Cosmetic armor

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Cosmetics

Rime and Regal‎ pre-order pack cosmetics.[1]

We are very transparent in the business model of subscription with cosmetic only marketplace... I respect and understand the opinion of rather having a box price in-place of cosmetics, but that is not the direction I’ve decided to take. After weighing the benefits to the game and its population, I believe a lower barrier to entry is healthier in the long run, and the steady content release and quality of the product will sustain the retention for subscription and in-turn provide a healthier content release strategy for Ashes.[2]Steven Sharif

Cosmetics provide a wide array of customization in Ashes of Creation.[3]

All skin cosmetic items are cosmetic items only and do not grant the user any other benefit. The lore text is flavor text, and background of the creatures and items in the world of Verra.[1]
  • Equitable cosmetics, both from a quantity and quality standpoint, are achievable through in-game means.[5][6] Cosmetics achievable in-game will be on-par, and in the case of legendary skins, even more elaborate than shop items.[7][8][2]
I want to make sure that equitable cosmetics both from a quantity and quality standpoint are achievable through in-game achievements. Time, effort should let you be happy with what you can accomplish.[6]Steven Sharif
In my opinion quality of cash shop cosmetics should be equal to in game achievable cosmetics, but offer a diverse selection of unique looks.[9]Steven Sharif
The most grand looking cosmetics will be from in-game achievment only.[10]Steven Sharif
From an armor standpoint, we cut armor sets up into many different pieces. These pieces can sometimes be used as part of other sets, that may include helmets, wrists, gloves etc. So while you will not see an achievable white version of the corvid castigator set in the game for example, you may see its shoulder piece used in another set, or its leggings, or wrist piece used in another set (not every piece as to form the whole set, but perhaps a couple pieces). This would be difficult to notice at first glance, due to the material, texture and color variation used, but this modular approach to content creation makes achieving a wide variety of looks achievable for an MMORPG of our size.[7]Steven Sharif
  • Different variants of store purchased cosmetic creatures (Pets and Mounts) may exist in the wild.[12][13]
While the exact same skin will not be available again in the future once it's gone from the Shop, these skins are all variants of creatures that you can expect to see across Verra - so perhaps you will find one with a similar style in-game![12]Sarah Flanagan
  • Cosmetics can be used by all races but there may be slight variations to make them work with the body builds of each race.[14][15]
  • There will not be mascot looking/furry cosmetics.[16]
It's important to remember, Ashes is a NO-BOX COST subscription only game, with an optional cosmetic marketplace. This achieves a few things from a monetization model. Having a lower barrier to entry for players to try the game when they don't have to fork out $60 for the box price is good, our box price is 0$. This also places an emphasis on the game's retention and our continual updates and content creation to keep players playing and staying subscribed (a put your money where your mouth is sort of philosophy for us as a company). It also means players don't have to spend $60 every time there is an expansion.[7]Steven Sharif
Is there an answer that satisfies everyone? Nope. And that's ok. We are open and transparent with our philosophies and business model. You know what you are getting with Ashes and to me, given my experiences in other games, it is a nice breath of fresh air.[7]Steven Sharif
I know there have been quite a few questions regarding cosmetics over the years. As we get further along in development, we'll be providing more specific information regarding what specific buildings, items, etc., you can place each cosmetic on. We'll update this for all past items.[19]Margaret Krohn

Cosmetic store

Ashes of Creation cosmetic store.[22]

There is going to be legendary cosmetics that can be earned and achieved in the game through the game systems, but that's going to take a significant amount of effort and work; and those cosmetics are going to be on-par with the cosmetics offered in the marketplace... What that does is it provides additional revenue to the company so that we can continue to fund the development of content as well and bridge the divide that not having a box cost would have and not having any pay-to-win mechanics whatsoever.[8]Steven Sharif

The Cosmetic store enables players to purchase Cosmetics for use in Ashes of Creation.[23] The cosmetic store offers limited time, limited quantity items to help sustain game development.[6]

  • Equitable cosmetics, both from a quantity and quality standpoint, are achievable through in-game means.[6]
  • Nothing in the cosmetic store will be pay to win.[4]

Nothing in our shop will ever be pay to win as we believe this practice greatly hurts the MMORPG genre.[4]

  • Cash shop cosmetics will offer a diverse selection of unique looks.[9]

