It always amuses me when Dorian calls my male elf "strapping". I can only think he means in comparison with other elves. Of the many different adjectives I could use to describe a male elf, strapping is not one of them.
He meant "strapping" as in the male elf reminds him of a strap. A spaghetti strap.
I think the models in DAI are wonky, but I definitely don't want beefy elves.
Off the top of my head, elves have been described in-universe as: lithe, skinny, bony, lanky. Not exactly evocative of your average musclehead. If you want beefcake, there's always... literally every other race.
They don't need to be made of muscle, but they should look... healthy. Well, maybe not city elves on purpose, but you get the idea.
If I'm going to be completely honest, I don't want to see a return to the DAO elven models where they were basically short humans with pointy ears. However, I will agree that the male elven models for players this time around did look a bit "malnourished" even though I do appreciate that the team tried to find a halfway point between DAO and DA2 elves.
I would personally like it if elves stayed leaner than humans so that they do stand out as their own race but at the same time still look capable of being something aside from a mage. I think a good example for them to possibly use in the future would be if they looked at how dancers are built since many are lean but still look (and are) quite strong.
They don't need to be made of muscle, but they should look... healthy. Well, maybe not city elves on purpose, but you get the idea.
Female elves are perfect. The males don't look that bad.
Healthy for an elf or healthy for a human? I get where you're coming from - and like I said, I think the models missed the mark this time around - but when elves in-game refer to themselves as "bags of chicken necks" I figure they're supposed to look like skinny hipster people (as a general rule).
Does anybody have any pictures of their ideal DA elf frame? Just out of curiousity.
They're defintely supposed to be skinny.. I'm cool with this. Even in DAO, they made jokes like that. Like the Ash Warrior made fun of them for being thin boned.
OTOH, Sten called them lithe ("lithe" sounds like it could be good.... like a dancer's body as someone said above).
Hipsters are out of shape though.. thin or not. Not to mention the bad attempts at beards. Lets not talk about them. 
Female elves are perfect. The males don't look that bad.
I dunno. Whenever I look at female elves, I keep thinking "Jail Bait". It's not as bad as in DA2, but IMO it's pretty bad.
Female elves are perfect. The males don't look that bad.
Both models are bad.
I am not a fan of playing elves, but if I did, I'd be afraid of just walking through the grass and hearing their ankle snap.
Also Abolos (sp?) his body style looks very very weird. Maybe its the armor. Could be both.
Aside from that I call Bull Mr. Planters in game. His head is so darn tiny compared to his body, its like a peanut.
Be nice if my character could have a different body style and maybe some bigger/smaller hooters. 
Another thought of mine.. A elf isn't that much different then those modified Olive Oyl stick models that many gamers prefer. Some are so skinny I wonder how they can wear heavy plate and wield a sword and shield, a great sword or two daggers.
There's actual lore reasons associated with it though. Abelas AND Solas state that the Elves were 'more', and the creation of the veil reduced them in every single way. It's implied it was a psychical change as well because of the elves in the Temple of Mythal. They're all larger and 'beefier' than regular elves. I thought it was a poignant point; Solas took the elven magic, elven immortality and even the elven stature. So yeah, I'm more than fine with the elven divergance from looking 'regular', because it has very interesting lore to support it.
Plus, I won't lie, I honestly do think that people who support 'regular' elves are boring, no offense. Why do you want a different race that has different origins to look identical to humans? If you want to play something that looks like a human, play a human. I loved the change to Elves in DA2; they looked etheral and alien and it was great. And then, people complained and it was reduced somewhat. I think it's a nice compromise that we've achieved; you can make your elf look as human as you possibly can, to a point, because they are a different species.
And warriors aren't all about strength, you know. It's a roleplaying game. Have your sword be magically enchanted to decrease weight and pretend your elf is more flexible and agile than Legolas.
There's actual lore reasons associated with it though. Abelas AND Solas state that the Elves were 'more', and the creation of the veil reduced them in every single way. It's implied it was a psychical change as well because of the elves in the Temple of Mythal. They're all larger and 'beefier' than regular elves. I thought it was a poignant point; Solas took the elven magic, elven immortality and even the elven stature. So yeah, I'm more than fine with the elven divergance from looking 'regular', because it has very interesting lore to support it.
So does that say something about Sera, who has a human female sized body?
Plus, I won't lie, I honestly do think that people who support 'regular' elves are boring, no offense.
Yes, yes. We're all boring, and not unique hipster snowflakes. Silly me.
So does that say something about Sera, who has a human female sized body?
Yes, yes. We're all boring, and not unique hipster snowflakes. Silly me.
I wouldn't really take companions traits/appearances to be canon, they're usually modified in some sort of way because of x (usually artistic) reasons. Look at Fenris. Or Oghren, etc etc.
And yes, it is boring to want all races to look the same. What's the point? Why not have dwarves be the same height as humans but with slightly rounder/larger noses, and Qunari the same height/build/skin colour but with horns? No, that's boring isn't it and removes racial diversity? Oh, well why do you want Elves to go the same route?
If anything, elves should look more alien. We're learning their roots and origins, and it's so far away from humans that it seems incredibly implausible that they would look anything like each other.
The point still stands though, and as blunt as it is, it's true. If you want elves to look like humans, why not play a human? It sounds like that's the race you're after.
