|
|
Post by bravesirkevin on Nov 14, 2012 0:45:48 GMT -9
So, the bulk of the last few months has had me very busy doing some crazy detailed anatomy illustrations for a client who produces kits for medical education. All that practice drawing bones and stuff got an idea going in my head, and here's the first glimpse of where that idea's going. The folks over here at Cardboard Warriors have been pretty good to me, so you get to try out the first Kev's Lounge paper mini for free!*  You'll want to make sure it's at the right scale before printing it out. The image should be 50mm x 77.3mm at 300dpi (1.97 x 3.043 inches). It will be a little delicate and tricky to work with, but I am looking at ways to deal with that. In the mean time, I'm looking for your opinions and feedback on how I can make it better! If you do build it, I'd also love to see pics! * Well, first one of this style. There's the Gelatinous Cube, and the Rat Swarms and Snake Markers in the Ominous Storeroom and Hero's Hall. |
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Nov 14, 2012 4:00:52 GMT -9
Suuuper... both awesome and scary!  |
|
|
|
Post by Rhannon on Nov 14, 2012 7:52:59 GMT -9
Very good paper mini. Congratulations and thanks very much for sharing.  All other your works are great. now I'm looking at them on my PC. But, as far as my needs, some paper figures every now and then are always good. ;D |
|
|
|
Post by Vermin King on Nov 14, 2012 8:55:22 GMT -9
Excellent
|
|
|
|
Post by oldschooldm on Nov 14, 2012 9:37:56 GMT -9
Cutfile (including scaled image): dl.dropbox.com/u/3838990/Skeletal-Duelist-Sample.studioBuild pics -    Kevin asked for feedback when I made this build last night - I suggested he post here. Here are my comments - do you agree or have more insight? I'm just a builder, not a designer. "Very delicate. Most delicate figure I've cut. Not sure I could have cut it by hand. The legs aren't too bad because they form a triangle. The free arm and sword are too flimsy (unless they get assembled with some additional backing, I guess. For hand cutting (which most people do) the error in aligning the front and back is probably more than the thickness of the sword. I love the art style. You can also take it to the carboard warriors board and ask for advice. They are very sharing. I'm not a designer, only a builder, and I use a cutter, so I make things that are way finer and more fiddly than most. I like the dynamic pose. BTW - that design is perfect for the "token" style (where a tent of white paper surrounds the figure...) The Paizo PDF figures work like that - not cut to the black line, but a big solid shape with a front and a back that don't even have to match exactly." |
|
|
|
Post by Vermin King on Nov 14, 2012 12:30:32 GMT -9
I haven't built this yet, but I probably should in order to give feedback. At first glance I wouldn't think it would be to delicate, but on most of the figures I build, I sandwich another layer in between, then hand-cut. The sword does look like it could be easily damaged, but with an additional layer, it should be fine. This will probably call for a new blade to prevent 'oops' situations.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Nov 14, 2012 14:34:14 GMT -9
"Very delicate. Most delicate figure I've cut. Not sure I could have cut it by hand. Some ideas / solutions perhaps (quick mock-up)... -adding min. clothes and ground might result in more "bold" thus less delicate and more solid/stable figurine -then right (skeleton wise) hand - without perspective shortening forearm could be longer and then forearm/palm outline could merge with thigh outline - additionally strengthening whole figurine. You could also replace weapon - so barrette would overlap leg or at least barrette outline merge with leg outline -accessories like shield (or cloak ?) would additionally "bolden" / reinforce this AMAZING figurine...  Actually I forgot to remove original outline - still the idea should be visible Well, these suggestions are just my 2 coppers... Anyway I absolutely love this skeleton! EDIT: with suggested changes even if user decides to fill space between legs with pure black - figurine should defend oneself I think... |
|
|
|
Post by bravesirkevin on Nov 14, 2012 20:54:19 GMT -9
Wow! The response has been amazing! Thank you all very much for your interest and advice ;D I've contemplated the delicacy issue quite a bit, and I've tried thickening up the black lines and filling in the gaps to make it a little less weak, and while it definitely did help the physical strength, it did hurt the aesthetics a bit. I do get the impression that some people do like the current look, and aren't too perturbed by the difficulty, so the easiest way to deal with that is to just put multiple versions of the PDF into the final release set. I'm thinking: • "expert version" - basically like it is now, but with a little more black in the gaps to thicken things up. • "easy-cut version" - much thicker black outlines. No deep concave negative space. • "token style version" - as OldSchoolDM suggested. • secret 4th option that I'm not willing to reveal yet  This isn't a lot of work for me to do, cos it's basically just a matter of changing minor things before saving out the final PDFs. So, I suppose I should reveal just a little more of my master plan here:    |
|
|
|
Post by oldschooldm on Nov 14, 2012 22:51:08 GMT -9
Pirate Skele!
