If you could change Jun's chest crest, would you?
Jun has his lion chest crest in most of the newer marketing material. Do you like the lion chest crest? If you could customize the chest crest, would you want to do it?
Please discuss.
Not the book I read it very good. I couldn't quite get my head around what it looked like in space. It was a gas giant that for some reason went supernova and somehow that made the system look like a nebula ?
I'm frustrated with this whole 'character creation' controversy and trying to figure out what it is that i'm missing.
If the link above doesn't link to the time jump, the question they respond to is exactly 1:00 into the video. Chad Robertson says, in response to the question, "What makes the Traveler, the Player Character, unique in the story?" spends about 12-ish seconds introducing the idea and noting specifically, "You'll have some options," as far as a character creator goes. Then the other approximately 43 seconds is spent talking about how it's the choices you make in the story [supported with skill tree and gameplay choices] that will define what shapes the character and who they become.
This makes sense... The elements in that last 43 seconds are the crux of what i've seen from Achetype on character creation and that goes all the way back to the start of the series. Those choices and that narrative-driven approach have always been a foundational component of all these Founders Q&A's and communications that i'm aware of.
I've tried to look through other media and interviews and seen nothing more explicit about character creation than this. Did I miss the deep dive where they explained CC was going to work? I will admit this video above is the last with Ohlen before his departure and when [for me at least] 'the writing was on the wall,' and I dialed my interest way down as a result, but I just spent my lunch hour diving through Google/Youtube to no avail.
While i am disappointed that there will be no cc its a shame that many people are doomposting and shitting on the game along with the devs.
(obviously excluding the ones sharing their genuine disappointment)
Cutting features is not uncommon in gaming and I KNOW CC IS A BIG FEATURE.., but i think it could be any number of reasons instead of just deceiving people into buying the game or just being “lazy”.. and personally I would rather take a well told grandeur story than an in depth cc any day (i am not a white person btw).
A lot of people working on this game are people who made some of my most beloved games and I think they have earned my benefit of the doubt; personally the game went from a preorder to wait for the reviews for me but i am still hoping it turns out to be great.
Granted, he still looks like fabulous squidward but here he looks much better than in the trailers, he definitely has the face of a hero.
Do you think it is a prospective problem or did the devs not realize the face of the digital model looks off until after the trailer releases?
So I'm about a little over half way through the Helium Sea novel and I'm starting to get my Celestial power-rankings and organizations mixed up. Can someone help put it all into perspective for me please?
As I understand it, all posthuman "aliens" are Celestials and the Imperial Celestials are a particular and common species. These are "the greys" we see in the game trailers (though that female one was bald and the ones in the novel might have hair).
The Crown Dominion is a particular nation of Imperials, consisting of 5/6 queens rotating as Empress and less than a dozen star systems (each system with multiple planets/locals, as evidenced with Kelowan system). There are some Imperial Celestials who are not members of the Crown Dominion.
There are many other Celestials who are at parody with the Imperials (evidenced by the Arcons of other species featured in the books), but also some Celestials who are technologically inferior and superior to even the Imperials. The Helium Sea features a few of these technologically superior Celestial sects, such as the ones building that gigantic dyson sphere for example.
Is that all broadly correct?
I find that man unbearable a lot of the times but MY GOD, I was geeking in excitement when he dismantled Dagon whole 7000 years old plan with just a move.
And my god what a beautiful talk down he gave to the lil sh*t.
Here stands a Imperial Celestial, SUPPOSEDLY the better version of mankind, being cornered physically and mentally in a small chamber by one of those ‘little, ugly, weak monkeys’ and proceeding to fall back on supremacist speak 101 while Josias promptly remind the b*tch that everything they have is built on HUMAN foundations.
I LOVE SEEING CELESTIAL SLANDERS!
I hope this beat down continues for the rest of the book until Dagon is a lil crying racist transhuman.
Like many, I’m a bit annoyed at the removal of character creation functionality in favor of the beard and hair selection we are getting instead. Before all of you “bUt tHe wITcHer3” people rush in (I suspect some of you are either bots or AE employees so please stop trying to silence those who are annoyed at this) I think it’s worth understanding why there is annoyance.
The character creator itself is in my opinion not the issue. There are other games where I can make my custom protagonist. Yes we all know what a set protagonist is. We aren’t living under a rock. The issue is there was an explicit interview by a founding member declaring this feature would exist. The claim that this is an RPG. The time dilation. Then silence. More silence. Then “stay tuned! For more silence!”
