Why can't we get a character creation?

[Muaxh03]

I'm a new player to ARPGs, the WASD movement and general quality makes me very excited about this game but my only issue or nitpick is the character creation.

I've asked around on Reddit and whatnot and far as I know every class can wear and use every weapons if they have the required points for it, like a ranger can use a sword and wear heavy armor. So first I thought they couldn't give us character creation because they probably made heavy armors to fit only warrior model for example but that's not the case so why can't we have a basic character creation?

Even presets for classes would be nice, 2 preset for each class maybe. I've got downvoted on Reddit for asking this and the generally the answer was no one cares, or you won't see your character under armor, which they're right in some aspects but character creation is important for me any many others, also armors look different on woman characters etc. and to RP it would be nice to have.

I think this is the same issue as WASD on Diablo 4, all "long time" players hated the idea and mocked people for wanting it but outside of that "long time" players, new players wanted it and PoE2 announced that they were doing it and Diablo 4 added WASD movement as well. I think the same is happening, people that don't care or used to non existing character creation on PoE hate the idea of character creation for literally no reason, it would be just a basic game mechanic that people would appreciate, especially new players.

I've watched a lot of interviews about the devs of PoE2 and in one of them they explained that there isn't many humanoid characters so they don't have any reason to use resources to build a character creation. This is completely fine, but we should meet in the middle my idea of fixing this is a preset system, you click on the character and select from 2 different models with this you don't have build a character creation but can provide variety so every warrior class is not the same dude running around. Other method could be let us choose our class and model differently, for example, let me pick ranger but after that I can choose to play as the druid model.

TL;DR: As a new ARPG player, I'm excited about the game but disappointed with the lack of character creation options. every class can use any armor and weapons, so why not have at least a couple of presets per class for more variety so every warrior class won't be the same dude running around. I believe character customization is important, especially for new players to the genre. The devs mentioned limited humanoid models as a reason for the lack of options, but a simple preset system could offer more variety without requiring extensive resources or a paid mtx options to make more money.

Edit: To people that think it's useless because you don't see your character when wearing armor, your characters' size, length, gender etc. affects how they look on you, so that's why it's important to have some way of character creation or customization, here's a class comparison for the same armor from the devs 00:19 https://youtu.be/q7AcUwU2QUI?si=fmEGOxmcVjqspeO9&t=19

[anan]

yes

[Shiiru]

I'd be happy with just having the character models unlinked from the classes. Fine details won't be noticeable enough to warrant the extra development time for a full character creator. The silhouette of a character is apparent even when fully armored though outside of maybe the most over the top MTX. Going from say a Witch to a Templar is a pretty big difference in both size and sounds.

Like you mentioned, all the models are already programmed to be able to use all of the same armor, weapons, and skill animations.

This method would probably be best implemented as choosing the class first as it is currently then choosing a character model which would apply something similar to an MTX appearance and sound pack. That way it avoids the need to rework code outside character creation.

Select one of the characters, which determines your starting skill tree location and ascendancy group.
Then choose again, which determines your character's model & sounds.

If they wanted money off the feature they could sell model changes. Or just make a character slot on the MTX screen and sell the character models. Then its on the player to break any immersion if they're a big burly dude and get called a sorceress, same as them floating around as the humanized embodiment of the sun or some other MTX abomination.

[Muaxh03]

Originally posted by Shiiru:

If they wanted money off the feature they could sell model changes.

Yes even paid option I would go for it. Another way to make money, if someone doesn't care just play as default, if someone cares they can pay and change models.

[Shiiru]

I'd easily drop $30 or so to use whichever model I preferred for whatever build I wanted to play. I always limited what builds I'd try in PoE1 because I didn't like some of the models, sounds, and/or animations for some of the characters.

[Boge]

What? No character creation? What is this, the 1900s?

[parent child bowl]

Originally posted by Boge:

What? No character creation? What is this, the 1900s?

Character creation was way more popular in the 1900s than now though.

Those people aren't called "baby boomers" for nothing.

[PhellAsleep]

Originally posted by parent child bowl:

Originally posted by Boge:

What? No character creation? What is this, the 1900s?

