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[SafariJohn]

@Hartlord
Just as a quick note, you can do all the business with layers you want with GIMP - its the same procedure even (new transparent layer, click on the "Mode" tab which should be "Normal" by default, scroll almost all the way down the list to "Color" and then paint away). Get photoshop if you want as I've heard it has some neat features that GIMP lacks, but if you don't want to shell out then you don't need to for this.

Wow, didn't even realize layer Mode and Opacity were there.


Editing this comment rather than double-posting.

I've taken a second pass at my original Auger and Auger II sprites. I've integrated HELMUT's wing and tail modifications; removed the vents and replaced them with a third painted arrow; and improved the lighting, particularly on the previously very flat engines.



Here is a screenshot of these two sprites in-game, along with some Broadswords, my primary reference for making them fit in with vanilla.

Spoiler

[close]

Color mode came in handy several times, so thanks again Thaago.

[celestis]

And here comes the big guy:

Also I experimented on the tone and made some other skins like this a-la Klingon, what do you guys think? Which looks more "appropriate"?

[Tartiflette]

That's super cool!!! Maybe a tad over-gunned for it's size but a really striking design nonetheless. I have a slight preference for the green one for two reasons:
First it's a color not seen often in Starsector witch is good in itself. And secondly because the brown one has too many different colors and isn't very homogenous. Grey, brown, red, green, yellow, some other ships have cyan and even purple? A bit too much I think.

[SafariJohn]

I agree with Tartiflette, and would like to add two things.

One: that Klingon ship is missing its bridge section.

Two: I miss the solid, asymmetrical shape of your support cruiser. Your last three ships have had big holes in the center and the symmetry just lacks that little extra bit of greatness the well composed asymmetry of the support cruiser has.


Edit again to prevent double posts:

I've given a Tarsus a new coat of paint again. This time I used a transparent layer in color mode as Thaago suggested. Ignore the loss of the nice rusty spots and the like for now; I'll look into adding those back in later along with other new details. I would like to know if you think the lighting is still good and whether this is a decent, asteroidy base color.

Comparison between painted and original:

[celestis]

Thanks for feedback, I'll do the green recoloring for the rest of the ships. And will try to make more asymmetric designs.

that Klingon ship is missing its bridge section.

Hmm? It is actually there: gray elliptic section right in the center (windows are a black line in front of it).

Maybe a tad over-gunned for it's size

Yeah, I noticed that too late to change things) Originally it was supposed to be a battlecruiser, but it has battleship-level frontal firepower. I'll add balance tweaks to compensate that. It is going to have frontal shields and poor rear arc coverage, so it will be very vulnerable to Salamanders and ions.

[Tartiflette]

It could be solved without too much trouble by removing the two small hard-points that hug the medium (large?) ones and the median turret. (it's weird to have a turret right in front of the bridge anyway, since it doesn't look like it's prodding much out of the hull and probably can't see anything)
That would give you:
2 rear medium turrets for PD, good if ballistic, average if energy;
2 Large frontal turrets;
4 small frontal turrets for PD;
1? large, 2(3?) medium missile hard-points;
2 small universal hard-points.
Since it's barely bigger than a Dominator, that would seems reasonable to me for a pocket battle-cruiser or a heavy cruiser, especially if it's a high tech ship with a high maintenance cost.

Now I can only wonder why did you do a Eve TC when you could have made an awesome original faction with those!!!???

[celestis]

@Tartiflette: Drawn the arcs and layout according to what you said (if I got it right). It was going to be about midline/hightech: more energy focused than midline ships, but less shield effectiveness and stronger armor than high-tech ships. And some secret faction-specific vulnerabilities and bonuses, he he.

Now I can only wonder why did you do a Eve TC when you could have made an awesome original faction with those!!!???

I managed to draw something like these ones barely several months ago. At the time I prepared EVE mod I only tried a bit of kitbashing with doubtful success. And I painted a lot of ships since that time which did not look good enough (probably acceptable for a faction mod, but not acceptable for self-criticism).

[HELMUT]

Eh, funny i actually prefer the brown version. The green one is... Well, too green. Feel it doesn't blend that well with the details.

Still very good though.

[Tartiflette]

Mmmmh, I think i would have been a tad more generous with the arcs, especially for the small frontal turrets and the 2 rear medium (it doesn't make sense to have that huge blind spot lore wise). As for the type, if all the hard-points are energy, that seems a bit much, I though you'd go for missiles in those: only the Paragon can focus that much firepower on a single target.

Here's my take:


It still has the firepower of roughly Conquest broadside, and the rear isn't as vulnerable though they are Energy, so no Flak perfect PD screen.

[celestis]

I see your point. 4 large slots may be too much for this one. Will change the frontal hardpoint to large and change 2 others to medium missile. Perhaps the single frontal hardpoint will be build-in... Haven't decided yet.

[SafariJohn]

that Klingon ship is missing its bridge section.

Hmm? It is actually there: gray elliptic section right in the center (windows are a black line in front of it).

Yeah, I saw the bridge, I was referring to the Klingon's tendency to but their bridge at the end of a long neck that sticks out in front of the ship. If you imagine one of those on your ship it looks very much like a Klingon war bird.

[HELMUT]

Experimenting.

Spoiler

Edit: Slightly tweaked version.

[close]

[celestis]

Interesting, @Helmut. The rear section (engine?) reminds me of the 'firefly'. Is this going to have slots or is it just a design experiment? Not quite starsector-like, but cool alien look anyway.

Spoiler

I personally don't really like the frontal pike on the left one. Seems just a bit too long. And I would add more detail/greeble to the front (light part) of the right one.

[close]

[celestis]

As requested, something less symmetrical:

[mendonca]

Oh wow, that is really cool.

I feel like the sprites would be improved* if the highlights were a bit bolder, i.e. lighter. Pick some areas out and make them generally lighter to increase the range of 'brightness' levels throughout the sprite. Might make them 'pop' more.

(*on the assumption the intent is to align them with, say, David's sprites).