Modding community for racial motifs

SpaceBacon · May 2014

I've had this idea since I began playing: what if Zenimax made an option for modders to send in complete racial motifs for approval or community rating? My suggestion is a voting page where people can submit their creations. Every month or so each user can vote and the top 10 motifs get added to the game after admin approval. If the motif appears to be lore-unfriendly or incomplete, it's spot would be taken by number 11, 12, etc. There could also be a different way of obtaining some of them. Elder Scrolls games have always had a great modding community and this would also add this particular aspect to ESO. I really enjoy the current crafting system, but there will always be place for more customization.

Valkerian · May 2014

A motif will require a LOT more work though. As there is each individual item that can be made from a motif, plus all of the changes in appearance when upgrading quality. That's a lot of time and resources to put into something like that. I'd say your on the right track, but disguises would be easier in both terms of time AND resources.

nudel · May 2014

ZOS would absolutely need a veto over the vote to prevent a troll motif getting pushed through by a lot of votes. They'd also need to modify some submitted motifs at their own discretion to fit in with the overall aesthetic and lore in the game. As long as they did that, I could see it working. There are already some games that do this, TF2 for instance.

Valkerian is right though. It would be a LOT of work for modders. A lot more modeling and texturing to make an entire racial style in this game than to create a single style of armor for Skyrim.

Lupinemw · May 2014

10 new ones every month really??

I think ZOS should spend time sorting out the game than focused on user created content myself. Plus you'll end up with half of them being based on x other set but a slightly different colour..

SpaceBacon · May 2014

@Valkerian‌ Looking back at Skyrim, I see many mods that actually have so much work put in them. And don't forget the ESO armors are essentially just textures painted on the skin, made to look spacial with ambient occlusion, with the exception of the smaller armor pieces and some details in the clothing.

The amount of work you have to put in them would also prevent an endless stream of submissions and it probably wouldn't get as high as 10 each month, but it would only cause the most devoted modders making the best quality motifs to participate. If the amount of submissions wouldn't get so high, the maximum of 10 could be eventually completely scrapped so all of the good motifs could get through.

@nudel‌ I already suggested that, the motifs would have to be lore-friendly and fitting into the game's art style.

SpaceBacon · May 2014

@Lupinemw‌ Ok, maybe a bit less.

Zakua · May 2014

10 would be a bit high but I like the idea...lets not underestimate the voracious appetite the Elder Scrolls modding community has.

I have no doubt that if player generated geometry of any kind was allowed in game via some sort of approval process that we would see some very awesome results.

Malediktus · May 2014

I dont like this idea. I dont want to see motifs which do not fit to the art style or lore of the game

SpaceBacon · May 2014

@Malediktus‌ This has already been mentioned thrice, ZOS would have a veto and all of the motifs would have to be lore-friendly and fitting into the art style.