Character creation was way more popular in the 1900s than now though.

Those people aren't called "baby boomers" for nothing.

Well then there shouldn't be any selectable options and character features should just be randomized.

[ignis]

You don't see your character while playing anyway.

[QcMetalHead]

you dont see your character ever ever whenn you play. your gear and cosmetics purchased on the store are how you will differentiate yourself from others (and skill tree ofc) and dont worry there are tons of options in PoE, to customize your character, that completely change the visuals. you just cant change your face. wich you never see anyway.
Game is free to play. you want custom appearance, buy it on the store.

[Hexton]

I like the idea of picking from the existing models to what class you choose.

[Lleajy]

Originally posted by QcMetalHead:

you dont see your character ever ever whenn you play. your gear and cosmetics purchased on the store are how you will differentiate yourself from others (and skill tree ofc) and dont worry there are tons of options in PoE, to customize your character, that completely change the visuals. you just cant change your face. wich you never see anyway.
Game is free to play. you want custom appearance, buy it on the store.

"Stop proposing stuff that I arbitrarily declare useless while there is this other game that has no problem proposing degrees of customization that people like"

Originally posted by ignis:

You don't see your character while playing anyway.

Just remove the character then, since you can't see it.

[OneNineDeepSilence]

That's why I'm not playing much PoE, their characters look bad. The skill effects and map details are quite nice, but character design lacking. Player characters above all.

This genre is used to lazy excuses to explain why can't have great looking characters. It's not just PoE, it's same with Diablo (though Diablo 3 had a few good looking ones; but Diablo 4 is back again into bad looks, even if they now have a character creator).

Those playing it don't care much, and not many new players join, because it's a niche that is stuck with looking like a game from 20+ years ago.

I would pay 100 $ for a good looking character with nice outfit. That would be something to sell in their cosmetics shop. In every game that supports mods, good looking changes are top downloads. Looks it's just as important as gameplay, even more so, since it is so quick and easy to do it, compared to the time needed to create the gameplay.

[Muaxh03]

I'm seeing a lot of support here, which is nice, I forgot to mention it on the main text but I would totally be cool with a paid option since this is a f2p game, and generally I feel like the game will be awesome to play and the devs deserve it imo. It would be something that if you want it you can do it but if someone doesn't care they can just continue playing like normally.

I've posted the exact same post to PoE discussions. And every player that has like 3k-5k hours on the game mocked and said no one cares, you don't see your character, it's pointless, you're stupid for asking this etc. I find this very strange, the devs are doing everything to bring new players, adding features to understand the game easier, using terms like souls-like, dodge rolling, there are so many examples. Yet when someone asks about character creation or some way to change your character it's all hate and you're stupid for asking this.

Originally posted by Lleajy:

Originally posted by QcMetalHead:

you dont see your character ever ever whenn you play. your gear and cosmetics purchased on the store are how you will differentiate yourself from others (and skill tree ofc) and dont worry there are tons of options in PoE, to customize your character, that completely change the visuals. you just cant change your face. wich you never see anyway.
Game is free to play. you want custom appearance, buy it on the store.

"Stop proposing stuff that I arbitrarily declare useless while there is this other game that has no problem proposing degrees of customization that people like"

Originally posted by ignis:

You don't see your character while playing anyway.

Just remove the character then, since you can't see it.

You said it perfectly, it's something that long players see as useless therefore, no one should have it. It's very strange like this genre has RPG in it, if I'm playing a role, I want that role to be customized however I like, it's like asking GTA to add car customization it should already be in the game it's an RPG, you can pick your class and you can highly customize everything like weapons, gears and skills but not your character? It just doesn't make sense to me.

Even if they don't add this, I'll give it a try and probably enjoy it a lot. The core gameplay looks good, and WASD is a big green flag for me. I just would enjoy it a lot more if they added a basic character creation or some way to customize your character.

[ZeroTsu02]

Since it's Tencent I can definitely see it being an exclusive supporter pack feature and limited time too

[Haziza]

Nah, it's not needed.