AE isn’t Larian, but based on the behavior of those devs during BG3 development, if something wasn’t working out, the director would have just casually said “yeah we had too many issues so we cut it”. No vision crap. No vague excuses.
AE is a brand new studio from a publisher that is known for screwing its own customers and players. It’s clear this game got some scope cuts but claiming transparency only after pressure for weeks is a really bad way to enter the pre release marketing season. Sorry guys, but you haven’t earned that good will. Players respect honesty from devs every time. Look at what happened to DA: Veilguard. They tried to corpo speak the heck out of their marketing campaign. It did not end well.
I have no doubt that people who don’t play rpgs anyway will buy this and say “it’s fine” and then move on to another game. But it’s a shame to just tell an entire group of genre fans who have helped build a community for you that you aren’t really interested in selling this game to them. “But please wishlist it!”
Wall of text just because I was excited for this game and now I’m not. Maybe future videos will help but I think AE taking some notes from successful community managers will help more.
So I personally I am not mad about them having a limited cc. Yeah it sucks to not be able to fully create my character from scratch but I consider it like I'm playing a defined character like Aloy from Horizon Zero or Geralt from the Witcher but i have can choose their eye color or hair style. Its not gonna keep me from preordering the game.
But i find it interesting that skin tone is not an option they listed. I'm no game developer, so I can't say how difficult it is to incorporate that into the game but with other RPGs like Baldur's Gate III or Dragon Age/Mass Effect give you that ability. Hopefully this is a feature they will have in the final game and just didn't mention in this blog.
Especially with Osiris Reborn, which will allow full cc along with configuring your character's twin design based on yours. Even though DA2, despite its issues and limitations, a major one being the player only being able to play a human, it fully allows you design your Hawke. This is not shade on Exodus, both games are striving for different goals. It just seems like thats not what Exodus thinks is best for them and I'll respect their choice in that. I dont want that to impact my feelings on the game until I play the game myself and see how it impacts the experience. Though I totally understand a lot of people disappointment for the announcement.
They do need to focus there next major announcement/video about the character customization and female Jun. Keeping the community in the dark just breeds resentment the longer they don't address it. I want this game to be successful. I want more sci-fi rpgs like Exodus and Osiris Reborn. But Exodus has to be transparent with us about its goals and limitations for that to happen. Hiding the first announcement about the character customization in awhile in a blog post is not the way to go about that, to me, especially with what little crumbs we had gotten so far.
What are ya'lls thoughts? Does this keep you from buying the game?
I think it’s mainly the cheekbones are high and ginormous.
I get the fact that they said one thing but seemingly have changed their mind since. But like for everyone acting like it’s the end of the world and such a deal breaker that Jun is getting 2 set faces 1 boy 1 girl and 1 ethnicity. When some of the greatest games out there don’t even give you that much of an option, prime examples Persona Series, Final Fantasy, Witcher, GTA ect. Like all great games with Established looks & characters it wouldn’t be the first time people have played a game like this so why is it a big deal now all of a sudden if we can’t make Jun black? I’m an African American and it doesn’t change anything for me in the slightest, sure would I have liked to tweak’s Jun’s face a bit yeah, does the fact I can’t ruin the game for me no.
I’m just saying all this fake outrage about diversity and freedom of expression being taken away when so many people can’t even be bothered to actually show up to support most games made specifically for people of color doesn’t add up to me, it feels inauthentic. I get it’s disappointing to an extent but if this is truly a dealbreaker I feel the core aspect of Exodus just really was never for you to begin with.
Just My Opinion No disrespect Meant🤷🏾♂️
To be honest, a full CC is not very important for me. That's why I chose no. What is disappointing is the fact they said it was there back in 2023. It feel like they "lied" to us.
It would be fine if Jun was good looking but I think we can agree to say it's not the case. He looks weird. In fact, most human characters they have shown so far looks weird imo.
Is it a deal breaker ? No. But my fear is that they are going to cut content to release the game in time.
I know cut content is common during development. Things change but usually, players don't know it. I think they talked about Exodus way too early and now they can't do everything they promised.
Still interested but The Expanse looks more appealing right now I won't lie. Especially if they both release in spring.
My journey as Founder started January 2025, and I've enjoyed every piece of media since. Peter Hamilton is a legend, and so is the team and studio making this happen. Early 2027 can't come soon enough!
