Leila's Content

#459204 Challenge #64: Nalia

Posted by Leila on 15 August 2009 - 03:07 PM in Fanart Challenge

She looks like she hasn't slept in days ohmy.gif Or she got into a fight tongue.gif

well if you see her in-game portrait, she's got really dark shadows around her eyes!

I always figured it was eye makeup. No matter how silly it looks, it was a good way to show off your nobility by overusing it.

#459012 Baldur's Butter Knife

Posted by Leila on 13 August 2009 - 12:15 PM in Layers of Reality

This looks promising.

#459010 Least Favorite BG2 NPC!

Posted by Leila on 13 August 2009 - 12:12 PM in Baldur's Gate Series

I voted for Minsc, but really, it's a tie between Viconia, Cernd, Haer'Dalis, and him. All of my reasons for Viconia-hate have been listed. Haer'Dalis' character I'm fascinated with, but as a person I just can't stand him. He was pretty useful against ilithids, though. And Minsc was really cute at first, just like Jan was, and then I got very bored and now I never have him in my party. Cernd is a terrible person, although I do find his manner of speech amusing.

I actually am not fond of many vanilla characters at all. I'm quite grateful for all the terrific modders out there, and even more so because of the crossmod banter pack. Now that most of my favourite mods are on there, I no longer have to have only one mod NPC at a time due to the lack of dialogue.

#458791 Challenge #64: Nalia

Posted by Leila on 11 August 2009 - 08:42 PM in Fanart Challenge

@ Rzepik: XD Oh my goodness, that was an almost painful giggle fit. This is exactly how I picture her sometimes, with a Popular People's Front of Athkatla and all.

#453088 Challenge #60: <CHARNAME> before-and-after

Posted by Leila on 18 June 2009 - 12:39 AM in Fanart Challenge

Before: 'Oh, Imoen, you child, my arrogant cynicism is justified without a doubt! Spending nigh on twenty years doing nothing but reading books has taught me much about the real world and how cruel it is. Why must you be so naive?'
After: Events that actually induce paranoia tend to have more of an effect than a few weeks on the road does. Also, I imagine losing the taint made her a good deal weaker, so thinner hair, paler skin, etc.

#452819 Das Neues Legion Sketch Thread

Posted by Leila on 15 June 2009 - 10:31 AM in Layers of Reality

Much better. ^^ Good job!

#452745 Das Neues Legion Sketch Thread

Posted by Leila on 14 June 2009 - 02:43 PM in Layers of Reality

Ooh, that looks great! Once you fix the eyebrows I may have to replace Mazzy's portrait. :3 Some minor nitpicks, if you don't mind... you might want to reflect the green/orange lighting in her eyes. Also, the right side (our right) of her neck looks odd. I don't know if it's her hair blocking it. If it is, it needs to be shaded much more. If there isn't anything blocking it, it needs to be thickened a little on the top. As it is, it seems to have an unnatural bump. o.o

But aside from that... -swoon!- Looks awesome. I love your use of coloured lighting. It's reminiscent of the BG1 portraits, which I prefer immensely. :3

#452662 Challenge for any artists out there

Posted by Leila on 14 June 2009 - 05:19 AM in PS:T UB

Eh, I don't mean to sound sore receiving criticism, but what exactly constitutes attractiveness? It's largely relative. I thought the first incarnation I made was rather good looking, if in a more unconventional (and disturbing) way, but I was willing to sacrifice variety in features for the sake of beauty. What would you have changed further to consider it attractive?

#452371 Das Neues Legion Sketch Thread

Posted by Leila on 11 June 2009 - 10:54 PM in Layers of Reality

The armor is great, and overall it looks well done, even if the lighting is a bit too stark for a baldurised portrait. Or at least, a BG2 portrait. It fits in very well with the BG1 style.

#452318 Challenge for any artists out there

Posted by Leila on 11 June 2009 - 12:20 PM in PS:T UB

I appreciate all the input, and I made some changes.

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I found a relatively better background. Also made the cheeks a bit fuller, and realised she had one heck of a chin, so I brought that back a bit. Nose was reduced as well. Any better?

