Addan-Shem's W's and WIP's

[Eagle_11]

Explorer advances into Mountaineer advances into Highlander, hmm i suppose this is the scout purpose unit line of your faction, perhaps you are planning different scout units with different movement types.

[Midnight_Carnival]

How did you get so damn good? it's not fair!

This is a thread which I should leave alone because I have nothing useful to say here. I think that all your sprites look great which doesn't help you improve, but I can't really think of any criticisms, not even alternatives I could suggest which might not be any worse, I can't think of anything I could say which hasn't been said already.

All I can ask is why aren't you a major art contributor?
Seriously, there's a ton of female units (I'm not mentioning Saurians!) which could be added, there is always room for alternative animations and pictures and as for terrain and embellishments, well that's pretty much open-ended, isn't it?

I'm not saying "don't do your own thing and lock yourself away in a cell working constantly to produce sprites you feel no connection to", I'm saying that Wesnoth needs your own thing.

Well, that's just my feeling anyway.

[ForestDragon]

How did you get so damn good? it's not fair!

i think he was an experienced pixel-artist before and just joined the bfw community recently

[Eagle_11]

those are so awesome ! please keep doing them

[pyndragon]

How did you get so damn good? it's not fair!

i think he was an experienced pixel-artist before and just joined the bfw community recently

Definitely. Click around in the various threads where people are just getting started, then look at the OP here. It's like you've stumbled into doofus-01's clone's terrain thread. The units are pretty incredible too.

[ForestDragon]

i think he was an experienced pixel-artist before and just joined the bfw community recently

Definitely. Click around in the various threads where people are just getting started, then look at the OP here. It's like you've stumbled into doofus-01's clone's terrain thread. The units are pretty incredible too.

minor correction: "It's like you've stumbled into doofus-01's clone's terrain thread AND zerovirus's unit thread glued together"

[Addan-Shem]

Explorer advances into Mountaineer advances into Highlander, hmm i suppose this is the scout purpose unit line of your faction, perhaps you are planning different scout units with different movement types.

Hey, get out of my head! There will be some flying scouts and I'm thinking on a water subfaction with a scout as well. Sharkmen. Will try to make them as distinct from nagas and mermen as possible.

those are so awesome ! please keep doing them

It's like you've stumbled into doofus-01's clone's terrain thread. The units are pretty incredible too.

minor correction: "It's like you've stumbled into doofus-01's clone's terrain thread AND zerovirus's unit thread glued together"

Lack of praise is not something I could complain about here. Thank you!

All I can ask is why aren't you a major art contributor?

I didn't have any time to make any sort of art. Never took my abilities seriously, either. Now that I have both time and ambition I want to see if I can improve and offer consistent results without losing interest. Creating something that can actually be used is, of course, a big plus here. I'll concentrate on finishing this faction for now, though, before trying something else.

i think he was an experienced pixel-artist before and just joined the bfw community recently

Definitely. Click around in the various threads where people are just getting started, then look at the OP here.

Well, becoming a (somewhat) experienced pixel-artist is actually my goal here, for now I'm just an amateur perfectionist with a sudden surplus of free time. Discovered BfW years ago, but again, never had neither time, nor confidence in my skills to contribute or do any artwork for any reason for that matter.

Sob stories aside, here's the next batch of soldiers, this time it's the members of the elite Black Band, easily recognized by their blued steel armour. All are L2's.

black_band_preview.png (400.27 KiB) Viewed 7883 times

Left to right: Black Guard, Black Trooper, Arquebusier (male and female)

black_band.png (9.51 KiB) Viewed 7883 times

Not particularly fond of the female variant's torso here, it's supposed to be a blouse with a corset. Perhaps altering her sleeves could help, but it's the sleeves I am very fond of, inspired by these guys. I'll take another look at her later.

[ForestDragon]

i think he was an experienced pixel-artist before and just joined the bfw community recently

Definitely. Click around in the various threads where people are just getting started, then look at the OP here.

