Need Criticism: Slave

Raelifin · Post by **Raelifin** » May 7th, 2005, 9:49 am

Hi, I just found Wesnoth a few days ago and have been studying it quite closely. I thought I might try my hand making a unit. This is my FIRST TRY so please try to keep outright dismissal to a low and focus on what needs improving. Yes, I hope to be animating it later.

Basic premise: Slave fodder.

Elvish_Pillager · Post by **Elvish_Pillager** » May 7th, 2005, 10:39 am

Nice job! It's not even too bad for a try way past your first.

Things that aren't so good: The eyes are too big. In Wesnoth, eyes tend to be 2 pixels by 2 pixels, so those extra light pixels on top have no place. Also, the thing needs shading -- the surfaces are to flat and the lines to abrupt. Near dark lines, the surface should be darker, and near light sources, the lines and surfaces shouldn't be so dark.

Also, a not-so-art-related thing: Slaves shouldn't have chains on their hands, how do you expect them to work for you if they're chained up? If anything, it should be chains on their ankles, so they can't run away.

scott · Post by **scott** » May 7th, 2005, 10:58 am

It seems like the hair should cover his right ear some more. It's ok if you want him to have a mullet, but he already has a lot of hair over his left ear.

elscouta · Post by **elscouta** » May 7th, 2005, 11:08 am

Is it only me, or is he smiling? He seems really too happy for a slave. Otherwise, it looks good

Raelifin · Post by **Raelifin** » May 7th, 2005, 11:32 am

Thanks for the fast input. Try this one on for size:

aelius · Post by **aelius** » May 7th, 2005, 12:05 pm

If he's a slave, you might want to consider putting some chains or whatnot on him. It's quite good, otherwise.

- b.

Elvish_Pillager · Post by **Elvish_Pillager** » May 7th, 2005, 1:33 pm

aelius wrote:If he's a slave, you might want to consider putting some chains or whatnot on him. It's quite good, otherwise.

- b.

His ankles are chained, it's just a bit hard to see.

Shadow · Post by **Shadow** » May 7th, 2005, 1:53 pm

Yes nice work but it still looks like heÃ‚Â´s smiling

Raelifin · Post by **Raelifin** » May 7th, 2005, 6:33 pm

I tweaked the eyes so they look a bit smaller (IMHO) and sadder.

I also think I figured out the smile thing. by puting gloss on the front of the face it creates a bighter line which could add to the appearance of a smile. I'm not sure what to do about it. Any ideas?

Shadow · Post by **Shadow** » May 7th, 2005, 7:01 pm

Make the head a little bit smaller and fade out the dark lines under the chin you have made a unit with a head and a neck most units in Wesnoth got no neck because you look with a 45Ã‚Â° degree on them.

Raelifin · Post by **Raelifin** » May 7th, 2005, 7:24 pm

I disagree with fading the head. Some units have a more top down look than others. I proportioned this unit off of the elves whom are less so. I did however try to shrink the neck and make the front of the head less like a snout.

I tweaked the chain too.

Post by **Jetrel** » May 7th, 2005, 8:53 pm

He has chains on his angles. Good.

Give him a ball of steel attached to those chains. This will make it visually obvious that he has chains on his ankles.

With sprite art, those kinds of details that are central to the identity of the unit need to be exaggerated so that no one misses them.

Raelifin · Post by **Raelifin** » May 7th, 2005, 10:01 pm

Actualy, thats a good point. Originaly I considered the idea to be too cliche but it would add to the recognisability of the unit. Somthing is wrong with the new picture. The ball and chain looks off somehow.

scott · Post by **scott** » May 8th, 2005, 1:06 am

the shadow makes the ball look deformed. You could also try a smaller ball if the guy is going to have a movement >1.

MadMax · Post by **MadMax** » May 8th, 2005, 1:20 am

When these graphics are completed, I may have a use for them.