NEW Elf Avatar Update Feedback (2024) Update 42 | LOTRO News

[@Celadonis-the-Lore-Seeker]

What I feared has happened, the new customizations give us more options, but they remove the simpler, more stereotypical look of the old face preset. On humans it was noticeable but not too shocking, but on elves it really makes them look more bland and less elven in my point of view. The old presets were few in number but very well done. We now have more options but the base face is much rougher. Now, it's probably still possible to create a nice looking elf (albeit a little rounder ^^) but I was perfectly comfortable with the old character creation. A lot of people say the game looks dated, but I really think it holds up pretty well, mainly due to its good art direction.

[@karmatobvrn]

I was full of hope that they would have learned their lesson from the humans update that quality is better than quantity but apparently not.

[@dustbunnieboo]

I imagine it took a lot of work, but did anyone ask SSG to do this? Meanwhile, my river hobbit still has a lazy eye. 😵‍💫

[@dape-di78]

I definitely prefer the old update.

[@deployablelover]

No hate intended to SSG as I love the passion and intentions but this very small cosmetic change would be last on my list of things to focus on improving in the game for sure. It’s just so hard to care about. Great coverage by you!

[@aubreytheweirdone]

Totally fair! Still waiting for two factor on the Launcher while people's accounts are still getting hacked.

[@deployablelover]

@@aubreytheweirdone Say it louder for the people at the back!

[@iure_divino]

Although High Elves weren't given the proper avatar update, they did change. Originally they were going to do High Elves too (and still will coming soon), and they decided to drop the update without reverting the changes they already made to the High Elf skeleton. For the first time high elves actually have their faces centred in their player portrait, but the new skeleton's made some shoulder items move strangely, and it's generally made them wider I think too. There are also visual bugs relating to how they hold items too. Hopefully will get hotfixed.

[@eternalgamingforum7562]

Elfs got the DEI treatment

[@Anna-n1m9u]

Now my elf looks like she hit a brick wall with her face. I tried to fix it, but gave up after 10 minutes. Something went really wrong with the anatomy of the faces. Maybe I'm being overly dramatic, sorry, but so far I'm very upset by the appearance of my main character. I hope that ssg will fix this or return everything as it was.

[@saerain]

Sigh. Many such cases.

[@garyputnam3170]

always glad to see your imput on new changes keep up the great work

[@aubreytheweirdone]

@@garyputnam3170 Thank you! Thanks for always being here Gary :)

[@brave-smoke]

You big folk are weird!

[@jutsie]

I love it, better hair, faces and full spectrum skin color. Elves can have some personality now not boring copy paste look the og elf had.

[@Supadrumma441]

Whats this? SSG making a complete ham of an visual update? NEVER seen that before.......

[@djchristian82]

They've simplified too much I miss the old lotro. When it was a really difficult game.

[@Supadrumma441]

@@djchristian82 Even with the landscape difficulty it doesn't add difficulty it just adds tedium.

[@ThrobbGoblin]

They looked too good, gotta 2020's it up by lowering that pesky attractiveness-meter.

[@aliciarosemusic]

Oh no...why couldn't they just leave the changes as optional or for newly made characters rather than altering all existing ones? :(

[@brave-smoke]

Lets hope they continue refining the elven models. If not, fingers crossed it becomes part of the QoL updates in 2025.

[@aubreytheweirdone]

@@brave-smoke Yeah I feel like they’ll fix it up for some of the QoL updates.

[@brave-smoke]

@@aubreytheweirdone damn straight

[@ryanneilan3223]

Just like with the river 'hobbits,' it's just lazy 'updates.' The facial extras are all the same human ones (do elves have freckles and bloody scars?) I'd be happier if they just finally fixed the human female chars lazy eye.

[@harken2101]

Person gets clothes that fit them perfectly, that person then get complete body plastic surgery and complains about how their clothes don't ;ppl the same on them as they did before.........what the heck did you guys think was going to happen? of course this stuff isnt going to look the same or fit the same anymore. this should not have been a surprise.

[@Tyranno-Bore-Us]

I've realized that given enough options, I have no idea how to make a humanoid being look *Not Wonky*

[@Xilivian]

Its not hardly just you. Its the models, not the end user. Creating a character in something like Monster Hunter Wilds, its actually very easy to get a good look going.

