MINDARK please make at LEAST half of the options for avatar creation unavailable from the start

[True Juan]

Here's the reason why:

IF Hairstyling wasnt RUINED with VU10, the economy would be a little healthier too. Now participants get ALL the options from the beginning (meaning NEWCOMERS)... before you had 5(or 10?) styles to choose from so if you wanted a unique look you HAD to go to a hairstyler... what would this mean?

1. Hunters would hunt for: body fat, hair(skin) color set, hairspray, hair gel etc... (they would sell for nice MU, meaning that they can break even - add a % here and there and you get better results - it's the loss of THESE little things that are making it very hard to break-even these days)

2. Hairstylist would buy them for a certain % (used to be over 250% and they were USED a lot since many beatucians were racing to have the newest UNLOCK, not like today where its at 115-130% max and very low supply)

3. A player went to a hairstylist and paid him for the service, the loot would be used up, which would mean that:

A) Hunters are happy (markup in loot)
B) Hairstylists are happy (peds made to skill for new unlocks)
C) Customer is happy (customer gets a new unique look)
D) MA is happy, because of DECAY! (this means that peds were drained meaning MA made money out of it, hunting and mining are not the same decay as this - usage of gun+ammo still results in some sort of peds returning back, using up resources for avatar customization would mean direct money in MA's pockets)

//Hypotethical Hat on//
Imagine something like this (its not exactly how it should work but a brief example):
Lets say that we have 60 hairstyles from which 10 are default and which the rest are unlocked every 2 lvls of profession.
Hairstyle 11 would be unlocked at level 12 and this hairstyle would cost 1 ped of materials.
Hairstyle 12 would be unlocked at level 14 and this hairstyle would cost 2 ped of materials.
and so on.

These peds would go straight to MA since the materials used would be the input, and the output would be the customized avatar. Basically, a player would pay MA for a customized avatar or not and can have the defaults chosen at the creation process.
//Hypotethical Hat off//

We need more little systems for "drained peds" such as these which would make MA peds (they do need to make money to run the company), and we would then maybe see better overall loot (probably not, but still could be a possibility to divert more peds back into the system).

Please do share your view on this.

True Juan

PS. My skills in beauty are ALL 0. I want the economy to prosper and this would help it a little for sure.

PS2. Its only meant for Newcomers, not disallowing options in the NEW VU.

Maybe a storyline to go with it?


"Before the Earth was destroyed Omegaton Industries had stored every individuals information in Laboratories on Mars for years. This included the visuals, brain capacity and memories of the individuals. Due to a virus attack from the Robots of Akbal Cimi, the information about the visuals has been greatly damaged and the cloning was not giving out the exact results. Due to this fact Omegaton industries started cloning a default look of males and females instead of creating bodys with defects and just inserted all the persons information into this default look. Since Omegaton Industries do not have the resources and time to help every individual with their body customization, every new clone that wants to get their looks changed according to their desires need to visit private hair/body/face specialists on Calypso."

 

[Xen]

If by "from the start" you mean new players, then I agree. But all options we have now need to be there for recreation next VU, as people shouldn't lose their avatar features and have to pay to get them back.

 

[Cerberus]

I completely agree with this.

 

[KlowN]

 

[True Juan]

If by "from the start" you mean new players, then I agree. But all options we have now need to be there for recreation next VU, as people shouldn't lose their avatar features and have to pay to get them back.

Yes, I do mean NEW players

 

[aia]

1. Hunters would hunt for: body fat, hair(skin) color set, hairspray, hair gel etc... (they would sell for nice MU

Problem: No umbranoids (or calamusoids either for that matter). Armax isn't that fun to hunt lol ( I mean, to be able to get significant amounts).

Also, the first beautician that was active pre-vu10 who bought my stuff, Ido, isn't active ingame anymore. And my next beautician, Zunami, seems to have moved most of the business to Arkadia (and I don't want to bring stackables through space).

 

[True Juan]

Problem: No umbranoids (or calamusoids either for that matter). Armax isn't that fun to hunt lol ( I mean, to be able to get significant amounts).

Also, the first beautician that was active pre-vu10 who bought my stuff, Ido, isn't active ingame anymore. And my next beautician, Zunami, seems to have moved most of the business to Arkadia (and I don't want to bring stackables through space).

