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[In-Progress][GRAPHICS]Area Art for Arkalian


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#1 Azkyroth

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Posted 19 August 2009 - 05:04 PM

1. What type of area artwork are you requesting: Indoor or Outdoor?

Outdoor.

2. Specifically what type of area - city, dungeon, forest, something else?

A small village in a streamside and roadside clearing in an otherwise hilly/rocky forested area.

3. Size of area artwork requested? (Remember that the game has size limitations.)

Large, probably full-size or nearly so (79x59 tiles = 5040x3776 pixels).

4. Where in the game will this area occur and which areas will it link?

The area location will be approximately as indicated in the attached image and it will serve as a worldmap link and hub area.

5. Should the area artwork have both night and day versions? (The artist will essentially have to create the area twice - think hard if you really need both)

[EDIT]Tentatively no; I want to experiment and see if the game will handle it the way it handles day/night with Umar Hills, Brynnlaw, etc. without needing a separate Night WED and such).[/EDIT]

6. Describe your vision of the area in detail! Give some backstory to the area, the intended use, a sketch of the intended area artwork...

The area is the outside map of Rookswale, a small village which originally grew up around an inn and trading post in northern Amn, in the foothills of the Cloudpeaks, consisting of the inn itself, several houses, a modest sized bunkhouse, and a shrine to Selune. Although the inn and the shrine are still maintained by their original proprietors and still see some business from occasional travelers, the reduction in traffic along this particular trade route and the strange, subtle sense of unease the location exudes have resulted in Rookswale being largely abandoned. Aside from the inn and shrine, most of the buildings have fallen into disrepair, though several have subsequently become home to vagabonds and the destitute. The party arrives shortly after a group of bandits have taken over the town, though they are using the existing buildings.

7. Will the artist have some freedom to compose the area, or should the request parameters be followed to the letter?

The number of functional buildings is fairly inflexible, as are any details given about them, but otherwise the artist's innovation is encouraged.

8. Are there any special features you need? (for example a statue that opens to reveal a secret passageway etc.)

The northern area of the map should be rocky and hilly, with a small cave entrance that is partially obscured by brush and hence not immediately obvious. A road runs through the area from east to west, at or south of the middle of the map; winding is fine. Somewhat north of the road there is a good-sized stream which cuts across the map, from about northeast to southwest. Between the stream and road are a series of buildings, including four houses/cabins, a bunkhouse(larger cabin), an inn, and a shrine. Cabin graphics should be drawn from those in wilderness areas in BG1 and/or in Nashkel ([EDIT] Ulgoth's Beard wouldn't be a bad source either[/EDIT]) or the like; the interior graphics will re-use some from BG1. The shrine should comprise a modest cabin adjacent to a small stone circle surrounding a flat stone, ideally with the symbol of Selune imprinted on it, and should have a sign of some sort, ideally with the symbol of Selune as well. The inn exterior should use the inn from Nashkel in BG1, as the corresponding interior map will be modified slightly for it, and there should be a well fairly close to the inn. The building should be fairly close together, and the set of buildings should occupy at most about 1/4-1/3 of the map. In addition to the functional buildings noted, one or two that are too broken down for use would be a nice touch. The area, aside from the stream and road, should be lightly forested (including the areas between buildings in this is fine), similar to what we see with Imnesvale, but there should be a few good-sized open spaces.

9. Any deadlines?

None.

10. What game and what mod is this for?

Arkalian, BG2/TOB mod.

11. Anything else you'd like to mention?

I will also need one or two modified versions of this map; I will decide exactly how to approach that once I've seen the original.

Edited by Azkyroth, 27 September 2009 - 10:40 PM.

"Tyranny is a quiet thing at first, a prim and proper lady pursing her lips and shaking her head disapprovingly, asking, well what were you doing (wearing that dress, walking home at that hour, expressing those inappropriate thoughts) anyway? It's subtle and insidious, disguised as reasonable precautions which become more and more oppressive over time, until our lives are defined by the things we must avoid. She's easy enough to agree with, after all, she's only trying to help -- and yet she's one of the most dangerous influences we face, because if she prevails, it puts the raping, robbing, axe-wielding madmen of the world in complete control. Eventually they'll barely need to wield a thing, all they'll have to do is leer menacingly and we fall all over ourselves trying to placate them." -godlizard


#2 Azkyroth

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Posted 19 August 2009 - 06:26 PM

I suppose actually attaching an image would help:

Attached Images

  • BHbase.JPG

"Tyranny is a quiet thing at first, a prim and proper lady pursing her lips and shaking her head disapprovingly, asking, well what were you doing (wearing that dress, walking home at that hour, expressing those inappropriate thoughts) anyway? It's subtle and insidious, disguised as reasonable precautions which become more and more oppressive over time, until our lives are defined by the things we must avoid. She's easy enough to agree with, after all, she's only trying to help -- and yet she's one of the most dangerous influences we face, because if she prevails, it puts the raping, robbing, axe-wielding madmen of the world in complete control. Eventually they'll barely need to wield a thing, all they'll have to do is leer menacingly and we fall all over ourselves trying to placate them." -godlizard


#3 Lord-Jyssev

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Posted 21 August 2009 - 07:21 PM

I might be willing to attempt this, but would you mind if it were in SoA's area style, rather than Baldur's Gate I's style?

