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Post by kiladecus on Apr 8, 2011 13:49:42 GMT -9
Hey everyone!
Well, after a horrific chain of events over the last few months, I can truly say that things are looking up.
I have a terrible amount of catch-up to do on the projects I had planned (and being without a computer isn't helping), but I am also coming up with some new ideas.
I mentioned somewhere long, long ago in a thread far, far away something about a buffalo cowboy. I was thinking how cool it would be to have a whole western town where the citizens were animals. I can see a moose as the inn keeper... since there is always a moosehead in a tavern... this one just has a body attached. The dancers would also be buffalo can-can girls, called the "Buffalo Gals." I can see a couple vultures as robbers and one as the mortitian... since he would know where the dead critters would be.
Too complicate things even more... since you would have horses as people (think of Iron Claw, Redwall or Disney's Robin Hood) the horses couldn't be ridden. This is where I would introduce a Steam-punk aspect. The "horses" would be either automatons or some such device that would be referred to as the horse or other creature it would represent. There would be a pinto, paint, clydesdale, mule, etc. The stage coaches and buckboards would be just like the "real" ones, but these might/might not have "horses" pulling them.
The main concept behind Disney's Treasure Planet was 70% "real" and 30% sci-fi. I think this could work as well here (but every character would be an animal from the southwest region).
Once again, this is just an idea I came up with this week.
I have been working on some new miniature games, but since I had some life-altering events cause me to take a break from it, I am eager to resume these. I am thinking about my futuristic/post-modern game that incorporates MANY aspects from anything that is currently available to sci-fi. This was all but abandoned, and I can't go forward with it right now, any way.
My true desire right now is to develop a sci-fi dungeonesque crawl game. I am basing it on some characters I developed a few years ago called the "Lucky 13." They are 12 prisoners that crashland on a strange planet, and their taskmaster. They basically end up working together to escape the prison colony, and eventually act as mercenaries. Think of it as Hogan's Heroes meets the Dirty Dozen... in space! This will be basically a boardgame, and the players will randomly draw their team. Since this is a "us versus the game" game, one player can play all the characters. If the player(s) lose, they are captured by the "evil prison" and if they make it out, they win.
I think that this would play best on a map like Paper Make It!'s star base. I love the look and feel of this set, and I feel everyone would agree that this would work very nicely.
The cool concept I have behind this is the figures I am thinking about would have data cards, and it would list their skills and stats. Every character would begin with no weapons and equipment. There would be 2"X2" cards that would say "encounter" on the backs, and when you enter within so many spaces they flip to reveal what is there. Some of these are blank... which can be a pleasant surprise. Some may be a guard, an objective, or even a boss.
Aside from the "Encounters" there will also be cards that look like crates. You flip these over, and they may have larger items (like rifles or autocannons) or a hidden enemy (a crazed stow-a-way or alien creature).
The last are small containers (1"x1") that could be med-pacs, small weapons or ammo. I am also considering putting some "equipment" in there, but it might just say "+2 speed" instead of "hoverboots." Still only in the planning stages.
So, any thoughts or feedback anyone may have? I still have to finish my Tomb Project I have had planned since December, and that is my priority as things come together.
Aside from that, any ideas about what you might like to see, or something that might be more interesting so I can start that first? Let me know, so I can make sure not to spend time on something that no one would be interested in...
Thanks for your attention!
