the stats of the best gear in my inventory
OMG I am with you on this and it frustrates me that Blizzard has not put something like this in game yet. I have armor sets right now my character would be wearing instead of being forced to wear what every other hunter is wearing simply because there is only one set of armor in the upper tiers she can wear (one for pvp and oen for pve) and all hunters pretty much wear the same gear!
What my character looks like is more important to me that I like to admit. I really like a lot of options at character creation, along the lines of Eq2 or Perfect World, or for the characters and equipment to be attractive, if customization is limited, as in Lineage 2 and Jade Dynasty.
I'm turned off by games with fixed looks, for example, where all swordsmen are not only male, but are exactly the same male, with not even a hair color option... I have seen that in a couple of F2P games.
I like games that have options for what clothes or armor are displayed. Having a set of near-black armor for display on my eq2 assassin, no matter what my stat armor was, was cool.
I like games where I can hide helms/hats too. First of all, hat graphics are often ugly, and even when they aren't, I like to see my character's head. I just do.
I absolutely can scarcely TOLERATE looking like someone else in the game. If my armor is exactly like someone standing next to me....it irritates me.
I want my characters to look like they belong to ME....not the other guy in the exact same set of gear. This is why appearance gear is very important to me. I don't have to look like anyone else. I can make armor to wear just for looks "over" (so to speak) my other "real" gear.
Not too crazy about it when games don't give that option. Nope.
My characters appearance is the single most important thing in gaming to me. Hate to say it, but I have found that if I dont like the look of my character then I end up quiting the game fairly soon and I never get to enjoy anything else the game may offer.
Oh do they? See, now that's why I've never played an elf. I'm a Gucci man, myself. =P
It's important. It isn't so important that I spend hours thinking about it, but important enough. Can we extend this beyond just clothing, but appearance, movement... the way your avatar is displayed?
I've rerolled characters because after playing for 3 days... the movements just didn't fit with my mental expectations. I'd choose a new class or race that functioned differently.
It's important enough to choose visuals that are appealling, but once it's done, it's done. I have, on occaision, passed up statistically superior gear because it's hideousness was beyond acceptable. Typically, because of the mathematical brain I own, I'm more inclined to 'deal with' things of artistic natures.
That is exactly right, and we're not saying NO to save WoW, because it is already a lost cause. We are saying NO to dissuade the next group of greedy suits who decide to emulate Blizzard and Cryptic, etc. We can prevent some of the future games from spewing this crap, but the sooner we start saying no, the better the results will be. So - Stand up, pull up your pants, and walk away. - MMO_Doubter
Looks mean nothing to me, I couldn't care less what my character looks like, I only care how it operates. If the best armor in the game is also the ugliest, bring it on. So what? It's just a bunch of pixels anyhow.
An MMORPG without fashion options is just an MMOG.
forgotten characters (Ultima Online,Everquest,DAoC) Qualme (Shadowbane on Mourning) Pandamonia (Lineage 2 on Bartz) Bridgit (Soul of the Ulimate Nation) deLiber (Aika Online) Qualme (ArcheAge on Kyrios) Looking for next PvP game
It's important to me, but I think it's very important to lots of people, many of which wouldn't want to publicly admit it. I look at games like APB, and think it probably wouldn't even be a blip on the radar, if not for the customization, and then a game like LOTRO, which is one of the most solid MMOs of the past few years, a huge IP, but only a marginal success, which I'd bet has something to do with the terrible first impression its character creation and customization makes. Too many players didn't feel attached to thier lame looking characters and lost interest.
I think strong customization is something all MMOs would do better to include. Some players don't care, but there's a pretty large segment of the MMO population to which it's vital.
When I want a single-player story, I'll play a single-player game. When I play an MMO, I want a massively multiplayer world.
Character customization is just as important as gameplay to me.
It really turns me off when I have to wear armor that looks shitty just because of it's stats. I wish for a game that let's you wear any crafted / found piece of clothing or armor without having a considerable disadvantage.
They should just not exaggerate with the stats on armor, problem solved pretty much.
There's more to life than killing things, games should put this into the equation.
Whether I'm mowing down an army of feral dwarves or making boots for a wandering traveler, I want to look f*cking awesome while doing it.
