Swamplings Art Thread - comments greatly appreciated
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Swamplings Art Thread - comments greatly appreciated
This thread is to help me coordinate with the people who are working on art for my UMC campaign Swamplings.
If you have a comment about playing the campaign, please post it here.
If you think you may want to create some original art for this campaign, PM me. Please don’t go off and draw stuff first, I don’t want anyone wasting their time. For now, I’m fine with just using placeholders and frankensteins until I can add quality art.
Speaking of frankensteins, this one may be useful to anyone who needs a wolf rider alternate:
I’ve been working on some story art, inspired by JAP. You can see some of his work and my attempts at reworking them here.
Also, a thank you to the people who have contributed art to this campaign, either directly or just by making their art freely available:
Stern - Goblin Trumpeter, Goblin Prime, giant rat and mosquito sprites
Gangr'N - Misris, Wolf & Eeep portraits.
Artisticdude - Saurian child and Jinx.
Elvish Hunter - thundergobo and bosavi
Rhyging - mausoleum tile
Alarantalara - waterfalls, animated pool and cave water tiles
JAP - landscapes
Inferno8 - Master of Fire
Bera - goblin portraits
Valkier - undead portraits
Lord Bob - orc portraits
Scavenger - portraits & story art
BomSite - mangroves and submerged trees
Here is a list of art needs for the game. It’s sort of complete, but not yet completely complete. Please do not mistake this for an open call, but if you want to contribute something, PM me.
Here's a graphic presentation of the unit tree. It should be obvious which of these are placeholders. Read this for more info on custom units.
If you have a comment about playing the campaign, please post it here.
If you think you may want to create some original art for this campaign, PM me. Please don’t go off and draw stuff first, I don’t want anyone wasting their time. For now, I’m fine with just using placeholders and frankensteins until I can add quality art.
Speaking of frankensteins, this one may be useful to anyone who needs a wolf rider alternate:
Spoiler:
Also, a thank you to the people who have contributed art to this campaign, either directly or just by making their art freely available:
Stern - Goblin Trumpeter, Goblin Prime, giant rat and mosquito sprites
Gangr'N - Misris, Wolf & Eeep portraits.
Artisticdude - Saurian child and Jinx.
Elvish Hunter - thundergobo and bosavi
Rhyging - mausoleum tile
Alarantalara - waterfalls, animated pool and cave water tiles
JAP - landscapes
Inferno8 - Master of Fire
Bera - goblin portraits
Valkier - undead portraits
Lord Bob - orc portraits
Scavenger - portraits & story art
BomSite - mangroves and submerged trees
Here is a list of art needs for the game. It’s sort of complete, but not yet completely complete. Please do not mistake this for an open call, but if you want to contribute something, PM me.
Spoiler:
Spoiler:
Last edited by boru on July 20th, 2011, 2:10 am, edited 4 times in total.
“It is written in my life-blood, such as that is, thick or thin; and I can no other.” - J.R.R. Tolkien
My campaign: Swamplings - Four centuries before the founding of Wesnoth, the first wolf rider emerges from a tribe of lowly swamp goblins.
My campaign: Swamplings - Four centuries before the founding of Wesnoth, the first wolf rider emerges from a tribe of lowly swamp goblins.
Re: Swamplings Art Thread - the thread for art in Swamplings
Hello
Could not load your campaign since am still on Wesnoth 1.6.5, have t upgrade.
Meanwhile, here is a sketch of some facial expressions I imagined for the gobmaid
Tell me what you think
Could not load your campaign since am still on Wesnoth 1.6.5, have t upgrade.
Meanwhile, here is a sketch of some facial expressions I imagined for the gobmaid
Tell me what you think
Regards,
GangrN
GangrN
Re: Swamplings Art Thread - the thread for art in Swamplings
GangrN,
There are a lot of things I like about the faces. Many of your choices are good for the character, in general I'd say you are going in the right direction.
I wish I had the ability to give a full artist's critique but as a non-artist there is only so much I can say. Hopefully we'll get some real artists to comment on your work as it progresses.
