I was a bit surprised by how all three of the variations of the same portrait on the lowest row got different ratings, @meagloth. I'd be interested in hearing what you thought of them?
I was a bit surprised by how all three of the variations of the same portrait on the lowest row got different ratings, @meagloth. I'd be interested in hearing what you thought of them?
Basically it just boils down to what I personally think of the hairstyles, but if I'm honest, it's probably the order I saw them. I saw the blonde first(obviously), and so the other two are different. If I had seen the last one first, I probably would have thought the blonde was worse, cause it would be different. I dunno. I curse myself for using such a simplistic system, but I wanted an easy visual representation for your sake and mine. I didn't really know what I thought about the whole thing till I saw that, and I probably could have been more forgiving.
Ugh. I still can't get over that Druid in the corner. If one thing is consistent, it's the school-picture like backgrounds. And then there's that guy. Wtf?
some of them are based on backer photos I believe I think that may atleast be cause for some of the weird variation in style
Yeah, I think this was a mistake. I am crossing my fingers for the ability to use custom portraits. I really don't like these at all.
Custom portraits will be possible and the large size is the same as BG, though the smaller size is different.
I saw an interview with sawyer in which portraits were mentioned, the impression I got from his attitude was that they're not a big priority since they expect everyone to want to use their own. Doesn't really bode well for the project as a whole...
That's a pretty big leap of thought there.
Well, as I said, its the impression *I* got. It could just be that I don't much care for the way Sawyer comes across on any subject he's questioned about.
For me, it's not so big a leap when I compare the quality of the portraits they've made for their npcs against these. Its clear time and effort have gone into the npc portraits, you can see that there is a style in common. Not only that but, as was mentioned on the portrait thread, they have that 'something about them' that evokes some emotion and a desire to know more about the character, much the same way that many of the BG/Icewind Dale portraits do and the way @Isandir's portraits do, (they do for me anyway).
Many of the beta portraits on the other hand, while individually okay drawings, don't have that 'something else' about them that makes a drawing art, (in my opinion). As I said before art is subjective and I fully expect that there will be more added for the games actual release. I'm just hoping that what is added is more like the npc portraits and less like the random assortment we see now. Hopefully I'm not hoping in vain. The bad feeling I get though is that if they assume we're not going to use their portraits, what motivation is there to provide for the player the same quality provided for the npcs.
(Hopefully @meagloth, the portraits designed for backers will just be given to them and not be included, then we wont need to see that druid anymore)
@Danathion - Yes, it is your impression. I wasn't questioning that. The leap you make is going from "he doesn't appear to care much about the portraits" to "it doesn't bode well for the project as a whole".
I was a bit surprised by how all three of the variations of the same portrait on the lowest row got different ratings, @meagloth. I'd be interested in hearing what you thought of them?
Basically it just boils down to what I personally think of the hairstyles, but if I'm honest, it's probably the order I saw them. I saw the blonde first(obviously), and so the other two are different. If I had seen the last one first, I probably would have thought the blonde was worse, cause it would be different. I dunno. I curse myself for using such a simplistic system, but I wanted an easy visual representation for your sake and mine. I didn't really know what I thought about the whole thing till I saw that, and I probably could have been more forgiving.
Sorry if I came of as critical, it just woke my curiosity is all
@scriver it's about attention to detail, even in the things that some might say are low impact. If that doesn't mater, what else isn't really a big priority?
I'm a tradesman, few people see most of my work - it has little impact on customers because 'out of sight out of mind'. I still put as much effort into it as I can, for me - because I saw it and it impacts me.
Sawyer wants to do away with 'trash' choices, I just hope he's applying that to every aspect. I'm really not trying to say that the finished product is doomed - if there is one constant it's change and there's still time to make it, if indeed change is needed, anywhere.
If one don't pay attention to the little thing the big thing can and will get messy.
It doesn't seem like they didn't pay attention to portraits. They decided to focus their limited resources elsewhere, knowing that many people will use custom ones. If anything, it's encouraging. I'm not worried about the rest of the game, just a bit disappointed, as I always want more portraits, and these didn't do it for me.
I really hope they fix the portraits before official release. As a minimum, at least make the heads roughly the same size. The rest the community could probably fix afterwards (not that we should have to).
