Blackdove_EU

It's very cool shading / pencil work, and her face and hair are great (as usual). That little cat is just adorable.

I like the overall composition and posture of her, dramatic and has sense of movement, as well as "fills" the area nicely. There is just a few (smaller) details that bug me. Her right ear comes more from top of her head than from the side like the other (but they are definetely cat ears and cute at that ). The biggest problem is her pelvis / hip area. It's rather hard to explain without drawing, but basically it's the way right leg is connected to hips. The way her legs / skirt suggest her hips are located and tilted differs from the way her navel / waist area does. I tried to mimic her stance and it was quite tense and unnatural way to be (at least if I read the picture right). I think if her lower part as it is would be more to the right, it'd be more natural, even if it would then miss the more dramatic out-pushed hips. Or if you want to keep the outpushed hip, I think the direction hips and chest are facing shouldn't be so different. (Basically, if you push your hip to the left /left-up, there isnt much room to twist your upper body left as well, while you can twist rather freely to the right.)

It might be just me, but it took me long while of staring at that picture (while trying to figure out her hips) to suddenly realize that she is wearing a jacket, not just black strips hanging over her chests. Oops. And talking of her chest, what, Swissy drawing a girl without enourmous boobies? (She still certainly has no reason to be ashamed still )

I know the bulk of what I wrote was kind of negative but that doesn't in any way correlate to what I think of the picture. I think it's very good picture, just couple of small things that just takes lot of space to explain what I mean. Especially her expression on her eyes and hair are wonderful.

Blackdove

Congratulations to all winners! Well done!

And cheers for Bridger to finally getting it done. At least I well know how it is to have some silly thing that keeps dragging and it cant be finished and how on earth isn't it done yet, and it's just...arrggh. And now it's done, yay!

Blackdove

Heya,

That's a very cool screeny! The bluetinted background with his face is fab! Well done

There seems to be one typo in the quote, isn't it supposed to be 'overwhelming' and not 'over whelming'?

What event was that? It sounds interesting.

Blackdove

Yeah, what Swissy said. Books are good to help in that, but they key is just to draw what you see. Live models are best, but in absence of those, random pictures from magazines and adds work too.

When you are practicing, don't be shy to copy. Trying to copy someone else's pose / lineart style / etc is good practice and can give variation to your own style. (But of course you shouldn't copy blatantly and claim it as your own blahblahblaa)

Here is one example of how my practicing. I wanted to try drawing curly hair, and found myself pic of that model with amazing hair. The effects are added in photoshop on top of pencil sketch.

My Curly Hair Girl
The Real Curly Hair Girl

Blackdove

[ QUOTE ]
although I'd be curious to know if any of our female players have ever had the same situation the other way round.


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You mean if any of the female players were playing a male toon and someone was hitting on them and dying to know if they really are male in RL? ... I don't think that is very likely Despite there being quite many male toons played by females, EVERYONE assumes male toon is played by a male, unless it's a previously assumed it's female.

Me, I play both male and female toons, although my mains are mostly female. I don't recall people asking my gender nor flirting with me more than usual (= in a way that would be annoying) no matter what characters I have played.

It is universal fact that girl toons have it easier on gifts and teams. *shrug*

Edit: I prefer to watch female toons backsides as well ^^ Something about the way males run is not so pleasing.

Blackdove

On Villain side, I assume?

The only RP SG I know there is E.V.I.L. or Evil. I can never remember which is which. There was the clocktower meets for general RP, but I don't know if that has ended now.

Sorry, couldnt be of much help

Blackdove

[ QUOTE ]

Maybe I can learn to rp with short messages ingame, but after years of writing long messaged (900 words in one message) it's hard to change that. But that is a special way of RP, and I can see why some wouldn't like that.


[/ QUOTE ]

I dont know HOW fast you type, but 900 words? Even if you're superfast writer, that's going to take at least 15 minutes to type. (For me, more like two hours, if I have to think of what I'm saying too.) Ingame, when I am not doing anything else but RPing, no, I really don't want to wait 15-30 mins for someone to say something while I do nothing. In text-based platform it's different, I can keep eye on that window while I browse the web or draw or whatever.

