Any chance of more subtle art for unique weapons?

[alsey]

I suspect I am largely alone in thinking this, but I thought a lot of the unique weapons in PoE had far too exaggerated appearance and looked silly when equipped. I ended up using a lot of standard and fine variants of weapons (although enchanted) because I didn't like the appearance of the unique versions, e.g. I thought the standard version of the great sword looked far better than any others. I guess I just like historically accurate looking gear on my characters?

 

I don't think I used a single soul bound weapon because of this. I just couldn't take it seeing a character walking around with some giant glowing stick that looks more like a toy than a weapon.

 

I absolutely loved the art style in PoE with the exception of this.

 

Anyone else share this view? Any chance of more subtle art for unique weapons in PoE 2?

[Ninjamestari]

You suspect wrong, you definitely are not alone in thinking this ^^

[Abel]

I suspect I am largely alone in thinking this, but I thought a lot of the unique weapons in PoE had far too exaggerated appearance and looked silly when equipped. I ended up using a lot of standard and fine variants of weapons (although enchanted) because I didn't like the appearance of the unique versions, e.g. I thought the standard version of the great sword looked far better than any others. I guess I just like historically accurate looking gear on my characters?

 

I don't think I used a single soul bound weapon because of this. I just couldn't take it seeing a character walking around with some giant glowing stick that looks more like a toy than a weapon.

 

I absolutely loved the art style in PoE with the exception of this.

 

Anyone else share this view? Any chance of more subtle art for unique weapons in PoE 2?

 

No, you're definitely not alone. I'm in the same case regarding sould bound weapons (with the exception of grey sleeper so far). I used console commands on a test save to have an idea of what most of them looked like, and i feel soul bound weapons definitely look over the top. Biger is not better. I could not even bother to equip most of them once i found them. I would have expected more intricate visual designs, like in more subtle. Currently, they are all but subtle. Make me think of an old, cartoonish, hack and slash. It hurts...

Edited March 25, 2017 by Abel

[AndreaColombo]

I believe the art direction of the game is, generally speaking, already leaning more toward "historically accurate" (without being necessarily 100% true to historical designs) than toward cartoonish, WoWish, or otherwise over-the-top. Of course magic weapons get a bit of a moratorium on aesthetic accuracy because, well, magic and fantasy setting. Personally I didn't find most of the unique designs in PoE to be particularly silly-looking or over-the-top—indeed, there are people out there calling for more exotic designs, though I'm not among them. Could you name a few items you thought were out of place stylistically?

[Sedrefilos]

Pillars' weapons were the less exaggerated weapons of any fantasy game I've ever played (that had good enough graphics to show details on weapons). Only Battle Brothers "beats" it. 

No I don't think Pillars weapons were toofancy. Just about right.

[SonicMage117]

I am the type of person that loves for each weapon you pick up/equip to look unique and set apart. If it were up to me, I'd have every weapon look exotic and almost other-worldly, yet still be able to be wielded by humans. Of course there is a balance to it but since you have godlikes, orlans, etc, there's alot of possibilities for more exotic weapons of appearance, even moreso this time around.

[Bill Gates' Son]

I hope not.  Pillars is still a fantasy series that doesn't follow the rules of the real world 100%.  It should still have some fantasy style weapons mixed in with normal style weapons.

Edited March 25, 2017 by Bill Gates' Son

[amazeing4art]

I don't mind at all if the weapon artwork is unique for the soulbound and unique weapons, even glowing or with auras.

 

What I do really hate are GIANT WEAPONS that look so huge they belong in kids cartoons... for example, St. Yedwins Redeemer the PoE great sword... it looked awesome, except it was too huge, which kind of spoiled it a bit. It didn't look like anyone could easily wield it, it was too large. Would have been better to give it that unique artwork but keep it the same size as other great swords. Same with Nightshroud... the metal ball at the end of that mace would have weighed 200lbs... the unique artwork was fine, but it was too large.

 

It's almost like the artists/developers felt like they needed to make these items artwork over the top to convince people the weapons were good or something. But there was no need for that, in my opinion anyway.

Edited March 25, 2017 by amazeing4art

[Sedrefilos]

To be honest, big (though not Anime-huge) weapons have a functionality in isometric games: you can see them easier from distance.

