Character Artist 3 Art
Simon Rogers
Administrator, ProFantasy Traveler
We have a fixed art budget for Character Artist, and within that budget we have to make certain decisions.
For example, the number of:
basic poses (CA Pro has one, front on, with a second set of legs, but we can have an active and a passive pose)
number of body types, (CA Pro has one for each race, but for example, people might want a bulky and a slim human, and worry less about races)
Number of arm positions
Number of garments and weapons
Amount of "face furniture" (noses, mouths, etc)
Imagine that all these numbers get multiplied together, and you see the possibilities and restrictions.
What are your priorities? A greater variety of body shapes, but fewer accessories, for example?
For example, the number of:
basic poses (CA Pro has one, front on, with a second set of legs, but we can have an active and a passive pose)
number of body types, (CA Pro has one for each race, but for example, people might want a bulky and a slim human, and worry less about races)
Number of arm positions
Number of garments and weapons
Amount of "face furniture" (noses, mouths, etc)
Imagine that all these numbers get multiplied together, and you see the possibilities and restrictions.
What are your priorities? A greater variety of body shapes, but fewer accessories, for example?
Comments
Poses of more non-humans would be good to.
Arm and leg poses are important. They relay a sense of action. Having a guy stand with the arms and legs looking semi static does not relay that sense of movement. This was the problem I have with the current CA.
As for standard poses I would like to see
View: Front
View: Side
View: Three-quarters
Action: Standing
Action: Kneeling
Action: Laying Prone
Relaxed: Standing
Using the Sheets you could incorporate shoulders and parts of the body to give a sense of action. So an arm that is swinging would layer above the standard body pose to make it look like that side of the body is swinging with full body force instead of a "Toy Soldier" Action chop with a static upper body.
I know the choices are a lot but there is no reason you could not sell a character symbol pack and release some in the annuals.
Legs
View: Front
View: Side
View: Three-quarters
Running
Relaxed
Jumping
Kneeling
Laying down (prone)
Martial Arts
Arms (for each left and right)
View: Front
View: Side
View: Three-quarters
Swinging Weapon
Firing Bow (straight ahead and 45 degree angle)
Firing Gun/Crossbow (straight ahead and 45 degree angle)
Firing Pistol/Hand Crossbow (straight ahead and 45 degree angle)
Shield Arm
Weapon in Guard position
Spell casting
Martial Arts
1) something similar to (but not as high powered) as the Faces program used by the police to develop photofit facial portraits (http://www.facesid.com/products_faces_edu.html). I often just use a face for my character sheet portraits.
2) the new character creation tools in console / PC games like Dragon Age / Oblivion / etc is fantastic. If something like this could be incorporated it would be fantastic.
These are probably unrealistic desires, but I would find this functionality extremely useful and gratifying.
Alp
I second the call for information about the best way to create our own stuff (maybe it's a good opportunity for annuals).
Steve
Personally, I'd rather see more accessories and face "furniture" -- or other ways to individualize the final work. I would primarily use the tool to create portraits or miniatures which require greater customization. The actual poses are not as important to me, though something other than the splay-foot, arms-akimbo options would be nice. :-)
Thanks for seeking input! Another reason PF rocks.
~Dogtag
I think like Monsen, that facial expressions are most important. A way to differentiate characters with lots of options to customize facial expressions. Different poses do not matter in my opinion, if all characters look the same. So variety in eyes, eyebrows, nose, mouth, hair, facial hair and other facial features that can be customized in position, size, dimensions etc. are what I am looking for. Non-humans should be an add-on.
With the available effects, I bet that facial features will blend much better than before.
I'm also really looking forward to this.
Steve
My personal gaming preference is for a mix of mediaeval fantasy and superhero and, if I had to choose, I'd rather have the option of more accessories and customisations than additional poses\races\builds.
I'd second the request for something along the lines of the Skyrim character designer, but combine that level of control over the build\face of a character and then all the accessories and options, I think that might be a bit ambitious - one to save for CA4...?
The comment above about hero machine is very valid. I use it for lot`s of stuff so the new CA needs to provide something that HM does not. Are there any news/Previews yet?