Character Creation in Elite: Dangerous

[Mephane]

In space we will of course wear those suits, so what you *have* to wear might override what you would *like* to wear, unless it is like an idealized abstraction, or similar to a passport picture frozen in time. Or hey, they could design hats for space suits!

In the Elite universe where space travel is so prevalent, there are probably dozens, maybe hundreds of different models from different manufactors, each possibly in a variety of colors to choose from - the spacefarer's fashion, basically - that I would expect a lot of space suit customization within the game.

 

[Cmdr Eagleboy]

As we have avatars in ships now it would make sense to have good enough character creation for ED 1.0, however if that doesn't make it it won't be biggie - it will come eventually.

 

[lysan]

I would like to have a good customization menu. Like am I large or thin, a trucker belly or something else. I like those little details. I really don't like to look like some 20 year old photo model.

 

[Frobitz]

I like EVE Online charactor creation, as it also acts as your avatar. some mean looking charactors on there.

EVE's avatar creation system is probably the best I've ever seen, which is odd given how little it impacted the game until recently!

I'd guess a similar system has to be in the works, it's pretty much a necesssity for when the EVA expansion is released and we can get out our ships to interact at stations.

 

[Susimetsa]

EVE's avatar creation system is probably the best I've ever seen, which is odd given how little it impacted the game until recently!

I've never tried Eve's, but have you tried Age of Conan? Very good system, in my opinion.

 

[Zireael]

In the Elite universe where space travel is so prevalent, there are probably dozens, maybe hundreds of different models from different manufactors, each possibly in a variety of colors to choose from - the spacefarer's fashion, basically - that I would expect a lot of space suit customization within the game.

Good point!

 

[HoshiQaVam]

SW: The Old Republic's character creator was far too generic. With only a couple body types and very limited face options the result was that everyone pretty much looked the same, which surely defeats the purpose of having a character creator in the first place.

Age of Conan's wasn't bad, that would certainly be the base line minimum.

However, I would personally like the option to go a little further. I quite liked the system that EA had in place where you can upload an image of your face front-on and from the side, and it then generates a face that matches your own quite closely. Obviously that isn't helpful for people playing different genders or builds, but being able to see a reflection of something that looks like me would be great when combined with a VR headset.

Being able to set things like weight and height is a must though.

 

[Celeste]

I've never tried Eve's, but have you tried Age of Conan? Very good system, in my opinion.

Completely subjective, but I have to agree. I've played AoC along with many other mmos also and they don't compare. Eve Online definitely has the best character creator out there and they do squat with it. You can make the same character look terrifying or gorgeous. CCP - they like to keep their gold mines buried.

On that note, I would like to see a very detailed character creator in Elite

 

[Hired Gun]

Agreed!

I totally agree, EVE, Elder Scrolls Oblivion and Skyrim, Age of Conan, and even Neverwinter Nights 1 and 2 all have very nice and detailed character editors, (even if AOC's interface sucks, especially the fighting commands in combat, which should be allowed to control at least partly by mouse), so I hope for something similar, or at least something close to those editors here in Elite: Dangerous.

 

[Guy DudeBroMan]

Personally, I'd like to see EVE's character creator, or something of a similar caliber. One of the best I've ever used.

 

[insanephoton]

In space we will of course wear those suits, so what you *have* to wear might override what you would *like* to wear, unless it is like an idealized abstraction, or similar to a passport picture frozen in time. Or hey, they could design hats for space suits!

In space we'll have to wear space suits and possibly on ships, though I think that might depend on ship type and what you are doing. It would be a sensible precaution for a bounty hunter in a Viper but would it be necessary for the commander of a Beluga carrying passengers in relatively safe systems?

Once we get avatar gameplay it also means walking around space stations. It might be fine to keep your space suit on when you visit some small outpost, but I'd expect other more casual or smart options for wandering around the large stations. Eventually we will be able to walk on garden worlds too.