#451697 Challenge for any artists out there

Posted by Leila on 07 June 2009 - 12:21 AM in PS:T UB

I've made my own contribution to this, incorporating some of Maebe's work as well (I really hope they don't mind).

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Should anything be changed?

#451494 Sensible Sarevok

Posted by Leila on 05 June 2009 - 04:10 PM in Layers of Reality

Thank you. ^^

@Azkyroth, I'm not sure what you mean by flat, unfortunately. I had to darken them quite a bit or they'd draw too much attention.

@Miloch, the eyelids were like that in the original portrait, I think its just that you can't see where the eyelid folds.

#451472 Comments on "Malleus Animorum"

Posted by Leila on 05 June 2009 - 01:16 PM in Scribbles on the Wall

Moira is Neutral Good. That said, just being cryptic and having a plan doesn't mean she's out to hurt anyone.

That's true. I guess I'm just always expecting the worst. :S

#451455 Comments on "Malleus Animorum"

Posted by Leila on 05 June 2009 - 11:56 AM in Scribbles on the Wall

Your sister most certainly suffered that damage, and she?s not as useful anymore.

Eh..? Forgive me for not remembering, but does Alex know about Imoen? That implies quite a bit, and I was surprised she didn't say anything about it.

I really like your portrayal of Nalia. It's a pleasant mix of her SoA and ToB personalities. Also, I'm always curious as to why Bioware made Bhaal seem so... I dunno, unsophisticated, when his descriptions implied he was very ritualistic. So, I'm glad you've made him as such, and that he has much more control over Alex than she initially believed. It would be a rude awakening to know that your fate is to turn to darkness, especially when you've done so much good.

I'm curious as to what Moira's alignment is. To be honest, ever since your last comment I've been feeling a bit of dread with regards to her 'intentions.' And now with the emphasis on Alex being vulnerable... or perhaps I'm looking too much into it?

This was a good chapter. ^^ It really shows off your skill at keeping personalities balanced; too many people fall into the caricature trap.

#451444 Sensible Sarevok

Posted by Leila on 05 June 2009 - 10:53 AM in Layers of Reality

Thank you. ^^

Jazhara, I think I see what you mean, and it started bugging me so I tried adding a few highlights.

#451442 All-mod NPCs in your party?

Posted by Leila on 05 June 2009 - 10:41 AM in Baldur's Gate Series

If I had an all-mod party they'd have to have banters, so...
Xan (enchanter)
Kivan (archer)
Solaufein (fighter/mage)
Amber (fighter/thief)
Angelo (fighter/mage)
^ I think I'd leave him home until Immy can get to safety, and then pick him up again.

CHARNAME would probably be a fighter/cleric.

Actually, this sounds ideal. Now to go download Amber...

#451394 Sensible Sarevok

Posted by Leila on 05 June 2009 - 02:00 AM in Layers of Reality

Hmm, I was afraid of that, but now I'm afraid it just looks like I adjusted the saturation. Still, fixed the armour some, fixed the eyes some. And I think that's all I'm going to change now unless someone wants pink armour.

I know what you mean about fitting in better with surroundings, and I find the art quality of the original Sarevok portrait superior to the other NPCs' portraits. It's just that I like everything to fit in to the last detail, and if that means looking like they were pasted onto a background, so be it. It's a bit easier to do than making everyone else fit in.

#451388 Sensible Sarevok

Posted by Leila on 05 June 2009 - 01:14 AM in Layers of Reality

Thank you, Miloch, for the advice. I edited the OP. And thank you, Jazhara, Legion, and Epantiras. I wasn't sure what you meant by darkening the eyes. Were you referring to the eyes themselves or to the sheen? I went ahead and did a bit of both. How is it?

As for the size... they're supposed to be cast upward, as if his head is tilted forward a little, but I can see that even then they'd be abnormally large pupils. I tried to make them a bit thinner...

#451378 Sensible Sarevok

Posted by Leila on 04 June 2009 - 11:34 PM in Layers of Reality

Thank you kindly. ^^ I'm a bit embarrassed by those 4 portraits, if only because they don't fit in well with bioware's at all.