Playing: *sigh* back to WoW -------- Waiting for: SW:TOR, APB, WoD --------- Played and loved: Eve and WoW -------- Played and hated: WoW:WotLK, Warhammer, every single F2P
It is really the drive for me to get better gear. Better stats are nice but I always feel let down when better gear looks bad. I like that feeling of going from wearing shreads of leather and wood to slowly better and more impressive looking armor. Also being able to differentiate yourself from everyone around you is really important to feel like your character can actually matter in the server.
Sent me an email if you want me to mail you some pizza rolls.
Comments
Thematic awesomeness is important. Frankly I don't think there's nearly enough. I'd like to play a Jedi in ToR that is usually robed but can toss the bulky robe aside if desired (with thematic wind possibly carrying it off). I'd also like the Jedi to never wear anything fancy, since they are as frugal as possible. Hopefully Bioware will make sure that last bit is possible at least, though I don't think any games really have embraced having various thematic animations (like the above mentioned version of a "let's get serious" animation).
It's not really about the other people, but about how YOU identify with YOUR toon. That little bundle of pixels is YOU and the fact that most of us in RL dress for ourselves vice other people carries over into the MMO world.
I think it's very important for getting into the feel of the game, no matter if you RP or don't. I didn't really RP in SWG, but my toon always wore some version of an Imp uniform, which became an easier feat once the appearance tabs came out. It was just about the look and getting into the spirit of the game.
Currently a common reaccuring suggestion on the AoC boards is for Social Clothing and/or an Appearance tab, mainly from the RP'ers but from others too because the armor is just so fuggly and is pretty much a stock look for all with very few exceptions.
SWG (pre-cu) - AoC (pre-f2p) - PotBS (pre-boarder) - DDO - LotRO (pre-f2p) - STO (pre-f2p) - GnH (beta tester) - SWTOR - Neverwinter
If my character (never a "toon") doesn't look good to me, I won't play it. I've gone to absurd lengths to match equipment iin WoW and even taken a hit in attributes just because some lower-level piece looked better. Everquest 2 drove me up a wall with its ridiculous hairstyles and mitten armor. I couldn't get into Fallen Earth because the male characters look like Neanderthals.
Yeah, appearance is important.
"Soloists and those who prefer small groups should never have to feel like they''re the ones getting the proverbial table scraps, as it were." - Scott Hartsman, Senior Producer, Everquest II
"People love groups. Its a fallacy that people want to play solo all the time." - Scott Hartsman, Executive Producer, Rift
Next to game play, this is my biggest issue with MMORPG's.
OMG I am with you on this and it frustrates me that Blizzard has not put something like this in game yet. I have armor sets right now my character would be wearing instead of being forced to wear what every other hunter is wearing simply because there is only one set of armor in the upper tiers she can wear (one for pvp and oen for pve) and all hunters pretty much wear the same gear!
What my character looks like is more important to me that I like to admit. I really like a lot of options at character creation, along the lines of Eq2 or Perfect World, or for the characters and equipment to be attractive, if customization is limited, as in Lineage 2 and Jade Dynasty.
I'm turned off by games with fixed looks, for example, where all swordsmen are not only male, but are exactly the same male, with not even a hair color option... I have seen that in a couple of F2P games.
I like games that have options for what clothes or armor are displayed. Having a set of near-black armor for display on my eq2 assassin, no matter what my stat armor was, was cool.
I like games where I can hide helms/hats too. First of all, hat graphics are often ugly, and even when they aren't, I like to see my character's head. I just do.
I absolutely can scarcely TOLERATE looking like someone else in the game. If my armor is exactly like someone standing next to me....it irritates me.
I want my characters to look like they belong to ME....not the other guy in the exact same set of gear. This is why appearance gear is very important to me. I don't have to look like anyone else. I can make armor to wear just for looks "over" (so to speak) my other "real" gear.
Not too crazy about it when games don't give that option. Nope.
President of The Marvelously Meowhead Fan Club
My characters appearance is the single most important thing in gaming to me. Hate to say it, but I have found that if I dont like the look of my character then I end up quiting the game fairly soon and I never get to enjoy anything else the game may offer.
www.90and9.net
www.prophecymma.com
Oh do they? See, now that's why I've never played an elf. I'm a Gucci man, myself. =P
It's important. It isn't so important that I spend hours thinking about it, but important enough. Can we extend this beyond just clothing, but appearance, movement... the way your avatar is displayed?
