I've assumed that the body type allocated during characters design is purely visual and has no impact on the character's attributes (e.g. health, stamina, magika, stealth, damage etc). It would be cool to have advantages and disadvantages for each body type.

Maybe as an optional mode for those that want to RP with their body shape. Making it mandatory would be a bad idea, people are very protective of their characters' appearances.

No, it doesn't affect anything.

It would be a bad idea.

I think if it were optional you would also get the minimax crowd creating a based character who can dish out the damage they want (probably a 7ft body builder)

"What's the best body type for melee DPS?" => every min-maxer choosing the same shape.

And the next thing you know people start complaining that women being as strong as men break their immershun. Because body type realism, this game has it!

I'll pass.

Why? It just offers more options to how characters can be. For example you don't see many obese people sprinting around, but could presumably be a better tank.

And how would you qualify them? People often associate strength, for example in folks built like old Arnie once upon a time, or the Rock, or (insert Hollywood tough guy here). However, the strongest of men, those who can lift incredible amounts of weight and move around with them, are build more like offensive lineman. That "fat" guy you might have huffing and puffing actually can run just as well as you while carrying two hundred pounds on their shoulders. Okay, all numbers are made up, but you get the point.

It would be interesting if it was a visual thing only, seeing your character grow in muscle mass and height as you level and gain skills...though I guess that would look very awkward. Everyone at level 50 would all be body builders.

So, I guess at the end of the day, I'll have to go against this. Maybe in a single player game it's fine, but in an MMO I don't really see it working out well. I'd imagine everyone would look the same at some point.

i also think it would be a bad idea... since i would like to make my characters look a certain way without their looks affecting their stats...

sounds like Fable-

It doesn't offer any more options, it would make everyone a 7ft bodybuilder.

Best tank? 7ft bodybuilder

Best melee DPS? 7ft bodybuilder

Best mage? no body type would help you for your mage's brain... but it doesn't hurt to be a 7ft bodybuilder!

EDIT: obese being a better tank? wut? that makes no sense. You need muscle to wear heavy armor, to hold a shield. Muscle is hard and lets you take punishment, not fat...

because most obese person try to stay as far away as possible from their real life problem. I am overweight and i would really dislike having my hero shaped like me.

Yes it would require assumptions to be made, and possibly offend some people. Dangerous area to touch really.

Being a tank as being larger could denote more HP, and so being a better tank.

But yes I get your point, the variation between body types would need to provide incentive not to be a 7ft bodybuilder.

I'd love to see how an obese person can tank better. They'd run out of breath early and not be able to avoid damage other than taking a beating which wouldn't last long.

There are just certain things in an RPG that shouldn't be realistic.

You watched Game of Thrones? Samwell Tarly would make a fine tank, I'm sure! XD

http://i.imgur.com/Zt7J2pf.jpg

Do you consider NFL offensive lineman to be obese? Because most of them can run circles around the average gamer.

That said, very few folks want their "hero" to look like that, and Troclodyte makes a valid point.

I'd like it if there were some differences so you could tell from appearance what someone is capable of. It makes no sense that you can make the fattest looking character who can be the best sneaker, dodger, and runner.

Interesting. I also never want my hero to be like me...Muscular, normal weight, and good looking. It wouldn't be fun at all.

I'm going to roleplay an obese character. Also with attributes that suit the appearance. Much Health.

http://i7.minus.com/ibk5VzFtv2wA43.jpg

It would be an unfair advantage because there will mostly be these large and buff players walking around.

Short curvy bosmer, likes long walks in the forest, assassinations and meat.

If you've got the play style in mind such as a barbarian then at the character creation you can just select the builder body type build. I don't think a system a la Pumping Iron (http://www.nexusmods.com/skyrim/mods/29476/?) is really suitable for this game as it stand with the ability to reallocate your resource points will-nilly and also considering that there isn't an option to customise how your character looks at a later date to maybe show some degree of visual progress on your character, I just don't think this is a suitable miscellaneous mechanic.

Rofl.

There would need to be a playoff between how their other attributes (e.g. magika and stealth) would be adversely affected, otherwise it would be pointless. You would need a pro and a con for each body type trait otherwise it wouldn't work.

That's what i was thinking lol.