Imperial Era Art Project (Workin' on Orcin')

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UnwiseOwl
Posts: 512
Joined: April 9th, 2010, 4:58 am

Imperial Era Art Project (Workin' on Orcin')

Post by UnwiseOwl »

So the Imperial Era (complete with a full cast of RomanLavinian legionaires, gladiator Orc(e)s, Issaelfr frost elves, mysterious mainlineCavernei dwarves, barbarian Marauders, DarkSidhe elves and also some Arendians) is back for 1.9 and getting ready for 1.10 (it's on the 1.9 add-on server right now, go check it out), and all those beautiful factions (that currently already feature in five complete campaigns and a multiplayer era) could really do with with some artwork to make them even better. Where can I sign up, I hear you say? The answer to that question is: here.

The IE once had a team of skilled artists (who were'nt ALL turin) who completed all the base frames and many of the animations, but there's still a lot to do, and since the project currently consists of...me...there's no skilled artists available. So if you're keen to bring one of the lovingly crafted units of the IE to life (complete with death animation), please click here, pick a unit, and get crafting. We're not accepting changes to the originals at this time (unless they're essential), but the animations are all yours:
Sprites - Current status
Current aim (and even this is a LONG way off), is for all units to have attack, defend and death anims, flyers and magical units to have standing anims, and horses to have movement anims.
I'm currently working on making sure that the sound files are all correct, since I can't sprite to save my life.
Units in Italics are currently just recolours of the units above them.

Arendians 0/25 Complete
1-Archer: Base and ranged attack frames only
2-Feather Bow: Base frame only
3-Arrow Wind: Base frame only
2-Hunter: Base frame only
3-Slayer: Base frame only
1-Bowrider: Base frame only
2-Boltrider: Base frame only
3-Mounted Marksman: Base and one movement frame only
2-Bowknight: Base frame only
3-Bowmaster: Base frame only
1-Druid: Base frame only
2-Shaman: Base frame only
3-Warlock: Base frame only
0-Falcon: Base frame only
1-Falcon Lord: Base frame only
1-Horseman: Base frame only
2-Chief: Base frame only
3-Warlord: Base frame only
2-Mounted Warrior: Base frame only
3-Horsemaster: Base frame only
1-Swordsman: Base frame only
2-Wanderer: Base frame only
3-Hero: Base frame only
2-Warrior: Base frame only
3-Battlear: Base frame only

Cavernei Dwarves 0/3 Complete
(I can steal most of this from mainline at the moment, so we'll leave most of them out for now.)
1-Watcher: Base frame only
2-Observer: Base frame only
3-Monitor: Base frame only

Issaelfr Elves 0/21 Complete
1-Archer: Base frame only
2-Gelus: Base only
3-Borealis: Base only
2-Mountaineer: Base only
3-Alpine Ranger: Base only
1-Bladesman: Base only
2-Glaivier: Base only
3-Glaive Master: Base only
2-Ice Roamer: Base only
3-Ice Dancer: Base only
1-Mistral Magus: Base only
2-Mistral Glacialist: Base only
3-Mistral Cryomancer: Base only
2-Mistral Rime Keeper: Base only
3-Mistral Rime Castellan: Base only
0-Seal: Base and one attack frame only
1-Fleet Seal: Base only
2-Elder Seal: Base only
1-Yak Rider: Base only
2-Yak Knight: Base only
3-Yak Margrave: Base only

Lavinians 19/28 Complete
0-Auxilliary: Done!
1-Light Infanty: Done!
2-Rorarius: Done!
1-Skirmisher: Done!
2-Velite: Done!
1-Slinger: Done!
2-Funditor: Done!
1-Bowman: Done!
2-Ballista: Done!
3-Archuballistarius: Done!
2-Siege Archer: Done!
3-Saggitarius: Done!
1-Horseman: Base, movement, one frame of attack and defend
2-Claimant: Base, movement, one frame of attack and defend
3-Champion: Base, movement, one frame of attack and defend
3-Imperator: Base only
1-Legionnaire: Done!
2-Decurion: Done!
3-Centurion: Done!
2-Propugnator: Done!
3-Praetorian Guard: Done!
2-Signifer: Done!
3-Aquilifer: Done!
0-Nobleman: Base only
1-River Calf: Base only
2-River Horse: Base only
3-Hippopotamus: Base only
3-Tribune: Base only

Marauders 20/21 Complete
1-Axeman: Done!
2-Mounted Axeman: Base only
2-Hunter: Done!
3-Woodsman: Done!
1-Boatsman: Done!
2-Sailor: Done!
3-Sea Wolf: Done!
1-Crusher: Done!
2-Mauler: Done!
1-Fay: Done!
2-Seeress: Done!
3-Galdra: Done!
2-Shieldmaiden: Done!
3-Valkyrie: Done!
1-Scout: Done!
2-Raider: Done!
1-Warrior: Done!
2-Jarl: Done!
3-Lord: Done!
2-Pillager: Done!
3-Scorcher: Done!

