Tactics Character WIP

[DrDerekDoctors]

What system were you using that didn't allow the turning off of perspective then? Only it's a cakewalk in OpenGL and I'd imagine in DirectX, too. Anyhoo, the sprite looks most lovely so I'll be interested to see how this pans out. I'll also echo Helm's comment about having the terrain factor properly into the strategy.

[ndchristie]

Im just the artist, i dont know anything about how the game is being made, just what features i want.  Im more interested in the storyline and presentation, since thats actually something i can effect directly.
My biggest question is how exctly should terrain factor into strategy on such a close-in scale?  the ground there is uneven yes, but it wouldnt make too much of a difference in combat since the differences from tile to tile are small

[neverest]

Im guessing so that objects such as your little guy there ar displayed properly, your coders will have some sort of check in place to see how high each tile is. So at least it shouldnt be too hard to do a height bonus.

[ndchristie]

yeah we have a system for height, so we can do that easily, but beyond that i dont have many ideas.  im going to push for a 'solid' terrain system, so that an arrow or magic fireball can just go through things, but the problem then is that wed need a fireball pathfinding system, which would be tricky.
i dont really want to talk much about the game since this is ment to be about the pixelwork and id like to avoid this getting moved to the off-topic section

[DrDerekDoctors]

Pathfinding is a cakewalk, but you can probably just arc spells upwards so they simply fly over the problem areas.

As for how terrain affects gameplay, well hitting someone from above within reason can hurt them more (and from below can be less), bog terrain can be harder to cross (ie. less distance moved over it), lava can be impassable except to fire-aligned creatures or floating creatures, some classes can have odd bonuses like an earth aligned mage could draw mana/health as they travel over grass or other vegetation. The sky's the limit.

[ndchristie]

i dont really want to talk much about the game since this is ment to be about the pixelwork

[big brother]

He should bring his knees higher in the run, so it doesn't look like he's doing that Russian dance.

[DrDerekDoctors]

Doh! Didn't spot that first time through.

I like the character although the background needs some deliniation. I agree the grid lines are too heavy and maybe it's an issue that'll be solved by having different terrains, but the lack of much sense of directional lighting on them  other than a few bits doesn't help. Although again maybe that's because that particular ground looks wobbly just because it can be, rather than to a particular end.

[ndchristie]

no prob



i tried to take people's suggestions into account, and yeh the terrain is just supposed to be uneven, not going in any particular direction or serving any function, its so i can see what the different shapes look like together.

[sonic_reaper]

He should bring his knees higher in the run, so it doesn't look like he's doing that Russian dance.

This was a problem I noticed since you first started the walk cycle.  Incidently, I have no problem with his arms so much.  I feel that the leg is far more glaring.  Here's an edit to help ya out!  This seems like an incredible undertaking!  That's a lot to graphics to make all by yourself and at such quality.