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Let the Graphical Overhaul Commence!

  • Red_Nova
  • 04/17/2016 07:19 PM
  • 12631 views
After countless hours of studying, sketching, scrapping, and revising, I'm happy to say that all of the characters, playable or no, have finally been redesigned, and the portraits of the first three party members have been completed.

Without further ado, and with the old art below them for a better side-by-side comparison, meet the new Aeyr, Mia, and Amalie:



As you can see, they look sliiiightly different than they did before. Aeyr's and Mia's alternate outfits are also done too, but they are significantly less interesting than their defaults.

In addition, here is the new sprite style that will accompany these new character portraits:


This is the entire playable cast, so there are some you don't recognize since I haven't talked about them. But yeah. This is everyone.

And that's the new art direction for the characters. All that's left now is to shade everyone the same way that these three have, including dialogue busts, and the art for the main characters will be completely done. Of course, there are obviously still the NPCs and tiles to sprite, and I'll go back and make some adjustments as needed, but the art overhaul is almost over. Yaaaay!

That's not to say that all of my time has been spent on art, though. I've been setting aside about an hour every night after schoolwork is done to write a more proper synopsis of the storyline, rather than the bullet point collection that it was before. I pace myself by writing about 1000 words a day, and am about a third of the way through the whole plot. Forcing out words like this has been amazing for creativity and brings out some interesting plot points and world lore that I hadn't thought of originally, and I encourage anyone else out there struggling with writing to try it for their own projects.

So while the new prologue won't be out this month, the art certainly will be finished, and I'm confident next month everything will be ready. I can see the light on the other side of the tunnel, everyone! Between this new art style and the expanded plot, I'm gonna hit the ground running when it finally comes time to return to the editor. I won't lie: While I'm enjoying every moment of working on the art, I think I'll be ready for when it's time to get back into development of the game proper.

Thanks for sticking around while I slave away over the tablet for the past month! Now that the end is in sight, what do you think of the results?

Posts

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NeverSilent
Got any Dexreth amulets?
6280
Hey, you didn't die at the end of the blog this time. Good job!

From my perspective as a non art-savvy person, I can definitely say that the new busts look more realistic to me, especially the Aeyr's body proportions. I also like the sprites very much.
On the other hand, it's probably going to take some time for me to get used to Amalie's expression looking more resolute and less sad than in the old version. What I must admit I don't like that much is Aeyr's head: It just seems a little too stretched and pointy, seeing what a huge portion of it is covered in hair. Also, his grin on the old portrait was already unsettling, but with those wide open eyes his expression just looks insane. Of course, if this is intentional once his transformation has begun, that makes sense, but it is way too exaggerated to work for him during the prologue. At least, that is my impression.

Either way, I'm glad to see you've been making so much progress! Thanks for keeping everyone updated.
Marrend
Guardian of the Description Thread
21781
I'm going to have to agree that Ayer's facial expression looks rather unhinged with the newer art. That aside, I'm liking everything else you're showing!
Red_Nova
Sir Redd of Novus: He who made Prayer of the Faithless that one time, and that was pretty dang rad! :D
9192
author=NeverSilent
Hey, you didn't die at the end of the blog this time. Good job!

That's because I haven't released a demo yet! Don't worry, I'll still die once the prologue is done and submitted.

From my perspective as a non art-savvy person, I can definitely say that the new busts look more realistic to me, especially the Aeyr's body proportions. I also like the sprites very much.

Thanks! Yeah, the anatomy was easily the biggest reason for the overhaul. I'm glad it turned out okay.

On the other hand, it's probably going to take some time for me to get used to Amalie's expression looking more resolute and less sad than in the old version. What I must admit I don't like that much is Aeyr's head: It just seems a little too stretched and pointy, seeing what a huge portion of it is covered in hair. Also, his grin on the old portrait was already unsettling, but with those wide open eyes his expression just looks insane. Of course, if this is intentional once his transformation has begun, that makes sense, but it is way too exaggerated to work for him during the prologue. At least, that is my impression.

Hm. I didn't intend for Amalie to look more resolute. I'll try editing her expression a little more.

As for Aeyr, hm. I thought that, if anything, I made his head less stretched and pointed? His chin isn't sharp anymore, and his hair was rounded off more. His bangs definitely were lowered though, which was supposed to give him more of an "I don't care" vibe about his attire, but can you elaborate a little more on why you think that way?

