I. 🚀 Appreciation for Progress

I have been following your game's development since I first stumbled upon it around 2019, and I am genuinely impressed with the progress made from its starting point to its current state.

• Interactive Environments: The way the environments are designed for interaction is engaging.
• Gameplay Balance: I appreciate the effort to balance the game while still allowing freedom for unexpected combinations.
• World Scale & Travel: The world looks massive, and the unique mounts offer an exciting way to traverse it.

II. 👤 Major Concern: Character Creation & Aesthetics

My most significant concern lies with the character creation system and the overall aesthetic of the playable characters.

• Limited Customization: Last I checked, the options for character appearance were severely limited, and the changes available felt unimpressive.
• Missed Opportunity: I was hoping for a character creation system that would rival games like Black Desert Online. Instead, the current selection appears to be variations of what looks like Concord characters.
• Aesthetic Impact (Case Studies): This limited aesthetic is concerning, as data strongly suggests player investment and initial sales are heavily influenced by character design:
  • Concord Example: spent [400 million] to develop this game. That game failed quickly due to no one buying it—the even got so despite tried to offer it for free—in part because the characters' perceived "ugliness" negatively effected peoples perception of the game before release so badly in a overly saturated market its only notch that suck was to be a laughing stock by the player base.
  • Stellar Blade Example: spent [50 million] to develop this game. Conversely, Stellar Blade broke sales records, surpassing major titles like God of War and Spider-Man. being praised for the character design, gameplay, and story.
• Recommendation: While I am not suggesting a requirement for "skimpy armor," I believe the overall character models and customization options must be significantly improved. The aesthetic quality of the characters is a critical factor in attracting and retaining a broad player base.

III. ⚔️ Minor Critique: Fighting Animations

I have a few minor critiques regarding specific combat animations, particularly the fighter's spin attack. As someone with basic training in martial arts and sword fighting, a few elements stand out as jarring:

• Disorientation & Slowing: In real-life combat, such a maneuver would likely leave the fighter significantly disoriented and slower, rather than being an effective attack.
• Predictability: The attack is highly predictable, making it too easy to counter in a practical setting.
• Balance Issue: The move severely compromises the user's center of balance, which would make them highly susceptible to being easily knocked prone and dazed.

While I understand this is a fantasy game, refining these core animations to be more grounded for a class like this and less visually awkward would greatly enhance the combat immersion.

Next Step

I'm confident addressing the character design issue will lead to a better reception and greater success. Would you like me to elaborate on specific elements from Black Desert Online's character creator that I feel would be beneficial to your game?