Portraits for Coming of the Storm. WIP.

[TrashMan]

* POST EDITED *

Work in progress posted below.

[TrashMan]

I feel like I have to mention - altough I'm looking for portraits as a priority, I will welcome any help in fnishing my campaign, which includes sprites.

I have made my own but their quality is not up to snuff with some of the stuff seen here. So critique or help with improving the sprites would be much appreciated.

[Alternatic]

Im probably not the only one wandering what exact pieces of art you need to be done. Wouldn't you mind making a list of what you want?

[TrashMan]

Sure. I apologize for not stating it immediately..

In order of priority:

portrait for the Holy Avenger (paladin-type)

what it should kinda look like:
http://ilovekabegami.com/wp-content/upl ... roes-5.jpg

what I have:
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/13 ... r2io6.png/



Portrait of the Phoenix Knight (phoenix-themened knight)
I currently have nothing.

But he looks similar to the Avenger:
http://img404.imageshack.us/img404/6010/spritesgw2.png

Portrait of Aquae, Grand Sorceress
What I currently have:
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/18 ... itfr7.jpg/


My campaign files can be found here:
http://www.mediafire.com/?y1cu0ku11bzcuub
along with sprites and portraits. That is an older .rar an the campaign that is not ported and thus not playable.
I think I have it fixed ATM, but I haven't tested yet. I hope I will be uploading the add-on soon.


These are the most important. Aside from that, there are still some untis that don't have portraits (Cleric, General of Light) and some Heroes could use better portraits (either compeltely new, or just touched up current ones)


I welcome any and all help in any capacity, cause frankly, if I don't finish it now that my interest in Wesnoth is back, I probably never will. My work (8 hours sitting in front of my PC) and the fact that I have to pass some Microsoft certificate exams take up a lot of my time and drain my enthusiasm and my will to sit in front of a PC.

[madd-maxx]

I'm actually going to be getting a new pc and a tablet within the next month or so, I'd love to contribute.
I work 40+ hours though, so it'll be in little skips and jumps. here's a link to my deviant art. http://madd-maxx.deviantart.com/

[goblinThing]

Out of curiosity: is

I don't expect people to help me from the kindness of their heart, so I have some monies stashed to the side as an incentive...

normal in an open-source environment? I am trying to make an internet game of my own under GNU some day. Is it customary/required to pay people for contributions, or do they normally do it from "the kindness of their heart"?

[Sapient]

I can't speak for other open-source environments but it would seem that, as a general rule, unpaid artists do a lot less work and are a lot less willing to modify their style to suit your preferences.

Few things stand out like bad, mismatched artwork of varying quality and style. So, while money can be a great motivator for any area of the project, it would seem most prudent to reserve the bulk of it for that area-- assuming we are talking about a game project that will require a large amount of artwork.

Jetrel wrote an interesting article about that, which you may want to check out.

[Crow_T]

and are a lot less willing to modify their style to suit your preferences.

I just want to add to this that if one hasn't done this style in the past it could very well take a few attempts to get close enough so it matches in-game work, which can be a long process.

[TrashMan]

Out of curiosity: is

I don't expect people to help me from the kindness of their heart, so I have some monies stashed to the side as an incentive...

normal in an open-source environment? I am trying to make an internet game of my own under GNU some day. Is it customary/required to pay people for contributions, or do they normally do it from "the kindness of their heart"?

There are people who it for the heck of it. For most of them money isn't an issue because they already have a stable source of income, and they do it to improve.

My experience is that people work best when they are free to be creative.
Give them detailed blueprints and half the fun of creating is gone. Give them a general direction and the finished product feels a lot more "theirs" and tehre's generaly more love and enthusiasm put into it.

That's how I personally feel about it.

[Valkier]

Phoenix Knight WIP
Avenger WIP sans cape.

[TrashMan]

Phoenix Knight is lookign great... only chest is a bit strange as it looks curved.

Or it could be that hte engraving/insignia on the chest is distorted?

This might be a good inspiration too:
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/14 ... paper.jpg/
Maybe have the 3 tails coming out of hte back insted of the cape? Hmm.... this might be a bit better picture:
http://annesanimeblog.files.wordpress.c ... esigns.jpg
Either way, might be more interesting than a cape. Or maybe not.


And I'm still not sure about the birdhead helment
Oppinions people.


the Avenger:
looks fat. Here, I made a crude overdraw of your first image:


Those ribbed-like think the red arrow is pointing at. What are they?
On the old image
- helmet is good (maybe fether wings on the sides? undecided)
- armor is good, the torso needs a bit of work (armor not visible enough since it's covered by fur, cape and belts)

Another inspiration soure, from my own SM chapter (incidently also names Phoenix Knights):

[Valkier]

Phoenix Knight is lookign great... only chest is a bit strange as it looks curved.

Or it could be that hte engraving/insignia on the chest is distorted?

This might be a good inspiration too:
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/14 ... paper.jpg/
Maybe have the 3 tails coming out of hte back insted of the cape? Hmm.... this might be a bit better picture:
http://annesanimeblog.files.wordpress.c ... esigns.jpg
Either way, might be more interesting than a cape. Or maybe not.


And I'm still not sure about the birdhead helment
Oppinions people.


the Avenger:
looks fat. Here, I made a crude overdraw of your first image:


Those ribbed-like think the red arrow is pointing at. What are they?
On the old image
- helmet is good (maybe fether wings on the sides? undecided)
- armor is good, the torso needs a bit of work (armor not visible enough since it's covered by fur, cape and belts)

Another inspiration soure, from my own SM chapter (incidently also names Phoenix Knights):

These are your portraits, so I'll make whatever changes you'd like. Just let me know if you'd prefer tales or a cape. The symbol on his chest is asymmetrical. It was a wing going from (his) right with the tip to the right and morphing a bit in ti fire. Would you like a more symmetrical phoenix?

Also, am I reverting to the previous version of the avenger then? Or sticking with this one?

[TrashMan]

Previous verison was better imho.

And yes, a symetrical phoenix on the chest.

[Valkier]

Previous verison was better imho.

And yes, a symetrical phoenix on the chest.

Redesigns of both of them. I know the right arm of the avenger looks a little wonky. He's having some bone trouble and the doctor will be with him shortly.

[TrashMan]

For the Avenger, go with silvery white armor with golden trimmings.
Brestplate still looks fat. Like he has a big belly. Probably because the curve seems so low.
You can go for a more fantasy-like styling on the breastplate. Engraved lines and different coloring mayhaps? That brawl wallpaper is good inspiration
Also, significantly smaller neck protector.


Angle the sword upwards more...so more of it is on the image. Easier to see it's a zewihander. Just look at the mockup/paintover I did.
And don't forget that best zweihander have quillons to protect the hand from a sliding blade when half-swording (and also for extra pointy bits)


EDIT: It appears they are called parrying lugs..



<- come to think of it, you can go for a breastplate shaped like this

Phoenix Knight is good. But you know what...go for the 3 tails instead of a cape.


+++

anyone else even looking at this thread? I'm suprised no one is commenting.