Character Recustomization

[Gaff]

Recustomization would be nice, and consistent with other MMOs' options. Screwing up on making your character and having to reroll at 50 really sucks. Edited March 8, 2013 by Gaff

[Thornsbane]

Ya this is perhaps my main want and has been for ages. At character creation on my main I only had the camera angle at the front so what I thought was longish scruffy hair was actually short hair with a massive emo fringe over his face.

 

I cant bear to look at it and for over a year have been stuck in hooded chest gear and helmits.

 

I feel like Darth Vadar, trapped in my armour but instead of severre burns its because of a hair cut.

 

Please, I just need a hair cut!

 

*sobs*

[althene]

I don't much like the idea of players that I once recognized showing up in-game with a new face, new species, new gender... seems like it's a violation of something important. I was thinking 3 tokens of full re-customization might be interesting, just to allow some re-play value on the characters even though it's a kind of un-natural thing to allow.

 

New hairstyle and even new scars would be no big deal, I think they should add re-customization for that ...

 

Realistically speaking, most players don't want a complete overhaul of their character. They simply want to "lose/gain a few pounds" or "cut [their] hair". Maybe even a dye job. There's nothing wrong or unnatural about that from even a role play standpoint.

 

On the other hand, some people lagitimately do want to completely overhaul their character. They've found through the course of play that things didn't end up looking like they thought they would at character creation. This could be from a variety of things from the way dark side corruption is implemented to the way the character creation lighting isn't representative to the actual lighting in the game. Furthermore, whoe cares? It's their character, not yours. If they want to go from a fat male Twi'lek operative to a slender female Chis, that's their prerogative. As is the ability to change their mind on that front many multiple times until they're finally happy with what they're investing their time and potential money in.

[Mirura]

..... Edited February 12, 2018 by Mirura

[Tatile]

I don't much like the idea of players that I once recognized showing up in-game with a new face, new species, new gender... seems like it's a violation of something important. I was thinking 3 tokens of full re-customization might be interesting, just to allow some re-play value on the characters even though it's a kind of un-natural thing to allow.

 

New hairstyle and even new scars would be no big deal, I think they should add re-customization for that ...

 

Unnatural? In a video game where I can fly through space as man who's only alive because he's been jammed full of metal and can take on super beings who control magical powers, with only a knife and a gun, and win?

 

What, does your idea of sovereignty of some solid state of existence, wherein the opinions of others are more important that those of the individual, trump my right to make decisions about myself which do not in anyway affect you?

 

And diddums if other player's choices make you feel a "bit weird" - you should talk to them if that's the case, particularly if you're a roleplayer, which is certainly the impression I'm getting from you at the moment (I can only see roleplayers having any legitimate concern over species change - for those who aren't, the species, sex/gender or colour of your guildies and friends should be irrelevant to your game play.)

 

I can see no reason why your being a bit weirded out by other people's decisions regarding their characters and their game should prevent or restrict those decisions being made.

[Mirura]

..... Edited February 12, 2018 by Mirura

[Tatile]

As a roleplayer I can just ignore players who'd change their species and expect to carry on as usual with people they've already been interacting with. something like changing from human to cyborg though - completely feasible and even a great enhancement to RP. Also, if my character dies in roleplay, I could see myself wanting to recycle them by changing name and appearance instead of having to roll and level a new alt altogether and stop using an existing character in RP.

 

If anything, this would be a real boon to the roleplaying side of the game.

 

Absolutely. The pros of character recustomization greatly outweigh the cons for roleplayers, particularly if Bioware ever do decide to give us cybernetics elsewhere on the character's bodies or to remove the limitation on cybernetics for non-humans.

 

Also, Agent story spoilers:

 

 

On Voss you do meet an Imperial Agent who has undergone some serious surgery to become a Voss native, meaning that the technology does seem to exist, but is likely highly specialised and not oft talked about. Could you imagine the upset if a "lesser species" could suddenly pass for human or even a Pureblood in the Empire? Chaos.

 

 

[anonnn]

Unnatural? In a video game where I can fly through space as man who's only alive because he's been jammed full of metal and can take on super beings who control magical powers, with only a knife and a gun, and win?

 

What, does your idea of sovereignty of some solid state of existence, wherein the opinions of others are more important that those of the individual, trump my right to make decisions about myself which do not in anyway affect you?

 

And diddums if other player's choices make you feel a "bit weird" - you should talk to them if that's the case, particularly if you're a roleplayer, which is certainly the impression I'm getting from you at the moment (I can only see roleplayers having any legitimate concern over species change - for those who aren't, the species, sex/gender or colour of your guildies and friends should be irrelevant to your game play.)

