Khalifate facelift: Redux

[A-Red]

The head seems scaled to style, but it doesn't connect convincingly with the body--it really does look like one piece. Also, the tail seems too long, and the legs too far back. If you're interested in making it look like a real-world raptor, they have short, fan-shaped tails, which are splayed out fully in flight.

example

[thespaceinvader]

This is my main reference: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/c ... Falcon.jpg

The body continues under the near side wing - that will be clearer after shading, cos the underside of the wing will probably be a lighter colour.

It's not perfect, and I'll continue to tweak it today and tomorrow. I'm finding this guy quite difficult...

[A-Red]

I think the direct side-view of that image makes it slightly confusing as a ref. The body angle of your sprite seems to match the ref, while the wings are viewed from above in Wesnoth style. I edited my first post with a different reference at pretty much the same time you posted; maybe that will help?

[thespaceinvader]

The angle is a killer on this one - it makes getting the wings and body shape right really difficult. It also makes finding appropriate reference really difficult.

Whilst my brain processes this one, i've been fiddling about with the Naffatun - I decided to make the current one a level 2, as it was originally intended I think, and make a new level 1 and 3:

Not sure about whether I've got enough distinction between the l1 and 2 - maybe taking the face mask off might be appropriate.

[A-Red]

Holy crap, is that a flamethrower?

The L1 could use more distinction, yes. In addition to removing the facemask, you might consider using a weaker-looking gun, and coloring all or part of the robe to be less striking, e.g. tan rather than white (sometimes simple recolor works really well, as with the sergeant to lieutenant transition).

[thespaceinvader]

Yup, it is indeed a flamethrower. Melee attack, IIRC. Inspired by a real middle ages middle eastern device.

[artisticdude]

Maybe you could give the lvl 2 a smaller version of the lvl 3's fuel tank, so that this giant tank doesn't just 'appear' on the lvl 3? Also, perhaps have one of them hold the gun in a different position, with the nozzle pointing more towards the sky or something.

[Aura]

The basic unit's body changes very little, and this throws me off. I say repose at least one of the units.

[thespaceinvader]

Here's a rework of the level one - I'm pretty happy with it.

[Frogger5]

Question, if/when the artwork gets up to date, will the faction be heading for mainline?

[thespaceinvader]

Hopefully, yes, we will test it out there for balance. There's no guarantee it will stay, but whether it does or not, I have a place for it. Watch the countdown in my sig

[Blarumyrran]

I always thought the countdown was for some drake stuff

[thespaceinvader]

Nope, something seeecret squirrely.

[artisticdude]

Here's a rework of the level one - I'm pretty happy with it.

It took me a moment to figure out what's going on with his left hand... it looks like he's got two hands holding the gun. Is one of the 'hands' supposed to be part of the weapon or something?

[thespaceinvader]

I think i need to brighten up the lower half of the gun, apparently.

EDIT: damn falcon is a git to get right. Any ideas? Kept the decent wing intact, and edited the body to add a proper fan tail, even though it's not really in line with everything else, and sketched in a possibility for the other wing, but it;s difficult to fit. maybe I do need to use the pose in the current sprite, even though it;s not a realistic hovering pose. or pick up that falcon someone else made...

Gnyah: