I am curious as what people prefer more: A unique character package with specific body morphs and extras tailored to fit; or a generic character package (without any custom morphs) with extras that are more versatile. Personally, I prefer custom characters. The problem is, there are fewer clothing options with custom characters. What say you?

I think people want whatever stands out from the rest and looks best. After looking at the same figures over and over, you look for what you haven't seen before.

Generic. Preferably something that works with stuff I already own.

Custom, with dynamic conformers for clothing items (see Wyrmmasters figures) and get the best of both worlds.

Totally agree with Lyrra :-)

Custom. Generic characters usually are the worst or dumbest combination of common traits. If "she is everything from charmingly cute pixie to evil empress of the underworld with one spin of the dial!" or "go from petite schoolgirl to mega-muscled action babe with a single click!!" or "Exotic Temptress of the Nile to Great Plains Schoolmarm... this character has it all... 20 eye colors included!!!" (etc., ad nauseum), then the character usually doesn't do anything right. You can't change ethnicities with a paint-dropper and putting wrinkles on a face doesn't age the entire body. If the character has no custom morphs, but is simply dial-twiddling on a stock figure... why should we pay you for what we can do ourselves? Yes it is possible to get the cutomer's money (I'm thinking of lights and poses) but you have to be really good and imaginative at setting it up. For custom figures to be successful, you need to have the support of others in order to get a critical mass of clothing and props out there. Getting a hair fit or two is also essential, even if you are supplying a wig with your figure. The Japanese modelers have worked together to support TenTen and Mayadoll, and IIRC, when Koshini was released, there was stuff for her. If there are different renders posted to the galleries, then there are more curious customers and thus more people willing to make stuff for your character. There are several Egyptian characters and clothes, props, environments so a new Egpytian character could make use of what is already available and augment it. There are Japanese characters and lots of stuff for them. There is a shortage of Chinese characters, despite the cross-ever potential in the props. There are no real Mayan or Aztec characters, despite requests. We have igloos and polar bears... but nary an Eskimo or Inuit to be seen. We have Transpond's wonderful Pueblo sets and now Cambodian Temple stuff aching to be populated. Certain themes are popular. Take circuses, for example. If you had a clown (perhaps a lumpy silly figure), you could make him a balloon peddlar (have twisted animal shapes on sticks, not just the round ones), or a juggler, or a zebra-rider, or whatever with a few props and poses and funny wigs. Take advantage of the fact that somebody else has modeled the carousel, the circus wagon, the calliope, and the tack. Additions to a product line could include ringmasters and seriously tattooed ladies. ;^) Exotic maidens are popular. China is a huge country with mountains, deserts, rain forest... all needing different clothing but perhaps similar props. A female morphed to have small breasts and feet as well as the flattened features would need custom clothing, but graceful poses and a Shangri-la setting and a selection of clothing would allow customers to make unique images while a product line was being filled out. And this is something you can't really do with Vicki, who is very well endowed and built to supermodel standards. None of the indians I've seen look anything like real indians. It would take custom morphs to get the hawkish noses and high cheekbones. Doing a proud warrior or a wizened shaman would be a bit of work, but I suspect that folks here would like it. I've also seen requests for cavemen and neandertals. With a few suitable props, they could be used for anything from sacred art to clan of the cave bear level fiction to dinosaur-riders and ufo-greeters for the really imaginative. Why do yet another generic figure with 20 shades of toe-nail-polish, when you can create something a bit more memorable? Carolly

Carolly then you're gonna love the new figure I'm working on ... definately new on the market lol Did I mention I've started modeling? Since Rosity graciously gave me my time back I've delved into the secrets of mesh making. Wheee! BTW there is the glacier girl set by Joerg (http://market.renderosity.com/softgood.ez?ViewSoftgood=14936) which although not totally accurate at least heads in the right direction. Also "Kimimela" by Stacey is fairly spot on for an NA lady of the midwest. (http://market.renderosity.com/softgood.ez?ViewSoftgood=21295) And whats wrong with 20 new flavour ...errrr .... colours of nailpolish? don't you want Fairy Purple Gloss Pixy Magic Xtreme? grin

Lyrra, If this was 20 questions, my first one would be: "does it have digitigrade legs"? Thanks for the head-up on Kimimela... I'll take a peek. Carolly

I appreciate everyone's responses. I've talked to several people regarding this question and have gotten just as many different answers. I agree a custom character needs both variety and support. I'm not quite sure even how to do deformers, so thats something I need to look into (know any good tutorials anyone?)... and as far as support goes. Well, as a newbie, finding another - let alone a group of anothers - has been impossible. I have thought that a themed collaborative effort might be enjoyable (if not somewhat profitable) especially given the pros of mutual support, feedback, brainstorming and the eventual successful endeavor. This would allow for a bunch of content for whatever - be it a custom character, new character, general theme or whatnot - to be released over a relatively short period of time. Anyway, its late and I'm rambling... again, thanks for all the comments!