Armor Customization, stats and appearance separate or tied together?

[Galzus]

Has there been any word on this? I know armor customization entails altering stats slightly and changing how you look, but are those customizations done together, or separately? I know that camos are separate, but what about the actual armor?

Let's say that there's a chestplate customization that reduces shield capacity but increases recharge... does that include a specific appearance change? Or can I pick that recharge rate increase with any visual piece I have unlocked?

Taking Blacklight Retribution as an example, the stats and appearance are tied together: if I want a faster HRV recharge rate, I have to have a certain appearance, which I may or may not like, so I'm either forced to deal with possible ugly armor for stats, or forget about stats if I want to be stylish.

I hope it's separate.

[Skepsiis]

I hope its not. It would be good to be able to look at someone and have a vague idea of what you are really up against if you know the look of the options well enough.

Have the look themed on their traits. So higher defense slower movement armour looks bulky and tough. Or an increased mag, higher rof weapon has large drum ammo feeds and cooling vents

[AThreatToYou]

I hope it's combined, if at all present. I want to be able to visually identify the strengths and weaknesses of my opponent. Exposing yourself in combat should be the end of your surprises.

[OutlawDr]

Based on the videos so far, its separate. Helmet and armor are visual customization options for each class.

Stats are based on class, weapon and certs.

Even with separate helmet and armor customization options, Im sure you will still be able to visually recognize a class and their weapon. Their certs on the other hand will be a mystery for you to discover.

[Galzus]

I hope its not. It would be good to be able to look at someone and have a vague idea of what you are really up against if you know the look of the options well enough.

Have the look themed on their traits. So higher defense slower movement armour looks bulky and tough. Or an increased mag, higher rof weapon has large drum ammo feeds and cooling vents

I don't think knowing stats is all that important, it's what is being carried that really matters. I don't care if my opponent has +10 shield capacity at the cost of +2 seconds to their recharge time, it's not going to effect me cause I'm just going to shoot them until they're dead regardless.

The only thing that really matters is the actual equipment, not the stats. You're not going to see HA skin themselves to look like a LA, and they're not going to skin their AV weapons to look like HA weapons.

I do expect weapon attachments like drums to have proper visual appearances, though.

[Skepsiis]

I do. Unless the stat adjustments are very subtle without much effect.

But if they impact tactics then i would like some visual (or audio) way to recognise the customisation.

In your shield example say, you would aproach a fight with a bigger shield but slower recharge guy quite different to an opposite smaller than normal shield with a faster recharge by maybe considering chasing him around the corner and finishing him off knowing his shields need more time, where as on the flip side the fast recharge guy might pop out again with a full shield and catch you on your way over to him exposed and out of cover.

These could be important differences

[BlazingSun]

I hope it's not tied together. If I think of RPGs that I have played in the past, the things with interesting stats usually didn't appeal to me visually, and the equipment that did had bad stats. So that's often a lose-lose situation.

[Littleman]

I hope it's not tied together. If I think of RPGs that I have played in the past, the things with interesting stats usually didn't appeal to me visually, and the equipment that did had bad stats. So that's often a lose-lose situation.

This. While it makes sense that these (http://www.planetside-universe.com/media/album/q4q5tnh4w8/20120601_4fc90b392f368.jpg) concepts (http://www.planetside-universe.com/media/album/q4q5tnh4w8/20120601_4fc90b0661c5b.jpg) might have lower HP or weaker shielding but more mobility compared to these (http://www.planetside-universe.com/media/album/q4q5tnh4w8/20120601_4fc90b49050bc.jpg) concepts (http://www.planetside-universe.com/media/album/q4q5tnh4w8/20120601_4fc90b178fb11.jpg), I'd rather be able to look like the latter without having to fret over the trade offs I'm making. However, it DOES make sense that wearing all that padding, a soldier can't move around as fast, but could be almost as durable as a real Heavy Assault shock trooper.

EDIT: In all honesty, either armor padding is tied to the "nano-weave armor" or "flak armor" certifications nearly every class has some form of, or they'll be strictly cosmetic, and thus paid for through the cash shop.

[Sledgecrushr]

The thing is youre not just renting the certs, those certs are going to last forever. If they gave you a different look for every cert upgrade then they would have to charge you money for certs. I think the rent/purchase system is in place for blacklight. So you can rent upgraded armor and t looks different but it disappears after a day. Or you can buy that armor forever with cash. PS2 is not using the blacklit system, if you want to look different it will cost you cash but the upgrades to your armor/skills can be earned n game and last forever.