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1st archived artistic content creation thread. For the active thread, click here.
Posts 
Marrend
View playlists
CloseYeah, that's basically what I was talking about.
You could have waited until an actual character update, though?
You could have waited until an actual character update, though?
dewelar
627
author=Marrend
You could have waited until an actual character update, though?
<small voice> I just wanted to make sure I was doing it right. It won't happen again.</small voice> In my defense, there are a couple tweaks to one of the phone stories to make it flow better, so it wasn't a total waste.
dewelar
627
Ah...I believe I have discovered my problem with GIMP. I was trying to edit the color of the image's hair, and I thought I needed to select the layer actually called "Hair". Nope - I see now that the top-level layers are just categories, and color manipulation can only be done at the lower levels. <cue Tsubasa laugh> That discovery will certainly speed along this character's completion!
Speaking of which...I think I'm nearly done with Noriko's actual stories. I've now got a city story and a dating story completed, plus I'm continuing to tweak other things. I won't publish anything additional until at least I get some general feedback on the character (or until I feel like she's complete). Next big task: finding some music. The "thoughtful" track is a good placeholder, though.
I also have gotten a small start on a second character, tentatively named Hamaguchi Takako. Using ID 64 for her for now, but all I have is her name and some settings in the Customizer. Fun is being had!
Speaking of which...I think I'm nearly done with Noriko's actual stories. I've now got a city story and a dating story completed, plus I'm continuing to tweak other things. I won't publish anything additional until at least I get some general feedback on the character (or until I feel like she's complete). Next big task: finding some music. The "thoughtful" track is a good placeholder, though.
I also have gotten a small start on a second character, tentatively named Hamaguchi Takako. Using ID 64 for her for now, but all I have is her name and some settings in the Customizer. Fun is being had!
If I'm seriously the only person available to playtest and provide feedback for this, that's... pretty sad.
dewelar
627
Given how long it had been since anybody posted on the boards for this game, I wasn't necessarily expecting anybody to respond, so thanks for keeping an eye out, Marrend. The board for the game on VNDB has been more active (posts within the past few weeks, even!), but I'm not a member over there as yet.
It probably doesn't help that I can't post the fact that there's new content over on 3eeweb - maybe you or flowerthief could mention something there? More people might jump in if they're only following things over there.
Also, it's summer.
It probably doesn't help that I can't post the fact that there's new content over on 3eeweb - maybe you or flowerthief could mention something there? More people might jump in if they're only following things over there.
Also, it's summer.
dewelar
627
OK, here's my first effort at creating a Noriko image. It's very hard to get the colors of the hair layers to match up, but I did the best I could. It seems odd that when I go to colorize a layer in GIMP, rather than start with the current color of the layer, it starts me at 180/50/0. Quite annoying, but again, that might be because I'm doing something wrong :-/ .
Ugh...how does one get an image to actually show up in a post? Oh, well, linking instead: Noriko_neutral.png
Edit: OK, that's even more ridiculous. I uploaded the image, but then deleted it. It never went away. So, I tried to upload over it. When I click on it, it's still the old image! Garbears!
Edit-again: OK, now it's right. Stupid learning curve.
Ugh...how does one get an image to actually show up in a post? Oh, well, linking instead: Noriko_neutral.png
Edit: OK, that's even more ridiculous. I uploaded the image, but then deleted it. It never went away. So, I tried to upload over it. When I click on it, it's still the old image! Garbears!
Edit-again: OK, now it's right. Stupid learning curve.
Ugh...how does one get an image to actually show up in a post?
The "img" tag, and you're referencing it wrong. You should type something like...
[img][url]http://rpgmaker.net/media/content/users/34236/locker/Noriko_neutral.png[/url][/img]
Which results in...
It works without the "url" tag, but the "code" tag inserts it automatically for some reason.
*Edit: Oh yeah, commentary about her looks. Well, the teal/turquoise/whatever-color-you-want-to-call-it part that indicates the edge of her eye isn't sitting well with me. What you probably wanted to do was to make a duplicate layer of that pattern, then set the color and erase the edge on the "upper" layer. You'd still have the edge from the "lower" layer, and the coloration of that layer doesn't show. Did... that make any sense?
Also, sure, we can make a mention of your character on the official site.
dewelar
627
Re: Tagging images - OK, I was just using the tool from the built-in editor, thinking it would work. Silly me.
Re: The eye border - I didn't even see that little thing at first, but now that you pointed it out it's going to bug the heck out of me, too. As to how to fix it...I understand the concept, but have no earthly clue how to execute it. Time to delve into GIMP again.
