Why is everything so grey and brown especially early levels?

[Rilok]

That colouring is what I call "grimdark", and it is common among male players, I suspect.
As far as I can see. colourful games have never been a desire of male players - and since most of gaming is made for them, there won't be any change.

Even worse, everything colourful is considered as "childish", and thus as "immature" (see the "go play Hello Kitty" remarks one can find in PvP related forums),
compared to the dark colours of "men in black" - there's a reason why that movie was called like the clothing of these agents. Those who wish to express power and might do so by dressing themself in black or in dark colours in general.

I noticed that "colour shift" with the very first two "Star Wars Battlefront" games - I mean whose from 10 or more years ago. The first one was colourful, the second one had no colours at all, or if, then extremely muted ones.

The name is literally DUNGEONS and dragons. Not "man" colored quests. Its just part of the game, yes some modules are more urban and have more decoration but what new adventurer starts out in fancy areas. Those that play the game in pen and paper form "at least from my experience" don't ask what colors are the mural and how well is it drawn.

DDO is more visual but is still based off the pen and paper beginnings. Much of the lower-level content is from an older time in DDO history so there is more from the roots of the games namesake.

Blaming it on male or female is just interjecting that opinion on the topic. (ironically in my opinion)

[jskinner937]

I will take that honestly. I got depression central playing saltmarsh and borderlands.
Add some glyps, some color, some better lighting, jesus christ.

Doubt it. The most depressing and nauseating pack in this game is wheloon by far. I know people that avoid it just because the mood. Horrible environment. One of the worst packs ever made.

[Aelonwy]

Doubt it. The most depressing and nauseating pack in this game is wheloon by far. I know people that avoid it just because the mood. Horrible environment. One of the worst packs ever made.

I'll agree with that... running the wilderness zone puts such a bitter taste in my mouth. I'm not sure if its still the case because its been such a long time since I last spent much time in it (running like heck for quest entrances doesn't count) but all the starving dogs that the hireling always forced me to kill by activating them, and the people that I rolled and failed to convince to go to safety, plus the quest where we're forced to ignore pleas for help in order to rescue the team we are sent in with, the sick sadistic sdk. Yeah... that adventure is more than a little morose.

[Annex]

For a long time, I hated all low level areas in DDO because of the constant use of dirty brown textures. Upon reflection, I think that is what the original poster is driving at. The game has many, many low resolution, washed out, dirty brown textures. It's like looking at the world through a pair of mud splattered goggles. The low polygon count of many objects does not help matters because the dungeon designers stick in those objects, zoomed up to large size, then cover them with the low resolution, dirty brown textures, resulting in a low resolution, dirty brown world.

So, yeah. Adding some visual interest to some of the old, drab textures and not blowing up low polygon objects to gigantic size would help. I doubt lighting changes will improve much.

[Paragoons]

Great question! Cleaning products during this time period in Stormreach were really quite primitive. As a result, the denizens had a terrible time keeping their corridors, sewers, and even clothing spotless and clean. In fact, you don't even find a washer and dryer until you reach Sharn.

Mama that's literally not true, they could be cleaner then we are, they literally sell stones of prestidigitation, one magic touch and the house is clean

[Paragoons]

I'll agree with that... running the wilderness zone puts such a bitter taste in my mouth. I'm not sure if its still the case because its been such a long time since I last spent much time in it (running like heck for quest entrances doesn't count) but all the starving dogs that the hireling always forced me to kill by activating them, and the people that I rolled and failed to convince to go to safety, plus the quest where we're forced to ignore pleas for help in order to rescue the team we are sent in with, the sick sadistic sdk. Yeah... that adventure is more than a little morose.

At least that's a prison lol, makes some sense. Meanwhile why are cool caves just drab. Not that prisons can't be fun cool torture crystals and all that.

[TheAlicornSage]

what the hell is dark souls ?

anyway, who does really care about early levels ?

I care. I want early levels to be as fun to play through as endgame. I think the idea of early as a thing to slog through as some sort of cost to get to high levels is just wrong and bad.

As for the appearance, I think a new shader could work. I've been trying various shaders for minecraft, and they can make a very big difference.

I don't really need or want cartoonish levels of "decorations." I think it's gaudy and definitely something I consider a downside of many games, too much junk. Of course, you don't want things to be too plain either, but I think DDO hits this aspect alright.

Same goes for color. I like vibrant, but I don't want it to look cartoony and painted.

But I definitely think the shader could use some help. Like everything looks washed out as though seen through an old photo.