Well, becoming a (somewhat) experienced pixel-artist is actually my goal here, for now I'm just an amateur perfectionist with a sudden surplus of free time.

you are HUGELY underestimating yourself here (you don't really know our standards here, which are, ehmmm, lets just say: mediocre), anyways, i already added your crossbowman as an optional advancement for loyalist bowman in my era

Sob stories aside, here's the next batch of soldiers, this time it's the members of the elite Black Band, easily recognized by their blued steel armour. All are L2's.

black_band_preview.png

black_band.png

Not particularly fond of the female variant's torso here, it's supposed to be a blouse with a corset. Perhaps altering her sleeves could help, but it's the sleeves I am very fond of, inspired by these guys. I'll take another look at her later.

once again, these look awesome, i am sorry if i eventually run out of comments to praise you with

EDIT: btw, if i remember correctly, you said that you wanted to make an era (or a campaign) with these units, well, i am looking forward to that

[Addan-Shem]

you are HUGELY underestimating yourself here (you don't really know our standards here, which are, ehmmm, lets just say: mediocre)

Really? I know that in UMCs there are no guidelines concerning art, but I'm aiming for mainline standard, which, AFAIK, is rather high (especially the latest additions).

i already added your crossbowman as an optional advancement for loyalist bowman in my era

Nice, another incentive to start animating it sooner rather than later.

EDIT: btw, if i remember correctly, you said that you wanted to make an era (or a campaign) with these units, well, i am looking forward to that

I'll probably start with a standalone scenario to learn how to actually make something code-wise. All I know now is that it's basically a lot of text files that define everything and tie it together.

Also, lo and behold, the unit that started and basically inspired the whole faction-to-be: the Swashbuckler AKA the one with the most shades of blue. L2 of the main, trademark line.

swashbuckler_preview.png (259.77 KiB) Viewed 7849 times

swashbuckler.png (2.87 KiB) Viewed 7849 times

Yes, I probably like this unit too much. But it was the first, got the most attention and it's sabre's handle was drawn perfectly(?) in one hand movement - a happy accident that sealed the deal.

[pyndragon]

Really? I know that in UMCs there are no guidelines concerning art, but I'm aiming for mainline standard, which, AFAIK, is rather high (especially the latest additions).

Yes, the expectations of mainline are much higher these days than 10 years ago. But your sprites, at least with good critiquing from the mainline artists, holds the near promise of achieving that level.

Case in point:

black_band.png

I looked at the Black Guard and immediately thought of how overdue the mainline Pikeman is for a new sprite. I think your sprite is closer to a level 3 style of ornateness, but I'd definitely encourage you to work on a variation to post in the mainline forum. You'll get better critique there as well, just by virtue of the artists working and overseeing there.

I will say that the Black Trooper seems rather too bulbous in certain aspects (the helmet and spear); however I'm not certain exactly how to address either of those perceptions.

[ForestDragon]

I'm aiming for mainline standard, which, AFAIK, is rather high (especially the latest additions).

don't worry, you meeting them perfectly, all your loyalist-like faction units look pretty much the same quality as the new Cavalryman line (but the metal looks much shinier on your units)

Nice, another incentive to start animating it sooner rather than later.

EDIT: btw, if i remember correctly, you said that you wanted to make an era (or a campaign) with these units, well, i am looking forward to that

I'll probably start with a standalone scenario to learn how to actually make something code-wise. All I know now is that it's basically a lot of text files that define everything and tie it together.

well, i been here for a few years and learned some coding, i guess i could make you a base for your addon if you wantm but i guess i'll rather do that when your factions are finished. we could make the addon together (you'll mostly make art, and i'll help with coding) how does that sound?