Miloch, I'm going to try and work on the armour, but I'm afraid of quality loss by darkening it. Did you do anything specific for your half-orc portrait to avoid that?

#451369 Sensible Sarevok

Posted by Leila on 04 June 2009 - 10:43 PM in Layers of Reality

Sarevok's eyes always bugged me. Despite lacking any of his father's taint by ToB, they were still glowing as fiercely as the night you first met him. I sought to change that.

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Personally, though, I wasn't really happy with that. His portrait was always so brightly coloured that I found it distracting, and it never fit with the other bioware portraits. Uniformity makes me happy. So, I copy pasted his background all over the place, changed the lighting (sort of), and now I think it fits better, despite his misshapen tattoo. In case someone likes this sort of thing, here it is:

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I think it takes away from his intimidating stare, but ah well.

PS: If someone can give me a reason for why his eyes are glowing, I'd be grateful. I'd like to think there was a reason besides aesthetics.

#451239 New respect for Anomen?

Posted by Leila on 04 June 2009 - 07:28 AM in Baldur's Gate Series

I'm uterus-impaired, but curiously I find the perspective that comes most easily to me in much of my writing is that of an androgynous woman. From this perspective, there are a few elements of Anomen's dialogues I would find quite patronizing - his contually comparing you to his sister comes to mind, and the fact that throughout the romance you're essentially asked to play the role of "the woman behind the man." I remember a few holding/cuddling related comments that struck me as curiously one-sided. I don't know how a more typical femalish perspective would interpret that sort of thing, though.

I'm sure your assumed role gives you much wisdom on the subject.
A few questions, though:
1. How is being compared to his sister patronising? He incessantly refers to her as determined. The only thing I could ever mistake for it is that he refers to her as 'young,' which as far as I know is a generally accepted way to describe someone younger than you, and when he says he was not there to protect her, which makes sense for as far as we know, Moira is an unarmed noblewoman.
2. I just finished playing through the romance, but I don't remember anything coddling beyond what the flirt pack decided to assume. Could you be so kind as to point these out?
3. Are these comments that are so patronising only spoken so, or did you analyse them to be so?

@Tempest: Well said, and I agree completely. I also believe class plays into his character. He comes from a 'noble' family with little money, and I think he may view it as Napoleon viewed his own, with the way his father acts. I think far too many people prefer to stop at the surface rather than actually read into what NPCs say.

If you notice, the only times he acts so, ah, 'coddling' is when his temper hasn't flared yet. When it has, he brings up CHARNAME's strength and resents that which he lacks. The only reason I would dislike him if I met him is that I don't appreciate false visages, even when they're probably for the best.

#451177 New respect for Anomen?

Posted by Leila on 03 June 2009 - 11:25 PM in Baldur's Gate Series

I really didn't think Anomen treated the PC as unequal. He looked to her for a lot of support and basically put his fate in her hands. The 'fair lady' act was just that: an act. His father was a drunkard and crude as can be, and he was probably overcompensating for that by acting far beyond what chivalry calls for.

#450851 Mistress Elysia's Miscellany

Posted by Leila on 02 June 2009 - 12:59 PM in Layers of Reality

The 'Trueform Dex Devil' is definitely your best piece of digital artwork, especially with so much detail. I also especially love your lady tiefling/cambion/demonspawn in general. She definitely fits in the Planescape setting. Those boots, though... they look like they'd make a better weapon than shoes.

I love that you make tieflings look like more than just humans with a tail and horns.

#450423 Ask the Betrayer

Posted by Leila on 31 May 2009 - 09:58 PM in Layers of Reality

Fuuun. Sundays just got got better.

#450385 All My PCs

Posted by Leila on 31 May 2009 - 07:14 AM in Layers of Reality

Do you use copic markers? Because that might look nice, if the ink you use can withstand the bleeding. If not, I'd go for digital. An unfortunate side effect of coloured pencil, as much as I love using them, is that it overlaps the lineart.