Week 3: Character Design Variations

Using the shape language guide detailed below, the character artists worked on iterating multiple designs of each character from that guide.

Because the overall shapes are relatively set, the iterations largely focused on color, feature, and outfit variations.

The crux of the channeler's design has been changed from an overall uniform to certain elements that all channelers wear to distinguish themselves. This way, each channeler can have a different outfit, but they all have hoods to preserve their anonymity and also carry the special tome. Both are hallmarks of their order.

The posture of Chao was very important; he has a bend to his back that makes him stand apart from the other characters, and he also uses a blunt weapon. What type of weapon and what sort of outfit he will wear, as well as whether or not he will have tattoos, are the important design questions for this week.

We decided to really exaggerate the shape language for Shanzhu, so he would stand out in any group of characters. He is tall and imposing with plenty of angular shapes.

We implemented the same changes to the rogue channeler than to the protagonist—she also has the hood and the emblem, as well as the book, though the eye has been crossed through in all of the symbols of the CSA.

Shahzaad still has a lot of variation in his designs, specifically with the type of features (human or animal) we want to go with in his face. We also experimented with different types of ornamental elements to his design.

Technical Considerations: Our primary technical consideration when it comes to characters is in the design of Shahzaad. Our vision of him includes making any fire elements on his body to appear like they are burning. To adhere to the sculptural style, as mentioned below with  concerns in environment as well, we will have to make these effects ourselves rather than rely on anything in UE4.

Our current plan is to use physics-based joint chains in the sculpted fire on Shahzaad's body. While a similar method will be used with Chao's braid, instead of keeping the gravity as down towards the ground with the hair, the gravity will be changed to where it flows upwards, giving the appearance of fire.

The materials for Shahzaad will also make use of an emissive mask for these fiery portions of his body. We also want to look into a panning texture effect with these, so it looks like there are "waves" going through the emissive light, not just a static glow.