Standardizing Portraits

[Kestenvarn]

Yeah, Dela looks a might odd.

It might be good to at least loosely sketch out the rest of the body when doing a portrait, so you can make certain they are however many "heads tall" as is appropriate.

[theycallmerooster]

Nice portraits. But since no one else is saying anything I gotta ask: what's up with the radically disproportionate heads? The woman looks particularly odd to me. Is she supposed to be a [oddly skinny] dwarf or something?

Yeah, Im thinking about redoing these.
The pencil shading style isnt looking so hot either.

I fit all of these on one sheet so that limited the space I had.
This time Im going to make them a lot bigger.
Although I'll probably reuse Drogan (which I didnt put up) and Darken Volk.

[Rocket Slug]

I really like your portraits, especially your pencil sketch of Malin Keshar. The shading on his face really emphasizes his dark nature (I think it's the eyebrows, personally). The expression on your colored version makes him look like he's being scolded by his mother .

I'm pretty sure Darken Volk is alright. If anyone's still dubious, I quickly drew in where the outlines of his body should be (I think).

[theycallmerooster]

I really like your portraits, especially your pencil sketch of Malin Keshar. The shading on his face really emphasizes his dark nature (I think it's the eyebrows, personally). The expression on your colored version makes him look like he's being scolded by his mother .

Haha thanks. I tried to show a bit of maturity and transitioning into the darker phase of the story between the two Malin portraits.
I think everyone is going to like the lich-Malin Keshar portrait.

Its going to look like hes decayed- but not completely, there will still be portions of his face and hair left underneath the cloak.

[Baufo]

I really like your portraits, especially your pencil sketch of Malin Keshar. The shading on his face really emphasizes his dark nature (I think it's the eyebrows, personally).

Malin is not really what I would call of dark nature. That's the whole point of the campaign.

PS: Great portraits by the way

[turin]

Of the above batch, Darken Volk is my favorite, glad you're keeping him. I like Dela and Malin, but I do agree their heads are a bit big for their bodies.

Malin is not really what I would call of dark nature. That's the whole point of the campaign.

I disagree... after all, the introduction says that he was thrown out of school for a 'particularly cruel prank'. It seems to me he's redeemable, but he is kind of predisposed to the dark arts. Though he wants to think he's noble.

But, uh, this isn't the place for literary criticism of Descent into Darkness.

[Eleazar]

I think it's very important to include the primary weapon in any portraits that aren't for hero units. That's my major complaint with many of the generic unit portraits we have. You can't tell what most units are without their main weapon showing.

[Zhukov]

I think it's very important to include the primary weapon in any portraits that aren't for hero units. That's my major complaint with many of the generic unit portraits we have. You can't tell what most units are without their main weapon showing.

That could look rather... contrived. But if it was done well...

Do people really have trouble figuring out what unit generic portraits represent? Are the generic portraits ever shown other then in connection with the relevant sprite?

[Jetrel]

What zhukov said. You don't need to rub that information into the user's face, it's already being provided by several other sources, and would be largely irrelevant to gameplay anyways, at a (potential) cost of making the portrait look contrived. Sometimes, the unit cries out for an open display of weaponry (spearman, bowman), sometimes not. I'd just gauge it based on what seems natural for the pose.

[irrevenant]

Do people really have trouble figuring out what unit generic portraits represent? Are the generic portraits ever shown other then in connection with the relevant sprite?

Yes, in dialogue. (The screen zooms to the unit, but if there's a lot on screen you don't necessarily know which one it is).

IMO, the important thing is that the character of the unit comes through. The Thief portrait, for example shows no weapon, but gives a clear idea of which unit you're talking about...

[theycallmerooster]

Allright I finally got a chance to redo those portriats.
I just wanted to update everyone. Sorry its taking a while I've been a little busy lately

I should be coloring them tonight.

PS they'll all be mirrored when I finish. I just draw them to the left because its more comfortable

[turin]

I definitely like Dela Keshar and the bad- and undead- Malin. The innocent Malin looks perhaps too much like a little weakling. I'm not sure exactly what causes it, my guess is the way his arms look almost like he's holding them and swaying from side to side. Though maybe it's just me.

Anyway, keep up the good work.

[irrevenant]

In the second picture the two characters are almost duplicates of each other: same facial shape, same nose, same chin and similar eyebrows and mouth. Even the hairstyles are similar (curl at the front, parted in the middle and the back tucked over the ear). They're brilliant pictures but IMO the characters should be more visually distinct from each other. (IMO Dela is fine as is, and Malin should change).

[zookeeper]

In the second picture the two characters are almost duplicates of each other: same facial shape, same nose, same chin and similar eyebrows and mouth. Even the hairstyles are similar (curl at the front, parted in the middle and the back tucked over the ear). They're brilliant pictures but IMO the characters should be more visually distinct from each other. (IMO Dela is fine as is, and Malin should change).

They're not two characters, they're both the same character.

[theycallmerooster]

okay here are the two Malin portraits.
Hes a little lighter and a little more gray in the later portrait because it seems only natural that necromancy would make you a little pale. (like being a vampire)