I don't think it's so much matter of like / dislike, it is just very different form of RP, and IMO a LOT more suited on text platform. (The game offers fancy graphics, but if the enviroment is "frozen" for 15-30 mins periods at a time, the fancy graphics are more in the way than helping.) Most people you encounter in CoH would probably think you aren't going to say anything and wander off before you finish typing Sometimes that even happens when I am trying to answer their greeting with simple "Heya! How's you?"

Sounds like for you to enjoy RP in CoH, you need to take a whole new approach to it. Quite hard thing to do, I'd imagine! By the way, the local-flood at GG gets to other people too, I for example get overwhelmed by it easily and I know others do too. But there is non-GG RP as well

Blackdove

Cool picture Swissy! Awesome
The finished color version is almost too sugarcute ^^ She has that sailormoonish "Always ready! Sir!" girlscoutness to her. The catears are very cute and cat-like (on the sketches they are more like bunny ears. Or possibly bat ) The stretched perspective (that's your new thing, isnt it ) works, even though IMO it works better on the line-art than in the finished picture, somehow the shading adds to the distortion in "that" way. For example, comparing lineart and colored, her forehead seems bigger/longer in colored. I like her face a lot, very good expression and lively eyes.

The first sketch rocks too I'd love to see you work on that picture idea (with different char perhaps)

Blackdove

I have played my coh characters on msn or irc, when either the situation isn't suitable for ingame (a place that isn't found ingame, most often non-paragon city scenes or activity that isn't easy to do with ingame tools, mostly something that requires moving and emoting/talking at the same time. Going for a walk, or playing tennis) or when the game hasn't been available. I like to have both options, but the non-ingame RP is just addition to the ingame RP for me.

The limited space, well, yes, I can see how that can feel limiting. However, if you are a fast typer, you can just divide your huge text block into couple smaller ones (which is more reader friendly ingame IMO anyway). If there is chance someone puts something in the middle that would make the timing go awry, you could just indicate that you're continuing with something like ((..cont)) or something. If you aren't fast typer, writing long blocks of text tends to hinder the flow of RP, and would be better to express yourself faster. At least for me, the flow of RP is much faster ingame than in msn/irc.

When it comes to themes in GG, I think the most dark/gritty/mature things are generally kept elsewhere. When I don't know what you mean by dark and mature, it's really hard to say if it would be out of place at GG or not. Mostly the problem with dark and mature is that they won't fit IC there. If your character is dark brooding creature of the night with dubiuos methods when fighting crime, what motivation does he have to come to the statue to engage in light banter and flirtation? What reason do the others have to interact with him, when he is not responding to the usual social approaches?

I tend to visit GG occasionally (sadly not that often as I would prefer) and enjoy the RP there, but the more dark and serious themes of my RP don't usually surface there. I would suggest that you could try that, hang out in GG, find some people that your char gets along, drag them to a quiet corner for the darker themes. If your char is going to confess killing someone, he'd be stupid to do it at the statue where everyone can hear it. The limited space limit, I suspect it is just something to get used to and adapt. You probably can't delve as deep into your character in single text block, but have to achieve it through several little snippets and over the whole flow of RP.

Also, on occasion there has been dark and adult RP on statue too Just have to be at the right place in the wrong time.

Goodluck! And if GG isn't your thing, there is lot of other RP in CoH too.

Blackdove

Yeah, agreed Faeryfire. And I ment gimped just in that sense, "not what random member of pick up group might expect".

There is group of people who don't accept odd builds and/or strategies (and said stretegies would fail with them anyway if they do the standard thing and just one does the other thing). But luckily there are others too. And it's not just roleplayers who like to "gimp" their chars. I've met quite a few non-roleplayers who also do odd builds for fun and to find out efficient way to play strange builds, and sometimes there is a killer odd build too .

My characters are quite straightforwardly gimped - they seldom have the enhanchements they could have. Pyr is not supposed to be "powerful force of destruction" so it fits her well, but the real reason is that the enhancement buying interface is clumsy and it bores me to go shopping for them.

Blackdove

Personally, gamewise, I dislike teleport as a travel power a lot. However, two of my chars has it, and I won't respec out of it because it fits their characters (the concept was decided before I had chance to teleport around enough to find out that no, I don't like it.)

