Warhammer fantasy units/graphics preview/development thread

[aaglo]

Hi!
Here is my next project under way - I've no idea what comes of it, but we'll see eventually: Phoenix guard. I have a few questions already about it:
- the armor colouring; is it okay for this guy to have bronze-coloured armor? Or should it be "whiter"?
- wings on the helmet; should they be civ-coloured, or is the current amount of civ-colouring enough?

Suggestions are welcome

 

[Mistfit]

As far as coloring goes the Phoenix Guard armor I have seen have been more silver in coloring. That being said it was an artists concept of what they should look like. I rather like the bronze coloring you've added.

 

[Drift]

Looks good overall, but some points of criticism:
- He has huge hands.
- His pose looks very rigid.
- Civ-coloring the legs looks a little silly. Don't know why though. In any case, I wouldn't civ-color the wings.
- I like the bronze, but this guy would also look stunning in shining silver. Wouldn't that also be staying true to the WH mythology as pics seem to have them in silver?
- Axe looks evil. Maybe shape it more like the ones in this picture. You know, with the top part being shorter than the lower part.

 

[CamJH]

I agree with pretty much everything Drift said. Looks like his hands are about 3x bigger than his feet.
Maybe keep the wings bronze to set them apart, but I think I'd go with silver for the rest of his armor.

 

[Yoda Power]

Nice. More silver less gold and no civcolor on wings

Why not add a white cloak?

 

[Scytale]

Now this is a unit that I've been waiting for a long time. Thank you for doing it!!! And it looks great too...I'm sure that after a few improvements this will be a great unit. I agree that it has too large hands and that it needs a cloak or maybe a cape.

 

[Gomurr]

I definately agree with everything said by Drift. Shining silver armor (excluding the Phoenix Helmets) is a must for High Elves. They're based on Tolkien's elves, after all, and those elves shunned gold in favor of silver. There's a reason for Elves liking silver in Tolkien's world, though I won't bore everyone by going into it, and I have heard a similar reasoning for favoring of silver by the High Elves of Warhammer. So, yeah, I really think he needs silver armor.

I'd also recommend brightening the axe. High Elves are about appearance as much as affectiveness, and their blades gleam like polished silver. As such, I suggest making the axe-blade a brighter, more silvery color.

One last suggestion - his body's proportions are right for a human, but elves aren't human. I would recommend stretching him out a bit - making him taller without increasing his width.

He looks like he's coming along fine, though. This is definately a long awaited and much needed unit.

 

[aaglo]

Phoenix guard, version 2:
- whiter armouring (with a slight hint of bronze mixed in)
- white leggins
- edited weapon
- NO CAPE (he really doesn't need one - and I really can't make a decent one. besides, he's not a batman-wannabe.)
- smaller hands (but please do note, that those are GAUNTLETS, and gauntlets are supposed to be bigger than hands)

 

[Drift]

Looks great, I like the changes a lot. Now, all I can suggest is to get some pompousness and regality (am I making up these words as I go?) for the pose. You know, legs straight and slightly apart, chest out, stomach in and eyes to the horizon. Maybe place the weapon on his side with an extended hand holding it.

 

[aaglo]

Just wondering - would this pose as a default be a bit too much (I think I like it - that's what the elves are )

 

[Lusikka755]

A few comments:
- still needs a brighter silver axe
- and a more self-confident pose and better... umm... what's 'ryhti' in English?

Otherwise looks very good!

 

[Drift]

That looks excellent.

 

[Steel General]

I think it looks great, as all of your units do.

Couple of comments/suggestions;
- Maybe make the helmet all the same color (bronze)?
- Make the armor & weapon look more shiny/polished

 

[mrtn]

That looks good.
I've a couple of things, but I'm probably too late, now.
I agree that the halberd should be shinier.
I also think it would be cool if he didn't have those bulky Dr Martens, but rather some pointy shoes.

 

[Gomurr]

Looking pretty good

As usual, though, I have a few suggestions. Hopefully some of them will be helpful.

My suggestions are as follows:
- I still think the axe-blade needs to be shiny, polished silver, not this dark iron color
- I think the chain-mail should be brighter. It would, after all, be silver-plated. High elves are very bright and shiny. Just like everything else in Warhammer is a little unrealistic and nigh cartoonish, the clean and polished look of the High Elven military is excessively bright and polished. So, I would strongly recommend brightening off the chain mail, and maybe even brightening the armor as a whole.
- Maybe lengthen the legs just a tad. I think they seem a little disproportionately short.
- I don't know how important being 'true-to-the-model' is for this unit, but the models have a phoenix's head & body on the helmet between the two wings.
- Likewise, on the model, the shoulder pads are a bit more angurlar and edged, rather than the rounded ones used currently.
- Personally, I'm more in favor of a standing-to-attention pose with his stance rigid and weapon held straight, but that's just a personal preference. If you like the current stance, go with it.

Also, as to your comments about not being able to make a cloak. I think the unit really would benefit from a cloak. If you think you can't do it, then I suppose the Phoenix Guard will just have to go cloak-less. However, to date, every time you haven't been able to do something but have gone ahead and tried to do it anyways (human figures, mounted figures, horses, two-handed weapons animations, etc...) you've done an astounding job and we've all benefited from you expanding your horizons. So, if you actually can't do a good cloak, that's no big deal and the unit will still be admired and appreciated. But in the past, when you've said you couldn't do it, what that meant was that you'd end up doing an amazing job of it.

 

[Steel General]

Also, as to your comments about not being able to make a cloak. I think the unit really would benefit from a cloak. If you think you can't do it, then I suppose the Phoenix Guard will just have to go cloak-less. However, to date, every time you haven't been able to do something but have gone ahead and tried to do it anyways (human figures, mounted figures, horses, two-handed weapons animations, etc...) you've done an astounding job and we've all benefited from you expanding your horizons. So, if you actually can't do a good cloak, that's no big deal and the unit will still be admired and appreciated. But in the past, when you've said you couldn't do it, what that meant was that you'd end up doing an amazing job of it.

Well said Gomuur

 

[aaglo]

@lusikka
you want even more confidence on that pose? I already thought, that it's a bit too much already

@Steel General
- I think that all-bronze helmet would make his head look like a doorknob on top of the shoulders, I'm afraid - I think it would be a bit out of place there.
- The armour is already very shiny and polished - see the new preview for new shinyness.
- I like the dark metal on the weapon. But since everyone wants a lighter weapon, who am I to oppose.

@Gomurr
- chainmail has been made brighter, whiter and lighter
- legs are a tad bit longer
- no, I really can't make a decent-looking cloak. If I try to add a cloak, it'll just ruin it otherwise nice unit.

 

[sourboy]

The first Phoenix Guard image looks better color wise. It's also more consistent with Kinboat's Elf collection, as well as embryodead's Elven Swordmaster, which he intentionally kept true to Kinboat's creations.

 

[Drift]

I'd say you went a bit too far with the brightness of the armor. It looks as if someone cranked up the contrast on it. I liked the previous preview better regarding the armor.

 

[Scytale]

Now the unit looks perfect.
About the cloak: you did a nice job on the dwarf Ironmask...maybe you could try to make the cloack and if you don't like it we'll drop the whole story.
Just a final attempt to make you reconsider