Farstrider and Highborne customisations for Elves - PLS

[Breaker-balnazzar]

@Starstride-nordrassil

Ever wondered when a night elf priest would actually be able to feel like a Moon priest, or a Pandaren warrior, rogue, hunter would feel like they can utilise a measure of chi and brew that seems more a racial thing.

In fact, a gnome warrior or hunter feel more gnomish and less generic, well this is the answer , a system that gives a selection of racial spells themed on the race that can substitute cosmetically class abilities of your choice, so that your class feels a lot more it belongs to that race.

With character customisations coming in for the races, now is the perfect time to extend racial customisations to even the classes through this.

RACIAL CUSTOMISATONS IN CLASSES

TLDR Version It’s simple really,
This is where you swap 1 or 2 key class spells with a racial version on each race so it really feels a lot more like it’s the race playing that class rather than say a generic hunter or mage with a different skin. You can glyph the class version back in. [Race ability substitutes suggested below]

Because much of your character (like his race) also exists in the class whose abilities are seen just as much as the model.

Concept [Full Version]
When you think about it, your class mechanics/abilities are jas visible a part of your character as its body, especially decked in armor. A proper customisation options for races would not only involve the character model, but the classes it plays.

Races have some impressive and very distinctive class lore for certain classes. And find that a racial influence can be very distinctive, yet unreflected in the playable class’ abilities [Moonpriests? Tidesages? Drust Druids?]

Blizzard should take those classes in the races and give them some distinctive ability swap that screams their race.

Example:
Blizzard would select 1 or 2 key spells or fillers /features with a racial one but you can glyph the normal version back in. I suggest providing a 3rd AoE version, AoE s are very distinctive

Void elves for example will use a void bolt instead of fireball, shadowbolt, smite, etc, Twilight devastation or that nasty Void Beam from invasion enemies like King Phaoris in the minor horrific Vision in Uldum for some aoe abilities across classes, the tenatacle slap corruption effect replaces some melee weapon abilities. You can always glyph back to the normal

• Blood Elves - swaps a key spell or two with a fire/sun version
• Night elf/Nightborne - swaps 1 or 2 key or filler spells for moon/star arcane version (can glyph back)
• Orc - swap say fireball for and a few others for a shaman like lavalash or frostbolt with an earthshard.
• Troll - swap a spell or two with a blood version
• Lightforged - swap a spell or two with Light version e.g. arcane shot or arrows are light arrows
• Void elves - swap the key spam/filler spells of many classes or one of the frequently used spells with a void version.
• Gnomes: replace some abilitieies or minions with machine bots and gadget versions
• Goblins replace some with alchemy and explosive versions similar to the one in island expeditions

You get the jist:

1. It has to be a frequently use spell, I suggest 1 key spell and 1 filler
2. You can always glyph back to the normal one.
3. Each class on each race is going to have a look at to see what might be done

There are creative ways to show that this is a certain race in that class: But note that not every class will likely have something.

Race by Race Customisaton Themes In Classes

Here are some examples that each race has based on their lore/core features. Now you may be able to think of vetter versions than I’ve listed, by all means do tell us about it.

• Gnomes: Gadgests and gizmos: pets, minions, timed/delayed events can have replacements.
• Goblins: explosives & alchemaic concotions.
• Blood Elves: fire sun & light racial spell
• Night Elves; Star & Moon arcane magic racial spell
• Troll : Tiki mask voodoo & Blood effect
• Forsaken: Defiled ground & undead minions
• Pandas: Brews and Chi abilities
• Draenei : Crystals
• Dwarves: Titan aspects with unique visuals. related ability? Beer?
• Orcs; shaman elemental spells & ancestral stuff
• Tauren: Earth stampede (abilities cos the ground to shake as the Tauren stomps), Totem Stomp: replaces certain weapon & ranged abilities with a swing or throw of that iconic racial stomp
• Worgen: Pack rush (aoe abilities) and ferocious frenzy (themed on Feral Worgen]

Humans: Mount up on horses for certain abilities? Human has nothing i can think of, because pretty every class, apart from Shaman and Druid are actually based on the human version. We are basically playing the human version off all these things. I f humans could be druids and shaman, then some abilities on those classes should be modified

Allied Races: Inspired By Island Expedition Teams:

• Nightborne: Warp caster abilities & Chronomagic spell
• Void Elves: Void abilities
• Lightforged: Light Abilities
• Zandalari: Loa aspects appear on certain spells: Each class has a Loa patron, that patron will appear and use its ability instead of your normal class ability.
• Kul’tiran: Tidesage & Drust spell visuals
• Dark Iron: Mole Machine for movement abilities & Golem
• Mag’har Orc: Same as orcs
• Mechagnomes: Same as gnomes
• Highmountain tauren: Same as Tauren

Some of these would need a unique visual created for them.

