Armor kits - not really what we were looking for.

[Bradik_Losdar]

I have to say that some of the appearances of the new armor kits are kinda nice (chainmail bikini anyone?) but unfortunately they don't really address what we have been asking for - true armor/robe customization. All the new kits do is swap out one random look for another 'random' look.

It seems pretty obvious to most folks that all DDO armor and robes are made up from a combination of 'parts' placed in essentially five places: Chest, waist, arms, shoulders, and legs. When a piece of armor or robe is first generated, the computer pulls a random part for each of these areas and then applies an overall color base to them (usually a two-tone effect) giving the armor its finished look.

What we want is the ability to tailor our armor/robes using this same feature - but with control over each part in each location and the base color(s).

It really shouldn't be that hard to code as its already in the game. Just have a 'tailor' open up a window showing each available part for each location. For example, the chest plate on a piece of plate armor has about eight different looks I think (spikey chest, plain chest, demon face chest, harp que chest, etc). A drop down menu would let you chose which one you preferred. Then you would move on to the legs, or shoulders, etc.

After picking the perfect (or near perfect) look, you could chose from a color wheel any shades you desired for your overall look. Viola! Happy customers spending gobs of TP getting exactly what they want!

You could keep the armor kits available for sale for those folks who like the looks (as they are completely different from the 'random parts in five locations' system) but having a tailor that allows us to pick and chose which part we want where and any color we wish is really what we are looking for. :D

[Thornton]

/signed. I would have no problem spending TP for this for all of my characters.

[Shanzookie]

/signed, but i would like to add this feature should be free for ViP's Specially if they have held a subscription for a year plus.

[Maldavenous]

I think this is actually a step too far. Being able to set any available appearance and color will make player unique looking it'll mean that there is no meaning to armor or armor appearance. Why bother trying to get something if you can always just pick what you look like? That's one of the issues I had with City of Heroes.

Instead I would suggest that the system revolves around finding armor in loot and being able to attach the appearance of that loot armor to any armor of the same type (cloth, light, medium, heavy) based on its base type not modified (mithral for example is one weight lower in type but not appearance).

This means that I can get excited about finding armor in loot and trying it on to see if I like it.

It also means that Turbine will make more money as they sell me the kit to apply the armor's appearance to my current set. Every time I find a set I like better I may be willing to pay the fee to change it again.

[Talon_Moonshadow]

I would actually be satified if they just allowed us to change colors on our armor.

The system they use for armor appearance is confusing to me, and so is their reasons for doing customisation the way they did. (also confused why the other ones from Lammania were not included in Mod8)

But it seems to me that it would be real easy to change colors.

[Alabore]

It seems pretty obvious to most folks that all DDO armor and robes are made up from a combination of 'parts' placed in essentially five places: Chest, waist, arms, shoulders, and legs.

So far I have only seen two combinations of the above five elements: full gear, and partial gear - basically, what we'd see on half plate, and full plate respectively.

Some users commented it could be too lag intensive to allow all players to freely pick bits from existing over-meshes.
I am not sure devs ever commented on that one.

...

I don't really see a problem with letting people choose appearance freely.
We could keep exclusive skins as store or favour only options - so rare stays suitably rare, and epic looks epic.

Allowing me to switch from backpack to baldric over-mesh, from spiked pauldrons to overlapping plates, is really a minor tweak.
So minor the real issue here might be with marketing dept. giving a green light, more than devs having to recode the whole game.

As an aside: we do not need more restrictions to customising appearance than devs are already going to impose.

;)

[Samadhi]

Of course it isn't full customization... if you are looking for that, I would rec. gaia online instead.

What it is, however, is a very good start to something that has been asked for for a long time. Especially considering that, unlike hair colors and hair styles, we have a way to preview the change prior to purchase (the lack of a preview meant that I never used these features at all) - I consider this a definite step in the right direction for the Dev team.

My only problem with the new armor kits is the cost. Unless it is reduced, this will be a very rarely used feature, at least by me. (I bought one, so that's only 150 TP used). A significant cost reduction (30-50 TP per kit) would result in me doing this for most of my characters (somewhere over 15 right now, I can't keep track) and would therefore net Turbine more total TP usage (easily 300-500 TP used).

