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Now is the time! CAPES ! ! !
Markytous
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Now that things are changing on the infrastructure side of Elder Scrolls Online, I would like to revisit a previous NO and see if we can pry a MAYBE into it. Talented animators and 3d artists work at Zenimax (no real-time physics engines needed)! If World of Warcraft, Lord of the Rings Online, Guild Wars 2 and many others can implement Capes and Wings on 20+ year old engines (no real-time cloth physics technology necessary), I know the talent exists today in spades already working with ZOS! Lets get some awesome cosmetics implemented for all to enjoy! Its time for us to unleash our inner Breton Hero and don a true cape! I'm not concerned about armor clipping through capes - I will adjust to styles that will not clip through. I know that there are people that would LOVE to get capes/wings and I personally would pay money to get it as a motivator to help ESO make a breakthrough in offering awesome cosmetics. Lets break ground that has, as of now, not yet been!
I hope I can get a statement on this from staff, as the "NO CAPES" response was very old and under very different leadership philosophy. Players have wanted capes for over a decade now. Better late than never and there's no better time than the present! Thanks for your time and I hope we can get something neat out of this! (Bonus if old outfit styles/ costumes get retouched with authentic capes such as the mentioned Breton Hero Costume! This way there's no issue with mismatched clipping combinations~)
EDIT: For clarity, I want to stress two things! Number one: that capes/back cosmetics should in no way break the lore or worldbuilding of the Elder Scrolls universe. Number two: capes/back cosmetics should absolutely NOT come with stats of any kind and should purely be that; a cosmetic! If people don't like capes or don't want to see capes, I say we should allow them to disable other players' cosmetics somehow in the settings.
EDIT2: Guild Capes to rep your guild colors? Eh? Eh? Someone said they don't prefer to replace/cover their chest armor with the Tabard. Sounds like a good reason!
Edited by Markytous on January 11, 2026 11:59PM I hope I can get a statement on this from staff, as the "NO CAPES" response was very old and under very different leadership philosophy. Players have wanted capes for over a decade now. Better late than never and there's no better time than the present! Thanks for your time and I hope we can get something neat out of this! (Bonus if old outfit styles/ costumes get retouched with authentic capes such as the mentioned Breton Hero Costume! This way there's no issue with mismatched clipping combinations~)
EDIT: For clarity, I want to stress two things! Number one: that capes/back cosmetics should in no way break the lore or worldbuilding of the Elder Scrolls universe. Number two: capes/back cosmetics should absolutely NOT come with stats of any kind and should purely be that; a cosmetic! If people don't like capes or don't want to see capes, I say we should allow them to disable other players' cosmetics somehow in the settings.
EDIT2: Guild Capes to rep your guild colors? Eh? Eh? Someone said they don't prefer to replace/cover their chest armor with the Tabard. Sounds like a good reason!
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Gabriel_H✭✭✭✭✭
✭✭WoW:
GW2:
LOTRO:
Clipping, clipping, and clipping. It's hideous.
PC EU
Never get involved in a land war in Asia - it's one of the classic blunders!13 -
Soarora✭✭✭✭✭
✭✭✭✭✭The thing that gets me about the no capes argument is that we have base-game hair styles that move. And the flaps on chest pieces. It wouldn’t look the best (especially since the flaps don’t even sit right), but wouldn’t it be technically possible to apply those physics to a cape?
No wings though, except maybe on some polymorphs. Temporary wings from spells makes sense. Walking around with wings doesn’t. I don’t know of a single person in TES to do that (aside from Sarpa argonians) and surely someone would if they could.[PC/NA] Dungeoneer (Tank/DPS), Retired Trialist, and amateur Battlegrounder (DPS) with a passion for The Elder Scrolls lore.- Current GM of Hard Dungeoneers
- Tanks: Sorcerer - Necromancer - Templar
- DPS: Frost Warden - Stamarc
- Ex-healer
- Dungeons: 32/32 HMs - 26/26 Tris
View my builds!
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Markytous✭✭✭✭
Bingo! You have proven with sound logic that capes are a true technical possibility. I just want to see that admitted lol And sure if wings are not lore-accurate then we can hold off on those. Wardens, Dragonknights and Vampires get to hog all the wings! :'(The thing that gets me about the no capes argument is that we have base-game hair styles that move. And the flaps on chest pieces. It wouldn’t look the best (especially since the flaps don’t even sit right), but wouldn’t it be technically possible to apply those physics to a cape?