I want to incentivize purchase in the cosmetic shop for sustainability of what expansions we have intended, since we are not a box cost. I want to incentivize purchase by offering limited items: limited time, limited quantity, so you have confidence that when you purchase them, they won't be offered later on in some other way.[6]Steven Sharif

  • All cosmetic store items will be non-tradeable.[21] There will be no gifting mechanism for cosmetic items.[24]

I don't want cosmetic items that can be purchased from the market to be transferable... because it is in a way a transfer of money for potentially something in-game.[24]Steven Sharif

Skins

Cinderhorn Steer pre-order pack cosmetic mount skin.[25]

Providing these limited options that collectors out there like when it comes to achieving and/or purchasing cosmetics. It means something I think when players make that decision to purchase or they go through the rigorous portion of achieving those things in game that it is not just everywhere around them and becomes meaningless at that point.[26]Steven Sharif

Accessories/armor, Buildings, Caravans, Mounts, Pets, and Ships sold in the cosmetic store are skins.[27][28][29]

Owning cosmetics does not guarantee the acquisition of the item the cosmetic can be used on. Players must still achieve the corresponding item/building.[30]Steven Sharif
  • The lore on store cosmetics is flavor text.[1]
  • The best skins will be in-game achievable.[36]
The best skins will be in-game achievable (obviously “best” is subjective, so I’d say the most ornate and detailed/unique).[36]Steven Sharif

Gear appearance

Alpha-1 female plate armor 3D render.[37]

We want to be realistic with the application of particular types of armor, such as plate armor. In this regard for the different sexes there's a fine line that has to be drawn between accentuating the form of the sex as well as making it somewhat realistic and actually applicable to the environment.[37]Steven Sharif

  • Armor will not be overly sexual in appearance.[37][39]
    I'm more of the mind that it wouldn't really serve a purpose to have bikini plate armor, just in like reality, if you're going to have armor, it should be protective. I think from a fashion statement is enjoyable for some people, but it's a an immersive issue.[38]Steven Sharif
    • Some armor and costumes will be more revealing than others, but there will not be nudity in the game.[41]
    There might be sliders, but there are not gonna be naked sliders.[41]Steven Sharif
Each race is getting its custom geo pieces, which then will share thematic components such as color palette, attachments, design filigree. Those types of things will get shared across the geo but generally you're going to see unique races with unique geo.[45]Steven Sharif
  • Cosmetics can be used by all races but there may be slight variations to make them work with the body builds of each race.[14]
  • Hair will likely be masked if helmet display is toggled on.[53]

Appearance slots/Transmogs

Gear will have appearance slots (Transmutation/Transmog/cosmetic slots) that are used to copy the appearance of an item (in some cases).[57][58]

  • There are rules when applying cosmetics to specific items, unlike costumes, which don't have level restrictions.[18]
  • Cosmetic slots can be toggled on or off on their character by the player.[59]
  • A "default player appearance" may be automatically applied during sieges or other large scale battles to improve client-side performance.[60][61]
Cosmetics, whether purchased from the shop or earned in game, are an important component of MMORPGS I personally enjoy; and there's a lot of collectors out there who spend a great deal of time either in-game achieving these things or spend money purchasing them from the cosmetic only marketplace; and we don't want to demean or reduce that achievement or that expenditure. So it's going to be situational where the default appearance will be applied and can be activated.[60]Steven Sharif

Crafted items

Crafting UI. Alpha-1 screenshot. Image credit: Guild:Overlord

Crafted items (also referred to as Completed items, Finished goods, or Final products) are items produced by crafter artisans using crafting stations.[62][63][64][65][66][67]

Crafted gear in the game is the best gear... One thing that I'm not a fan of is that you develop a crafting system in a game and you've spent a lot of time making this from a material and resource perspective. All the tables that you can receive, all the connectivity in the economy and how crafting is associated with the game; and then you undermine the crafting entirely by presenting a separate route of gear acquisition that is on-par with the crafting efforts. So here you have these people who are acquiring all of the resources getting, all the recipes, leveling up their professions and then everything they make is less or equal to anything you could just have chosen the easier path of and gone down the questing and received the best gear. So what we do focus on is that crafters make the best shit. Excuse me, the best things.[65]Steven Sharif
That plays into our crafting system in and of itself. The idea is for those stats to be variables that can be dictated based on the mastery level of the particular crafter; and the higher they become a master of those professions, whether it be for armor or for weapons or for accessories, they're going to have some agency and put their mark on essentially what items they're introducing into the economy.[75]Steven Sharif
We believe that every item that exists in the world should in some way reflect its creator. As such, there will be extreme versatility in our crafting system – giving crafters the ability to create unique items that represent their strengths and weaknesses.[78]