For Pyr, her concept says "fire powers + flight" and I would have no problem optimising in her powersets (but I haven't since I couldn't have been arsed yet). Pretty much same is true for Subaiku, although there is some powers I would not drop even if they wouldn't be that good since they are part of her concept.

Personally, I would have no problem teaming with a gimped character if we're RPing or the player is nice OOC. But then, I don't much care for the rate of exp or debt .

Blackdove

Nice thread and cool sketches I particularly like the hand, perhaps because the most complex thing I've ever managed to draw on my hand was outline of dolphin.

Here's some of mine
Delighted Pyranha
Pyranha in dress
Pyranha and Sam

The last one was drawn on paper with lines on it (or squares, more like it) and it was a pain to clean that out in photoshop. Lesson to be learned: Never leave home without white paper or drawing pad.

Blackdove

Hello, and welcome to the RP side of things. I thought that was nice background story. Simple enough but gives the basic motivation for the character.

Personally I usually start with quite vague idea of the background and personality, and then fill in the blanks when I am RPing. Some others write a complex, detailed background in advance. Whatever works for you. For example, I haven't yet come up with Pyr's parents names, she has always refered to them as mom and dad. Her dad's profession was decided a few months after she had arrived in Paragon City. Last night I had to decide what is her approach on pests in the house. In all the new things you discover of your character, just have to remember them to be consistant.

The danger in this approach is to keep the new additions in check. IE, have to be careful not to invent new things constantly to aid your character or to look cooler and also to stay within the concept. For example, right now Pyr is doing research on japanese history. I could invent that she has an aunt that is historician, perhaps even specialised on Japan. Or maybe she is thrown to a council base and needs to escape. And I invent that she knows how to fly a helicopter and use that to escape. (Lot of chars most likely can fly helicopter, Pyr, no way.)

I sometimes do different personality quizzes online for my characters, it's fun way to learn more about her. (Like, what alignment you are, what twisted carebear you are.... not very serious quizzes )

Try think of some strong sides and some weaks sides on your character. Does he have quirks? If he had themesong, what would it be? What are his motivations for interaction for others? (The brooding antihero type that is quite popular in fiction, is a real pain to get to work in open RP.)

There is connections between being a good writer and good roleplayer, but neither follows directly from the other. I believe that in RP, we are telling stories, through our characters and plots. Being imaginative and able to express yourself (in language) are a great asset in that, as they are in writing. The real difference between being a writer and roleplayer is that first is solitary story-telling, other is co-operative effort. I can imagine RP would be quite close to writing a story together with someone (with the method of one writing a bit, the other continuing and so on). Also in RP you have to be able to react fast, and you can't go back and change things if you think of something better to say later (which is pretty much the opposite of writing, where both things are big tools).

Edit: I forgot to say, I know lot of very good RPers, and most of them don't write stories. Of those that do write, some are very good writers as well, but not all. (And when I say very good writers, I mean on amateur level. Sadly I know no RPer who writes like Swanwick.)

Blackdove

Nice picture Jakey! I like the falling leaves and the movement of the cape especially.

And lovely colors too.

Blackdove

/cheer
WOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!! (to channel inny for a moment there )

Congrats Ringy, and three?

Blackdove

*cheers*

More congarats from here! Well done

Blackdove

Well done Frice

I like the simplicity of the background, simple but effective. Also the lightning effects are very nice. It's cool how you are enjoying yourself and learning new things (everytime I do new picture, I learn new things as well, it's great feeling). In this picture, perhaps the light/shadow could have been more contrasted. I am very curious to see what (and which picture) you come up next

Blackdove

Wooo, I did it in time

My Tank Picture

Uploaded to deviantart

Blackdove

Hello,

I'd like to nominate Swissy's Ragnarökk Alpha

It was a tough call between that and his Lady Elli picture, but in the end the motion and passion in Ragnarökk won. I like the fading of ink lines and adore the "blunt" kind of painting like coloring he's done here. In this picture, the power and emotion are palpable, two thumbs up!

Also special points for including the original sketch and explaining some of his process there! Really interesting, especially to us fellow artists.

Blackdove

Commented on DA now that I have the account

Good picture! Please do color it, would love to see that

Blackdove

Unfortunately I don't have katana scrapper, nor slots to make one

But if you don't get enough people, you could just photoshop same character there couple of times - if you change the color of costume (either in photoshop, or with normal/SG colors) it won't be even that apparent.