|
|
|
|
Post by bravesirkevin on Nov 17, 2012 0:09:40 GMT -9
|
|
|
|
Post by Rhannon on Nov 17, 2012 3:08:15 GMT -9
Kevin, you're really skilled and you know very well the hand weapons. Now, that carefully I've looked at your other works I have to say that they are very well done. Compliments ( and I'm mainly a paper figures' collector (minis and soldiers), not a paper modeller. So I like all but I prefer paper figures ). About this paper mini ... Is there the possibility of some other, few, poses or slight mods of this? |
|
|
|
Post by bravesirkevin on Nov 18, 2012 13:03:48 GMT -9
Kevin, you're really skilled and you know very well the hand weapons. Thanks! I'm actually having so much fun doing them too! I may have gotten a little carried away. Currently I have 10 right hand options, 8 left hand options and 5 sets of apparel (6 if you count the naked skeleton). I also have a couple optional detail layers for things like glowy red eyes. About this paper mini ... Is there the possibility of some other, few, poses or slight mods of this? Yes! In fact there are 4 other poses... here's just one:  If I don't cut any of the options (and I really want to keep them all) then this set will allow someone with a lot of cardboard and patience to create 9600 (5 poses x 10 Right Hands x 8 Left Hands x 6 outfits x 4 detail combinations) completely unique skeletons! |
|
|
|
Post by bravesirkevin on Nov 25, 2012 13:09:21 GMT -9
 Just a quick update on this. I've got the basic skeleton artwork sorted, as you can see. I'm busy working through all the alternative weapons and outfits at the moment, and am making great progress. I am hoping to get this set ready for release within the next 10 days or so. One thing on my mind right now is the base. How do you guys usually handle that? Is there a standard style that you all use? |
|
|
|
Post by Rhannon on Nov 25, 2012 13:23:06 GMT -9
... One thing on my mind right now is the base. How do you guys usually handle that? Is there a standard style that you all use? Five different base types. ( thanks Sir Rob ) sirrob01.wordpress.com/?s=base |
|
|
|
Post by Sirrob01 on Nov 27, 2012 0:00:40 GMT -9
Most of the common base types revolve around the same black tab at the bottom. Basically rectangle 7.5 to 8mm high (mine are oddly 7.8mm tall, pretty sure I based them on Jim tab originally). Width wise make them 5 mm shorter than your target base eg a mini planned for 25mm base would have a 20mm wide black tab. Red fold line dissects the rectangle in half horizontally With that standard tab you can pretty much achieve any of the 5 basing types. Hope this helps |
|
|
|
Post by cowboyleland on Nov 27, 2012 5:03:52 GMT -9
Helpful (?) tip: you can convert to Reivaj basing by cutting a "standard" tab in half and folding one half forward and the other half backward.
Gluing up the whole figure and folding across the middle of the tab does seem to be the easiest assembly method, but I love the look of Reivaj bases.
|
|
|
|
Post by bravesirkevin on Nov 30, 2012 5:59:05 GMT -9
Thanks for the advice guys. The impression I'm getting is that most people just use which ever bases they're most comfortable with, so I'm thinking the most important thing here is that the minis work well the most popular ones. I might do something completely new for my own bases if that's the case. Perhaps try a different take on Reivaj's base idea. |
|
|
|
Post by bravesirkevin on Dec 25, 2012 18:04:30 GMT -9
Time for another update on what's going on with this project!  I've gotten pretty far with the artwork here. In the picture above, I have several of the possible combinations achievable with just one of the poses. I've got 6 of the 11 right hands and 6 of the 10 left hands and all 6 of the outfits. There are also another 4 poses that aren't displayed here. Each option also has a back that's every bit as detailed as the front!  Right now I've got almost all of the initial line work complete... There are just a few components that I'm not entirely happy with right now that I want to put a little more effort into. The main snag I'm running into is with the colouring. There's quite a lot of that to get through and with my current workload in my "day job" I'm not really getting enough spare time to move quickly on that. It may still be a few weeks before I can get it out. In the mean time, however, I present the Skeleton Scallywags!  This set has 5 Skeleton Pirate miniatures. They aren't customisable like the skirmishers will be, but the quality is still there and they're a fraction of the price. The artwork for these is based on the Seadog style of skirmishers but has been modified and dramatically recoloured so this set will add to the other one, rather than just duplicating it.
The Skeleton Scallywags are available at Papercraft Dungeon now! $1.49 until December 31st 2012 |
|
|
|
Post by kiladecus on Jan 6, 2013 3:28:25 GMT -9
I JUST found this... Too bad I missed the sale, but these are gorgeous. @ SirRob01: The is also my style of flat-basing (#6) |
|
|
|
Post by bravesirkevin on Feb 12, 2013 3:16:18 GMT -9
Full-time job's been keeping me really busy, but I've kept working on this wherever I've had a chance to. Got another interrim set on the way in the mean time though:  This mini-set will be out by friday. More details to follow. |
|
|
|
Post by kiladecus on Feb 14, 2013 7:19:58 GMT -9
Can't wait!
