User talk:EJlol/Guidelines

I think this would be a great help, many people get discouraged to work further after they start something unaware of these guidelines only to discover their work was in vain.

Images illustrating the article

I think the earlier version where the example (yes—no) images illustrated the article looked more pleasant to the eyes. Perhaps bring them back into the main article instead of having links (click! click! click!)? Also, the added benefit of seeing at once what it’s all about. ;) --kess 19:14, 18 August 2008 (CEST)

Well, the problem is that when I add those images in the document is self is, that it becomes one big mess (especially the big images like the perspective reference). You now indeed need to click a lot BUT the idea is that you only have to see those images once. After that I think the text version is enough to remind how the "TMW-style" is. As for the icons, I might put them in a table instead of those links. (when I figure out how to do that and when Im not lazy :P) --EJ 20:11, 18 August 2008 (CEST)

In case the two other item lists is wanted in table form. ✎ Kess^☽ 19:05, 14 October 2008 (CEST)

Group	Items	Icon
Sword
Axe
Polearm
Javelin		N/A
Whip		N/A
Dagger
Staff
Fist		N/A
Bow
Crossbow		N/A
Thrown weapons

Group	Items	Icon
Potion
Arrow

Blood example

• Blood: May only be used if it spice up certain environments that needs to be extra creepy (Example)

This looks like the example will show the correct use of blood. But it's an illustration of not drawing blood at all. Octalot 16:41, 7 November 2008 (CET)

Feel free to post a better example. EJ 17:56, 7 November 2008 (CET)

NPC Style

I disagree with the guideline about NPC Style. I think it's more important that they look nice and varying than that they look like players. Having them all look like players limits artistic freedom and leads to boring uniformity more than to consistency. However, I have already been informed that I'm wrong about this, so I will agree with the guidelines as a whole. Especially since this is basically just a matter of taste. --Vink 20:01, 29 August 2008 (CEST)

How to get your content in the game

I'd like to have updating the Content page worked in to this, but don't know where it would go. Octalot 02:53, 20 October 2008 (CEST)

My concerns

Before I give my OK to these guidelines I would like the following points to be addressed:

1. Too few guidelines about color selection
2. Chapter "General": The forum should be used for posting graphics and reporting progress
3. Chapter "General Guidelines": It is not very clear that outlines should only be used for sprites
4. Chapter "General Guidelines": It is not very clear what "Objects should be fully lit " means. The example image is also not very meaningful (i needed a long time to spot any difference between the two images)
5. Chapter "General Guidelines": The light direction image is not very descriptive either. A number of geometric shapes would be perfect to visualize this.
6. Chapter "General Guidelines": Not very clear what "to [sic] pixellated" means.
7. Chapter "NPCs": In addition to address that NPCs should be based on the player character design it should also be mentioned that the body shape and pose may and should be adjusted
8. Chapter "Tilesets": Does not address color selection at all. More emphasis is needed on the importance to match the palette to existing work, especially when contributing to other peoples tilesets.

--Crush2 00:48, 18 November 2008 (CET)

I think the current proposal is much better than the current official page; and in IRC people are being sent to the proposal instead of the official page. If EJLol adds "Work in progress should be discussed on the forum" to address point 2, I think this proposal should become the official version, and then start a new proposal-cycle for the clarifications. --Octalot 03:19, 18 November 2008 (CET)

First let me thank you for writing those points. Second, I agree with most of them.

1. Guidelines about color selections are IMO hard to come up with. If you have ideas, feel free to discuss it here: http://forums.themanaworld.org/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=5138
2. I agree that the forum should be mentioned, but I also like to point to Mantis.
3. I agree
4. I agree
5. I agree, let's say I was just lazy when I made that example image :P
6. Feel free to suggest a better explanation
7. I agree
8. Again I like to point you to the forums: http://forums.themanaworld.org/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=5138

Most of those points are to make the guidelines more clear. Do you mind if I first release the guidelines and AFTER that make another proposal to address those points? EJ 10:34, 18 November 2008 (CET)

Example tilesets

Please change the indoor example to:

• Indoor: Woodland indoor (but in this tileset, ignore the direction that light comes in through windows as it's wrong)

--Octalot 01:11, 18 November 2008 (CET)

Instead of adding that to the guidelines, why not fix the tileset? -- EJ

It's currently in the state of being wrong but good looking, I haven't figured out how to make it right and still look as good. --Octalot 16:38, 24 November 2008 (CET)

Freeyorp's Opinion and Suggestions

• Regarding outlines, I feel that this post (The link doesn't seem to work, maybe someone with more experience of wiki formatting than me could fix this?) for a possible outline policy for different types of objects seems to fit my impression on the TMW style quite well; I like the definite examples on where it is appropriate to use outlines and what type to use, and I feel it would be appropriate to have them here; what does everyone else think of this?
• The link following "Blood: May only be used if it spice up certain environments that needs to be extra creepy" should, I think, be a comparison of an example where blood is acceptable, and an example where it isn't, as opposed to the rather brusque "We do not draw blood." The new zombie sprite could be used for that.
• Currently, the proposed guidelines only refer to the forums as a place to post unfinished pixel art; I think this could be better reworded to say that WIP's can be posted on the forums, to avoid misinterpretation that it is for abandoned projects only.
• A similar rewording would be helpful for "Use pure black (#000000) for the ceilings" to "Use pure black (#000000) for 'here is nothing' indoor or cave areas"

Freeyorp 14:37, 22 January 2009 (UTC)