Looking at the mainline male goblins, I see their ears are fatter and not as long, but the ears you've drawn are reasonably close enough to simply say "females have different ears," and leave it at that. I think you're well within the bounds of artistic expression here. The cat's eyes, well, they are different, but they work well for this character, since she is a nightstalker and stealth unit. Goblins are nocturnal, they fight better at night, so I think the cat's eyes make her interesting and different. I also like the choice of the pronounced cheekbones and somewhat thick lips. If you look at the direwolf rider portrait, you will see he has similar teeth with long incisors, but they don't extend over his lower lip. That is a detail I think you ought to change. So keep the long incisors but they remain inside the mouth.
Her nose is radically different from the male goblins, so much so that I think you'll have to broaden it somewhat and/or reposition the nostrils. Again, male and female can be somewhat different, but I think we are straying a bit too far.
The choice of an earring is good for goblins in general, Bera's goblins all have some kind of adornments and even the lowly spearman has a few piercings. Keep in mind though, that Misris is meant to be undetectable and can ambush her foes, so her jewelry cannot be really bright or ornate.
Since you're unfamiliar with the game, I'll give you two snippets of dialog which will hopefully give you a sense of Misris' character:
Clammie: "Oh! I didn’t see you, Misris."
Misris: "That is the idea."
Clammie: "I don’t like it when females are on the battlefield. This is not our way!"
Misris: "If it doesn’t keep us alive, our way is useless. I saw what happened to Terro. I will not stand apart."
===
Clammie: "You may find things to hunt in the north. You'll also find humans, so be careful."
Sklizle: "That is not enough. We are hungry now! We shall have food from you, one way or the other!"
Misris: "Clammie, we ought to give them something for their young. I will give my rations."
Clammie: "For your children, we will leave some fish."
There are a lot of things I like about the faces. Many of your choices are good for the character, in general I'd say you are going in the right direction.
I wish I had the ability to give a full artist's critique but as a non-artist there is only so much I can say. Hopefully we'll get some real artists to comment on your work as it progresses.
Looking at the mainline male goblins, I see their ears are fatter and not as long, but the ears you've drawn are reasonably close enough to simply say "females have different ears," and leave it at that. I think you're well within the bounds of artistic expression here. The cat's eyes, well, they are different, but they work well for this character, since she is a nightstalker and stealth unit. Goblins are nocturnal, they fight better at night, so I think the cat's eyes make her interesting and different. I also like the choice of the pronounced cheekbones and somewhat thick lips. If you look at the direwolf rider portrait, you will see he has similar teeth with long incisors, but they don't extend over his lower lip. That is a detail I think you ought to change. So keep the long incisors but they remain inside the mouth.
Her nose is radically different from the male goblins, so much so that I think you'll have to broaden it somewhat and/or reposition the nostrils. Again, male and female can be somewhat different, but I think we are straying a bit too far.
The choice of an earring is good for goblins in general, Bera's goblins all have some kind of adornments and even the lowly spearman has a few piercings. Keep in mind though, that Misris is meant to be undetectable and can ambush her foes, so her jewelry cannot be really bright or ornate.
Since you're unfamiliar with the game, I'll give you two snippets of dialog which will hopefully give you a sense of Misris' character:
Clammie: "Oh! I didn’t see you, Misris."
Misris: "That is the idea."
Clammie: "I don’t like it when females are on the battlefield. This is not our way!"
Misris: "If it doesn’t keep us alive, our way is useless. I saw what happened to Terro. I will not stand apart."
===
Clammie: "You may find things to hunt in the north. You'll also find humans, so be careful."
Sklizle: "That is not enough. We are hungry now! We shall have food from you, one way or the other!"
Misris: "Clammie, we ought to give them something for their young. I will give my rations."
Clammie: "For your children, we will leave some fish."
“It is written in my life-blood, such as that is, thick or thin; and I can no other.” - J.R.R. Tolkien
My campaign: Swamplings - Four centuries before the founding of Wesnoth, the first wolf rider emerges from a tribe of lowly swamp goblins.
