Development Info Underrail: Infusion Dev Log #5: Character Model Customization

[Infinitron]

Tags: Stygian Software; Underrail: Infusion

It didn't take as long as I expected for Styg to publish his next development update for Underrail: Infusion. This update is about the game's character model customization system. As you might expect, Infusion will allow players to customize their characters' skin color, hair color, hair style and so on during character creation. Where it will differ from most RPGs is that a character's body type will be determined by their physical attributes, a system that will also apply to NPCs. The devlog includes an image with examples of various male character models.

In this dev log, I'm going to give you a little sneak peek of what character customization will be possible in the new engine. Today, I'll only be showing and discussing male characters, but you can expect analogous customization for females as well.

As I mentioned in the previous dev log, we're now using PBR (physics based rendering) for characters. Might not be that apparent in the screenshot below, as all the characters are naked, but it'll definitely make a lot of difference once we start equipping them with gear made of different materials..

Of course, first and foremost, you'll finally be able to pick a skin color. Then you'll be able to select your hair style, beard and mustache styles and colors. Both skin and hair colors will be chosen from a predetermined list, so no orc, alien, or other unnatural silly characters will be allowed.

You'll also be able to choose a face from a predetermined list, though this will probably have the least visual impact due to the size at which models are rendered.

Characters also support having piercings, tattoos, scars and the like, but we'll see how we're going to make these accessible to player. For the most part, you'll probably not be able to choose these at characters creation, but will instead have to earn them along the way.

The most important feature, for me at least, is the body type variety. This you will not be able to pick freely, but instead, your visual body type will correspond to your physical attributes: strength, agility, and constitution. Strength will make you bigger, while agility will make you leaner. Constitution has a more complex interaction with your visual appearance as it is both a measure of physical sturdiness and endurance.

These things will also, generally, apply to the NPCs, so you'll be able to gauge their physical properties from their appearance.

That's it for now. I know a lot of you are very interested to see some environment screenshots, so hopefully we can get those out relatively soon as well. I think you'll be quite impressed with the upgrade from the previous game.​

Looks pretty good. I hope Styg can keep up this rate of updates.

 

[luj1]

... your visual body type will correspond to your physical attributes: strength, agility, and constitution...

... These things will also, generally, apply to the NPCs, so you'll be able to gauge their physical properties from their appearance.

pretty cool and innovative

 

[CHEMS]

... your visual body type will correspond to your physical attributes: strength, agility, and constitution...

... These things will also, generally, apply to the NPCs, so you'll be able to gauge their physical properties from their appearance.

pretty cool and innovative

That's nice. In OG underrail a frail old guy can sport 20 strength and turn you inside out with one kick

I for one would like to finally have the immersion to be the crack hobo i'm meant to be.

 

[Feyd Rautha]

Looks like the first the Sims game. Good!

Aslo this:

The most important feature, for me at least, is the body type variety. This you will not be able to pick freely, but instead, your visual body type will correspond to your physical attributes: strength, agility, and constitution. Strength will make you bigger, while agility will make you leaner. Constitution has a more complex interaction with your visual appearance as it is both a measure of physical sturdiness and endurance.

 

[Kev Inkline]

Sir, installing that malware protection software for you will be only $285.

 

[thesheeep]

Pretty good idea for the body types.

May the game release in this decade!

 

[Alpharius]

A risky idea. Now most of the reviews for this game will devote half their text to complaints about how one can't pick a female body type for a male character. And the devs might give in thus reducing sales due to their decline-enabling attitude.

 

[Zariusz]

One step closer to getting Infused.

 

[CHEMS]

A risky idea. Now most of the reviews for this game will devote half their text to complaints about how one can't pick a female body type for a male character. And the devs might give in thus reducing sales due to their decline-enabling attitude.

Even better, i only read reviews that are funny and i find body-positive butthurt to be really really funny. Depot A butthurt got kinda stale by now.

 

[Ibn Sina]

Dynamic appearance change based on stats. Nice.

 

[Trashos]

At least one of my playthroughs is going to be: making a character look exactly how I want him to, and then trying to deal with the consequences.

