low res thoughts

so I’ve tried different styles for talk sprites so many...

Thu, 16 May 2013 03:41:22 +0100

so I’ve tried different styles for talk sprites so many times now and I don’t really like any of them. I think it’s because they’re all chunky pixels which aren’t great for facial expressions? which is… kind of what these sprites should be all about. earlier I kept trying smaller and smaller pixels until I was just like, man, what if I just drew them regular, so this was me trying that. I’ll play with this idea more at some point. I’m not super confident at drawing all non-pixel but this’ll be a good excuse to practice some.

Photo

Tue, 14 May 2013 03:25:00 +0100

this started out as me trying to make Comic in one of those...

Tue, 14 May 2013 01:28:50 +0100

this started out as me trying to make Comic in one of those dress up games (look I bet if you have your own characters you’ve tried to make them in them too at some point) and I just decided to draw her in outfits myself. she’s changed a lot since I first started thinking about Kin! and she probably will a lot more but I like where she’s going.

I imagine that her sweet tat was originally just the basic reoccurring symbol for the force of death in Kin when she first woke up but she’s since added to it to make it look cooler, at least in her eyes. she’s literally just drawn over it. she’s a dweeb who think’s she’s amazing. as for that armour getup, there’s a part towards the end where I picture her in something like that though it’s not completely serious or even real.

I also wrote some notes on Valerian’s (also here) pre-game history and general traits. I love...

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 19:17:42 +0100

I also wrote some notes on Valerian’s (also here) pre-game history and general traits. I love the idea of there being characters in kin that aren’t playable and have their own stories going on amidst the main one.

- Valerian’s central themes are fate, duty and love

PRE GAME START, EARLY HISTORY

- Valerian bloomed to no family. He spent his early life with the monks in the higher reaches of the tree.

- He was then hired as a beetle mount carer at the palace while still quite young.

- King Amaranth saw how he would try to teach himself in fencing and found it both admirable and amusing so gave him personal training.

- He became close friends with Princess Marigold and they spent much of their childhood together.

- Amaranth, pleased with Valerian’s impressive swordplay, gave him an official place and title in the Bug Knights (low rank).

- Valerian and Marigold began to harbor stronger feelings towards each other but Valerian never saw himself as good enough so kept his feelings secret.

- He excelled as a Bug Knight and quickly worked his way up in the ranks until he was second in command to Amaranth himself, the current Captain.

- Finally seeing himself as good enough for Marigold, he asks for Amaranth’s permission to take her to the upcoming gala, Amaranth is more than pleased.

- Valerian goes to Calendula to have his fortune read, curious about how things will go with Marigold and the future.

- Calendula tells him how his fate is entwined with his true love in a way that is highly likely to end in tragedy and an early death.

- While telling Valerian’s fortune Calendula sees that something terrible is about to happen.

- Then, before the gala and before he can talk to Marigold, the city is attacked and Amaranth and Queen Azalea are killed.

- In the aftermath, Valerian assumes the role as Captain and takes it upon himself to work harder than ever before to protect Marigold and the city.

- He begins to spend less personal time with Marigold, distancing himself from any feelings in an effort to work his hardest.

- His goal becomes protecting Marigold at all costs yet in doing so he begins to weaken their relationship (though his feelings for her remain strong).

PRE GAME START, JASON AWAKENING

- When Jason awakens Valerian is untrusting and coldly hostile towards him, seeing anyone other than bug as a possible threat.

- Marigold quickly befriends Jason however, as does the city in general. Valerian becomes less hostile but still doesn’t like Jason.

- Jason expresses an interest in learning how to fence and Marigold puts Jason under Valerian’s training, heedless to any objections.

- Valerian becomes Jason’s mentor. Sometimes he can’t help but see his younger self in Jason (though Jason has none of Valerian’s talent).

- He sees training Jason as a waste of time, time that could be spent training Knights or patrolling boarders.

- He continues to train him as commanded however, seeing it as his a part of his duty.

GAME START

- Valerian has told Jason not to go above ground as he cannot defend himself and would only get into trouble.

- He also knows how important Jason is to Marigold and does not want to see her upset over the loss of another.

- He has expected Jason to have given up at training at this point and tries to push him into doing so through difficult tasks.

- He would never admit at this stage how the fact that Jason hasen’t given up is starting to make Valerian respect him slightly.