My campaign: Swamplings - Four centuries before the founding of Wesnoth, the first wolf rider emerges from a tribe of lowly swamp goblins.
Re: Swamplings Art Thread - comments greatly appreciated
Thank you for your comments, I am glad you are content with it. I have to warn you first: since I am working I will work on the portrait mainly during week ends.
Do you think you will have the use of several portraits? I think we can start with the impassible one (up left). In fact, the excerpts you gave seem to be compatible with a steady face. Maybe she could be seen from another point of view, a little from behind.
Another thing: what is your idea of a stealth unit? a little like the orcish assassin, clad in ribbons like a mummy?
Or rather like native south americans, with paintings on their skin?
Do you think you will have the use of several portraits? I think we can start with the impassible one (up left). In fact, the excerpts you gave seem to be compatible with a steady face. Maybe she could be seen from another point of view, a little from behind.
Another thing: what is your idea of a stealth unit? a little like the orcish assassin, clad in ribbons like a mummy?
Or rather like native south americans, with paintings on their skin?
Regards,
GangrN
GangrN
Re: Swamplings Art Thread - comments greatly appreciated
Not a problem.GangrN wrote:Thank you for your comments, I am glad you are content with it. I have to warn you first: since I am working I will work on the portrait mainly during week ends.
I agree that starting with the neutral expression in top left is best. If you want to draw more, that is great too. It would be very nice to have a second one with her riding a wolf. Different expressions are a good idea too. The one with her gritting her teeth is pretty cool.GangrN wrote:Do you think you will have the use of several portraits? I think we can start with the impassible one (up left). In fact, the excerpts you gave seem to be compatible with a steady face. Maybe she could be seen from another point of view, a little from behind.
She could be painted. It would have to be some kind of mottled green, since they live in a swamp. The goblin stealth unit shouldn't look too similar to the orcs. I'm intentionally being vague so you can do a portrait that is uniquely yours.GangrN wrote:Another thing: what is your idea of a stealth unit? a little like the orcish assassin, clad in ribbons like a mummy? Or rather like native south americans, with paintings on their skin?
“It is written in my life-blood, such as that is, thick or thin; and I can no other.” - J.R.R. Tolkien
My campaign: Swamplings - Four centuries before the founding of Wesnoth, the first wolf rider emerges from a tribe of lowly swamp goblins.
My campaign: Swamplings - Four centuries before the founding of Wesnoth, the first wolf rider emerges from a tribe of lowly swamp goblins.
Re: Swamplings Art Thread - comments greatly appreciated
I have been working with the goblin trumpeter. What do you think?
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Doing things one step at a time. Current Project: Speckles the Toad!
Re: Swamplings Art Thread - comments greatly appreciated
He looks GREAT, Stern! For some reason he looks a little blurred in the forum, but he looks great in game.
My only crits would be: I'm not sure what he'd use his yellow quiver for, because he has no ranged attack. Also, is this his attack frame? It's more dynamic than most standing frames.“It is written in my life-blood, such as that is, thick or thin; and I can no other.” - J.R.R. Tolkien
My campaign: Swamplings - Four centuries before the founding of Wesnoth, the first wolf rider emerges from a tribe of lowly swamp goblins.
My campaign: Swamplings - Four centuries before the founding of Wesnoth, the first wolf rider emerges from a tribe of lowly swamp goblins.
Re: Swamplings Art Thread - comments greatly appreciated
boru wrote:My only crits would be: I'm not sure what he'd use his yellow quiver for, because he has no ranged attack.
It looks like it's supposed to be a brass trumpet. You know, since he's a goblin trumpeter.
Re: Swamplings Art Thread - comments greatly appreciated
Neoskel hit the nail on the head. The Goblin Trumpeter carries his trumpet on his back so that it is out of the way while he works with his spear. The trumpet will become more apparent during his leadership frames.
I have a really cool idea for an attack animation. The Trumpeter rolls his knees forward to gain momentum, leaps into the air, and thrusts downwards. His spear gets all sparky like the new drake attacks as he strikes his opponent. The trumpeter then lands and leaps back into his "ready" stance. In short, this will be a really fun unit.
