Half-Elf quickie for the Devs

[Qlumsee]

Will existing Half-Elf builds still look ("butt-ugly") the same after the proposed changes, or will a rebuild/TR be needed to change them? I like the the idea of an auto change and see how the toons turn out. Could be hilarious.

[arminius]

Now that is a really interesting question. If it required an LR, say, to fix, then that means that both sets of design textures would have to be in the game at the same time, which would be messy. I'm guessing that half elves will have the new textures applied to the current codes of their settings, and a free LR.

[droid327]

Well considering your character model look isnt involved with any of your opportunity choices while leveling....no, I dont think you need to LR the char to get the updated models

Its not like they're introducing new Cosmetic choices that look better. They're updating the existing Helf customization options. So whatever options you chose at creation should update to the new models.

[Cordovan]

In general we try to preserve original player options as much as possible when doing avatar work. For half-elf, we're of the belief that in general players are probably ok with not keeping their existing faces, and everyone having an opportunity to select a new face. We do have some time to consider it and figure out the best way to introduce the update to half-elf. What would you like? How attached are you to your existing half-elf face, and what in particular is important for us to consider?

[Aelonwy]

Will existing Half-Elf builds still look ("butt-ugly") the same after the proposed changes, or will a rebuild/TR be needed to change them? I like the the idea of an auto change and see how the toons turn out. Could be hilarious.

Have you gone over to Lamannia and transferred a pre-existing half-elven character?

This image from Graskitch would seem to indicate that the conversion of original to updated is pretty similar:
https://i.imgur.com/QNxTH7j.jpg

[arminius]

Have you gone over to Lamannia and transferred a pre-existing half-elven character?

This image from Graskitch would seem to indicate that the conversion of original to updated is pretty similar:
<snip>

Yeah, that's what i expected, that in the end appearances are nothing more than some hex codes, and the hex codes are just going to be transferred from the old textures to the new textures. Thank you for confirming!

I would think that this plus a free LR heart for all Half-Elves would be sufficient, in case the translation doesn't work out for some people.

[Chacka_DDO]

In general we try to preserve original player options as much as possible when doing avatar work. For half-elf, we're of the belief that in general players are probably ok with not keeping their existing faces, and everyone having an opportunity to select a new face. We do have some time to consider it and figure out the best way to introduce the update to half-elf. What would you like? How attached are you to your existing half-elf face, and what in particular is important for us to consider?

In this case, it is of course just only my opinion but so far the new half-elves look better than the current.
Also, only my opinion is that it would be good if every existing half-elve character gets one BTC LR+0 heart for free because that's the only way to change your appearance?
Currently, I have not a single half-elve character but I think anyhow this is a point where it is just right to be generous.

[CaptainSpacePony]

Have you gone over to Lamannia and transferred a pre-existing half-elven character?

This image from Graskitch would seem to indicate that the conversion of original to updated is pretty similar:
https://i.imgur.com/QNxTH7j.jpg

I can see the familial resemblance: Improved but still ugly. I will take what I can get. At least they don't look like 1960s plastic dolls anymore.

[Valerianus]

In general we try to preserve original player options as much as possible when doing avatar work. For half-elf, we're of the belief that in general players are probably ok with not keeping their existing faces, and everyone having an opportunity to select a new face. We do have some time to consider it and figure out the best way to introduce the update to half-elf. What would you like? How attached are you to your existing half-elf face, and what in particular is important for us to consider?

thanks for asking

sorry, a little derail first, but i must say this, this is another little example of what we players are repeating over and over, ddo need a better and more modern system. it's prehistoric. in this case i'm referring to the total lack of a cosmetic system and thus we are missing also some npc that will change our face for some plat. the issues about inventory\cosmetics\etcetc are constantly creating problems for you. and for us. no matter what it's added to the game, some missing feature will get in the way and pose a problem. even if a little one like this one.

back on topic, on paper, helfs are ugly, can't get any worse, getting a new face can't be that bad i guess. but, you know, in practice changing our characters may seem like too intrusive for some people, and in some cases could create anyway a bad looking toon. a lot of players care for the looks, even in a game with so limited possibilities like ddo. i think the only way for you to be sure, and also be fair to the players, is giving out lesser hearts to helfs toons, since it's the only way to redo appearance.

[Lauf]

In general we try to preserve original player options as much as possible when doing avatar work. For half-elf, we're of the belief that in general players are probably ok with not keeping their existing faces, and everyone having an opportunity to select a new face. We do have some time to consider it and figure out the best way to introduce the update to half-elf. What would you like? How attached are you to your existing half-elf face, and what in particular is important for us to consider?

Not at all attached, please fix this abomination. god bless.

As for things to consider, I could be wrong but it feels like most features aim for middle of the road, let's try to please everyone, i.e. expressionless features.
How about giving them expressive features? make them a bit more pesonable, let us choose if we want a glare, a smirk, a snarl ... anything but blank. (and if you insist on blank expressionless face, at least give us the drool to match!)

[Antheal]

Have you gone over to Lamannia and transferred a pre-existing half-elven character?

This image from Graskitch would seem to indicate that the conversion of original to updated is pretty similar:
https://i.imgur.com/QNxTH7j.jpg

That's good. From "I think I threw up in my mouth" to "hubba hubba" is a good change.

[Kalindush]

In general we try to preserve original player options as much as possible when doing avatar work. For half-elf, we're of the belief that in general players are probably ok with not keeping their existing faces, and everyone having an opportunity to select a new face. We do have some time to consider it and figure out the best way to introduce the update to half-elf. What would you like? How attached are you to your existing half-elf face, and what in particular is important for us to consider?

Maybe you should them give more assets (brows, hair, beard and such) to let half-elfs being able to change their appearances if they want to.

[fatherpirate]

attached to the half elf face ?!?!?!
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
...
no

vaporize it.

[bruener]

In this case, it is of course just only my opinion but so far the new half-elves look better than the current.
Also, only my opinion is that it would be good if every existing half-elve character gets one BTC LR+0 heart for free because that's the only way to change your appearance?
Currently, I have not a single half-elve character but I think anyhow this is a point where it is just right to be generous.

Why would they give out a lesser heart for changing the appearance of some toons and not give out hearts to the toons that got borked with the bow pass? But thats just my thoughts. My toons dont run around backwards so their appearance doesn’t mean as much to me as how I had built them to play does.