No wings though, except maybe on some polymorphs. Temporary wings from spells makes sense. Walking around with wings doesn’t. I don’t know of a single person in TES to do that (aside from Sarpa argonians) and surely someone would if they could.2 -
Malyore✭✭✭✭✭
✭Agreed. They already have hair animations for some of the longer ones. And animations for the "crotch flaps" as people say.
I think just doing animations like these for more hair and armor items would go a LONG way to gameplay also feel less "floaty" and more physical– one of their goals with the upcoming updates.
I think capes would be cool if they are done well. Not wooden boards or flat super hero capes, but things that are also a bit more physical. Capes that are protection from cold Skyrim winters or ash storms of Morrowind. And the layered imperial style capes we see on the statues in game, something used perhaps to denote rank/role in imperial military.
The point is, designs that are actually part of the world. Not just flowery sparkly capes because designers think they're "cool" and would sell well to the glowing disco balls of players.Edited by Malyore on January 10, 2026 9:23PM1 -
Gabriel_H✭✭✭✭✭
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Whether I use it or not, I still have to see that horrendous immersion breaking nonsense. There is already a mass load of clipping in the game that needs working on but they need a functional physics engine contrary to your statement otherwise.PC EU
Never get involved in a land war in Asia - it's one of the classic blunders!0 -
Markytous✭✭✭✭
One of the best mods I ever downloaded for Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion was the cape pack. I soundly remember the cape the Imperial Blades would wear, a black cape that had symbol of the Blades on it. Knights of the Nine Crusaders Cape mod looks amazing! These are lore-accurate and safe. I can't see how they would detract or depreciate the game's quality. "No capes" is a Pixar Film meme and nothing else.Agreed. They already have hair animations for some of the longer ones. And animations for the "crotch flaps" as people say.
I think just doing animations like these for more hair and armor items would go a LONG way to gameplay also feel less "floaty" and more physical– on of their goals with the upcoming updates.
I think capes would be cool if they are done well. Not wooden boards or flat super hero capes, but things that are also a bit more physical. Capes that are protection from cold Skyrim winters or ash storms of Morrowind. And the layered imperial style capes we see on the statues in game, something used perhaps to denote rank/role in imperial military.
The point is, designs that are actually part of the world. Not just flowery sparkly capes because designers think they're "cool" and would sell well to the glowing disco balls of players.1 -
Markytous✭✭✭✭
Other games don't need it. ESO doesn't either. Idk request for a "Disable Other Player Cosmetics" setting in the menu. We would enjoy capes
Whether I use it or not, I still have to see that horrendous immersion breaking nonsense. There is already a mass load of clipping in the game that needs working on but they need a functional physics engine contrary to your statement otherwise.
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Gabriel_H✭✭✭✭✭
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Other games don't need it. ESO doesn't either. Idk request for a "Disable Other Player Cosmetics" setting in the menu. We would enjoy capes
Whether I use it or not, I still have to see that horrendous immersion breaking nonsense. There is already a mass load of clipping in the game that needs working on but they need a functional physics engine contrary to your statement otherwise.
Other games clearly DO need it - as evidenced above.PC EU
Never get involved in a land war in Asia - it's one of the classic blunders!1 -
Markytous✭✭✭✭
Mileage will vary. The people wearing them don't seem bothered.
Other games don't need it. ESO doesn't either. Idk request for a "Disable Other Player Cosmetics" setting in the menu. We would enjoy capes
Whether I use it or not, I still have to see that horrendous immersion breaking nonsense. There is already a mass load of clipping in the game that needs working on but they need a functional physics engine contrary to your statement otherwise.
Other games clearly DO need it - as evidenced above.2 -
Malyore✭✭✭✭✭
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Whether I use it or not, I still have to see that horrendous immersion breaking nonsense. There is already a mass load of clipping in the game that needs working on but they need a functional physics engine contrary to your statement otherwise.