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Post by kiladecus on Jun 29, 2011 18:22:07 GMT -9
Yippee!  I finally am able to post again! Long story... don't ask!  I have developed more ideas in my mind... I just have to transfer them to paper. I guess I can transfer them here and if anyone would have any ideas they would like to contribute, they could post them here as well. Let's begin shall we... Welcome to CRATER VALLEY, the friendliest little one horse this side of the Mississippi. This town actually has more than one horse. There's the sheriff, Clyde S. Dale, and his wife, a pretty little philly, and their son Colton ("Colt" for short). There is the richest *man* in town, J.P. Longhorn. He is a cattle baron. He often is the target of the local gang of rogue cattle rustlers... they don't steal cattle... they are cattle who steal! There was a legion of Cavalry units that were called the "Buffalo Soldiers." I will play off this idea using the original idea that sparked this whole concept as having humanoid buffalos wearing Cavalry uniforms. There will be one that wears buck skins and he will be a unique character named Bill Koty (not to be confused with any person living or dead... and any other legal blah, blah, blah). The moose mentioned in the earlier post has a name, too. He is the bartender/innkeeper. His name, Bart Hinder (read it a couple times if you need to). I plan on making various figures (more than likely black & white so they can be colored by the person making them to allow many versions of one figure to represent many individuals... plus I am VERY limited in resources and talent)! Not everyone has to have a name that is a pun, but it does help! Think about the Irish imigrant Rick O'Shay! (I have a million of them... literally). Now... here is my question to the two of you that took the time to read (or at least skim) this. I know that the buffalo and cows are going to be 32mm... and other critters will be 25mm. What about smaller animals? Should they be all 25mm, or in perspective? Should a cat and a sheep be 25mm or should a smaller animal be 15mm? What do you think? Any thoughts? |
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Post by okumarts on Jun 29, 2011 18:31:40 GMT -9
I'm very excited by this idea!
Is Crater Valley so named because of the strange metal found in the valley and the odd effects it has on the flora and fauna born in the crater?
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Post by Vermin King on Jun 29, 2011 18:50:25 GMT -9
Topic: The latest ideas... (Read 109 times) There may have only been two of us, but we read it 54.5 times each. Glad ur back |
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Post by gilius on Jun 30, 2011 3:43:04 GMT -9
Very interesting... for the miniatures scale, I'd keep the humanoid animals a little oversized so humanoid cats would be 25mm or so and a humanoid squirrel would be 15mm.
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Post by Vermin King on Jun 30, 2011 3:59:23 GMT -9
I like the graded scale. Large animal/humanoids like buffalo, horses, cattle at 35mm, medium like dogs, cats, badgers at 25mm, small like squirrels and jackrabbits at 15mm should be workable in that framework.
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Post by kiladecus on Jun 30, 2011 7:40:06 GMT -9
Ok, there are obviously THREE of you! Actually, you hit the nail on the head! Crater Valley, Nevada was a city I came up with about 23 years ago. I was coming up with the concept for a hero game where a meteorite hit the Nevada desert and about 15 years later a city was formed from it. Shortly after that time, the inhabitants started noticing that they were changing... think of the Fantastic Four on a city-wide scale. Stan Lee developed "mutants" out of neccesity for having a bunch of super heroes being produced quickly (in an interview with Kevin Smith... talk about two great tastes that taste great together... STAN LEE and KEVIN SMITH....) Ok, I digress... The name is the same, but the mutant aspect isn't going to be incorporated (other than having an eight foot buffalo walking around talking... think of the Minotaurs from the Chronicles of Narnia wearing Calvary uniforms... yeah, it's like that!)! The whole game system... of set ... name is actually going to be CRITTER VALLEY! It takes place in Crater Valley, Nevada. Since there wasn't a whole lot happening in that region in the time frame I am thinking of (except for the California goldrush, and maybe wars with Mexico and whatnot), I think that this could really open it up for whatever you want. You can have a goldrush, or war... and there you go. Other options (since this is still in the planning stages... and speaking of that... I plan on coming up with 2.5D - 3D stagecoach, buckboard and various wagon models)... this could either be a miniatures skirmish game, OR can easily be transitioned into an RPG (something like BOOTHILL, just to throw a name out there). Using existing games formats is only a huge plus! You can have a prospector... so he may resemble a ram... he's STILL a prospector! This will open up a WHOLE genre that I dont think has been tapped yet, and let's face it... finding something "new" or "unique" in this market is hard to do! Also, the BEST thing about this is that there is