Also, lo and behold, the unit that started and basically inspired the whole faction-to-be: the Swashbuckler AKA the one with the most shades of blue. L2 of the main, trademark line.

swashbuckler_preview.png

swashbuckler.png

Yes, I probably like this unit too much. But it was the first, got the most attention and it's sabre's handle was drawn perfectly(?) in one hand movement - a happy accident that sealed the deal.

you just keep getting better at this

[Vyncyn]

I looked at the Black Guard and immediately thought of how overdue the mainline Pikeman is for a new sprite.

There is already sleepwalkers sprite

pikeman.png (1.84 KiB) Viewed 7808 times

but it hasen't been published yet (propably due to a lack of animation)

@Addan-Shem
Awesome sprites btw. Definitely as good, if not better, than most mainline units. I'd offer critique, but I can't find any obvious flaws with them.

[Eagle_11]

There is already sleepwalker's sprite

I can see that it requires an update,
its shoulderpad needs to get flattened, that noodle arm thickened, and some pixels on the helmet's opening tweaked to become both sides symmetrical looking.

@Addan-Shem
your guys have this nice spaniard look to them, at first i had imagine the Aracanese to be of such appearance, but then ended up using ceresian sprites for them in one of my addons, due to lack of anything else suitable. Looking forward to you completing the set since would like to revert that faction idea into how i had them originally intended to become.

[Addan-Shem]

Thanks for the positive comments, people!

I looked at the Black Guard and immediately thought of how overdue the mainline Pikeman is for a new sprite. I think your sprite is closer to a level 3 style of ornateness, but I'd definitely encourage you to work on a variation to post in the mainline forum. You'll get better critique there as well, just by virtue of the artists working and overseeing there.

There is already sleepwalkers sprite

And it's the Sleepwalker's sprites that most of mine are based off anyway, basically redrawn on the same pose, that's why they look so good - the proportions and perspective are, as far as I can tell, spot on on the original. I'm working on a couple completely custom humanoid units, we'll see if I actually am all that good at this. Concerning the ornateness - the rationale is, these being private mercenaries, they can afford more bling earlier. Even L1's will have some golden elements.

I will say that the Black Trooper seems rather too bulbous in certain aspects (the helmet and spear); however I'm not certain exactly how to address either of those perceptions.

The helmet I agree with, although if you meant the visor that's kinda the intended effect. I made a slimmer helmet variant for comparison (in the middle). It does seem better IMO. And that's not a spear. My preference for unique-looking weapons (or my failure to portray them) is an issue, apparently. Edited the mace (in the middle) and made an alternative option (on the right).

Do any of these look like maces?

black_trooper_fixes_1.png (5.05 KiB) Viewed 7786 times

I hope at least the gun in his other hand is identifiable.

all your loyalist-like faction units look pretty much the same quality as the new Cavalryman line (but the metal looks much shinier on your units)

Thanks! I guess I'm nitpicking (which is exactly the form of criticism I'm looking for ), but are they really shinier? The Black Band guys - sure, that's because their armour is blued and thus high-contrast, but the regular soldiers?

shiny and chrome.png (8.96 KiB) Viewed 7786 times

well, i been here for a few years and learned some coding, i guess i could make you a base for your addon if you wantm but i guess i'll rather do that when your factions are finished. we could make the addon together (you'll mostly make art, and i'll help with coding) how does that sound?

That sounds great! Programming never was my thing, so this would really help. I agree that I should finish at least the baseframes first. It'll probably take a week or two (assuming there'll be no force majeures), along with some basic storyline/dialogue, then I'll look at the WML and I guess contact you via PM?

[Vyncyn]

Do any of these look like maces?

I guess If you want to make a blunt weapon a dark outline would make it clearer. Even in your first version it looked like a mace to me, but I also see the spear-characteristics. The one on the right looks a bit like an axe.

Anyway, I made an alternative, hopefully macier-looking, macehead for you. If you want to do it yourself just ignore the spoiler.

Spoiler:

black-trooper.png (1.81 KiB) Viewed 7780 times