#Benchmark Update

[thefreelanceangel]

So looks like we can expect a revamped benchmark at the end of the month, well before Dawntrail's early access date. These people are busting ass, damn!

[alastryd]

About the FFXIV character model updates

Curious what people's feelings are for the new character model updates in the Dawntrail benchmark client. YOUR character specifically. I've been seeing a mix of opinions so far.

[stick-by-me]

Worm love <3

[smitten-miqitten]

Not to be posting feet pics on main, but as a console player this is probably the best change in the graphics update.

Bitches this not a drill.

We. Have. Toes

[sjofn-lofnsdottr]

Hair Problems

So now that the updated benchmark has come out, it's time for me to contemplate Dusk's hair in earnest. I have never, ever changed his hair (outside of being silly for prog nights or whatever). Every screenshot of him I've taken during his MSQ, he's had his hair. It's his hair.

But! The new derplander hair looks good on him, I think, and Dawntrail is very New Adventure, New Me feeling.

I have visual aids, of course. It kills me he doesn't have his glasses, but these things happen.

Dusk Classic:

Dusk Reborn:

I was tempted to have a 'I don't know they're both fine' option but no! No slipping out of having an opinion in this poll. I am doing enough waffling for all of us.

[bigpuppyroegadyn]

😍😍😍

[raexbecrafting]

Wake up, honey, new benchmark just dropped

(Raex stole his cousin's hairstyle because Styled for Hire isn't a default one, so the benchmark software excludes it v.v)

[emcapi-gaming]

they finally fixed the green haze

Current game environment for comparison (no shaders):

Vs. the new character creator:

You can REALLY see the difference, especially with the reds and whites on those windmills in the background.

It's also very visible when taking another look at some of the before/after screenshots from the official blog post!

[miqojak]

(Old - left, New - right) Since you can import your character data and keep your non-default hair, but you can't keep that hair if you go into the creator, so I wanted to still try and compare things as best I could without it yoinking Jak's hair... since there's just not a single other hair in the game that suits her! And just look at how different the eyebrows are - how much more defined they are, and how that kind of alters how the browbone looks. I'll admit - at rest, the lips look... quite different on the new 7.0 Jak (they... tuck in at the sides more?), and I don't know how that sits with me - I'll have to look at her for a while in 7.0 I imagine, before I decide if they're close enough to get used to... since a lot of this will just take playing with for a while to adjust to, as we're all so used to the old, slightly worse features! Weirdly enough, I'm even like 'look not just at the new, defined hands - but the armpit crease!' It even sits more like a real arm! AND LOOK at the texture on the Miqo racial armor! Look at the leather! The shiny metal bits!! The creases in the brown armor on the arms!

But WOW look at the texture on the new hair!! It's not even one included in the baseline benchmark, and it's still updated and looks SO crisp!! Look at where the braid connects to the temple! Look at the fine hairs! And as much as the lips look different while 'at rest' to me...I can't complain that they look less flat and fake/painted onto her like a doll, in the updated graphics! And I could get lost in the new eye graphics for any of the races - those were also empty and lifeless before, and now there's just such shine, and depth! Also, to note - even the clan marks look better, and that's a little thing that seems easy to overlook, to me, when you're so distracted by updated eyes and hair! Scarring and tattoos just look a thousand times more real, as well, instead of like stickers stuck onto your face.

(And I still say to play with skintones in the creator, if you're unhappy with how yours looks. I do feel like Jak's might feel like it has a little bit more of a red undertone to it, than the more light-orange, or goldish undertones I was going for originally...but it's still close! When the expansion drops, I'll have to fiddle with her a little to see. But you may need to go up or down a shade to get the right feel, again, now that the skintones seem to display more as intended, and have more depth to them, as well!)

A couple more 'for funsies' shots... but also - look at all the minions in this last shot!! I NEED that little green and red bird on the left!! I want that lil goat! LOOK AT THE MANATEE...THE ALPACA!

[villains-are-my-heroes]

I'm so happy with how Rin looks in the benchmark! He looks so villain coded in The Dawntrail Smile, but I'm so happy!

I can't believe Dawntrail will actually run on my decade old computer but here we are! Roll on July!

[dearestcherry]

dreisseaux and cerise benchmark photos

dreisseaux

i really love seeing dreisseaux with the graphic update. as my first character, it's special to me that they've retained the feeling i created them with all this time. now i get to see them in such greater detail, and it's exciting. i think their eyes are especially pretty, with long eyelashes that of course i'm pleased by as fitting of their feminine expression.

cerise

cerise looks very cute. i love his pouty expression, and think the face 3 update keeps the soft features whilst updating their quality overall. i also absolutely love the improved scar texture, and how realistic it looks in his skin. the quality of the metal on his ear clasps impresses me too, and the way they reflect light.

for elezen in general i absolutely love the ear updates - the rounded tips that make them look more like genuine ears than their current sharp points, and the lighting that shines through them. i was a little disappointed that the lighting's intensity seemed lessened with this benchmark, but ultimately i'll be glad with any as it's a wonderful feature giving elezen a more realistic quality.

overall i'm very happy with both of mine and think they've done well with the elezen updates.

[scionshtola]

i have to remind myself that xiv players all play differently bc i read something like “what does it matter if your character looks different if you’re behind them the whole game” and i was like oh i see. we are not all zoomed right up in our wol’s face all the time.

[eorzean-wayfinder]

New graphics, who 'dis? - Balmung Edition

So went through and ran all of my characters through the new benchmark. Some I'm happy with, some I'll get used to, and some will definitely need... tweaking.

New is on the left, old is on the right. Mik'hal Zarasten - Main - Needs some tweaking. Something around the eyes is throwing me off. Like he looks younger and less confident, almost... derpy?

Lynea Angura - I can get used to it. I think I will need to try and darken her skin a little. We'll see.

Isobel Lancer - Happy with. minor tweaks if anything

Kuroji Takatori - NEEDS WORK. Woof. Yeah... I'm.. hmm. Not feeling this one at all.

T'ikala Bhudi - Very happy with. She actually looks cuter! I didn't think that would be possible.

Gale Bishop - Looks good. Had to put him back to his original hair for the benchmark, but he looks just fine.

Gabriel Maerten - maybe some mouth tweaks, I'll need to see it in different lighting.

Ylaine Clarlemonde - Nothing to tweak, she looks good.

[theworldwalkerswols]

[sliceofaether]

Still can't believe people were actually happy with their character in the previous Dawntrail benchmark character creator.

I for one am glad they updated the benchmark with the new lighting. My characters have nice lips and life in their eyes again.