 

I can see no reason why your being a bit weirded out by other people's decisions regarding their characters and their game should prevent or restrict those decisions being made.

 

You know, the only reason I suggested a limited 3 tokens of full recustomization is that I'm fairly certain BioWare will never go for an unlimited re-customization feature. You're pretty much butting heads with BioWare itself, they put a few things in the game that protect the integrity of the state of the game. Permanent character appearance is one. Permanent Advanced Classes is another. And before the game ever even went live, it was marketed in the special trailer videos as a game where a character's choices along their storyline has permanent consequences and thus adds excitement to the game. I really doubt they're going to violate this meme of style and put full, unlimited re-customization.

 

All I'm saying, is that you're asking for a feature that's a fairly huge departure from the well-developed style already in the game.

 

I think the natural things that could be customized in an in-game shop would be:

• hair: length, color, and style
  
• tattoos
  
• visible implants
  
• makeup (for the female characters)
  
• weight (dubious since it would require a major re-computation of how armor fits)
  
• eye color
  
• complexion
  
• ...maybe a few others i can't think of at the moment
  

[MurQueL]

I'm not asking for an AC swap or a race change (although race does nothing from a gameplay standpoint in this game).

 

I'd remove this part of your post. It gives the idea that race change not be included for not being a priority. But the thing is that it's probably akin to changing body type. Besides, as you said: it changes nothing gameplay-wise (except for the useless racial ability). Not only that, but there is a need for that as much as minor cosmetic re-customizations... I think you've even expressed yourself in favor of racechange being implemented, so that phrase kinda contradicts yourself (just a friendly observation)

 

My situation: (skip if not interested)

In my case I was really bummed when, as my scoundrel main, met Nok Drayen, only to see he had my own exact face (same bionics, handlebar moustache, and hairstyle)... He looked like an older me.

On a funny sidenote, many players have called me "Nok" on numerous occasions heheh.

For a long while now, and currently having this toon as my main, geared to "take on the whole empire himself", I'd like to get rid of all the bionics completely, and have a full beard, which for some dumb reason Cyborgs can't have, except for the preset ones, so I'd have to switch to Human...

 

So, here's another +1, /signed, etc, to this thread.

Edited March 8, 2013 by MurQueL

[Tatile]

You know, the only reason I suggested a limited 3 tokens of full recustomization is that I'm fairly certain BioWare will never go for an unlimited re-customization feature. You're pretty much butting heads with BioWare itself, they put a few things in the game that protect the integrity of the state of the game. Permanent character appearance is one. Permanent Advanced Classes is another. And before the game ever even went live, it was marketed in the special trailer videos as a game where a character's choices along their storyline has permanent consequences and thus adds excitement to the game. I really doubt they're going to violate this meme of style and put full, unlimited re-customization.

 

When did Bioware ever say that they won't allow character recustomization? I must also say, species has little bearing on storyline - a few comments here and there but nothing relevant - nor does sex/gender, outside of the restrictions placed on the entirely optional romances.

 

Also, "integrity of the state of the game"? Not allowing player choice?

[althene]

You know, the only reason I suggested a limited 3 tokens of full recustomization is that I'm fairly certain BioWare will never go for an unlimited re-customization feature. You're pretty much butting heads with BioWare itself, they put a few things in the game that protect the integrity of the state of the game. Permanent character appearance is one. Permanent Advanced Classes is another. And before the game ever even went live, it was marketed in the special trailer videos as a game where a character's choices along their storyline has permanent consequences and thus adds excitement to the game. I really doubt they're going to violate this meme of style and put full, unlimited re-customization.

 

All I'm saying, is that you're asking for a feature that's a fairly huge departure from the well-developed style already in the game.

 

I think the natural things that could be customized in an in-game shop would be:

• hair: length, color, and style
  
• tattoos
  
• visible implants
  
• makeup (for the female characters)
  
• weight (dubious since it would require a major re-computation of how armor fits)
  
• eye color
  
• complexion
  
• ...maybe a few others i can't think of at the moment
  

 

I don't think you thought out this post clearly. Character choice and customization is at the forefront in this game. The very fact that the races are so, for lack of a better term, generic is that they wanted you to play what you wanted based on personal preference rather than some need to min/max for some slight advantage.

 

This even extends to the wide variety of custom gear in the game. They (EAWare) WANT you to look the way you WANT to look. It's even evident in their cartel store. Why would they ask the forum community what kinds of custom armours they wanted to see in the cartel store if they didn't think or care about player options and customization?