Racial weapons and armor

Armor racial appearances in early Alpha-1.[79]

Violet light and myself are wearing exactly the same armor set right: Same stats, same everything, but it drops for her it looks one way, it drops for me it looks another way; and... a small part of that is gender, but then the other part of it is race. So because I was a Vaelune in that playthrough my armor was in the Vaelune style; and when she picked it up it was in the elven style because she was an elf. So that gives you an example of sort of the breadth of looks that we're going for and how we try to capture like who you are as as a character and allow you to build your look that way.[80]Jeffrey Bard

Dünir and Empyrean racially styled armor concept art by Keith Kovach.[81]

We have essentially sets that exist across all races; and each race that dons those armor sets is going to have their own racial influence on the presentation of those particular sets. So that's something that's unique in how each of the races get diversified.[82]Steven Sharif

Weapons and armor are not race locked, but armor will take on a racial appearance.[82][83][84]

The customization of equipment per race is really focused on Armor sets not Weapon props. Weapon props will, from a model standpoint, will translate pretty one-to-one across the races.[43]Steven Sharif
Let's say for example you have the Eagle set or something, right: The Eagle set has in art, it has a thematic design that's going to include certain attachments to the armor. It's going to include color palette and theme. It's going to have some aspects to it that define it as the Eagle set, right. When a Elf wears the Eagle set or when an Orc wears the Eagle set, you obviously have two different cultures there; and you don't want to stomp out that culture by assigning a de facto 'This is the Eagle set and this is how it looks on everybody.' What we want to have is cultural influences play a role in showing how that set looks.[43]Steven Sharif
When you say, what if I'm an Orc but want to look like an Elf and I want my Eagle set to be the Elf representation? Well the issue becomes there that Orcs have a different organic model. You know, their body is different than that of the Elf. So, from a scope-creep standpoint, it's one thing to add different influences that represent the cultures that are donning the armor; it's another thing to adapt each influence as a matrix that can be worn pretty much by everything. From a scope perspective, that's a very difficult task for the character artists to tackle. So instead what we've done is, in order to facilitate a variety of cultural representation between the races but allow for the sharing of assets like different armor sets, we give different representations of those armor sets to each race.[85]Steven Sharif
Q: Since a single armor set will look different on each race, how will we have large varieties of in-game achievable gear for each race if we have to make nine different looks for each set?
A: The approach for that is to create a modular piece set for armor creation; and the way we achieve that is by two steps: So, on the modeling side, each race has these geo sets basically where you're creating pieces of the armor for heavy plate armor, for medium, for robes; and you get to grab those modular pieces and mix and match as design makes a request for a particular set to the art teams. So, design comes along and they say, "hey we have a theme for a set that we want to create", so let's use Carphin in that example; and that theme from design's standpoint is going to include color, it's going to include materials, it's going to have an etymology for the set to give a background so that they can incorporate certain types of attachments- whatever they want to include on the art side. Then, the character team says, "okay let's take our base sets of geo and let's mix and match those pieces to create the Carphin set and then we're going to do a materials pass on it, and then we're going to do a color pass on it"; and that way we have a lot of essentially pieces of the puzzle to create these many different unique sets. Now we can also deform pieces across from race to race. So, even if we create unique geo on a per-race basis, we can grab the pauldron from the Human set and put it onto the Vek representation; and the end game there is that we have a particular set, for example Carphin, and that Carphin is communicating the theme; and when you don the armor for the Carphin set- you've acquired the Carphin set and you put it on- it is going to look Vek if you're a Vek. It is going to look Kaelar if you're a Kaelar, but it is still going to have the identity and the theme of the Carphin set.[42]Steven Sharif