I'd like my character to have arrange of outfits available for every eventuality from meeting a high ranking official to tracking a large animal through a jungle.

 

[CatInSpace]

I have been thinking about (visual) character creation in Elite: Dangerous for a while, and I believe it could add a lot of atmosphere and 'feeling connected to your character'.

I'd love to see a very detailed system where our avatar can be customised in great detail. Eve Online's character creation is an amazing example, indeed. It allows for many different kinds of character looks. I'd love to have the ability to use multiple outfits as well.

Being able to customise a character feels important to me, but not just in a visual sense. I'd also love to see the ability to keep a private "commander's log" in the game, for example. Or the ability to have a personal 'office' on a specific station, planet or moon. These are all things that help with immersion, and that could only be a good thing.

I am curious what visual style / tone Frontier will be using, when character creation is implemented. Will they go with a detailed 'realistic' way, or would they be aiming for a different style?

Having a visible avatar in a game like Elite: Dangerous is not something all people are looking forward to, perhaps. But a solution that would satisfy all players might be easy: have the player be able to switch between 'avatar viewing mode' and '1st person viewing mode'. People who don't like visual character customisation could then just totally ignore the looks of their commander.

To me, (visual) character creation is not a top priority at this very moment (and I guess it won't be in the game's initial release), but I can see it become very important when new expansion game features will be using avatar representations of our commanders.

We might be playing the game for a very long time, so character creation / customisation feels very important. I'm very much looking forward to it, and I'm secretly hoping that it will be implemented in a stylish 'Eve' kind of way.

 

[Hired Gun]

EVE type editor

Indeed, EVE character editor would be probably the most ideal example to follow in Elite: Dangerous, after all both games are science fiction, futuristic, space (ship) based, so their characters, (spaceship pilots), should look adequate to the game genre and atmosphere.
Normally I don't support the idea of merely totally copying EVE's character creation method and style, it would just serve as a base, a model to start with, while some original features, options, selections and possibilities should be added to it, some considered for redundant and removed, all that in order to make the editor unique enough.
An idea for the character picture's background for example, much different from EVE's solution:
It could be the reduced image of the pilot's current ship, (the one he/she is flying), and wpuld change accordingly whenever he/she buys a new ship. (this would remind me of some common F1 pictures of drivers with their race-cars)

 

[hobblygobbly]

EVE's avatar tech is impressive, they spent a lot of time and money making it though and not other parts of the game which annoyed a lot of players including myself at the time, but it's really cool and you can make truly unique characters in it (like my avatar here, it's my main character).

I'd love to see that in ED but it needs to make sense for the time/money investment to produce. Or they could license it from CCP? That would be interesting if CCP is interested in licensing that out.

 

[Hired Gun]

EVE's avatar tech is impressive, they spent a lot of time and money making it though and not other parts of the game which annoyed a lot of players including myself at the time, but it's really cool and you can make truly unique characters in it (like my avatar here, it's my main character).

I'd love to see that in ED but it needs to make sense for the time/money investment to produce. Or they could license it from CCP? That would be interesting if CCP is interested in licensing that out.

Well as I said, if EVE's example is too complex and demanding for this game, the developers could always simplify it a bit, so that they will have (much) less (financial or any other type of) troubles/efforts by implementing it, and making it work right.
Even if more "modest", as long it will provide/allow great freedom in character creation/customization, the editor will serve its purpose just fine.
I just hope the character's face graphic will look nice and realistic enough, it is always of primary importance to me. (by identifying myself with my chosen character and its role)

 

[Hired Gun]

Oh yeah, btw, I just started playing Neverwinter Online, it has a much less complex character editor than EVE, but still a diverse one enough, so I could still easily create/edit my desired UNIQUE character, which looks just the way I wanted!

 

[Winterwalker]

As good as Black Desert's or go home!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4TP4L1vHfpk

Have never seen Black Desert before, but +1 to this.
Very cool, elite standard imho.