 

[Pots Talos]

Kenshi did this and I initially liked it but came to realize all my characters ended up looking the same.
It's been awhile since I played Underrail but if I remember correctly it has a limited stat pool which I guess would alleviate this concern.

 

[Major_Blackhart]

Nice.

 

[Old One]

Which stats will make women have big boobs?

 

[Kev Inkline]

Which stats will make women have big boobs?

High EMPathy

 

[Old Hans]

Sir, installing that malware protection software for you will be only $285.

with PBR technology I have never seen such realistic boxer briefs

 

[Crescent Hawk]

... your visual body type will correspond to your physical attributes: strength, agility, and constitution...

... These things will also, generally, apply to the NPCs, so you'll be able to gauge their physical properties from their appearance.

pretty cool and innovative

All rpgs with stats should be doing once going 3D models. Its simple and interesting.

 

[BanEvader]

I come here expecting news on mechanics, instead I'm greeted with coomer shit.
Infusion's gonna suck.

 

[Shadenuat]

Yeah I am not sure.

Even looking at example from some distance, imagine gear on them so you won't see skin color difference as much, and then add Underrail shadows - I remember game being quite dark and stuff, and most differences would be diminished greatly.
I doubt it would produce same effect as Chosen One, Vic & Myron standing near each other. It's not exaggerated enough.
And scars, tattoos, and all that stuff, people probably would like it for 5 mins and then forget it for the rest of the game.

If anything, for isometric game I'd focus more on trying to make armor, light/heavy, and weapons, as distinct as possible, so you could easily tell what anyone is holding, not bodies.

 

[ciox]

Yeah I am not sure.

Even looking at example from some distance, imagine gear on them so you won't see skin color difference as much, and then add Underrail shadows - I remember game being quite dark and stuff, and most differences would be diminished greatly.
I doubt it would produce same effect as Chosen One, Vic & Myron standing near each other. It's not exaggerated enough.
And scars, tattoos, and all that stuff, people probably would like it for 5 mins and then forget it for the rest of the game.

If anything, for isometric game I'd focus more on trying to make armor, light/heavy, and weapons, as distinct as possible, so you could easily tell what anyone is holding, not bodies.

That last bit should be covered given what they shared in this devlog https://stygiansoftware.com/infusion/devlogs/3-real-time-3d-models.html

Would expect most unique weapons to be represented properly, characters that crawl in vents instead of jogging around at full height, etc

 

[Shadenuat]

That last bit should be covered given what they shared in this devlog https://stygiansoftware.com/infusion/devlogs/3-real-time-3d-models.html

Would expect most unique weapons to be represented properly, characters that crawl in vents instead of jogging around at full height, etc

Looks quite better (miles better tbh) than Colony Ship at least. The backgrounds are rich with color, so models should look nice on 'em.

 

[ItsChon]

That last bit should be covered given what they shared in this devlog https://stygiansoftware.com/infusion/devlogs/3-real-time-3d-models.html

Would expect most unique weapons to be represented properly, characters that crawl in vents instead of jogging around at full height, etc

Looks quite better (miles better tbh) than Colony Ship at least. The backgrounds are rich with color, so models should look nice on 'em.

As Ciox pointed out, Styg is redoing the sprites to reflect the different weapons and armors to make them more easily distinguishable, and I assume to go along with that, he's also doing the characters bodies and so on. I had worries about how the new sprites would look on the 2D-Rendered Backgrounds, and I mentioned this to Styg.

View attachment 25922
A preview of some of the 3D models that Styg and crew have been working on. I asked to see what the new models might look like on a background so we can get a feel for them, and he said that the backgrounds need to be brought up to par first.
View attachment 25923
Some comments regarding Stygian's design philosophy and the engine upgrades planned for Infusion and Underrail 2 in the distant future.

This was his response, and it addressed my concerns. The maps themselves are getting upgraded so that they are more conducive to these new new sprites, which I assume will also answer some of your worries regarding the visibility of the new character models.

 

[Iluvcheezcake]

Looks very cool

 

[deuxhero]

But what about height variety and ability to play as a little girl?

 

[cherry blossom]

All male characters will start with a small penis. You can enlarge it through implants, lose it due to combat or may decide to go through genital reconstruction later.