Fix Outdated Costume Category Segregation

More and more often I'm finding these days that the one thing I really hate about the costume creator in this game, which is otherwise probably its best feature, is the way that parts are segregated across categories. Some of this segregation exists to "prevent clipping," and some of it is clearly accidental (Jackets can have the Bow Tie shoulder detail, but Sleeveless Jackets can't, for example).

At one point in time the organizational choices made some modicum of sense, but over the years the rules have gone by the wayside and now there are exceptions everywhere that make no sense.

I would, personally, really like to see two major changes to the Costume Creator that would take no options away, but give us many more, and put creative control over what looks good together in the hands of the players, where it should be.

1. Hats, Helmets, Half Helmets, and Special Helmets merged into a single "Headgear" category, retaining all detail options from all legacy categories, combined. Reasoning:
   • At one point in time the distinctions between Hats and Helmets sorta-kinda made sense from a conceptual standpoint, but there are now half-a-dozen Helmets in the Hats category.
   • Distinction between Helmets and Special Helmets never made sense.
   • The Celestial Armor Half Helmet broke the design pattern for Half Helmets and clips atrociously with most of the old designs. This removes any argument for other helmets that don't fit the original approximate "bubble dome" shape from being added to the category, and many of the options from Hats, Hemets, and Special Helmets could look really cool combined with some of the Half Helmet features.
2. Robes and Sleeveless Robes combined, Jackets and Sleeveless Jackets combined (technically speaking these are two different changes, but they're so similar as to be indistinguishable), and both given all glove and shoulder options. Reasoning:
   • Long ago, these categories were split this way to prevent certain sleeve options from clipping with certain glove and shoulder options. Today, however, there are a number of Sleeves in both Robes and Jackets that could be used with most/all gloves without clipping, and there have been many gloves and shoulder items added to the With-Sleeves categories that clip with most of the options present (in some cases, like Warrior, the only options they DON'T clip with are ones they were made with). These facts make the distinction totally obsolete.

I24 Proc Chance = (Enhanced Recharge + Activation Time) * (Current PPM * 1.25) / 60*(1 + .75*(.15*Radius - 0.011*Radius*(360-Arc)/30))
Single Target Radius = 0. AoE Non-Cone Arc = 360.

Yeah, I agree. The new Mech Set on beta makes it even more apparent.

I can see combining hats with helmets since they're essentially the same thing, but I CANNOT see combining them with Half-Helmets. Half-helmets all have pretty much the same shape because of the two categories specific to them, which is Helmet Detail 1 and Helmet Detail 2. Those are simply incompatible with hats and really don't work with most anything which isn't half-helmet-shaped. Even the ridiculous conical helmet fails to work with a good few of those. The basic reason we got Half-Helmets in the first place was to give us a generic, customizable helmet framework so we wouldn't have to make do with either a whole head swap or a generic helmet.

The problem with Jackets and Sleeveless Jackets is similar. Regular jackets don't have any arm geometry under the sleeves, which was done partly for performance concerns, but mostly to avoid the HORRID clipping issues sleeves had for a long time. Combining the two would bring those clipping issues back. That said, I see no reason why all gloves can't be made available even with Sleeved jackets. Some would clip with the sleeves, yes, but some would simply draw over them, exactly like the Interrogators from Praetoria. In fact, I'd REALLY love to see this done with Trenchcoats, since those don't HAVE a sleeveless option that's usable with bulkier gloves. More trenchcoats would be nice, too, but that's besides the point.

All of that said, I do want to see all pieces mysteriously available on some bodies but not others proliferated. Can we PLEASE get the shoulder fur from the Bolero for women appear in Sleeveless Jackets? It's already present in Sleeved Jackets, but not in Sleevelss. Why? Hell, why can't it be available for all upper body types? It doesn't have to be a fur trim sewn onto an article of clothing. It could be something as simple as a Mink Shawl.

Not that many categories can be unified, but quite a few pieces can be proliferated. Like Monstrous gloves for Robotic Arms.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arcanaville Samuel_Tow is the only poster that makes me want to punch him in the head more often when I'm agreeing with him than when I'm disagreeing with him.

Personally, I would love to see a number of the domino style mask details only available under full masks made available on standard as well, despite the clipping risks.

I agree with Draeth's post. I'd also like to see the "Back" category re-evaluated as well, especially with the introduction of backpacks and the "floating" but rigid celestial back-pieces.

I can completely understand the dev's viewpoint of "Only one floaty costume piece per character", due to performance and clipping issues. However, with the edition of the "non-floaty" back pieces, I would quite like to see the category separated, so that, for instance, you could wear the Celestial adornments at the same time as a cape or bolero, for instance. Similarly, have the ability to wear the Elemental shard pack, along with the celestial energy wings for eg.

I would also like to see the Carnie masks propogated to the half-helmets category (I think thats the one - with the valkyrie, roman, warrior helms?).

Hats don't have optional doohickeys, helmets do. Nice simple rule.

I wish more chest details were available with trenchcoats- currently we can only use neckties, award ribbons, and the painted-on symbols. None of the cool 3d stuff at all. That really limits the usefulness of the trenchcoat, IMHO.

Sam, you of all people should be able to see the utility of floating helmet details above hats! Considering the many unorthodox costume requests you have made, asking that something not be allowed like that should seem like a smack to creativity. While some will look ridiculous, Draeth is proposing that it be left to the player to not use those.

Simple.

I support this idea 100%, and further endorse that other categories be looked at with a similar eye to reducing category bloat.

I see, it's not an opposition to the idea, but to the concept that some things will be visible that were never meant to be. Gotcha.

I just want hats to have different hair styles.. i mean i know women for example can wear hats and have long hair.