Orcei Gladiatores 0/32 Complete
1-Gallus: Base frame only
2-Dimacherius: Base only
3-Dimacherius Fortis: Currently identical to above
2-Murmillo: Base only
3-Murmillo Leonis: Base only
2-Provocator: Base only
3-Provocator Leonis: Base only
0-Latronis: Base only
1-Laquerius: Base only
2-Laquerius Faber: Base only
1-Retiarius: Base only
2-Fleet Retiarius: Base only
0-Piscator: Base only
1-Essedarius: Base only
2-Essedarius Vulpis: Base only
1-Venator: Base only
2-Venator Faber: Base only
1-Pugnator: Base only
2-Bestiarius: Base only
3-Feral Bestiarius: Currently identical to above
2-Paegniarius: Base only
3-Brutal Paegniarius: Currently identical to above
1-River Lizard: Base only
2-Khampsa: Base only
3-Khampsa Audentis: Base only
1-Samnis: Base only
2-Hoplomachus: Base only
3-Hoplomachus Fortis: Base only
2-Secutor: Base only
3-Secutor Leonis: Base only
2-Thraex: Base only
3-Thraex Paratus: Base only

Sidhe Elves 0/22 Complete
1-Fury: Base only[/I]
2-Wildblade: Base only[/I]
3-Whirlwind: Base only[/I]
1-Raindancer: All but die anim complete
2-Tempest: Base, standing, ranged attack/defend done
3-Windlasher: All but die/defend complete
4-Stormlord: Base only
2-War Mage: Base only
3-Thunderblade: Base only
1-Wanderer: Base and melee attack only
2-Tracker: Base only
3-Windrunner: Base only
1-Warrior: Needs death anim only
2-Bladespinner: Base and one attack frame only
3-Wardancer: Base and attack only
2-Herald: Base only[/I]
3-Warsinger: Base only[/I]
2-Veiledblade: Base only[/I]
3-Shadowdancer: Base only[/I]
1-Warrior Spirit: Base only[/I]
2-Forefather: Base only[/I]
3-Ancestor: Base only[/I]

Assorted Campaign Units 0/5 Complete
EOV
-Dark Thunderblade: Base frame only
FoS
-Marauder Longboat: Need a standing "up and down on waves" animation
-Dardan Transport: Ditto
-Dardan Trireme: Ditto
GC
-Snow Bear: Has base frame, but it's terrible
-Wind Spirit: Uses air elemental/ifrit sprite, there must be something better.
If you're not a sprite artist, there's 165 units in the Imperial Era (not to mention the numerous heroes and villains of our campaigns), and currently only 7 of them have portraits (and six of those are stolen from the mainline as placeholders). If your portrait art isn't up to mainline portrait standard (and let's face it, it's beyond the skills of most mortal menn), or you'd just like a change, there's a lot of stuff to be done (if you did it solo at a rate of one a week we could be finished in...three years or so...). Since the IE doesn't yet have any portrait art of its own, you can pretty much set the tone for the whole thing (think of the FAME and POWER). Provided that it's better than the current stuff (we use the sprites as portraits), you've got a good chance of getting your art included:
Portraits - Current status
Items in italics are simple improvements of the units above them, and are lower priority for portraits

Arendians 0/25 Complete
1-Archer:
2-Feather Bow:
3-Arrow Wind:
2-Hunter:
3-Slayer:
1-Bowrider:
2-Boltrider:
3-Mounted Marksman:
2-Bowknight:
3-Bowmaster:
1-Druid:
2-Shaman:
3-Warlock:
0-Falcon:
1-Falcon Lord:
1-Horseman:
2-Chief:
3-Warlord:
2-Mounted Warrior:
3-Horsemaster:
1-Swordsman:
2-Wanderer:
3-Hero:
2-Warrior:
3-Battlear:


Cavernei Dwarves 0/3 Complete
(I can steal most of this from mainline too, so we'll leave most of them out for now.)
1-Watcher:
2-Observer:
3-Monitor:


