This is my own subjective opinion, while you may not agree, that doesn't mean I'm totally wrong or that you are entirely right.

I support and respect XIV and Square but I can't help but notice this.

Some of squares graphics artist are some of the most renown in making the coolest looking character models.

So yes I do have high expectations from Square.

But FFXIV's character models seem kind of disappointing.

The character models seem kind of plain and uninspired and the armor models shown so far also seem somewhat bland and uninteresting.

XI had some cool armor model sets, such as Paladin AF , Monk AF, Dragoon AF, Whm AF, Dark Knight AF, Warrior AF and Ninja AF but this is 2009, we should be improving, not getting worse.

Just take a look at games from Square like Dissidia, Final Fantasy VI, VII, IV, III, I, II, IX, X and XII. They all have really awesome character models.

Yes I am voicing my opinion because It is not too late for them to change It.

I'm sure they haven't showed all the cool armor, why spoil something good so soon. It would be much better to be in game to see that cool ass armor the first time. IMO

  I remember echoing your sentiments almost exactly before ff xv1. I thought it looked bland and washed out. Then I played the game and it was lush and beautiful.

   Square seems to be the kind of company who , granted...yes they have cutscenes and cgi, but they dont rely on overdoctored images and videos to make their games look like something they arent, as some other companies do. Square is comfortable enough in their ability to create quality games to not have to use a lot of the marketing tricks other dev companies do.

One thing I would like to point out, FF 1-10 and 12,13 have a different group working on them than the groups behind 11 and 14.

Other than that I agree with your post most of the character models have been "pretty looking" for an MMO but not really the "Wow I want that", I havent played XI in a long ass time but I remember I picked a Pally as my job simply because a bad ass sword I saw was "ment for pallys" I never did get that thing >.>.

Any ways back on topic the makers behind XIV have been around long enough to know what their subscribers want and I can almost garentee that even their asian subscribers are not sending in post cards "Yeah this item looked to cool in your next game make everything kind of dull and borind it would make the game better."; right now there is so little information floating around about XIV that we the fans can get exited over almost any news given out I think that they are probally saving the "Bad ass warrior in end game loot" pictures for the later stage of advertisment.

I actually agree with the base characters looking kind of bland, Its way to early to say the armor is lacking though. I was actually a bit dissapointed that they are recycling the same races. I am now hoping that there are more races than what se has unveiled.

As for the armor it looks bland in the trailer but so did FFXI heck if the armor in the trailer are the starter gear it looks 10x better than FFXI.  I'm sure SE has some pretty armor in the game I just hope they don't recycle gear and just change the color like the lizard leather armor or the bone gear like in XI.  As for the character models I don't mind if they used the same character models as long as you can customize them with beards, mustaches, scars, tattoos,hair, and so on.  In XI you had those bland generic characters that all looked alike besides the hair color.  I voted yes on this because I'm sure SE will have some kick ass looking armor on here and what you are seeing in the trailers is just the starter gear.

lol love your avatar severity3

 I voted that they looked fine.  In my subjective opinion things to do is more important than things to look at.

Considering the game will revolve around your equipment, there is the early expectation for your equipment to look awesome. It's been mentioned before that the team designing the offline and online games are different. It's also been said that they have an amazing track record for visual impact. I think they are playing their cards carefully, and every update will build upon the initial images of the alpha build.

I dont want them to end up making them look like Aions shit where they are always posing like they are super models or something.  I realy hated the way the asmo males run. 

More shiney and better looking model's over FFXI. Is your problem really that their reusing the races from FFXI??

As for the armor, it's to early to base a opinion. We don't know what most of the armor will end up looking like.  It's not like they showed us every single piece of armor in the game /w what little they showed us. Hell most of the armor in FFXI was pretty bland. Wasn't till you got higher up... you got the cool looking stuff.

Hehe that was pretty funny about the Kain question. It brought back memories

Originally posted by GlowingMoon

The character models seem kind of plain and uninspired and the armor models shown so far also seem somewhat bland and uninteresting.

Even early on in FFXI the armor was bland, which I'd assume it was by design. Having everyone look the same way in the beginning and then branching out to bigger, brighter, better models enforces the idea that we all started from the exact same spot and grew up.

I mean when you started off as a MNK and you saved all your gil for a few levels and was finally able to afford your first set of robes (okay when I first started MNKs wore robes) and you quickly notice that everyone is waring the same bland robes. Then you see some MNK run past in his orange jump suit and you are like: "One day. One day that will be me." I mean my personal story is me being a BLM and on my first day a guy in RDM Artifact runs past me and I /jawdrop, but you get the idea. If FFXIV can recapture that moment for me, I don't care what the character models look like personally. No other MMO has ever been able to do that for me.

Overall I think if they just showed you shineys from the get go you'd assume you could get them right away and you might spend a lot of time with bland armor like you did in FFXI and it might put off some people when they can't claim the best of the best immediately. Just a though there.

Gameplay is all that matters.

Originally posted by ic0n67

Originally posted by GlowingMoon

The character models seem kind of plain and uninspired and the armor models shown so far also seem somewhat bland and uninteresting.