See also

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Rime and Regal.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Ashes of Creation Reddit - Heat and Harmony.
  3. Livestream, May 8, 2017 (48:52).
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 kickstarter microtransactions.png
  5. Livestream, February 29, 2024 (1:12:23).
  6. 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 Livestream, 2018-04-8 (PM) (58:29).
  7. 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 7.5 7.6 7.7 steven-cosmetic-variants.png
  8. 8.0 8.1 8.2 Livestream, July 25, 2020 (1:53:46).
  9. 9.0 9.1 equitable-cosmetics-quote.png
  10. steven-grand-cosmetics.png
  11. steven-cosmetics.png
  12. 12.0 12.1 toast-creature-variants.png
  13. Livestream, June 28, 2019 (1:25:55).
  14. 14.0 14.1 margaret-gear-appearance.png
  15. Livestream, June 26, 2020 (1:42:55).
  16. Podcast, November 15, 2020 (49:02).
  17. 17.0 17.1 cosmetic-levels.png
  18. 18.0 18.1 18.2 Livestream, November 30, 2020 (57:50).
  19. freehold-skin-clarification.png
  20. steven-cosmetic-reassignment.png
  21. 21.0 21.1 cash shop non tradable.jpg
  22. Ashes of Creation cosmetic store.
  23. 23.0 23.1 cosmetics obtaining.png
  24. 24.0 24.1 Interview, May 11, 2018 (32:36).
  25. Ashes of Creation Store: Cosmetic armor.
  26. Livestream, November 30, 2020 (56:02).
  27. cosmetic skins.png
  28. Cygnus.png
  29. Pimp your caravan.jpg
  30. 30.0 30.1 30.2 steven-cosmetic-skins.png
  31. Livestream, December 6, 2018 (41:43).
  32. Livestream, June 30, 2023 (1:15:34).
  33. Livestream, August 28, 2020 (2:14:06).
  34. 34.0 34.1 toast-caravan-skins.png
  35. 35.0 35.1 margaret-caravan-skins.png
  36. 36.0 36.1 steven-best-skins.png
  37. 37.0 37.1 37.2 37.3 Livestream, May 29, 2020 (50:20).
  38. 38.0 38.1 Livestream, May 26, 2017 (19:51).
  39. 39.0 39.1 Reddit Q&A, 2019-01-8.
  40. oversized.jpg
  41. 41.0 41.1 Livestream, December 23, 2021 (1:34:07).
  42. 42.0 42.1 Livestream, February 29, 2024 (1:15:51).
  43. 43.0 43.1 43.2 43.3 Podcast, August 4, 2018 (53:43).
  44. 44.0 44.1 Livestream, October 28, 2022 (1:41:06).
  45. Livestream, September 24, 2021 (1:25:27).
  46. 46.0 46.1 Livestream, November 30, 2023 (1:40:11).
  47. Sparkly.jpg
  48. 48.0 48.1 48.2 48.3 Livestream, November 30, 2020 (1:05:22).
  49. 49.0 49.1 Livestream, May 24, 2017 (24:19).
  50. Livestream, July 18, 2017 (54:56).
  51. Livestream, July 28, 2017 (9:47).
  52. helmet.jpg
  53. Livestream, October 30, 2020 (1:13:22).
  54. weaponslots.png
  55. Livestream, September 3, 2017 (48:56).
  56. Livestream, May 31, 2023 (58:37).
  57. Interview, August 24, 2018 (5:28).
  58. Livestream, November 17, 2017 (22:33).
  59. Livestream, February 9, 2018 (50:29).
  60. 60.0 60.1 Livestream, July 25, 2020 (54:10).
  61. Livestream, November 22, 2019 (1:08:05).
  62. 62.0 62.1 steven-completed-items.png
  63. steven-workstations.png
  64. Livestream, April 7, 2023 (31:49).
  65. 65.0 65.1 65.2 Livestream, June 30, 2022 (1:18:55).
  66. Livestream, January 30, 2020 (1:38:26).
  67. Livestream, May 12, 2017 (1:00:18).
  68. steven-completed-items2.png
  69. Interview, September 10, 2023 (47:13).
  70. February 8, 2019 - Questions and Answers.
  71. craftedbossloot.png
  72. 72.0 72.1 Livestream, May 10, 2017 (14:45).
  73. Podcast, August 4, 2018 (59:58).
  74. steven-crafting-stats.png
  75. 75.0 75.1 Livestream, December 22, 2020 (1:15:01).
  76. crafting-corruption.png
  77. craftersname.png
  78. About Ashes of Creation.
  79. Video, September 30, 2020 (2:44).
  80. Livestream, September 30, 2020 (47:47).
  81. Livestream, July 26, 2019 (54:06).
  82. 82.0 82.1 Livestream, March 31, 2022 (4:57).
  83. Livestream, May 26, 2017 (44:11).
  84. Livestream, May 26, 2017 (20:46).
  85. 85.0 85.1 Podcast, August 4, 2018 (55:17).