[Ganolyn]

More choices would be better and I think we should be able to choose any existing armor in game. It's just a skin.

Actually the thing that bugs me the most is that they are charging us to preview the new cosmetics. I know it's only one TP, but it is the principle of the thing. Do car dealers charge you to look at their cars (heck, you can test drive them for free)? Does a clothing store charge you to try something on in a fitting room? Looking should be free. Next they will start charging admission to the airship showroom. :rolleyes:

[dunklezhan]

With the current 'customisation' being offered, I would pay maybe 10TP at most. It can't be removed, and you have to pick from a predefined list.

if they offered blank skins and dyes of some kind, then I would pay the current prices per component. In a shot.

[Bradik_Losdar]

So far I have only seen two combinations of the above five elements: full gear, and partial gear - basically, what we'd see on half plate, and full plate respectively.

Some users commented it could be too lag intensive to allow all players to freely pick bits from existing over-meshes. I am not sure devs ever commented on that one.

By combinations of parts I mean the actual graphics in each location (such as the chest plate with the Lyre on it, the chest plate with the yacking demon face, the chest plate with the big triangular piece sticking out the front, and so on). If you look at all the armors out there you will see that each one is just a grouping of these random parts (with different colors).

As for the lag issue, there wouldn't be one using the OP system above. Each part that was generated (in each body location) when it was pulled as loot for the first time has a specific code to it. Say for example all yacking demon face chest plates are designated 'SG53Vx2sa'. Spikey shoulder guards are 'Hs984se'. Fully enclosed armpieces with guantlets are "U663sd1', and so forth. When you visit a tailor, you wouldn't be adding additional code (ironically enough - as the current armor kits do - hence the ability to toggle it on or off), you would actually replace the original code with the code of the new piece you chose. There wouldn't be an ability to 'toggle' of course, but you'd be free to retailor it any time you wished (by spending more TP).

[Hutoth]

I would suggest that the system revolves around finding armor in loot and being able to attach the appearance of that loot armor to any armor of the same type (cloth, light, medium, heavy) based on its base type not modified (mithral for example is one weight lower in type but not appearance).

This means that I can get excited about finding armor in loot and trying it on to see if I like it.

It also means that Turbine will make more money as they sell me the kit to apply the armor's appearance to my current set. Every time I find a set I like better I may be willing to pay the fee to change it again.

/signed

[LucidPhilosophy]

/signed

[Tymoriel_Ayreweaver]

I definitely agree that armor customization in the manner described above by the OP would be fantastic. However, the probability that we will ever see it is about as likely as the Druid class being developed. To quote the great Dean Wormer: Zero point Zero.

[ReaperAlexEU]

yes yes and YES!

i expect the interface would be like character generation, left and right buttons instead of drop downs. regardless of the UI this suggestion is exactly how i imagined armour customisation to be

[BladedThesis]

/signed

[k1ngp1n]

However, the probability that we will ever see it is about as likely as the Druid class being developed. To quote the great Dean Wormer: Zero point Zero.

You might just be surprised.

[moorewr]

What we have now does not meet the need. It's better than nothing, but not by much.

The cosmetic kits would be a useful part of armor appearance IF they gave us a system like LOTRO's. There, you have a tabbed character picture in your inventory - one for the actual gear you wear, and two for the armor you want to appear on your avatar.

With that system you could wear anything, and use either a cosmetic armor or a game item (A spiral cosmetic docent or a docent of defiance, for example).

--

On the subject of the costmetic kits, wher is the range so narrow? Why Can't I just buy a set of black pajamas with wrapped wrists and ankles? Why can't I buy your basic black and red full plate, or a chain hauberk with a black tabbard?

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/31au4kBJIgL._SL500_AA300_.jpg

EDIT: "No one defeats the Black Knight!"
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/21jTowir4PL._SL500_AA300_.jpg

[ninjaeli]

/signed:rolleyes:cool:

[djaffi]

Definately /signed

[chielectric]

/signed

[Hendrik]

What we have, I look at as a starting point.

Ok, some of the new skins are not the greatest, but it is a start.

