MMORPG's Next Top Model

Do you have what it takes to make it in the high-stress, high-stakes world of modeling? Character modeling that is?

Abalieno over at the Cesspit recently posted some screenshots from Lineage II that are really worth checking out. More are available here.

Although Abalieno is not interested in the game itself he says, "Follow with your eyes the tiniest details. The hearts on the boots of the girl, the lines that shape her elbows. How carefully is used the color for the decorations, how everything fits together perfectly. The light reflections of the armor on the thighs of the girl on the right. The study of the posture of the man in the middle. And now think to the plastic Barbie in EverQuest 2."

I wouldn't go so far as to call the EQII models "plastic Barbies" but they sure don't look anything like those screenshots either.

Some help may be on the way. If you haven't already heard, EQII is working on different character models for certain parts of Asia. You can see some side by side comparisons of the current and new (Soga) models at this site. Of course, nothing is simple in matters of taste and I believe the Soga humans look much better while the Soga elves look rather worse. For now, Moorgard has stated that that they are not finished with the Soga models yet. It is unclear whether they will ever be an option for players outside of Asia, but I'm guessing they will be.

To me, the biggest current problem with the art in EQII is the lack of variety in the armor models. Every wizard in a certain level range uses Liandran's Oracle Robe and every wizard in a higher level range uses the Robe of the Invoker. So you get the Attack of Clones. Even my master-chest drop robe (while providing much-needed variety at my level) looks like a robe I had in my twenties. And worse than the lack of variety is the lack of style. While style in clothing is certainly subjective I know, for example, that every female robe wearer I have talked to has complained about the hideous tube pants they are forced to wear. You can see some of the typical complaints in this thread along with Moorgard's somewhat vague response.

Well, let us hope that the EQII models will soon be suitable for the approval of Tyra Banks and walking the runways in style.