That's probably going to be one of my less important points about the game and how things can positively improve for the community and our perception of developers creating less tension between us in different ways. It still matters though.
It's about visuals, not functions, just to save your time from getting ready for the set efficiency/bloat discussions, overall balancing etc.Sorry for the poor english in advance.
There are three small things that can seriously improve player's perception about being heard and meeting their client expectations without actually tinkering with the game at large which is also, quite obviously, still needed. But small steps in the player base directions would definitely smooth out road bumps we're inevitably will ride into on the road to better, healthier game both PvE and PvP wise (that is hopefully in works). Those might be quite minor things, but those are more or less impact everyone on a different scale so why not improve some basics?
1.
Motif style inconsistencies and issues.
2.
Cannibalised options.
3.
Visual clutter.
So,
first one imo is quite an offender to almost every participant of
Fashion Megathread in some way or another. It wasn't really an issues when the game started out but getting progressively worse with every new update layering issues on top of the other. Most people can relate to an issue, when you see new motif preview that is half a year away from acquiring and thinking to yourself "that's my new outfit piece" before actually getting your hands on it and seeing 2 undyeable shining parts, leather changing into slime after dyeing process and no dye in the whole game being able to match the pieces you're already rocking. Feels bad, right? Or you'll finally getting a fur collar and apparently there's no dye option available for it, whilst being the only piece of that style in whole game's lifespan.
Another thing is taking years for weapon VFX being fixed if placed incorrectly originally (wrong axis) and similar issues, those needs to go after first PTS week, not on the next chapter drop. Or as another example some "undyeable" styles actually having a dye channel that you can access through dyeing your previous piece changing colour of that "undyeable" style. Won't it be easier for everyone having the channel unlocked instead of committing to those confusing and convoluted interactions some don't even know about?
Cannibalization is another issue. When obvious Motif parts come in a form of costume in the end like
Garb of Grinning Horrors currently on the store for whooping 400 gems instead of being sold piece by piece for 16 each. We as players see not only the seams and layers and can distinguish a motif from a full on costume developed and designed separately but are seeing reasons for it, which aren't sparkling joy nor excitement with such practices. But even this can be salvaged and turned around releasing it later in actual form it was intended for, would be much appreciated. Profit might be not as amazing in comparison, arguably, but reputation is a limited resource that is hard to replenish - especially nowadays.
Clutter can divide into two most prominent parts such as infamous "tassets and loincloth" issue and consistent visual effects like current Grim Focus skill in Nightblade's toolkit.
First one takes both
tassets, "loincloth" and
poleyne/couter pieces some of which are already modular depending on your leg/armour and as seen on some NPC's, not even talking about couple unpatched interactions making some\all of those effectively not being rendered\disappear. Despite most people actively asking for
removal of those
there should be a choice involved, we should be able to choose what modular parts we do want to display and which we want to effectively hide - at the very least client side. Game menu already has a hidden unlinked event for a tasset toggle, make it happen finally and not forget about other modular pieces while at it.
VFX issue is a bit newer as previously there was no such a divisive and intrusive cases as Grim Focus constant client-side glow or changes to Puncturing Strikes animation and visual FX. All possible pain points were discussed to no end already in different topics related to those separate cases but still those weren't tackled in any feasible manner despite it heavily clashing with UI, crown store additions and outfitting options. Having skill styles brings
some hope but it's been enough time for implementing solutions or at least admitting that reception wasn't as expected and there will be any work done to alleviate issues people are having with characters they were playing for a decade already.
Waiting years would be okay for a free to play game but that's not the case here, people already do have enough complaints with overall quality and speed of development to afford such a minor thing to be as bothersome or in some cases halt people from playing all along over a thing that can be fixed / altered without much time investment.
There's been a lot of dismissal and excuses to why those are still not a thing but issues aren't going away in any capacity and more years of layering makes it a tiring thing that can layer up to bigger disappointments and reactions with future additions or lack thereof. Those issues aren't a rework level ones in any capacity so I don't see a single actual valid reason why those can not be addressed bringing at the very least some peace and not multiplying frustration already present in the larger community.
Hopeful that
@ZOS_Kevin can pass it on the dev team