ALReADY SO many resources out there to build on... How many publishers have western towns out there? You can also incorporate other publishers like DAVE GRAFFAM (shameless plug) or mapsets like BilliamBabble's INKED ADVENTURES sets. I think you are getting the idea... Not good at terrain nor textures... ok at sketching... so, let's leave the hard stuff to the professionals, and let me do my little portion. As far as scale goes, I think you hit it on the head: large Critters will be 32mm, average will be 25mm, and smaller ones will be 15mm... I am not going to stress a Horse is 8' tall, and a mouse is 3' tall... it will leave things up to being one of 3 sizes... in ANY game format that is a good thing. I think that a skirmish game might not feel right at this point because a blacksmith might not have a purpose... not as much as a gunslinger. But then again, I am still working this out in my head. Until I iron out this laptop's issues, I can't even scan my drawings into it. Just another issue I have to deal with. Well, thanks for your input! I have NO estimated time frames with this project... If I kept to one, then I would have released my first game system 11 years ago, and you would be able to purchase Inked Adventures TOMB set...  Oh, well... I did come up with one expansion set concept. It is a farmstead featuring a Farmer (an Antelope) and his wife, Adelle (a deer). The set will be called "HOME ON THE RANGE." Yes, it features the Farmer and Adelle, and it is where the deer and the antelope play... (You shoulda seen that coming...) Ok. Enough boring ramblings from me... thanks for your attention. |
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Post by kiladecus on Jun 30, 2011 9:07:15 GMT -9
Welp... not much, but it's a start. It is the frameworks that I plan to use to draw my CRITTER VALLEY figures. I am going to try something brand new to me. In the past, I drew my figures 5" tall, and then scanned them and then reduced THAT image by 20%. Well, that was a pain in the neck.
My original figures I started doing were drawn on the computer at roughly 1" tall... this involved a lot of "pixel-flinging..." basically drawing a figure one pixel at a time.
I am going to attempt to do these figures by drawing them 1" tall, and then scanning them into the computer. This will eliminate a lot of extra work once they get on the laptop... in theory. The trick will be to still have detail... although I have noticed when I resized many of my figures, the detail was lost anyway.
A possible solution may be to draw the basic, slimplest forms of the figures and them add detail on the computer... (if this sounds like a "no-brainer" then forgive me... I am still new to this and am basically thinking outloud).
Ok. Time to try to come up with some concept artwork. If I can post them here, they will be little more than sketches and will be just a picture and NOT a viable PDF file... my laptop won't allow me to scan anything right now. My scanner and the laptop must have had a fight and they aren't speaking right now...
Ok. Once again, thanks for your attention. Look for more details on a different thread...
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Post by kiladecus on Jun 30, 2011 9:10:32 GMT -9
Ok. Let me try to post this again... Grrr! Ok. So, it's sideways. You get the idea. Scale is hard to do, but I think this looks like it will work. Ok. Now where to begin? Attachments:
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Post by hackbarth on Jun 30, 2011 9:18:38 GMT -9
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Post by kiladecus on Jun 30, 2011 9:35:11 GMT -9
No I didn't... But right after I read that I had an image cross my mind of some action figures from the late 80's/early 90's... I bet those are what you are talking about. Ok... thanks for bursting my bubble! I thought I came up with something unique only to find that it has been done before.  BUT, it hasn't been done in PAPER! Ok... now I will see a lot of links showing up here with people that have done this more successfully than I...  Ok. I did a quick sketch (and I mean QUICK! Like 10 minutes quick...). Check it out on the other thread... |
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Post by stevelortz on Jun 30, 2011 11:11:30 GMT -9
Please don't get discouraged, kiladecus, by the Cow-boys of Moo Mesa! You are part of a literary tradition that goes back as far as writing. There are small funny animal stories among the far more weighty heiroglyphics of ancient Egypt! Aesops' fables are some of the oldest funny animal stories around! But funny animal stories always seem fresh and entertaining.
When I was sculpting in 3-D, I had the great pleasure of doing the Critter Commando range for Team Frog Games, and dreaming up how to represent the various critter factions was a heck of a lot of fun!
I came up with a set of medieval fantasy funny animal rules called Quactica set in the world of Middle Aesopia.
I always wanted to do a pulp funny animal game set in the 1920s. We were going to call it FAR PIG, for Funny Animal Role PlayIng Game.
Critter Valley looks like it's going to be a lot of fun, and I will be following it closely! Thanks!
Have fun!
Steve
(And watching your skills develop as you bring your ideas to concretion is a BIG part of the pleasure!)
