crab-like monsters in own

[SkyOne]

The title/subject was: level=1 or 2?

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Hi,

I have created a monster unit to use on own SP campaigns.
It was supposed to be a level=2 unit, but it may be a bit too small. Could anyone tell me it should be a level=1 unit or fine as a level=2?
I need both levels anyway, so I am just not sure which one I should make next.

EDIT: Oh, also are the pincers right? They may be the opposite?

Thanks

[uncleshelby]

I think it looks like it could be a level 2.

I'm not a super art freak, but is it smiling?

[boru]

Looks like a level 2 to me. Your sprite looks like the kind of "display" a crab would do when threatened. Normally, a crab won't hold their claws that way, usually they'll have them in front of their bodies, with the larger part of the claw closer to them, and the smaller segmented part away. An attack would look something like this

[SkyOne]

Thanks for the comments, obnoxius-man and boru. I start feeling to make a new level=1 unit that is smaller than him.

I'm not a super art freak, but is it smiling?

Yeah, that is what my wife said.
I didn't made it smile, but looks like it is. As a good thing, he will be a side=1 unit on owns, not an enemy.

Looks like a level 2 to me. Your sprite looks like the kind of "display" a crab would do when threatened.

You are absolutely right. I might use it as a defense-anim.

Normally, a crab won't hold their claws that way, usually they'll have them in front of their bodies, with the larger part of the claw closer to them, and the smaller segmented part away.

Yeah, claws make me confuse because I don't have much chance to see alive crabs although I love to have crab-legs with dipping in butter.

An attack would look something like this

I love this community. You sought the picture?
I am going to make an attack-anim like it not to waste the time you spent.
Thanks for making me so laugh today.

[boru]

Just a brief google search, no biggie.

I may not be entirely correct about the way they hold their claws. It seems to depend on the species.

[SkyOne]

Yeah, there are so many different kinds of crabs, I know, but one you showed me helped me a lot to make this level=1. It looks just a crab though, not really a monster so far. But it is good enough to use my new campaign with turtle-like monsters. One of level=2 will be on Orcish Newport scenario of Brave Wings as a guard for the drakes in a case. He is supposed to be a good defender on the ocean.

Making claws for that level=2 on the same way as this level=1 is a little bit too hard under my art-skill. So I might have to rebuild the level=2 or keep it as raised the hands/claws up...

I appreciate your help.

(this post has been edited.)
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Another one (level=2) has been attached.
Could anyone tell me which way of claws looks better? I mean raised up or in front of body. This one is more reasonable, but maybe, raised up is more offensive looking. --> no, I think this is better.

[boru]

Why not use both? The one with his claws in front could be the standing frame, and the claws-up sprite could be for when he moves.

[em3]

This crab rests his claws in front before moving:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NAA7GOUT ... re=related

[doofus-01]

SkyOne,

You have very dark lines next to fairly light pixels, it makes it look very cartoon-like. To make it look less chunky, don't have harsh brightness changes in neighbouring pixels unless you really intend to have a sharp shadow between surfaces. Also, some of your colours are very similar, that ruins all the benefits of pixel art. Use as few colors as possible, and don't be wedded to using such dark outlines.

I took a quick pass at your image, hopefully it helps show what I mean,

[SkyOne]

Why not use both? The one with his claws in front could be the standing frame, and the claws-up sprite could be for when he moves.

This crab rests his claws in front before moving:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NAA7GOUT ... re=related

I thought it would be too funny, but it works as well, especially with doofus-01's polishing up sprite.
Actually, it shows more monster-like, instead of just a crab. Thank you so much.

You have very dark lines next to fairly light pixels, it makes it look very cartoon-like. To make it look less chunky, don't have harsh brightness changes in neighbouring pixels unless you really intend to have a sharp shadow between surfaces. Also, some of your colours are very similar, that ruins all the benefits of pixel art. Use as few colors as possible, and don't be wedded to using such dark outlines.

I took a quick pass at your image, hopefully it helps show what I mean,

Thank you so much, doofus-01.
The sprite looks incredibly improved. I really appreciate your help and advise.
I, now, got the difference between cartoon-like and art.

I made claws-up one from your touched up sprite by following your advise. Could anyone tell me it is good enough or not? I actually have been curious his eyes. Crabs don't have white parts, but if I draw them to black, they don't look good...

P.S.

Spoiler:

In fact, playing BMR on 1.4 made me turn on creating own campaign.
In my generation, playing video games at home wasn't even possible when I was young (boru neither? ) I did not even expect it was going to happen in the future. Then when I played BMR, I just thought how fun to create a campaign on own style, and install/use own units. Hopefully, I am getting ready for doing it.

Thank you for being active, doofus-01.

[Dixie]

The crab's belly is pretty blurry while doofus01's advice was certainly good, you should still not completely drop off outline, imho... It needs more definition, atm. Maybe just don,t use pitch-black for outlines, but a very dark orange?

[SkyOne]

Oh, Dixie the Jazzmaster. Thanks.
You mean the very bottom, not the claws?
I am not sure how it should be, actually. The claws were not right. This may be a bit better?

[homunculus]

I must admit I liked your first picture most, because it looked so funny.
But doing more true to life anatomy will surely make your life easier in the end.
In your latest sprite with the raised pincers, you seem to have changed the shape of the pincers.

Is the crab meant to be cooked (judging by the orange color).
What about something like http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0l6w08VxSNk at 2:42 - 3:13 which has a more uncooked color except for the orange crystals on back (the more references and associations the merrier imho)?
Actually I think it is good if the color is brighter like you did it, but why orange which should be the stereotype for cooked?

As for outlines the suggestion that is usually given is to use a darker shade for the outline.
Meaning that if you had a sprite without outlines, make the outlines darker.
So that where the sprite is light colored, the outline would be lighter color than the outline where the sprite is dark.
Just make it so that it all works consistently in the end and the sprite "pops" on the background.

[Kanapka]

I've noticed that while the first spirte had the proper-used-for-all-Wesnoth-units perspective, the following ones are seen directly from the front, and the last one maybe even a bit from below.

[SkyOne]

Thank you for the comments, homunculus and Kanapka.
The claws-up sprite is for the moving animation, but surely, I will touch it up later. Currently, fixing bugs on own takes all my Wesnoth-time (again), so as soon as anything is ready, I will post it here.

Is the crab meant to be cooked (judging by the orange color).
What about something like http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0l6w08VxSNk at 2:42 - 3:13 which has a more uncooked color except for the orange crystals on back (the more references and associations the merrier imho)?
Actually I think it is good if the color is brighter like you did it, but why orange which should be the stereotype for cooked?

Yes. You are absolutely right. When I drew this unit-image, my imagination was exactly from cooked one. I mean steamed king crab legs or snow crab legs on the kitchen table, or those in a Red Lobster restaurant. I totally forgot about it...
What has made me surprised is that one in your video is very similar to what I imagined. Now, I feel good for its eyes. Thanks.