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Can we please have an overhaul to post creation player customisation

aspergalas4
aspergalas4
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I thought it would be prudent to begin a discussion on the future development of post creation character customisation in regards to the current system of outfits, costumes and collectibles. And what might be added as future collectibles for the player base to purchase or earn via in game rewards.

To start I think the ESO has a decent level of post creation character customisation since the introduction of the outfit system, but time and again I and many others see wasted potential for both the players and ZOS with content releases in the crown store in the form of costumes, body/face markings etc.

What I would like to propose is an overhaul of post creation customisation with the integration of costumes into the outfit station, dyable and "stackable" body markings, facial markings, dyable adornments and hair. And new collectible categories to truly make everyone's character completely unique to fit their own head canon.

Outfits/costume integration:

As many costumes are essentially multiple unique style pages stitched together (of course not necessarily a complete set of 7 pieces), I think the available parts of costumes should be able to be used independently with the existing outfit system. An example being the recently released "Pact Mother Elite Ensemble", players should be able to use the helmet, shoulders, gloves and robe independently of each other in the outfit station. It seems illogical to have what is subjectively one of the best open faced helmet designs in the game currently locked to a specific alliance and outfit aesthetic. This argument could also be made for other costumes such as the "Court of Bedlam" or "Grim Harvester" costumes that are truly unique and would be popular outfit choices if not for the otherwise too limiting use for player aesthetic as they come as a package.
Even if it were to be an ESO plus feature, the option would greatly improve consumer engagement with costumes whilst simultaneously granting better value for money for these items for players. Costumes could also be better marketed in future as bundles of style pages without necessarily being the full 7 piece set as motifs are.

Body markings:

With regards to body/facial markings. I think it is about time that action to taken to allow players to either use multiple of each of these collectibles at once, or reorganise these sub categories into more specific categories to be used together (or both). For example Khajiit and Argonian body markings should be their own category, with body markings in the form of tattoos being a separate "layer" that would then going over the top of this aforementioned layer.
For example an overhaul would look to a series of layers (each of which could have multiple selected at once depending on the nature of the layer) which would allow a greater level of personal customisation for the player. Such as:

Skin pattern (Scales, fur pattern, freckles/moles) > Body markings (Tattoos with potential for multiple selections to create a truly unique tattoo pattern) > Scars (self explanatory and again multiple chosen at once).

The game has an incredible number of options for body/facial markings but only one can be used at a time, leading to dozens of dormant options never to be used, allowing players to use multiple at once whilst also freeing up Khajiit and Argonian players from having to choose between scale/fur patterns and tattoos/ body art would drive up player engagement and see more of these designs used by the player base.
As for other categories such as facial hair, these should definitely be broken up into more categories such as eyes, facial hair, eyelashes, horns/antlers (in the case of Bosmer), makeup etc.
Ordered in a logical manner so as to be interpretable by the player. Facial hair > Makeup > Eyelashes > Eyes > Horns for example.

As a side note I believe all tattoos, adornments (both major and minor) and hair should be dyable using the current outfit station dye selection.

Finally, a suggestion that I believe would be greatly appreciated by the community is the introduction of "back collectibles", such as backpacks and cloaks. Now I am aware Capes/cloaks are a touchy subject due to their implementation issues but I believe by introducing a back slot collectibles tab ZoS would be able to integrate a large number of new items without affecting balance or otherwise upsetting the applecart of gameplay.

To explain further. Some outfit pages and costumes currently include backpacks, as part of the previously mentioned costume breakdown process these backpacks could be made into separate pieces that can be used independently on a players back in the collectibles tab. Addressing a long standing demand for backpacks in the game from an aesthetic viewpoint. Furthermore this opens up the opportunity for new back collectibles seen on certain NPCs such as banners as seen on the Xivkin bosses in IC Sewers. And potentially answer the cape/cloak question (which can be rigged to the player character Argonian or Khajiit tail skeleton to provide a consistent but low system intensity animation). Players could also opt to use a shield motif or other weapon motif on their back that is inactive for gameplay but present for an aesthetic choice. The options are quite extensive and all result in one outcome, greater player engagement with the content both current and to be released.

