TOPIC: Being unique in MMORPGS part 2 - Character creators

[Elloa]

Hey guys!

Time to dive deeper in our exploration of BEING UNIQUE in MMORPGs! Thanks to all of you who participated to the previous discussion TOPIC: Being unique in MMORPGS part 1 - How important is it for you?

TOPIC: Being unique in MMORPGS part 2 - Character creators

Today, let's speak about the Character Creation.
All modern MMORPGs feature a flexible, detailed character creator where players can customise their character in depth. Sliders to increase the size of your hands, or the inclination of your nose; accessories and body markings, dozen of haircuts and skin colors, the possibilities are endless and players can create truly unique characters. Even World Of Warcraft, the most modernised and updated of the “old MMORPGS” is releasing a completely revamped character creator with dozen of new options per races with the new expansion Shadowland! You will be able to create Tauren with flowers in their hair. Yes. You read that right!

Certain games are pushing the character creator to such extend that its a game in itself. Black Desert, for example, is featuring probably the most complex character creator on the market. Players can tweak the physiognomy of their avatar to such degree that there were contests to create celebrities portrait.

In general, Asian MMORPGS tend to put even more importance on the appearance of their avatar than western games, as if it was the key element for players to immerse themselves. Characters and armor are extremely detailed, the well known astonishing breast physics, fluid and flashy combat animation, extremely large choice of haircut or make-up. Afterall, "playing doll" is part of the fun MMORPG offers to their players! We would be wrong to not enjoy it!


Different races are also part of what make the Character Creation exciting. Each race isrepresenting a sort of archetype to which players can identify their avatar with. For example: The big badass, the nature creature, something small and cute, something emo-goth, something elvish, something that likes explosives or alchemy, powerful wizard race etc... You see my point. Very often, the varied races of a game have access to some cosmetic features that will underline their culture, such as racial dance, or cultural armor sets. This adds more charm to each races and more reasons to prefer one over another.

Let's make this discussion fun! I want to know:

• What is your favourite races across all games and why
  
  
• What is your favourite MMORPG for the character creator
  
  
• How do you create your character. Are you lead by aesthetics, backstory or practicality
  
  
• Share a screenshot of the character you lastly played

 

[T Elf]

1. My racial choices change from game to game so I don't have a "favorite" race.
2. The most extensive character creator I've found was Aion
3. I take into consideration: aesthetics, profession, craft, abilities, environment and then I create a backstory
4. I'll try to post a screeny of a toon I already have a picture of not necessarily my main or favorite racially.

 

[Elloa]

Going to play the question game myself

1. Its hard to choose a single race accross all the game I play, but if I had to choose I think it would be Sylvari from GW2. Its the most original race in term of customisation that I have seen so far, and an excellent alternative to elves for a nature race. I really love how you can create all kind of plants creatures with glowing part in darkness!
2. While the Art Style for the character design in Black Desert is not my favourite, I have to admit that its the most complete and complex character designer I had the chance to play with.
3. I like to combine pleasing aestetic to a minimum of originality. I like when my character is standing out of the crowd.

This my Khajiit, my favourite race in The Elder Scrolls. I wanted her features to be clean and simple. Very much like I imagine feline-people from other Fantasy World. She is a treasure hunter, archeologue, and so she is dressed with a super cute outfit from the store.

This is my Darkspear Troll in World of Warcraft. Dreaneis and Trolls are my favourite race, aestetically and culture/lore wise. Priest is my favourite class and I think I managed to create a nice lok for a holy priest. Also I really like blue colored people.

And this is my Sylvari in GW2. Sylvaris is a popular race, yet I find my character looking really unique.

 

[real changeling]

• What is your favourite races across all games and why
  I like playing as things such as animals, or machines, or similar stuff. Playing as a human or human with minor differences is boring
• What is your favourite MMORPG for the character creator
  I liked Planeshift's
• How do you create your character. Are you lead by aesthetics, backstory or practicality
  If the game let's me play as something other than male or female, I will pretty much pick that automatically (it did happen a few times). I will only choose based on stats if none of the options are good
• Share a screenshot of the character you lastly played

 

[havoceternal]

• What is your favourite races across all games and why
  
  
• What is your favourite MMORPG for the character creator
  
  
• How do you create your character. Are you lead by aesthetics, backstory or practicality
  
  
• Share a screenshot of the character you lastly played

- I typically like BIG BOYS. Anarchy Online Atrox, Bahmi in Rift, etc. Usually some sort of barbarian race.
My second character is usually mage in which I go for elf or w/e works.

