Unit Request: Native American Archer

[Kal-el]

 

[pdescobar]

Here's a preview of the default animation: crouched down (and hopefully balanced now ) and looking for trouble. Looks like the feathers may still be disappearing in some directions so I might have to crank them up some more. At least the bow is solid now.

Of course it's a Flc2Gif preview so the quality is downgraded somewhat, the West view is truncated, and the anim dislpays slower than it actually is. I should probably add more frames to get it this slow (but smoother) for real since Flicster's maxed out the frame delay and it's still a bit fast for me. However, I really don't want to because Poser hates this unit and keeps freezing on the renders, and more frames means more freezing... Maybe I can get creative with file copying since the second half of each animation is essentially just a reverse of the first half. Hmmm...

 

[Kal-el]

looks cool!

 

[Kindred72]

looks really good. I use a program called Ulead Photoimpact for my animated gifs. Don't know how much it costs though.

 

[Kal-el]

I think you are right about the feathers needing to be enlarged a little.

Looking forward to the next preview.

 

[pdescobar]

I'm rendering a new animation where I doubled the number of frames to slow the animation down and supersized the feathers so there should be a new preview tomorrow at the latest.

BTW, Anyone know offhand if the frame delay limitations are a product of the game, the FLC format, or FLiCster?

 

[Kal-el]

looking forwards to tomorrow! I guess I will just work on the DyP title Screen.

 

[Heffalump]

For those of you eager to use something in the meanwhile there are some very good 'elf' units out there that pass decently as native american units. I use the elf swordsman as my Iroquois swordsman flavor unit.

 

[god_money]

interesting you should mention that Heffalump, as I've been using
the Elf units for the Celts.

The unit looks incredible thus far

 

[pdescobar]

I don't know whether to laugh or cry I managed to screw up the default animation, not once, but twice. Firstly, my little renamer/copier script seemed to miss a file so I fudged it and as a result he pauses in one direction longer than in the other direction. Secondly, my feather resize apparently only took on the first frame, so the feathers grow and shrink as he turns

Anyhow, here's the preview. What do you think of the larger feathers seen at the start and end of each direction's animation? Do they make him look too much like a bunny? Also, should he fire from a modified crouch with one knee down or stand up to attack?

 

[mrtn]

Originally posted by pdescobar
I don't know whether to laugh or cry I managed to screw up the default animation, not once, but twice. Firstly, my little renamer/copier script seemed to miss a file so I fudged it and as a result he pauses in one direction longer than in the other direction. Secondly, my feather resize apparently only took on the first frame, so the feathers grow and shrink as he turns

Anyhow, here's the preview. What do you think of the larger feathers seen at the start and end of each direction's animation? Do they make him look too much like a bunny? Also, should he fire from a modified crouch with one knee down or stand up to attack?

He has the "Shrinking Feathers Disease" They are changing size up and down, so it is hard to have an opinion.
About the attack: he shouldn't shoot sitting like that, in any case. I think it would be best if he rose and fired a shot.

 

[Kal-el]

yeah, much better if he rose to fire.

I got a good laugh out of the resizing feathers. Maybe something between the largest and smallest size.

 

[pdescobar]

The largest size there is 250%, the smallest size was I think 120%. I'm gonna try 200% and play with making him stand to fortify. I'll get back to rerendering default some other time

 

[pdescobar]

Here's a very early fortify animation in S, SE, W

Things I most want comments on: Feather size (frozen at 200% this time), first half of the animation (the standing up part but not the turningpart), and final fortify pose (long pause inserted so you get a good look at it)

Things I least want comments on: Animation speed (the gif conversion seemed to inject him with caffeine), and the "moonwalk" manuever he makes while turning, particularly with his back foot. That's a known problem that I already intend to deal with by making him take 2 explicit steps.

Thanks!

 

[mrtn]

Could you make the feathers "thicker"? As it is now they look very good in some of the views, but when you see them from the side, they almost disapears. Otherwise it's looking good.

 

[Bobby Lee]

Looks good...suggestions: wut would the feathers look like at about 20% smaller

Great job!!

 

[Kal-el]

it looks good.

 

[pdescobar]

OK, after quite a bit of struggling, he can shoot now. Here's a single-direction (E) preview of a fixed fortify (stepping instead of moonwalking) followed by a bit of a pause and then firing 3 arrows. The arrow might be moving a bit too slow but otherwise I'm pleased with it. Any comments or suggestions before I do the other directions for attack?

 

[mrtn]

I'm sure I wrote an answer to this.
No suggestions or comments

 

[Kal-el]

Can he pull the bow string back further?