NPC Design -- First!

[Csophae]

I don\'t draw freehand well, so this a crude digital sketch of my economics notes >_> It\'s a very simple design, but I\'ve never created a fantasy design before. So, granted, it\'s a tree, but it\'s a tree with arms, dangit.

Description is in the picture, but if you can\'t read it, it says:
Broonin
Living tree. Likes to joke around. Can lift roots and move itself. Has short arms that often reach out to startle passerbys. Has large eye in middle. Cannot speak, but is intelligent. Can make itself look like a normal tree, identifiable as broonin by it\'s exposed roots.



The idea is it would be a tree that plays tricks of the Planeshifters. It moves around and confuses you, it makes itself look like a normal tree then sticks out a root and trips you, etc. Not an important character you could battle or get information from, but an entertainment NPC.

[Shadowfalcon]

I think its too much like an Ent. I don\'t think creatures should be ripped so directly from other fantasy worlds. (Lord of the Rings, in case you actually didn\'t know.) But then again, we do have intelegent talking \"stone\" characters.

[Karyuu]

You know what... I think I\'d really like to see a herd of moving trees :D

[Csophae]

Originally posted by Shadowfalcon
I think its too much like an Ent.

I know what you mean in the sense of it being tree that moves around and such, but I had a completely different personality in mind. Also, it cannot speak, nor do I have a set age as ents are supposed to be extremely old and wise. Broonin is a practical joker. The ents would hate him. I think things are \'ripped off\' a lot more directly than this, which was not meant to be and ent at all. God forbid we have anthopromophic cats in Planeshift, then, because Lord knows the devs did not come up with that idea originally.

[Waylander]

Pffft, Lord of the rings ripped off nature by having the ents look like trees

This is actualy very original, pretty much anywhere else you see people bringing trees to life it is as a wise, old and slow being.

[Izzy*dot]

I actually like the idea of a tricking tree Though there would soon be the need for an animation of your char tripping over some roots and kissing the dirt

[Kintall]

I really like the idea behind it, tree dingies have always appealed to me, especially the idea of what sound theyd make when they moved ... hmmm...

Originally posted by Shadowfalcon
I think its too much like an Ent. I don\'t think creatures should be ripped so directly from other fantasy worlds. (Lord of the Rings, in case you actually didn\'t know.) But then again, we do have intelegent talking \"stone\" characters.

lol lets not forget the short-ish blokes with beards or the bunch with pointy ears ^^

[Csophae]

Thank you, Kary, Waylander, Izzy, and Kintall.

It would need animation for characters because otherwise the root would just stop you, but in the meantime there could just be an arm that pops in front of your face and scare you, haha.

I also picture it moving like the people who hide in bushes in cartoons: They lift up the pot and scatter across the floor. Just because it\'s a tree doesn\'t mean it has to be slow ^^!

[Gripen]

Originally posted by Shadowfalcon
I think its too much like an Ent. I don\'t think creatures should be ripped so directly from other fantasy worlds. (Lord of the Rings, in case you actually didn\'t know.) But then again, we do have intelegent talking \"stone\" characters.

An ent is NOT a tree. An ent, according to very old European folklore (so Lord Rings as well) is a supernatural being that lives among the trees of deep woods and forests. Depending on which branch of folklore referred to, it is a product of the dense ancient forest, or it is older than trees and makes the forest, in spiritism it is not a real being but the spirit of the woods or grove itself--and may be able to manifest.  However, in all beliefs or tales of them, they are among the most ancient, and long-lived, of lifeforms ever to exist in Earth.

Almost all the characters in Lord of Rings trilogy are ripped directly from European folklore, most with little embellishment.

[In case you didn\'t know.]


I like the idea of tricky tree haranguing passers by, but the eye should go vertically. ; )  [Good job]

[Csophae]

Originally posted by Gripen

Originally posted by Shadowfalcon
I think its too much like an Ent. I don\'t think creatures should be ripped so directly from other fantasy worlds. (Lord of the Rings, in case you actually didn\'t know.) But then again, we do have intelegent talking \"stone\" characters.

 The eye should go vertically.

I like that idea! I\'ll definitely change it. Thanks

[HarenaAbdolor]

I think the next NPC should be a vicious purple man-eating sheep?  I mean... what other MMORPG would have one of those then... I\'d personally like to see that, lol.

But yeah... it does remind me of LOTR and also the Estographer on Neopets... :p

[Baldur]

Ummm, i made a picture of a Broonin. Guessi thought ?t was a good idea and the idea gave me new inspiration

Well, here it is:)



I had a bit of a problem with shadows. Maybe it\'s not enough or too many of\'em but someone encouraged me to send it so here it is:) In last minute i forgot the arms but i guess the branches on its trunk are those. Might put\'em there if you want me to. This Broonin is sort of wakening up after winter or is just going to sleep on a huge boulder, judging by that the young Broonin can fit it with roots and all. Pretty good place to lap sunshine while keeping distance from lumberjacks

Well, i guess i\'m done critisizing this enourmous picture, and i guess this belongs in the fan art section [DOH!]

[I\'m Belark BTW, this is my school alias]

[defender43]

Could\'ja make that last one fit a monitor? I don\'t have a theater you know...  

[Baldur]

Sorry:) Here\'s an update i made in paint



Think i\'m going to fix the shadows too, though if no one really likes it i\'ll just keep hiding in the corner here *points at corner* and let it all depend. Got my art teacher with me so i guess i\'m slowly improving^^ or not...

Well, here it is, and i might return with some other picks. Jost for beauty, maybe some more PS pics when i\'ve improved mself to the degree i feel less nervous and more creative