A further suggestion would be to allow a slider feature for certain outfit pieces such as shields and shoulders, as many players seem disgruntled with shields consistently being smaller and shoulders unnecessarily larger that they would like relative to their character. This as a feature would be very easy to implement if nothing else is. I would also touch upon revising the dye slots for many motifs allowing a greater amount of certain motif/styles components to be dyable. If more dye channels are required to achieve this I think this would be agreeable (eg. fur on Coldsnap motif or the badge on Dragonguard motif).

I am aware this is a large block of text but I want this game to succeed and I believe this area of the game requires some attention while we wait for new playable content. I could go on about customisable summons and pet skins, spell skins etc but this post would be far too long and its long already.

Would love to hear what the community has to say, as I believe everything suggested is both desirable and achievable with relatively little effort in the grand scheme of the games development.
  • LunaFlora
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    multiple categories for appearance collectibles would be amazing yea

    there could be a lot of them if it's even possible for zos to do.


    face markings and facial hair could instead be
    - eyes
    - face tattoos
    - lipstick
    - eye makeup like eyeshadow and eyelashes
    - horns
    - facial hair

    adornments
    - piercings
    - glasses
    - forehead items? like diadems and fake horns
    - hair accessories

    body markings like you said
    - skin patterns
    - scars
    - tattoos


    the Winter Princess Glamour facial hair has eyeshadow and lipstick so two types of collectibles can be one instead of two.

    more of that would be cool too if that's more feasible than separate categories.
    like a goatee with antlers Facial Hair combo.
    and more skins like the new Do'Krin Ascetic's Henna skin that have tattoos so that you can use it with khajiit fur patterns.


    we have back items on Highrock Spellsword and Kwama Miner chest styles and a few costumes so those will likely happen more in the future as a part of chest styles and costumes.

    but capes and cloaks i really doubt will ever happen.
    they'll clip through stuff like the loincloths we have on nearly every armor style. and they were in alpha and beta and were removed due to the clipping i think.
    not 100% certain, it could be another reason but that is a good reason for it.

    edited to add:
    hair accessories for adornments
    Edited by LunaFlora on November 9, 2023 9:48PM
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  • Starlight_Knight
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    I want a pink Argonian.
  • aspergalas4
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    Some good refinements to my suggestions LunaFlora.

    I have to disagree on the cloaks not being feasible, whilst I do understand the current so far issues faced with their implementation rigging the mesh to the tail skeleton of the beast races would move the bottom half of the cloak back in effect and only risk clipping at the top of the cloak itself where it attaches to the torso. Would be be much easier to mitigate or hide, with shoulder motifs likely covering the main attachment points that would clip.

    I don't want to get too bogged down in the cloak debate as its been done many times, but I do think a separation of backpack from chest motifs is a step in the right direction. It's too limiting otherwise. Though I do acknowledge more are likely on the way under the current methodology.

    The current collectibles need to be better organised that much is certain, a wood elf should be able to use a beard with their antlers, an Argonian a scale pattern with body scarring etc. Multiple tattoos, tattoo/hair dying. All relatively simple tweaks with big payoffs.
  • wilykcat
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    The original post and comments are awesome and I do agree that character customization does need a massive overhaul. I would like to add on more to this suggestion.

    The ability to change the colors of body/face markings, fur/skin patterns, and adornments.

    Add on more eye colors, hair colors, skin/fur/scale colors, to every race. For eye, hair, and markings/pattern colors there should be sliders. Sliders such as Hue(full spectrum of colors), Saturation(boldness), brightness (light to dark). Many newer games have this feature.

    Give kahjiits and lizards tail customization options. Change the shape, style, and length of the tail.

    The rest of my additions I already previously mentioned in a comment of another post in regards to face customizations.To sum it up:

    The ability to edit every single individual detail on the face seperatly just like on GW2.

    In a fantasy game, players should be able to fully use their imagination when creating and/or customizing their characters.
    Edited by wilykcat on November 9, 2023 10:47PM
  • OldStygian
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    At least one free appearance change after creating a new toon would be welcome.
  • AuroranGoldenEagle
    AuroranGoldenEagle
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    The facial hair/head markings split is so arbitrary and strange. We need to combine them all and have at least three slots that we can layer (e.g. custom eyes, warpaint and horns/beards)

    In terms of new cosmetics, all I want is a cute band of freckles across the cheeks and nose as an option. Current freckles are too subtle to be seen unless super up close, and too spead out across the face.

