Aran Linvail was better without a hood

Thesblah

Aran Linvail looked better without a hood. The Shadowmaster doesn't need to wear a hood like your common thief. He stood out more when his green armor was visible, and he had bright blonde hair.

Jarrakul

Note that the change here isn't to Aran specifically, but to thieves in general. It used to be that thieves in elven chain just used the default unarmored model (which, in BG2, also used to be the same for everyone but monks and mages). In the EEs, the hooded thief model was made the default (as in BG1), and thieves in chainmail got a special textured version of that model. Which, personally, I very much like in general.

Now, having said that, I agree with you about Aran specifically. Just because the total lack of typical thief garb made him come across as rich and decadent and not the kind of thief who did... ugh... legwork.

Arunsun

I personnally do like his new look. He still is a thief, yet he has different colors and these were chosen pretty well IMHO. I find him to be nice this way.
Much like thieves wearing white dragon scales armor, they do look great.

semiticgoddess

@Thesblah: The hood gives a very different impression, and I'd say his position is more appropriate without a hood. Gaelan Bayle, Renal Bloodscalp, and Mae'var all look like the rank-and-file Shadow Thieves, but Aran Linvail, in elven chain, has a more aristocratic look. It fits. His position would involve less skulking and scouting and stealing, and more politicking and strategy. His business would likely also include meeting with outsiders who want to do business with the Shadow Thieves... who might be turned off by a guy trying to hide his face.

It gives a different impression, seeing a Shadow Thief leader in elegant imported dress, rather than just another shady-looking goon.

lunar

Change his avatar to male human fighter or cleric. He would look dashing in that spiffy chain mail.

Nihilus

How do y'all feel about Renal Bloodscalp's sprite? I always found it weird.

Jarrakul

Bloodscalp I don't have a problem with. I mean, if he didn't want to look like a murderer, he probably wouldn't go by "Bloodscalp".

JoshBG

It should be quite an easy fix, I guess. Extract all his CRE resources with EE Keeper and change his appearance:

1) "View" -> "Creature Browser"

2) After extraction: "File" -> "Open CRE File..."

3) Use "Apperance" tab to change his apperance back to fighter's.

Mhamza

Pre-hood Linvail felt unique and completely different to all the other Shadow Thieves. Same goes for Imoen.

DJKajuru

Mhamza said:

Pre-hood Linvail felt unique and completely different to all the other Shadow Thieves. Same goes for Imoen.

I have changed all of Imoen's files to female cleric, and I loved it. Here's a screenshot:

lunar

@DJKajuru I did the exact same thing with Immy during a gameplay, because that was the first look I had of her when I started playing bg2 waaay back. then I reverted back. But I forgot to delete some edited imoen files, namely the dream sequence ones. So in my game the in game Immy is hooded and is wearing purple spandex covering her entire body. In the dreamworld she shows more cleavage and some legs with her naughty-nun/cleric outfit. Yeah, subconcious is weird like that. (And no I do not have Imoen romance mod, but secretly wish I did)