EDIT: Collection complete for now, Chronicles of Melayu is in October 2026 I believe. Also the Exodus Creature Catalogue was originally the Encyclopedia, as pictured here.
"Character customization has been widely discussed since our reveal. As we continue to reveal more about our game, we want to be upfront and transparent with you about where character customization stands.
This has been a long journey, and along the way, we made a creative decision to build a more defined character. Our customization feature set is focused on curated options rather than a full slider-based character creator. This means Jun will have a more established look, with options including hairstyles, facial hair, hair color, eye color, makeup, and tattoos.
We're excited to pull back the curtain and give sneak peeks at some of those customization options in the EXODUS Discord over the next few months. We hope you'll see how it fits into our vision for Jun, while still giving you the flexibility to bring some of your own style to the character."
As you’ve seen in the new community update, we’re stuck with this version of Jun. Unfortunately, I won’t lie. It really tanked my interest in the game. That said, I’m still looking forward to the amazing universe they’ve built.
What disappoints me the most isn’t the mention of skin color. It’s that we’ll be stuck with this version of Jun, which I know isn’t a big deal to some people. But ever since that 2021 interview, where they said we’d be able to customize our Jun (if I’m remembering correctly), that’s been something I was looking forward to. I guess that’s changed now.
I’m glad they’re being transparent, but they definitely led us on, and I don’t think that’s really debatable. It really sucks, but what can you do? What’s done is done, and this is what we’re stuck with. You will be stuck with Asian Jun and for fem Jun honestly no clue lmao probably white who knows, if you feel like your hype has dialed down do share your thoughts. Curious on other peoples opinions about this.
I swear with all the funky things the studio is doing i start to feel they will fail miserably because they fall in the old corpo trap of corpo talking their way through the messy development and then fail before WoC promptly shuts the studio down without acknowledging that their business practice was the whole reason why this happened.
This isn’t even the first time the studio had controversy.
Let’s also not forget that all we have of the actual gameplay of the game are 18 something minutes without even truly showing how your choices will affect Lidon but with a generic (kill everyone opening the airlock or risk it and don’t open the airlock) and with animations and mechanics ROUGH AS STONE in certain areas (for example, half of the times Jun is in cover he genuinely exposes 60% of his body).
All i understand from this game at the moment is:
-Supposedly your choices will have consequences on your main hub and story (but this feature hasn’t even be shown yet)
-Originally there was supposed to be a character creator…now shelved because budget constraints and ‘we paid a actor 40 bajillion dollars to be our mc face and by Jove they will!’
-No great arsenal, just a lot of mods for a single weapon
-One of the creative directors for the universe lore and game story has been shelved (SUPPOSEDLY because his part of the job was done (possible that the corpo directorate didn’t like that he wanted to give a soul to his product)
-other issues that now luckly seem to have been shelved
I am genuinely beyond the angered and offended with the studio’s ’douche’ character.
I’m still crossing my fingers because sci-fi needs to have more titles on the bigger stage but the more the development goes on the more and more i am starting to look at The Expanse: Osiris Reborn and going ‘please learn from their mistakes because i don’t know if they will
AND IT ANGERS ME BECAUSE I LOVE THE LIRE IF THIS UNIVERSE IT MIGHT HE THE FRESHEST SCI-FI TAKE ON THE BIGGER STAGE IN THE LAST 20 years
ARGH WHY THESE COMPANIES DONT THINK?! HOW MANY FLOPS DOES IT TAKES TO THESE IDIOTS TO UNDERSTAND THAT TRYING TO APPEAL TO EVERYONE WILL AT BEST MAKE THEM BREAK EVEN WITHOUT ANY REAL FANS AND AT WORST KILL WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN BEAUTIFUL.
Damned corporations man, no wonder in Exodus Earth start going completely in the toilet in about 2 centuries from now, by all accounts that is a generous estimate
What do you think?
(Mods, don’t try it again; for everyone else, think why some words are in corsive)
Thought I’d make a joke of it since the character creation news.
// GREEN SIGNAL INCOMING…
… ALL TRAVELERS: STAND BY FOR TRANSMISSION
Hello, Travelers! 🫡
Been with us since the first Exodus? You’ve probably already scrolled past this part. New here? Welcome aboard! (And get ready for your mandatory gravity test.)
In this update, we’re looking back at the Extended Gameplay Reveal we shared earlier in June and rounding up a couple of ways to dig deeper into the expanded universe of EXODUS, including the launch of Peter F. Hamilton’s new novel The Helium Sea and the pre-order for the Chronicles of Melayu tabletop role-playing book.