GENERAL NOTES

- Valerian has become more closed and cold as he has grown and become Captain. He was much more playful as a child, a trait that Marigold misses.

- Deep down he still feels the way he did when he was younger but feels he can’t act like that in his position.

- He is completly dedicated to his work and to the princess and stresses over the smooth running of the city’s security.

- He is a precice and talented fighter but falls short at public leadership skills. He is a great tactician but doesn’t do well when put in front of a crowd.

- Nevertheless he is much respected and seen as the perfect person for the job.

- Often he works himself too hard. Then, without work to do, he finds himself at a loss. He has almost forgotten how to relax.

- When agitated, his fur around his neck bristles, something he is deeply embarased about.

- He is secretly a great dancer, something which is reflected in his areobatic talents and agility when fighting.

- Though raised by the monks he doesn’t consider himself very spiritual.

I sat in a sunny spot and wrote up character notes for a tiny old bug witch that acts as an item...

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 18:40:00 +0100

I sat in a sunny spot and wrote up character notes for a tiny old bug witch that acts as an item vendor and somewhat major character in game. She’s called Calendula and I can see myself having so much fun when it comes to writing her dialogue.

These notes are for my personal use so I might touch topics I haven’t discussed here yet? I figure I might as well post them here though, keep everything in one place.

(it was formatted nicer in the text editor so just imagine it still is)

- Calendula is a cheerful, gossipy bug witch that specializes in herbs, potions, fortune telling, stories and relationships.

- She loves to play the part of the matchmaker.

- She is very old for a bug person but she rarely acts her age.

- She was an adult when Marigold’s parents were growing up and had a hand in the start of their relationship.

- She comes from a line of witches, back to the first bug people that bloomed from the life tree.

[aside: magic and witches]

- These witches have acted as the resident wise lady/man at the palace though have no official connections with royalty.

- They are a deep sources of bug history as they have passed down knowledge and stories through generations.

- Bug people are not magical by nature, it is a skill that is crafted rather than directly inherited. Being a witch is a family profession.

- Magic is also perhaps not the right word, rather there exist certain forces in the world that can be manipulated.

- This manipulation can occur through the use of physical tools, actions or mental rituals.

- Bug people are infused with the force of life and order. Through rule defined actions they can control features of nature.

- Examples include potions. Through the right combination of natural ingredients prepared in a certain way, magic-like effects can occur.

- Magical artifacts such as staffs and weapons have also been crafted with specific instruction and tools.

- Calendula taught Azalea (Marigold’s mother) what she knew of offensive spell casting, though Calendula doesn’t resort to it herself.

- If engaged in battle Calendula prefers to talk her way out of it. Or, if there are no other options, through use of thrown poisonous and/or explosive potions.

- She can sometimes come off as quite eccentric though she is a master of many magic related skills.

- She is the go-to bug for advice for all manner of situations.

- Although she enjoys gossiping she is discreet when she needs to be. Private matters discussed with her are kept private.

- At the time of the game her two pupils are Marigold and Jason.

- She teaches Marigold about medicinal herbs, creature care, defensive spell casting as well as bug people lore, history and religion.

- Jason learns about plants (care and uses), potions, music, healing magic and about the bug people from her, as well as what she knows about humans.

- Calendula currently has taken on no pupil she plans to have serve as a witch once she dies as she doesn’t plan on dying any time soon.

- She lives in a small, self made hut in the palace gardens even though she has been given rooms in the palace itself.

- Technically she isn’t allowed to live in the garden but nobody wants to tell her otherwise.

- When she isn’t working on some kind of magical experiment at her hut she can most likely be found at her favourite inn down in the city.

- She has the ability to be present wherever important events are occurring. She claims this isn’t magic but rather a skill acquired by nosy old ladies.

- She knows everything about everyone and is the unseen hand that guide many events, though never malicious and mostly to do with relationships.

- She makes a living from gifts given to her through various deeds she preforms around the city as well as some extra coin through fortune telling.

- She herself doesn’t believe in a set fate; fortunes read tell the outcome at the time of telling and can be changed through actions.

- She doesn’t expect others to understand this though so mostly tells people what they want to hear.

- …Although she loves drama so tellings can often end up quite exuberant, often with extra flair thrown in.