I dont think theres a problem with that, they can add this loot to another mobs and adjust it if Umbranoids/Calamusoids ever come back

Well, then we would probably see more beauticians active (not just Zumi) - you know this is the reason why theres SOOO FEW active. Im sure, that Zumi would not have a problem to come to calypso from time to time.

 

[mastermesh]

Nerfs ARE NEVER the solution. What they should do instead is revamp the beauty system to give it a point, and use... Maybe if you color your hair hot pink it is a temporary change that will only last a month. In that month you will get a little temp bonus of some sort or the other - maybe you won't attract the attention of mobs as much -- maybe half the range they normally would go agro in you in the radar or something for some silly reason - maybe the hair makes you blend in with the environment more, or makes them see you as one of their own or something... if there were more social skills tied to attributes it'd be better than hunting bonus, etc. but this game isn't made that way... so we have to work with what we work with.

Maybe each type of thing would be some sort of bonus...

hot pink hair does this, neon green does that, mohawks make vixens actually see you as a decoy so they'll come up to you faster than normal since it'll double the range that they see you on the radar or whatever... Clothing with stinktree textures drive vampires away since they are afriad you'll stake em. Silver/chrome textures cause zombies to run away from you, etc.

All sorts of possibilities... Where's the beer and buffs associated with it that the devs wanted to put in game several years back?

 

[True Juan]

Nerfs ARE NEVER the solution. ...

How is this a nerf? It used to be like this from the begining of the system and no one was complaining about it. Beauticians were racing to get the newest cool hairstyle, which was great for the economy.

What I think was a NERF was having all the options at the creation menu. Yes, this was a nerf for the beauticians, and for the economy of the game.

Customization should lead to DRAINED PEDS. MA should focus their income strategy that way... Many games are focused on that and are making huge money.

MA made MANY mistakes, killing a way to drain peds from the system by avatar customization is surely one of them.

 

[Coelacanth]

I agree with the O.P. Hairstylists and body sculptors need a reason to exist. Still, I do think a good many options should be available to choose for avatar creation, but additional hairstyles & non-standard colors could be available only by meeting with a stylist.

That's why I suggested that all common human hair colors should be choosable during avatar creation (and that includes RED!!!) but anything non-standard--i.e. green or pink or blue or fire-engine red hair colors--would be only available from a stylist.

I don't know what I'd suggest from a body style perspective. You should be able to select whatever body style you want, but would have to see a body sculptor if you wish to change it.

 

[Coelacanth]

If by "from the start" you mean new players, then I agree. But all options we have now need to be there for recreation next VU, as people shouldn't lose their avatar features and have to pay to get them back.

Exactly, I've been able to choose red hair color previously but successive VU's removed that color, and I've had to pay to get it back. That's not cool.

 

[True Juan]

I agree with the O.P. Hairstylists and body sculptors need a reason to exist. Still, I do think a good many options should be available to choose for avatar creation, but additional hairstyles & non-standard colors could be available only by meeting with a stylist.

That's why I suggested that all common human hair colors should be choosable during avatar creation (and that includes RED!!!) but anything non-standard--i.e. green or pink or blue or fire-engine red hair colors--would be only available from a stylist.

I don't know what I'd suggest from a body style perspective. You should be able to select whatever body style you want, but would have to see a body sculptor if you wish to change it.

Like I said. In many games people pay for the customization of their avatars, or weapons(Tiering is a great idea to drain peds - one of the best from MA so far). Some more systems should be put in place for sure. Avatar customization needs to be one of them.

I actually have many many ideas to get peds drained(money making for MA) which wouldnt be essensial for gameplay but keeping them to myself since they would not fit within the EU that we have today...

 

[Stefan 008 Bond]

Agree with the OP, however I also agree with the detractors

Perhaps a better solution would be to give us all the old styles back but add a ton of new ones as well that need to be unlocked/discovered.. seems to be the best way to not upset the current players, while also re-invigorating the beauty proff at the same time

Hopefully, this is the direction MA is taking in the upcoming update

We will all know in a week!

008

 

[Shard-Angel]

Why even half? I say let all avatars STAY as they are, and give us a Virtual Mirror in shopping areas - where we can see a demo PREVIEW of all the new styles and looks.... and drool!

THEN the beauty and hairstylists profession can sky-rocket!

 

[Aio]

Yeah, would make me happy. I'll go bald from the start if it means getting 250% on bodyfat, hairspray and hairgel.