#4 Azkyroth

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Posted 22 August 2009 - 03:30 PM

I might be willing to attempt this, but would you mind if it were in SoA's area style, rather than Baldur's Gate I's style?


That's fine with me; the only concern I had with that was the limited number of suitably weathered building graphics in SOA. I'm not particularly attached to what I had in mind with the inn's interior map if something else works better for you, for instance (then again, there's already precedent for building interiors not perfectly matching the exterior arrangement). I'm interested to see what you come up with. ^.^

[EDIT]Looking through the maps again, there's probably an adequate supply of cabin-ish buildings among the various ones, so this should be fine, particularly if parts of buildings were mixed and matched. And the main concern there is the weathered-ness anyway, so...

Edited by Azkyroth, 22 August 2009 - 10:43 PM.

"Tyranny is a quiet thing at first, a prim and proper lady pursing her lips and shaking her head disapprovingly, asking, well what were you doing (wearing that dress, walking home at that hour, expressing those inappropriate thoughts) anyway? It's subtle and insidious, disguised as reasonable precautions which become more and more oppressive over time, until our lives are defined by the things we must avoid. She's easy enough to agree with, after all, she's only trying to help -- and yet she's one of the most dangerous influences we face, because if she prevails, it puts the raping, robbing, axe-wielding madmen of the world in complete control. Eventually they'll barely need to wield a thing, all they'll have to do is leer menacingly and we fall all over ourselves trying to placate them." -godlizard


#5 Yovaneth

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Posted 23 August 2009 - 07:28 AM

Wait a few hours; I've just uploaded all the graphics resources I created for Fishing For Trouble including all of the buildings. I'm just waiting a reply from Kae as to the best place to make them available - you may find something useful.

-Y-

#6 Cuv

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Posted 23 August 2009 - 09:50 AM

Heya Az

I made this area for Zyraen several years ago and it wasn't used. It has no night map, but one could probably be made. Yours if it suits your needs

Abandoned_Village.jpg

Cuv

#7 Lord-Jyssev

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Posted 23 August 2009 - 11:52 AM

Wait a few hours; I've just uploaded all the graphics resources I created for Fishing For Trouble including all of the buildings. I'm just waiting a reply from Kae as to the best place to make them available - you may find something useful.

-Y-


Ooh, that would be most helpful!

Also if you do decide to use Cuv's, which looks really good by the way (I love new areas!), I have a night light filter I use that gives it the slight blue tinge as in Baldur's Gate night maps.

#8 Azkyroth

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Posted 23 August 2009 - 12:49 PM

Wait a few hours; I've just uploaded all the graphics resources I created for Fishing For Trouble including all of the buildings. I'm just waiting a reply from Kae as to the best place to make them available - you may find something useful.

-Y-


Awesome; thanks.

Heya Az

I made this area for Zyraen several years ago and it wasn't used. It has no night map, but one could probably be made. Yours if it suits your needs

Cuv


This is good and actually very much in the spirit of what I had in mind, but my first impression is that the details aren't quite what I'm looking for. I'll have to give it some more thought; it would be helpful if you posted or PM'ed to me the full-size bmp. Also, if I did decide to use this, would you be okay with modifying it slightly or allowing someone else to do so? (Or, slightly and then significantly, since I will also eventually need a somewhat modified version of whatever background I do go with for the initial village, for the return later in the game).

Also if you do decide to use Cuv's, which looks really good by the way (I love new areas!), I have a night light filter I use that gives it the slight blue tinge as in Baldur's Gate night maps.


That's definitely worth looking at; thanks. :)

"Tyranny is a quiet thing at first, a prim and proper lady pursing her lips and shaking her head disapprovingly, asking, well what were you doing (wearing that dress, walking home at that hour, expressing those inappropriate thoughts) anyway? It's subtle and insidious, disguised as reasonable precautions which become more and more oppressive over time, until our lives are defined by the things we must avoid. She's easy enough to agree with, after all, she's only trying to help -- and yet she's one of the most dangerous influences we face, because if she prevails, it puts the raping, robbing, axe-wielding madmen of the world in complete control. Eventually they'll barely need to wield a thing, all they'll have to do is leer menacingly and we fall all over ourselves trying to placate them." -godlizard


#9 Lord-Jyssev

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Posted 23 August 2009 - 01:40 PM

Are you opposed to something smaller than full-sized if it still has the required details?

#10 Azkyroth

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Posted 23 August 2009 - 01:45 PM

Are you opposed to something smaller than full-sized if it still has the required details?


Not strongly; I just want to make sure there's a fair amount of space. [EDIT]I should amend that. Full-size isn't critical, but it shouldn't be too small since there should be a reasonable amount of space around the village (the cave mentioned, in particular, should be some distance away from it on the map).

Edited by Azkyroth, 23 August 2009 - 10:53 PM.

