Faction-specific flags

Post by **Sgt. Groovy** » June 26th, 2007, 1:52 pm

What if the undead would use a weathervane instead of a flag or banner? It could then have a grotesque/gothic design (dragon, basilisk, gargoyle, etc.)

Some examples:

theotherhiveking · Post by **theotherhiveking** » June 26th, 2007, 4:20 pm

Well, thats original, I was expecting skulls.

Post by **Boucman** » June 26th, 2007, 5:49 pm

I would put a lantern at the end of a poll, with TC fumes coming out of it...

Dragon Master · Post by **Dragon Master** » June 26th, 2007, 6:20 pm

Corpse totem?

theotherhiveking · Post by **theotherhiveking** » June 26th, 2007, 6:21 pm

Not very original, any game with undeads have that.

Post by **Sgt. Groovy** » June 26th, 2007, 7:32 pm

I would put a lantern at the end of a poll, with TC fumes coming out of it...

I actually had the same thoughts when I wondered "what would they put out for the dead?", except I thought the TC would be the colour of the light shining out. As for animation, they would swing melancholically in the wind and the light would flicker.

As for skulls, it is a clichÃ©, but it also is a common symbol associated with death accross cultures. A skull on a stick with a flickering TCd light shining through the eyesockets.

Post by **Sgt. Groovy** » June 26th, 2007, 7:52 pm

For the heck of it, I made a gif animation of the "magic fire" version, and all I can say, it needs more frames, that pumping action is tad bit annoying.

ael193 · Post by **ael193** » June 27th, 2007, 11:07 am

perhaps for the orcs you could simply tke the black eye emblem and make it so it waves in the wind and the background becomes whatever the teams color is.

khamul · Post by **khamul** » June 27th, 2007, 3:24 pm

To come up with an idea about the aesthetics of the Undead that isn't cliched, you need to know what the Undead are all about: why fight a war using the reanimated dead, rather than more conventional options?

A few obvious answers occur:
-> because nobody likes you enough to fight willingly for free, and you don't have enough money to pay them.
-> because you have sufficient magical power that summoning a horde of undead is just easiest.
-> because you're a control freak, and can't trust the living to [do what they're told
-> Simple pragmatism: if you frighten the enemy enough, some will run away, and then you don't have to kill them.
-> because you're just not a 'people person'.

To me, the cornerstone of the Undead general's mindset is functionality, and fear. Whether the other armies think your flag is artistically valid: less so.

Personally, I'd go for something along the lines of a decapitated corpse spewing blue fire, as an encouragement to those not of my party to depart, quickly - but Wesnoth is family friendly, so that's probably not appropriate.

How about something along the lines of a screaming skull rotating on top a column of wychfire? It makes the point very clearly that the army in question has plenty of magical power to spare, and would be happy to use some of it to ah... 'recruit' you.

theotherhiveking · Post by **theotherhiveking** » June 27th, 2007, 3:37 pm

I have an idea, what about 2 spears? one broken in ground and the other nailed in the floor with a small cracked flag. Demonstrating the desolation of the village.

Post by **Sgt. Groovy** » June 27th, 2007, 3:51 pm

An impailed man, with TC clothes, but it's probably too gory for a "family friendly" game.

-> because nobody likes you enough to fight willingly for free, and you don't have enough money to pay them.
-> because you have sufficient magical power that summoning a horde of undead is just easiest.
-> because you're a control freak, and can't trust the living to [do what they're told
-> Simple pragmatism: if you frighten the enemy enough, some will run away, and then you don't have to kill them.
-> because you're just not a 'people person'.

-> Because zombies and walking skeletons are wicked cool

Stilgar · Post by **Stilgar** » June 27th, 2007, 11:43 pm

Sgt. Groovy wrote:

That looks quite awesome. Unfortunately, I would guess that a graphic small enough to be used for a village flag wouldn't have enough detail to look that cool, but if it could, a more dragon-like creature in that sort of style could make an excellent Drake banner.

Deacon · Post by **Deacon** » August 24th, 2007, 4:28 am

Alright, I like the idea of faction specific flags, a lot, so much in fact that while I was at work today I sketched some ideas. Before I go and make sprites, since I'm already working on another project for the game, I'd like some feedback. so lemme know what you all think

Banners are

Undead - Coffin TC satin Rebels - Maypole TC streamers

Dwarves - TC shield Loyalists - TC flags

Drakes - TC pennant Northerners - TC flag

Post by **Urs** » August 24th, 2007, 5:15 am

Deacon: Can the Imperial Era use the birdy-standard for the lavinian legion, a roman inspired faction? We would edit it a bit and make it more roman looking.

They sure look nice.

scienceguy8 · Post by **scienceguy8** » August 24th, 2007, 4:02 pm

Just wondering, what does TC stand for besides Total Conversion? That is, what is Deacon saying?