Mother of sweet things! I saw this on Reddit's /r/wow community a few days ago and realized that I'm kind of a slacker when it comes to my own forum signatures (which is apparently the whole purpose of the project). Thovald, the player responsible for the video, wrote that he did it in 3D Studio Max and didn't actually change the female troll model itself. The big difference is an increased polygon count for the robes and (I would assume) the graphics of the fire spell being cast. It reminded me more than a bit of the perennial favorite Blind, and it's all the more amazing that Thovald is apparently self-taught.
We know that Blizzard is working on an update for character models, but it's pretty cool to see what players can do with them in the meantime. They might be old, but as Thovald noted, they're still a surprisingly expressive bunch.
In the WoW alpha, character models actually had higher polygon counts, but were redesigned to help performance.
For everyone screaming about new character models (I mean the people wanting new new models, like something out of Aion) this shows what I have thought for a long time. Just adding more polygons to fill out the gaps in the models, and help smooth out the blocky parts (along with adding higher resolution textures) would help the models so much.
IMO, that's all most of us really want. Smooth out the existing models with some more poly's and clean up the textures to make the aging models a little less painful to look at. Unfotunately, that's really nothing more than a band-aid on the larger problem. Goblins, Worgen and Pandaren are still going to look miles better in comparison and as you put more work into updating the existing skeleton/model of a Vanilla race, it only becomes more efficient to start from scratch.
It's like spending $4,200 repairing your Honda Civic after a crash when you could buy a newer one with fewer miles for $4,500. Sure, the repair is cheaper. But in the long run it's not the best option.
If it's true that the alpha models had more polygons than the current (classic) models, it sure doesn't show. I looked at the old alpha models, mostly the females and they were clunky and awkward. Especially female troll, which looked basically like just a slighty modified male troll (probably was unfinished).
If these higher poly models did indeed exist, they have never been made public or even datamined. I've never seen them, that's one thing for certain.
When I said higher polygons, I don't mean ten times the amount of current models. They had more, but they weren't on the level of what's shown above. Look at early screenshots of male and female Humans. They are slightly different, and in some people's opinions slightly better looking. The additional polygons can also fill out gaps. Like when a male human or Orc raise their arms, their arms don't go to toothpics around the shoulders. Screenshots wouldn't shot that.
They were in the alpha friends and family client. People played it. Hell, some of those alpha models are in the game in various places. The fat mayor in the Death Knight starting zone and the head of the town outside of Valiance Keep are both "fat" alpha human male models which were never used.
They can remove polygons without it greatly visually affecting the models. But usually it does. Female Humans had this happen in Burning Crusade. Their faces were changed, and it visually affected them. Their expression changed. Other models have been changed in one way or another since release. Female Draenei were also "optimized" early in Burning Crusade, however they weren't visually affected. Gnomes had a change attempted on them in 3.0.2 but it screwed their eyes up so bad their eyeball textures rolled up into their heads, and the change was apparantly reverted (it never left the beta/PTR.)
Oh, and Rev, here's the catch. Blizzard said they know how people are attached to their characters, and would never force someone to play a completely different model, so unless they choose to use a "original/upgrade" model graphics option like EverQuest did, they will never completely rebuild the models.
That's amazing, I'd love it if the redesign is essentially that. It preserves the feel of the original model very well while still looking amazingly detailed.
Chalk up another two views on my BLIND tally. Must be nearly a few hundy by now. Man I love that video. Now if only rogues actually played like that I might get mine past lvl 45.
As for the updated models, this is a great example of what can be done with MINIMAL change to the existing ones. In fact, for me its more a matter of updated animations. For example the human female jump/fall animation is absurd. The male dwarf 2h melee animation springs to mind as well. Like some sort of half swing that has no follow through, as though he's hoping the line ump will rule it a ball instead of a strike.
Jan 17th 2012 at 5:00PM 
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Shinae Jan 17th 2012 5:22PM
Hot damn! Nice render, Thovald.
*big troll hugs*
Shinae Jan 17th 2012 5:28PM
Also, I like how it looks like she's playing with the fire before tossing it like a ball, then smugly puts her hand on her hip. Love the attitude.
Saz Jan 17th 2012 5:23PM
Dang, he made that animation sassy; very suitable for a troll female. I dig it!
Drakkenfyre Jan 17th 2012 5:36PM
In the WoW alpha, character models actually had higher polygon counts, but were redesigned to help performance.