Re: Noriko in general - Thanks for posting on the official site. I tried a couple times when I originally uploaded her to post a comment through the Archive, but I'm going to presume it didn't work. However, me surfing around the site via liveweb seems to have triggered it to pick up the pages that it didn't have before, which I guess is cool.
Also, I didn't do much work on her yesterday, as I was running another full play-through, this time using Normal/101 Mode, and I realized that I biffed the coding on a stat check, which led to the player being bounced out of her route at a point when I didn't want him to be. Going to fix that and re-upload later today.
Edit: OK, fixed version is up. Also includes the stories mentioned above, a more-customized profile, and Noriko's first Bedroom story! Have fun!
Edit-again: OK, I believe I have screwed up. When I open the Noriko_neutral file now, there are no more layers. I have some idea of why this happened, but don't want to jump to conclusions. Might be best for me to start over anyway, given how I seem to have screwed up both the hair and the eyes in the original version. (sigh)
Re: The eye border - I didn't even see that little thing at first, but now that you pointed it out it's going to bug the heck out of me, too. As to how to fix it...I understand the concept, but have no earthly clue how to execute it. Time to delve into GIMP again.
Re: Noriko in general - Thanks for posting on the official site. I tried a couple times when I originally uploaded her to post a comment through the Archive, but I'm going to presume it didn't work. However, me surfing around the site via liveweb seems to have triggered it to pick up the pages that it didn't have before, which I guess is cool.
Also, I didn't do much work on her yesterday, as I was running another full play-through, this time using Normal/101 Mode, and I realized that I biffed the coding on a stat check, which led to the player being bounced out of her route at a point when I didn't want him to be. Going to fix that and re-upload later today.
Edit: OK, fixed version is up. Also includes the stories mentioned above, a more-customized profile, and Noriko's first Bedroom story! Have fun!
Edit-again: OK, I believe I have screwed up. When I open the Noriko_neutral file now, there are no more layers. I have some idea of why this happened, but don't want to jump to conclusions. Might be best for me to start over anyway, given how I seem to have screwed up both the hair and the eyes in the original version. (sigh)
dewelar
627
OK, this one deserves a separate post. Marrend, those "edge of her eye" bits? I think those are supposed to be eyebrows. Why someone would want to program a layer where the eyebrows match the eyes instead of the hair escapes me. Maybe this is a common thing in anime and I just never noticed it before?
When you saved as PNG, the layers were removed. There should have been a dialog box about removing layers, even. So, this time, make a copy of material_m and rename it "noriko.psd", then make the neutral pose in "noriko.psd". You would still want to show us your progress, so when you're ready, save "noriko.psd" as "noriko_neutral.png".
dewelar
627
Yep, I was right about what I did wrong! :)
Testing including an image in my post with my latest attempt at Noriko_neutral:
Yay! OK, I actually think this looks better than my original.
Edit: And yet ugh...I keep forgetting to save my colors as presets, and I still can't figure out how to get GIMP to show me what the current color settings of a layer are. I've searched the documentation to no available. Is it really possible that you can't get this information? It would boggle the mind, as that seems like pretty basic functionality.
Testing including an image in my post with my latest attempt at Noriko_neutral:
Yay! OK, I actually think this looks better than my original.
Edit: And yet ugh...I keep forgetting to save my colors as presets, and I still can't figure out how to get GIMP to show me what the current color settings of a layer are. I've searched the documentation to no available. Is it really possible that you can't get this information? It would boggle the mind, as that seems like pretty basic functionality.
Color settings for a layer? Well, I know there's a "color grabber" tool, but that's probably not what you're talking about.
dewelar
627
No, it wasn't exactly what I was looking for, but it wound up not mattering for the reaons below. Anyway, there is now a full tachie set for Noriko based on the image I posted earlier, which I will include with the next upload.
As for my issues...it appears there are a couple things that weren't done properly with material_m in the first place. I can't use any eye layers other than neutral and closed because changing the color also messes with the sclera. Also, the arms-behind-back layers are unusable because parts of the uniform is missing around the collar bone. Despite that, I'm reasonably satisfied with what I've got now.
Noriko is still a work in progress, I think, but she's now much more complete. I still want to look at music for her, and I still feel like she's a bit story-light (and I really don't want to use the accelerated affection option if I can help it), but the end is definitely in sight now.
As for my issues...it appears there are a couple things that weren't done properly with material_m in the first place. I can't use any eye layers other than neutral and closed because changing the color also messes with the sclera. Also, the arms-behind-back layers are unusable because parts of the uniform is missing around the collar bone. Despite that, I'm reasonably satisfied with what I've got now.
