Universal helmets (Hear me out)

[lofty glacier]

I know this game isn't being updated anymore, but it would be cool if helmets were universal for all classes (Keep the armour sets the way they are for class recognition of course). This would open up a lot of unique looks you can build without having to actually add any new models to the game. This is even shown in just about every NPC you fight in the tutorial, and it's a shame we can't actually create similar looks for ourselves.

I mean, look at this. He's still easily identifiable as a footman, but he's got a kettle helmet

Same thing again

[barren fiber]

Good idea, other thing the game needs is more customizable options like making your own heraldry by choosing colors

[wise hornet]

Tbh I’d say make SOME helmets exchangeable, such as the kettle helm for footman and archers

[lofty glacier]

I think all helmets should be interchangeable. We already have some universal helmets, like the plague mask, and there aren't any issues with class identification when wearing it

[lofty glacier]

That's a cool idea. Kinda like what they did in Chiv 1

[sour whale]

It's important to keep a consistent silhouette for knowing who's on which team

[stray hare]

I think that ship has sailed a while ago. Namely the plague mask and also the template helmets (the ones with the wings/horns) on Agatha

[lofty glacier]

I agree, which is why the helmets should still be locked to each faction

[wanton zenith]

I think knight and vanguard could share helmets, while archer and footman do as well. It keeps the balance between covered face and uncovered face (Still won't run helmets though I don't want so spend all my time customizing a face just for it to be hidden, and all the hair to be shaved)

but we get bug fixes now soo sad

Well not many bug fixes lol

[barren fiber]

Bro, you can tell by just looking at the armor, or armor lacking clothes

[sour whale]

why not be able to do that with both, and what if they're behind something or using a heavy shield

[lofty glacier]

You can still tell which class the player is when they attack, which momentarily lowers the shield. Or you could just, y'know... look at them from the side

[sour whale]

or you could like, look at their helmet

[lofty glacier]

That's doesn't work if the enemy is wearing the plague mask or the horned helmet. It's easier to identify who is what by looking at the body. You can still see the arms and legs of a shield user

[sour whale]

so it's confusing and unreliable when there are helmets that are available for all classes, and you have to use more obscured or faster moving or so-close-it's-too-late parts of their model to compensate?

interesting

[lofty glacier]

What do you mean? It's easy to immediately identify which class is which just by the body alone. Say there was a group of 4 helmetless players, one of each class. You can still immediately identify who is which class just by the body alone

Now what they're all holding a raised heavy shield? Yes, it starts to get confusing, but that's pretty much a non-issue even now. You're still going to treat the shield user the same, whether it's a knight or an archer.

[sour whale]

i won't, it's very important to know how much HP your opponents have. two 50 damage lights will kill an archer but not a vanguard.
the special helmets should have been locked to classes, imo. like Ponjisk said the ship has sailed, but that doesn't mean you should abandon good character design entirely from that point. why sacrifice the last of the user-friendliness for the sake of honestly, really tacky mix and matches of heavy helmets with light armour

[lofty glacier]

Because 1, it would look cool, and it opens up a lot of possibilities to express yourself, and 2, the armour on the body, being the biggest identifying factor for each class, is what matters the most. No other class except the vanguard have surcoats and long, wavy garments, no other class but the archer wears nothing but a simple gambeson, no other class but the footman wears half plate and brigandine, and no other class but the knight wears full plate that completely covers the body, arms, and legs. The eagle/lion/beard helms, the horned helm, and the plague masks are already universal, and none of them cause any problems with identification

Besides, it would be nice if we were able to wear a kettle helmet on our footmen, or a bascinet on our archers

[sour whale]

i'm not saying helmets are the only means of identifying them, i'm just saying that there are really good reasons to keep them identifiable and this amount of expression is quite minor compared to other things you get to choose.
both faction knights have surcoats, mason footman has plate and scale mail like its vanguard, there's other examples. people are always complaining about the rebel knight set for agatha and the lamellar on tenosia is all confusing. less structure is not always better

[lofty glacier]

I can see where you're coming from, and I think structure is good. But it's frustrating how limited the customization is right now. Those two armor sets you mentioned are an issue, but it's the colours that are used for them that cause reading issues, and not the style itself