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Post by hackbarth on Jun 30, 2011 11:56:21 GMT -9
No I didn't... But right after I read that I had an image cross my mind of some action figures from the late 80's/early 90's... I bet those are what you are talking about. Ok... thanks for bursting my bubble! I thought I came up with something unique only to find that it has been done before. BUT, it hasn't been done in PAPER! Ok... now I will see a lot of links showing up here with people that have done this more successfully than I... Ok. I did a quick sketch (and I mean QUICK! Like 10 minutes quick...). Check it out on the other thread... Hey, don't you dare have your Bubble Burst! Now taht you teased us with these Cow-Boys I really want them! |
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Post by kiladecus on Jun 30, 2011 12:08:32 GMT -9
Here is a preliminary sketch of a horse (although it could also pass for a burro... that lack of talent-thing...) Here is DAKOTA DALTON! Attachments:
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Post by Parduz on Jun 30, 2011 12:16:31 GMT -9
although it could also pass for a burro Just make the ears shorter and the problem is gone  Now: why he have two Luger? No, really, is nice Not my kind of thing but i like it. Welcome back, mate |
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Post by Vermin King on Jun 30, 2011 12:27:01 GMT -9
The burro effect could be tied to the neck and jowl line.
Bring the jowl line up just a little. Bring the top of the neck left slightly and have it taper in more to where the neck joins the shoulders. My rough tracing with those adjustments definitely make him more horse-ish.
One question ... will there also be non-mutated animals for pulling the wagons, etc?
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Post by kiladecus on Jun 30, 2011 13:00:44 GMT -9
Parduz, hello my old friend! Leave it to you to notice the revolvers look more like SMG's or as you put it, Lugers! what can I say to that? 90% of what I draw takes place in the future or near-future. I need to revisit my 6-shooter skills! Now as far as non-mutated animals... no. All the CRITTERS will humanoid. I was contemplating having automatons that they would use instead of actual animals. But I killed that thought this afternoon. Ok. Here is my logic. Goofy is a dog. Pluto is a dog. Goofy wears clothes and talks... yukYuk. Pluto doesn't talk nor wears clothes. That is a fundamental error in my mind. Sure, they are two separate characters... but in my mind a dog is a dog. Mickey wears shorts but no shirt and Donald Duck wears a shirt and no shorts... but that is another issue my therapist is helping me deal with...  I have a hard time thinking about a horse playing poker, and riding another horse out of town. On my way home from work today it hit me. The solution is very simple... almost too simple. Seeing as though this whole concept is similar to such films as Redwall, Disney's Robin Hood and Kung Fu Panda, there is no reason to make things overly "realistic" or "over-thought." In Kung Fu Panda, the animals moved and spoke like humans... but in the scene when Tigress decides to face the snow leopard, she runs like a cat. There was excellent balance in that movie, and it made sense. In Robin Hood the rhinos carried the sedan chair like humans, but the pulled the wagon with the gold in it behind them. If an ox in CRITTER VALLEY were going to pull a plow, I could see him walking like a human, putting the yoke around his neck and trudging on his hind legs with his hands pulling on the ropes. He wouldn't be on all fours. If a horse were going to take his family to town, I could see him help his wife and kids onto a wagon and then he takes the ... whatever they are called... the wooden rails that a horse gets tied to on the front of a buckboard, and he takes one in each hand and pulls it like a rikshaw or a wheelbarrel being pulled backwards. That would make sense in my mind! Smaller animals would use carts or wheelbarrels. I could even see a reoccuring joke about a mouse buying a covered wagon to take his family out west... how are you going to get it there, and he wouldn't understand the question. That is my thoughts for the moment. I hope that answers your questions. |
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Post by kiladecus on Jun 30, 2011 13:23:40 GMT -9
Actually, based on actual images of horses, the neck should be longer and the head smaller. Also, the head should sit on the front of the neck more. Right now I have it sitting squarely on the neck like with a human. Although it is humanoid, it is primarily animalistic.
