Character art direction and undead tavern aesthetic

The stream includes a preview of updated character visuals and a work-in-progress look at an undead tavern environment, both used to illustrate the game's current art direction.

Updated character style

New character and armor visuals are shown as part of a revised graphics direction. The examples focus especially on ranger armor and are presented as a clear improvement over older character models.

The art style is identified as stylized rather than realistic. Several reasons are given for this choice:

• stylized visuals age better over long MMO development cycles
• they allow lower hardware requirements than realistic graphics
• they better support large numbers of players on screen
• they are more practical for the planned cross-platform mobile client

The previewed armor images are also described as incomplete and expected to look better in-engine than in the static material shown.

Progression through visual quality

A design concern raised during the discussion is that if all armor looks impressive from the start, players lose a sense of visual progression. The stream therefore argues that early-game gear should sometimes look plain or weak so that higher-level equipment feels earned and visibly more prestigious.

Character model and animation overhaul

The recording states that all character models are receiving new designs, new models, and updated animations. Earlier feedback about movement and sound quality is acknowledged, but the response is that these older presentations are being replaced as part of the broader character overhaul.

Undead tavern environment

A work-in-progress undead tavern is shown from an environment-art capture. The footage is described as old and lacking post-processing, with the note that final graphics should look better than the preview.

The tavern is presented as having a gothic atmosphere rather than a filthy or purely decayed one. A second floor is mentioned as a place for private dealings, and many buildings in the game are said to include terraces.

Undead visual identity

The undead faction is described as taking a different direction from the common skeleton-and-zombie presentation used in many fantasy games. Instead of emphasizing rot alone, Scars of Honor's undead are said to lean into a more gothic, vampire-adjacent aesthetic.

According to the stream, these undead are not all heavily rotted in appearance. They often conceal damaged faces and body parts with masks and artificial additions, presenting themselves in a more deliberate and stylized way to the living world.

This approach is framed as part of giving the faction a distinct identity within Scars of Honor rather than repeating familiar undead tropes.

Source

• Recording: Community VOTE: Druid Caster Form + Tank Form Decision!
• YouTube: Watch on YouTube
• Published: Sunday, August 10, 2025 at 9:10 PM UTC