"Tyranny is a quiet thing at first, a prim and proper lady pursing her lips and shaking her head disapprovingly, asking, well what were you doing (wearing that dress, walking home at that hour, expressing those inappropriate thoughts) anyway? It's subtle and insidious, disguised as reasonable precautions which become more and more oppressive over time, until our lives are defined by the things we must avoid. She's easy enough to agree with, after all, she's only trying to help -- and yet she's one of the most dangerous influences we face, because if she prevails, it puts the raping, robbing, axe-wielding madmen of the world in complete control. Eventually they'll barely need to wield a thing, all they'll have to do is leer menacingly and we fall all over ourselves trying to placate them." -godlizard


#11 Cuv

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Posted 24 August 2009 - 10:41 AM

This is good and actually very much in the spirit of what I had in mind, but my first impression is that the details aren't quite what I'm looking for. I'll have to give it some more thought; it would be helpful if you posted or PM'ed to me the full-size bmp. Also, if I did decide to use this, would you be okay with modifying it slightly or allowing someone else to do so? (Or, slightly and then significantly, since I will also eventually need a somewhat modified version of whatever background I do go with for the initial village, for the return later in the game).


You can do whatever you like with it :cheers: It is already converted into a working area... but you are free to change it as you like.

Will PM you with the full sized bmp and also send you the area package.

Cuv

#12 Yovaneth

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Posted 24 August 2009 - 02:16 PM

Linky to FFT Resources. Big file - +90Mbs.

-Y-

#13 Azkyroth

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Posted 26 August 2009 - 01:18 PM

Linky to FFT Resources. Big file - +90Mbs.

-Y-


Thanks. Unfortunately quite a few of these just pop up messages to the effect that they weren't saved the right way in Photoshop to be viewable in anything else, but I wouldn't anticipate that causing trouble for most of the people who'd be working on the areas.

"Tyranny is a quiet thing at first, a prim and proper lady pursing her lips and shaking her head disapprovingly, asking, well what were you doing (wearing that dress, walking home at that hour, expressing those inappropriate thoughts) anyway? It's subtle and insidious, disguised as reasonable precautions which become more and more oppressive over time, until our lives are defined by the things we must avoid. She's easy enough to agree with, after all, she's only trying to help -- and yet she's one of the most dangerous influences we face, because if she prevails, it puts the raping, robbing, axe-wielding madmen of the world in complete control. Eventually they'll barely need to wield a thing, all they'll have to do is leer menacingly and we fall all over ourselves trying to placate them." -godlizard


#14 Kaeloree

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Posted 26 August 2009 - 02:19 PM

They work fine here; I've got Adobe Photoshop CS2.

#15 Lord-Jyssev

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Posted 26 August 2009 - 06:31 PM

Big thanks, Yovaneth! Anything to make rendering easier for area makers is very much welcome!

#16 Azkyroth

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Posted 26 August 2009 - 07:26 PM

I've got Adobe Photoshop


That, doubtless, would help. x.x

"Tyranny is a quiet thing at first, a prim and proper lady pursing her lips and shaking her head disapprovingly, asking, well what were you doing (wearing that dress, walking home at that hour, expressing those inappropriate thoughts) anyway? It's subtle and insidious, disguised as reasonable precautions which become more and more oppressive over time, until our lives are defined by the things we must avoid. She's easy enough to agree with, after all, she's only trying to help -- and yet she's one of the most dangerous influences we face, because if she prevails, it puts the raping, robbing, axe-wielding madmen of the world in complete control. Eventually they'll barely need to wield a thing, all they'll have to do is leer menacingly and we fall all over ourselves trying to placate them." -godlizard


#17 Yovaneth

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Posted 28 August 2009 - 05:24 AM

I guess I should have said that they are in .psd format. The later versions of PaintShop should open them okay as well as Photoshop CS, CS2 and CS3. I deliberately saved them in a layered format so that they could be copied and pasted without having to remove any unwanted surrounding material, although IIRC there are one or two .bmp files in there. Also (IIRC! - it's been a long time since I checked) most of the buildings have had any shadows cast by other buildings removed from them so you'll need to re-add those as necessary.

-Y-

#18 Azkyroth

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Posted 29 August 2009 - 04:05 PM

Request updated slightly due to my conclusions about the game handling of time-of-day detailed in this thread

"Tyranny is a quiet thing at first, a prim and proper lady pursing her lips and shaking her head disapprovingly, asking, well what were you doing (wearing that dress, walking home at that hour, expressing those inappropriate thoughts) anyway? It's subtle and insidious, disguised as reasonable precautions which become more and more oppressive over time, until our lives are defined by the things we must avoid. She's easy enough to agree with, after all, she's only trying to help -- and yet she's one of the most dangerous influences we face, because if she prevails, it puts the raping, robbing, axe-wielding madmen of the world in complete control. Eventually they'll barely need to wield a thing, all they'll have to do is leer menacingly and we fall all over ourselves trying to placate them." -godlizard


#19 Yovaneth

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Posted 06 September 2009 - 04:56 PM

I've uploaded another five unused houses (houses1.zip) in the Modder's Resource area. Might be useful to whoever takes this on.

[EDIT] They're also in .psd format.

-Y-

Edited by Yovaneth, 06 September 2009 - 04:58 PM.