Character Creation: Body Type

Maybe it’s just me but am I the only person who doesn't want to be a big hulking warrior stereotype? Is it really too much work to let us choose our body type for each profession?

I think it would be nice if they added this in the new expansion where we would be able to choose from three body types.

The first would be the normal body type that rangers and elementalists seem to share. The second would be skinny which necromancers have. The third would be bulky which warriors use and the last would be the monk type I'm not sure about the mesmer body type but I'm assuming its the same as the ranger type.

This idea would let people make skinny warriors or bulky necros and expand the way people can create unique characters. If three body types is too many then atleast let us choose between two that would fit the profession the best. (bulky/normal for warriors, skinny/normal for necros, ect)

Before anyone says that this would be too difficult to do because they would have to change all the armors remember that there are only about 5-6 armor meshes and they would only have to change it for one body type if they gave us two bodies to choose from for each profession.

(Closed to prevent random thread resurrection. Please PM a mod if you wish to open this thread.)

Although I am very satisfied with my characters' appearances, that would be a great idea!
/totally signed

Though this has been suggested before (by myself too), I feel the issue of greater character uniqueness (particularly body types, I had to make a female warrior because I could not stand the pudgy, stereotypical warrior build) does warrant as many threads as needed to get ANet's attention.


Honestly, I think this should have been included originally, but since the game is great I'm willing to forgive ANet for overlooking it.



To justify the warrior body type difference: not every warrior is a tank. There is an elegance to the warrior class, and I feel the big bulky warriors can't convey the technique aspect of the class.
I do judo, and I regularly beat people bigger and stronger than I am. It's because I'm fast and precise, and I'd take that over brute force any day. Having warriors as only the big brutes is rather contrary to the 'breaking the mold' vision this game comes with.




/signed

I have to agree with this in full. I’ve been reading topics similar to this for some time too. I would definitely like to see Anet give us more of a variety in character creation.

Why are we restricted to looking like what we look like for which ever profession we choose, why are we limited to only those hair colours? While at the same time, we’re allowed to adjust the height of the characters we make.

I’m not a game developer, so I wouldn’t know what goes behind implementing such features. But if body types are out of the question, why not give us a scale/slider to adjust the width of our characters? Much like how we’re allowed to adjust our height. Similar to how Phantasy Star Online allows for players to adjust width/height of characters. (Assuming all body parts scale in proportion, and the armors do too)

Although I have no problem with looking at the same types characters day in and day out in town. Seeing some diverse characters run amongst the crowd would be a nice experience. Like a short stubby warrior, or a tall thin monk.

/signed

Big as a truck-Obese-Fat-"Normal"-Skinny-Very thin-Anorexic

oh my.

That'd be a lot of work, resizing all the armors to fit each body type..

GW isn't the biggest costumization game out there.. I mean I'd totally be up for a selection of 3 body types and matching faces/hairstyles that would fit them. Faces that match the bodies are key though, do you see tall skinny people with big cheeks? Nope, they usually have high cheek bones.

Anyways, If you were to go all out with this, have a scale to adjust the body like height. But in terms of Skinny-Medium-Fat, but to further have adjust it, have a muscle tone level as well. For wider shoulders bigger chest, and more detailed muscles.

Eh, and since we're on the topic I guess I should add a few other suggestions
- Eye Color
- Facial Hair
- Choice of Decals (Scars, Tattoos, Anything to add a little uniqueness)

Seriously the one lack luster trait in GW is the hairstyles, it'd be so easy to combine the current ones they have. (I'm experienced with 3Dmax I'd know) For example, the elemantist hair with bangs, it could be combo'd with the one with a long pony tail, just splice and retexture over the effected area..

Two quickies I did in paint to show what I mean.

sounds good

Thats for the support, everyone.

I have experience with models and such from modding games and I do know what would have to be done and I'm telling you from experience that it could be done by one person but since I'm sure arena net has many more this could be done in no time and would add a lot to the game. I also agree with the hair styles. There are not nearly enough.

Can anyone link me to other threads like this? I did a search but didn't find anything. It's an intresting topic.

I like just about everything I've seen here so far, so...

/SIGNED

I guess it would be. But lets assume they add a scale for us to adjust the body width. Could they not just use the same or similar algorithm to scale the armor (at the same ratio) to fit around the proper body parts?

Unless Anet modeled these characters/armors in such a way that doing so would completely distort the details.

/signed

I would love a hairstyle like that. Thats the type of hair style that I like. Put that on a warrior with a normal sized body and I might just want to play a warrior primary.

/signed

The biggest niggle i've had with GW since i started playing was constantly running into my own identical twin. Im up for anything that makes characters more individal, especially this.

If it were a <-/-> scale, which in easier terms would be width... And it was adjusted like the body height, that'd seriously damage the quality of the armor if they put it on the same scale.

You know.. Rather then having skinny-medium-fat.. I think there should just be 3 body types for all the classes..

Elemantist body (Skinny) - Monk body (Medium) - Warrior body (Tank), But of course you'd still be able to pick the default body of your class..

You guys realise that the monk frame is almost identical to the warrior in every aspect, except the warrior is taller with a different texture to define muscles? My guess is that they just used the same mesh, retextured it and slightly altered some of it for the monks. It's most noticable when tatoo'd monks are running, look at their chunky legs!

The 3 would have to be Necro -> Ranger -> Monk/Warrior really.

Also with scale deformation more than easily possible without altering the source model, it would only take A-Net a few weeks (probably) to change all the armour types so they can fit specific frames. Having a giant hulking ranger in 15kdruids would be quite funny though, and not in the good way at all. I don't think this system would work too well on rangers and necros really, as their build is the typical body shape of the type. Warriors can be a little more diverse though, as already expressed.

I DO think the option to have a "toned" warrior and a "ripped" warrior is a good one though, so...

/signed

Details on the armor was my concern too for being able to scale the body size. Regardless of either method (body type or scaling body size) some adjustment would be apparent for the armor.

But what about for the female characters? A skinny/med/large body type is more difficult to differentiate between the fem characters. Unlike the males, where the body sizes are pretty obvious.

I wills /sign .. but must say it would be low on my wish list...

I am aware of the reason why people want it... But I found nothing wrong with the sterotype body build of the current character. (I guess i would be more concern about my "size" if I were to play a male character). Its not sim here, and the fact is that not much people is going to care how body size you are. I would rather have the dev work something more on game contents. (Like Town clothing or Differnt Headgears)

The thing is if I don't like how my character looks on their own then I'm not going to like how the character looks in town clothing or new headgears either. This is pretty high on my list of things I want in game.

Body types would be a good change. It would also necessitate a mechanic where people can buy a "transformation" for their current character. I know I'd want to at least have the option of changing my looks. That way I don't have to feel shortchanged over a character I put 1000 hours into.

Hopefully something like that will appear in the future. I'd really like it.
/signed

I can see them letting you change hair styles and letting you use dye on your hair but I'm not sure about whole body changes. I can understand people wanting it but I just don't see Anet adding it. I guess we can hope.