That is one concern I have is that then EVERYONE would be wearing capes (assuming they make a way for them to not clip, perhaps by "pinning" the upper half onto the back when two hand weapons are sheathed?). The immersion is horrendous enough with this game. And so that's why I think if they do make capes, they should very much try to focus on ways to incorporate them with immersion and subtly. Maybe just start with one design for each of the playable races. I can imagine khajiit capes would look more like scarves, redguard like shawls, nordic like long burly fur capes, dunmer perhaps being prayer cloth draped over the shoulders. Make them all fit the same animation rig but with different sizes, shapes, designs, lore purposes.2 -
Gabriel_H✭✭✭✭✭
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Mileage will vary. The people wearing them don't seem bothered.
Other games don't need it. ESO doesn't either. Idk request for a "Disable Other Player Cosmetics" setting in the menu. We would enjoy capes
Whether I use it or not, I still have to see that horrendous immersion breaking nonsense. There is already a mass load of clipping in the game that needs working on but they need a functional physics engine contrary to your statement otherwise.
Other games clearly DO need it - as evidenced above.
They come with stats, of course they are going to wear them whether they don't care about the clipping or not.PC EU
Never get involved in a land war in Asia - it's one of the classic blunders!0 -
Markytous✭✭✭✭
They don't have to come with stats in Elder Scrolls Online. In fact, I should edit my topic post to voice that they should purely be cosmetic to make this perfectly clear.
Mileage will vary. The people wearing them don't seem bothered.
Other games don't need it. ESO doesn't either. Idk request for a "Disable Other Player Cosmetics" setting in the menu. We would enjoy capes
Whether I use it or not, I still have to see that horrendous immersion breaking nonsense. There is already a mass load of clipping in the game that needs working on but they need a functional physics engine contrary to your statement otherwise.
Other games clearly DO need it - as evidenced above.
They come with stats, of course they are going to wear them whether they don't care about the clipping or not.1 -
Malyore✭✭✭✭✭
✭
They don't have to come with stats in Elder Scrolls Online. In fact, I should edit my topic post to voice that they should purely be cosmetic to make this perfectly clear.
Mileage will vary. The people wearing them don't seem bothered.
Other games don't need it. ESO doesn't either. Idk request for a "Disable Other Player Cosmetics" setting in the menu. We would enjoy capes
Whether I use it or not, I still have to see that horrendous immersion breaking nonsense. There is already a mass load of clipping in the game that needs working on but they need a functional physics engine contrary to your statement otherwise.
Other games clearly DO need it - as evidenced above.
They come with stats, of course they are going to wear them whether they don't care about the clipping or not.
Shoulder adornments.2 -
Gabriel_H✭✭✭✭✭
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They don't have to come with stats in Elder Scrolls Online. In fact, I should edit my topic post to voice that they should purely be cosmetic to make this perfectly clear.
Mileage will vary. The people wearing them don't seem bothered.
Other games don't need it. ESO doesn't either. Idk request for a "Disable Other Player Cosmetics" setting in the menu. We would enjoy capes
Whether I use it or not, I still have to see that horrendous immersion breaking nonsense. There is already a mass load of clipping in the game that needs working on but they need a functional physics engine contrary to your statement otherwise.
Other games clearly DO need it - as evidenced above.
They come with stats, of course they are going to wear them whether they don't care about the clipping or not.
Right, so now I have to look at other people's infinitely clipping capes, and I don't even get the consolation prize of a stats boost?!
Just to be clear: I'm not oppossed to capes. I just don't want them to be either static like they are stiff as a board or clipping and without the requisite animations and physics engine.PC EU
Never get involved in a land war in Asia - it's one of the classic blunders!1 -
Markytous✭✭✭✭
I like the idea a lot. Sometimes scarves are really neat for cosmetic sets. We can do even more than capes for "back cosmetics"!
They don't have to come with stats in Elder Scrolls Online. In fact, I should edit my topic post to voice that they should purely be cosmetic to make this perfectly clear.
Mileage will vary. The people wearing them don't seem bothered.
Other games don't need it. ESO doesn't either. Idk request for a "Disable Other Player Cosmetics" setting in the menu. We would enjoy capes
Whether I use it or not, I still have to see that horrendous immersion breaking nonsense. There is already a mass load of clipping in the game that needs working on but they need a functional physics engine contrary to your statement otherwise.
Other games clearly DO need it - as evidenced above.
They come with stats, of course they are going to wear them whether they don't care about the clipping or not.