Noriko is still a work in progress, I think, but she's now much more complete. I still want to look at music for her, and I still feel like she's a bit story-light (and I really don't want to use the accelerated affection option if I can help it), but the end is definitely in sight now.
dewelar
627
Okay, so, I'm waiting to post a Noriko update until either Dozen posts his review or tomorrow, whichever comes first. However, a thought struck me that made me realize that I may need to tweak Noriko's ending-available event, and I wanted to get some feedback.
So, I originally have Noriko and the player dropping the big "L" in the ending-available event. Upon further playing, I realized that this could be off-putting, because other than endings, the only other places love is declared that I can find are (1) the Hinami route, where it's treated as if it's not necessarily serious, and (2) by Riho in full sibling rivalry mode.
My question, then, is this: should I remove that from the ending-available event (saving it for the actual ending), or leave it as-is?
So, I originally have Noriko and the player dropping the big "L" in the ending-available event. Upon further playing, I realized that this could be off-putting, because other than endings, the only other places love is declared that I can find are (1) the Hinami route, where it's treated as if it's not necessarily serious, and (2) by Riho in full sibling rivalry mode.
My question, then, is this: should I remove that from the ending-available event (saving it for the actual ending), or leave it as-is?
dewelar
627
OK, updated version of Yoshimura Noriko has been uploaded. Updates include several new events of various types (including a guest appearance by Miki), full tachie set (to the best of my skill level with GIMP, anyway), somewhat improved profile.
I have a gaming group in a half-hour, so will not have a chance to work on addressing Dozen's...Dozening of Noriko until tomorrow. Still, there's some meat on the bones of this update if anyone wants to give it a spin. It might be a while before the next update.
I'm resisting the urge to pronounce the above gerund in my head as "duh-zening", because "duh, some of that stuff he said should have been obvious to me". Of course, what does it say about me that, despite living solidly in the western hemisphere, I automatically think of "Dozen" as pronounced "doh-zen". Then again, "d'oh-zening" is also appropriate under the circumstances.
I have a gaming group in a half-hour, so will not have a chance to work on addressing Dozen's...Dozening of Noriko until tomorrow. Still, there's some meat on the bones of this update if anyone wants to give it a spin. It might be a while before the next update.
I'm resisting the urge to pronounce the above gerund in my head as "duh-zening", because "duh, some of that stuff he said should have been obvious to me". Of course, what does it say about me that, despite living solidly in the western hemisphere, I automatically think of "Dozen" as pronounced "doh-zen". Then again, "d'oh-zening" is also appropriate under the circumstances.
Dozen
697
I wonder what does that have to do with the hemisphere you live on;|
Hmm... I wonder if Noriko speaks flower language, and Iwao was turned off so harshly because he 'said' something gross? It would make sense seeing her areas of interest. But I'm off topic...
Plenty of people buy into it. I never said romantic knights are out of style. I based a quarter of Ryoko's route around it. And even if they were too old for comfort, I wouldn't care. It's your story, your opinions are none of my business.
But here's the thing: While knightly behavior is acceptable, the weakling female helplessly laying in the hands of the villain, just waiting for someone who might possibly care to rescue her has been done to the death, and in this context, it doesn't make a lot of sense, either.
It doesn't matter how much stronger Iwao is(as a member of a debate club, my estimate is 'not a lot'), Noriko's uniform is not exactly restrictive. She could just kick him in the ankle, elbow his sternum, knee into his side, claw into his arm, spit on his face, or thousands of variations thereof, and make a run for it herself. No self-defense training is required for any of that. It's just common fucking sense.
Yet, in spite of sporting an impressive self-esteem throughout the rest of her story, and being uncharacteristically harsh compared to how a Japanese person would act in the situation mere seconds ago, Noriko just stands there, struggling like an idiot, the idea of reciprocating bodily harm never entering her mind. And are the more mind-blowing is, when help doesn't come and she finally manages to get herself free, she weasels out. Noriko doesn't say a word.
I'm sorry if I'm mistaken, but I assumed Noriko had, among other things, social skills? Because she absolutely missed a chance to disarm him once and for all. This is a Japanese setting, not only the smart, the expected behavior is to shame Iwao in front of everyone present after being wronged. Their entire society is based on their convoluted honor system. Bullies in Japan literally have to warp their strategy around, sometimes going so far as betting their tactics on it, lest they become outcasts. Half the Visual Novels on the market have heroines who's plot is rooted in them being too shy/nice/foreign to stand up for themselves despite the favorable odds. And if the over-abundance wasn't a good enough reason, Noriko is not that. Are you telling me she is not capable of at the very least taking part in what she was exposed to from birth? To take advantage of the defensive measure pre-built into their communities for this exact purpose that regulates petty crime better than law enforcement? Bullshit.
