So after watching a video on youtube, which highlights 10 reason that makes GW2 different to other MMO's, I've been extremely interested in the game.

But what i feel would really really top this all off for me, is character customization.

I don't really have the time to read through and find out about it

But i was just wondering if anybody could tell me about character customization in the game, Not just the customization of your character when you first create him/her but also through the armour pieces/clothes you collect, is there ways you can make your character look unique and different to the rest of the players in your group/raid for example

Would be grateful if somebody could answer this for me?

:)

While I am certainly no expert, from what I understand there is a quite extensive dye system that allows you to dye individual armor pieces. If I am not mistaken each piece could have multiple dye locations as well. Meaning for chest armor for example, you may be able to dye the main part and the sleeves separate colors.

I kind of find it funny they dont allow you to make Husky woman.  A lot of games do that and its kind of sad and rather sexist. 

There are most probably a few vids on youtube to show you. But i dont care enough to look for you.

But out of my mind.. the dying system will be one part for customization, because you can all of your armour parts dye differently, and those selected colour shema will be for all of your armor. So, you found a new armour, it will look exaclty as colored as you decided. So different armor parts fit better together. And well, of course different armor sets you will find around the world. And you can toggle some of your armor parts, like helmet and other stuff.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iVNTMd3jBpE

Link for TB's review/look at character customization.  Perhaps not the most comprehensive look, but one of the most recent.

Regarding the second half of your question, there are armour/weapons to collect.  But there just isnt a great detail of info on these.

There are also transmutation stones. If you like the looks of a robe you got at level 10, for example, you can use transmutation stones to get a piece that has the stats of your level 80 gear but looks like your level 10 robe.

Originally posted by gotha

I kind of find it funny they dont allow you to make Husky woman.  A lot of games do that and its kind of sad and rather sexist. 

If you want to make a female slightly Husky, then Go Norn.

Also to help answer the OP's question. You can see that there's a lot of dye channels to help customize your armour and there will be about 400 dyes to unlock (account wide) in the game, at launch. Also there's Transmutation, which in this case, allowed the player to get the stats from the bandana and put them in the Mesmer mask.

Originally posted by L0C0Man

There are also transmutation stones. If you like the looks of a robe you got at level 10, for example, you can use transmutation stones to get a piece that has the stats of your level 80 gear but looks like your level 10 robe.

These transmutation stones will let you combine the look of your favourite item with the stats of another item. Giving you the ultimate in customisation.

(tough i still think DCUO still has the best customisation system at high levels as you just collect all the patterns you ever find and can choose them at will wiht your choosen color scheme.

Starting with Character Creation:

It looks to be among the most extensive of any MMO to date. It uses technology similar to Aion, but they put limits on the extremes. Tons of faces, hair styles and other embelishments. Extensive sliders for a ton of facial features, etc... Instead of free form sliders for the body, you wil be able to select height via slider and then be able to chose from a number of different body types. They want to maintain the aesthetics of the game world, while still giving the player a lot of freedom when creating their character.

You also make some biography decisions during character creation that effect your Personal Story.

Via Character Progression:

Visually, you can combine the looks of any item  with the stats of any item of the same type or armor category, (essentially Light. Medium, Heavy). The game also will offer a very wide range of looks for clothing, armor and weapons, so the ability to chose your look isn't trivial. There is also an extensive dye system. Most armor/clothing have three zones which can be colored individually. You don't buy dye applications. You start the game with a limited palette of dye colors which you can apply freely at no cost. Through game play, you can unlock additional color palettes. There will be over 400 shades total in the game at launch.

Stats? The power curve for gear in GW2 is more shallow than in other games, but there is a lot of variety of stats available for various pieces of gear. With each profession being able to fulfill many different roles and sharing armor pieces with other professions that use the same armor class, there will be a lot of ways to tweak your characters via gear selection. There are also emblems that can be applied to armor, one per armor peice, that provide particular stat bonuses. Some emblems have set bonuses as well. So gear can be further customized.

Character attributes? There are various layers of customization here.

The most basic is weapon selection, with your equiped weapon determining the first five of your ten action bar skills. The other five skills are more customizable. (Most professions have two weapon sets they can swap in combat, with a minimal cooldown). Every profession has a self heal slot, three utility slots and an elite skill slot. These skills are each unlocked via skill points you can earn by leveling up and via special skill point challenges in game. The cost of individual skills varies. Skill load out can be changed out of combat.

There are also Traits, which is a system that allows you to put trait points you earn while leveling into various trait lines, which grant passive stat bonuses, as well as unlocking trait slots. The actual traits alter various aspects of combat and skills in ways similar to what are found on skill trees in other games. However, you have a pool of twelve traits for each trait line which you can freely populate unlocked major trait slots with. (There are also fixed, minor traits that are unlocked linearly). It's too involved a system to detail here, but I hope that gives the gist. (Note: You can change actual traits in the field, out of combat, but to change the distribution of trait points in the various trait lines, you need to visit a trainer and pay a small fee).

The game gradually introduces the various layers of character customization as you progress, so that players can learn them over time in a way that won't be overwhelming. (This goes for combat tactics and strategies as well. Enemy AI will often require more active tactical play and better use of strategy as content level increases).

There is a lot of both types of customization, no one will be cookie cutter in this game.

First of all: There are no raids in Guild Wars 2. No, honestly. None. Zero. Zip.

There are large scale dynamic events, and five-man dungeons, but no raids. Zero raids. This can't be stressed enough.

On to the topic at hand: Yup. I also have to chime in with transmutation stones, as I concur.

See, when my friends are level 80 and in their gear that glows with the glamour of a thousand burning celebrities, I'm going to be wearing some low-level armour that I like. See, I plan on finding the most utilitarian, believable armour I can... and sticking with it!

Oh how I've wished I could do that in other MMOs...

But yes, that's one important way to stand out.

Originally posted by Dream_Chaser

First of all: There are no raids in Guild Wars 2. No, honestly. None. Zero. Zip.

There are large scale dynamic events, and five-man dungeons, but no raids. Zero raids. This can't be stressed enough.

On to the topic at hand: Yup. I also have to chime in with transmutation stones, as I concur.

See, when my friends are level 80 and in their gear that glows with the glamour of a thousand burning celebrities, I'm going to be wearing some low-level armour that I like. See, I plan on finding the most utilitarian, believable armour I can... and sticking with it!

Oh how I've wished I could do that in other MMOs...

But yes, that's one important way to stand out.

Well, at least I'll know how to spot you in a crowd. :)

Yup, just look for the high-level guy running around in low level armour, stubbornly refusing to give up his look!

The funny thing is that in countless MMOs, I've kept my low level armour to equip in towns, just so I don't look completely ridiculous. This is the best of all worlds! I get to look sensible in town and on the field of battle!!

I approve, ArenaNet. Lotsa gusta and all that.

The only MMO I can think of that has a more extensive customization than GW2 would HAVE to be Champions Online other than that, there is nothing else that beats GW2, and GW2 has those sexy graphics as well.

Originally posted by Zy347

The only MMO I can think of that has a more extensive customization than GW2 would HAVE to be Champions Online other than that, there is nothing else that beats GW2, and GW2 has those sexy graphics as well.

Speaking of sexy graphics, well, sexy animations, I hope the female ele dance is the same, or close to the same as GW1  ;)