A question of scale

[Gary Childress]

I have been PMed by a couple people regarding the scale of my latest units. One person says that my first SMLE units are too big. The other person likes the size of them because they are closer to Sandris' unit scale and show more detail. I'd rather not do two sizes every time I do a unit. The slightly larger size I was making with my first SMLE units shows detail a little better but is a couple pixels larger than Firaxis scale. The latests units I've been making are closer to Firaxis scale.

I'm in a quandry. I'm not sure what size to settle on. As I say I'd rather just do one standard size every time I make a unit.

Larger scale means a little more noticable detail in the unit but slightly less compatability with Firaxis size. The larger size may blend in a little with Firaxis scale but you can still see the difference if you scrutinize it close enough. For some people the difference is not so noticable for others the difference may stick out like a sore thumb.

Firaxis scale means a little less detail but of course the advantage is that they blend almost perfectly with just about every other unit made to date.

I'd like to get an idea of what people think is the appropriate scale for my units. Do you think the slightly larger scale will work with Firaxis scale or do you think that I should stick STRICTLY to Firaxis scale?

In voting in the poll it may help to check out the size of my SMLE units in the game or to compare image sizes in MS Paint or something. All the units posted in the separate "SMLE unit series" thread are the larger scale. All the units posted in the "Bolt Action Riflemen of the World" thread are the smaller scale. Please let me know what you think regarding the matter so I can resume with my unit production.

Thanks.

 

[Gary Childress]

Allow me to add that my favorite choice is to go with the slightly larger size, however, if people think the larger size will make the units unplayable in the game please voice your opinions.

 

[Redback]

The Waffen SS unit, what scale is that? I like that size...plz keep that size.

Ps. I didn't vote yet.

 

[Steph]

I can just paste what I said in the PM.
I am for larger scale.

a) They will have more details and be nicer
b) Even if you make them the same scale as Firaxis, they will not blend them. The poor quality of Firaxis units will make your good units stand out.
c) Who cares about Firaxis units? Isn't our goal to replace all of them anyway?
d) If you make them bigger, they will blend well with Sandris units. And honestly, I think you should rather aim at having a consistency with Sandris rather than with Firaxis.
e) If you personnally prefer the bigger units, do what you like, not what another person told you to do!
Especially if it's also what I like

 

[ShiroKobbure]

I would like everyone to try to go for Firaxis' civscale, if everyone, is one size then we can blend everyone's units into a mod.

 

[Steph]

Keep in mind that if you make the unit bigger, and someone wants to resize it to Firaxis scale, the loss would be less than if you make them smaller and someone wants to make them bigger.

So... make them bigger.

 

[Ares de Borg]

Well, a few years ago I proposed a "CUS" (Common unit scale)...

My opinion: I like the scale of your "Bolt action riflemen of the world" units better, because they are closer to Wyrm's WW1 infantry units. Any mod or scenario that would have WW1 and WW2 units would profit if the units would have similar size. Sandris' units are excellent, but the soldiers they represent will be long obsolete when the game reaches 20th century technology. It would be far more likely that you would see WW1 (Wyrm's) and WW2 (Gary's) units meeting each other on the map than ancient/medieval/napoleonic (Sandris) and WW2 units.

I would keep that in mind, because I guess one day there will could a modmaker's rule of thumb like "if you need WW1 infantry, go for Wyrm's, if you need WW2, go for Gary's. And besides, both look great next to another".

And keep in mind that there will be lots of large machines on the map at that time, for example tanks. Smaller infantry tends to look better next to these.

 

[Steph]

Bah, in a few years, each of our compulsive unit makers will have made everything.

So you'll say "if you want WWI or WWII smaller units, check Wyrmshadow", "if you want WWI, WWII or modern large units, check Gary", "if you want any human, check Sandris"

 

[Moosezilla]

I should vote?... my opinion is as long as it isn't as ugly as civ4 I'm happy!

 

[Gary Childress]

To be precise this is the difference I'm talking about. On the far left is Firaxis scale. Next to that is my smaller scale, and next to it the larger scale. As you can see it is only one pixel difference between my smaller and larger scales. It's basically a matter of how close you want them to blend in with the Firaxis units. If I go any smaller then I've noticed a considerable loss in detail (to the point where you can't distinguish shorts with socks from long pants). The larger scale seems to stick out a little more from the Firaxis units in game whereas the smaller scale seems to blend in better.

 

[Ares de Borg]

Happy medium for me - smaller size. Doesn't look odd with any other units.

 

[againsttheflow]

I personally like the happy medium as well. More detail and the size difference is negligible.

I usually look to the civpedia icons for comfort in the area of detail though as the unit creator I can see how you would like the fact that a little bit more of your work shows up on the map.

 

[Gary Childress]

As much as I prefer larger units, I think I have stumbled onto the nail in the coffin for my slightly larger units. Sandris' latest Napoleanic pack units are about the same size as my slightly smaller units. I don't know if Sandris changed size or not but it looks like our units are compatible at a scale very close to civ scale.

 

[Wyrmshadow]

It's not always a question of the zoom level, but also the camera angle. I've tried to get mine as close to the firaxis as much as possible, but it's not quite the same. Also mine and Garry's infantry is anatomicaly correct, the paperdoll that Sandtis, Utah, Kinboat alluse has a very squat torso. They have their own merits but one looks cartoonish, the other does not. Just matters what you're preference is. Stoopid cellphone keyboard, hard to type

 

[Vuldacon]

Slightly Larger is Good Gary... As Steph Pointed out, we are not all trying to match Fraxis Units and when a great deal of work is put into something, it is Best to have the end Results YOU want rather than allow others to dictate that to you.

Also as Steph Posted, IF anyone wants to make units smaller, that is much easier and with better results than trying to make them larger.

I am not sure about Others but I have very few Original Units and do not care for their size or lack of detail. If you are willing to "Go the extra Mile"... you can make the "Happy Medium" Size and apply some techniques to make the detail stand out better.

Listen to "Uncle Steph"...he might make some straight froward, Direct statements but that only touches the surface of the profound truth he knows all to well. Other Than That, Please Yourself.

 

[Steph]

Listen to "Uncle Steph"...he might make some straight froward, Direct statements but that only touches the surface of the profound truth he knows all to well. Other Than That, Please Yourself.

Thanks for the compliment

 

[CiaranB123]

I think the medium scale because the big won't fit in, and the Firaxis loses detail...

So medium for me (I went for the Firaxis scale in the poll)

 

[Gary Childress]

Here's a comparison of units from some different unit makers. I also emailed Steph a couple samples to compare. At civ scale and in the actual game I personally think the larger units blend in enough to be used with other units. The extra pixel will give units a little extra detail.

 

[Ares de Borg]

The "Gary large" size looks huge and stands out, and I don't see any more detail compared to the "Gary small". Maybe that's just me.

But in the end, you decide.

 

[Steph]

I don't see any more detail compared to the "Gary small".

The backpack (right shoulder) is more rounded, instead of a sharp corner, and the leggins are easier to differentiate from the pants