 

[KlowN]

https://www.planetcalypsoforum.com/forums/showthread.php?229734-No-More-Saved-Beauty-in-Genesis

From what I remember, it was a new avatar started with picking styles #1 through 10 (which is equivalent to what a starting hair stylist could do). The profession level increases in hair styling unlock new styles (doesn't have anything to do with sucess % during the procedure like some assume ). So basically beauticians spent years & lots of PED to unlock new beauty procedures/styles that were one day just given out to every fresh avatar from minute 1.

Of course body & face sculpting things that take a lot to unlock like calf fitness, etc are impossible to take away, that would just be harsh lol (and never was the case anyway). I'm pretty sure the 2 things that they changed were hair styles (mohawks, etc) & iris colors/types (cat eyes, etc). From this, it should be immediately hair gel, hair spray, & basic eye color sets should go up in mark up. The rest (body fat, basic hair color sets, basic skin color sets, & metallic bone replacement (a glorified body fat)) i'm sure will be dragged up in mark up as the overall demand/awareness of beauty increases.

 

[True Juan]

There could have been a storyline to go with it too.

"Before the Earth was destroyed Omegaton Industries had stored every individuals information in Laboratories on Mars for years. This included the visuals, brain capacity and memories of the individuals. Due to a virus attack from the Robots of Akbal Cimi, the information about the visuals has been greatly damaged and the cloning was not giving out the exact results. Due to this fact Omegaton industries started cloning a default look of males and females instead of creating bodys with defects and just inserted all the persons information into this default look. Since Omegaton Industries do not have the resources and time to help every individual with their body customization, every new clone that wants to get their looks changed according to their desires need to visit private hair/body/face specialists on Calypso."

Something like this Just a thought...

 

[Coelacanth]

https://www.planetcalypsoforum.com/forums/showthread.php?229734-No-More-Saved-Beauty-in-Genesis

From what I remember, it was a new avatar started with picking styles #1 through 10 (which is equivalent to what a starting hair stylist could do). The profession level increases in hair styling unlock new styles (doesn't have anything to do with sucess % during the procedure like some assume ). So basically beauticians spent years & lots of PED to unlock new beauty procedures/styles that were one day just given out to every fresh avatar from minute 1.

I agree with you, that was kind of a backhand-to-the-face of all the stylists & beauticians. Furthermore, I paid good money for a less common, red hair-style that was different from what all the n00bs could choose. A subsequent VU comes along and now that uncommon 'do was very common and my avatar didn't feel so unique anymore. N00bs everywhere were sporting the same 'do.

So as I said, give us plenty of options when creating our avatars, but restrict additional styles & non-standard colors to the beauticians & stylists.

 

[True Juan]

I agree with you, that was kind of a backhand-to-the-face of all the stylists & beauticians. Furthermore, I paid good money for a less common, red hair-style that was different from what all the n00bs could choose. A subsequent VU comes along and now that uncommon 'do was very common and my avatar didn't feel so unique anymore. N00bs everywhere were sporting the same 'do.

So as I said, give us plenty of options when creating our avatars, but restrict additional styles & non-standard colors to the beauticians & stylists.

Could not agree more. And if it also helps fill MAs pockets and helps the overall economy even just by a small margin then its a WIN-WIN for all

 

[True Juan]

I really think this matter should not be overlooked and discussed as I think these kind of features could help this game.

In the past I have read an argument that: "Without full customization at start, players will leave right away". This is a very bad argument as I think if this discoureges players then they will probably not deposit anyways. True gamers would try anyways, and If it had an interesting reason (like a storyline) then theyed want to try it even more.

//
I can just imagine when creating a new clone, you would end up in a room, where you would have this default avatar shown, and a profesor in white outfit telling you the reason that you ended up with such a body. After you write the name of your avatar, 2 machine-arms from boths sides would come to your head, and implement the memmory chips etc. and then you are given standard set of jump-suits(Red, Green, Blue - choice of gamer). After that you are given a PED card and explained what its for and after that you are then transfered to the planet (NOT GENESIS) by an "airship" to the Space Port on calypso. You then leave the ship and go through a check in an "airport like place" where you are greeted by NPCs and told where to head and have a New Player Experience similar to the one Arkadia has built(which is one of the best by far and is not isolating newcomers like genesis).
//

Yeah, I'm just a dreamer but I cant help it

 

[Ludvig|MindArk]

Earth was destroyed

Except Earth was never destroyed



I guess having limited avatar options at start could be a good thing, but only as long as it's not too limited.