Take a close look at the Island expedition teams, and what were used there, now see if some of those abiliteis can be used to substitute key class abiliteis, with the option to glyph out, and bingo you’ve got race customisations in classes.

I like this also

[Starstride-nordrassil (Starstride)]

They should have a face paint of stars too. It’s odd one of moon and stars to be absent from the face paint.

[Leerena-aerie-peak]

Sadly Night elves didn’t get any Highborne options only feral/Druid options. Such a shame, so much potential could have been. Same goes for Farstrider options for Blood elves. But I guess what’s done is done.

[Leíá-argent-dawn (Leíá)]

They’ve got some necklaces and stuff that are symbolic of the Highborne.

Their is a silver chain with a dark purple…thing…that dangles down. Plus, black hair which many Highborne in the Azshara Warbringer had.

But the Druidic features were always going to reign supreme, because the Druidic class is iconic with the Night Elves.

[Leerena-aerie-peak]

Yeah I know, the only things that say Highborne are the new skin and hair colors and that one pendant. But that’s about it. They could have done so much more. Regal hairstyles like Azshara’s, golden jewelry like hers (honestly it’s a recolor :-/, and keep the pendant purple) tiaras/crowns, make up like hers, maybe long nails for the females, they could have added muscle textures to make them more regal looking and not so athletic. I knew that the Druid stuff will reign supreme but I had hope they’ll balance them for the players who are more into regal things. Sadly I was wrong. Maybe one wish of mine will come true and they’ll at least let Void elves toggle their void form but probably it won’t happen I’m not really excited about the new options anymore since well my wishlist won’t happen, but like I said I’m happy for the people who are getting what they hoped and wanted

[Nilysa-aerie-peak]

As much as I think the new options for night elves look amazing no doubt, as a Highborne myself I’m really feeling left out, a lot. Sure I get to wear that beautiful necklace and some earrings but that’s not enough. I want something special, that screams ancient Highborne.

[Starstride-nordrassil (Starstride)]

I quite like the new options, especially the wild ones, but I really hope that’s not the end of it, because we really haven’t had a run of decent highborne options yet.

1. Need more necklace and headdress options (headdress on males too) that have that look.

https://imgur.com/a/lA7CMa9

https://imgur.com/VbQUtfa

2. Neat hair options also missing

3. They actually removed the neat groomed beard, rather than added a few of those - those need to come back

4. Arcane features: The Tattoos could use an arcane variation.

5. Vines could have a “stars” in hair variation option - like a decoration or glitter

6. No face alterations occured - smoother younger versions - i woulds say add an age slider

7. Pose/Expression alteratons - I would say add an expression slider - go from serene - feral (i.e. growl/snarl) - arrogant - the expression will alter the idle pose too,

Also recommend body slider - because in the NElf DH model and Nightborne model, we can have access to a more ripped body and a slimmer one. My recommendation is that males get all 3, females only ripped and normal, they don’t really need to be slim

That’s cos the male physique is very bulky, and highborne types would likely be slimmer.

@Starstride-nordrassil

Customisations are looking good and detailed. Lots of extra options, good job so far. Hope it’s not over for anyone. But why no new faces though and so few body changes options for most races? We could really use things like

• Age slider (young/old would do)
• Expression slider (serene/snarly/arrogant) - this also alters idle pose [each race can have slight variations)
• Body size: e.g. ripped/normal/skinny -(night elves can have this because of DH and Nightborne models]

Trolls already have a bulkier model version used for Amani and Drakkari, humans do have a thin model - although that uses the forsaken skeleton instead - trimming down the musculature should be possible, although that might mean some serious gear adjustments.

Night elves can afford this because the Nightborne model has the thin versions of everything. However I was just imagining more ripped muscle definition and a slimmer trim down that might not require much gear reehashing. Or they can do it properly like they did for Night elves and trolls (via Nightborne and Amani/Drakkari) and just add them over time.

Face Overhaul:

Careful here, complete new faces are a lot of work, and while that’d be really appreciated I think it might be too much for laucnh.