EVE interface looks OK but the suggestion above seems lilely to produce fewer "obvious hero types", which I think is a boon. Can my avatar have warts and all for instance?

BD seems to have simple sets to choose from plus finer detailing for enthusiasts .. so all you'd need is a smart pair of boots (CMDR name and insignia on your overalls?) and away you go!

Possibly FD could sell vanity stuff (ie. things that won't ruin your game if you go without) in jewelry ..
Thinking outloud, how about a lucky charm from the planet Zog, limited edition designs for a premium, or the obligatory single gold ring, for a pirate's left ear?

 

[dumbo]

IMHO, for the 'avatar' expansion:
- the most important aspect is the relatively 'seamless' transition from ship to ground (teleport from ship = fine, 5 minute loading screen = not fine).
- after that, I'm most interesting in seeing "lots" of NPCs, PCs, wildlife etc
- finally - varied, dynamic environments.

So, I'd rather that Frontier don't spend "half a billion bucks" on our avatars.
- as someone that tried the archeage beta, please let us modify body shapes/heights, even a little bit will remove that "we're all clones" feeling.
- the ME series had wonderful graphics. It was all pre-cooked, but I don't know if something like that is reasonable on 2014 PC hardware.
- personally, I'd like star-trek style alien races *grumble*.

In general, I think bioware have historically got this stuff spot-on - the ME series, and before that the star wars games. Their engine didn't appear cutting edge, but they were able to produce extremely varied environments that felt right, ran well, and faces etc were well-defined.

 

[Guy DudeBroMan]

Sounds great, as long as it doesn’t end up like X rebirth, same little ship rooms, same corridors, same station rooms, same lame NPC standing around doing nothing at all.

What you want is something more like mass effect. Lots of atmosphere, good communication system with lots of verity.

God, no kidding. Rebirth is sitting in my Steam window right now, staring. Accusing. I can't bring myself to finish it because it's such a slog. And every time I look at my Cobra's co-pilot seat, I swear to Randomnius that I hear "No, shut up Betty!" Terrible, horrible, and more terrible. If we get hireable NPC crew, they better be a far sight more interesting than boob-window was.

I'm visualizing that the 'trading screen' currently available will be moved into the castle next to each docking pad, so you can go in there and do your business close to the pad if you have 'legal' business, but maybe have to go out of your way to find a black-market agent in the station? Seeing as how the stations are based on a small set of standardized designs, the floorplans will probably be similar, but I'd love to see each local culture decorate and maybe even modify the standardized stations to suit their tastes, maybe give you a better idea of who these people are beyond the 'Feudal, Agricultural' tags in your map.

And the NPC issue is just another reason to have a robust character creator. I didn't know about Black Desert either, and yeah, that's fantastic! The CC for Sims 4 is surprisingly robust, too, if cartoonish. If you make it robust enough, you can add a decent randomizer to it (ala The Sims) and let the engine auto-generate NPCs that at least don't look like clones of each other all the time. The same randomizer can be used for PCs since, I get that not everyone would want to go into the same level of detail as I do. Have a few dozen pre-sets that are decently crafted, and then open up the details options for those of us who like to tinker.

 

[Hired Gun]

One thing is definitely sure:
Since this is a science fiction, space(ship) based online game, just like in EVE, the head, meaning hair, face and neck is of primary importance in the character editor.
After all it is unlikely that our pilots will have head and body gear or armor, so it's their face which will be shown and visible in most situations, like in chats, forums, interactions, characteristics, stats, skills, trading diplomacy, etc.
Even when (and if) the "walking around" feature will be implemented, probably only the face will be shown by most actions/interactions, (like bí talking for example), so body editing options/choices come only secondary.
If somewhere, then there some "fine-tuning" adjustments could be "neglected". As for me, even the adjusting only height, shape and skin (or uniform) color would be sufficient.
So I do hope, that the main focus will be placed on character's head. (just like in EVE)
So please concentrate on the head dear devs! (hair-face-neck)