[aside: fortune telling]

- Calendula’s has many methods of fortune telling, most of which she has invented herself. Including:

- A bug’s wings can be read, similar to palm readings.

- The reading of leaves, petals, scales and other such pretty and distracting objects is a popular choice with Calendula.

- A cage of white moths is released into the room and she supposedly makes predictions based on the ensuing chaos.

- She takes you to the inn and tells you to buy her a drink. She drinks the drink. Then she “studies” the froth left at the bottom.

- Sometimes she requires more than one drink to do this. A meal too if she’s hungry.

- There are also somewhat more valid ways of fortune telling that aren’t of Calendula devise:

- Chaos monsters dissolve to small black cubes when defeated. These are thrown and fortunes are told based on the way they land.

- A concoction of inks and plant sap is added to a small pool of reflective water and then the ripples and reflections are studied.

- Devices similar to wind chimes and dream catchers can tell of simple events through the sound they make.

- Their power depends on the items they are crafted with.

- Certain types of low level chaos monsters can be kept and their behavior studied to determine possible future events.

- Rare pollen can be thrown into flames and predictions can be made from the smoke.

- Calendula is also just talented at reading people as a personal trait. Often she can tell a person’s fortune just by talking to them.

[relationships]

- She has had a string of romantic interests in her past though is content living on her own at current.

- She cares deeply for Marigold and sees her as a granddaughter. Since Marigold’s parent’s deaths she has taken the role as her guardian (unofficially).

- She find’s Valerian’s serious attitude since becoming Captain amusing and wastes no time in retelling stories of his younger, more excitable self.

- She does this as a playful way of reminding him how he used to be and to suggest that he should try and act more relaxed and be happy.

- She is aware of Valerian and Marigold’s feelings towards each other and drops various hints though neither seems to pick up on them.

- Jason is the best student she’s ever taught and she has grown very fond of him, almost seeing him as family.

- Calendula sees the raw talent of Jason when it comes to his teaching as well as the eagerness he has to learn.

- She also notices how he doesn’t see this talent within himself so tries to encourage that.

- She has her suspicions in his relationship with the bug people’s initial creation but doesn’t speak of it until she is sure.

- She entertains the idea of training him to be the next witch but knows that he is destined for bigger things and cannot stay with the bugs forever.

- In some ways this thought is the real reason that prevents her from not currently training a pupil to be the next witch.

- She feels no-one else could compete with him.

- When she meets Comic she sees the same talent in her as she does Jason but without the humble attitude.

- She sees Comic’s ego as damaging so sees no harm in bringing her down a peg or two when the opportunity presents itself.

- She also sees nothing wrong in finding fun in this.

- She does see the good in Comic and recognises her desire to be accepted so isn’t too harsh with her, after all she does grow fond of her.

- Calendula sees the importance of both Comic and Jason and how they are both major catalysts in regards the past, present and future shape of the world.

- She also sees how they are pretty much perfect for each other which, in her eyes, is clearly more important.

- She was also very close to the late king and queen, acting as a mix of adviser and close friend to the both of them.

- She admired the king’s bravery yet was quick to scold him for acting brashly and without thinking.

- The queen was her second most talented pupil, second to Jason. In some ways she is reminded of her through him.

I’ve been planning out a lot of stuff sketchbook style the...

Tue, 16 Apr 2013 15:13:26 +0100

I’ve been planning out a lot of stuff sketchbook style the last few days, here’s a little about a tree. I’m fairly certain this is how trees and bugs work.

newest tweaks to the overworld sprites! I’ll probably...

Sun, 14 Apr 2013 23:27:14 +0100

newest tweaks to the overworld sprites! I’ll probably change them again in a few weeks no doubt. still, I’ve liked them a little more with each slight change, one day they’ll be just right

thinking there should be five big beetles (these four and the...

Tue, 26 Mar 2013 01:43:00 +0000

thinking there should be five big beetles (these four and the white one) - they could be involved in a sidequest of sorts when first playing in the bug city where they’ve escaped before the gala and have to be located. could be a fun way to get the player acquainted with a large new and somewhat complex area while also introducing the idea of a big event coming up. they’re kept on the royal grounds and act as both pets and security though they’re docile like giant cows until provoked. as for names! Aur, Tyfiant, Golud and Buwch (and Kalki, the fifth).

next I’ll try giving them sprites from all angles, that’ll prob take a while.

