Loren: The Sequel

[daikiraikimi]

Just read through the whole thread and wanted to add my two cents on some things:

I like the outfits for Elanor and Saren! Especially that the "sexy" outfits still seem like something someone would wear. I felt that the outfits from the last game were super revealing, even the more "covered" outfits. It wasn't too bad, though, since the men and women were in mostly equal states of undress (with the exception of some men who were very covered.) I think skimpy clothes are okay, but I like the idea of being able to choose more practical clothing, and even the PG-13 clothes from the first game were often not very practical.

I think that Saren having an eye patch in the thief outfit actually makes a lot of sense-- I have heard a lot about warriors or thieves covering one eye with a patch so that if they have to go into a dark cave or another place without lighting they can see right away using the covered eye (which is already adjusted to the darkness).

As for Myrrh's clothes, I think that you can actually stay with the druid theme without giving her regular clothing. For example, if you look at the plant people from Guild Wars 2, they have clothes made of leaves and bark which are grown into that shape. I think for Myrrh, she could have more elaborate clothing that she grew to cover her body using large leaves, petals, vines, or whatever. This would give more room for artistic discretion as well! Plus, the clothing would only have to vaguely look like it was made of plant material because Myrrh can make them grow however she wants, so it doesn't have to look just like natural vines as seen in the first game.

I also really love Breza's new outfit! Just wanted to mention that. All in all, I think that the changes you are making to the character designs are great! Hope everything goes smoothly for you.

[jack1974]

I think that Saren having an eye patch in the thief outfit actually makes a lot of sense-- I have heard a lot about warriors or thieves covering one eye with a patch so that if they have to go into a dark cave or another place without lighting they can see right away using the covered eye (which is already adjusted to the darkness).

Ah interesting, I didn't know this

As for Myrrh's clothes, I think that you can actually stay with the druid theme without giving her regular clothing.

Too late, I have already a new design with her with a nice dress. Though it makes also sense since in the sequel she made some "career"... will probably post the lineart or the finished colored piece shortly.

I also really love Breza's new outfit! Just wanted to mention that. All in all, I think that the changes you are making to the character designs are great! Hope everything goes smoothly for you.

Thanks. So far is going terrible had lots of problems coloring the lineart, so far changed two colorists. I hope the final result will still be OK. Even in the first game I used a different colorist for the romance scenes, and I think that's not too bad since they're quite separated from the rest of the game. Anyway this last colorist I found SEEMS (crossing fingers!) more reliable so... we'll see!

[Mariko]

Thanks. So far is going terrible had lots of problems coloring the lineart, so far changed two colorists. I hope the final result will still be OK. Even in the first game I used a different colorist for the romance scenes, and I think that's not too bad since they're quite separated from the rest of the game. Anyway this last colorist I found SEEMS (crossing fingers!) more reliable so... we'll see!

Oh, That explains it. I always though the cg scenes look like the work of a different artist. The scenes and poses were good but the almost looked like completely different people.

Oh well, I hope the CG scenes in Loren two will at be a better match to their non-cg counterparts than they were in the prequel.

[jack1974]

/RANT
No, the style is completely different. Even some sprites have different color styles. But at this point either is giving up making the game completely or accept that. And it's fun because is not even a matter of money, even giving them exactly the amount they ask, even if they increase by 4 times the amount and do a worse job and slower, they often fluke and disappear.
/END OF RANT

Anyway, after spending (wasting?) tons of money, I think that MAYBE FINALLY found a reliable one who is also good (when I posted the job got many offers but their skills were terrible). The same that worked on Bionic Heart 2, I'm now asking him to finish coloring the remaining art. There's a lot of art on Loren 2, much more than in the first!

[biscuit]

Wow, I never realized how difficult it was to find reliable artists. O_O It makes me appreciate the ones I see much more!

[Sylrissa]

Wow, I never realized how difficult it was to find reliable artists. O_O It makes me appreciate the ones I see much more!

Agreed. Makes me feel bad for Jack having such a hard time with people flaking on him, should just get Deji to do the art for all the games! (j/k though I love her art)

[jack1974]

Artists are the main source of problems for all indie developers I know (if you make 3d games is easier since you can reuse assets, but for 2d games...). Based on some horror stories I've heard, I was even lucky! so I can't imagine the others...

[hanawa]

Since we're talking mage outfits, I'm curious (unless it was already talked about, sorry): will there be a short explanation for why Saren or Elenor have expanded further into magic (besides healing, I mean), considering how they can only be a warrior or thief in the first game?

I don't mind if there isn't; I just find the thought interesting--like, if his/her healing magic was commended and it was suggested s/he look further into it, or if the Amazons didn't care to have it as part of their warrior culture but now s/he can pursue it, or s/he started practicing with one of the party mages (now I'm getting cute thoughts about romanceable routes), or s/he somehow wound up as the go-to healer and just studied further into it, et cetera...

Then again, looking at the swanky customizable (or is their headgear the only customizable part?) outfits, I'm guessing every class of Saren or Elenor could have a short story to tell about what they were up to in the months/years that've passed between the two games. If they do, I'll be most curious about mage!Elenor/Saren, which is all good since I'm excited to see what they'll have stocked up in the new class!

[jack1974]

Yes there will be an explanation of what they did. It might be actually done the same way as the first game, as a sort of interactive character creation, explaining what they did after the first game, how they specialized in magic and so on. Since now there are four distinct classes, I'm not sure if to leave healing skills in any case. I mean if you choose to play as Warrior/Thief, probably you'll still have some powerful spell like the restore (resurrect allies) but not all the other healing skills. Otherwise, what would be the purpose of the Healer class ?
Still plenty of time to think about this of course.

[hanawa]

I see, so there's four planned classes this time (earlier I was thinking along the lines of the warrior/thief/mage base classes). That's pretty exciting, since I like the thought of more variety in Elenor/Saren's skills within classes (I'll probably play as all four now just for that--and the different outfits). Though I agree that it'd be good for the protagonist to have minimal healing skills in other classes, since it was quite useful every once in a while in the first game whenever the party wound up in a tight spot.

And of course, take all the time you need to think it out!