I'm still mad that they gave the first African-looking black woman a buzzcut. Like... argh!! They could've at least given her SOMETHING simple, yet elegant, to back her Orlesian roots, instead of making her look like generic African villager #72!
Sadly she has a buzz....
I don't like women with shorter hair than me, it's unattractive in my opinion. Why couldn't they give her Megan Gooden hair? Black women have beautiful long hair or longer hair.
What sort of hairstyle would you like?
Keep in mind the limitations of the engine though. We haven't seen one person with long hair. Either they're bald, have very short hair, or their head is covered.
I too am wondering what hairstyles would appease this individual. Probably something highly unlikely given the dark ages setting I imagine.
I'm still mad that they gave the first African-looking black woman a buzzcut. Like... argh!! They could've at least given her SOMETHING simple, yet elegant, to back her Orlesian roots, instead of making her look like generic African villager #72!
You do know under all the waive black have is short hair, right?
I don't see the problem. She's gorgeous. I keep seeing her picture and think "damn. Probably one of the most beautiful video game characters I've seen."
I'd actually really appreciate if they didn't give a woman with clearly African-esque features flowing straight hair. That would be the only thing more stereotypical than the short cut (seriously, black women have come up with hundreds of styles suitable for kinky-curly hair types, but it seems like every time a fictional one appears, no matter what time period, the Perm/Weave/Hot Comb Fairy has graciously blessed her). Given the persistent limitations of Bioware's hair designs in all their games, I suspect a close cut is the best they could do and not screw up wildly, though some tiny braids would be lovely. Petition for some friggin' braids.
EDIT: I just remembered an art thing going around tumblr that presented ideas for Vivienne's hair. Can't remember the source and Google is no help, so if anybody knows which artist did these, lemme know:
They should of gone with anyone of these, especially number 2,4, and 10.
And she's still the most attractive female in the ME trilogy. Her face is beautiful.
Nooooo-ooooo! Lease attractive character in the ME trilogy. Miranda, Ashley, Samantha, Liara, Tali and Kelly are all better looking than Jack. Too much tats and bald killed it for me,
Are you referring to Meagan's longer hairstyles? Or her current short one?
Her shorter ones. Although she looks drop dead gorgeous with short or long hair.
Nooooo-ooooo! Lease attractive character in the ME trilogy. Miranda, Ashley, Samantha, Liara, Tali and Kelly are all better looking than Jack. Too much tats and bald killed it for me,
But, Samara and Liara don't even have hair. They have Cthulhu like hair like something out of some Lovecraft novel.
Orlais has been said by pretty much everyone in Thedas to be a place where everything is big and grandiose. Viv is described as a typical Orlesian fashionista who cares a lot about her looks, wearing flamboyant dresses and adorning an unconventional, yet extravagant headpiece, so why not go all the way and give her a hairstyle, which is another big part of fashion in Orlais according to Leliana, that is also as big and flashy as the rest of her? Why give her a simple hairstyle that any commoner can, and does, wear, if she's supposed to be all about her social status?
And to be honest, the main reason why I'm really mad about this is not the fact that she's black and she has a buzzcut. The main reason I'm mad is that she's the most African-looking DA character we've gotten, and they've given her a hairstyle that's stereotypically seen as being the only hairstyle African people wear, if they don't just go all natural and let their kinky hair grow out. If Isabela was the one with the buzzcut, I wouldn't complain at all, just as I haven't complained about Jack from ME having this haircut. I'm just upset that they created someone as beautiful and unique (to the DA setting) as Vivienne and ended up giving her a stereotypical haircut for someone with her looks.
But her profile says that she eschews practicality for fashion, so... yeah.
You're right on Vivienne being the first ever African-looking DA companion but remember Isabella was black. Did she look it? Ehh, the DA2 engine along with DAO's didn't render black people well so....Isabella had hair-length equivalent to Beyonce, I'm wondering why Viv couldn't at least get some Halle Berry hair?
But, Samara and Liara don't even have hair. They have Cthulhu like hair like something out of some Lovecraft novel.
True and I mean Samantha(damn it me!) but Samara was very attractive as well but regarding their whatever you call it, it didn't take away from their attractiveness because that was what their species looked like. Jack and Vivienne having no hair makes them look less feminine in my opinion.
True and I mean Samantha(damn it me!) but Samara was very attractive as well but regarding their whatever you call it, it didn't take away from their attractiveness because that was what their species looked like. Jack and Vivienne having no hair makes them look less feminine in my opinion.
