- Layered Armor: In general the hierarchy of armor it generally goes: Cloth, Leather, Chain, Plate. Each ascending level consisting of layers of the lower tiers. I would like to see the ability to pick and choose the layers and pieces of armor I wear... For example: I want a mixture of flexibility and protection, so I choose some cloth breeches and shirt, leather boots, jerkin, and gloves, and some light plate armor for a 'shield' arm. The result is a custom appearance, which matches my play-style and my character in particular.

- Hard-points/Scabbards: There is one thing that I have wanted in pretty much every rpg where I have taken the trouble to collect every unique weapon relevant to my play style and usually the rest of them that aren't. I want the ability to 'wear' multiple weapons. They would basically be hard-points you assign to the quick-select buttons, since I believe most players would carry multiple weapons/gear to meet every challenge and situation I would like to be able to physically represent this on my character. Example of what I want: take mental picture of character described in point one. My character uses a mixture swords, magic, potions, and occasionally a bow... jack of all trades. Now that you have a picture of my character, add a leather quiver and a bow slung across the shoulders, a leather strap and scabbard for my primary sword, a belt sheath with a short-sword, maybe another for a dagger. Since I use magic and potions and would generally keep a few useful ones on quick-select there is a strap of heath potions on my belt, to represent a potent fire-spell there is a satchel of scrolls or a pouch for a reagent. This adds a touch of realism, and in my opinion at least - it would just be awesome to have a god-like warrior character resplendent in full plate and positively strapped with swords and gear, or in the case of my 'jack of all trades' an accurate yet badass looking representation of a character I'm sure I will be putting somewhere upwards of 70 hours into. And to come back to my first line on this point, when I put so many hours into exploring a world and finding all the unique items, I would like to have a reason to use more than one of them. As such, they should be accordingly badass and badass looking, and then to be able to physically represent more than one on your character just seems like the next logical step. In addition to this would be the ability to pick and choose what goes on which hard-point/where they are on your body - example: do I want my dagger on my belt or in a boot sheath or maybe on a strap between my shoulders. Example of awesomeness two: an assassin character in a full body black leather suit and mask, absolutely strapped with 6 daggers, a short sword, and a string of poison vials. Its a simple addition that adds a level of customization and class representation to your character, try not to look like a badass with this.

-Tabards/Banners/Heraldry/Cloaks/Tattoos: Now that you got a set of armor that looks awesome and you're strapped with weaponry and gear, how about some representation for those factions and guild memberships you've worked so hard to attain. Simple heraldry does the trick nicely. From the plain rank badge or arm strap, to the tabard and cloak, to hell why not... a banner pole mounted in a back harness, why not represent your allegiances and ranks? Why not tattoo your rank of fighters guild Guardian, a suitably awesome symbol on your forearm which you choose to leave uncovered for just that purpose.

- Customization: Now take the extra step and make it your own... and option to make your own heraldry, and some customization to the little things - for example: dyes, gilding, design patterns for armor/weapons, custom tabards and cloaks... Example of awesomeness three: an arch-mage with sweet robes and cloak/coat, maybe an awesome hat, staff tied across back, satchel of scrolls, belts of pouches for reagents and potions, some of which glow with barely contained power, glyphs float in the air around you, a silver dagger hangs from a chain around your neck, your enchanted clothing shimmers with power, a guild symbol embossed on your cloak declares your allegiance... Now go kill something.

YES!

I would love to see all these suggestions.

People spend so much time on their characters, adding these "little" additions would make the world of difference.

I would love to have a multi-type armour and then choose where I hang my short sword and longs word

Also If you have a shield, please when you haven't got it actively equipped could we see it on our backs please!

:rock: yes yes and yes! lol

I agree with absolutely everything you said adding these would make every character look special, you could do it to NPCs even and make them look special.

i think Red Dead Redemption and Fable 2,3 had this but not as customisable just that you could see all your weapons and yes i for one would love to see this

Mass Effect has the closest system to this one, in which you can choose where your weapons are positioned on your back. But there's really no point in doing so in Mass Effect because either your weapon is a silver rectangle or a red rectangle. And it still doesn't approach the customisability of the OP's suggestion.

...In fact, your suggestion is such simple common sense, why is it not in EVERY RPG? I really feel as though it ought to be...

