I Want to preface by saying that the current artwork is indeed good in quality. However what’s not good is the thematics chosen.
- Problem
It has been a widespread belief and complaint that Lightforged do not look different enough from their base race as to justify them as a separate race, in fact their looks are much more restricted. Something that has reflected in their unpopularity compared to Normal draenei who have all the same classes and don’t need to be unlocked.
- The requested theme for the solution
In light of this, it’s quite clear that the main issue to approach when furthering the races customization is to differentiate them even more from Normal Draenei with new features unique to the lightforged as a race.
- And why the current new customization is not sufficient and doesn’t help the problem
Disappointingly however , this has not been the case at all. Save the random cheek plates option, every other addition has been something that could easily be put on the normal draenei and nothing that actually feels “yeah this is lightforged, this isn’t normal”.
In fact some of the options are things that have been HIGHLY requested for normal draenei for a long time, and restricting them to lightforged makes no sense. Like horn jewelry or broken horns. It seems counter-intuitive that the normal draenei horns are always fine but those forged by the light itself are seen broken.
The current customization is well done, is good, I don’t want it gone. But I believe is highly insufficient and we need other stuff.
- So what ideas do I (And others) propose?
Lightforged
I think there’s a lot that can be added to lightforged as a race.
- Embedded Runes
-Click to See details about: Embedded Runes
First, bring back these
https://i.imgur.com/wEFWUDH.png
Might be hard to see but these are runes that Draenei used to have on their horns in the pre-WoD Models.
Bring those and have them use light effects, be shiny, colorful, whatever. And these can be put on the Lightforged horns. As well as the back of their hands and hooves.
- Light from cracks in the skin
Click to See details about: Light from cracks in the skin
This has been proposed many times. Similar to how Man’ari skins look: ` https://i.imgur.com/0dcPG4D.png`
Lightforged could have shining cracks with light (The following is NOT my edit, just found it googling but is the correct idea)
https://i.imgur.com/E9vu7kG.png
However I understand how that might look demonic. So I propose
Make the cracks on Lightforged, not random and having a “broken skin” look, but uniform, symmetric and having more of a “System” kind of look. like a motherboard. Pretty much like their tattoos but obviously much narrower and focused on a part of their bodies.
These could be options for many parts of the lightforged’s bodies.
- Different materials for the horns and hooves
Click to See details about: Different materials for the horns and hooves
Draenei are all about crystals, and “Forged” gives always the metallic idea. So how cool would it be if the evolved version of Draenei could have their horns and hooves made out of these?
This edit gets the idea.
https://i.imgur.com/9RS64pw.jpg
It would just be textures. However I also think that options where crystals are overgrowing out of the horns, or around the base of the horns and hooves would be really cool.
Also add to this, pearly/marble textures.
- Abs for the females- As an option
Click to See details about: Abs for the females
This might sound funny but, Man’ari females actually sport amazing Abs. They look strong, defined, worked.
https://i.imgur.com/x1sLh6Z.png
Lightforged are supposed to be this hyper martial race and yet the females have so little muscle definition.
Take the shading you used for the abs and recolour it for some Lightforged skin options. Since it’s just textures it wouldn’t require new 3d assets but would look MUCH better or at least give a BIG option to have different to normal draenei.
It’d look like this
https://i.imgur.com/6DeOAiX.png
- More of the current lightforged options added
Click to See details about: Add more of the current Lightforged options
A baffling thing is that, even if you don’t add new customizable slots proper to lightforged, how come the actual lightforged options; crests and tattoo designs, weren’t expanded?
We still have just 4 tattoo designs and 6 Floating Runes, this is pitiful. It’s the MAIN component of being a lightforged and yet it’s hardly worked on.
Runes that the lightforged warframe has that lightforged could get, Just take he designs from here and apply them to lightforged.
https://i.imgur.com/0OuNEkD.png
- Ditch the focus on gold, let us pick the light colour
Click to See details about: Light Colour
Naaru come in all sorts of colours. Highlighted by their models in game as well as the Holy priest artifact which shines with their light.
https://i.imgur.com/k8B0EOk.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/63GlQZD.png
All these colours should be applied to Floating Runes, Tattoos and Eyes (And if implemented, also cracks under the skin and embedded runes). This wouldn’t make lightforged look more common, it would actually make them look more exotic as they aren’t locked in one type of look that’s just “golden draenei”.
- Bring back the Old removed faces
Click to See details about: Removed faces
This has been shown a lot before, and talked, but BFA actually removed or bugged Lightforged faces
https://i.imgur.com/mqfMZN1.jpg
Either way it would be a shame to remove current faces so please just bring back the old ones a returning options.
- Onyx coloured Skin and other dark colours
Click to See details about: Dark Skin Colours
Onyx coloured skin has been one of the biggest requests since Lightforged Draenei inception. This is because A dark colour would combine REALLY WELL, with the glowing motiff. Allowing tattoos, plates and runes to be displayed MUCH better and the golden hair and eyes to stand out in a beautiful way.
This also applies to other dark skin colours, such as dark purple, dark brown, dark slate gray and midnight blue
Some Awesome concept posted ITT:
https://imgur.com/a/v92bUcR
- Special Light Effects
Click to See details about: Light Effects
Increasing light trait
They could have a special visual effects that makes their tattoos (and maybe runes and other areas) glow to the max level when entering combat, similar to the void elf entropic embrace.
