What's with Blizzard's "outlining" obsession?

[Natiry427]

I think the first time we saw Blizzard put "outlining" on gear was Firelands. Then they started adding it to mounts. And more gear. And now the hippograph mount.


It looks terrible IMO. Anyone else feel the same?

[Deleted]

Couldn't agree more, the amount it is used in the new bear form artifact forms is just disgusting.

[Deleted]

I think it looks neat and adds some comic flavor to the models, even if it doesn't make any sense (the hippogryph's beak for example).

[roflwaffle]

honestly though how many things are there that even have it? lol

i cant only think of like 5-6

[Mahcake]

honestly though how many things are there that even have it? lol

i cant only think of like 5-6

Like every 2nd model in Legion.

[Deleted]

I hate this too, my fiance has also been complaining about it since it started to appear on models and now it's incredibly overused in Legion, mostly when there's no need for it at all. It's really... immersion breaking in a way, because the outline makes no sense as it's a 2D thing on a 3D model. When you spin the model round and you see the outline move sides to compensate and it really irks me. A fel, arcane or fire glow (or whatever is relevant) would just flow so much better in the ingame world than a harsh line.

[Xilurm]

To quote a friend. "It's Blizzard's new fetish."

[Deleted]

Outlining isn't an aesthetics addition, it's strictly for gameplay. By removing it you hurt gameplay, or at least you hurt gameplay according to Blizzard designers. You have to keep that in mind.

[Pull My Finger]

I'm not sure if I even know what you're talking about. Some people will notice - and more importantly, complain about - just about anything.

[Xilurm]

I'm not sure if I even know what you're talking about. Some people will notice - and more importantly, complain about - just about anything.

Look at the beak and the feet/claws.

http://media.mmo-champion.com/images...rcaneMount.jpg

See that outlining purple thing? This thing is in almost every new weapon.

In any case, no, no they won't.

[Dejablue]

He is talking about outlining that is inherent to the model.

For those that were not aware there is an option in game to turn off mouseover outlining, but this is about outlining as an effect on the actual item, like a particle effect, that, AFAIK, can;t be turned off.

It is pretty annoying if you ask me.

[Mormolyce]

Aids contrast and visibility and makes details pop.

I think it looks good, art style is completely subjective of course.

I hate this too, my fiance has also been complaining about it since it started to appear on models and now it's incredibly overused in Legion, mostly when there's no need for it at all. It's really... immersion breaking in a way, because the outline makes no sense as it's a 2D thing on a 3D model. When you spin the model round and you see the outline move sides to compensate and it really irks me. A fel, arcane or fire glow (or whatever is relevant) would just flow so much better in the ingame world than a harsh line.

Shrug. WoW's art style is far from realistic.

[InventiveMeasures]

Is it really that big of an issue? Can't please everybody I guess... The outlining is called cell shading, pretty popular in games and I guess they're trying something new for WoW.

[Ehuehuecopter]

See that outlining purple thing? This thing is in almost every new weapon.

In any case, no, no they won't.

Ehh no?

Not all the arctifact model have that outline, so plz can we already stop this fancy complain about outline?


It is incredible how there are bitchy thread for any single update of Legion

[Xilurm]

Is it really that big of an issue? Can't please everybody I guess... The outlining is called cell shading, pretty popular in games and I guess they're trying something new for WoW.

It's been in the game since Cata...

[Deleted]

They probably should bundle it in options with the gameplay outlining. That way when people turn off gameplay outlining (I guess they still can) it would turn off there too. There might be technical issues that prevent them doing that we don't know about (e.g. it might look better this way, provided it would be turned on in options too).

[Xilurm]

Ehh no?

Not all the arctifact model have that outline, so plz can we already stop this fancy complain about outline?


It is incredible how there are bitchy thread for any single update of Legion

That's why I said almost. And this isn't about Legion afaik.

[Pull My Finger]

In any case, no, no they won't.

History and everyday forum traffic tells us the opposite, and we both know it

[InventiveMeasures]

It's been in the game since Cata...

So? If they added it on every single asset I can understand, but it's on a handful of things. Name at least 50 items in game that are cell shaded.

[Netherspark]

It's not just gear, it's mobs too now, it seems like every other model is plastered in these horrid neon lines.

They don't even work properly, they're only designed to be seen from specific angles, so if you look at them from another angle they just glitch out and try to adhere to the model in a way it's not supposed to, and fails. Not to mention how they make everything with them look so sharp and jagged - it makes the low amount of polygons on the models even more apparent.

The really annoying thing is, if you go into the model viewer you can remove them, and it all just looks so much better without them.