    Oh oh! And more loose curly and wavy hairstyles (think John Snow hair for guys and girls) :)
    You have discovered the thirty-seventh Sermon of Vivec, which is a bending of the light, long past the chronicles of the Hortator who wore inconstant faces and ruled however they would, until apocalypse.
  • aspergalas4
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    I think a colour slider would be an interesting addition and provide a better level of control over colours as you have mentioned Wilykat, and does actually remind me of another idea with regards to armour/costume dying. Which loosely ties into your suggestion of providing better control to the player.

    That is the ability to choose the "finish" of a dyed colour on our outfits/costumes. As it stands certain dyes have certain finishes, for example a glossy look, matte look and shiny metallic look. There is also the battleground achievement dyes which seemingly have no finish at all and are just the flat colours. You could pick 2 of the same colour with a slight different shade but they'd both have different finishes. Making consistency between dyed outfit parts more challenging. If there was some kind of shiny/gloss to matte slider or just the 3 options for finishes that would vastly improve the existing system with what amounts to another minor tweak. It would be helpful if all armours applies the dyes equally, but unfortunately many armours seem to change the dyes when applied relative to others. Which only makes matching up colours between different armour styles harder.

    Aping off your suggestion there somewhat but I do agree that furs/scales should have greater customisability colour wise. I think your suggestion is reasonable for current titles but ESO is currently held back somewhat by console. So a middle ground would be needed until that changes. If there was a way to take the basic patterns and then dye them like armour that would really improve the customisation for these two playable races though.

    I agree with you Kaos but unfortunately that is unlikely I would argue.

    The game very much needs more customisation options beyond tattoos Auroran absolutely, there should be tons of new hairstyles added every year in general.
  • aspergalas4
    aspergalas4
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    @ZOS_GinaBruno

    Any clarity that this kind of change is coming or on the cards at some point in the games development on current roadmaps?
  • TaSheen
    TaSheen
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    I think this is the sort of change which doesn't get any notice or info or discussion at all until all of a sudden something shows up somewhere - kind of like the avatar additions to the forum, y'know?
    ______________________________________________________

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  • aspergalas4
    aspergalas4
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    I hope this is the case and is otherwise something being actively worked on behind the scenes, to be announced when ready to implement as a free content addition with the regular update schedule. It's basic QoL polish that would really flesh out what we already have at our disposal customisation wise without the effort of adding lots of new content at once.
  • aspergalas4
    aspergalas4
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    I wanted to add a further suggestion to this thread following the discussions being held within the NB permanent Grim Focus glow debacle thread. And that is adding the option to add unlockable and potentially purchasable weapon effects to the outfit station. Such as glow effects of each class colour/theme, the effects of certain collectible sets in game (MoL trial sets for example) etc.

    Anything that broadens our ability to customise our characters and give us a wider range of tools to do so will prove popular with players and profitable for ZOS.
  • Araneae6537
    Araneae6537
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    wilykcat wrote: »
    The original post and comments are awesome and I do agree that character customization does need a massive overhaul. I would like to add on more to this suggestion.

    The ability to change the colors of body/face markings, fur/skin patterns, and adornments.

    Add on more eye colors, hair colors, skin/fur/scale colors, to every race. For eye, hair, and markings/pattern colors there should be sliders. Sliders such as Hue(full spectrum of colors), Saturation(boldness), brightness (light to dark). Many newer games have this feature.

    Give kahjiits and lizards tail customization options. Change the shape, style, and length of the tail.

    The rest of my additions I already previously mentioned in a comment of another post in regards to face customizations.To sum it up:

    The ability to edit every single individual detail on the face seperatly just like on GW2.

    In a fantasy game, players should be able to fully use their imagination when creating and/or customizing their characters.

    GW2 had no way to customize makeup, you chose a face with it or not. And most things were presets so you could always recognize what face someone had chosen — they were not that customizable. I like that ESO has sliders for everything and that most things aren’t determined or limited by gender. Of course I would love even more customization in ESO, but I have to say, it’s the best I’ve experienced. If I could be a sylvari in GW2, I wouldn’t have played it at all, and I complained all the time about the limitations on human characters — I don’t recall anyone disagreeing with me but only telling me how it was worse in other games! :expressionless:
  • Araneae6537
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    In response to OP’s post, I wouldn’t want to lose costumes and have them turned into style pages instead unless we were given quite a few more (and FREE) unlocked outfit slots! As it is now, costumes expand on the number of looks that I can use for each of my characters.