And hell, with all the poetry she has read and written, she should be more averse to being knightED, if anything, romance be damned. The player can help out without doing the whole job while Noriko is a helpless observer of her own life. I'll give in to her trying and failing, but failure because she never bothered to win in the first place? Is this what she learned from the poems she cherishes so? Does she think anything related to knights is automatically fantastic for the sole reason of being related? If she likes knights, why not act like a knight? She may be a damsel in distress, but why, for Gods' sake, would she, or anyone with half a brain, think of herself as one?
I'm perfectly okay with people taking the role of the observer while the hero saves the day. But not an intelligent, strong, worldly and open artist. She may not be brave, but she doesn't have to be. She's smart enough to know that. She should look like it.
author=belewarI liked the stories based on it, however. How about this: you use the cheesy joke as the failed check dialogue, to not waste the amount of work put into it's development.
It's now in there for the express purpose of being a cheesy joke, so they can laugh about it later.
...Definitely needs more fleshing out.^^^My point exactly.
Once she meets the player, the other side of the coin comes out and she discovers her artistic side (or, as she puts it, her "romantic" side). The Knight In Shining Armor thing speaks to that. You can say that nobody buys into it any more, but then I might have to go all Freddy and Sammy on your ass.
Hmm... I wonder if Noriko speaks flower language, and Iwao was turned off so harshly because he 'said' something gross? It would make sense seeing her areas of interest. But I'm off topic...
Plenty of people buy into it. I never said romantic knights are out of style. I based a quarter of Ryoko's route around it. And even if they were too old for comfort, I wouldn't care. It's your story, your opinions are none of my business.
But here's the thing: While knightly behavior is acceptable, the weakling female helplessly laying in the hands of the villain, just waiting for someone who might possibly care to rescue her has been done to the death, and in this context, it doesn't make a lot of sense, either.
It doesn't matter how much stronger Iwao is(as a member of a debate club, my estimate is 'not a lot'), Noriko's uniform is not exactly restrictive. She could just kick him in the ankle, elbow his sternum, knee into his side, claw into his arm, spit on his face, or thousands of variations thereof, and make a run for it herself. No self-defense training is required for any of that. It's just common fucking sense.
Yet, in spite of sporting an impressive self-esteem throughout the rest of her story, and being uncharacteristically harsh compared to how a Japanese person would act in the situation mere seconds ago, Noriko just stands there, struggling like an idiot, the idea of reciprocating bodily harm never entering her mind. And are the more mind-blowing is, when help doesn't come and she finally manages to get herself free, she weasels out. Noriko doesn't say a word.
I'm sorry if I'm mistaken, but I assumed Noriko had, among other things, social skills? Because she absolutely missed a chance to disarm him once and for all. This is a Japanese setting, not only the smart, the expected behavior is to shame Iwao in front of everyone present after being wronged. Their entire society is based on their convoluted honor system. Bullies in Japan literally have to warp their strategy around, sometimes going so far as betting their tactics on it, lest they become outcasts. Half the Visual Novels on the market have heroines who's plot is rooted in them being too shy/nice/foreign to stand up for themselves despite the favorable odds. And if the over-abundance wasn't a good enough reason, Noriko is not that. Are you telling me she is not capable of at the very least taking part in what she was exposed to from birth? To take advantage of the defensive measure pre-built into their communities for this exact purpose that regulates petty crime better than law enforcement? Bullshit.
And hell, with all the poetry she has read and written, she should be more averse to being knightED, if anything, romance be damned. The player can help out without doing the whole job while Noriko is a helpless observer of her own life. I'll give in to her trying and failing, but failure because she never bothered to win in the first place? Is this what she learned from the poems she cherishes so? Does she think anything related to knights is automatically fantastic for the sole reason of being related? If she likes knights, why not act like a knight? She may be a damsel in distress, but why, for Gods' sake, would she, or anyone with half a brain, think of herself as one?
I'm perfectly okay with people taking the role of the observer while the hero saves the day. But not an intelligent, strong, worldly and open artist. She may not be brave, but she doesn't have to be. She's smart enough to know that. She should look like it.
dewelar
627
Heh, edit conflict...yes I'm awake...bleah...