[Abel]

To be honest, big (though not Anime-huge) weapons have a functionality in isometric games: you can see them easier from distance.

 

True. They said they had to exaggerate a bit some designs in order for them to look good in an isometric view. Parts of armors are an example, though barely noticeable at first sight. It's obviously not the same idea that is behind Nightshroud. Which would probably look impressive as a 2 hander on a muscled, fierce barbarian. Not so much as a 1 handed weapon on a tiny female pale elf.

 

Though, after reading this thread, i'm quite surprised to realize that this is a matter of personal perspective.

[alsey]

I believe the art direction of the game is, generally speaking, already leaning more toward "historically accurate" (without being necessarily 100% true to historical designs) than toward cartoonish, WoWish, or otherwise over-the-top. Of course magic weapons get a bit of a moratorium on aesthetic accuracy because, well, magic and fantasy setting. Personally I didn't find most of the unique designs in PoE to be particularly silly-looking or over-the-top—indeed, there are people out there calling for more exotic designs, though I'm not among them. Could you name a few items you thought were out of place stylistically?

 

The hours of st. rumbalt, ravenwing and godansthunyr come to mind - I don't remember a lot of the names. Also anything with lash or soulbound.

 

I get that there is magic in the setting, but surely [good weapon + magic] is better than [oversized unwieldy weapon + magic],

[Katarack21]

 

I believe the art direction of the game is, generally speaking, already leaning more toward "historically accurate" (without being necessarily 100% true to historical designs) than toward cartoonish, WoWish, or otherwise over-the-top. Of course magic weapons get a bit of a moratorium on aesthetic accuracy because, well, magic and fantasy setting. Personally I didn't find most of the unique designs in PoE to be particularly silly-looking or over-the-top—indeed, there are people out there calling for more exotic designs, though I'm not among them. Could you name a few items you thought were out of place stylistically?

 

The hours of st. rumbalt, ravenwing and godansthunyr come to mind - I don't remember a lot of the names. Also anything with lash or soulbound.

 

I get that there is magic in the setting, but surely [good weapon + magic] is better than [oversized unwieldy weapon + magic],

 

It's not unwieldy. It's magic. It's light, it's mass is fine, etc. It's ****ing magic. It's fine.

[dragubaba]

Weapon art in general is quite hit or miss in Pillars. When it comes to great swords for example, St. Ydwen's Redeemer (the soulbound one) looks like it belongs more in a Zelda game but Justice is absolutely fantastic with its plain look and the dried blood. Great backstory too. Hatchets and warhammers also looks good. One thing they could do is make the lash/slaying particle effect optional.

[Messier-31]

Pillars' weapons were the less exaggerated weapons of any fantasy game I've ever played (that had good enough graphics to show details on weapons). Only Battle Brothers "beats" it. 

No I don't think Pillars weapons were toofancy. Just about right.

 

I agree, but Tidefall was huge af.

[Katarack21]

 

Pillars' weapons were the less exaggerated weapons of any fantasy game I've ever played (that had good enough graphics to show details on weapons). Only Battle Brothers "beats" it. 

No I don't think Pillars weapons were toofancy. Just about right.

 

I agree, but Tidefall was huge af.

 

For Pillars, it's *enormous*. For a fantasy game, it's still not as big as most. I'm looking at you, Frostmourne! *glares*

[darqleo]

 

Pillars' weapons were the less exaggerated weapons of any fantasy game I've ever played (that had good enough graphics to show details on weapons). Only Battle Brothers "beats" it. 

No I don't think Pillars weapons were toofancy. Just about right.

 

I agree, but Tidefall was huge af.

 

 

But it was a great sword made for a "large aumaua".

Edited March 27, 2017 by darqleo

[injurai]

I dislike the unnatural chunkiness that weapons can take on under strict graphics requirements. It always becomes worse when this aesthetic is pushed as a feature (ahem, Blizzard.)

 

But take something as the following.

 

 

While I wouldn't want something like this to be common or preventable. It makes a really cool rarity.