Give us the option to have the plates glow
You made new tech for nightborne hand glow. Not sure if that can be applied here, but if it can, it would be great to have the option to have the lightforged plates actually glowing. Would be a much more striking effect. Same for all their “light-related” areas TBH.
Hooves
Hooves for Lightforged could shine bright, literally lighting the path.
They could also leave hoofprints that brand their path with holy glow.
Prismatic glows for the skin
- Make More Lightforged transmog available.
Click to See details about: Lightforged transmog
While the heritage armor and the Lightforged Arsenal are pretty cool, it's clear many things are missing. Like a mace or a weapon for hunters. I realize that Fareeya's weapon probably should be unique to her, but still other things should be added.
The Heritage purple tint that was datamined should also be made available as this is a perfect colour for draenei.
https://imgur.com/a/io9wrfP
- Multiple horns for Lightforged.
Click to See details about: Multiple horns
The lightforged being super mutated draenei gaining extra horns would be a great feature. Below an example from real life goats
https://i.imgur.com/Bdoex9q.jpg
And here’s some awesome concept about it
https://i.imgur.com/9gqrJV4.png
- Other highly requested specific options that could be added
- Pink Skin
- Opalescent Skin
- Longer hair hairstyles
- Highlights for the hair
- Black hair
- Red Hair
- Sun-like eyes colour
https://i.imgur.com/UJzRIoQ.png
Normal Draenei
While the focus ATM is on lightforged, Normal Draenei should also get more stuff to make them more distinctive, and no just a directly lesser version of Lightforged. For this, Lean in to the non-light parts of draenei culture. Love for nature, artificer tech and particularly arcane mastery.
-Non light-oriented Accessories
Click to See details about: Accessories
Maybe some “nature-oriented” adornments such as flowers for the hair, feathers, string and wood jewelry would work well. Or Crystals tied with strings. Also glowing mushrooms from zangarmarsh
Small totems to represent their shamanism. I pendants, bracelets, horn adornments.
Technology/Artificier oriented accessories such as tech plates, bracelets, etc…
- Arcane customization, markings and effects
Click to See details about: Arcane customization
Draenei are supposed to be masters of the arcane as well. Give them arcane markings, perhaps in the form of tattoos and runes on their bodies. Or sort of leylines of power around.
Maybe some special floating effects over their hands and elbows.
https://i.imgur.com/or1AABM.png
They could also have glimmering purple effects.
- Non light-oriented markings
Click to See details about: Markings
Rangari camouflage painting. Tattoos that represent their shamanism. Or their Jed'hin Monk/warrior martial arts. Arcane tattoos as mentioned above. Maybe some tech plating too.
Here are some ideas
https://i.redd.it/bv659ni4pw441.png
From this reddit post
https://www.reddit.com/r/wow/comments/eb8rvy/male_draenei_customization_options_and_model/
-Eye Colours
Click to See details about: Eye colours
And eye colours for normal draenei would be cool, though perhaps they would have a much more limited range, not tied to their "light colour".
Their eyes could be less shiny than lightforged with the colorations perhaps being darker in shade.
Purple. Green. Blue (like the original WoD remodel). And Silver would be good options.
-Red Hair
Click to See details about: Red Hair
Red Hair has been highly requested for Draenei since forever. It would combine really well with the blue hues the race sports.
This would actually add quite a nice contrast to the rest of the customization draenei have so it could be a big addition on its own.
https://i.imgur.com/DZklOvW.png
- Horn design, hair (and More) from Yrel’s depiction in Heroes of the storm
Click to See details about: Yrel HotS Design
Yrel from HotS looks amazing and her design could give some great clues for Draenei. Her jewelry. Her tail and particularly her horn design
https://www.artstation.com/artwork/4b9mQ2
https://www.artstation.com/artwork/PPPB1
It’s something that should be applied to WoW.
-Things from Lightforged, normal draenei should ALSO get
Click to See details about: Light from cracks in the skin
One day the horn jewelry and broken horns should definitely make it to normal draenei. As these have been highly requested by the community for years.
Crests should be a possibility, though highly limited, perhaps they aren’t permanent and more something that appears and disappears.
Things for Both
For females, things like Makeup options the same way humans have would be great.
Pendants for both races. With crystals or maybe small naaru shapes would be awesome.
Even Longer tails for both of them.
Option to make the Men look skinnier, a problem that has plagued their model since the inception. Velen looks skinnier, players should be able to as well.
Better, younger-looking faces for the males.
More Pretty and not sad/unhappy/angry faces for females.
Freckles.
https://i.imgur.com/2lvaaAa.png
Blemishes and skin splotches. As well as different eye/face shape like the Eredar Twins have
https://i.imgur.com/zcfif7l.png
Other threads to check:
https://us.forums.blizzard.com/en/wow/t/why-the-lack-of-customization/
https://us.forums.blizzard.com/en/wow/t/customization-suggestions-megathread/
https://us.forums.blizzard.com/en/wow/t/feedback-lightforge-draenei-customization/
Any other Draenei or Lightforged ideas you have, post them here.
