Power vs. Aesthetics

[theevilgenius60]

Here's one I have to come out and mention. How ugly was the Brutus armor in Assassin's Creed Brotherhood? Wanted the best armor, but it made Ezio look like a complete tool. It looked like a Dweller suit from Fable 3.
OT: Yes, I have this mental argument in just about any RPG I play. How stupid looking is the Grand Champion Armor in Oblivion(Valor, I think it's called)? I wouldn't be caught dead in something like it, but my character wore it all the way until he became a Blade. Now that armor looked pretty sweet. Not going into the whole mod thing, because these things shouldn't need to be modded. Badass armor should look badass. Period.
Captcha: economic ritual. step 1. Sacrifice virgin step 2.- - - step 3. Profit!

 

[squid5580]

I never wear mage helmets (I use the word lightly) in DA:O

 

[King of Wei]

Usually the armor I think looks cool is also one of the most powerful. But when it's not I go with the aesthetics over raw power.
-Oblivion went with full leather - enchanted leather mind you, but full leather armor.
-Morrowind went with this Assassins Creed mod armor that's decent, despite owning a full set of glass armor in my underground space mansion.
Stuff like that.

 

[Xprimentyl]

I hated how in the first Fable, your age was determined by your level, so by the time you were the ultimate badass, you looked like you were 115.

 

[TheKramers]

This is one for RPG fans.

Am I alone in getting very stressed out by constantly having to compromise or even downright choose between aesthetics and power when designing a character? I guess it's unavoidable to an extent but what gets me is when developers seem unaware that they're doing it, and they do it way more than necessary. Not an RPG but Soul Calibur IV is the one I'm thinking of as I've been playing it a lot lately. I've found myself designing some really badass characters: ninjas, samurai, warrior-monks, Obi-Wan Kenobi-style hermits and steampunk adventurers. But every single one has ended up dressed like a total gooseberry and looking nothing like my original concept. It doesn't cut it to say that Soul Calibur is not about designing characters, because the game includes a fantastic character design tool, it's just rendered useless by the RPG mechanics. And you can't even think "oh well I guess it's realistic that the stylish silk shirt doesn't offer as much protection as a breastplate" since in this game the silk shirt is, inexplicably, just as likely to offer more protection, and there's likely to be a fluorescent orange shell suit that offers more than either. It wouldn't be so bad if it wasn't all so totally arbitrary.

Ok, that was me shamelessly venting. But does that kind of thing bother anyone else? Even in RPGs do you find yourself stressed by the aesthetics vs. power question? Can you bear to equip the stuff that doesn't gel with your character concept (or just looks stupid) because it makes you more powerful?

You know what? Basically what causes that is giving clothing and armor stats, and that's one thing I LOVE about games. I HATE when games take that away. I bought Mass Effect 2 and I just can't play it because the weapons and armor don't have stats and I can't stand it at all. I like having to find ways to get both at once or just find ways to look awesome, but be so good that the clothes don't have to be practical because I can kick ass in anything I wear, especially if it looks cool.

Another game that took away stats on armor is Fable III. That severely disppointed me, why couldn't they just keep Fable I's everything and just given it better graphics?

Anyway, the point is, that for me, my armor needs stats, I don't care if it causes the power vs. aesthetics issue

I hated how in the first Fable, your age was determined by your level, so by the time you were the ultimate badass, you looked like you were 115.

You're right about that, I think that's the one mechanic in Fable I didn't like. Cuz I got old and Lady Gray didn't want me anymore =(

 

[Jandau]

Power, as long as it's not too aesthetically atrocious. But I will avoid a powerful piece of gear in favor of the second most powerful one if it happens to be colored bright pink for no apparent reason and the second best one is nicely metallic and covered in those cute spikes I like.

 

[baddude1337]

I definitely go for looks over Aesthetics, unless absolutely required. For example, in New Vegas I wear the Roving Trader Outfit with NCR Ranger Veteran Helmet most of the time, but when I am up against something like Deathclaws I put on my Enclave Power Armor (which Rex conveniently carries around.)

 

[Hides His Eyes]

To be honest, I don't think the best solution is to make equipment a PURELY aesthetic choice. I like there to be a gameplay element too, but it needs to do two things:

a) make sense and not be arbitrary (as in SC4), so heavier armour offers more protection etc. and
b) there shouldn't be a single best choice. So heavier armour can offer more protection but it should slow you down or limit your movement in some way. So it's a personal preference thing.

But the real answer to the question is simply to include more content. I don't think there's a good way to cut corners with this. As I said, NWN did it brilliantly: in gameplay terms there are about eight types of armour available, ranging from very flexible but weak to very cumbersome but strong. But for each level there are at least five or six "looks", so once you have chosen which armour level is right for you, gameplay-wise, you still have a choice of aesthetics. Compare this to Oblivion: think chainmail looks cooler or suits your character concept more than glass armour? Tough shit, glass armour's better.

 

[Seishisha]

Its abit of an OCD thing realy, i can't stand it when i get an upgrade that looks rubbish, alot of the time i wont use it because i prefer the look of my current gear, i guess it also comes down to matching items like its almost a shame to break up your "set" for somthing better that doesnt match. One of the best systems ive seen by far is the Champions online where you design your characters costume first and all the items you pick up from that point on are purly for the statistics they give not the "look".

 

[Apocalypse0Child]

I personally think it's a matter of replay value, the first time you play a game, you obviously choose the most powerful items you can find, just so you can experience the game. If it's crap, you don't play it again, but if it's good, you replay it, and try to challenge yourself by sacrificing power for style. Completing a game easily while looking like your standard every-hero is a bit boring, but completing the same game while dressed as say... a cat, or a schoolgirl, or something else ridiculous is acompanied by a great sense of achievement, and is a pretty good source of humour too.

 

[Zantos]

I never had a problem with this, but that's usually because I think the plate mail and a giant sword is a really cool look, and I always play these powerhouse warrior DPS roles. The only compromise I can think of that I made was in Fable TLC, where I had the boots, trousers and gloves from the armour of Nostros (I think it was his armour anyway, it was a while ago), but decided to have a bare chest to show off scars and tattoos, and instead of the helmet I wore the wizards hat. But by that far in the game I was so good with my sword and magic anyway that it didn't really matter having slightly less protection.

 

[Jimmy T. Malice]

Depends on the game. For instance, in Fallout: New Vegas, I normally go for power because a high DT allows me to completely ignore damage from low-level enemies. Most of the good armour looks good (like the Combat Armour Reinforced Mk. II), although there are some exceptions (the silly spikes on Metal Armour, and huge shoulders on Power Armour).