How about a 4th option... what if you "tie" all her dreadlocks together so that you only have to animate 1 bone?

1 bone is not enough. Then the hair will look like a pendulum, it would look awful.  The tail has 5 bones, and the average hair - 3.

Also, I dont think all 200+ animations are necessary. And maybe many could just be clones (example: just one run animation renamed for each weapon type).

Yes, it's a good idea.

I already have all the zealot skills (from my Spiritist TL1 mod) they just need rebalancing

Sounds exciting. Then we can make a new class later.

Edit: just a texture suggestion - i think the eyes should be a little bigger...

Well, I can change the face 3D-model, it will be easier for the future - it is possible to make different faces using 1 texture. (For example, my blonde has other facial features). In addition, there may be problems with eyelids.

Hey hey Kva!  Do you want to start thinking about adding skills?

I gladly donate all my work on the Spiritist mod with no restrictions.  The skills are just the ones from the TL1 Zealot monsters, so they are not balanced for use as player skills (the Spiritist was just a proof-of-concept mod).

Then of course there are the original Vindicator skills from SpacePirate (latest version 1.7b).  I have not seen SpacePirate around for a few years now, but if this new project is released as a "TL2 port" of his mod without other changes, I really think he will not mind.

Do you want to 'advertise' in our Help Wanted section and on forums.runicgames, to get some help with this?  i am just too busy right now to give anyone firm commitments of my time, but you know I will help when I can!

Hi Kva! May i use your new zealot meashes?

Yes, I will prepare the necessary files tomorrow. But not all animations is finished, only Idle and Running animations. I'll try to make other animations with "solid" tail and hair for your work. I finish it later.

I think I'd like to make a Zealot class mod.

This would be great.

No rush 

Ok. You can use a female model until I finished this.