For everyone screaming about new character models (I mean the people wanting new new models, like something out of Aion) this shows what I have thought for a long time. Just adding more polygons to fill out the gaps in the models, and help smooth out the blocky parts (along with adding higher resolution textures) would help the models so much.
Revynn Jan 17th 2012 6:18PM
IMO, that's all most of us really want. Smooth out the existing models with some more poly's and clean up the textures to make the aging models a little less painful to look at. Unfotunately, that's really nothing more than a band-aid on the larger problem. Goblins, Worgen and Pandaren are still going to look miles better in comparison and as you put more work into updating the existing skeleton/model of a Vanilla race, it only becomes more efficient to start from scratch.
It's like spending $4,200 repairing your Honda Civic after a crash when you could buy a newer one with fewer miles for $4,500. Sure, the repair is cheaper. But in the long run it's not the best option.
Marcosius Jan 17th 2012 6:33PM
What Rev said - didn't they say during last Blizzcon that a Pandaren has something like 200 more "virtual bones" than say, the orc model?
lividmonkey Jan 17th 2012 7:40PM
Humans (especially males) would still look damn ugly.
Snuzzle Jan 17th 2012 7:55PM
If it's true that the alpha models had more polygons than the current (classic) models, it sure doesn't show. I looked at the old alpha models, mostly the females and they were clunky and awkward. Especially female troll, which looked basically like just a slighty modified male troll (probably was unfinished).
If these higher poly models did indeed exist, they have never been made public or even datamined. I've never seen them, that's one thing for certain.
Drakkenfyre Jan 17th 2012 8:47PM
When I said higher polygons, I don't mean ten times the amount of
current models. They had more, but they weren't on the level of what's
shown above. Look at early screenshots of male and female Humans. They
are slightly different, and in some people's opinions slightly better
looking. The additional polygons can also fill out gaps. Like when a
male human or Orc raise their arms, their arms don't go to toothpics
around the shoulders. Screenshots wouldn't shot that.
They were in the alpha friends and family client. People played it.
Hell, some of those alpha models are in the game in various places.
The fat mayor in the Death Knight starting zone and the head of the
town outside of Valiance Keep are both "fat" alpha human male models
which were never used.
They can remove polygons without it greatly visually affecting the
models. But usually it does. Female Humans had this happen in Burning
Crusade. Their faces were changed, and it visually affected them.
Their expression changed. Other models have been changed in one way or
another since release. Female Draenei were also "optimized" early in
Burning Crusade, however they weren't visually affected. Gnomes had a
change attempted on them in 3.0.2 but it screwed their eyes up so bad
their eyeball textures rolled up into their heads, and the change was
apparantly reverted (it never left the beta/PTR.)
Oh, and Rev, here's the catch. Blizzard said they know how people are attached to their characters, and would never force someone to play a completely different model, so unless they choose to use a "original/upgrade" model graphics option like EverQuest did, they will never completely rebuild the models.
Bloodysir Jan 17th 2012 5:28PM
OHMUGAWD! She blinks!
Ironhorn Jan 17th 2012 5:31PM
EPIC is all i can say about this.
StClair Jan 17th 2012 6:14PM
Do you wanna date my avatar
She's a star
And she's hotter than reality by far
Wanna date my avatar
clundgren Jan 17th 2012 6:33PM
Plus, she blinks!
Morri Jan 17th 2012 6:36PM
very, VERY cool! ...I mean hot! :)
I love it!
mibu.work1 Jan 17th 2012 7:26PM
That's amazing, I'd love it if the redesign is essentially that. It preserves the feel of the original model very well while still looking amazingly detailed.
Teleri Jan 17th 2012 7:27PM
Just simply amazing, where does the line start at?
sardai Jan 17th 2012 7:33PM
SHUT UP AND TAKE MY MONEY
Unexplained Bacon Jan 17th 2012 7:34PM
Chalk up another two views on my BLIND tally. Must be nearly a few hundy by now. Man I love that video. Now if only rogues actually played like that I might get mine past lvl 45.
As for the updated models, this is a great example of what can be done with MINIMAL change to the existing ones. In fact, for me its more a matter of updated animations. For example the human female jump/fall animation is absurd. The male dwarf 2h melee animation springs to mind as well. Like some sort of half swing that has no follow through, as though he's hoping the line ump will rule it a ball instead of a strike.
Nobar Jan 17th 2012 7:54PM
Blizzard is hiring I hear. Please go work there.
Snuzzle Jan 17th 2012 7:56PM
Nice! A little too "coy" for my tastes (I picture my troll lady a lot fiercer and more savage). But definitely smoother than the current one.