Character Creator & Character Customization (Official Thread)

Sideburns.

I'm shite at creating the character I want, so I'd appreciate the ability to "borrow" someone else's when they share it online.  A face-code would be nice.

Mainly what I'd like to see for the CC would be improvements in hair, I feel like Inquisition was a step in the right direction but Bioware can continue to improve on it. I hope there's a lot of customization options, and the ability to share face codes again would be nice too.

Aside from the things already mentioned *coughhaircough* (and I think I already said this in an older thread, so forgive me repeating myself) but I would like more diversity in complexions and skin details. For instance, one of my favourite things out of the Fallout 4 CC was the pigmentation options. They were really cool and different and allowed for some very distinctive looking characters.

Considering all hopes for good hair are already lost, my number 1 wish is be able to change the chacter AFTER the game started. Like the mirror thing from DA2 and DAI. This tool is just too useful to be left out because of logic.

DA:I was a step in the right direction. If they can improve on the hair and beards and give us some extra lighting I'd be more than satisfied.

What i agree with:

• "Refinement Box" (or whatever it's officially called)
• Tattoos - should be an option now since our character is likely not backed by an underground organization who's obsessed over the cosmetic.
• Hair variety - agreed. More choices would be good. Because if there's anything i'd like, is as many hair variety as i'll have playthroughs. And i do a lot of playthroughs.

The few thing(s) missing:

• Character codes - a lot of people have asked for this and i think it should be fairly doable. Even if they're long, it would allow for players to share them online and even mimic some favorites because, in all honesty, not everyone's great in making faces the way you want. Me included. I just go… crosseyed trying.
• Body shape - while i'm not expecting the entire Saints Row range of options, i think the Body Shape slider, even if limited to "military fit" would be great, if for anything, to show the company's not into body shaming. Large, petite, any shape's a good shape.
• Basic hairstyles - i applaud BioWare's desire for immersion, providing hairstyles to the players that will match the times, but i think a basic set of hair styles that, in general, are seen in all games. This way, not only do we have "safe" options if this is what fits us better, we'll also have their options if want the additional immersion.
• Outfit styling - it would be nice if there was an option to choose between types of stylings. I know i'm usually good with the basic options but i think people would like it if occasionally they could play someone who's more fashionable, or accessorizes, or likes tight-fitting outfits. Or even relaxed looking outfits. The last's my preference but the other options would also be good to reflect the world's interest in how they wear clothing.
  

LOL Damnit, beards.... beeaaards. Funny one letter going somewhere else changes everything.

Most are already listed but here are some of mine:

Better lighting. No one puts their make-up on the dark. We shouldn't have to in the CC either.
Face codes/export/save option before starting the game proper
Actual black for hair, not grey-black or blue-black or whatever that color is in DAI
Separate color options for eyebrows and hair; maybe some highlight options
More hair styles; 50 shades of bald is not helpful

i will use the preset male look. Just want more options for the character background and more dialogues making reference to it

A body slider or at least the ability to choose from three different body builds. Yes I know this is not going to happen.

What I'd like out of ME:A's CC (and every other) is simple: Keep improving its quality while adding more features, but don't remove previous features, and please don't arbitrarily lock us out of certain options that the game can handle. That's my TL;DR, because wall of text/images incoming!

What do I mean by all that? Well, the first part is obvious. More stuff is great, better stuff is great. As for removing features, DA:I didn't have the option to change eyebrow colour separately from scalp-hair colour, which was frustrating, especially since past games had that option. It's especially odd since people in real life have that, and that's not counting dyes (which exist in DA and ME). So there is an example of regression that I don't want to see. And locking us out of things? Well, for one, I don't want to have default protagonists who have features (hair, freckles, etc.) that custom characters can't use (Shep, Hawke). Luckily, it looks like ME:A won't have this problem.

I must make the obligatory mention of better hair as well Come on, Bioware, get someone who actually likes/has hair to give you some advice/model things. Or just look up some styles on the internet, or go outside In case anyone likes reading rants about hair, I'll spoiler one of my previous posts on the topic that explains my thoughts more precisely


What we got in DA:I was abysmal for many reasons, so please, please do better.

So, other than that, what are some ideas I'd like to see implemented?

- Well, I'd like them to take DA:I's scar system and improve it to let us manually place scars in a similar way to the other sliders. I'd also like to be able to add multiple layers of scars like Fallout 4 does.

- We need facecodes or a replacement system for saving faces, so we can reuse them or share them.

- We need a way to alter appearance midway through the game. Facial reconstruction surgery is a thing in ME, so it shouldn't be a problem. And it definitely shouldn't be a problem for changing hair, facial hair, makeup etc.

- An idea I had was to let us mirror our hair option. In other words, it would effectively let us part it whichever way we liked, which is important not just cosmetically (which is also important; we're discussing a CC after all), but practically. Why? Well, the hair might cover up a tattoo design or scar you want to see. Or, you might want it to somewhat cover up a scar, for roleplay value (trying to hide it with your hair). I believe Bioware actually did use mirrored hairs occasionally with NPCs in DA:I. Even if not, it shouldn't be too hard to implement as suggestions go.

- Another idea I had was to let us have a "Mission" hairdo and a "Casual" hairdo. This way, if you had long hair, you could, say, have a Mission Style that's up in a bun, but as soon as you get back on board, your Casual Style is used and your hair is down. Nice.

- Adding an outer and inner iris colour, along with a colour wheel for eyes (finally!) was a great addition to DA:I. I'd love to see that return of course, along with the option to have heterochromia (different-coloured eyes). That shouldn't be too complicated to do. If Cortez can genetically change himself to have blue eyes, an eye-colour-wheel fits with the universe, if that's an issue.

And speaking of colour-wheels, it's about time that we get to use them for hair. Yes, that would mean any hair colour imaginable. And before anyone says, we could have purple hair in ME3, so why not green, or bright red, or yellow, etc.? It's also important to note that making unnatural colours isn't the only thing that would be useful for. Ever wanted a brown that's just between option X and option Y? Now you can. Want a less blue black, or a more blonde blonde? Covered. Want to get that auburn hair Shep used to have, or a more natural shade of red (looking at you, DA:I)? You can do that too. This would really be a great improvement, I think. It also fits with the universe, with dyes (obviously) and possibly genetic alteration as well.

Now I get back to my first sentence, where I said "please don't arbitrarily lock us out of certain options that the game can handle." Here's something I was referring to: ME3 actually does support a colour-wheel for hair (and eyes) - that is, infinite colours. It doesn't crash if you use the Gibbed Save Editor to access it and give yourself green hair. That's what I meant by that sentence. I know it's possible, so let me! Options are optional, after all, so if you don't want purple hair, don't use it

But, what's better than one colour wheel? Two! You can do that, too. ME3 natively supports two layers of highlight colours on top of the base. Pretty cool! What does it look like?

Now, it may not seem like a huge difference, but it's not something you can emulate using just one colour layer, even with a colour-wheel. So I think adding something like this, and/or a way to have more conventional "highlights" in ME:A would be pretty sweet.

Here are a few more to show what you can do:

So there, those are my thoughts at the moment. I'm sure I forgot an idea or two, but that's probably enough for one post anyway One thing I didn't mention, though, was body-sliders/presets. I feel strongly about that, and have enough writing on the matter to testify to that, but I think I'll have to save that for another post