NPC Preview: Dark Side of the Sword Coast
Isandir
Member Posts: 458
1 of 9. Who recognizes the first?
Post edited by Isandir on
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Can't wait to see your work, I really love that first one
For some reason though my mind is thinking Robert Downey Jr. for portrait 2/9
Why? I could actually also see the resemblance to Robert Downey Jr and Joseph Fiennes (from the movie Shakespeare in Love).
@TedStevens: CuChoinneach was referring to the character, Bub Snikt. The comment unfortunately arrived shortly after yours.
I made each of the portraits in the series for the upcoming version of the mod, restored for BG:EE. The characters typically (though not always) use the faces of fashion/hair models, as I usually prefer to avoid connections to celebrities. After "Baldurizing" them to a degree, I combine the faces with armor and/or clothing, and add character touches and the backgrounds.
@Paheej & @TedStevens: I may eventually get around to making one, but it's honestly low on my priority list. When I make portraits, a lot of the process is on the fly, as each picture typically requires a slightly different method. What is essential in my book is a program like Photoshop--one powerful enough to allow you to tweak each part of the photo.
Most of my portraits begin with a heavy increase in contrast, followed by both lightening and darkening blur brushes over the skin (excluding the details of the face). This creates a smoother appearance, similar to a realistic painting. The rest is a long, and usually varied, combination of a mixer brush, filters and several other methods to fine tune the details.
Making actual tutorials is a long and involved process. Typically it requires a whole lot of post-process image editing, explanation, and "what-if" jazz (I write standard operating procedures and do process improvement for my day job so I'm aware how much work goes into it).
Regardless the portraits look great, keep the inspirational work.
But yous said there also would be two new characters, will we see their portraits too ?
9 of 9. The elven ranger with a dark past.
Can't wait for the mod. You guys doing a great job!!!
I have a question:
Are you going to add some new NPCs and new interesting quests?
I know it was a long time ago when I played the mod, and if I am not mistaken - all NPC were good alignet (I may be wrong, sorry for that).
IMo it's the bigest disease of many mods and npc mods - almost all npcs are good alignet, and if there was an evil npc mod - then generally with a poor personality.
The mod is indeed being tweaked in several respects. @CoM_Solaufein is heading up the conversion to BG:EE and is working on a lot of new content and scripting. @CuChoinneach, the original designer, is back on board and altering or adding to a lot of the story. I'm handling the portraits, as well as the expansion and editing of all written content, including item and spell descriptions, and dialogue. Others are being recruited for various other tasks.
@DarkDogg: Two other NPCs that had not made it into the original release--Morik and Jenna--will be included. We're looking at the possibility of including others right now, and assuming I get the blessing of the team leaders, I have at least one or two evil joinable NPCs in mind. They certainly do not fit the into the "I'm evil, so I'm...mwuhahahaha...wicked, you scum!" mold.
If anyone else has any suggestions, we're open to them, as we want to make sure that this mod becomes one of the best. Just drop a comment for Solaufein or CuChoinneach here, or at baldursgatemods.com.
Great work on those portraits! Love em!
DSotSC is very fun indeed, and dusting it off is truly a nice idea.
Are you also re-working the balance aspects of the mod? The original version introduced a lot of new objects that many would consider OP, especially considering how easy the original campaign already is with the BG2 engine.
Also, will you expand the banters of the NPCs?
Yes, all that you mentioned is in the plan!