Couldn't agree more. From what I have seen, armour (and weaponry) gets more shiny, more polished, more typically 'high fantasy' as you progress. I'm sure a lot of people really like this look and find it an important or appealing feature of the game, which I completely understand. It is a fantasy game of course, so maybe that's what people expect to see. Maybe to some, low level gear looks... boring.

However, I yearn for simplicity and honesty. I like things that look a bit worn, a bit threadbare (such as the clothing worn by The Prophet as one example), or maybe armour or clothing that you feel attached to in some way because you have used it for the majority of the game. I much prefer the earlier styles and appearances to high end gear, but I know that if i'm to survive in later levels I need high end stuff. Wearing a modest costume might solve the problem, but then that seems a bit defeatist.

Let's not take anything away from the crafting in this game. I find the range and scope of the profession to be a brilliant feature. It's like most things though - I like having the choice to opt for the appearance of low level stuff. The look and feel of my characters bothers me more than perhaps it should.

There's always the soul shriven style....just saying.

Junkogen wrote: »

There's always the soul shriven style....just saying.

There is that. Better than nothing I guess.

I agree. I would love to be able to use some of the low level appearances on higher level equipment. This would also solve a lot of the issues with being unable to dye weapons - if you don't like having a bright red Rubedite Sword you can make it look like a steel one instead. (And then no one has to panic that someone else might dye their weapons pink.)

I know there are costumes that look like low level armour, but that's not really a good solution because it is only armour, you can't mix and match pieces and you can't dye them. Plus the cost seems high if you only want to use 1 of a pack of costumes on 1 character.

There are 3 ways I've seen this handled in other games:

1) A transmutation system - you use an item or an NPC or whatever to combine two items, choosing the stats from one and the appearance of another. Importantly this means you have to have both items already so it doesn't allow anyone access to anything they haven't earned. It also preserves the rarity of them because you can only use each item once (or even increases it since you lose both original items.) If you want your Rubedite Sword to look like a Voidsteel one you have to make or buy both and then combine them. If you want a second one you need to make or buy a second pair of swords to combine.

2) Incorporate it into the crafting system. Just like we can currently choose which style to craft in we could also choose which tier of materials to make it look like. So you could simply craft a Rubedite Sword which looks like a Steel one. This would limit it to only crafted pieces, but it would make it easier to make new customised items. This could either simply require using both materials (in this case rubedite and steel ingots) in the crafting, or it could require a 3rd item to enable to combination.

3) A skin collection system. As you acquire weapons and armour the appearances are saved to your account and then you can apply them to any items of the same type on your account. Some games charge a fee, others let you do it for free. Under this system if I got one Rubedite Sword I could then make every single other sword I have, either on just that character or on all the characters across my account, look like that. It allows the greatest freedom for customisation but it also means popular skins become much more common.

I don't know which I would prefer honestly, but I think number 1 would be the easiest for ZOS to add into the game and for players to start using.

Jute Breton Epaulets are SHAWLS. I freaking LOVE Shawls yet when you level higher they become the same old shoulder guards that every other style has, save for the Altmer shoulders, but that one has a stupid gigantic Eagle design on it front and back.

Yep, I'm still annoyed about losing my low level Redguard armor. It looks horrible at max level, like I'm dressed up for a parade or something. I'm jealous of a lot of the npcs in the Alik'r who still get to wear it, I prefer my characters to look simple like they fit in with the world around them.

A stone to change appearance of items would be amazing. I'd downgrade some things and change the appearance of the stupid Dorito Valkyn Skoria shoulder I'm going to have to wear when my DK hits max level among other things. More customisation is always welcome .

The question isn't why it looks better as that's a matter of taste. The question is: why can't we use lower motif tiers with max level gear? It would add so much to customization options.

khele23eb17_ESO wrote: »

The question isn't why it looks better as that's a matter of taste. The question is: why can't we use lower motif tiers with max level gear? It would add so much to customization options.

Agreed. I wish there was some sort of transmog system for both weapons and armor. I honestly wonder if Crown Store costumes are the reason it's not been done already.

I would love it if we also had toggle options for certain pieces of armor like we do for helms. Gloves, shoulders, those dumb saddlebags on the side of the gear. I'd LOVE more options. Then everyone wouldn't look the same everywhere you went.

I love variety, but I'll settle for any ability and any system that would let me use the lower tiered motifs on higher level gear.

Personally I think they need to rework the whole equipment crafting system.

IIRC, each motiff/style has 4 different styles that are based on what the item is made out of, and a 5th style that can also be found in world but not yet crafted. Instead of each type of ignot/wood/cloth/leather piece defining what level set, and therefor style type, a piece has it should only affect the style type. Levels could be defined by the number of materials only. This way if I like the look of Iron Armor I could use an abundant amount of iron to craft V16/CP160 gear instead of only being able to craft that with Rubedite. Or if I liked the look of Rubedite, I could then use it to craft for level 6 gear only using a few pieces of it.

This could allow us to have a bit more customization and make all equipment mats viable.

Completely agree.

I find it the case in ESO, as in most MMOs, that the higher level / endgame armour tries too hard to be ornate, different and showy and often ends up looking ridiculous.

I usually prefer the look of simpler, more functional armours and this tends to mean lower level gear. Which means that unless the MMO has some kind of costume or transmog system then that armour is not an option once you level beyond it.

If ESO is unwilling to fully implement a costume / outfit system then they badly need to allow crafters to create gear in ANY style they have learned regardless of level and apply it to whatever they are making, regardless of level.

And before the predictable calls of "but ... immersion", just how 'immersive' is it for one piece of armour to be hugely better than another because of some artificial yardstick called "levels". Forget levels, what should male the difference are materials used and the skill of the craftsman. These are the important ingredients and a good craftsman should be able to make superior armour in any style.

Yes, it would be nice. All that work on those styles by development largely goes to waste as we level past their tier.

The simplest thing I can think of would be to add another option to the crafting window that lets us select the visual tier of the item we're crafting. We would be able to select any tier equal to, or below, the tier of materials being used.

It's gotten to the point where I don't want to upgrade my armor to the gaudy cartoon shaped stuff with flapping Venetian blinds and Grandmother's end-table doilies stapled to shiny tinfoil gift wrapping paper everywhere.

Which means that I'd have to settle for lower level armor on my upper level 'toons.

Which means that I'm getting to the point where I don't even want to log into my upper level chacters and look at them much anymore.
If it wasn't for the Servants disguise - I prolly wouldn't log in much anymore at all.

Yeah, it's my money paying into the subscription, and yes, I'm that shallow.

Khajiit still wears her lucky level 14 hat.

It is just the best looking hat. Also it is lucky.

Yours with paws (and a level 14 hat)
Santie Claws