[@OlorinCirdan]

I liked somethings like giving more options of size, angle, distance and height of features like ears, eyes, chin, chin bone, nose, nostril, mouth and all, specially the hair jewells (that was nice to add more options), but they reduced all the TRADITIONAL ELF-like faces to 1 out of 13 "complexions, and im not gonna lie: my elf was nothing like the previous state after the update, they say they kept the form intact, just adding more details to it, but in truth, my toon had a fairy like face, thin lines, small chin, pointy eyes and all, now he looks like Gaston from Disney, too HUMANLY i think. It looks like that its more important to add "inclusive" features on the toon than preserving what would be reasonable to exist inside of Tolkiens aesthetics. They call it inclusivity, but its a major DISRESPECT to the AUTHORS views, as if they (and everyone else on this field) had the right to "CORRECT" Tolkien, and if you talk anything aggainst it, the inclusivity is cleary just for all that agree with their own criteria, not you, they call you racist, intolerant and all the old bully slang without even giging good reasons rather than discriminating you for disagreeing. We live in miserable times, truly.

[@stege9979]

How many elves, according to Tolkien, had dark skin complexion? In SSG:s version, 3 out of 4 of the randomized characters in both man and elves race looks like something from Kush in Robert E Howard's Conan universe. Stick to Tolkien's lore please. You're a Boston studio. The California woke disease has no room here.

[@aubreytheweirdone]

@@stege9979 Funny cause the studio wouldn’t have done it, without the approval from Tolkien’s estate. Sounds like you got some issues here

[@Antrolf]

At least the tides are starting to change.

[@stege9979]

​@@aubreytheweirdone Indeed Aubrey. I have huge issues with modern day postmodern madness that wants to destroy everything it touches. And much like evil, it cannot create itself it seams. At least it's not as bad as WoW, where male and female has been replaced by body 1 and body 2. Middle-earth Enterprises holds the rights btw, and The Tolkien Estate more or less died with Christopher Tolkien, as far as protecting the lore goes. The ones alive now prioritize $$$ over all else.

[@Tinnuent]

I liked the distinctive looks characters had before. But my elves definitely look more elven now. I'm someone who prefers elves actually looking like a different species instead of just looking like humans with pointy ears. I always disliked mods that changed TES elves into more human-like elves.

[@lynx-s8j]

the face is square and flat

[@leafyjawa]

Simple fix: Just play a hobbit! 😉

[@aubreytheweirdone]

@@leafyjawa 🤣 I mean hobbits are great!

[@roothaan_]

I don't understand why this has to be forced on players. I hate the model update. Why shouldn't you be able to keep your character the way you want? Honestly, I hate the update so much that I did a race change. I'm now a high elf.

[@RobotScrambler]

I came very, VERY close to rerolling as an elf b/c of this. I want those silver leaves in my hair! See, it's still there. But, I like my stubby, stunty stout-axe. Important point - I make male character so the skeleton issues you mentioned don't seem to be as impactful. I thought the male skeleton looked fine.

[@DaGrox94]

More good than bad, I used the update to re-invent my character from scratch and ended up with something I prefer far more than before. Guess I'm in the minority based on the replies though lol

[@Phantomzero8]

problem for me isn't so much the normal elves, my old elf looks nothing like herself but I could probably fix it if i wanted. The biggest issue i see is that High elves are broken how can I possibly play my high elf when they twitch and spasm when fighting and their weapons float in the air, I think they might have even added body weight to them.

[@Waddlington]

its 100x better, and it was needed as the new storyline has custom looking elves. its a little odd people want a more basic looking character, ive seen some around anyway it is possible but the amount of hate surrounding it is a bit overboard, no appreciation for the work put in. theres about 10+ different face types that you can choose and then go on and customize so i highly doubt the people complaining have tried everything that the update has to offer.

[@biddybatnana5029]

Oh I'm so subbing to LOTRO now ! ♥

[@aubreytheweirdone]

@@biddybatnana5029 Welcome to the community!

[@docshiroe]

Eyyy first ! Hahaha

[@aubreytheweirdone]

@@docshiroe heck yeahhh!

[@TheLastAxeman]

I actually love the update - the studio isn't that big after all, I am glad they are making those updates. I hope they will fix the glitches, but much bigger studios fail at more crucial aspects of their games.

[@aubreytheweirdone]

I completely agree with this!

[@TheLastAxeman]

@@aubreytheweirdone also I think it was pretty reasonable to assume that elf players will have to adjust their looks at the barber after the update goes live

[@synistargg2502]

Nothing went wrong. Go edit the character.

[@aubreytheweirdone]

Did you watch the video lol?

[@synistargg2502]

@@aubreytheweirdone i did watch the video... is my comment problematic to you in some way? your response comes off quite rude ngl

[@aubreytheweirdone]

@@synistargg2502 I only ask cause the video specified to edit the character so I’m just confused about why you made the comment about nothing be wrong 😅

[@saerain]

@@synistargg2502 Bruh, see how you came in here and you want to talk rude?

[@synistargg2502]

@@saerain i didn't say anything rude.