As we have new sets of armor and class items, some are pleased. But there are those who are not as some of our favorite gear may have to be sacrificed for stats. I have said it before and I will say it again, the option for more cosmetic choices is needed, be it in the form of Transmogrification or vanity slots, for the ability to not worry about sacrificing how we want to look just so we can keep up with new content. It is our legend for the next 10 years, and if you want to fight those 10 years looking as if you are wearing only the beginning armor, so be it, it is your choice, just as it is the choice of another to constantly change up what they have for the current era. I will continue to support more cosmetic freedom, even if I must do it alone. Below is the previously written post about limitations placed on class items and its extensive explanation, feel free to read it for more detail in the argument. [spoiler] [quote] [b]You no longer have a choice with class items anymore. - an argument for cosmetics -[/b] [i]Read the edits too before you post.[/i] I just started playing 2.0, and I am disappointed with the class items and how they change the amount of damage you deal in PvE. Want to wear that ToO class item? Guess what, you deal less damage with it on! Really like that Iron Banner class item for the hunter? (HoW) Sorry, you deal less damage with it on! Want to use the Mark of the Pilgrim Guard on the Titan? (rare) Too bad, you deal less damage with it on! Enjoy being a hunter with no cape and hood, Makeshift scarf? (white) Well sorry, you deal less damage with it on! Now I am forced to wear and ugly item just for maximum light level, THANKS BUNGIE! I tested these in the Nightfall, and now you really HAVE to wear a certain class item so you can deal the damage and take the damage. Changing to the class item you like now is equivalent to dropping down a level. But I guess that is what you all wanted, to make cosmetic choices null and void. All about those stats huh? This is now a fact for Destiny, nobody cares about cosmetics, only stats. I bet you'd all praise bungie if there was only one set of armor available but can have different stats. [b]edit 1: infusion[/b] Oh sure, infusion... except infusion is only for year 2 and year 2 legendaries. Items like "The Mantle of Perun" (iron banner hunter cloak) don't have infusion. Or the Mark of the Six Fronts (rare titan mark) it is the only titan mark that has blood on it, can't be infused, drops your light level. [b]edit 2: point[/b] I guess what I'm trying to say is it would be great if cosmetics and stats could be separated, like in this old mmo Star Wars Galaxies. It gave a separate optional category for appearances only. You could ignore that option if you wanted or place the items you really like in it. It basically allowed you to wear two sets of armor at once. One set for your stats and levels, and another set for appearances only that would not effect the stats. If we had an option like that and given access to every armor ever released, the cosmetic combinations would be enormous. It would make customization really fun. [b]edit 3: point 2[/b] people are jumping straight to the conclusion that I'm just being a crybaby, just for being concerned about limiting choices on cosmetic options. If you read my edit 2, you see I give a reasonable compromise. I have been concerned about this for weeks, basically the day they announced the separation of year 1 with year 2, concerned that we will be going back to the days of being clones, and the thing is, I don't want bungie to prove me right. If I'm proven right, then it is worse than I imagined, so I don't want that to happen. People are also giving the same argument that there will be a year 2 version of the gear, and can be infused, what they don't see is that only year 2 legendaries will have infusion. And there are some items that can't have a year 2 version, like the Mantle of Perun (HoW Iron Banner cloak) it is being replaced by the Wolfswood Cloak, a cloak in my opinion I don't like. And that is one part of my argument for cosmetic items, sure there will be new designs and we can welcome them, but if we don't like those designs we shouldn't be penalized for using the ones we do like, that is the whole point about cosmetics. My concerns are made, call me what you want, I still try to hope that they will eventually add a new inventory for cosmetic appearances only, vanity slots as some of you call it. These vanity slots have been implemented in other games where whatever armor you wear doesn't effect your stats, and you can look like a badass in your terms. I have not seen anyone voice there concerns about this, and if that means I receive hate, then I might as well be that one who speaks of something others remain silent to. [b]edit 4: personal take[/b] [quote]"You don't know what you have until it is gone."[/quote] - John Petryoing in his 1980 novel, The Good Broom We often take what we have for granted until it is too late. Still, my hopes are for those vanity slots, it would be a win-win. Just to give you an example of how I feel about my favorite class items. On my Titan I mostly use Mark of the Six Fronts since it is one of those items that cover most of the hip, rather than being at one side and is the only titan mark with visible blood for intensity. However, since it is a year 1 rare, it cannot have that high of a light level and cannot be infused. On my Warlock I mostly use the vanilla dead orbit bond so it can match the black wraps around my other arm while wearing Voidfang Vestment. doesn't stand out too much neither is it too flashy, but if I want one arm to be a light bulb I put on my vanilla Iron Banner item, which is super bright. The problem is that these are also year 1 item that won't have infusion, but they are being replaced as well. You can't get these items anymore unless you go back in time. (next Vex dlc?) Then on my hunter I use the Red Eclipse Cloak because of the wear-and-tear as well as the radio on the back. Makes me look well equipped. In other situation I use the Mantle of Perun cloak because it is the only black cloak with a cool collar. The problem, neither can be infused and the Mantle of Perun is being replaced by Wolfswood Cloak. Many of my arguments will be the same, to be overwhelmed with choices is when customization is fun. [b]edit 5: basic summary[/b] [b]For those who think this is too long and won't read it all, here is a basic idea of the post.[/b] Didn't like the inconsistent limits placed on class items, don't think there should be limits on cosmetics, compromise would be a new inventory for cosmetic appearance only, also known as vanity slots, broadening customization. Is that easier for you now? [b]edit 6: weapons with light[/b] I just checked, but apparently which weapon rarity you have equipped also affects your light level, not greatly, but still does. Great... [b]edit 7: comment results[/b] From skimming through the comment, overall agreements were made with reasonable compromises to this problem. #1. Adding Transmogrification. #2. Adding vanity slots. Both would be best as options so no one forced to use it. Having options gives one a sense of freedom. [b]edit 8: title focused[/b] Some people are jumping to a conclusion based on this post's title alone so they don't read. If I were to rename it, what would the best title be to still get the point across even as TTK is out? Just something to think about, the post itself has gotten large with explanations, that info may last. The title, however, may get dated eventually. Still it has gone from talking about class items to talking about Transmogrification or Vanity slots. [b]edit 9: Current TTK[/b] Well, The Taken King is out and I have yet to see an increased number of variety in armor/class items. Sure you can say people are running around in blue and green armor, but those can't be infused. Currently, with legendary armor/class items, what the Armory is showing is what we pretty much have except for the new raid gear. I'll give this a week once the raid is available and see just how diverse everyone will be. In my opinion, we need the vanity slots now more than ever.[/quote] [/spoiler] edit: I'm already seeing a lot of clones in Destiny, and even worse, several of the new exotic armors can't change color and the class items can't change color. This is already a step in the wrong direction for cosmetic customization. Many don't see it happening, but we have less choices than before. The limitations placed on customization needs to stop, we desperately need vanity slots, we need to let bungie know that there are people who care about customization. If we keep quiet, free armor customization may never happen, and we will have less. At least I can say that HoW had the most armor customization options because it allowed old armors and class items to all be relevant, no body was punished by wearing what they want, to be their most unique "snowflake" in destiny. Improvements may come, but until it is official, I will continue to argue for more cosmetic freedom, even if I must do it alone. edit: Another post about cosmetics has been made by someone else and seems to have more supporters, ignore me or support them, either way we need to let Bungie know about our desires for cosmetics. https://www.bungie.net/en/Forum/Post/167362388/0/0