Photo

Mon, 25 Mar 2013 04:28:34 +0000

tinbot: this is a pretty dramatic sketch! do you think you’ll do a more finished version of this...

Mon, 25 Mar 2013 02:58:40 +0000

tinbot:

this is a pretty dramatic sketch! do you think you’ll do a more finished version of this particular picture? and neat mythology connection with balance and the sword and all

yeah maybe! I’d have to actually look at beetles from the front rather than just… make it up… could be cool to finish it - I don’t have many finished things of jason

backwardso:

His outfit looks very “utena” if you’ve seen the anime. comic would be a terrible rose bride!

I haven’t but now I really want to! comic is a terrible everything that isn’t being a troubled teen with a sword

so! in hinduism it’s believed that Kalki, the tenth incarnation...

Mon, 25 Mar 2013 02:29:40 +0000

so! in hinduism it’s believed that Kalki, the tenth incarnation of Vishnu, is going to show up at the end of the world on a white horse with a flaming sword to smite the wicked and save the good. an unstoppable one man army (one god army?) that restores the balance of the universe! I’d love to incorporate this into jason’s arc, he already has a sword that fits the story. and what if there was a white beetle mount…

anyway, just a super quick sketch to go with the idea

Photo

Sun, 24 Mar 2013 16:59:54 +0000

the bug people have just gotta have huge lumbering beetle mounts...

Sun, 24 Mar 2013 02:13:52 +0000

the bug people have just gotta have huge lumbering beetle mounts that they paint up for special occasions

I sketched out and wrote a little about brathuthlugaies (one of...

Sat, 23 Mar 2013 16:06:00 +0000

I sketched out and wrote a little about brathuthlugaies (one of the early minibosses I’ve got planned) but that was before I thought up the chunky pixel look for the monsters so I tried getting him down in that style.

as far as fighting him goes, as you lower his health the main body starts to gain more control over its actions and it starts to act differently (attacks that essentially do nothing as it sits in a sort of stupor - the body is dumb, the parasitic heads are the brains and brawn combined). Though if you don’t land attacks in succession heads reattach! Its heath starts to go back up and it starts attacking viciously again.

babbys

Sat, 23 Mar 2013 04:17:05 +0000

babbys

monster ideas! the first is a weak enemy that’s pretty...

Sat, 23 Mar 2013 03:36:27 +0000

monster ideas!

the first is a weak enemy that’s pretty common and easy to beat but can be encountered in groups. skittish, attacks in rapid succession for little damage and flees sometimes. it’s a bird’s head with feet and what could be seen as either a tail or part of a spine coming out of it?

the second is an uncommon encounter that deals randomised attacks - some heavy, some that do nothing. low accuracy, bulky. it’s a rampaging headless creature.

the third is what happens when the first and second are in a fight together! they merge (the head attaches to the body) and become quite difficult to beat. it has the heavy attacks of the headless form but, now that it can see, it can actually land hits. encountering both the first and second is unlikely but not amazingly rare.

for the longest time I’ve had trouble getting the main...

Fri, 22 Mar 2013 23:23:10 +0000

for the longest time I’ve had trouble getting the main enemies in kin (glitchy monsters made of globs of chaos) down in any sort of visual form. I’ve known how I want them to act and move but that’s about it. but I’ve had an idea! chunky pixels, obviously. Twice the pixel size of regular sprites they’d look out of place but not completely. Maybe their animations could break from the pixel restrictions (I could animate them after enlarging so they could have move movement than just the 1px) and they could jump from solid colour to high resolution textures briefly to break it all the more.

how do you even begin to put together an entire island

Sun, 17 Mar 2013 00:34:40 +0000

how do you even begin to put together an entire island

in a couple of stories from various religions there’s a...

Tue, 05 Mar 2013 23:48:09 +0000

in a couple of stories from various religions there’s a snake/sea serpent that is meant to symbolise the idea of chaos so I want kin’s chaos to look more serpentine at the end. and possibly drink the ocean? I’ve got a couple of endings up in the air right now.

it’s 6am but I had to get this idea down, I’m sure...

Tue, 05 Mar 2013 06:20:20 +0000

it’s 6am but I had to get this idea down, I’m sure I’ll talk more about it at some point