Regarding the next field Class. So I have more to say here, but I just want to start by making the simple suggestion that choosing a Class not be reduced to choosing an outfit/look. Here again I feel the initial visualization pushes the player into more of an appearance choice, when this choice is probably the most significant mechanically and needs a fair bit more in the presentation. I agree on some level (from a teaching the game standpoint) that it makes a certain sense to float class as a first choice, if only because it's so involved and would probably benefit from some kind of introductory spiel. But I also think that for a game like this, it's perhaps too much to hit the player on the head with as the number 1 decision. It probably is the number 1 decision in the sense that it's the most important decision being made in terms of the subsequent gameplay, but to also be first in the sequence of decisions is a somewhat taller order I think, and it is trickier to visualize in the abstract.
I used the different class outfits in the lineup to give some variety (and since that's all I had), but I think for BG3 I'd follow the order suggested at Beyond. Except that perhaps "background" rather than being it's own initial tab might instead display within each tab, just repeated with the button always present to the bottom right or whatever. The idea there being that as you go along visualizing your character, you could change your "Background" at any point there and it would literally change the background of the scene! So if there are 11 backgrounds we get 11 Char Creation environments with different embellishments or lighting and such, which each play off their own background/origin theme. I just think that would be cool as all get up. Or similar, perhaps Voice and Charname is the same sort of deal, always up, and when you click the button, whatever your current avatar is looking like, they'll do a voice bark and we see that animated. For class I would love to see some animations as well. Basically a way to preview a flourish of some sort that is Class or Class skills thematic. Or maybe a vfx type thing where it makes sense. Again to give visual feedback for the choices being selected.
Right now the Avatar presents essentially as a mannequin or maquette, but I mean making it more like an animated puppet or marionette where the player has some strings to pull there, each choice being a kind of string I guess. I just really love the idea of a character creator giving us feedback in that way, where our character puts on more of a show. My ultimate ideal would be a merger between the concept of the Avatar and a Character portrait in that way, but where the portrait doesn't mean a 2d painting, but rather like the full persona. I'd absolutely love it if we could replicate some of the expressions or tenors we get during gameplay, but made into a sort of Avatar emote builder. Because if you could combine something like that with starting equipment Dress-Up, then the character creator is essentially it's own mini-game/creative character design suite. I think a D&D game that did that well would just mop the floor for sure, and be instantly heralded as the ultimate hehe.
Oh also, anyone remember these things...?
![[Linked Image from i.ibb.co]](https://i.ibb.co/hmTfgmL/tomes-of-great-value.png)
How cool would it be if within the Class tab there was a little mini "Complete [insert Class] Handbook" like those oldschool tomes of great value? haha! Not that we'd have to read the whole encyclopedia there, at that point, but just the idea that one could sort of page through and get a cool presentation if they wanted to learn more. Same thing could then hangout as a button in the Char sheet, and in that field you could do the branching trees that show the big Class level breakpoints and such, or just have descriptions with some color. I feel like it could present as a sort of BG3 popup book though. Being the 2020s and all, with the clear eye vision, you know where the illustrations actually come alive, and the wolves are actually howling this time hehe. Basically I imagine a kind of BG3 built-in codex that could fuse all these things together. Into a modern cliffnotes presentation though, that is more BG3 FR themed, but one that still has that sort of color to it and where the player is actually playing illustrator a bit. Not that it needs to hit the player over the head with a brick of info, but if they want to I mean, let it expand out and show some legit deets. Least for the Char creation and Avatar up part. That would be rad!