 

Ultimately it comes down to the player making an investment in their character. If the player stays detatched because they messed up and made a character that looks like they fall 50 stories through the ugly free and struck every branch along the way, they're not going to play it very much. If they don't play the character, they won't spend time tinkering with their appearence. And if they don't spend time there, the certainly wont spend time or money with the cartel store.

 

Now you're going to say, "reroll your character, lolz!"

 

No, that's not feasable. You spend time (or not) making your character the way you want and the take the time and energy to level to 50, outfit them in the gear you like, acquire titles and mounts and fluff, and then realize you look like Andy Roony having an epileptic seizure while binging on heroin and schnapps. You've invested your time, energy and money to get this far. It's not unreasonable or even difficult to have a feature that let's you reinvest and reattach yourself to your character. Why did it take you this long to notice? Who cares? Maybe you just upgraded your computer and can now see all the eye candy. It doesn't matter. What matters is happy players. And happy players have flappy wallets.

 

I'm not suggesting in any way that barber shops become exclusively cartel territory. In fact, I'm vehemently against it. However, being able to change hair, makeup, cybernetics, body size, facial features, etc. is all easily within the realm of "cosmetic reconstruction" and should be available regardless of your willingness to drop a dime on the cartel market. Bigger things like race changes, all in one recustomozations or simply "I don't have the credits, but I want it now" are all perfect for the cartel market. It can be a token with 1 or more charges or it can simply be a per use cost, but it NEEDS to be unlimited purchases. Hell, it would be easiest to simply stick the option for full character overhaul in the legacy perks tab for each character. They click it, drop the coins, relog that character and are taken to the character creation screen to mess with whatever they want.

 

It's not bloody rocket science and it may not even make sense. But again, who cares? It's a game. Games should be fun. If your character isn't fun to play because he's a hideous freak of nature, you won't play. If you have to start all over with the class you love and abandon everything you've earned because of it, you won't have fun and may even come to resent the game for making you do it. None of that is good buisness. Bad business doesn't make money. And if there's anything that EA knows, it's how to make money off a game.

Edited March 9, 2013 by althene

[anonnn]

I don't think you thought out this post clearly. Character choice and customization is at the forefront in this game. The very fact that the races are so, for lack of a better term, generic is that they wanted you to play what you wanted based on personal preference rather than some need to min/max for some slight advantage.

...

It's not bloody rocket science and it may not even make sense. But again, who cares? It's a game. Games should be fun. If your character isn't fun to play because he's a hideous freak of nature, you won't play. If you have to start all over with the class you love and abandon everything you've earned because of it, you won't have fun and may even come to resent the game for making you do it. None of that is good buisness. Bad business doesn't make money. And if there's anything that EA knows, it's how to make money off a game.

 

Not sure why you're choosing to argue in my direction ...

 

You added the part that I consider un-natural changes back into the list and called it my mistake. All I said was, I don't think -->BioWare<-- will go for the full list of re-customizations you're suggesting. You have to convince them that it's a decent idea to allow unlimited re-customization. It's not like I would complain if they added it, I'm just saying the obvious style of characters being solidified once created is I think one that they specifically made a point to enumerate in their design. And it would bother me to have people showing up in FPs and Ops PUGs with an "all-new-look" every other day. On some level it would suddenly become this fickle thing where a certain group of people would change their entire character on a nearly daily basis. Which is another reason I suggested 3 re-customization tokens per character... then the player has to put some thought into it, and they won't change their character more often than once every several months.

 

What good is re-customization of the character's entire appearance, if you can't re-customize the character's name? If a twi-lek female shows up with the name "Zeus", people are going to make fun ...

[althene]

I had a rant going.

 

Then decided it wasn't worth it.

 

EAWare is going to do what they're going to do anyway regardless. It'll probably end up as a cartel exclusive and cost as much as a subscription each time.

 

So whatever.

Edited March 9, 2013 by althene

[Aedey]

+1

 

This, IMO, is needed.

[Tatile]

Not sure why you're choosing to argue in my direction ...

 

You added the part that I consider un-natural changes back into the list and called it my mistake. All I said was, I don't think -->BioWare<-- will go for the full list of re-customizations you're suggesting. You have to convince them that it's a decent idea to allow unlimited re-customization. It's not like I would complain if they added it, I'm just saying the obvious style of characters being solidified once created is I think one that they specifically made a point to enumerate in their design. And it would bother me to have people showing up in FPs and Ops PUGs with an "all-new-look" every other day. On some level it would suddenly become this fickle thing where a certain group of people would change their entire character on a nearly daily basis. Which is another reason I suggested 3 re-customization tokens per character... then the player has to put some thought into it, and they won't change their character more often than once every several months.