I really hope they fix the portraits before official release. As a minimum, at least make the heads roughly the same size. The rest the community could probably fix afterwards (not that we should have to).
This is my concern. On principle, just because we can, and will, use custom portraits doesn't mean the portraits in game shouldn't be of the highest quality possible.
The principle applies to every aspect of the game.
Edit: Just because the player community can fix something, doesn't mean there should be anything left to fix.
There's been an update to the beta recently which includes 3 new portraits:
Also, as this is a thread about PoE portraits, I should mention that we know 4 future companions with portraits that are not included into the selection when you create your character in the beta. Here they are:
Just look at this EPIC portrait from the latest beta update. I like it so, so much - I've even created a new bounty hunter charname already with this portrait
Looks like a happy Khalid in his younger to me. A blissful time, long before he met the harpy Jaheira. Clearly his marriage left a deep psychological scar on his mind, in form of complexes and permanent stuttering.
It's funny that while we have "Portraits for BG from Pillars of Eternity" thread here, Obsidian forum has a thread "BG portraits for Pillars of Eternity"
We also have a portrait for Grieving Mother - a female Cipher, one of the 8 possible companions in Pillars of Eternity (portraits for Eden, Kana Rua, Aoth and Pallegina are posted above)
Also, there's a portrait for Durance - a male human priest, another companion.
So far, we don't have portraits for Sagani – a boreal dwarven ranger and an unknown Fighter in terms of companion portraits.
Comments
Well, as I said, its the impression *I* got. It could just be that I don't much care for the way Sawyer comes across on any subject he's questioned about.
For me, it's not so big a leap when I compare the quality of the portraits they've made for their npcs against these. Its clear time and effort have gone into the npc portraits, you can see that there is a style in common. Not only that but, as was mentioned on the portrait thread, they have that 'something about them' that evokes some emotion and a desire to know more about the character, much the same way that many of the BG/Icewind Dale portraits do and the way @Isandir's portraits do, (they do for me anyway).
Many of the beta portraits on the other hand, while individually okay drawings, don't have that 'something else' about them that makes a drawing art, (in my opinion). As I said before art is subjective and I fully expect that there will be more added for the games actual release. I'm just hoping that what is added is more like the npc portraits and less like the random assortment we see now. Hopefully I'm not hoping in vain. The bad feeling I get though is that if they assume we're not going to use their portraits, what motivation is there to provide for the player the same quality provided for the npcs.
(Hopefully @meagloth, the portraits designed for backers will just be given to them and not be included, then we wont need to see that druid anymore)
@meagloth Sorry if I came of as critical, it just woke my curiosity is all
I'm a tradesman, few people see most of my work - it has little impact on customers because 'out of sight out of mind'. I still put as much effort into it as I can, for me - because I saw it and it impacts me.
Sawyer wants to do away with 'trash' choices, I just hope he's applying that to every aspect. I'm really not trying to say that the finished product is doomed - if there is one constant it's change and there's still time to make it, if indeed change is needed, anywhere.
I'm not worried about the rest of the game, just a bit disappointed, as I always want more portraits, and these didn't do it for me.
The principle applies to every aspect of the game.
Edit: Just because the player community can fix something, doesn't mean there should be anything left to fix.
Also, as this is a thread about PoE portraits, I should mention that we know 4 future companions with portraits that are not included into the selection when you create your character in the beta. Here they are:
Nabbing that one for Xan right now, because his default portrait is just awful.
A hearth Orlan halfling:
That pale elf portrait...
All that's left are ear hair...
It's funny that while we have "Portraits for BG from Pillars of Eternity" thread here, Obsidian forum has a thread "BG portraits for Pillars of Eternity"
We also have a portrait for Grieving Mother - a female Cipher, one of the 8 possible companions in Pillars of Eternity (portraits for Eden, Kana Rua, Aoth and Pallegina are posted above)
Also, there's a portrait for Durance - a male human priest, another companion.
So far, we don't have portraits for Sagani – a boreal dwarven ranger and an unknown Fighter in terms of companion portraits.
a bit smudgy but it's a quick demonstration
(Also, that revised fishman would make a great Half-orc Thief/Cleric.)