So, it is the middle of a war. Do you think looking feminine is going to be a woman's priority with a knife at her back. And, Vivienne's exotic style of clothing more than make up for a few inches of hair. Liara and Samara are attractive because people find them exotic. And, Vivienne has exotic written all over her in red ink.
They should of gone with anyone of these, especially number 2,4, and 10.
2 is viable.
4 and 10 however are not possible without modern hair care resources.
7 is my favorite on this list. I prefer natural hairstyles. A dark cesar with a crisp shapeup would be killer on Vivien as well.
You're right on Vivienne being the first ever African-looking DA companion but remember Isabella was black. Did she look it? Ehh, the DA2 engine along with DAO's didn't render black people well so....Isabella had hair-length equivalent to Beyonce, I'm wondering why Viv couldn't at least get some Halle Berry hair?
Isabella struck me as more gypsy/arab/east Indian or mixed black hispanic than anything else. Her skin was dark but her facial features weren't indicative of any sub Saharan peoples that i'm aware of. Unlike Vivien who looks 100% pure blooded African. Beyonce isn't a pure blood. She's more mixed than I am. She also makes liberal use of modern hair care resources. Halle Berry is half white and she too straightens her hair using modern resources.
I would like it if the BioWare team came up with curly hair options but unfortunately this seems to be an issue for them.
Her hair could be white and doesn't have to be the same colour as her eye brows
These are some of the most amazing hairstyles i've ever seen.
Hopefully customization has enough hairstyles. 
So, it is the middle of a war. Do you think looking feminine is going to be a woman's priority with a knife at her back. And, Vivienne's exotic style of clothing more than make up for a few inches of hair. Liara and Samara are attractive because people find them exotic. And, Vivienne has exotic written all over her in red ink.
I think a chort cut is
Viv is not just any woman..
She's the woman.
I don't mind vivs Buzzcut, she's all about hats anyway.
I'd actually really appreciate if they didn't give a woman with clearly African-esque features flowing straight hair. That would be the only thing more stereotypical than the short cut (seriously, black women have come up with hundreds of styles suitable for kinky-curly hair types, but it seems like every time a fictional one appears, no matter what time period, the Perm/Weave/Hot Comb Fairy has graciously blessed her). Given the persistent limitations of Bioware's hair designs in all their games, I suspect a close cut is the best they could do and not screw up wildly, though some tiny braids would be lovely. Petition for some friggin' braids.
EDIT: I just remembered an art thing going around tumblr that presented ideas for Vivienne's hair. Can't remember the source and Google is no help, so if anybody knows which artist did these, lemme know:
These are amazing.
So, it is the middle of a war. Do you think looking feminine is going to be a woman's priority with a knife at her back. And, Vivienne's exotic style of clothing more than make up for a few inches of hair. Liara and Samara are attractive because people find them exotic. And, Vivienne has exotic written all over her in red ink.
So what if it's a war, doesn't man you can't have hair. 
Isabella struck me as more gypsy/arab/east Indian or mixed black hispanic than anything else. Her skin was dark but her facial features weren't indicative of any sub Saharan peoples that i'm aware of. Unlike Vivien who looks 100% pure blooded African. Beyonce isn't a pure blood. She's more mixed than I am. She also makes liberal use of modern hair care resources. Halle Berry is half white and she too straightens her hair using modern resources.
I would like it if the BioWare team came up with curly hair options but unfortunately this seems to be an issue for them.
Yeah but Gaider confirmed she was black which I didn't know beforehand. She didn't have the features I'll agree but DAO and DA2's engine could not render black people so that's why she didn't look it. Same with Duncan.
Personally, I am ridiculously happy to see a high-class fashionista with a buzzcut, especially given the historical contexts in which that would have been very, very common. It makes her look very regal, very queenly.
Also it makes her look like Lupita Nyong'o, who is one of the most gorgeous people I've ever seen.
And also Alek Wek, one of my favorite fashion models.
However, I do agree that it's unfortunate that we've still yet to see a black character with natural kinky hair in DA. I think the buzzcut works for Vivienne specifically, but there need to be more black women in general walking around with natural hair.
However, I do agree that it's unfortunate that we've still yet to see a black character with natural kinky hair in DA. I think the buzzcut works for Vivienne specifically, but there need to be more black women in general walking around with natural hair.
Why not black men? It's the same principle. Either way, I would expect something the next game, since it seems likely it will be set in northern Thedas.
Why not black men? It's the same principle. Either way, I would expect something the next game, since it seems likely it will be set in northern Thedas.
Well yes, black men as well (that's why I said character in the first sentence). From what I understand, natural hair is a particular issue that black women face because of conventional standards of beauty and all that, but of course black men too.
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