One of CoX’s rightfully renowned strengths is its costume creator, with zillions of combos of outfts, accessories, body types, features, etc. While there’s always “just one more thing” every player wants, it’s without a doubt one of the gems in CoX’s crown.
LotRO is very pretty in many ways, but character customization is limited. You have control over hair style and color, complexion, eye color, a couple of other things, but after that, the only variations are … what adventures you have. Every class/race/gender starts off looking exactly alike, and based on the gear you pick up (or buy), you can change that.
But it’s more complicated. My elvish hunter, Frelliel, picked up a lovely plumed hat somewhere. Loved it. But eventually I had to give it up because, well, I picked up a stupid kind of hat that had much better armor rating. Good-bye, plumed hat.
Things get found of different colors, too. Margie notes the “clown” effect — “why the heck am I wearing these purple shoes with this outfit. Oh, yeah, they have a nice armor class and Agility bonus.”
You do get one other level of customization — you can turn off helmets/hats (so that your bare hair is shown), cloaks (to admire your outfit), or boots (if you’re a hobbit) in the UI, which lets you keep the bonus, but tune the look just a bit. It’s an imperfect solution, but that’s what you got.
Enter Book 12, and Outfits.
The goal of The Outfit System is fairly simple: Give players complete control over how they look in the game, without impacting the gameplay benefits they gain from their currently equipped items. […] Now, as of Book 11 you already have your first Outfit. The Outfit System refers to that set of items you currently have equipped. That won’t be changing at all.
What we’re unveiling in Book 12 is the ability for you to define two additional cosmetic appearances, called Outfits, for your character. These Outfits will override the visual appearance of your base Equipment.
Now, it’s important to emphasize that these additional inventories are only cosmetic, and that your Equipment will continue to be the only items affecting your stats. With that said, once Book 12 goes live it’s really up to you as to how you want yourself to look in Middle-earth.
Spiffy!
Two extra outfit slots open at level 20. If you pick it up (or buy it), you can make it part of an alternate outfit. There will be some (reasonable) restrictions, but also the adding of a lot of various non-combat-related clothing items. Excellent.
Also being introduced is the Barber Shop, which lets you change some physical appearances — hair styles, facial details, etc., with various new ones of these also being added in.
It doesn’t look nearly up to CoX level yet, but it’s a welcome addition to a good game.
Other Book 12 patch notes info is here.
(via Doyce)
Not bad, only 9 months behind EQ2 on the “outfits” and a year and a half on the Barber….and I am amused that they used the same exact name and way of doing it. ;P
I’m looking forward to the Outfit System. I’ve recently started using dyes, so that my Hunter doesn’t have to wear bright red gloves.
It looks like you need to actually have an item to add it to an Outfit. I’m glad I saved that old helmet I want my Champion to wear.
I like the fact that that there are differences in the range of eye, hair, and skin color based on what region of Middle-earth you’re from. I hope that the Barbershop keeps the regional limitations for characters.
I agree that the ethnic/origin ranges for different races are kind of cool. Though I seem to recall that elves in Tolkien were, in fact, generally blond, and Elrond and his kids had dark hair only because of their mixed heritage.
It occurs to me that the main problem with the Outfit system is, in fact, that you’ll have to have it to wear it. That sounds like using up valuable slots in your bags. Annoying.
It seems that you have to have it to add it to your outfit, but you need not keep it once it’s been added.
“Equipping an item to an Outfit slot will still leave the item in your inventory.
This will allow you to trade those items to other players, store them in your bank, etc., although items that bind will need to be bound to you before you can equip them into Outfit slots.”
http://www.lotro.com/article/487
Yeah, from what I’m reading on the forums, it sounds like anything you add to your alternate outfits stays on you even if you put it in your vault, sell it, or trade it (assuming it’s not a bound item). It doesn’t sound logical to me, but at least you don’t have to waste precious inventory slots on middle earth t-shirts and jeans!
“It’s magic!” (Waves hands.)
Now we just need a visual guide that shows all the options–outifts, etc.–and where they can be obtained…
“Though I seem to recall that elves in Tolkien were, in fact, generally blond, and Elrond and his kids had dark hair only because of their mixed heritage.”
Nope, most Elves have dark hair, only a minority have fair hair (and still less have red.) Dark hair has got nothing to do with human blood. Lúthien, Finwë, Fëanor, Fingolfin, Fingon, Turgon etc. were all dark-haired.
Yes, I realise I’m about two years late. But it’s a pet peeve of mine.
You are, upon my looking it up, correct (the Vanyar were blond, but that’s the onyl group so described). Hmmmm … I’ve had that impression for many years — I wonder from where.