Can only get better from here and I look forward to what the Art Dept has in store for us next year....

And BTW, ANYTHING thats changes the look of DT is a good thing.

[Ziindarax]

I'd like to see armor kits that make Full-plate look even more metallic. I liked the color scheme of the Royal armor, but it makes my character look like he's wearing something other than full plate armor. I'd like to see plate gloves and everything on my on my character. :)

[Bradik_Losdar]

What we have, I look at as a starting point.

Ok, some of the new skins are not the greatest, but it is a start.

Can only get better from here and I look forward to what the Art Dept has in store for us next year....

And BTW, ANYTHING thats changes the look of DT is a good thing.

I agree.

For those wanting a look at the new armor kits, there is a really nice thread with screenshots here:http://forums.ddo.com/showthread.php?t=286885

As nice as some of them are, they still don't give us what we really want - see OP.

[Wraithkin]

/signed on OP

You can even take the current armor kits and make it so you have to buy the armor kit if you want the base design just like you'd need to loot armor to "unlock" the appearance with a tailor.

[Rhumor]

I think this is actually a step too far. Being able to set any available appearance and color will make player unique looking it'll mean that there is no meaning to armor or armor appearance. Why bother trying to get something if you can always just pick what you look like? That's one of the issues I had with City of Heroes.

Instead I would suggest that the system revolves around finding armor in loot and being able to attach the appearance of that loot armor to any armor of the same type (cloth, light, medium, heavy) based on its base type not modified (mithral for example is one weight lower in type but not appearance).

This means that I can get excited about finding armor in loot and trying it on to see if I like it.

It also means that Turbine will make more money as they sell me the kit to apply the armor's appearance to my current set. Every time I find a set I like better I may be willing to pay the fee to change it again.

This is what I suggest some time ago. It's similar to what is done in other games and works very well. All that would of had to be done is add extra equipment slots that are for appearance only (like they have for the armor kits). But be able to use armor that is already available in the game.

[Chilldude]

I was very excited about this system when I first noticed it by accident in the DDO store. I really wasn't in love with the appearance of my armor, so I jumped at the chance of changing its appearance.

Cons:

-1 The system is extremely clunky. It is a HUGE pain to try on the different sample kits. You have to try to remember what you've tried and what you haven't and how they compared to each other. Plus I fail to understand why it needs to cost a DDO point? There should be a dressing room where you can scroll through the different choices easily and free of charge.

-2 The color and style are tied together in some random fashion. Nearly every one I tried I liked one aspect but hated the other.

-3 The appearance gets tied to a single piece of armor which severely limits its practical application.

Pros:

+1 If you have a great piece of armor that you know you are going to be using for a long time to come but hate its appearance then you can probably use this system to find something you hate less.

Basically what it boils down to is that it isn't so much a resource that allows you to customize your character as it is a way to override the look of a really ugly piece of armor with good stats. I don't agree with the people who say it's a good start, because it's not a start, it's a finished product that has been added to the game. I also don't agree with the people who say they shouldn't make it easy to have cool looking armor, as it's the stats you have to work for anyway.

If they added a dressing room that allowed you to select each aspect of the model/skin/color AND made it bound to character so that it could be applied to any piece of armor you put on then I think it would be an amazing addition to the game and I think they could sell them for 500-1000 DDO points and they'd make a ton of money from it.

[SableShadow]

And BTW, ANYTHING thats changes the look of DT is a good thing.

I'm grinding a set of DT leathers now (have three sets of DT outfits) because I like the general skin of one of the light kits...not perfectly, but closer-ish.

I'd be perfectly happy* with a system that lets me strip a skin off one armor and slap it on another...I've had a set of Insulated Armor (http://ddowiki.com/page/File:Item_armor_insulated.jpg)** forever in hopes that I'd be able to use the skin on a good light armor set (yes, Insulated is Medium, but that skin works for light, imho).




*Ok, so I lie. I'm never perfectly happy. ;)

**Yes, the armor model is the original 28pt elf Brenna, 19 rogue/1 bard. :)

[Talias006]

I have to say that some of the appearances of the new armor kits are kinda nice (chainmail bikini anyone?) but unfortunately they don't really address what we have been asking for - true armor/robe customization. All the new kits do is swap out one random look for another 'random' look.