KEEP THIS THREAD ALIVE!!!!

Yes to pretty much everything. I'm fairly optimistic that at least tattoos are in.

I think tattoos will be in the character creation. = no guild tattoos etc... But god i hope so..

Awesome thread.

THIS IS THE BEST IDEA EVAR! not sarcasm!

I concur. :goodjob:

http://www.imperial-library.info/sites/default/files/dogate_til_fishystick.jpg :thumbsup:

As long as all those "throw more junk on my character" options came with the option to NOT do any of them (for example, just because I have two swords and a bow in my quickslots, don't stick all of them on my character model; just the one that's equipped, thanks) it wouldn't bother me at all.


(Personally, I find characters that look like hobos with ten billion straps/bags/sheathes/etc on them to be really unattractive. But hey, that's aesthetics for you! )

My question is why bother... your going to be the only person to see your character.. in MMOs it makes sense so you can show off what you have to others.. but honestly a person will most likely spend 3 hours customizing their first character, and any subsequent playthroughs after that just wont be worth the time.

great idea, but after the first one or two accounts people just wont bother.

That sounds really good, and I would like to see this implemented in some way. At least in the next The Elder Scrolls game

Interesting concepts. I am not sure what is planned, or what is practical, but I would like to see most of the presented concepts in-game, if possible.

Good job describing how a warrior could look.

With some of the armors, I would like to see a touch of fur included, especially with cloth and leather armors, It would be a nice look.

IIt would be nice to see some symbols or marks (heraldry) designating factions such as clans or guilds and indications of rank, etc.

Choice of dyes on clothing, weapons and armors.

Tats for some characters, and for some, removable woad/facepaint

And yes, I would like to see my sheathed dagger while I use a bow with a quiver showing.

And I would like some kind of fur coat/cloak or fur trimmed coat/cloak for cold weather

Not sure how a staff would work that, however...

Personally, I am not into the banner poles, but would use that slot for weapons/shield/quiver display.

Great ideas, and would like to see them in game if possible/practical.

We want a lot, don't we, lol?

You'd be surprised. At least on the PC side of things. A large number of mods are purely to make your character look better..... improved body models, improved skin textures, more hairstyles & eyes, tattoos, vast amounts of fancy armors & clothes, etc.....

1. Customizing where your armor goes makes sense from a RP perspective but in these games without distributed hitboxes it doesn't make sense. Having a high defense boots helps protect your head as much as having a high defense helmet =( I hope TES6 has more realistic physics for this.

2. Customizing the look of your character isn't that important in first person view. How much we use that in TES5 is up for debate, however.

While I agree with the OP, I also stress what Jimmy says, that we need hitboxes with damage variables.

Also, NPCs NEED to react to your appearance, and not in a lame, simplified way. Going around with a mowhawk, tats, and spiky armor might prevent you from getting hassled by every low rent bandit, but maybe the Fighter's Guild won't want to be represented by someone who looks like a savage outlaw warrior. The Dark Brotherhood or a bandit gang would of course have no problem with that.

i think you underestimate how much people love to play barbies with their character : P

Exactly this.

One only needs to look at the countless screenshot threads for Oblivion characters to observe this phenomenon.

Character creation is very important to many game players regardless of genre.

I do play some games that have limited, or no real CC, but I am very choosey about them.

And I have not played some popular games because of the lack of that feature.

It gives us a sense of control. Every gamer likes the thought of putting a little of themselves into the character they are using. Gives it sentimental value

I would definitely bother. I love crafting my characters from their personality, to their physical appearance, to where they hang their short-sword. But alas, no RPG has ever had the depth of customization that the OP is suggesting. I would instantly buy the first RPG that did so however.

I really hope this isn't the type of fan Bethesda is catering to these days. Even games like GTA have allowed extensive character personalization. It's much less necessary in that kind of game, and I think in more recent installments its been kept restricted to clothes, but even so. Character creation is less important in games where you play a specific person, and the main game can be completed in 12 hours or so. The Elderscrolls is defined by games that are endlessly playable, and by characters that are unique, even among the millions of players. Because who wants to spend 200 playing with a Dark Elf wearing the same armor and using the same weapon and the same spells as every other person?

BUMP FOR THE GREATER GOOD