I have a really cool idea for an attack animation. The Trumpeter rolls his knees forward to gain momentum, leaps into the air, and thrusts downwards. His spear gets all sparky like the new drake attacks as he strikes his opponent. The trumpeter then lands and leaps back into his "ready" stance. In short, this will be a really fun unit.
Doing things one step at a time. Current Project: Speckles the Toad!
Re: Swamplings Art Thread - comments greatly appreciated
The trumpet? (looks for appropriate smiley ... hmm, there is none!)Stern wrote:Neoskel hit the nail on the head. The Goblin Trumpeter carries his trumpet on his back so that it is out of the way while he works with his spear. The trumpet will become more apparent during his leadership frames.
I have a really cool idea for an attack animation. The Trumpeter rolls his knees forward to gain momentum, leaps into the air, and thrusts downwards. His spear gets all sparky like the new drake attacks as he strikes his opponent. The trumpeter then lands and leaps back into his "ready" stance. In short, this will be a really fun unit.
Okay, I will have to concoct some reason they might come across brass horns in a swamp. Not impossible, after all WINR, besides they have thundersticks, hatchets, etc. So maybe some elven drum and bugle corps got lost in the swamp ... hmm ...
The attack animation sounds spectacular. Remind me to put in one of those horn signal sounds for the leadership frames.
“It is written in my life-blood, such as that is, thick or thin; and I can no other.” - J.R.R. Tolkien
My campaign: Swamplings - Four centuries before the founding of Wesnoth, the first wolf rider emerges from a tribe of lowly swamp goblins.
My campaign: Swamplings - Four centuries before the founding of Wesnoth, the first wolf rider emerges from a tribe of lowly swamp goblins.
Re: Swamplings Art Thread - comments greatly appreciated
It appears not to be a brass trumpet but a an animal horn with brass rim, but I may be entirely wrong. Perhaps it would be better to remove the brass?
Ecce, in caelo! Est avem! Minime, est vehiculum aerem! Minime, est virum Latinum!
Re: Swamplings Art Thread - comments greatly appreciated
Ancient trumpets came in all shapes and sizes.
The original idea from the unit is based on this mainline portrait. However the sprite (and his horn) can be significantly different.
Brass is a little bit incongruous, but actually I can see the goblins all rallying around one of their guys because he's carrying a big shiny thing.
The original idea from the unit is based on this mainline portrait. However the sprite (and his horn) can be significantly different.
Brass is a little bit incongruous, but actually I can see the goblins all rallying around one of their guys because he's carrying a big shiny thing.
“It is written in my life-blood, such as that is, thick or thin; and I can no other.” - J.R.R. Tolkien
My campaign: Swamplings - Four centuries before the founding of Wesnoth, the first wolf rider emerges from a tribe of lowly swamp goblins.
My campaign: Swamplings - Four centuries before the founding of Wesnoth, the first wolf rider emerges from a tribe of lowly swamp goblins.
- thespaceinvader
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Re: Swamplings Art Thread - comments greatly appreciated
An animal horn would be more appropriate, I suspect.
http://thespaceinvader.co.uk | http://thespaceinvader.deviantart.com
Back to work. Current projects: Catching up on commits. Picking Meridia back up. Sprite animations, many and varied.
Back to work. Current projects: Catching up on commits. Picking Meridia back up. Sprite animations, many and varied.
Re: Swamplings Art Thread - comments greatly appreciated
For Moonbeam goblin and Nocturne, I found two Sprites that could replace the existing one:
http://www.wesnoth.org/units/1.6/en_GB/ ... unter.html
http://www.wesnoth.org/units/1.6/en_GB/ ... assin.html
You could use its stats also (or nerf them a little since they are Swamp savvy and the original era is not equally balanced)
I also saw an interesting ability: Hit and Run.
http://www.wesnoth.org/units/1.6/en_GB/ ... rrior.html
If it works as I see it (move is not ended with attack), it could be interesting (and very "gobelinesque") to make some units have this ability.
http://www.wesnoth.org/units/1.6/en_GB/ ... unter.html
http://www.wesnoth.org/units/1.6/en_GB/ ... assin.html
You could use its stats also (or nerf them a little since they are Swamp savvy and the original era is not equally balanced)
I also saw an interesting ability: Hit and Run.
http://www.wesnoth.org/units/1.6/en_GB/ ... rrior.html
If it works as I see it (move is not ended with attack), it could be interesting (and very "gobelinesque") to make some units have this ability.
