Yeah I have the same general feeling, at least regarding the importance of the faces, when so much of the presentation is this cinematic close up hehe. You're probably also correct that it would be near impossible to satisfy everyone absent some sort of slide construct. I wish we could basically have 10x10 rows and columns of broad facial morphology covered, which had like a basic organization by shape and major features sorted, then allow the player to slide out from there.
I also think it would be rad if we could stage and capture a portrait in game. I mean the game already utilizes gestural animation in cutscene, and you can screen cap what is essentially a portrait. We just can't do that and save it out in a way that the game can utilize on the fly. I would love to see it handled more like DAO, with the lighting and expression and such but dialed up to 11. I mean for me that would be the BG3's answer to BG1/2s custom 2D portraits. A 3D portrait suite using the models in-game, complete with outfits and lighting, camera and gesture control, the cap to save out portrait at Headshot, Bustshot. A full body shot for the Char Sheet would be awesome, if we could make use the attack and spellcasting and sneak type animations. Basically a mini unreal type scenario, but adapted so it could be used by a more general audience.
A lot of games have a pretty good solution to this. Have you guys tried Black Desert Online or even Vindictus? Both of these have a kind of photo shooting mode at the character design meny where your character can pose, make expressions and even change to other outfits for the particular shot. I am not asking for a photo booth, but ... Yeah. I believe that Larian could take a look at the system those games (along with DA:O) if they want to develop a good system for making 3D character portraits, assuming that 2D portraits are not up for discussion (since I would very much prefer that).
About the color palette - I always assumed that they were in the order of usage, aka "human skin colors", "drow skin colors", "gith skin colors" and hence thought that that is the explanation to why the color palette isn't properly sorted by color and hues. I mean, I believe it kinda looks like that could be the case when you expand the entire list?
Anyways - continuing on colors. I feel like skin color is actually very well versed and I never felt like I am unable to get the color "just right." Eyes and hair however... Now that is definitely a different story. For hair I am missing both of my favorite colors when it comes my color of choice for my typical ranger - those colors being "strawberry blonde" (a blonde color with hints of a red hue) and light auburn (like a gentle red-orange tone, think of autumn leaves or many traditional ginger-colors). Many of the bright hair colors look off, so I usually roll either with plain black - all black hair colors are simply gorgeous in BG3 - the dark red one or the "tweed" one (which is basically a cooler shade of bright brunette). I would really love to see some more warm colors on the hair color palette - especially when it comes to the blonde/brunette colors.
Regarding eyes - the most pressing issue with the eyes are the fact that there are so many colors and shades on the color chart spectrum - and even more so if you want eye colors with more than one color (aka, a inner and outer circle). I mean, BG3 even have a lot of special eye colors (like the tiefling colors) so I generally feel like there are so many colors and options missing. Especially on the green spectrum - I simply am not very fond of the green colors available. There are a lot of gorgeous purple options though! Also, nothing that is by any means necessary but if I could add one small wish in the matter, then I would wish for a option for heterochromia (aka, eyes not having the same color). c: But that is just a tiny little detail that I am not even sure would be worth the effort on Larians end. :]