Thanks for all of your encouragement and advise! This should prove to be a fun diversion if nothing else! ;D
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Post by Parduz on Jun 30, 2011 13:23:53 GMT -9
I need to revisit my 6-shooter skills! Nothing really hard: modern pistols have straight grips and the "back" goes OVER the hand. Revolvers have curved grips and are "protruded" all forward. With a couple of good lines you can make the observer immediatly recon them, without too much worries: here's a quick, ugly, misproportioned, MSPAINT-made sample. Attachments:
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Post by stevelortz on Jun 30, 2011 14:03:52 GMT -9
I solved the "horse" problem in Quactica with hosstriches. Large bipedal birds. I'll see if I can dig up an image.  A heavy cavalry drake from the Duchy of Mallardy You're welcome to use "hosstriches" in Critter Valley if it suits your aesthetic! Have fun! Steve |
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Post by kiladecus on Jun 30, 2011 14:14:28 GMT -9
Thanks, Parduz! That REALLY helps. I have been drawing weapons for my sci-fi for so long I have that I fell into some self-made traps... or at least developed habits.
I can picture the hosstraches just by your descriptions... however, I just have a hard time thinking of a creature that is ridden riding another creature... I have to wrap my head around that...
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Post by stevelortz on Jun 30, 2011 14:20:36 GMT -9
The hosstriches themselves are no more intelligent than your normal heroic steed of epic stories. I didn't really develop any ostrich characters equivalent to men, elves, dwarves, etc.
I don't think I had any horse characters, either. The closest I ever came to that were the Assyrians, who were very much like anthropomorphic donkeys. What did Quick Draw McGaw ride?
Almost all the critters ride hosstriches except for Dark Felines, Porks and Sporks. The Dark Felines ride pit poodles, the Porks ride boars and the Sporks ride timber chihuahuas.
Have fun!
Steve
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Post by kiladecus on Jun 30, 2011 15:28:00 GMT -9
Wow! I don't get how people with talent like you and Dave Okum draw like you do and look at my work and don't laugh at me... I don't get it! That is like performing a solo in front of Josh Groban! Oh well... the whole concept of hosstraches being ridden by smaller critters is VERY good. Afterall, I see that. |
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Post by kiladecus on Jun 30, 2011 15:30:03 GMT -9
I've been playing around with some more concepts. Here is another sketch.
I think he could be called a "Native A-bear-ican."
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Post by kiladecus on Jun 30, 2011 15:40:41 GMT -9
Let me try this again! Attachments:
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Post by stevelortz on Jun 30, 2011 16:06:57 GMT -9
Wow! I don't get how people with talent like you and Dave Okum draw like you do and look at my work and don't laugh at me... I don't get it! That is like performing a solo in front of Josh Groban! Oh well... the whole concept of hosstraches being ridden by smaller critters is VERY good. Afterall, I see that. There are a lot of people with great technical skill whose work I don't like at all, for a variety of reasons (and I've taught drawing). What I really find enjoyable about your work is the expression of your unique imagination! Have fun! Steve |
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Post by kiladecus on Jun 30, 2011 16:21:40 GMT -9
Thanks, Steve. That's ONE way of putting it! I think everyone needs a fun diversion to maintain sanity! Please keep in mind that these were just concept/practice sketches. A finished drawing will have better coloring and detail. I am litterally using 5 markers and a couple Sharpies... one think and one fine tip. It is kinda discouraging to start a project like this only to realize that you can't draw animals! Oh well... as Steve offers... have fun! |
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Post by okumarts on Jun 30, 2011 16:57:26 GMT -9
Oh, I'm really loving this! It reminds me of my first Gamma World campaign in look and feel.
The horseman-guy looks awesome. I love the Bison fella as well.
I think it's the expression and creativity that sells this for me. People will definitely respond to the sense of fun and originality.
When it comes to not trusting your drawing abilities I always tell my students, "if your drawing a horse and it looks like a dog, make it the best dog you ever drew."
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Post by Vermin King on Jun 30, 2011 17:17:36 GMT -9
The Dark Felines ride pit poodles, In the hill country of the Ozarks, we call them canines Pitti-Poos LOL The story behind that is not pretty |
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Post by kiladecus on Jul 1, 2011 3:38:55 GMT -9
Ironically, Dave, the "bison" I drew was a BEAR! So, I guess that was the best bison I ever drew? |
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