 

[True Juan]

Except Earth was never destroyed

Not the point of the thread at all I thought of that in less then a minute. The main point still stands.

It would without a doubt improve another part of the economy... and also bring back a profession thats useless at the moment. MA wants players to have "businesses" in the game, but how can players do that if they just destroy them

Another thing it killed was advertising for the stylist in Twins or PA Was a good startup job for some newbies in the past...

So lets just summarize what the effect of full option is on the whole game:
1. no markup on resources(hairspray/gel etc.)
2. no business for stylists, no competition in the field at all - no race for new unlocks
3. no advertising opportunities for newbies
4. no unique customized avatars
5. NO DECAY FOR MINDARK

Am I really just that dumb and dont understand MA's strategy at all, or is MA dumb in this case...?
We will see on 22nd

 

[Menace]

So "Johnny Hunt Alot" has spend quite some time now finding body sculptors and hairstylists that were skilled enough to make him look like a cross between Arnold Schwarzenegger and Homer Simpson..... He's now got what he feels is the "Ultimate Look"..... Now he's gotta go through all that time and PEDs again because that "look" is available via in-game hairstylists and plastic surgeons ONLY?

Not cool.

I say let everyone choose whatever they want at first.... but just make the system cool enough that people will WANT to play around and change things down the road for whatever reasons.

Menace

 

[True Juan]

So "Johnny Hunt Alot" has spend quite some time now finding body sculptors and hairstylists that were skilled enough to make him look like a cross between Arnold Schwarzenegger and Homer Simpson..... He's now got what he feels is the "Ultimate Look"..... Now he's gotta go through all that time and PEDs again because that "look" is available via in-game hairstylists and plastic surgeons ONLY?
Menace

I have no idea what you are trying to say. Please explain...

 

[KlowN]

So "Johnny Hunt Alot" has spend quite some time now finding body sculptors and hairstylists that were skilled enough to make him look like a cross between Arnold Schwarzenegger and Homer Simpson..... He's now got what he feels is the "Ultimate Look"..... Now he's gotta go through all that time and PEDs again because that "look" is available via in-game hairstylists and plastic surgeons ONLY?

Not cool.

I say let everyone choose whatever they want at first.... but just make the system cool enough that people will WANT to play around and change things down the road for whatever reasons.

Menace

You're way off lol. If I read this right...you are assuming that existing players would get a random reset & cannot go back to the look they want. Not the case. (of course if MA allows any change they previously had during those random free changes they give after VU's, which is another *argh*, but not to complain about this time )

The purpose of this thread is to limit the options that brand new, creating an account/avatar, first time creating avatar's looks, receive. From this, all these starting noobs that come in that can only start with hair styles #1-10 and a human type iris can come in the game and see Mr. Johnny Hunt Alot and his green mohawk & cat eyes and say...damn I want that. Thus, increasing the demand for beauty, thus increasing the demand & market value of beauty materials.

 

[KlowN]

Just rereading the OP, I want to add incase anyone from MA reads this:

It would be so much easier if hair styles unlocked on set intervals lol. Body Sculpting procedures seem to unlock every 2 profession levels, Face Sculpting procedures every 3 profession levels. Hair styles unlock at such random ass times lol, like 17.84, 20.21, 114215.78 (made up #s since I never wrote them down, but you get the idea lol).

Not a huge change, but would help to tell customers an approx of when you will unlock a hair style they are waiting for.

 

[True Juan]

Just rereading the OP, I want to add incase anyone from MA reads this:

It would be so much easier if hair styles unlocked on set intervals lol. Body Sculpting procedures seem to unlock every 2 profession levels, Face Sculpting procedures every 3 profession levels. Hair styles unlock at such random ass times lol, like 17.84, 20.21, 114215.78 (made up #s since I never wrote them down, but you get the idea lol).

Not a huge change, but would help to tell customers an approx of when you will unlock a hair style they are waiting for.

Well, I dont think anyone will read it. Even if there would be some crazy-good ideas on this forum, MA wouldn't know or care. I really dont know why, but thats just the way it is. If I had a company I would work with the player-base A LOT. If someone has 10 spare Millions, I'd gladly start a new game

 

[Coelacanth]

Well, it seems they listen when players say they want to do the damn Gangnam Style.