And yes, it is boring to want all races to look the same. What's the point?
I'd understand your point if anyone actually said that. People here with criticism still advocate skinny elves though. I sure as hell wouldn't them to look like humans at least (especially the males). That would be weird too. With Sera and human females, it's more subtle.
But in all seriousness am I the only one who would like to play as an elf that is jacked and looks like a complete and utter bad ass. I just want to know if anyone agrees with me that the the elves or at least or form of the males should be extremely beefed up.
Yep, the models and rigging are horrible. Bioware should just stop trying to make them look unique and different and just go with the DAO approach; even if it is fairly generic, at least it's not blatantly bad.
I like the Qunari body for males. The elf is fine as a mage but, as a warrior, they need more bulk and, more definition but not bulk as a rogue. Both are physical, muscle building roles so, even if the elf starts scrawny, he should build muscle as the game progresses as a warrior or rogue.
Make male elves a bit beefier, maybe? Like Solas.
The first two points especially emphasise who my post was directed too. If it doesn't apply to you, I'm not sure why you took offense. In fact, I'm not really sure why people find an opposing opinion (that I think it is boring to remove racial diversity) as an offensive one is beyond me, anyway.
Edit:
You edited your post while I was constructing mine and removed the point of me apparently insulting you, so ignore the last bit.
To answer your new post, my issue isn't with people talking about a new art style that remains loyal to the Elven concept, that's totally cool. My issue is people using the words 'beefed up' or, as the second quote demonstrates, going back to humans with pointy ears. Elves are skinny, and as long as any and all new models reflect that, I'm cool. All I want is a design that is faithful towards the concept of the race; skinny, decaying, lithe and agile. But most importantly, not humans v2!
The first two points especially emphasise who my post was directed too. If it doesn't apply to you, I'm not sure why you took offense. In fact, I'm not really sure why people find an opposing opinion (that I think it is boring to remove racial diversity) as an offensive one is beyond me, anyway.
Don't worry, I'm not that offended. That's why i was answered you sarcastically.
Anyhow, your post appeared without quotes. So it sounded like you directed it in general. If you have something more specific to say to someone, I'll leave you to it 
I'd be happier with a modifyable body shape (similar to SW) where you can make the PC skinny/athletic/buff/plump. It wouldn't have to have sliders, just be something you can pick and choose to change it up a little, make more sense for their profession. And by virtue of their races, the bodies could also be larger or smaller in places (like the skinny Qunari would be taller, lanky compared to the petite, slim elf). It kind of blows my immersion to see my Qunari boy mage looking as buff as a warrior. I can't play a male elf warrior at all. Those itty bitty arms and no muscles build fits for a mage, possibly a rogue (wiry/dexterous strength vs power), but warrior. Nuh uh.
Maybe next game. The CC was amazing in this one (except for the crappy hairstyles). Maybe next game we will get body types for variety. Four general (buff for warrior, athletic for rogue and slim/plump for the less active mage), interchangeable between classes for your RP variety would be cool.
As I mention elsewhere I prefer the Elf rogue over other races because they seem to hit harder and faster then a Shem rogue -at least in my game experience. My second choice is a rogue Dwarf..I seldom use a Shem and then never got beyond the Fade in DAO..I don't like being forced to use a Shem in DA:2. At least DA:I gives you a option of using a Elf.
Maybe if the Elves wasn't looked down upon as a inferior race by the shems more gamers would like them?
There's looking 'unique' and then there's being plain difficult to look at.
Let us be the elf that takes other elves lunch money at least.
If you want a muscular elf put a shokra-tar on him.
@Duckley, you show us two humans with slightly pointy ears. Crap prototypes in my opinion =)
Yup
I know lots of people find the idea of humans with pointy ears very boring and blah but humans with pointy ears - pretty humans, lithe humans, with pointy ears - is just my preference for Elves. I guess I am too much of a traditionalist and most of what I have read and seen in terms of Elves, fits the human with pointy ears category. Kind of like Dwarves being short stocky humans with big noses and lots of facial hair LOL!
Having said that though, it seems to me that Thedas' most intelligent species are humans or humanoid(?). The physical differences between them seem to be related to their species environmental adaptations to living in forests, or underground (pointy ears, short muscular bodies, horns). In that sense, my expectations are that the various races will look pretty similar - just like IRL'
Animals or totally different species (like those in ME) that have evolved in some totally different environment could/should IMO, look significant different.
Duckley, The Danish Elves must be fairly strong and muscular since they live off the land and may have to carry a deer or wild boar for miles on their way back to camp,they cut trees for corral poles for the Halla, cut and drag in the fire wood etc. Not a easy life by any standard.
IMHO the elf in the top photo probably favors a city elf while the bottom photo probably favors the Danish elf.
And while I'm at it and IMHO the Elves in DA:2 looks more like aliens from a distant plant then a true elf.
As I mention elsewhere I prefer the Elf rogue over other races because they seem to hit harder and faster then a Shem rogue -at least in my game experience. My second choice is a rogue Dwarf..I seldom use a Shem and then never got beyond the Fade in DAO..I don't like being forced to use a Shem in DA:2. At least DA:I gives you a option of using a Elf.
Maybe if the Elves wasn't looked down upon as a inferior race by the shems more gamers would like them?
Okay, elves are my favourite of the DA races too but don't you think you're getting just a little too into this?
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