 

What good is re-customization of the character's entire appearance, if you can't re-customize the character's name? If a twi-lek female shows up with the name "Zeus", people are going to make fun ...

 

You are, once again, trying to force your own squick onto other people. You don't like the idea of other people changing their mind more often than "three times in the entirety of everything", so you're effectively trying to force people to behave in a way you believe is "appropriate". You're trying to exert control over another person's game and their decisions about their own characters, because you somehow think that not having an arbitrary restriction will cheapen the process of changing a character and suddenly everyone will be changing their species as fast as they change their socks.

 

Regardless of whether or not this is introduced to the Cartel Market, there will be a prohibitive cost on species and sex changes. Realistically, sex changes are difficult and fiddly operations and lore-wise they would be as well - a credit cost would no doubt reflect that. Species change, even in-lore appearance-only ones (as in, not on a genetic level) seem pretty damn rare, so the cost for that would be astronomical. You appear to think that sex and species change tokens will grow on trees.

 

Also, a female Twi'lek named Zeus would be awesome and you know it. People trying to run away from stereotypical views of gender by having "oh noes, different gender first names!" are not going to diminish your game play in anyway, unless you're going to have a case of the vapours everytime you run into a girl named Alex.

[anonnn]

You are, once again, trying to force your own squick onto other people. You don't like the idea of other people changing their mind more often than "three times in the entirety of everything", so you're effectively trying to force people to behave in a way you believe is "appropriate". You're trying to exert control over another person's game and their decisions about their own characters, because you somehow think that not having an arbitrary restriction will cheapen the process of changing a character and suddenly everyone will be changing their species as fast as they change their socks.

 

Regardless of whether or not this is introduced to the Cartel Market, there will be a prohibitive cost on species and sex changes. Realistically, sex changes are difficult and fiddly operations and lore-wise they would be as well - a credit cost would no doubt reflect that. Species change, even in-lore appearance-only ones (as in, not on a genetic level) seem pretty damn rare, so the cost for that would be astronomical. You appear to think that sex and species change tokens will grow on trees.

 

Also, a female Twi'lek named Zeus would be awesome and you know it. People trying to run away from stereotypical views of gender by having "oh noes, different gender first names!" are not going to diminish your game play in anyway, unless you're going to have a case of the vapours everytime you run into a girl named Alex.

 

LoL wth is wrong with you? I'm trying to help ... now I think I should take back my idea about the 3 tokens for unlimited re-customization, and re-customization should never be allowed in any form whatsoever. No one is allowed to use my idea. What good is it to give any form of what people are asking for if they're just going to whine that it's got any kind of limitation on it? With zero gratitude for the feature if implemented, I think BioWare should pass this idea over forever.

[JediCahlwyn]

I just want a flat out change your character's looks. You can keep Species locked (or a separate charge) but just let us click an item and be able to do the character creation screen again. Its not rocket science people...

[Tatile]

LoL wth is wrong with you? I'm trying to help ... now I think I should take back my idea about the 3 tokens for unlimited re-customization, and re-customization should never be allowed in any form whatsoever. No one is allowed to use my idea. What good is it to give any form of what people are asking for if they're just going to whine that it's got any kind of limitation on it? With zero gratitude for the feature if implemented, I think BioWare should pass this idea over forever.

 

What are you talking about? You act as if you work for Bioware and your word is law.

 

I resent your attempts to limit other people's game experience because of your own messed up ideas of what is "appropriate" and what isn't. You only wanted to apply restrictions to recustomization - beyond the cost which will be restrictive because of the inherent problems of coding the thing into the game and making it largely bug free - because of your own arbitrary squick factor.

 

And why the hell do you think people won't be grateful for the chance to re-do their character's appearance without having to reroll? Where did you even get such a stupid idea?

 

Your idea was restriction - not the recustomization itself. I'd be happy if Bioware didn't use the "three recustomizations only ever" thing, it's disgusting.

[anonnn]

What are you talking about? You act as if you work for Bioware and your word is law.

 

I resent your attempts to limit other people's game experience because of your own messed up ideas of what is "appropriate" and what isn't. You only wanted to apply restrictions to recustomization - beyond the cost which will be restrictive because of the inherent problems of coding the thing into the game and making it largely bug free - because of your own arbitrary squick factor.

 

And why the hell do you think people won't be grateful for the chance to re-do their character's appearance without having to reroll? Where did you even get such a stupid idea?

 

Your idea was restriction - not the recustomization itself. I'd be happy if Bioware didn't use the "three recustomizations only ever" thing, it's disgusting.