Anyway, will respond to most of this when more alert, but this jumped out and requires immediate response:
I absolutely agree. It's why, when the player fails the Athletics check, she kicks Iwao in the knee. What I need to get across better is that, up to that point, Noriko didn't see Iwao as a threat of any sort. She's just done and doesn't want to hear him any more. Iwao only catches up to her because the player is in her way, and only when he goes after the player does she get physical. It's not that she needs to be saved, it's that she appreciates the gesture of the player coming to her defense. The tears are rage-tears, not scared-tears. Again, my failure at presentation here.
Also, about your point 3: I started just going through the story file from the top, and...wow. I did not realize I had so much of that in there. I've eliminated about 80-90% of it from the first several stories, with more to come.
OK, really need to go to bed now.
Anyway, will respond to most of this when more alert, but this jumped out and requires immediate response:
author=Dozen
It doesn't matter how much stronger Iwao is(as a member of a debate club, my estimate is 'not a lot'), Noriko's uniform is not exactly restrictive. She could just kick him in the ankle, elbow his sternum, knee into his side, claw into his arm, spit on his face, or thousands of variations thereof, and make a run for it herself. No self-defense training is required for any of that. It's just common fucking sense.
I absolutely agree. It's why, when the player fails the Athletics check, she kicks Iwao in the knee. What I need to get across better is that, up to that point, Noriko didn't see Iwao as a threat of any sort. She's just done and doesn't want to hear him any more. Iwao only catches up to her because the player is in her way, and only when he goes after the player does she get physical. It's not that she needs to be saved, it's that she appreciates the gesture of the player coming to her defense. The tears are rage-tears, not scared-tears. Again, my failure at presentation here.
Also, about your point 3: I started just going through the story file from the top, and...wow. I did not realize I had so much of that in there. I've eliminated about 80-90% of it from the first several stories, with more to come.
OK, really need to go to bed now.
Dozen
697
author=dewelarMy personality disorder considered, you might want to get used to that^^ If you want to, I mean. Nobody can be expected to conform to crazy.
Heh, edit conflict...
She's just done and doesn't want to hear him any more. Iwao only catches up to her because the player is in her way, and only when he goes after the player does she get physical. It's not that she needs to be saved, it's that she appreciates the gesture of the player coming to her defense. The tears are rage-tears, not scared-tears. Again, my failure at presentation here.
Doesn't matter why it looks the way it does. Again, your opinions are none of my business. You could be the worst bigot on the planet and I'd tolerate you as long as your stories are good. For the same reason, don't make excuses. Fix it.
Also, about your point 3: I started just going through the story file from the top, and...wow. I did not realize I had so much of that in there.'Tis the point to listening to critics although you're a good critic yourself. I'd like you to rake into my works as much I do when I finally get around releasing them. The last five months of hiatus harmed the process somewhat...
dewelar
627
author=Dozen
For the same reason, don't make excuses. Fix it.
You know, I never thought of "I failed" as an excuse before, but I suppose in the grand scheme of things it is. I therefore resolve to do my best to fail less.
I'd like you to rake into my works as much I do when I finally get around releasing them.
Not sure I can live up to that, but I'll give it a whirl.
Now, to work...
Edit: OK, I decided to upload another new version of Noriko. I really want to get that roof event (now numbered as stories 607-610) written properly. Not much else has changed other than some dialogue cleanup as I mentioned above, but I want to make sure I'm headed in the right direction now. I also decided to leave in the Athletics check, because while it's not necessary, I think it now makes logical sense to have it. It doesn't really affect the route either way.
Dozen
697
You know, I never thought of "I failed" as an excuse before, but I suppose in the grand scheme of things it is.Oh, yes it is. I'm impressed by practical honesty, thus I'd like you more when you admit your faliures. Which would prevent me from bashing you enough.
I therefore resolve to do my best to fail less.Stop impressing me! Geez. If your fad catches on we might end up with a group of decent human beings. That would force me to change according to demand! Brrr. Gods preserve us as the nightmarish madmen we are.
Edit: OK, I decided to upload another new version of Noriko. I really want to get that roof event (now numbered as stories 607-610) written properly. Not much else has changed other than some dialogue cleanup as I mentioned above, but I want to make sure I'm headed in the right direction now.
I'll be glad to chew through the new version. Can it wait for a bit though? I watched Futurama, and by the end of an episode I end up thinking in the voice of Professor Farnsworth for three hours. (that also explains the change you may have noticed in my speech style.)
On an unrelated note, does anyone have a movie starring Morgan Freeman I could borrow?
