A significant part of RPG is the choices of the role; Purpleblob explains why she likes being able to customize the portraits and wonders whether it can coexist with 3D models.
More information.Opinion - my love for custom portraits in computer roleplaying games
There is just something about painted portraits - I always feel so irresistibly drawn to them. Not only are these portraits exquisite to look at but they help me tune into the characters I create by setting them apart from other player's characters, making them uniquely mine.
My love for painted custom portraits started with Baldur's Gate II. For my first character, I chose a portrait depicting a half-elven lady with brown hair and eyes, wearing brown armor and a staff in her hand. While I found this portrait very pretty, it wasn't quite what I wanted as I envisaged my character having blonde hair and blue eyes, wearing armor more vibrant than brown. Then one generous person from the Baldur's Gate community gifted me with this beautiful custom portrait - created based on an image I found in a local magazine along with a vague description of my perceived character's appearance. It was like magic - the only thing that changed was her portrait but I felt much more connected to my character than before.
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So why do I still favour painted portraits?
Because it would take away that unique feel of my characters. There is just magic in painted portraits - I love how they capture the perceived image I have of my characters - the right expression, motion, outfit and background. All these nuances help me to identify with and roleplay my character better. Although it was mere coincidence, I couldn't help but feel like Celeste was destined to be an angel upon seeing her portrait, perfectly framed with golden splashes of white and blue when I chose her mythic path in Wrath of the Righteous (which you can see in the character sheet above). No matter how high quality the in-game graphics are or how varied the character customisation options are, I feel that character renders just can't replicate the beauty or the unique feel of painted portraits. For these reasons, portrait hunting was never a chore but an integral and enjoyable part of character creation for me.
What is your view on custom portrait vs. character model renders?