Regards,
GangrN
GangrN
Re: Swamplings Art Thread - comments greatly appreciated
About the land, and only if you are interested in designing original swamps:
One sees swamps are inspiring you, you always try new hexes.
I think mangrove trees should be reworked. Maybe one should try to represent a magrove forest rather than separate mangrove tree. Moreover, I don't know if it's feasible, but mangrove hexes should be swamp and forest instead of water, or water and forest when flooded. Otherwise you don't want to use them (for you units, I mean).
Maybe swamps should be more complex, with more ground or forest patches.
It reminds me of the different types of swamps that exist.
All swamps don't look like that wesnothian ugly herbs. Seamarshes are especially interesting in such a game, since their status changes with the tide. You have coastal mangroves, on the seashore: they are eather a flooded forest, or a swamp of mud depending on the tide. You have slikkes and schorres: the schorres look like these herbs, and they are "dry" swamps. The slikke are "muddy swamps": at low tide, it is a mud plains; at high tide, the sea invades it very quickly, since they are very flat: one says the sea covers it at the rate of a running horse, and people are often trapped on a lonely sandbar. I think you could spice up some scenarios this way (for tide effects, see "the war of Dragon" EoM scenario). It would be quite interesting to play with a moving terrain, imo.
There are also Florida and Louisiane swamps, one for herbs, the other for trees, but both have many river arms. The Marais Poitevin in France is an example of dry/wet swamp alternance, too.
The Danube has also very interesting variations: during the tides, some temporary pools form. Eels favor these pools isolated from the main rivberbed.
Russian rivers, like the Volga, suffer also periodical phenomenon: since the source is south, the exit congeals before, and melts after (it is contrary to most of rivers, which come from mountains). So the melting waters break the ice during the spring, leading to the flooding of the plains nearby. These could be used in an adventure or campaign.
One sees swamps are inspiring you, you always try new hexes.
I think mangrove trees should be reworked. Maybe one should try to represent a magrove forest rather than separate mangrove tree. Moreover, I don't know if it's feasible, but mangrove hexes should be swamp and forest instead of water, or water and forest when flooded. Otherwise you don't want to use them (for you units, I mean).
Maybe swamps should be more complex, with more ground or forest patches.
It reminds me of the different types of swamps that exist.
All swamps don't look like that wesnothian ugly herbs. Seamarshes are especially interesting in such a game, since their status changes with the tide. You have coastal mangroves, on the seashore: they are eather a flooded forest, or a swamp of mud depending on the tide. You have slikkes and schorres: the schorres look like these herbs, and they are "dry" swamps. The slikke are "muddy swamps": at low tide, it is a mud plains; at high tide, the sea invades it very quickly, since they are very flat: one says the sea covers it at the rate of a running horse, and people are often trapped on a lonely sandbar. I think you could spice up some scenarios this way (for tide effects, see "the war of Dragon" EoM scenario). It would be quite interesting to play with a moving terrain, imo.
There are also Florida and Louisiane swamps, one for herbs, the other for trees, but both have many river arms. The Marais Poitevin in France is an example of dry/wet swamp alternance, too.
The Danube has also very interesting variations: during the tides, some temporary pools form. Eels favor these pools isolated from the main rivberbed.
Russian rivers, like the Volga, suffer also periodical phenomenon: since the source is south, the exit congeals before, and melts after (it is contrary to most of rivers, which come from mountains). So the melting waters break the ice during the spring, leading to the flooding of the plains nearby. These could be used in an adventure or campaign.
Regards,
GangrN
GangrN