Why do people say vanilla character models are ugly?

[Daddy Kaneki]

Look at Marcurio

Lydia

Ysolda

These characters are very, very beautiful. And the vast majority of the characters in Skyrim look gruff and realistic and gritty, and that's the way it should be. It's not anime and it doesn't need to be.

[Swordgun]

Not all mods make them anime-like. I personally hate that anime feel some people seem to like. I use an overhaul called WICO which is amazing IMO.

[lupus_hegemonia]

Because they are, SO UGLY!
Wonna an example? Here:

Serana the Vampire Princess (vanilla):

http://topofthemods.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/marry-serana-mod.png

Serana the Vampire Princess (MY version, from mod):

https://staticdelivery.nexusmods.com/mods/1704/images/53507-1-1406394527.jpg


"It's quite a bit different", don't you see?!

[patrickstar]

Because kids nowadays have no idea. The characters look very nice, but people always need something to complain about or troll

[MysticMalevolence]

Originally posted by patrickstar:

Because kids nowadays have no idea. The characters look very nice, but people always need something to complain about or troll

"It can't possibly be a legitimate criticism so it must be those damn dirty kids or trolls."

[TheDancingPig]

Originally posted by Smug Ezreal:

Look at Marcurio

Lydia

Ysolda

These characters are very, very beautiful. And the vast majority of the characters in Skyrim look gruff and realistic and gritty, and that's the way it should be. It's not anime and it doesn't need to be.

I like mine to look a little different but not anime like, I am not a really big fan of anime, I always found it weird how many nearly turn skyrim into a sex simulation with mods, that is my one thing i find really weird, But the anime look not into it either but I do like a bit of unqiueness thats in line with the race I play.

[lupus_hegemonia]

There is NOTHING more to say, pictures are "thousand words" as they saying...
See the "vanilla Serana" and compare it with this SUPER AMAZING Vampire lady from that mod I'm using...

...It's like you trying to comparing a... FIAT with a... LAMBORGHINI!

[lupus_hegemonia]

You wonna see LYDIA? Here the vanilla:

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rDJrpxKQ-wk/T2z3bWYlIJI/AAAAAAAAAmQ/n9n18KUMzfs/s1600/Lydia.jpg

Here is the OVERHAUL Lydia:

https://c2.staticflickr.com/4/3815/10837147346_afc5ace149_b.jpg

[Rafael Freeman]

Originally posted by lupus_hegemonia:

Because they are, SO UGLY!
Wonna an example? Here:

Serana the Vampire Princess (vanilla):

http://topofthemods.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/marry-serana-mod.png

Serana the Vampire Princess (MY version, from mod):

https://staticdelivery.nexusmods.com/mods/1704/images/53507-1-1406394527.jpg


"It's quite a bit different", don't you see?!

Different as in that the modded version looks like a Barbie doll designed by a 15 year old boy with raging hormones.

To each his own, I think it is great that people can use mods to customize their game experience, but for me this example of modded Serana looks horribly fake.

I like the fact that the characters in Vanilla Skyrim look gritty and distinct. The same goes for a lot of the original design, some mods make Skyrim look too much like a fairytale land (for me).

[Daddy Kaneki]

Originally posted by lupus_hegemonia:

You wonna see LYDIA? Here the vanilla:

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rDJrpxKQ-wk/T2z3bWYlIJI/AAAAAAAAAmQ/n9n18KUMzfs/s1600/Lydia.jpg

Here is the OVERHAUL Lydia:

https://c2.staticflickr.com/4/3815/10837147346_afc5ace149_b.jpg

My point is that even VanilLydia is still beautiful.

The thing is that this game has dirty and gritty looking characters, and also beautiful and flawless characters that still fit into the world's art style. Most mods just try to change everyone to look like dolls or like anime, or there are mods that only change one character (like the ones you've been posting) that make them look so different that they no longer fit the art style.

Now before you argue with me, wait. I DO enjoy the mods that alter the childrens' appearance. They make them look cute and more realistic while still keeping with the game's art style. As long as it fits with the style, the mod still makes sense. But the others don't make any sense to me. The Lydia one is suitable but she's still going to stand out a lot. The Serana one is just waaaay too far out there, even if she does look objectively better than Vanilla Serana (who, again, still looks beautiful)

[Docsprock]

There are different kinds of beauty, as well. Zora Fair-Child is one of the most beautiful females in the game, (Interesting NPCs mod), but her face is burned and scarred. I am astonished by her even now.

http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=853805301

[Swordgun]

Originally posted by Docsprock:

There are different kinds of beauty, as well. Zora Fair-Child is one of the most beautiful females in the game, (Interesting NPCs mod), but her face is burned and scarred. I am astonished by her even now.

http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=853805301

She's so beautiful ineed.

[Necromia]

It doesnt take long to realize that most faces are blocky.

[Tryst49]

The vanilla graphics have blocky faces with fewer vertexes to sculpt the face. Most mods just bring it to a more realistic appearance by increasing the number of vertexes so a smoother curve can be used.

There are anime mods but I avoid those. I normally use the ones that smooth out the blocky and unrealistic looking faces but leave the scars, dirt and gruff look alone. Add in the more realistic eyes instead of the dull and lifeless ones in Vanilla and also the real flowing hair instead of the plastic hair and it provides a far better look to the game.

For someone who like immersion, having more realistic looking people, even though they may be fantasy characters like Elves and Khajit, helps a lot. The blocky vanilla faces make me feel like I've just gone to Toontown to meet Roger Rabbit.

[Daddy Kaneki]

Originally posted by tryst49:

The vanilla graphics have blocky faces with fewer vertexes to sculpt the face. Most mods just bring it to a more realistic appearance by increasing the number of vertexes so a smoother curve can be used.

There are anime mods but I avoid those. I normally use the ones that smooth out the blocky and unrealistic looking faces but leave the scars, dirt and gruff look alone. Add in the more realistic eyes instead of the dull and lifeless ones in Vanilla and also the real flowing hair instead of the plastic hair and it provides a far better look to the game.

For someone who like immersion, having more realistic looking people, even though they may be fantasy characters like Elves and Khajit, helps a lot. The blocky vanilla faces make me feel like I've just gone to Toontown to meet Roger Rabbit.

Do you have recommendations for mods like this that work with the special edition?

Also, any children appearance mods that work with SE?

[DanloJr]

Originally posted by lupus_hegemonia:

You wonna see LYDIA? Here the vanilla:

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rDJrpxKQ-wk/T2z3bWYlIJI/AAAAAAAAAmQ/n9n18KUMzfs/s1600/Lydia.jpg

Here is the OVERHAUL Lydia:

https://c2.staticflickr.com/4/3815/10837147346_afc5ace149_b.jpg

So you pick a low res distant pick of vanilla Lyidia and a hi-res close up of your "hottie" lydia. Yeah cos the comparrisons are so fair.