Blackdove

Goodbye Wonka! (never knew you, only met your chars once or twice, but so)

I wanted to to say what AWESOME, GREAT way it is to post what happens to your characters. It is all too often that important person, or just acquintance just disappears without a trace without allowing proper closure. Thank you for doing this!

Blackdove

I created my own deviantart account now

My name is Lumiyu. I'm quite clueless about how it works. Do you add me there or what should I do?

Cool Tanker pictures, guys, and great idea Swissy I have few thoughts for my picture, I hope I get it to paper at some point too.

Good topic, Stasis .

I am IC most times when ingame, and I do very rarely pick up groups, so my answers are tilted because of that.

If I am playing female character and someone flirts with me, I flirt back if that fits my character. I won't send tells stating my RL gender, marital status, age or any other personal information. So I'd go with a) Play along.

Is it cruel to lie about your RL gender to random people in pick up groups? It depends. Lot of guys lie and say they are girls because then they get free stuff. Some women lie and say they are guys to avoid harassment. .... no, I don't see it as cruel. First case, if someone gives free stuff solely because someone says he's a girl, maybe he deserves to be lied to Second case, protecting yourself from harassment and random annoyance is justified.

I think common courtesy fits to RP in random non-RP groups. If the one person's RP gets in the way of the group or annoys them, then it shouldn't be done. But if it's harmless, then go for it. Example: If your character is terrible sexist pig and flings out abuse to all women and refuses to heal them (being defender) and causes group to faceplant, then it's bad. But if you add some "You're under arrest $target! Come peacefully and no one gets hurt!" or other little IC-remarks here and there, go for it. Or just react to the others as your char would instead of the player (in sensible limits of course). It can enhance the others experience even if they aren't RPers . In other words, only kind of "solitary RP" where you aren't expecting / requiring any kind of IC interaction from others. In no circumstances should there be confrontations raised because of IC reasons when you KNOW the others aren't RPing.

I as well dislike the method of answering clear OOC-ness with IC. That breaks my immersion even worse than the first OOC. If someone speaks in abbreviations, or uses gamemechanic info ... "You have xxx skill, do you find it useful?" NOT "How do you know I have that skill? Info box? What madness is that?"...but ooc-tell with either answering his question, or saying you're roleplayer and don't want to discuss gamemechanics.

Bonus question: I can and will play all kinds of IC situations and scenes. There was one scenario a couple of months ago that did make me uneasy (and this is the first time it has ever happened during years of RP). I don't know if I had played it (or agreed it had happened) if it had come to that, but circumstances changed the situation. If it would come up again, I think I would go with it (instead of saying OOC, this isn't a thing I want to happen with my char, let's not do it) but I doubt that particular thing will come up so I'll never know.

Of course what and how I will play with total strangers and close friends is totally different thing . I urge all players to be aware of their limits and when the situation gets too much for whatever reason, SEND OOC TELL AND SAY SO (and be clear about it). If the other person isn't willing to step back and find a way to make it enjoyable to all, then just abort the RP. It's not nice thing to do, but if you aren't having fun, then what's the point? If the other person doesn't care about how you feel, why should you care about their enjoyment?

Blackdove

Lately I've been doing lot of non-photoshopped pics, pencil and now colored pencils (which are sooo fun ). I love to see different mediums and styles used in this board, from the very comic-style pictures to digital collages based on screenshots.

As for the skill involved, I think all medium's are challenging in their own way, and require that fabled "artistic eye" to make it look good (although, I also believe that the artistic eye is something that you learn and practice).

For me, I find it very hard to create certain "random" effects with photoshop (without using existing pattern and filtering it to the picture, just plain filter leaves the randomness still quite "clean" and orderly), while such thing is very easy to create with hand (watercolors, ink, whatever). And alternatively, getting the kind of clean smooth shading or lightning that is basic tool in photoshop is easy to mess up while working old-fashioned.

Tablet is really cool as well, personally I am very happy with my A5 size, A4 would be too big to handle easily I think (havent tried though). The other prog sounds interesting, have to check it out sometime. Thanks for tip!

Blackdove