It seems pretty obvious to most folks that all DDO armor and robes are made up from a combination of 'parts' placed in essentially five places: Chest, waist, arms, shoulders, and legs. When a piece of armor or robe is first generated, the computer pulls a random part for each of these areas and then applies an overall color base to them (usually a two-tone effect) giving the armor its finished look.

What we want is the ability to tailor our armor/robes using this same feature - but with control over each part in each location and the base color(s).

It really shouldn't be that hard to code as its already in the game. Just have a 'tailor' open up a window showing each available part for each location. For example, the chest plate on a piece of plate armor has about eight different looks I think (spikey chest, plain chest, demon face chest, harp que chest, etc). A drop down menu would let you chose which one you preferred. Then you would move on to the legs, or shoulders, etc.

After picking the perfect (or near perfect) look, you could chose from a color wheel any shades you desired for your overall look. Viola! Happy customers spending gobs of TP getting exactly what they want!

You could keep the armor kits available for sale for those folks who like the looks (as they are completely different from the 'random parts in five locations' system) but having a tailor that allows us to pick and chose which part we want where and any color we wish is really what we are looking for. :D


I think this is actually a step too far. Being able to set any available appearance and color will make player unique looking it'll mean that there is no meaning to armor or armor appearance. Why bother trying to get something if you can always just pick what you look like? That's one of the issues I had with City of Heroes.

Instead I would suggest that the system revolves around finding armor in loot and being able to attach the appearance of that loot armor to any armor of the same type (cloth, light, medium, heavy) based on its base type not modified (mithral for example is one weight lower in type but not appearance).

This means that I can get excited about finding armor in loot and trying it on to see if I like it.

It also means that Turbine will make more money as they sell me the kit to apply the armor's appearance to my current set. Every time I find a set I like better I may be willing to pay the fee to change it again.

I like both these ideas, and feel they could incorporate something like the collectible armor appearance types that you can find in DCUO. They could then be able to let us choose which appearance for which slot/piece of armor we'd prefer to keep visible. And that would be a HUGE step forward into the true customization many are clamoring for.

I use that game as it's the first that I've seen that allows you to collect different armor schemes for all the major pieces (Head, Chest, Back, Legs, Arms, Hands, Feet). As well as different weapon design art (which we really don't need at this time, nor is there a need for the Back slot). Not only are you able to choose the collected appearance you want to show, you also get to choose the color scheme for it too from 3 base colors.

The best thing about this as it stands now is there's an abundance of collectible styles already out there. All they would need is to find how they can split those styles down into the afore-mentioned major pieces and get the colorings removed. This would allow truly unique color schemes to flow from the user.

[donfilibuster]

While rants on the armor kits are old news, it is relevant again because of the new crafting system.

One point in favor for tailor pieces is that the existing armor is already that way, for example, outfits.
All the outfits look monkish and pajama-like and force a number of dex build to wear robes instead.
There was some complain among the specialist classes, rogue/bard/ranger, that they don't always want to wear light armor.

If you look closely, the outfits have two layers, a shirt like jacket is below the actual monk vestment.
You can see this if you had any lag at loading time, on a pajamas user.
It looks fairly good and wondered that if there were a toggle on that layer you could have a nice outfit that didn't look too monkish.

Not sure how it is for plate armor or chain mail but the mithril ones look like bodypaint or pajamas and the plate ones tend to have odd shapes or spikes.
If you could choose to swap the 'decorations' it would allow you to choose between fancy and serious looking gear rather than be limited to a list of kits.
At least the the black/steel kits appear less fancy than the pastel colored ones but still not the ideal solution.