Issaelfr Elves 0/21 Complete
1-Archer:
2-Gelus:
3-Borealis:
2-Mountaineer:
3-Alpine Ranger:
1-Bladesman:
2-Glaivier:
3-Glaive Master:
2-Ice Roamer:
3-Ice Dancer:
1-Mistral Magus:
2-Mistral Glacialist:
3-Mistral Cryomancer:
2-Mistral Rime Keeper:
3-Mistral Rime Castellan:
0-Seal:
1-Fleet Seal:
2-Elder Seal:
1-Yak Rider:
2-Yak Knight:
3-Yak Margrave:


Lavinians 0/28 Complete
0-Auxilliary:
1-Light Infanty:
2-Rorarius:
1-Skirmisher:
2-Velite:
1-Slinger:
2-Funditor:
1-Bowman:
2-Ballista:
3-Archuballistarius:
2-Siege Archer:
3-Saggitarius:
1-Horseman:
2-Claimant:
3-Champion:
3-Imperator:
1-Legionnaire:
2-Decurion:
3-Centurion:
2-Propugnator:
3-Praetorian Guard:
2-Signifer:
3-Aquilifer:
0-Nobleman:
1-River Calf:
2-River Horse:
3-Hippopotamus:
3-Tribune:


Marauders 2/21 Complete
1-Axeman:
2-Mounted Axeman:
2-Hunter:
3-Woodsman:
1-Boatsman:
2-Sailor:
3-Sea Wolf:
1-Crusher:
2-Mauler:
1-Fay:

2-Seeress: Exists, but as a placeholder, style not required
3-Galdra: As above
2-Shieldmaiden:
3-Valkyrie:
1-Scout:
2-Raider:
1-Warrior:
2-Jarl:
3-Lord:
2-Pillager:
3-Scorcher:


Orcei Gladiatores 0/32 Complete
1-Gallus:
2-Dimacherius:
3-Dimacherius Fortis:
2-Murmillo:
3-Murmillo Leonis:
2-Provocator:
3-Provocator Leonis:
0-Latronis:
1-Laquerius:
2-Laquerius Faber:
1-Retiarius:
2-Fleet Retiarius:
0-Piscator:
1-Essedarius:
2-Essedarius Vulpis:
1-Venator:
2-Venator Faber:
1-Pugnator:
2-Bestiarius:
3-Feral Bestiarius:
2-Paegniarius:
3-Brutal Paegniarius:
1-River Lizard:
2-Khampsa:
3-Khampsa Audentis:
1-Samnis:
2-Hoplomachus:
3-Hoplomachus Fortis:
2-Secutor:
3-Secutor Leonis:
2-Thraex:
3-Thraex Paratus:


Sidhe Elves 0/22 Complete
1-Fury:
2-Wildblade:
3-Whirlwind:
1-Raindancer:
2-Tempest:
3-Windslasher:
4-Stormlord:
2-War Mage:
3-Thunderblade:
1-Wanderer:
2-Tracker:
3-Windrunner:
1-Warrior:
2-Bladespinner:
3-Wardancer:
2-Herald:
3-Warsinger:
2-Veiledblade:
3-Shadowdancer:
1-Warrior Spirit:
2-Forefather:
3-Ancestor:


And a host of campaign heroes
AtW/EoV/FoS/GC - Vaniyera (Sidhe Veiledblade/Dark Thunderblade)
FoS - Caius Regilius (Lavinian Tribune)
AtW/GC - Alfhelm (Marauder Lord)
...and many more.
Should we enough to keep all you artistic types busy for a while, should you be mad enough to give it a shot.

If you could leave a note here to say what you're keen to work on, I can get back to you with more information, and together we can make the Imperial Era part of a better world. (Ok, really, you're going to make it a better world, I'm just going to steal some of the credit).
Last edited by UnwiseOwl on January 4th, 2013, 1:16 am, edited 2 times in total.
Maintainer of the Imperial Era and the campaigns Dreams of Urduk, Epic of Vaniyera, Up from Slavery, Fall of Silvium, Alfhelm the Wise and Gali's Contract.
But perhaps 'maintainer' is too strong a word.
mrpunch0000
Posts: 12
Joined: January 9th, 2012, 12:30 am

Re: Imperial Era Art Project

Post by mrpunch0000 »

Whoo! Thats one tall order right there. I'll do some research and see what I can do. I hardly know where to start.
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freeforestify
Posts: 25
Joined: January 15th, 2012, 1:06 pm

Re: Imperial Era Art Project

Post by freeforestify »

