Problems with the newly-added faces

Problems with the newly-added faces

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Posted by: Weindrasi.3805

Weindrasi.3805

I am always pleased to see newly-added faces to our character creation selection. However, this update’s round of new faces has shown some troubling trends.

First and foremost, the re-use of old faces, with minor edits. While there is nothing wrong with this being done sometimes, arenanet needs to be cautious. In the past, they have cut corners with regards to character appearance. Arenanet needs to keep in mind that, while some re-used faces are fine and even desirable, this is no excuse for them to stop developing entirely new ones.

Secondly, the issue with the asuran faces. Of all the races, asura are the most androgynous. The other races have gender differences in both body AND face. Asura, on the other hand, only have facial differences—their bodies are all the same. An asura’s face is its most important trait—far more so then the other races. As such, it is very, very important to design asuran faces without cutting corners.
The fact that the new asura faces for males and females are the same isn’t okay. It’s not about gender. In fact, I like the idea of having faces that are the same across both sexes. It allows characters to not be defined by their gender. However, these faces were not added to promote gender equality. They were added because of sheer laziness. And that’s what isn’t okay—the laziness. The fact that corners are cut—and on a race where facial distinction is so vital.

And lastly, the fact that new faces were added in the first place, when the old faces are still so glitchy. Take the charr, for example. On some of the faces which were added previously, the teeth clip horribly into the face, headgear does not fit, and lip movement is glitchy. On one of the male faces, the teeth are so terrible it’s just about unusable. Before adding new faces, with the same glitch problems, arenanet needs to fix the last ones they added.

Problems with the newly-added faces

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Posted by: Spiral.3724

Spiral.3724

I agree with a lot of what you’re saying. I was super excited to see new faces, but disappointed that most were so similar as to be brother & sister. However, the new female Sylvari faces are awesome, and I really like the Asura face tattoos. The Norn females are too pouty.
There are so many unique faces in the world, yet GW2 seems to only have perfectly symmetrical models. I’d like to see more crooked noses, thin lips, and make-up free faces.

Spiral Madheart – Level 80 Mesmer
The Wrong Crowd [bAd] Yak’s Bend

Problems with the newly-added faces

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Posted by: Weindrasi.3805

Weindrasi.3805

I agree, Spiral. It seems like GW2 is so obsessed with creating the “ideal”—flawless faces, supermodel bodies, and so on—that they would break the lore (because a norn in tons of makeup? Really??) and sacrifice true variety, for the sake of that"ideal". Truly ugly characters, or characters with physical imperfections would be wonderful. Not everyone would like them, but then, that’s what variety is about. Catering to many tastes.

I’m starting to go off-subject though. Point being that yes, the norn and human faces were more of the same old stuff. The asura faces were lazy, the charr glitchy, and the sylvari lazy (to a lesser degree).
That’s not to say I don’t like the new faces—I do like them. I created a new character so I could use one of them. But arenanet needs to pay more attention to quality.

Problems with the newly-added faces

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Posted by: Ashen.2907

Ashen.2907

I think that the words, “lazy,” and, “laziness,” are overused or all too often misused.

Problems with the newly-added faces

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Posted by: Weindrasi.3805

Weindrasi.3805

I think that the words, “lazy,” and, “laziness,” are overused or all too often misused.

I agree, but I don’t know what else to call this. Cutting corners? Used it.
What would you call it?

Problems with the newly-added faces

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Posted by: Nike.2631

Nike.2631

Uninspired? Drab? Repetitive? Limp? Bland?

I don’t know. I haven’t looked at them yet. Try me again in about an hour. I’m hoping I don’t have to actually pick one of those words for my reaction.

“You keep saying ‘its unfair.’
I wonder what your basis for comparison is…”
- Jareth, King of Goblins.

Problems with the newly-added faces

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Posted by: Chadramar.8156

Chadramar.8156

The sylvari are a bit too similar this time around, but still good, as are most of the charr faces (aside from the ridiculously wide-eyed housecat). However, it looks like the more “monstrous” female charr #3, which is great otherwise, lacks teeth — the slider doesn’t do anything.

The rest is, sadly, more of the same where female character are concerned: underaged, painted, “perfect”, essentially indistinguishable dolls. I swear you could remove three quarters of the female norn and human faces and hardly anyone would notice it because they don’t have any distinctive features. Could we please get some faces that actually look adult, nevermind give an adventurer vibe i.e. lines and scars instead of heavy duty makeup? Also, some faces that are not so lily-white would be really good. The sliders don’t do much if you’re trying for a Cantha or Elona look.

Charr and sylvari have some “cutesy” faces too, but with them it seems the designers are allowed and/or willing to be more creative and actually go for the “plant person” and “monstrous predator” theme of the species instead of making everything female a masturbation fantasy.

Problems with the newly-added faces

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Posted by: SonicTHI.3217

SonicTHI.3217

My biggest gripe with adding new appearance options is that you can not access them at char. creation. Even if they want to be greedy and charge us for it, they could still include those faces as a preview or make them use transmutation charges.

“Otherwise, your MMO becomes all about grinding to get the best gear. We don’t make grindy games.”
-Mike O’Brien, President of Arenanet