Change the new clamod-Fenki texture please (or at least improve it)

[Mrokii]

first and foremost: this is *not* a complaint to say that the new Clamod-Fenki texture looks bad in itself. It does look nice, it is just that it is a rather radical change and there are some things that could be improved with the new model. Please see that as constructive criticism, at least as long as it goes for the things that could be done better.

But first: I am rather disappointed that existing Fenkis have been changed. I mean, I chose the grey-skin for a certain reason. I do not mind new skins, but a player should not be forced to take a new skin. l liked the grey fur with the stripes in it as it gave the Fenki a more earnest and slightly tiger-like look. This is all gone now and this is how I and some others feel about it:

1. In contrast to the old fur, the new one looks "plain". there aren't any stripes anymore, it is not nearly as accentuated as the old fur. The Fenki now rather looks as if "painted" in very, very dark grey. The fur is not fur anymore but almost plain skin. The old one in contrast looked thick, like real fur. Now it looks much more like a drawing than the other races, cartoony even. Again, that does *not* mean, it is ugly, just that the style changed.

2. The same (cartoony style) goes for the face. The old texture had a nice lion-like big nose, the new one in contrast looks more like an anime-style, far too much human and "lovely", losing the wild style the old face had. Again, that is not to say that it is ugly and I *do* appreciate that somebody tried to make the thing better. I am just saying that this fenki-model loses some of its character with the new look.

3. Others have told me the same: for someone who doesn't have 100% brightness on, it looks like there's no texture at all in the fur. It is far too dark.

The ideal Solution for me would be if I could just get back the old model, even if I would lose the very nicely done new clothes. I realize that this is not likely to happen, though I still hope you could just do a new Fenki-subrace for the new skin. But should you keep it, please consider the following modifications:

- please make the fur lighter and more accentuated again. I would love to see stripes back.

- please change the face to a more lion-like style again as it was with the old face. Fenkis, imho, are supposed to have a certain wild style and should not look too ladylike.

[Siteri Kidachi]

Also I think someone forgot to account for the spike things on the legs- they look like they're just sprouting out of the leg rather then being part of a clothing item.

[Dajoji]

I believe that if you have the .zip file with the old texture you can just replace it in your art folder. You will see all clamod fenkis as you used to. Not sure though.

However, I love the new clamod skin! I think it's great that they are taking the time to improve older models. I never liked the "fat nose" on clamod, bilkau and rabani fenkis, especially when the male models have more proportionate noses. I hope they get to correct them all. I also love that they are giving each pack their own clothes. It's nice to see the variety. Keep them changes coming, I say!

[Mrokii]

I believe that if you have the .zip file with the old texture you can just replace it in your art folder. You will see all clamod fenkis as you used to. Not sure though.

Sadly enough I don't.

However, I love the new clamod skin! I think it's great that they are taking the time to improve older models. I never liked the "fat nose" on clamod, bilkau and rabani fenkis, especially when the male models have more proportionate noses. I hope they get to correct them all. I also love that they are giving each pack their own clothes. It's nice to see the variety. Keep them changes coming, I say!

well, as I said, I do not think the model is ugly now. All I am saying is that I liked the old model and how the face was done. And I hate it, to be forced to use the new model. The question is: What is "correct". For me, the old model was "correct" enough, though, as I said, the new clothes look very nice.

[Qia_Fask]

I discussed this posting with Mrokii before it was posted, and we both agree on all points mentioned in the original posting.

I think it was a greatly misguided use of time for someone that knows how to do skinning artwork.  They could have spent that time doing skins for the numerous shield types that are missing a unique look, or any of the dozens of items missing a proper skin, including all the special weapon types that look the same (e.g. a wooden sword appears as metal).

Instead they "fixed" something that wasn't broken.

I think the new skin looks *much* more cartoony/unrealistic than all the other races.  It looks like something straight out of a Japanese anime.  That is not to say I think it looks ugly in and of itself -- it doesn't, it looks *very* beautiful.  But it doesn't fit in with the rest of PlaneShift at all.  It looks cartoony and it looks almost human.  The old grey fenki skin looked very feline and therefore quite unique in PlaneShift.  The new looks very hand drawn, like it is blurred and painted onto the fenki.  It doesn't look realistic like the other skins.

Also I agree fully that the skin didn't take into account the leg "wings", which are now just sitting there like it is a growth on the grey skin (I won't call it fur, as it is barely discernable as animal fur).

Also, the feet are now reflective and shiny... not sure what happened there.  The top is also very shiny, like it is made from latex or another similar material.  I like the shape of the clothes very much, but the reflective look of it is very disconcerting.  Not sure if that is due to the skin itself, or the new lighting system.

I can post screenshots if anyone desires.

(Fixed some spelling mistakes)

[Prolix]

I created one just to see what you are talking about and I do think they are a little dark and hard to see.

[Gaian]

You're right. It happened to me, too. It was a while of time ago, the first PS update I've done. First ALL the fenkis were clamods. When I joined PS the first time on that version, I noticed that my fur became white, and yes, I got angry. And I had to change my description. You're right. A player should decide if change character skin or not.

[Donari Tyndale]

lol. Fenki have got models. All other races don't.

[Gravemind]

lol. Fenki have got models. All other races don't.

THAT is what annoys me. Screw the furrys and FIRST give me a unique model for male and female of every single race and THEN you can make the Enkidukai's look like each particular freak's favorite fursuit.

[Earl_Listbard]

lol. Fenki have got models. All other races don't.

THAT is what annoys me. Screw the furrys and FIRST give me a unique model for male and female of every single race and THEN you can make the Enkidukai's look like each particular freak's favorite fursuit.

I believe it has more to deal with enkidukai being the most popular race, so they get first presents... Could be wrong.

[Kieve]

To clarify [all] points in one go:
-I created the new skin in between tasks, during my personal time. It was not an 'official' task, just one that I took upon myself in stray moments of leisure.
=The textures were adjusted to be more proportional, and at a higher resolution (to match the resolution quality of the Akkaio and Kore enki). The original intent was to improve the graphics while retaining the basic look of the original. In this instance, the overriding feature was "dark fur."
=If you are seeing black spikes, this is a graphical error. Alpha-enabling was used to erase these spikes completely, so they [should] disappear. They do not show on my machine, but if it is a reoccurring problem, I will look into it. Quite possibly, either the .CAL3D file or the texture itself does not have the appropriate alpha-masking enabled.
=The "shiny" texture was actually intended to be more of a silken cloth. But perhaps a darker color and a complimentary lightening of the fur would help.
=Due to the high resolution, the grain of the fur appears smaller than before - with mipmap levels, these finer details become almost invisible at a distance. An issue I failed to consider or account for when texturing, and for that I apologize.

Due to point 1, this being an effort of free time and not a task, I cannot say when I will be able to make the needed adjustments to the textures.

I spoke to Qia and Mrokii in the IRC channels about their concerns already, and thank them for presenting their criticisms in a (mostly) constructive and respectful fashion.

[Raa]

I like the new fenki skin. The old one had really bad resolution. Plus, I like the clothes. The only things I don't like are the residual leg-spikes (I don't think Kieve could do anything about that, though) and the shoes. Enkis don't need shoes; they already have pads. It could also use a little more texture, like a few gray stripes here and there.

[Oomi]

Kieve can do lotsa groovy stuff - it's just a matter of time, permission & priorities Thanks for the input and for keeping the posts polite & constructive. Hang in there - we'll do everything we can every chance we get!