 

Even early on in FFXI the armor was bland, which I'd assume it was by design. Having everyone look the same way in the beginning and then branching out to bigger, brighter, better models enforces the idea that we all started from the exact same spot and grew up.

I mean when you started off as a MNK and you saved all your gil for a few levels and was finally able to afford your first set of robes (okay when I first started MNKs wore robes) and you quickly notice that everyone is waring the same bland robes. Then you see some MNK run past in his orange jump suit and you are like: "One day. One day that will be me." I mean my personal story is me being a BLM and on my first day a guy in RDM Artifact runs past me and I /jawdrop, but you get the idea. If FFXIV can recapture that moment for me, I don't care what the character models look like personally. No other MMO has ever been able to do that for me.

Overall I think if they just showed you shineys from the get go you'd assume you could get them right away and you might spend a lot of time with bland armor like you did in FFXI and it might put off some people when they can't claim the best of the best immediately. Just a though there.

LOL i understand you on that one ic0n67.  When I first saw DRK artifact armor I was like .  I wanted to be a DRK since that day and that ended up being my first lvl 75 job.

Originally posted by ic0n67

Originally posted by GlowingMoon

The character models seem kind of plain and uninspired and the armor models shown so far also seem somewhat bland and uninteresting.

 

Even early on in FFXI the armor was bland, which I'd assume it was by design. Having everyone look the same way in the beginning and then branching out to bigger, brighter, better models enforces the idea that we all started from the exact same spot and grew up.

But that wasn't the case with FFXI though.  Everyone looked the same in the beginning, and everyone looked the same in the end.  There was always a specific set of gear you had to get at your level or you were a nub.  Mostly this was AF gear for end-game, and two high level RDM's standing next to each other looked identical.  I got so sick of running into my "twin" in Jeuno.  I want to look unique and be an individual, not RDM clone #1351170.  Don't make one set of gear so much better than everything else that that's all anybody wears.  Granted there were very rare pieces that set people apart, but 99% of the playerbase couldn't acquire those.  More gear options and/or dyeable gear please.

Originally posted by Sixpax

Originally posted by ic0n67

Originally posted by GlowingMoon

The character models seem kind of plain and uninspired and the armor models shown so far also seem somewhat bland and uninteresting.

 

Even early on in FFXI the armor was bland, which I'd assume it was by design. Having everyone look the same way in the beginning and then branching out to bigger, brighter, better models enforces the idea that we all started from the exact same spot and grew up.

 

But that wasn't the case with FFXI though.  Everyone looked the same in the beginning, and everyone looked the same in the end.  There was always a specific set of gear you had to get at your level or you were a nub.  Mostly this was AF gear for end-game, and two high level RDM's standing next to each other looked identical.  I got so sick of running into my "twin" in Jeuno.  I want to look unique and be an individual, not RDM clone #1351170.  Don't make one set of gear so much better than everything else that that's all anybody wears.  Granted there were very rare pieces that set people apart, but 99% of the playerbase couldn't acquire those.  More gear options and/or dyeable gear please.

I would really like a dye system, but it whould have to exclude the colors that would break the games immersion. Like bright pink and neon. 

Originally posted by Sixpax

Originally posted by ic0n67

Originally posted by GlowingMoon

The character models seem kind of plain and uninspired and the armor models shown so far also seem somewhat bland and uninteresting.

 

Even early on in FFXI the armor was bland, which I'd assume it was by design. Having everyone look the same way in the beginning and then branching out to bigger, brighter, better models enforces the idea that we all started from the exact same spot and grew up.

 

But that wasn't the case with FFXI though.  Everyone looked the same in the beginning, and everyone looked the same in the end.  There was always a specific set of gear you had to get at your level or you were a nub.  Mostly this was AF gear for end-game, and two high level RDM's standing next to each other looked identical.  I got so sick of running into my "twin" in Jeuno.  I want to look unique and be an individual, not RDM clone #1351170.  Don't make one set of gear so much better than everything else that that's all anybody wears.  Granted there were very rare pieces that set people apart, but 99% of the playerbase couldn't acquire those.  More gear options and/or dyeable gear please.

Sorry ... never had that problem actually. Between the different races/head/height/job combos I rarely ever bumped into myself. Honestly I can only think of one person who had the same races/head/height combo as me that I ever interacted with on a regular basis ... and we matched on BLM gear just because he'd as me advice on what to get. Dye would be okay, but it would defeat the purpose of being bland early like i described. Plus you'd expand the AH exponentially or have the dye go away when you put it up on the AH. I mean I get where you are coming from there are times I wish my Assassin's Vest and Jet Seraweels gold so I can go all Mc Hammer.

But honestly the better question for gear is how a Taru can ware a pair of slacks that just came off a Galka ... i mean it would have to be stretched out beyond recognition.

Originally posted by ic0n67

Originally posted by Sixpax

Originally posted by ic0n67

Originally posted by GlowingMoon

The character models seem kind of plain and uninspired and the armor models shown so far also seem somewhat bland and uninteresting.

 

Even early on in FFXI the armor was bland, which I'd assume it was by design. Having everyone look the same way in the beginning and then branching out to bigger, brighter, better models enforces the idea that we all started from the exact same spot and grew up.