I just had an AMAZING idea... a Necromancer/Pyromancer dual-class that can summon these....
Looks like my priestess is going to have a dual-class! Thanks for the inspiration! ;D
|
|
|
|
Post by Parduz on Feb 14, 2013 9:37:00 GMT -9
Full-time job's been keeping me really busy, but I've kept working on this wherever I've had a chance to. Got another interrim set on the way in the mean time though: This mini-set will be out by friday. More details to follow. W O W ! ! ! Just draw them so cutting by hands will not be .... a hell ;D  |
|
|
|
Post by bravesirkevin on Feb 14, 2013 11:48:31 GMT -9
Can't wait! I just had an AMAZING idea... a Necromancer/Pyromancer dual-class that can summon these.... Looks like my priestess is going to have a dual-class! Thanks for the inspiration! ;D I was having similar thoughts while I was busy cutting out the test-prints. They'll also make for some interesting Elites to back up the regular skeletons when I get around to releasing them. W O W ! ! ! Just draw them so cutting by hands will not be .... a hell ;D Thanks! I've put a 2mm black outline on the front and a 4mm one on the back, so cutting by hand is really easy! The fronts and backs match up perfectly and the centre scoring method I've used makes it very easy to get them lined up, so you could use trim them really close to make those flames really stand out if you wanted to though. |
|
|
|
Post by bravesirkevin on Feb 14, 2013 16:53:29 GMT -9
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Feb 15, 2013 3:16:26 GMT -9
Detailed skeleton artwork with very fine coloring plus all these eye catching, perfectly done flame effects - it might be best ever skeletons set!
Really great work - I'm impressed!
|
|
|
|
Post by bravesirkevin on Feb 16, 2013 14:25:46 GMT -9
Detailed skeleton artwork with very fine coloring plus all these eye catching, perfectly done flame effects - it might be best ever skeletons set! Really great work - I'm impressed! Thanks very much! That means a lot coming from one of the great talents in the paper minis industry! The Blazin' Bones set has been released! |
|
|
|
Post by bravesirkevin on Jun 2, 2013 20:42:41 GMT -9
Been working my fingers to the bone on some massive projects in my day job, so a lot of the Kev's Lounge stuff has had to take a back seat for a while. I've finally managed to get through that and I'm back on track with many projects including this one. I've also got some papercraft dungeon furniture that's going to be up on Papercraft Dungeon later this week, and a whole bunch of other stuff lined up! Here's a preview of some of the recently completed gladiator themed artwork for the Skeleton Skirmisher's set:  |
|
|
|
Post by bravesirkevin on Jun 10, 2013 5:20:34 GMT -9
More progress here... Egyptian themed skeletons!  |
|
|
|
Post by wyvern on Jun 10, 2013 11:16:22 GMT -9
Nearly finished making-up some of Jabbro Jones' "Just Deserts" Egyptian fantasy minis at present, so these promised Egyptian skeletons will go nicely with those for me. The guys for whom mummification didn't take, or was too expensive an option, perhaps. Maybe one half unwrapped to reinforce the former idea? Regardless, I like the concept of skeletons carrying their own treasure this way. Whole new meaning to "kill the monsters and open the chest"!
|
|
|
|
Post by bravesirkevin on Jun 11, 2013 23:36:18 GMT -9
Nearly finished making-up some of Jabbro Jones' "Just Deserts" Egyptian fantasy minis at present, so these promised Egyptian skeletons will go nicely with those for me. The guys for whom mummification didn't take, or was too expensive an option, perhaps. Maybe one half unwrapped to reinforce the former idea? Regardless, I like the concept of skeletons carrying their own treasure this way. Whole new meaning to "kill the monsters and open the chest"! In my head it was more of a (possibly completely inaccurate) notion that while the nobles and kings would get themselves mummified, the average peasant, soldier and slave would just get buried. The rich and powerful would return as mummies, but the rank-and-file troops would return as bones... In terms of game mechanics, it would mean that while crawling around a mummy's tomb you'd have tough mummies as elites and bosses, and weak skeletons as minions. Consequently, I didn't even think to add the traditional bandages though it's not a bad idea... Might go back and do that later, though for right now I'm busy concentrating on getting the last other bits done so I can get it out before the end of the month! As far as treasure goes, I've always found it a little odd that 4000 year old undead creatures would carry legal tender on them. Like in Skyrim when you raid a tomb and find a few hundred gold coins in the purses of all those Draugr that are as good as if they'd been minted yesterday. It makes much more sense for the treasure to be in the form of ancient jewelry that can be sold, worn or melted down and turned into something else. |
|