If you haven’t already, add EXODUS to your Wishlist here.
Let’s get started.
It’s been a few weeks since we released the Extended Gameplay Reveal at the Future Games Show Summer Showcase. You came at it with a Traveler’s energy, and we’ve been tuned into it all: the theories, the breakdowns, and the reactions.
If you missed the reveal or want to revisit it, here’s your chance.
WATCH: https://youtu.be/OcED8x2LsXE
The responses and reactions meant a lot to us. Seeing what landed, some of our companions showing their true colors under pressure, the moment-to-moment weight of combat, a glimpse at Awakened animals in the world, and how morality and choice will shape your path, tells us what matters to you. That lines up with what we're most excited to show more of.
We also saw a lot of conversations around how much of Jun will be customizable. Let’s dive into that...
Character Customization
Character customization has been widely discussed since our reveal. As we continue to reveal more about our game, we want to be upfront and transparent with you about where character customization stands.
This has been a long journey, and along the way, we made a creative decision to build a more defined character. Our customization feature set is focused on curated options rather than a full slider-based character creator. This means Jun will have a more established look, with options including hairstyles, facial hair, hair color, eye color, makeup, and tattoos.
We're excited to pull back the curtain and give sneak peeks at some of those customization options in the EXODUS Discord over the next few months. We hope you'll see how it fits into our vision for Jun, while still giving you the flexibility to bring some of your own style to the character.
Also, make sure to join the EXODUS Discord community here to stay up to date on the latest. We can't wait to show you what's next.
EXODUS: The Helium Sea**,** the latest novel from Peter F. Hamilton, is out now. It’s the conclusion to Hamilton’s duology in the expanded universe, and if you’ve been with us since The Archimedes Engine, this is where it all comes to a head.
Here’s the setup: For millennia, the Crown Dominion has been at relative peace, with the Celestials in control and the human population little better than serfs. Now, an exiled faction returns after seven thousand years beyond the Helium Sea, hunting vengeance and threatening to upend the balance of power across the Centauri Cluster. For Finn and his allies, it’s the one shot humanity has at independence, if they can master ancient artifacts of unimaginable power while outwitting forces determined to crush them.
Get your copy of The Helium Sea here.
If you’re new to the story, start with a free excerpt of the first book, The Archimedes Engine here.
Are you ready for more tabletop adventures in the Centauri Cluster? The newest EXODUS TTRPG book, EXODUS Chronicles of Melayu is up for pre-order ahead of its October 2026 release.
This one takes you to the world of Melayu, out in the enigmatic Hylase star system, on an adventure that runs from your humble beginnings on your first Exodus all the way to a strange star system light-years from anything you know.
Chronicles of Melayu is one of three books for the EXODUS tabletop roleplaying game, alongside the Traveler’s Handbook and the Creature Catalog. Grab all three, and you’ve got everything you need to get your own crew off the ground.
You can pre-order now, and for a limited time, you’ll get a complimentary PDF copy of the Chronicles of Melayu upon release.
Find out more and pre-order Chronicles of Melayu here.
Every Traveler needs a crew they can count on. From Tom and Elise to Salt the Awakened octopus, Houston the Awakened wolf, Phaedra, and C.C. Orlev, we’ve introduced a lot of the crew so far.
Which companions are you most looking forward to having at your side and why?
Drop your thoughts in the comments. We’ll be reading.
//SIGNAL COMPLETE… TRANSMISSION ARCHIVED
Since the game has been announced I have been following the game and have never heard them say that there is complete character creation in the game. Yes, many of the people working on it were involved with Mass Effect and those games had the character creation but I have never been under the impression that this game would have it. Off course, I don't want to imply that I have heard of read every thing coming from the developers but I just don't get the backlash.
I genuinely would like to know because I did not even expect it to be "the new Mass Effect" which is another thing people keep bringing up because, again, the developers have worked on Mass Effect as well. For me it looks like the Mass Effect fans, in their enthousiasm, marketed this game to be the next Mass Effect, not the developers.
The game seems exciting to me because it is a story driven science fiction RPG with, hopefully, cool time dilation game mechanics and an amazing story. It can still be that even without a character creation in it right?
With my question I really do not want to push any ones buttons, but I think the game can still be an awesome game. And if not, then we will go to the next best thing. The amount of hate in this sub is just making me a bit sad I guess.
