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September 13 Update (Patreon)

Published:
2020-09-13 21:49:39
Imported:
2026-06
Tags:

Content

OEA: Other than some communication with the mapper I've hired, I didn't invest any time in this.

TLS: I'm further along than I would normally be one week after a public release, but not as far along as I'd hoped. Still, events and dialogue are done and things are moving forward to finish the Gathering.

Annual Patronage: I'm glad I delayed asking that question, because I underestimated how much of a response it would get. You guys had strong feelings! My general plan is to stick with the status quo and see if anyone ever requests the option to go annual.

Faceset Offer:

This week I received an interesting offer: some fans of TLS with more artistic ability than money have offered to work on minor game assets for free. Their particular passion was the feeling that the Aramite faces didn't match the style of the rest of the game. We've worked together a little, so take a look at this comparison:

They're quite friendly people and open to artistic guidelines. If they kept working on this, they could potentially rework facesets that have vastly different styles, such as the Erosian characters.

Thoughts?

Files

Comments

Runcible Technician

If it brings everything closer to a definitive art style, go for it!

Retromancer

I really like this and would be excited to see more. A variety of facesets for NPC's really brings the world to life, and these are both very good and to me fit within the existing style. Thumbs up.

Dark Art

I like it. Especially if the person volunteered - that tells volumes about the artist, so kudos from us, who are not so artistically gifted, for making the game even more appealing for all of us. I really hope it'll work out and maybe even grow into something more. Maybe even into a semi-regular, potentially commissioned work.

Captain Hair

Can't wait to see if the Anak's obsession with balance ends up spiralling things out of control.

DukeLeto7

Hmmm... I wonder why you never used the original picture from the upper right hand corner. Maybe I should ask my friend Mr. Popo...

Lamsey

I've always found the inconsistency of the Aramite and Erosian facesets quite jarring, and I think the updated faces strike a good balance between being closer to the game's general art style while still being recognisably the same characters as the originals. If they're freely offered and you're happy with the quality, I can't see any reason not to take the artists up on their generosity.

sierralee

I've actually considered commissioning them to cover for the AWOL artist on OEA, since they seem reasonably flexible.

sierralee

I think that one was a significant part of their motivation to offer, haha.

sierralee

Thanks for your feedback! Though I want to keep each region identifiable, I agree they could be more consistent.

SantaTheHutt

I never noticed any inconsistency with the Aramite face sets, TBH, but I'm also not the most observant person. The Erosian face sets really feel like they don't belong though, even to my oblivious eyes. I'd suggest taking these artists up on their offer.

Aledeth

I like the new ones a lot, mostly because they got rid of the Mr. Popo lips on the top-right face.

Darthjake

I like the bottom 2 rows, not just for the popo lips as has been mentioned, but also because it doesn't seem that the old man just got beat up.

Ditto

Seems like a good offer. Do they also plan to do matching sprites?

Dark Art

You know, since these artists doing this for free, it might be worth considering making a screen for those whose contributions are well above and beyond. Something that would be displayed either in the title screen via additional link, or maybe at the end of the game. Its up to you for course, but methinks that anyone who is willing to contribute something more than good wishes and extremely important and always welcomed advice , deserves at least an honorary mention. Like that fella who admins the wiki. I'd gladly buy him/her a beer if I could. Lamsey would be another good candidate. Purely IMHO of course.

UncleSera

That's quite kind of them. Color me impressed!

Plesby

I really do like what they did with the faces. The original brown hair was ok IMO, but other than that I’m a fan. :)

Andrew Beaubien

Those portraits are remarkably improved. To the extent that one fan's opinion weighs on this, count me 100% for.

sierralee

So far, credits have been restricted to the Readme.txt, but that wouldn't be out of the question. Perhaps there could be an actual credit sequence at the end of the game.

sierralee

They're not sprite artists, sadly.

WaxerRed

Hey they fixed the Mr.Popo face! And they did it without just coloring him blue. Good job artist. No but all seriousness artist if you read this, good job! These faces look great.

