Originally published February 9, 2015. The original article can be found here.
Finding areas where we can make improvements to ESO is a continual part of development. Whether we’re making balance changes, adding to existing systems, or even improving the aesthetics of Tamriel, we feel it’s important to always look for things we can polish up. In Update 6, you’ll see that we’ve spent some time working on the Orc and Redguard armor sets, giving them more details and making them look more realistic. Check out these images below to see our artists’ notes on how and why we made these updates:
(Apart from the forum link on the bottom of the page, the rest of the article is text-free. The images have been transcribed for improved accessibility.)
OrcEdit
Notes on the light armor: chest
- Decorative elements have thinner edges and more straps and seams
Notes on the light armor: hands
- Material treatments make the surface and wrinkles more realistic-looking
- Bracers have a better fit and gloves have additional details
Notes on the light armor: breeches
- Edges are finer and thinner, creating better flow and shape
- Fur accents have a more realistic appearance
- Fabric texture has a cleaner, more detailed look.
Notes on the medium armor: chest
- Leather treatment has less noise to improve realism
- All fine details revisited, from fur to leather embossing and stitching
Notes on the medium armor: midsection
- Metal plates reinforce the torso
- Edge shape and thickness has been refined.
- New midsection shape provides a stronger silhouette
Notes on the medium armor: boots and legs
- Knee guards and boots have more armor plating and details
- Material treatments have all been revised and improved.
Notes on the heavy armor: chest
- Chest covered for a more functional look
- Detail increased for carvings and other metal surfaces
Notes on the heavy armor: midriff
- Every piece has more fine details than before
- Leather accents have improved seams, hems, and edges
Notes on the heavy armor: legs
- Exposed chainmail has smaller, more realistic links
- Once-plain armor plates have new engraved lines
RedguardEdit
Notes on the light armor: hat
- Helm proportions and shape reworked to provide a more realistic look with new details
- Shoulder pad shapes adjusted for a better fit
Notes on the light armor: chest
- Chest piece modified to include protective plating
- Nade texture improvements and added new details and engravings
Notes on the light armor: breeches
- Loin cloth flows better with torso, has crisper edges and more decoration
- Cloth has a new, more realistic appearance
Notes on the medium armor: helmet
- Scale of larger elements decreased for more natural proportions
- Added more fine details and altered shapes for a more aggressive look
Notes on the medium armor: belt
- Changed size of the chest belt and added new protective leather for better flow
- Belt buckle scaled down and given some fine details
Notes on the medium armor: legs
- More layering in pants looks sturdier and flows nicely with other pieces
- Seams, hems, and stitching are more realistic
- Finer edging creates a more streamlined look
Notes on the heavy armor: helmet
- Refined the shape, flow of the plating, and details on the helm for a more realistic appearance and better fit
- Added finer edging and engraved lines
Notes on the heavy armor: belt
- New metal plating and layering create a more protective look
- Introduced more detail and decoration to chain mail, belt, and loincloth
Notes on the heavy armor: greaves
- Straps, buckles, seams, and pant hems have a new look
- Additional engraving can be seen on knee guards, shins, and boots