 

Of course there should be uniques not like this. I also like uniques that are powerful because of who used them, but may have once been common unassuming items. That gained their power over time. Usually sprucing those up just a tad, giving a few runes or gems is fine.

[Ninjamestari]

I hope not.  Pillars is still a fantasy series that doesn't follow the rules of the real world 100%.  It should still have some fantasy style weapons mixed in with normal style weapons.

 

There's fantasy and then there's fantasy. I don't mind a more fantastic sword as long as it is within reason and not on some Final Fantasy level of ridiculousness. Actually FF is so utterly ridiculous that I wouldn't even begin to approach that. Also, if the sword looks special, there has to be reason for it.

[LuccA]

As an additional note to the thread: I also hated how enchanted weapons against a type of enemy (like additional damage against kith) glows orange like it is fire-enchanted.

 

Actually, if you start enchanting the weapons in your party, it starts to look a little silly, almost MMO-like, with a bunch of obvious visual effects glowing from every weapon. It would definetly raise everyone's attention in a crowded city for example.

 

I think the effects could have been done more subtlely, following the more grounded aesthetic of PoE. They could have made the weapons more shiny when enchanting for additional damage against kith, or maybe glow a little white or something... The elemental enchantments could have also been done more subtlely, maybe glowing and sparkling more only during combat. 

Edited March 28, 2017 by LuccA

[firkraag888]

I completely disagree with the op.

 

TBH I have no idea what he is talking about. The only exotic looking soulbound I can think off is the redeemer. The rest of them are very simple straight forward designs.

 

The unlaboured blade = completely plain

grey sleeper = completely plain

steadfast = completely plain

abydons hammer = completely plain

Sceptre - completely plain

Nightshroud  = little bit of flair but looks great (pitty the weapon itself doesn't work)

Greenstone staff= Slighlty excotic with green glow

Reedemer = Full bright glow cartoony look

 

maybe the OP is playing a different game and posted in the wrong forum

 

I wish the devs would make the weapons more exotic. Most of the weapons are boring looking IMO

Edited March 28, 2017 by firkraag888

[alsey]

Have you ever seen a real weapon before? Like maybe in a museum? I like how they look. Pretty straightforward really.

[alsey]

Actually I did like the grey sleeper, quite a lot, but it autobound to the wrong character so I didn't use it.

[Abel]

Actually I did like the grey sleeper, quite a lot, but it autobound to the wrong character so I didn't use it.

 

Yep, grey sleeper looks great. Maybe the one i like most. And it looks even greater associated with ryona's breastplate imo.

[illathid]

I completely disagree with the op.

 

TBH I have no idea what he is talking about. The only exotic looking soulbound I can think off is the redeemer. The rest of them are very simple straight forward designs.

 

The unlaboured blade = completely plain

grey sleeper = completely plain

steadfast = completely plain

abydons hammer = completely plain

Sceptre - completely plain

Nightshroud = little bit of flair but looks great (pitty the weapon itself doesn't work)

Greenstone staff= Slighlty excotic with green glow

Reedemer = Full bright glow cartoony look

 

maybe the OP is playing a different game and posted in the wrong forum

 

I wish the devs would make the weapons more exotic. Most of the weapons are boring looking IMO

From most of your posts it's pretty clear you are not the target audience for these games.

[firkraag888]

 

I completely disagree with the op.

 

TBH I have no idea what he is talking about. The only exotic looking soulbound I can think off is the redeemer. The rest of them are very simple straight forward designs.

 

The unlaboured blade = completely plain

grey sleeper = completely plain

steadfast = completely plain

abydons hammer = completely plain

Sceptre - completely plain

Nightshroud = little bit of flair but looks great (pitty the weapon itself doesn't work)

Greenstone staff= Slighlty excotic with green glow

Reedemer = Full bright glow cartoony look

 

maybe the OP is playing a different game and posted in the wrong forum

 

I wish the devs would make the weapons more exotic. Most of the weapons are boring looking IMO

From most of your posts it's pretty clear you are not the target audience for these games.

 

Yes correct.

 

There target audience consists of people who personally attack others who have different opinions to them

 

You know

 

Donald Trump

Melania Trump

Ivanka Trump

You

Edited March 29, 2017 by firkraag888