Putting the Prophet Back In Prophet's Guile

[V_Translanka]

I don't know exactly what insanity's possessed me to attempt editing all of Magus' sprites, but I think the catalyst was when I read this part of the description of the hack (of which I haven't even actually PLAYED) over on Romhacking.net...

...Prophet’s Guile now stands complete. The only casualty of the development process was a plan to resprite Magus as the Prophet, which would have involved exhaustive work.

It just saddened me somewhat...to see another project involving Magus not quite done. So, unless anyone has any objections or if my work will just plain be in absolute vain (though I figure even if you don't end up using them for Prophet's Guile, someone down the line can), I'm gonna edit the Magus sprites to fit w/the Prophet's sprites...yes, I know it's practically redundant since the hack's already done and that it'd only be an aesthetic change...but how can I let something of the Compendium community's be undone?

BUT...here's one small snag I need some help deciding on...



Normally the Prophet's face is obscured...but when I first edited this sprite, I thought it might look good to show a lil more of his face...I'm not sure which way is best...what does everyone think? Now I'm sort of leaning towards the more Prophet look, since that's what I'm trying to do with this anyways...but this decision kind of influences how I end up making a lot of the others...Imput?

EDIT: These might not even be final...now that I look at it again, the head kinda looks funky...or is it just me?

EDIT2: I just edited them both some more to make them a tiny bit better...I'm still leaning towards the one on the right...

[Thought]

I am curious, V, is there a particular pose or two that you don't plan on getting to in a for a while? If so, I might try my hand at them and see if I can help you. The reason why I am asking for poses you wont get to for a while is so I can actually see if I have the talent and time to be of any help (I am not sure on either account).

It's been ages since I've sprited (around 3 years) but I've been wanting to get back into the hobby. Here are a few examples of my work, to show you that I'm not all talk (or that I am all talk, depending on how good you judge them).

EDIT: The problem with those sprites might be in the lack of a shadow from the cowl. The prophet sprites have a very deep shadow covering almost half the face. While one could draw back that shadow some, I think it still needs to be a major component.

[V_Translanka]

Hmm...that might be helpful, yes...



That's all of them, right? I'd hate for that to somehow be only half!

I'm probably going to do the running/floaty & completely defeated/face-down on the ground sprites last since those will probably require the most editing...

But if multiple people work on this, we'll have to upload more images to show each other in order to provide consistency...and, of course, only one person should probably work on one set of animated sprites (duh, first time attempting something like this )...

EDIT: Is this more like what you're talking about w/the shadow? Or no?

[Glennleo]

I know his hood is supposed to be somewhat pointy, but maybe make it a little less so and it will start to look better.
More of a hooded cloak, than a pointy wizards hat thingy.

Just my random thoughts.

[justin3009]

I guess I can take a whack at this as well if it's needed.  Take the one with his face covered, it's much better.

Edit: I already have his walking pose done...as that was used as a signature wayyyyy back in the day

[Thought]

Right, well since this is starting to get a little attention I suppose I should claim the sprites in position Row 6, Column 2 and 3 (the completely defeated/face down on the ground ones) so if I can do anything worth while I wont be duplicating anyone's work.

For the sprite... its is hard to tell on this computer, but the shadow still seems weak. Additionally, some heavier shading where part of the cowl is lifted by his left (our right) arm might be good, to indicate that there is a crease in the fabric there. Anywho, as soon as I get a chance (in 3 hours, if at all tonight) I'll see about showing you what I mean.

Glenn, as for the prophet's hood-point, I suspect V directly took that from the prophet sprites. Is that right, V? Something we might want to consider, then, is redesigning that a little (I always thought the point was unreasonably exagerated as well). Indeed, in general I suppose we could redesign the prophet cowl a little, if it would help the sprite editing.

[Vehek]

If it matters, the original idea in Prophet's Guile was that he put on the hood to protect himself from the cold.

[justin3009]

Update

Edit: Beta portrait...I'm horrible at making folds look sprited.
Edit 2: And yes, those are the colors of his portrait when imported into Tile Molester with Magus's palette.

[attachment deleted by admin]

[V_Translanka]

Yeah, I started out doing mostly just copy&pasting from the Prophet's actual sprite set onto Magus' sprite set & touching things up here & there...

Didn't the Prophet already have a walking sprite set? I thought that was the only one he did have...



I don't know about making it less pointy though...that seems like changing the original too much...I think the pic I used will also look better when it's animated through...but yeah, w/e, yes, please show me what you mean by the shadow...

Also, I'm fairly sure we don't need to mess with the portrait art, right? Since they used that CuteLucca pic for Prophet's Guile, didn't they?

[Thought]

This is sort of what I meant by the shadow:


Still not brilliant, as there isn't much of a transition from shadow to non-shadow (but generally these sort of sprites seem to lack good flesh-tone gradients). Anywho

As for one of Guile's dead stances:



That point is actually a pain. Anywho, anyone see anything that needs work?

EDIT: I'd have to see either both walking sheets or both animated, but it looks like Justin's might have a few nice touches to it.

[Glennleo]

Great work all, everything seems nice so far.

Yea I guess going from the original wouldn't be the right way to go I guess.
I just always thought he looked ridiculous in a wizards hat. He's too cool for that, come on!

[justin3009]

Yes, prophet already had a walking set but i'm expanding it to 6 frames instead of 3 to give it a full fledged character look.

[MagilsugaM]

It's Pretty awesome to see that sprite work ...

[V_Translanka]

I just always thought he looked ridiculous in a wizards hat. He's too cool for that, come on!

Maybe it's Zealian fashion...and besides, it's sort of used as a disguise too...maybe he didn't feel like changing his physical appearance...? Besides, anything uncool on someone cool gets reverse coolness points!



I only changed one pixel from your version (on the left)...the one blue pixel above his left eye I changed to the darker skin tone color...I changed the right one to make it more like yours, but I couldn't make the shadow go from the face part back w/o it looking too weird because of his eye being right there...I think both look ok as they are now...though seriously, which version are we going with? It's kind of important before I continue to try to make more...

So far I count justin3009 & myself going w/the purist, covered version...Thought, your version is based on the more uncovered version...anybody else? Who all was even behind the hack? Their input would be much appreciated, I think...Especially since I'm not even sure if they want this or not...>_>

EDIT: Hey, I kind of just noticed, looking through Magus' sprite sheet...but, uh...is it even going to be able to support these sprites? I mean, from the look of the top sprites, Magus is pushing the height limit as is...does Temporal Flux allow for something like this yet or what? Last I remember hearing, sprites had to fit the game's sprite size standard...anybody know? Looks like I DIDN'T quite know how insane this was...V_V

[justin3009]

Sprite Assembly can do wonders =]

Brings up the question.  I think we MIGHT need to move his sprites to the end of the rom so we have ALOT more room for SA.



Edit: I think the portrait is almost done.  It looks alot better IMO...Almost seems official.  The lining of the hood is the wrong color...should be kinda orangeish.  I think it also needs another shade of Dark Blue just where the areas of huge blue masses are

[attachment deleted by admin]