I totally get your point about his expression, though. He was always the most angry and aggressive character in the cast, but is often played off as wit and humor. Admittedly the prologue doesn't show that side of him since he wasn't really pushed over the edge. It's true he does get more unhinged as the game progresses and more and more pressure is put on him, but I think the same can be said about everyone else as well.

Maybe I can change it to be more angry rather than just insane? You think that would work better?

Either way, I'm glad to see you've been making so much progress! Thanks for keeping everyone updated.

I try!

EDIT:

author=Marrend
I'm going to have to agree that Ayer's facial expression looks rather unhinged with the newer art. That aside, I'm liking everything else you're showing!

Sounds like a new Aeyr face is in order, after all. Thanks, Ninja Marrend!
CashmereCat
Self-proclaimed Puzzle Snob
11638
I never realized anything particularly wrong with the old portraits, but now that I see them side by side - yup, massive improvement! I love the new sprites, too. They're so cute!
author=NeverSilent
What I must admit I don't like that much is Aeyr's head: It just seems a little too stretched and pointy, seeing what a huge portion of it is covered in hair. Also, his grin on the old portrait was already unsettling, but with those wide open eyes his expression just looks insane. Of course, if this is intentional once his transformation has begun, that makes sense, but it is way too exaggerated to work for him during the prologue. At least, that is my impression.

I said the same thing in the Aeyr Art Post. ... I think... I guess his expression could work in the prologue if he's naturally that creepy/chipper when he's enthusiastic...?
Red_Nova
Sir Redd of Novus: He who made Prayer of the Faithless that one time, and that was pretty dang rad! :D
9192
author=CashmereCat
I never realized anything particularly wrong with the old portraits, but now that I see them side by side - yup, massive improvement! I love the new sprites, too. They're so cute!

Yay! Thanks, Cash!!

author=Malandy
I said the same thing in the Aeyr Art Post. ... I guess his express could work in the prologue if he's naturally that creepy/chipper when he's enthusiastic...

Well, there are a couple of moments at the end of his prologue where you see the slasher smile, but overall I thought I had fixed it since the concept post. Guess I made it worse, huh?
Ratty524
The 524 is for 524 Stone Crabs
12986
You've improved the form of your characters wonderfully. Next, I'd work on adding a bit more dynamic, distinguishable shape to them. If you were to black out all the details and leave each character in their silhouette, they kind of look similar to each other.
NeverSilent
Got any Dexreth amulets?
6280
What I meant specifically is that such a large part of Aeyr's head (on the vertical axis) is covered by hair, it makes it look like he has a gigantic forehead. Does that explanation make any sense?

Also, about the slasher grin, I'd like to emphasise again that in my opinion it's not the mouth, but the eyes that create the impression of insanity/creepiness. Still, I would recommend maybe using that to your advantage rather than cutting it: If it's your intention to slowly have Aeyr become more dangerous and/or insane over the course of the story, you could create a set of busts for him that are identical except for subtle changes to his eyes. As the game continues, you could use one of them for each chapter or after each major character arc, in order to visually represent Aeyr's continuing change of personality. That shouldn't even be that much work and could have great effect, in my opinion.
author=Red_Nova
Well, there are a couple of moments at the end of his prologue where you see the slasher smile, but overall I thought I had fixed it since the concept post. Guess I made it worse, huh?

It's due to the wide-eyed look from having his sclera (the whites of the eye) visible all around his iris, instead of the old art, which had him look more (sedate?) due to his eyelid covering the top of his iris, and not producing the upper sclera for a non-wide-eyed look.

*twitch*... Ninja'd again! ... Sorta... :)

***

author=NeverSilent
What I meant specifically is that such a large part of Aeyr's head (on the vertical axis) is covered by hair, it makes it look like he has a gigantic forehead. Does that explanation make any sense?

Agreed. Aeyr's hair makes up like... 40% of his face's height, while everyone else has it around 20%? Just a visual estimate there... ... No, wait, 30% seems like the better guess.
Red_Nova
Sir Redd of Novus: He who made Prayer of the Faithless that one time, and that was pretty dang rad! :D
9192
author=Ratty524
You've improved the form of your characters wonderfully. Next, I'd work on adding a bit more dynamic, distinguishable shape to them. If you were to black out all the details and leave each character in their silhouette, they kind of look similar to each other.

