I apologize if any of this was mentioned before, but I just started keeping tabs on skyrim. I'd like to share something I've noticed.

If you take a look at the screenshot of the Draugr Hero on the official skyrim media section, you'll notice that he is quite muscular. Another thing you should note is the only race it could be is a nord. The dragonborn hero from the trailer is also seemingly a nord, but not quite as buff.

Is there possible a physique progression with increased STR? Not unbelieveable. If that be the case, then its only fair that every stat influences your body's appearance. This is interesting from a modding standpoint, because there must be some kind of system to simplify all these .nif skeletons to avoid clipping. This coupled with some bleeding edge havok behavior animation software is going to make mods that were once impossible pretty simple compared to oblivion even with OBSE.

Ok Bethesda, I hope you guys made some pretty powerful high order programming software with minimal low order scripting.

....ok enough drooling over the creation kit,...

What you guys say about the screenshot nord vs. trailer nord? Difference in muscle mass? Yay or Nay

I'm guessing we'll be able to choose between a couple of body types. I'd prefer that over a stat based appearance, I don't want all of my characters to end up with giant muscles.

I believe that the game has the option to choose multiple body types, as opposed to having your appearance determined by your stats, and really, that's how it should be. I want to create a character that looks the way I want, and not have that character's appearance permanently be changed, potentially in a way I don't want, simply because I increased my character's stats during the game. And if the players' body is customizable, we can assume that NPCs can have a number of different body shapes too, so there's your explanation. Though in the case of Draugr, since they're monsters, they likely don't use the same models as player character's to begin with, so any differences can be explained on that rather than any differences in the physique of playable characters.

Nor would I want extremely pale and bony figured wizard characters. This was one feature of Fable I didn't really like too much, and I hope I don't see it here.

I believe there was mention of differing body types? I can't back this up, I just have some vague memory of it...

Anyway, yes, I would prefer it if it were selected rather than derived from stats, and I expect that will be the case.

Yes, I believe that was mentioned, that's why I spoke of different body types.

Pump iron... lift dragon heads more like! :tops:

Not wanting to buck the trend at all, but I'm gonna go with a stats based progression. The reason for this is that stat increases equals rewards (in your abilities and performance etc) and I like to think there would be a visual reward as well. Also, I'm not comfortable with having a character with the equivalent of 100 Strength, without the body mass to match it, but that is just my personal choice, I know others differ. However, It seems unlikely to me that the morphing body will occur, and thus, if Beth implements a body choice option I will be over the moon!

I too share your concern of becoming a juggernaut emblazened in arcane tattoos,...ahem peter molyneux....when I am a thief who happens to have high STR.

The screenshots are very impressive so far, however TES3 and 4 looked impressive in their first screens to a degree only a motionless picture can achieve. Its very comforting bethesda is taking animation seriously this time. It was truly the biggest of the very few flaws in the past 2 ES games.

To Bethesda's credit, a lot of the animations themselves were very well done. What makes it so obvious is the transitions between animations. For example, you cant just stop running instantly. You have to break momentum and decelerate first. Same goes for starting to run, you have to accelerate and gain momentum.

Based on the trailer, Bethesda has hit all of this pretty good. I see head bobbing in 1st person, very intricate idle animations in battle stance, and an overall greater sense of weight and natural movement.

One thing I was looking for in the trailer was a demonstration of full cloth simulation, and not just a streaching robe texture meshed onto the skeleton. The robe in the video, however, is not a full robe, but a hooded half-robe with a cloak flap only hanging behind the legs.

I'm really not sure if I'm more excited for the kit or the game! Probably due to my having to mod the enjoyment out of oblivion waiting for this to be announced.

There are DEFINITELY differing body types, for different races if nothing else.
In one of the GI art videos, you can at one point see a design on a wall showing three different sized bodies.

I don't know if that just means each race will be a different size (which would accord with their statements regarding an increased focus on racial distinctions), or if we can assume that there will be different body shapes selectable for each race. I hope the latter.