- I'm really digging Crowfall right now. It takes me back to when character creation was more than just aesthetics. Race/class combinations are integral part of character customization. (The appearances are very limiting in Crowfall, which is why my wife will probably never play lol)

-Practicality. I wanna crunch some numbers, plan it out, make it work. Sometimes I'll make something off the wall just to have fun. (We've seen the halfling barbarians of the world)

- All my image files are on my old PC. Crowfall visuals are REALLY not worth the image file lol. (Gameplay is pretty fun though)

 

[Ariatras]

What is your favourite races across all games and why:
My favourite race across all games ever is Elf. They are mythical and more often then not have a sort of tranquility about them that I find intoxicating. I love the more androgynous types with soft facial features and I absolutely adore the ears and the idea that I live for a very long time.

What is your favourite MMORPG for the character creator:
As far as favourite MMO for character creator. I've never had MMOs where my character creator's been perfect. I didn't play or try BD:O for example. Though from what I can tell all characters there look like super models. Which is a bit of a disconnect. If my character is a wielder of a two-handed axe let's say. There's a certain muscle tone they'll need. A certain ruggedness.

How do you create your character. Are you lead by aesthetics, backstory or practicality:
How do I create my character? I love this question! I tend to create a small (lore fitting) backstory. Based on said backstory, I plan future character development. For example, if poverty and famine are a thing that happened/happen in lore. My character might have grown up knowing what hunger really is. Which will make him or her daintily built. Then I might decide on whether or not my character stole and developed those kind of instincts, or perhaps I choose to make him/her a magic wielder. Meaning that the backstory will reflect moments of brilliance and intellect.

The above by the way, is why I love either add-ons for RP. Or the ability to create a character sheet in-game

As for pictures. I lost most of mine to time. I don't tend to make screenshots of my characters anymore. Games have failed to have me foster an emotional connection with my character. Leveling is seen as a chore, rather than a real adventure. And as a result, the process is meaningless. Which this game (although all promotional material is gone) seems to bring back.

 

[Kaerwin]

I'm probably going to need a flame-proof suit after posting this, but here goes:

When I read a review of a game that says it has stunningly beautiful graphics, my usual reaction is "it's a pity they didn't put all that effort into something that's actually important". For me, the graphics are just window-dressing; what matters is how the game works. You may be attracted to the appearance of a game, but if its mechanics are crap, eventually you're going to notice, and it's going to annoy you.

How does this relate to the topic of character customization? Well, customizing the appearance of your character is just window-dressing; what matters more is being able to customize how your character functions. That's why I have a very strong preference for games that use skill-based rather than class-based character progression. If your 12th-level Paladin has exactly the same capabilities as every other 12th-level Paladin, you're not going to feel very special even if you do have blue skin. But if, instead of a class, you just have a bunch of skills, and you can choose which ones to develop, then you can create a truly unique character.

 

[Elloa]

I'm probably going to need a flame-proof suit after posting this, but here goes:

When I read a review of a game that says it has stunningly beautiful graphics, my usual reaction is "it's a pity they didn't put all that effort into something that's actually important". For me, the graphics are just window-dressing; what matters is how the game works. You may be attracted to the appearance of a game, but if its mechanics are crap, eventually you're going to notice, and it's going to annoy you.

How does this relate to the topic of character customization? Well, customizing the appearance of your character is just window-dressing; what matters more is being able to customize how your character functions. That's why I have a very strong preference for games that use skill-based rather than class-based character progression. If your 12th-level Paladin has exactly the same capabilities as every other 12th-level Paladin, you're not going to feel very special even if you do have blue skin. But if, instead of a class, you just have a bunch of skills, and you can choose which ones to develop, then you can create a truly unique character.

What you are saying here join the feedback of several other players in the other discussion over here if you want to check out is been said by others

 

[BLOODWYNS]

Ich bin eher so der Mann mit dem grünen Anzug^^Jäger als Zwerg war meine grosse Liebe und Hexenmeister eine Gnomedame bei den Eistellungen für den Charakter sollte schon soviel vorhanden sein das nicht alle Spieler gleich aussehen je mehr zum selber erstellen desto besser!

I'm more like the man with the green suit ^^ hunter than dwarf was my great love and sorcerer a gnome lady in the settings for the character should already be so much that not all players look the same the more to create the better! (translation added by @Elloa )