Here's a character of a woman. Maybe for a Veiledblade Elf or so...^^ I'll rework it if it's required.
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doofus-01
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Re: Imperial Era Art Project

Post by doofus-01 »

You'll probably want to remove the background, if that is intended as a portrait. Also, including line-work would keep it more in style of mainline portraits, as well as give some control over what happens when the image is scaled by Wesnoth.
BfW 1.12 supported, but active development only for BfW 1.13/1.14: Bad Moon Rising | Trinity | Archaic Era |
| Abandoned: Tales of the Setting Sun
GitHub link for these projects
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freeforestify
Posts: 25
Joined: January 15th, 2012, 1:06 pm

Re: Imperial Era Art Project

Post by freeforestify »

I'm doing the lines now. Just want to ask if this is the right way? the face is quite done right now.
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freeforestify
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Re: Imperial Era Art Project

Post by freeforestify »

here we go
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perseo
Posts: 324
Joined: January 8th, 2011, 4:09 am

Re: Imperial Era Art Project

Post by perseo »

Compared to the very worked cape and dress the face looks kinda flat and poor, you know, maybe her expression is quite listless... :hmm: Very good work otherwise
¡Salud!
"I was pulling a barrow, when I saw a stalking horse
what a beautiful day!- he said- for visiting a red herring
and getting hoarse."
Working on this campaign: The septentrional tower
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artisticdude
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Re: Imperial Era Art Project

Post by artisticdude »

Wow, the way you rendered the cloak and leather is phenomenal. 8)

I have several crits I'd like to throw in here:

I think her left arm should be more evident; right now I get the impression that she's one-armed.

I'm not sure the breasts should be so... prominent, especially since she's wearing what appears to be leather. Right now it looks like 'cups' were deliberately tailored into the jerkin/shirt to emphasize the breasts. Realistically there would be a bulge there, but I don't it wouldn't be quite so... hemi-spherically shaped. I've done a quick & rough edit to help explain what I mean:
quickedit.png
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Also, the hard edges are kind of an eyesore; they look really jagged compared to the rest of the portrait. Some AA would help a lot there, I think.

The metal collar (I know there's a correct name for it, but I can't remember it right now) could use a bit higher contrast to read as metal.



And although more of a suggestion than a critique, the lightsource seems a bit one-dimensional. I'd suggest experimenting with a secondary lightsource to add some more depth and interest to the image. :)
"I'm never wrong. One time I thought I was wrong, but I was mistaken."
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freeforestify
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Joined: January 15th, 2012, 1:06 pm

Re: Imperial Era Art Project

Post by freeforestify »

thanks a lot, i'll try it right now^^
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freeforestify
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Re: Imperial Era Art Project

Post by freeforestify »

The balance of today: don't know how to change the faces emotion! I've added some hair and did the sword again, but theres still something wrong with it.
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perseo
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Re: Imperial Era Art Project

Post by perseo »

Why don't you try to add some shadows in the part below the eyes. And maybe some work with the muscles of the smile and mouth. The mouth looks quite small doesn't it?
¡Salud!
"I was pulling a barrow, when I saw a stalking horse
what a beautiful day!- he said- for visiting a red herring
and getting hoarse."
Working on this campaign: The septentrional tower
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artisticdude
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Re: Imperial Era Art Project

Post by artisticdude »

The chest area looks a lot better. :)

A few more crits, if I may:

The sword blade and the sleeve under her left hand are semi-transparent.

The outline is rather hard. Tracing over it with a soft brush would help make it a lot smoother, I think.

The chin/jaw area seems to be too far back/at a different angle than the rest of the face. I think the left cheek could perhaps also stand to be a bit more prominent. Another rough edit using solid color to demonstrate how I think the face would be shaped (it does change the look of the character to some extent, but I'm not sure if that's an issue or not):
edited.png
The neck seems to be much more monochromatic than the rest of the skin. Even given that it's in shadow, I think you could stand to brighten it up a little.

The belt seems a bit high up. If it's intentionally around the midriff/stomach area than its fine, but if it's supposed to be around the waist than I'd think it would need to be further down.
"I'm never wrong. One time I thought I was wrong, but I was mistaken."
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freeforestify
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Re: Imperial Era Art Project

Post by freeforestify »

Here's a new one ^^ ... after a looong time

Hope you like it
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Flameslash
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Re: Imperial Era Art Project

Post by Flameslash »

It's a good start, but the face needs work.
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freeforestify
Posts: 25
Joined: January 15th, 2012, 1:06 pm

Re: Imperial Era Art Project

Post by freeforestify »

Whats next step? ^^
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