However there are other things you can do with the current faces to give more variation that don’t require the extensive work of new faces

• Shape changes i.e. cheekbone (humans already get this)
• Age sliders - adds/removes wrinkles (same face just less/more wrinkled)
• Expression changes - content, serene, aggressive, arrogant smirk (should alter body idle pose too) - all faces already have expressions in animation.
• Eyebrow changes (Nelves have this already)
• Nose changes - many faces have noses you just can’t pick

Ofc there are many more things that can be added, like chin, forehead etc.

Regarding expression: Would be nice to be able to change your expression with a ‘/’ command and the changed expression alters the pose too or the pose alterantion can be exclusive to Character Creation/Barbershop

Specific Race Requests

Also I noticed we haven’t seen any sign of serious Highborne or Farstrider options

Night Elves:
Highborne arcane effects slider:

• Glowy hands
• Arcane glow tattoos
• Star decoration/glitter in hair as alternative to vines.
• Trim /neat options for eyebrows and beards (not sure why groomed beard disappeared, would like it back in addition to the trim version)

Blood Elves:
Farstrisder effects slider

• Body Tattoos with colours (like Alleria’s)
• Messier/wilder hair styles and beards (like Nelf new ones but their own versions)
• Scars (they added Lor’themar scars to night elves, but what about Belves?)

Trolls
Now not all the major troll options are in yet, so it’s hard to comment, I would however like

• More dreads and rasta styles
• Ear variations (like NElves got, make even more sense on trolls)
• Bone colour options
• Troll body size option (like the amani)

[Galavant-nordrassil]

They could actually do Highborne as another model tab on the Night elf CC. Just like on the worgen one you can select the Worgen tab or human tab to customise either form.

Night Elf Highborne Tab
On the Night Elf you have the Night Elf and Highborne tab.

• Click the Highborne tab - you get the thin model of the Nightborne but with Night elf ears.
• You also get it in the night elf skin tones, night elf hair colours, maybe some nightborne hairstyles.
• You get arcane tattoos, star effects, and instead of vines you get headdresses like these

https://imgur.com/a/lA7CMa9
https://imgur.com/VbQUtfa

You do have a body type toggle to go between normal night elf size or the skinnier size also used on the nightborne model.

Void Elf
Similar can be done for void elves. On the void elf CC screen you get Void elf and high elf.

Farstriders
I do not recommend this for farstrider though. Although it could be done there. Instead for Farstriders I recommend:

• Farstrider Warpaints
• And simply adding more overgrown beards and hairstyles
• Adding a scar customisation slider

[Kaifana-sylvanas]

@Zaxithorne

What other customisation options would you like to see based on what’s been shown so far?

Lipstick colors for undead women. (Pink, red, nude, Blue, Black)

Green skin for trolls

[Alexima-kazzak (Alexima)]

just to see forsaken being able to stand straight.

[Levey-argent-dawn (Levey)]

@Zaxithorne

What other customisation options would you like to see based on what’s been shown so far?

A new idle animation/stance for night elf females to give them a shred of dignity and remove that ridiculous bounce.

[Sindorea-defias-brotherhood]

@Galavant-nordrassil

They could actually do Highborne as another model tab on the Night elf CC. Just like on the worgen one you can select the Worgen tab or human tab to customise either form.

Night Elf Highborne Tab
On the Night Elf you have the Night Elf and Highborne tab.

Sounds like a sub-race template as described in Sigfrieda’s thread?

We were discussing Farstriders as a template for the Blood Elves just the other day, too.

In fact, Moira already made a mockup for the Void/High elf thing:
https://i.ibb.co/c2xJCNV/subrace-customization-mockup-highelf.jpg

You can check it out here:

Sub-race names & templates tied to the new customization options

Many people are pointing out that some allied races feel lacking in terms of customization. Others are saying that whatever additional customization we are given for the core races in Shadowlands, it won’t be as cool as getting a proper allied race and we are just going to be the same Bronzebeard dwarves and Darkspear trolls as always. So here’s hope Blizzard can possibly consider the addition of some kind of optional templates within the new character customization screen. The assumption is t…

[Galavant-nordrassil]

@Sindorea-defias-brotherhood

Sounds like a sub-race template as described in Sigfrieda’s thread?

We were discussing Farstriders as a template for the Blood Elves just the other day, too.

In fact, Moira already made a mockup for the Void/High elf thing:
https://i.ibb.co/c2xJCNV/subrace-customization-mockup-highelf.jpg

You can check it out here:

Ah yeh, I am fully in support of that. Hope they do it too, it’s a great way of adding more customisation.

