Loyalist Crossbowman Possibility

[beetlenaut]

The idle animation looks much better, but something is still bothering me. I think it's that the sword moves the same amount in each frame instead of falling quickly, and then slowing down as it comes back up. You don't really have to redraw anything, you could just mess with the timings. Oh, and the sword should have a shadow too.

[Major]

I shall look into this when I have finished the attack anim. Thanks for the constructive criticism.

[Ardent]

For the defense animation - if you try how you'd be blocking an attack with a shield you'll probably come with first moving and than raising the shield. Also you would probably duck behing the shield at least a little to brace for the impact and to get your arm a bit closer to your body.

I haven't fought with a sword and shield, but guess it's at least partially related to hand to hand combat in what basic moves you use

[Major]

Mmmm. I suppose. Ok, I'll fix this as well. Wow. Quite a to do list I've got here. *whistles*

[thespaceinvader]

Also, don't forget that defence needs to be 2 frames these days - that's an area that could be improved on the south facing as well...

[Major]

Can the defence anim be more than 2 frames? Here is the attack anim.

Swordsman North Attack Anim 3.gif (8.19 KiB) Viewed 2519 times

[thespaceinvader]

No.

And the attack anim MUST include a step. And some motion blur - take a look at a decent mainline unit like the Naga Warrior, or any of the new drakes.

[lostnumber]

Looks like he swings his shield way too far to the right on the defense animation. He would want it out in front of him, not that far to the side. Try doing that with your hand, its a really awkward angle for defense

[Major]

I've done the motion blur for the attack anim, now I'll get busy with the steping part.
Should I lessen the motion blur on the preparation movement?

Swordsman North Attack Anim 3.gif (8.82 KiB) Viewed 2509 times

[thespaceinvader]

Yes. See How_to_create_motion_blurs for information, yours is... not perfect, let's say

[Major]

Now how's the motion blur?

Swordsman North Attack Anim 3.gif (8.86 KiB) Viewed 2504 times

[Blarumyrran]

Your swoosh is otherwise fine, but you have white in the center and blue around it, with a very 3d-ish gradient between them - but a more "flat" swoosh looks better; also your darker blue parts are too dark, and you don't have transparency?

see eg and

[Major]

I can't get GIMP to make trancparencies in an animated GIF for some reason
I'm busy working on the newest version now.

[Blarumyrran]

Gif doesn't support semitransparent pixels; but you may use backgrounds when making the animation.

[Major]

Atleast you get an idea of what the shadow is going to look like.
Here is the latest version. *pant pant*

Swordsman North Attack Anim 3.gif (8.75 KiB) Viewed 2492 times

EDIT : I also added the swords shadow and tweaked the timing of the idle anim.

Swordsman North Idle Anim 3.gif (9.99 KiB) Viewed 2491 times

EDIT : 2 Here are the defense frames I chose.

Swordsman North Defense Anim 3.gif (4.86 KiB) Viewed 2487 times