So first I want to say from all the concept art and the screenshots and the videos I'm seeing so far I'm totally happy with the art style so far.
I'm sure VR breathe a sigh of relief knowing they have my personal approval thus far 8^)
I'm going to be frank and honest and make this post a blantant plea to the Pants People to continue 'as they are' and not be tempted to be more flambouyant, though I am interested what you other guys think.
Theme: Please stick to traditional high fantasy.
I'm loving VR's take on high fantasy so far. The more 'unusual' races aren't out-of-keeping and are interesting rather than bizarre. The more 'usual' races are satisfyingly familiar yet have potential for a fresh approach. The landscapes and architecture are dramatic but not weird. Lovely.
I know it's somewhat subjective, but Tolkien and our own fairy tales don't include robots and aliens and cowboys. We all enjoy a tongue-in-cheek in-joke reference, but please minimise building any into the actual game lore or game play.
Art Style: Please continue balancing 'painting a picture' and 'photo-realism'.
I think attempting photo-realism is a mistake in almost all games when it's not a simulation. Even then, to attempt realism and fail is worse than to go for something more representational and stylish and more consistently achievable.
To some degree, photo-realism will always fail when portraying something that isn't real. In a fantasy-based game that's got to be doubly problematic and really disturbs the immersion.
The other side of that is 'cartoon'. WoW went this way and I didn't hate it, but I prefer something more 'serious'. A dramatic but non-surreal painting embodies fantasy better than an over-saturated cartoon for me. I think VR are doing great with their 'painting' so far.
Realism: Please be careful with reality and fantasy.
I'm talking about balancing reality and fantasy and maintaining immersion. I'm talking about avoiding extremes that cease to be 'cool' and become 'silly'. Even though we're in a fantasy world, please reign it in so magical is still 'magical'. It's hard to define and somewhat subjective I suppose, so I'll try some examples to put the point across: -
Please no weapons so large they would need four people (even with heroic strength) to lift.
No weapons so extravagant they would be impossible to wield
No shoulder pads so large they are like baroque blinkers (or indeed other armor so bulky or intricate so as to be useless or unwearable, but pads seem to be a particular problem hehe)
No jumping off cliffs without dying
No invisible zone barriers
Not having so much magic around that every player and monster glows and sparkles with it
I'm beginning to bore myself so I'll stop there. You get the idea.
/agree disposalist. I also liked the quality of the Luclin expansion Art, it was enough to give the ambiance of strange and surreal without being too blantant. If there is a strange and surreal area in pantheon, I hope they do something even more clever.
Regarding robots or automata, I agree, and I did like the idea of "clockwork" mechanisms with the gnomes, as it did not bleed too much into steampunk ( but might have been a meme contributing to of steampunk before steampunk was steampunk), Likewise, the "constructs" that reminded me of the cabalistic hebrew reference to the golum or clay...things.
Magical: instead of being blinded or mezmerized, say you are forced to interact/speak with/ engage in a correct dialogue puzzle with a Succubus/Incubus. Your character is forced into a face to face with said Succubus/Incubus and you need to answer and reply. The group sees you montionless and speaking to air. You cannot even talk to group untill the "seduction" or dialogue puzzle is completed. Maybe for the sake of the group they would see a mist in front of you. Artistic liscence given to the Devs for making sexy Male/Female Succubi/Incubi in whatever form- frohlock as example, but could be...orc? goblin, etc.- and have the mezz gender targeted specific, and then.... have it changed every so often, i.e. Succubi to Female PC, incubi to Male PC (ho ho) for further nightmare, or success! in puzzle dialogue