I've rerolled characters because after playing for 3 days... the movements just didn't fit with my mental expectations. I'd choose a new class or race that functioned differently.
It's important enough to choose visuals that are appealling, but once it's done, it's done. I have, on occaision, passed up statistically superior gear because it's hideousness was beyond acceptable. Typically, because of the mathematical brain I own, I'm more inclined to 'deal with' things of artistic natures.
That is exactly right, and we're not saying NO to save WoW, because it is already a lost cause. We are saying NO to dissuade the next group of greedy suits who decide to emulate Blizzard and Cryptic, etc.
We can prevent some of the future games from spewing this crap, but the sooner we start saying no, the better the results will be.
So - Stand up, pull up your pants, and walk away.
- MMO_Doubter
Looks mean nothing to me, I couldn't care less what my character looks like, I only care how it operates. If the best armor in the game is also the ugliest, bring it on. So what? It's just a bunch of pixels anyhow.
Played: UO, EQ, WoW, DDO, SWG, AO, CoH, EvE, TR, AoC, GW, GA, Aion, Allods, lots more
Relatively Recently (Re)Played: HL2 (all), Halo (PC, all), Batman:AA; AC, ME, BS, DA, FO3, DS, Doom (all), LFD1&2, KOTOR, Portal 1&2, Blink, Elder Scrolls (all), lots more
Now Playing: None
Hope: None
An MMORPG without fashion options is just an MMOG.
forgotten characters (Ultima Online,Everquest,DAoC)
Qualme (Shadowbane on Mourning)
Pandamonia (Lineage 2 on Bartz)
Bridgit (Soul of the Ulimate Nation)
deLiber (Aika Online)
Qualme (ArcheAge on Kyrios)
Looking for next PvP game
Too a point, yes looks of my toon is important.
But at times you have to deal with a ugly armor set, just because it's that good.
WoW's Warlock Felheart set, comes to mind here.
I hated the way it looked, but it was a damn god armor, back in Vanilla WoW.
What I read there is that it sucks when game mechanics and aesthetics don't converge. There are solutions to this problem.
I'll bite. It is VERY important to me that my character look the way I want him to.
I'm quite fond of the "appearance tab" systems that have shown up in games these days.
It's important to me, but I think it's very important to lots of people, many of which wouldn't want to publicly admit it. I look at games like APB, and think it probably wouldn't even be a blip on the radar, if not for the customization, and then a game like LOTRO, which is one of the most solid MMOs of the past few years, a huge IP, but only a marginal success, which I'd bet has something to do with the terrible first impression its character creation and customization makes. Too many players didn't feel attached to thier lame looking characters and lost interest.
I think strong customization is something all MMOs would do better to include. Some players don't care, but there's a pretty large segment of the MMO population to which it's vital.
When I want a single-player story, I'll play a single-player game. When I play an MMO, I want a massively multiplayer world.
Character customization is just as important as gameplay to me.
It really turns me off when I have to wear armor that looks shitty just because of it's stats. I wish for a game that let's you wear any crafted / found piece of clothing or armor without having a considerable disadvantage.
They should just not exaggerate with the stats on armor, problem solved pretty much.
Very very very important.
I spent many hours in the Vanguard character editor to get the looks of my characters right.
I frequented the swamps area in sw Thresta endlessly to get my Palladium set, which I used for looks.
I absolutely loved my Highelf Paladin simply because she looked so beautiful.
Very important to me.
In a virtual world, you want to be unique.
There's more to life than killing things, games should put this into the equation.
Whether I'm mowing down an army of feral dwarves or making boots for a wandering traveler, I want to look f*cking awesome while doing it.
Playing: *sigh* back to WoW
--------
Waiting for: SW:TOR, APB, WoD
---------
Played and loved: Eve and WoW
--------
Played and hated: WoW:WotLK, Warhammer, every single F2P
It is really the drive for me to get better gear. Better stats are nice but I always feel let down when better gear looks bad. I like that feeling of going from wearing shreads of leather and wood to slowly better and more impressive looking armor. Also being able to differentiate yourself from everyone around you is really important to feel like your character can actually matter in the server.
Sent me an email if you want me to mail you some pizza rolls.