    I agree we need more slots for body and face markings of different sorts, including a separate category for eyes!
  • aspergalas4
    aspergalas4
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    In response to OP’s post, I wouldn’t want to lose costumes and have them turned into style pages instead unless we were given quite a few more (and FREE) unlocked outfit slots! As it is now, costumes expand on the number of looks that I can use for each of my characters.

    I agree we need more slots for body and face markings of different sorts, including a separate category for eyes!

    I am in complete agreement Aran, I simply believe on top of the full costume system we should be able to use the individual parts in our outfits too if we want. A helmet here, set of gloves there etc. After all the costume is designed to be used as a complete look to begin with, but some feature great individual armour pieces that would synergise well with existing motfs/styles.
  • UGotBenched91
    UGotBenched91
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    Yes, great suggestions. I also think the hip flap and cropping issues needs addressed as well. So many good outfit styles ruined by these issues.
  • Brakkish
    Brakkish
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    I'm for anything that creates more interest and helps drive player retention.

    If there's one thing I enjoy outside of my normal (Battlegrounds 99.9%) - it's playing dress up with my toons.


    ESO fashion, it's the real endgame!
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  • Soarora
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    I want a pink Argonian.

    I'm pretty sure you can do that already with one of the base color options.

    I disagree on the addition of sliders. I think an extended color choice range and the ability to apply that color choice to at least khajiit and argonian body markings would be great. To sweeten the deal for ZOS, could even sell additional unnatural color choices for body markings/hair/etc. that mimic dying with natural dyes, maybe even some gradients. Free range of sliders means we could get full saturation rainbow Khajiit and bright blue wood elves. While this is technically possible, it'd be incredibly immersion breaking and takes away from the power of skin tone, which is used heavily in the story of the Tribunal.
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  • rpa
    rpa
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    ESO has pretty good character customisation for a mmo. It could be better but I can live without lipstick and powder for my fat male orc if that would affect performance. Multiplayer games have to deal with displaying a lot of player characters at same time. What's the max players per shard in ESO anywy?
  • JemadarofCaerSalis
    JemadarofCaerSalis
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    Soarora wrote: »
    I want a pink Argonian.

    I'm pretty sure you can do that already with one of the base color options.

    I disagree on the addition of sliders. I think an extended color choice range and the ability to apply that color choice to at least khajiit and argonian body markings would be great. To sweeten the deal for ZOS, could even sell additional unnatural color choices for body markings/hair/etc. that mimic dying with natural dyes, maybe even some gradients. Free range of sliders means we could get full saturation rainbow Khajiit and bright blue wood elves. While this is technically possible, it'd be incredibly immersion breaking and takes away from the power of skin tone, which is used heavily in the story of the Tribunal.

    I just did some skin comparisons for the colors of all the races for another thread, and there is a pinkish, but it reads more purplish to me. The third and fourth from the right on the bottom.

    jinob7kjdo3g.png
  • Pixiepumpkin
    Pixiepumpkin
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    In game barbershop is sorely missing. I want to change hair color on so many toons. It always irks me when I play other MMO's like WOW and basic quality of life stuff was implemented over a decade, in some cases 2 decades ago and we still don't have this in ESO.
    "𝕰𝖛𝖊𝖓 𝕲𝖔𝖉𝖘 𝖉𝖎𝖘𝖑𝖎𝖐𝖊 𝖙𝖍𝖊 𝖆𝖇𝖘𝖔𝖑𝖚𝖙𝖊, 𝖋𝖔𝖗 𝖎𝖙 𝖘𝖙𝖎𝖓𝖐𝖘 𝖔𝖋 𝖘𝖔𝖒𝖊𝖙𝖍𝖎𝖓𝖌 𝖑𝖆𝖗𝖌𝖊𝖗 𝖙𝖍𝖆𝖓 𝖙𝖍𝖊𝖒𝖘𝖊𝖑𝖛𝖊𝖘." ― Sotha Sil
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