I didn't mention this because it's highly doubtful it would be implemented, it will probably be villified by one and all and therefore isn't really speculation, just an idea I think is nice. :/ But I like the idea of being able to re-edit your characters appearance if you so wished, in-game, and in race. So, change environmental appearance factors such as skin tone, age and muscle mass as the game progresses. Would probably break willing suspension of disbelief for some (it wouldn't for me, I always really appreciate the option to tweak), but it would mean that stats-based appearance wouldn't afflict everyone who doesn't want it, but equally static appearance wouldn't be forced on those you wish for a more dynamic appearance.

As I said, I don't believe it will be implemented. I guess this post is just as bad as all the 'everything optional!' threads floating around...

Are you a Magic user by any chance? Prefer more of a 'Conan the Librarian' physique?

Body Progression is bad, it's one of the main reasons why I don't have Fable 2 anymore. Hopefully we'll be able to choose from a a couple of preset body builds because I think it's going to be hard to have a complete custom body because of Meshing with the Armor. I think certain Mods in Oblivion could do it successfully and the technology has gotten better in the last 5 years. Still I have concerns and if a piece of Cuirass Armor type isn't done right then the Body Mesh won't match up, for example your character is really skinny but if you wear the armor and the body meshs aren't working properly you would revert back to normal size or if your a female character and you have a certain chest size the body mesh could make it smaller or bigger then what it should be. I'm hoping that this form of customization in character creation is further explained in the upcoming months.

This just made me think of the restoration fortify attribute spells for some reason. The idea of casting fortify strength or drinking a bottle of mead and your muscles suddenly inflating like balloons is quite amusing- maybe not enough to make me want it. I'm a bit of a 'getting my character just right kinda girl so dynamic appearance would irritate me. Still, if it was included and little points like this were considered, it would be funny.

Body progression would make more sense if it followed character skills imo. If the skills are still divided between stealth, magic and combat, it would be easy to set the progression based on which skills you raised most.

I don't really know what they could do about magic progression though...

If this is the case, it will basically be robert's male bodies w/o you having to mod it in. I also see no indication to the extent of the body options. If the customization range is great, then multiple skeletons would be required to avoid clipping. So it may be limited to slight increase in mass, and a more muscular appearing texture.

Ba Ha Ha Ha Ha

Well that's easy... you just make the characters head grow extremely big.

Just slap some arcane weathering on thier body, a few glowing streaks on the hands, and accelerated aging.

NPCs perhaps, but I'd rather choose how I look, even if it's a bit unrealistic.

http://laughingsquid.com/wp-content/uploads/late-night-barbarian-20100510-121945.jpg
:whistling:

I don't want to hold back my strength or skills just so my character doesn't look like a gorilla. Absolutely hate body progression.

Reminds me of a guy I saw in Vegas.

Hope to god not.

1) It was terrible in Fable

2) If I pick an appearance for my character (hair, face, body, etc), then I want it to stay the way I picked it, not mutate into some other form. (which means that, yes.... I also don't like "growing hair" systems)

3) Something like this would probably make building compatible body mods more difficult. Of course, I've got hopes that the bodies are much better than in MW/OB and I won't need a mod, but....

Me either, but if it was stat based i doubt it would get much bigger than the nord in the screenshot at max STR. Thats also a nord, one of the bulkiest races, if not the biggest. I don't think Bethesda would overdue this system, if they indeed did it at all. I just have faith it wouldnt be fable extreme. Also from what I hear about how the game tends to specialize your character, the end result should only ever be what you intended.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not a fan of body progression, but its just unlikely ull end up a gorilla unless you are hammering away crafting armor, and wielding claymores wearing heavy armor. In which case you were planning on being a gorilla.





about the bodies, idk if I trust the first batch of eye candy. However, I will say the faces seen so far are very pleasing. They have a very realistic quality. They arent doll faces and they arent oblivion monsters. Two good things so far.