 

You want to just remain ignorant of the fact that there's no re-customization feature whatsoever in the game as it is now?

 

I'm not limiting anything, I flat out offered an idea that would provide (limited) full re-customization, and you want to publicly flay me for imagining that it can only make it in-game if it has some sort of limitation on it? BioWare would see the same thing I see... if people are able to re-customize their entire character's appearance several times a week, it would just be fickle and ridiculous, resulting in a completely unfamiliar environment where a bunch of people look differently in-game on a regular basis. There are characters that aren't on my Friends list, aren't in my Guild, that I don't go to FPs or Ops with, but who I would recognize fairly easily around Carrick Station just by their name and their appearance together. Your idea would ruin all of that.

 

I'm the one person who went to the most intelligent effort to try to get full re-customization to be realized, but now... Forget It. This feature shouldn't make it into the game at all. It's not worth the disruption of the character-based reality that, as it is now, has full integrity and cannot be disrupted through appearance re-customization. No one has permission to use the idea I originated. People would just whine about what isn't given to them, rather than be grateful if there is a new re-customization feature of some sort. What you in your profound ignorance didn't take into account is that I don't care particularly much if they go ahead and add unlimited re-customization, I just think I understand ahead of time what BioWare's thinking would be on the issue (which is why I originated the idea of token-based full recustomization). If you want to overreact like this every time someone posts an idea that doesn't seem 100% in favor of your own opinion, you will not do so well, not only on these Forums.

 

I rescind my support of this idea. I started out wanting some kind of "natural" re-customization for my own characters, and even suggested full re-customization in a limited fashion, but now I think this is far too fickle and is a waste of time. There are far better directions to focus my intelligence and creativity, and there are far better things for BioWare to be working on putting into the game.

[Tatile]

You want to just remain ignorant of the fact that there's no re-customization feature whatsoever in the game as it is now?

 

Where on Earth did you get the idea that I think there's recustomization in the game already? I mean... that is so far removed from what I was talking about that you must have done some amazing logic acrobatics to even begin to come to that conclusion.

 

And again, you're restricting other people's game play because you don't like the idea of them having choice that doesn't involve you. You're selfishly trying to tell people to bow to your wishes, because you have some jumped up notion of your own importance. I doubt the people that you recognise care that you do so. And I love the fact that because I'm disagreeing with your attempts to prevent people from playing the game the way they want to, you're trying to tell me that Bioware should never ever introduce this feature. You're mad that I'm pointing out you're being selfish and trying to force people to the play the game your way.

 

This isn't your idea - pretty much everyone has an idea of how to introduce character recustomization. If Bioware wants to introduce such idiotic restrictions, that's their problem, and I'll fight them on that as well. You just managed to hit a nerve with your self righteous, "everyone has to do what I say because I say so" position.

 

I can't help but find it a bit sad that you're now saying that no one should ever be able to recustomize their characters simply because I disagree with your ideas of limits, but I suppose in a way it also says a lot.

[Amyas]

This is very much needed in MMOs people do age after all =P

[althene]

So...

 

That happened.

 

Anyway, I think the post stands on its' own. I'll update the original post to include a "token system", if only for completion. I don't agree with it being a particularly good idea from a "3 strikes" perspective, but perhaps a multiple use, legacy bound token could be a valid form of "all or nothing" recustomization. So long as it's in addition to and not instead of general use barber shops. Ultimately, it's the men behind the curtain at EAWares emerald palace that make the decisions. The only thing we can do is make suggestions and vote on the outcome with our wallet.

[Pingonaut]

Yeah, I support this. I've seen a lot of people re-roll their level 50 characters to change something as simple as eye color. (I'd do the same, to be honest) Not only is it good for the players but this addition would make the game a lot more money, no doubt.

[Tatile]

So...

 

That happened.

 

Anyway, I think the post stands on its' own. I'll update the original post to include a "token system", if only for completion. I don't agree with it being a particularly good idea from a "3 strikes" perspective, but perhaps a multiple use, legacy bound token could be a valid form of "all or nothing" recustomization. So long as it's in addition to and not instead of general use barber shops. Ultimately, it's the men behind the curtain at EAWares emerald palace that make the decisions. The only thing we can do is make suggestions and vote on the outcome with our wallet.

 

Sorry for derailing your thread Althene In retrospect I should have stopped after he started complaining that other people's personal decisions would damage his game play.

[Amyas]

Sorry for derailing your thread Althene In retrospect I should have stopped after he started complaining that other people's personal decisions would damage his game play.

 

I think he was trolling