DuckTogo

The reworks look really nice. I hope they have the motivation to keep going. The last time I played there were a few places were the portraits seemed to not fit with the overall style of the game, but it's been so long that I can't point to where.

onodera

I like the new style, but not the reshading. Can they redo the Givini princess as well?

Quiet Stranger

I have shared their concerns for a long time, but had come to accept that revision wasn't in the cards after the loss of your original portrait artists. And so, what a delightful surprise this weekly update is! The Aramite overhaul looks positively fantastic! I am very excited to think that they might bring out the unique visual spirit of other nations next.

DankPotatoes

I find that the human eye is quite perceptive, and that most can tell ethnicity from ethnicity by the smallest of differences in how faces look. The sprites still looks clearly maranite, while staying in touch with the style, that the rest of the game has. I'm sure it would be the same for any eventual erosian potrait remakes.This seems like a great offer, with plenty to gain, and little to lose. If it's free, then worst case scenario is that you dislike the new potraits and choose not to use them.

DankPotatoes

I honestly think that the different subspecies of orcs is priority number one, over the erosian humans. I know that the species is described to be physically diverse, but the erosian, blood orcs, and skullcrusher orcs look like they are from totally different games. The different succubi could do with a change as well. If the generous artists are willing to provide free help, then I would personally love some improvements there.

DankPotatoes

Tanurak would likely have gotten a shard, no matter what eventually. The Anak's ideology wasn't really a factor, and it certainly didn't happen because he was "too dumb". His love of the status quo may yet lead to disaster, but so far, it doesn't seem to be his fault

DankPotatoes

After roughly 70 hours of gameplay, I'd say the average player should be able to survive 2 minutes of credits, lol

Hund

That's some pretty good work. A massive improvement, no doubt about it.

sierralee

Their offer was NPCs, but if that process continues to go well, we might discuss it.

sierralee

Hmm, outside of the Erosian orcs/succubi, I don't know how much I agree. I like the idea of both races varying immensely between continents, and if we did redo any of their art, I wouldn't want to lose that diversity.

Steven S. Schoor

Their art looks great, and has look like their styles are very consistent, was really done by multiple people? Either way go them!

sierralee

They work as a team, so it's one person doing each aspect of the art. But yes, I hope it will lead to a more unified look for the game!

Decanter

Some of the facial features are better proportioned, so it's an improvement. They do also better match the style of other facesets. I hadn't really worried about the style, though, because by the time we encounter Aramites or Erosians, it is pretty clear that stylistic differences are part of what signifies racial or ethnic group differences - particularly noticeable with succubi. If you want the Erosians altered, I'm indifferent so long as the result doesn't look worse. I also notice these are all Maranite faces and have been darkened. That makes sense for desert nomads, but I hope Aramites in general will continue to exhibit a range of skin tones... preferably avoiding a pattern that amounts to color-coding by social strata. I notice that this chief has the lightest skin despite what should be a lifetime of weathering.

Seriathus

I love the idea! The writing always made the world feel very alive and varied, but sometimes the limited amount of assets ground my gears a bit. If you have the opportunity to get some more varied assets that better fit your visions, I'd say go for it! Especially for succubi, since there is a very limited number of faces for them, and basically only one model (plus the archivist from the Orgasmic palace)

sierralee

There's too much intermixing on Arclent for every group not to have a range of skin colors. They wanted the Maranites to look more like a single group, but Aramites in general will have a broad range similar to the current set. Though obviously I wouldn't want hypothetical new Erosians to look bad, making them match the rest of the characters would mean replacing the richly saturated coloring with simpler cel shading.

Finch

I think the new faces are pretty nifty. Although I do feel like the change alters each of the faces "personalities" just a tad. For instance: the young woman is framed with sharper lines and has a slightly longer/narrower face- making her look a bit more confident IMO. The sideways facing young man has a flatter nose and extra shading shading around the jaw which makes him look ho- uhh more sly. The older woman's darker hair and fuller cheeks/chin making her look a tad younger. The child has just ever so slightly rounder eyes- perfect for staring at fountains all day. I quite like the change, but it is a change IMO.