 

But that wasn't the case with FFXI though.  Everyone looked the same in the beginning, and everyone looked the same in the end.  There was always a specific set of gear you had to get at your level or you were a nub.  Mostly this was AF gear for end-game, and two high level RDM's standing next to each other looked identical.  I got so sick of running into my "twin" in Jeuno.  I want to look unique and be an individual, not RDM clone #1351170.  Don't make one set of gear so much better than everything else that that's all anybody wears.  Granted there were very rare pieces that set people apart, but 99% of the playerbase couldn't acquire those.  More gear options and/or dyeable gear please.

 

Sorry ... never had that problem actually. Between the different races/head/height/job combos I rarely ever bumped into myself. Honestly I can only think of one person who had the same races/head/height combo as me that I ever interacted with on a regular basis ... and we matched on BLM gear just because he'd as me advice on what to get. Dye would be okay, but it would defeat the purpose of being bland early like i described. Plus you'd expand the AH exponentially or have the dye go away when you put it up on the AH. I mean I get where you are coming from there are times I wish my Assassin's Vest and Jet Seraweels gold so I can go all Mc Hammer.

But honestly the better question for gear is how a Taru can ware a pair of slacks that just came off a Galka ... i mean it would have to be stretched out beyond recognition.

I was referring to the gear each class wears, not the character features.  Perhaps I should have said "dressed identical".

Originally posted by Sixpax

Originally posted by ic0n67

Originally posted by Sixpax

Originally posted by ic0n67

Originally posted by GlowingMoon

The character models seem kind of plain and uninspired and the armor models shown so far also seem somewhat bland and uninteresting.

 

Even early on in FFXI the armor was bland, which I'd assume it was by design. Having everyone look the same way in the beginning and then branching out to bigger, brighter, better models enforces the idea that we all started from the exact same spot and grew up.

 

But that wasn't the case with FFXI though.  Everyone looked the same in the beginning, and everyone looked the same in the end.  There was always a specific set of gear you had to get at your level or you were a nub.  Mostly this was AF gear for end-game, and two high level RDM's standing next to each other looked identical.  I got so sick of running into my "twin" in Jeuno.  I want to look unique and be an individual, not RDM clone #1351170.  Don't make one set of gear so much better than everything else that that's all anybody wears.  Granted there were very rare pieces that set people apart, but 99% of the playerbase couldn't acquire those.  More gear options and/or dyeable gear please.

 

Sorry ... never had that problem actually. Between the different races/head/height/job combos I rarely ever bumped into myself. Honestly I can only think of one person who had the same races/head/height combo as me that I ever interacted with on a regular basis ... and we matched on BLM gear just because he'd as me advice on what to get. Dye would be okay, but it would defeat the purpose of being bland early like i described. Plus you'd expand the AH exponentially or have the dye go away when you put it up on the AH. I mean I get where you are coming from there are times I wish my Assassin's Vest and Jet Seraweels gold so I can go all Mc Hammer.

But honestly the better question for gear is how a Taru can ware a pair of slacks that just came off a Galka ... i mean it would have to be stretched out beyond recognition.

 

I was referring to the gear each class wears, not the character features.  Perhaps I should have said "dressed identical".

What u are saying is that if everyone had the top of the line gear then everyone in that class would look the same...

Sounds like EVERY other game out there to me. The thing is that the AF was a good peace of gear and it was readely accessible to everyone so most people kept them but u cant say that was the ONLY peace of gear for any one class.

I was a Paladin and I had MANY choices for gear, one day I would bear AF then next I would sport AF2, then Koenig set and MANY MANY other armors that were in my inventory, each of which were different looking.

Originally posted by Sixpax

Originally posted by ic0n67

Originally posted by GlowingMoon

The character models seem kind of plain and uninspired and the armor models shown so far also seem somewhat bland and uninteresting.

 

Even early on in FFXI the armor was bland, which I'd assume it was by design. Having everyone look the same way in the beginning and then branching out to bigger, brighter, better models enforces the idea that we all started from the exact same spot and grew up.

 

But that wasn't the case with FFXI though.  Everyone looked the same in the beginning, and everyone looked the same in the end.  There was always a specific set of gear you had to get at your level or you were a nub.  Mostly this was AF gear for end-game, and two high level RDM's standing next to each other looked identical.  I got so sick of running into my "twin" in Jeuno.  I want to look unique and be an individual, not RDM clone #1351170.  Don't make one set of gear so much better than everything else that that's all anybody wears.  Granted there were very rare pieces that set people apart, but 99% of the playerbase couldn't acquire those.  More gear options and/or dyeable gear please.

I agree. For the most part people utilized the same gear or you were a newb. You could change it up to be different or if you could afford better things. But there was always certain "atainable" things that you HAD to have or you were looked down on. If you had something better(and harder to come accross) then I guess you could mix it up... but I cannot believe anyone would disagree with Six on this.
 

I do not doubt however, with the memory increase going from PS2 to Ps3  that this will not be a problem with FF14. There will be more then enough ways to be different looking gear wise.