[dodger72]

/signed

[WarDark]

yes to most sujestions for changes to armour

have idea that might make it easier foif they just take the model of how they do armour styleing in LOTRO and add it into DDO with the DDO armour looks.
this may be more complecated than seems i know, but even they take how tye used LOTRO armour style tab and more importanly have the die slot for armour this would make most happy enough untill they can improve it to each location area futher down line. even if they modify the current kits to work as in a tab slot if they do the change as update would be much liked as this mean all who have them already wont miss out and would incurage more to buy them.

but also agree that price should be reduced slightly for armour kits as i am waiting for epic gear before bying any as stands but if went to tab sytem meaing i can use it for more than 1 armour would buy it straight away. if lower priced get more than 1 so if fell like swapping theme can. (sorry had to put in there)

plus with die slot can cut down on all the amounts of armour kits needed to make in future (as can just use the hair die kits already made for game and just relable and make so colors armour not hair = less recoding than making whole new dies) also give current armour better options, as noticed that ther seems to be a color styleing already randomly in game. so that main color change effect they seem to have already is what gets the main color changed by what die have. this would make less reworking of main system, and since already ahve a template model from other games system easier to look at and modify to implement in to DDO.

if also they put in the same cloak disgin they have in LOTRO as most players wanting armour customization also want cloaks if posible, we dont care if they dont flow real great just add them in. They can alway work on making them flow better later Turbine has them in LOTRO and they flow ok, not great but they are there. please add them too.

thanks for reading all the ranting and raveing form me. and sorry about any spelling or grammer mistakes. i not great at english when it comes t writing/typing. but good reader. and dont likke to spend to much time on forums when can be playing games but there are some issues that i belive really need to be looked at for customer satusfaction. and more happy customers the more they going to promot the game more promoting the moer likely newer customers and more money for you.

[MarkusWolfe]

Eh, there are some changes that need to be made to the armor packs they're handing out. But the way I see it, it's up to the art department to fix them.

I've been waiting to see a pack that gives you all of the following on a DT Breastplate:
SPESS MAREEN HUEG pauldrons, which may or may not be in the shape of somethings head, strapped on by a pair of thick leather strips which cross over on my chest forming an x, held together by a thick iron ring at the center of the x.
A pair of cestus for gloves and very simple bracers for the forearms.
The Vanguard Treads, straight out of Magic Item Compendium.
A huge, thick leather belt that covers up most of the lower torso with a huge metal buckle that may or may not have somethings face on it.
A war kilt made of an entire tiger pelt, head, claws and all.
A relatively flat breastplate taking up the upper torso.
Fur lining on everything.
Absolute nudity beneath that.

Until such a pack has been released, I shall continue to feel that the art department has failed me and various other barbarian players.

[vermentto]

/signed .

Armor kits sux .

What we want ? armors looking like marilith , dragon robes , FP of the defender .What do they share ? they look cool.
they have a style .They have volume , they look like armor , not plated underwear.
Or armors that we make ourselves , from the scratches and parts of random generated loot.
And choose the color , the metal , having a couple options , to add a cloak , jewelery , etc.
Why not an appearance crafting system , even in a new adventure pack ? i would buy it for sure.

I think the devs missed the point :
we want kits to make us feel unique , not another uniform.And these ones are ugly.


give us that and u ll got some customers ,i am pretty sure of that

[DustTheWind]

Yeah I have to admit I was disapointed myself. although some are nice looking I was expecting a mix and match set like crafting. swap out different part with other parts ect. When it came out I was kinda like huh?

But yea,
/signed.

[Nerate_Mireth]

I think this is actually a step too far. Being able to set any available appearance and color will make player unique looking it'll mean that there is no meaning to armor or armor appearance. Why bother trying to get something if you can always just pick what you look like? That's one of the issues I had with City of Heroes.

Instead I would suggest that the system revolves around finding armor in loot and being able to attach the appearance of that loot armor to any armor of the same type (cloth, light, medium, heavy) based on its base type not modified (mithral for example is one weight lower in type but not appearance).

This means that I can get excited about finding armor in loot and trying it on to see if I like it.

It also means that Turbine will make more money as they sell me the kit to apply the armor's appearance to my current set. Every time I find a set I like better I may be willing to pay the fee to change it again.

So why not this then....with the new "crafting" give us the ability to strip the "appearance" of one suit (base look of the suit) and apply it to another of the same "type" (fp to fp, bp to bp, outfit to outfit, etc). Then give us dye kits allowing us to change the colors. Hell we can change our hair styles and colors, with some work I'm SURE Turbine could take care of this as well.