Modding Discussion Avali 1.0 Reboot Discussion

Well technically what Ryu makes is, y'know, the thingy. I mean purists would only get pissed if someone ELSE tried to change stuff right like the avali triage right?

 

Okay that is quite awesome setup you got there now.

Keep it up man you're doing great!

 

Like I have said before, you give way too much credit to the average human.

 

So while comparing the new Avali sprites featured in the latest images to the current ones, I happened across some very early sprites (the second ones pictured)

*Most images stolen borrowed from random google searches.
The ears were sort of in a down position. I'm curious, why did you change it to the current X-like formation?

Anyway, on to the differences I've noticed with the new beta ones (with what I could gather from the kind of blurry images):
Eyes are shaped differently and colored more. Tail shape has changed. Feet are much smaller (unless part of them is just hidden - this looks like it may be the case) Pattern has changed somewhat. Shading is a bit different in places. Knees are lower. Wings look "sharper". Ears are more triangular.

I know you said you'd probably revert to the old sprites, but why're you changing them in the first place? Are you unhappy with them as they are currently?

 

You're reading too much into it - only the head model has changed. The really old sprite was almost profile view, but the other race sprites - and the art in general, is 3/4 view. What has changed is the palette, hence the 'sharper' feel. The sprite in this pic is in a different idle pose to the others.

The eye and general head shape is bigger, closer to the dimensions of the other starbound races; Avali while their head in the game art is 'correct' the other races are actually bobbleheaded proportionally.

 

If you're making new sprites, I recommend not making the base base sprites arms not decouple from where a normal races arms would be. This would at least allow the Avali to wear normal chest slot items without having four arms when holding any two handed melee weapon.

 

So, basically, make the avali a normal race? Yeah, no. That's the point, silly.

 

I'll admit the current animation better suits someone with wingarms.

But saying that one change would make them a normal race and therefore stupid is too far.

 

For the sake of keeping modding simple and compatible with the rest of the game, not keeping the arm shape consistent with other races would be a frankly stupid idea.

I actually like the idea of making the head larger, as you said it makes the Avali sprites more consistent with the other races' sprites. It also makes them look pretty chibi

 

Oh, crap. Don't get me wrong, I'm all for improving the sprite, but the logistics of that are gonna hurt. A new head shape will inevitably screw up all the hats and helmets, and not just just the vanilla ones, either. Everyone who's ever made or making custom Avali hats and helmets will have to redraw them all. (looks at the 50+ head items I've been working on) Hoo boy, that ain't gonna be fun.

 

Plus, most (a lot, at least) vanilla hats and helmets fits on Avali, meaning a size change may screw them aswell...

 

That's true, I'm using the Valkyrie Helmet and it looks fine.

 

I'm not entirely sure about this. I suppose you would have to compare them in-game (which I'm really too lazy to do for whatever reason), but I could have sworn that Avali heads are shaped noticeably differently from those of vanilla races, if not just smaller altogether and therefore automatically incompatible.

I was actually under the impression that the altered head size is more uniform with vanilla races.

 

I personally think theres an improvement here, i wasn't sure if the avali could be improved much or if they should have been, but the colors better and it makes sense that youve made their heads face more of a 45 degree angle, along with all the other stuff you've shown this makes me excited for it, when are you thinking at this point that you're gonna let ppl try it out?

 

A little off the current topic, but the thought just occurred to me. Would modern Avali ever bother with artistic stone or metal work for stuff like sculpture and statuary? Kinda like this:

(Just a cheap example I whipped up, pay it no mind beyond illustrating the idea.)

At the very least, I would imagine that making snowme- er, snowvali, will have long since been refined into a high art form.

 

They might take up ice sculpting.

 

Do Avali cry? Do they have tear ducts or something similar? If they don't cry, do they have some other form of emotionional representation? Would it perhaps be a hum or song?

 

They have the crying emote in Starbound

 

If they did cry, it would probably be tears of ammonia instead of the salty water that composes our tears.

 

i thought that was just their blood