Tile graphics: graves

[Matti]

Hi there.

For my current project I need a lot of different tiles for the game map. After a lot of work I'm pleased with most of them, but some still bother me.

While humans and orcs need farmland to produce food, the undead need to build graves. And somehow I can't get them to look decent.

I tried something like this, but I think it doesn't look good at all:



I tried this for winter (there's season cycling). I think it looks okay and fits the style of the cities, but I can't transfer that properly to the other seasons:



Just for reference, here's farmland:



Any suggestions or paintovers are welcome. You can of course also comment on other things.

[Dread Spectacle]

I think if you arranged the graves in more of a rows and columns layout they would appear more like something that was constructed as opposed to a natural feature of the landscape. As is they look something like tree stumps. Also something like a fence or wall to enclose them would make them stand out more.

[Mandle]

For my eye, the reason the snowy scene works and the grassy scene does not is that the grave markers just seem to come up out of the grass: They look like Halloween decorations on someone's front lawn.

Maybe try to show the mounds of the graves? The reason why the snowy scene works for my eye is that the mounds would be covered by the snow anyway and would not be so visible.

Oh, by the way: This game is looking more and more amazing all the time!!!

[Danvzare]

This definitely isn't my forte, but using your snow design with the colour scheme of the grass design, and also using Mandle's suggestion, I created this:
[imgzoom]http://orig05.deviantart.net/9693/f/2016/169/2/c/graves_by_danvzare-da6ofwj.png[/imgzoom]
Without the mounds, the graves just don't look right, so Mandle is definitely right about the mounds. They need to be added.

[KyriakosCH]

Map looks very nice!

Are you making the game with AGS? (cause i would like to learn more of this engine's ability)

[Matti]

Thanks for the input. Showing the moulds and arranging them in columns is definitely helping. I played around some more, made the tombstones smaller and added some fog. I also tried to draw fences but that didn't work out.

Here's what I got now. I think it looks better than previous versions, but I'm still not sure about the look. Also, maybe it's too bright?

Are you making the game with AGS? (cause i would like to learn more of this engine's ability)

Yes, this is being made with AGS, here's the GiP thread.

[selmiak]

This looks cool but also a bit like grey stones on green. Maybe add some random crypts and chapels and what else can be found on graveyards.

[Gurok]

Before I saw Dread Spectacle's suggestion, I was actually going to suggest a wall too. You don't need the wall to enclose the area, just two sides. Forgive the quick/messy style:

[imgzoom]http://i.imgur.com/GUWjbhg.png[/imgzoom]

[Danvzare]

It's definitely looking better. The fog kind of makes the ground look really rough and lumpy though.

[KyriakosCH]

Thanks for the input. Showing the moulds and arranging them in columns is definitely helping. I played around some more, made the tombstones smaller and added some fog. I also tried to draw fences but that didn't work out.

Here's what I got now. I think it looks better than previous versions, but I'm still not sure about the look. Also, maybe it's too bright?

Are you making the game with AGS? (cause i would like to learn more of this engine's ability)

Yes, this is being made with AGS, here's the GiP thread.

Awesome!!!

I might be able to help with gfx, if you need anything. I have created (literally) hundreds of static gfx for CivIII, eg the following ancient greek city set

[Mandle]

Are you making the game with AGS? (cause i would like to learn more of this engine's ability)

There are not many things that AGS cannot do, and there are always workarounds for those as well...

[KyriakosCH]

Are you making the game with AGS? (cause i would like to learn more of this engine's ability)

There are not many things that AGS cannot do, and there are always workarounds for those as well...

Indeed, it is a very impressive engine, and easy to use ^^

[Matti]

This looks cool but also a bit like grey stones on green. Maybe add some random crypts and chapels and what else can be found on graveyards.

That's a good idea. I added a chapel and some fences and it looks better and more graveyard-ish now. Still trying things out and I think it's too grey altogether.

[imgzoom]http://i.imgur.com/AbbC9nF.png[/imgzoom]



KyriakosCH, thanks for the interest. I'll keep that in mind if I need help.

[Danvzare]

That's a good idea. I added a chapel and some fences and it looks better and more graveyard-ish now. Still trying things out and I think it's too grey altogether.

It's looking great.
If you think it's too grey, you could always vary the colours of the tombstones. White tombstones and black tombstones aren't uncommon, and I think I have seen some tombstones with highlights of gold on them. Of course, it could look horrible if you do that. There's only one way to find out though.

It's just too bad the resolution isn't high enough for you to put in stained glass windows for that chapel.

Also, I don't know if this would be possible. But what if you made the fog animated?

[Matti]

I played a bit with the graveyard (darker chapel, some trees). Do you think it looks better or worse?

[imgzoom]http://i.imgur.com/G8R7QB7.png[/imgzoom]
I also made a new tile. But I think it's too much fog again..

[imgzoom]http://i.imgur.com/vy1ctT6.png[/imgzoom]
All three:

Also, I don't know if this would be possible. But what if you made the fog animated?

It would be cool and definitely possible, but also a lot of work and the game would get quite slow. That's why I decided not have the tiles animated.

[Khris]

Here's my doodle:

[imgzoom]http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb259/khrismuc/matti_friedhof_zps330zxtmg.png[/imgzoom]

[Danvzare]

[imgzoom]http://i.imgur.com/G8R7QB7.png[/imgzoom]

I love that one.
It's beautiful!
It matches in with the other tiles, and looks appropriately foreboding.

[Mandle]

[imgzoom]http://i.imgur.com/G8R7QB7.png[/imgzoom]

I love that one.
It's beautiful!
It matches in with the other tiles, and looks appropriately foreboding.

I 100% agree! That version is the best!

[KyriakosCH]

Nice!!!