Shoulder adornments.0 -
Nord_Raseri✭✭✭✭✭
✭Sounds horrible, though I would not stand in the way. To each their own and all. Let your heavily clipping back flag fly!Veit ég aðég hékk vindga meiði á nætr allar níu, geiri undaðr og gefinn Oðni, sjálfr sjálfum mér, á þeim meiði er manngi veit hvers hann af rótum rennr.3 -
Markytous✭✭✭✭
Cheers!Nord_Raseri wrote: »Sounds horrible, though I would not stand in the way. To each their own and all. Let your heavily clipping back flag fly!0 -
LunaFlora✭✭✭✭✭
✭✭✭✭✭eh,
if it happens it happens.
could be fun to have back equipment.
if it is an extra equipment piece, we could have different styles like
- Hide
- Wings, Welkynar or Ra Gada
- backpack
- arrow quiver?miaow! i'm Luna ( she/her ).
🌸*throws cherry blossom on you*🌸
"Eagles advance, traveler! And may the Green watch and keep you."
🦬🦌🐰
PlayStation and PC EU.
LunaLolaBlossom on psn.
LunaFloraBlossom on pc.3 -
Monweel✭✭✭Agree. I woudn't expect it to be highly animated with physics and all that, just a basic animation when walking/running would be good, like khajiit tails already have. If it looks bad, you can just not use it, but it would be good to have the option.2 -
Apollosipod✭✭✭✭✭Eh, if be fine with it, but given the recent animation changes causing half my old mementos to break my arms and legs like a Vecna victim in Stranger Things I can't say I think it would work technically4 -
Markytous✭✭✭✭
Channel a Sigil of Imperial Retreat in the Imperial City. The animation for that is broken as well! lolApollosipod wrote: »Eh, if be fine with it, but given the recent animation changes causing half my old mementos to break my arms and legs like a Vecna victim in Stranger Things I can't say I think it would work technically0 -
coop500✭✭✭✭✭
✭✭✭✭Admittedly the game needs a LOT of things...
Capes is IMO somewhere under the barrel, not even at the bottom lol.Hoping for more playable races8 -
Orbital78✭✭✭✭✭
✭Admittedly the game needs a LOT of things...
Capes is IMO somewhere under the barrel, not even at the bottom lol.
Agreed, I'd rather they focus on the massive amount of bugs that are accumulating. Don't get me wrong, capes wouldn't be bad. I would rather have things fixed first though, I've been waiting year(s) for bugfixes that they seem to put on the backburner.
One positive about capes if it is a slot item, would be making monster sets usable with mythics and opening up a bit more versatility in builds. Maybe make them a special class item, reinforce class identity.
Edited by Orbital78 on January 11, 2026 1:53AM5 -
ThoraxtheDark✭✭✭✭Please , this and a real frostbite spider mount and im happy visually for a good 7 months0 -
Dimorphos✭✭✭I don't know if it is technically possible and I don't know how much work it would need to make it viable and that it looks natural and good..
But I would love to get cosmetic capes and wide robes and clothes with all kinds of appendages. I like characters that visually stand out.0 -
ArchangelIsraphel✭✭✭✭✭
✭✭✭✭✭I'd love to have capes. Especially capes that hold a suspicious resemblance to wings because they're made of feathers or feather patterned material, even though they aren't really wings
(Or let me necromance the Wraith of Crows wings onto myself~) PC l NA
Legends never die
They're written down in eternity
But you'll never see the price it costs
The scars collected all their lives
When everything's lost, they pick up their hearts and avenge defeat
Before it all starts, they suffer through harm just to touch a dream
Oh, pick yourself up, 'cause
Legends never die2 -
Malyore✭✭✭✭✭
✭I gotta draw a personal line with wings. To my knowledge, that has never been a form of attire anywhere in the entirety of the elder scrolls franchise.
Having people wearing Halloween costume wings would absolutely break any tastefulness and immersion left in ESO.
Wing slots are not part of this game.
And I do know there are already some armor styles that have wing-like motifs in ESO specifically, which are attached to a chest piece. But whenever capes get mentioned, someone usually starts thinking the next logical step is to turn themselves into an elf dragon fairy hybrid with flaming wings. And THAT is what I mean by not being part of the franchise. If you want wings, use one of the 3 armor sets that have a pair of rods and feathers sticking out the backside.Edited by Malyore on January 11, 2026 5:19AM2
