They're just nasty and they don't move right and it's hard to explain it without showing it to you in person but they just feel very off. I want to play on because I want to see what the player housing has to offer but frigging the character models are stopping me currently.

Maybe Turbine should add 10 foot swords and 12 foot wide shoulder pads. Then make all the character grotesquely out of proportion to the point of being cartoony. Then they could re-skin all the characters with flashy colors so they look like a bunch of clowns on steroids just the way Tolkien would have wanted it.

Well, he's not wrong. Even with a more sublime system when it comes to the art design (which I prefer) the armor and character models to leave a bit to be desired. In my opinion anyways.

Originally posted by John.A.Zoid

They're just nasty and they don't move right and it's hard to explain it

I can explain.

They actually look semi-realistic, and so does the armor, compared to other...ahem...over the top, exaggerated games.

How's that?

Originally posted by Thradar

Originally posted by John.A.Zoid

They're just nasty and they don't move right and it's hard to explain it

 

I can explain.

They actually look semi-realistic, and so does the armor, compared to other...ahem...over the top, exaggerated games.

How's that?

I don't think people have problems with realistic. but their armor can can border on Clown College issue (thank goodness for the outfit system) and the hair styles look like they were molded out of something.

I remember in beta I reported the running of the female elf as looking like a duck running.

I also have similar problems with DDO. I'm just not a fan of Turbines Art design when it  comes to their characters.

They look fine to me.

Originally posted by Twohededboy

Maybe Turbine should add 10 foot swords and 12 foot wide shoulder pads. Then make all the character grotesquely out of proportion to the point of being cartoony. Then they could re-skin all the characters with flashy colors so they look like a bunch of clowns on steroids just the way Tolkien would have wanted it.

That's not the problem at all, the problem is that when you look on a screenshot all characters look like they been photoshopped i from an older game.

They don't fit in together with the background, I seen it in games before but ever so much like in LOTRO. The rest of the graphics are very good even though they could use shadows, lighning and fog even better but the avatars are sloppy made and ugly.

You can say what you want of wow but on a screenshot the characters fit in. And wow is not the only game.

Edited spelling error...

Originally posted by Loke666

Originally posted by Twohededboy

Maybe Turbine should add 10 foot swords and 12 foot wide shoulder pads. Then make all the character grotesquely out of proportion to the point of being cartoony. Then they could re-skin all the characters with flashy colors so they look like a bunch of clowns on steroids just the way Tolkien would have wanted it.

That's not the problem at all, the problem is that when you look on a screenshot all characters look like they been photoshopped i from an older game.

They don't fit in together with the background, I seen it in games before but ever so much like in LOTRO. The rest of the graphics are very good even though they could use shadows, lighning and fog even better but the avatars are sloppy made and ugly.

You can say what you want of wow but on a screenshot the characters fit in. And wow is not the only game.

Edited spelling error...

You know, that's a good point, and one I didn't consider. Though the world itself is extremely beautiful (I have the better textures and everything set to maximum.. no DX10 card though) the Characters do seem to be somewhat incongruous to the world. It's hard to put a finger on why.

In any case, complaints about the avatars have been going on since beta, especially the hair. It is what it is I suppose.

Game play is the main thing. All the looks in the world won't make a fun game. Sure the character models could be better and no matter the mmo there will always be those that have something against them. For me though anything they can do to reduce the the load on my system so I can have decent gameplay is worth it. After a few minutes of pvp I can't even remember what the graphics looked like.

Looks perfectly fine to me. Good even. Sure it could be better but I don't think it's bad and least of all horrible. Plus WAR with similar graphics looks even worse especially their human and elves.

Originally posted by natuxatu

Looks perfectly fine to me. Good even. Sure it could be better but I don't think it's bad and least of all horrible. Plus WAR with similar graphics looks even worse especially their human and elves.

I disagree.

Warhammer's avatars fit with the world and fit with the little tabletop miniatures. Sure, they are stylized.