I just tried blacking them out, and I can see some similarities. Though I think it might a little late to redraw everyone in different poses seeing as they're already inked and colored. Unless you're talking about something else?

author=NeverSilent
What I meant specifically is that such a large part of Aeyr's head (on the vertical axis) is covered by hair, it makes it look like he has a gigantic forehead. Does that explanation make any sense?

Also, about the slasher grin, I'd like to emphasise again that in my opinion it's not the mouth, but the eyes that create the impression of insanity/creepiness. Still, I would recommend maybe using that to your advantage rather than cutting it: If it's your intention to slowly have Aeyr become more dangerous and/or insane over the course of the story, you could create a set of busts for him that are identical except for subtle changes to his eyes. As the game continues, you could use one of them for each chapter or after each major character arc, in order to visually represent Aeyr's continuing change of personality. That shouldn't even be that much work and could have great effect, in my opinion.

author=Malandy
It's due to the wide-eyed look from having his sclera (the whites of the eye) visible all around his iris, instead of the old art, which had him look more (sedate?) due to his eyelid covering the top of his iris, and not producing the upper sclera for a non-wide-eyed look.

*twitch*... Ninja'd again! ... Sorta... :)

***

Agreed. Aeyr's hair makes up like... 40% of his face's height, while everyone else has it around 20%? Just a visual estimate there...

Well, Aeyr's bangs are supposed to cover more of his forehead than anyone else's (except Amalie of course), so yeah, he should look like he has more hair than others because he does.

So based on what people are saying, I've made a few adjustments:



Aeyr's eye line is lowered and given a more downward slant, his iris' have been increased, and his bang line was lowered slightly to hopefully match the others a big more. How is this? Better?
author=Red_Nova
Aeyr's eye line is lowered and given a more downward slant, his iris' have been increased, and his bang line was lowered slightly to hopefully match the others a big more. How is this? Better?

Larger irises = Creepier... Everyone else's irises don't take up ~70% of their total eye area... And that makes it still feel wide-eyed... I think.

Shrink the hair's volume a bit? Because where the hair stops is where people think the forehead ends... Which could be just be me getting used to thinking of Big-Forehead!Ayer, and consequently being unable to see his forehead as anything but big... ... I guess you can't get the bangs to cover the eyes instead of framing them?
Red_Nova
Sir Redd of Novus: He who made Prayer of the Faithless that one time, and that was pretty dang rad! :D
9192
Aeyr just can't win, can he? Poor guy...
unity
You're magical to me.
12540
I honestly think the redrawn eyes are just fine. And the iris isn't bigger than, say Mia's.
author=Red_Nova
Aeyr just can't win, can he? Poor guy...


Offered some suggestions in my latest edit. ... Tell us what's totally non-negotiable, and we'll try to alter Aeyr to be less creepy and staying within the requirements...
author=unity
I honestly think the redrawn eyes are just fine. And the iris isn't bigger than, say Mia's.


Mia's looking to the side, which changes perceptions about her expression.
Sooz
They told me I was mad when I said I was going to create a spidertable. Who’s laughing now!!!
5354
They look perfectly proportional to me. One's a little lower than the other, but that's the only glaring issue from my perspective.
Red_Nova
Sir Redd of Novus: He who made Prayer of the Faithless that one time, and that was pretty dang rad! :D
9192
Thanks Sooz! I was really starting to think I was going insane because I wasn't seeing anything particularly terrible with it no matter how long I kept looking. I've adjusted his eyes to be even.
Okay, so it is just me getting used to thinking of Big-Forehead!Ayer, and consequently being unable to see his forehead as anything but big.

Good to know.
I kind of feel like Mia is uncomfortable with her head tilted to the side like that. I suppose that it's meant to show she's shy but she's probably gonna get a neck cramp with how rigid she is. At least, I think so anyway.

When I first saw her, I thought that she was anatomically incorrect, that heads can't bend all the way to the right. In fact, I tried doing that while looking in a mirror but I could turn it diagonal at most and not sideways like Mia does.
Red_Nova
Sir Redd of Novus: He who made Prayer of the Faithless that one time, and that was pretty dang rad! :D
9192
If you're looking in a mirror, then your head is rotating diagonally in order to see yourself since your eyes can't turn a perfect 90 degree angle. I agree that it's not exactly a pose you should hold for an hour or so, but it's certainly possible.
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