[Moira-the-venture-co]

I could probably work on some mockups tomorrow. Will try to!

[Galavant-nordrassil]

@Zaxithorne

This has been a great discussion so far, thanks for sharing your thoughts everyone!

What other customisation options would you like to see based on what’s been shown so far?

@Zaxithorne May I ask what happened with this? We’ve seen a lot of changes for the new customisations, but nothing serious for Farstrider Blood elves and Highborne Night elves… did they just ignore all our feedback here?

I’ll be honest, it’s quite dis-heartening and makes me wonder why we even bother. Do they care? Do they listen?

[Leíá-argent-dawn (Leíá)]

Here’s the thing:

Blizzard don’t have time to be going through and making fitting features for every single race/class combo.

Hell, where are the special features that symbolise the “Human Mage” vibe? Wonky purple eyes and that’s it? Do me a favor.

At the end of the day, they’ve gone and picked reasonable features for all core concepts.
And we do have Highborne-like features. They’ve got darker purple eyes as well as jewelry and earrings.
Now obviously, these features are not going to be as present as what we see on the Blood Elves, who are Highborne descendants and kept up with “Highborne-like” clothing and appearance styles.

And I don’t think many of the features are styles towards certain “race/class” combos. They are more racial-themed and style-themed. Blood Elves have very little features that resemble any specific class. I’d say that the closest class that matches the new features is probably “Priest” as they seem to get many features that the Sin’dorei Priestess had in the TBC Cinematic.
Night Elves have very clear Druidic features, because that is what symbolises them the most. Hell, the very first night elf we see is the night elf druid from the Classic cinematic.

[Sindorea-defias-brotherhood]

There it is:

@Moira-the-venture-co

Since I was asked, I have tried to make a Farstrider mockup.

https://i.ibb.co/y86nw30/subrace-customization-mockup-farstrider.jpg

Truth be told, however, I feel that in this case it does not really work as well as with the dwarves and trolls, for two reasons.

1. The tattoos are not actually in game so I had to draw them on…
2. Tattoos alone do not seem enough to make a separated template.

With the dwarves and trolls it feels different because they are known different clan/tribes, famous as such. Maybe I am biased though, loving dwarves as much as I do. And trolls are easy because of the different skin colors.

Also, I tried, failed and gave up the Highborne mockup because I could not find any truly Highborne-looking night elves in the youtube videos from alpha and I felt that attempting to simulate more extra customization not actually in game went beyond the objective of this thread.

In order for it to make sense, appropriate customization would have to be added to the game first.

[Leíá-argent-dawn (Leíá)]

It’s a good idea, but how many will they have to do and they won’t please everyone.

I mean, what about the Magisters of Quel’Thalas? Where is their tab? They are the most proficient Elven Mages on Azeroth - why are night elf mages getting prioritized over these brilliant Arcanists.
You start getting these sorts of arguments and they are fair arguments.

What about the various night elf druid orders? Do you see where I’m going with this.

Blizzard have done extremely well with the features for all the races, thus far. Yes, a few have got very, class-bound features, such as night elf druids and blood elf priests, but these are few and far between.
If we start asking for extra tabs, then where do we draw that line, because it has to be drawn somewhere?

I mean, a Farstrider tab is only giving the Blood Elves some “Alleria” style tattoos, but these don’t even seem common, since Vereesa, Lor’themar and Hauldoran don’t appear to have tattoos and neither did Sylvanas and she was the Ranger General of Quel’Thalas.

We have to tread carefully with this and Blizzard has done right with the limitations of class-bound features. Make some which are few and far between, but don’t start wasting time trying to get every single race/class combo into having specific features. It won’t end well.
I mean, what are the features for Human Warlocks, other than green-like eyes? How can you define what a Dwarf Mage would look like?
How do you show Orc Warlocks, despite Orcs already having green skin?

It’s gets complicated.

[Leerena-aerie-peak]

The only thing that we got for Night elves that are close to Highborne are the new skin and hair colors. And that one necklace with purple diamond. That’s literally it. All the other options are Druid/feral only. The new earrings aren’t even what Highborne would wear but what priestesses of Elune or druids would.

[Leerena-aerie-peak]

If they didnt I wouldn’t be surprised at all, giving how they never really listen to the fans. And the options the races are getting now are most likely the only options they are gonna get. I doubt they are gonna get any new ones later on. And they still feel very limited. Literally each race got like 3 new hairstyles…how is that even an improvement?!