I think what the issue is with LOTRO models is that hey are trying to be more realistic. But the problem is with models that are more realistic you have to be "spot" on or else the differences will be very pronounced. I've seen other developers comment on the same thing.

In any casek, I like LOTRO and think the world is beautiful. But I have never been a fan of the avatars.

Originally posted by jeddak

Game play is the main thing. All the looks in the world won't make a fun game. Sure the character models could be better and no matter the mmo there will always be those that have something against them. For me though anything they can do to reduce the the load on my system so I can have decent gameplay is worth it. After a few minutes of pvp I can't even remember what the graphics looked like.

Well, not to get new players. Many looks at a game and if they think it's ugly they will not really see the great gameplay.

While it is a lot of work to fix the avatars I am sure that it would help bring a lot of new players to the game.

Also, having a game look good on high setting shouldnt make the game lagg on low. If your'e having problems in LOTRO it might be time to buy a new GFX card, it run well after launch on my old 7900 card and it is at least 4 years old today.

Originally posted by Loke666

Originally posted by Twohededboy

Maybe Turbine should add 10 foot swords and 12 foot wide shoulder pads. Then make all the character grotesquely out of proportion to the point of being cartoony. Then they could re-skin all the characters with flashy colors so they look like a bunch of clowns on steroids just the way Tolkien would have wanted it.

That's not the problem at all, the problem is that when you look on a screenshot all characters look like they been photoshopped i from an older game.

 

This game is extremely scalable.  I've seen some screenshots on this forum (and others) that look terrible...the game being played in a mode that I wouldn't even bother with.  Those people may have no choice due to hardward restrictions.

But I can guarantee you that if you play the game with settings high (or maxed out) and with DX10 the characters do not look photoshopped from an old game.  I'll try to remember and post a screenshot tonight.

Originally posted by Twohededboy

Maybe Turbine should add 10 foot swords and 12 foot wide shoulder pads. Then make all the character grotesquely out of proportion to the point of being cartoony. Then they could re-skin all the characters with flashy colors so they look like a bunch of clowns on steroids just the way Tolkien would have wanted it.

That is the problem , for pseudo "down to earth" characters they are grotesquely  out of proportion, check the waits, hands and posture.

They use flashy colors in face and armor textures if you compare with landscapes and light tones in this game.

With ridiculous small waists and huge shoulders humans in Lotro does look like ballerinas in steroids.

...

Originally posted by Sovrath

Originally posted by Loke666

Originally posted by Twohededboy

Maybe Turbine should add 10 foot swords and 12 foot wide shoulder pads. Then make all the character grotesquely out of proportion to the point of being cartoony. Then they could re-skin all the characters with flashy colors so they look like a bunch of clowns on steroids just the way Tolkien would have wanted it.

That's not the problem at all, the problem is that when you look on a screenshot all characters look like they been photoshopped i from an older game.

They don't fit in together with the background, I seen it in games before but ever so much like in LOTRO. The rest of the graphics are very good even though they could use shadows, lighning and fog even better but the avatars are sloppy made and ugly.

You can say what you want of wow but on a screenshot the characters fit in. And wow is not the only game.

Edited spelling error...

 

You know, that's a good point, and one I didn't consider. Though the world itself is extremely beautiful (I have the better textures and everything set to maximum.. no DX10 card though) the Characters do seem to be somewhat incongruous to the world. It's hard to put a finger on why.

In any case, complaints about the avatars have been going on since beta, especially the hair. It is what it is I suppose.

I agree with both of you, but it seems this subject is somehow a Taboo around here, there is another similar discussion in this forum, but most of time people get a bit emotional about criticism related to Lotro´s characters.

...

Originally posted by John.A.Zoid

They're just nasty and they don't move right and it's hard to explain it without showing it to you in person but they just feel very off. I want to play on because I want to see what the player housing has to offer but frigging the character models are stopping me currently.

