Phantoms: new units

Alks · Post by **Alks** » March 9th, 2006, 12:18 pm

I don't want to make phantoms elusive spirits. At this point I'm experimenting to make each line look differently. So there will be hooded humanoids, there will be pixie-like beings(like sketch18), there will be maybe some translucent phantoms, surely there will be red-eyed armor-packed beings or some non-humanoid shadows. It takes lots of work, at this point I'm doing lots of concepts with pencil, and *still* learning how to add lots of details to the existing units.

Alks · Post by **Alks** » March 9th, 2006, 11:11 pm

Again some units. Striving towards dark-fantasy theme.

Phantoms lose cloaks, as someone suggested. They look too dark-elvish, but mixing them with *classic* phantom units should make them at least distinctive from spider-lovers.

Post by **turin** » March 9th, 2006, 11:24 pm

Yay creeping biggerism.

Those units won't even fit inside the hex.

Try to keep your units under 50 pixels tall, unless they're supposed to be giants, like trolls or woses. That helps fight creeping biggerism.

Alks · Post by **Alks** » March 9th, 2006, 11:37 pm

turin wrote:Yay creeping biggerism.

Indeed...
I did the basic sketches in hexes, but when I opened new frame...
*back to work* (next day)

toms · Post by **toms** » March 10th, 2006, 3:27 pm

Basically they look nice.
But, as said, creeping biggerism, and it needs more details here and there.

Alks · Post by **Alks** » March 10th, 2006, 10:11 pm

Ok, removed Biggerism, "hexxed" them - and added "Owls", female archers of Phantom Lords.

Fynmiir · Post by **Fynmiir** » March 10th, 2006, 10:25 pm

I really like that the new Owls have their crossbows up in the air. It adds a very distinctive flair to them. Very nice.

toms · Post by **toms** » March 11th, 2006, 5:14 am

Maybe the owls should not hold their crossbows exactly in the same direction?

Alks · Post by **Alks** » March 11th, 2006, 8:22 am

toms wrote:Maybe the owls should not hold their crossbows exactly in the same direction?

Don't know exactly what you mean..., I tried not to interfere crossbows with dark body of owls.

toms · Post by **toms** » March 11th, 2006, 9:07 am

I meant why is the owl raising both xbows in the air and exactly the same direction?

If you could fix that, itÃ‚Â´d be nice. I like the idea of having two crossbows.

Lu Mong · Post by **Lu Mong** » March 11th, 2006, 11:50 pm

I meant why is the owl raising both xbows in the air and exactly the same direction?

And what is wrong with that?

Post by **Zhukov** » March 11th, 2006, 11:57 pm

Personally I think the Owl looks pretty damn nice. It's well named as well.
But one thing: It's doing the bloody spilts. This seems to be a regular trait of Alks' artwork.
But I see no problem with two crossbows, they look good.

Dragon Master · Post by **Dragon Master** » March 12th, 2006, 2:32 am

hooray for metal boobs! but seriously, make those breastplates smaller, they're big as the guy's head for god sakes. and also, on those top two, please make the arms bigger or the shoulder guards smaller. I know Wesnoth is supposed to be cartoony, but those proportions are just blech. I don't wanna sound like I'm neg'ing your work, it takes effort to make these sprites after all. Let's just say I'm not partial to your style...
PS I also agree with Zhukov, those bloody splits. However if you find you just can't make a unit without it doing a split, try and make it from different angles, like legs split from the side so one is closer perspective-wise than the other leg. Sorry for the harsh criticism, but I take pride as an artist and just have to say what I think is wrong with other's art.

Alks · Post by **Alks** » March 12th, 2006, 11:35 am

Nice feedback from you, Zhukov and Dragon Master. Splits-syndrome will take me some time to eliminate, just as well as some other details. I'll post improved owlz, but as an addition to some new units.

Alks · Post by **Alks** » March 14th, 2006, 10:35 pm

I redid the Owlz(pic #4,#5) - no splits, lady with two crossbows holds them under different angles. I added Owl variant with longbow (pic#1) and cloak, sketch of Phantom mounts(pic#2) and one of aristocrats(pic#3). And with one frame left, I added some totally un-Wesnotish dwarf with two steam nailers.

What is essential?
a) are they too dark? White background makes it a bit more contrastive, so take this into account
b) I'm having lots of fun imagining things that I'm unable to draw. Have mercy ;P