I have never understood this line of comment. I can only attribute it to trolling because LOTRO character models are fine imho. They sure the hell beat the pants off Vanguard and WoW. The only two games which have better are EQ2 and AoC, but we know where those two are sitting now don't we?

Well ...  the looks of the faces, armor and weapons is a matter of taste, choice ....  and so on ...

But with todays possibilities ... the moves could look a bit better  ...  

I dont know ...  let them be a bit cartoony, if you cant make them realistic  ...  but now when the chars move, they look like the're a bit retarded   .... 

Same goes for moments when the char is running and hitting a fence or somthing.

To each is own, I think they are fine.

Totally agree. The landscape is very well put together, but the character and NPC models are pretty horrific.

Infact if you stand side by side with an NPC, your own model against the NPCs looks like it was made by a totally different modeller and texture artist and even animator.  The way the NPCs stand around with their arms out and walk like they've just pooped their pants is cringeworthy.

Lotro is a great game with some excellent features but the character models REALLY let it down.

Originally posted by clamdip

Originally posted by John.A.Zoid

They're just nasty and they don't move right and it's hard to explain it without showing it to you in person but they just feel very off. I want to play on because I want to see what the player housing has to offer but frigging the character models are stopping me currently.

I have never understood this line of comment. I can only attribute it to trolling because LOTRO character models are fine imho. They sure the hell beat the pants off Vanguard and WoW. The only two games which have better are EQ2 and AoC, but we know where those two are sitting now don't we?

Better than VG?  LMAO.  LOTRO's not even close on a good day...

Imo the character armor at low levels like padded armor and cloth stuff. That armor is crap, however the metal armor looks real.

Originally posted by Sovrath

Originally posted by natuxatu

Looks perfectly fine to me. Good even. Sure it could be better but I don't think it's bad and least of all horrible. Plus WAR with similar graphics looks even worse especially their human and elves.

 

I disagree.

Warhammer's avatars fit with the world and fit with the little tabletop miniatures. Sure, they are stylized.

 

I think what the issue is with LOTRO models is that hey are trying to be more realistic. But the problem is with models that are more realistic you have to be "spot" on or else the differences will be very pronounced. I've seen other developers comment on the same thing.

In any casek, I like LOTRO and think the world is beautiful. But I have never been a fan of the avatars.

I agree. The world in DX10 is amazing, but the avatars look a little out of place. They aren't bad in my opinion, but just seem a bit out of place. It is still a good game though.

I have a lifetime membership, so looking forward to getting back to game when the new expansion comes out.

I guess its a matter of taste... For me LotrOs characters looks better than most other MMOs... recently tried the Vanguard trial and the way characters looked (plus some of the bugs) really put me of... for me it seems like MMOs either looks cartonish (WoW, WAR) or plastic (EQ2, VG and to some extent AoC) with LotrO somewhere in between...

But I agree that there is alot of ugly looking gear in LotrO that really makes the characters look silly plus some of the animations are horrible (please Turbine work on the animations!)

Originally posted by Deathstrike2

Originally posted by clamdip

Originally posted by John.A.Zoid

They're just nasty and they don't move right and it's hard to explain it without showing it to you in person but they just feel very off. I want to play on because I want to see what the player housing has to offer but frigging the character models are stopping me currently.

I have never understood this line of comment. I can only attribute it to trolling because LOTRO character models are fine imho. They sure the hell beat the pants off Vanguard and WoW. The only two games which have better are EQ2 and AoC, but we know where those two are sitting now don't we?

 

Better than VG?  LMAO.  LOTRO's not even close on a good day...

 

i think LOTRO has better avaters.

VG looks better landscape wise.

The only thing I don't like about the character models is the elves. Male elves imparticular look to female. And while I realize that male elves look more feminine than men do, it's a bit over the top in the game.

Other than that I think the game is stunning, especially in DX10.