I recommend you Dragon´s Crown

[Hammerskjold]

I am discussing the *design*, not the *artist*. What is it that is embodied by this... thing... that has been created?

Wanna walk that one back?

Your own words here, I'm not a mind reader so maybe don't be so shy, and pussyfoot around it. You might be discussing the design *now*, but that wasn't what came across a few posts back.

That's... I'm not even sure what that is. Someone's mommy issues with a staff and a hat?

That last sentence. Who exactly is the 'someone' you're referring to? The artist who did the design? The creative director who commissioned it? The CEO who approved the funding? Who, exactly? Be specific here, you won't hurt anyone's feelings.

In this context, afaik the lead artist and creative director is probably one guy, Kamitami. Because it is a fairly small company.

If it was another 'someone', or some vague disembodied concept of 'someone' that is somehow able to magically produce a piece of drawing\painting\artwork, then by all means. Please, clarify it for my curiosity.

Nobody (as best I know) dreams of being this character, only observing them.

I don't know her personally, but she's not a nobody. As best I know.



There are other examples, safe for work examples, when the incantations of Google + Cosplay + Dragon Crown Sorc is recited.

She just looks absurd. Pose, costume, anatomy, facial expression, the works. Pure sexual fantasy.

I know you're talking about the 2D design, now. But I hope you don't ever say anything like that to a woman who has no problems cosplaying a risque costume, or any woman who has curves and are proud of them. Because yeah, they do exist. And no, they don't appreciate being 'protected' while sounding like they're being shamed for their natural traits.

At least, the ones I know of.

This is a different kind of fantasy.

And not all fantasies are equal.

You know what enables the dress to stay up, the same thing that enables a dragons existence and a piece of armor pop out when you kill a level 1 creature who has no discernible place to hide humanoid armor.

You seem really defensive about this artist. I have no particular beef with him - I don't know him from Adam. I am criticizing these character models in this game. If he's usually better than this, then I'm willing to accept that. I have no dog in that race.

Nope, I'd defend -any- artists who has shown he\she has put the work in. My own interpretation or personal taste aside, there are objective metrics that can be used in an art critique. Exaggerating features\traits\aspects while keeping things legible is not as easy as it seems, and at the risk of '...dancing about architecture', you have to know the foundations down pat before you can even improvise.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oVvF7S2hW5U

Here's an example of Kamitami's older artwork for Shadow over Mystara.



The standing pose is fairly realistic representative style, with some features like the hands increased size slightly for readability. Spiky hair would take too much gel in real life, but considering the genre this is still fairly believable IMO. The silhouette is ok, nothing great but it's suppose to be a fairly relaxed pose. The action shot is great to my eyes, it's pushed, exaggerated, and has a dynamic gesture and silhouette. It leaps off the screen.

I actually like the drawing better from this era. But Dragon's Crown painterly technique is rich, lush, and gorgeous. The color range is not photorealistic, and it's not 'modern shooter vidyas realism' of digital bloom and brown with splashes of concrete grey.

I'd have liked to have seen a bit less fanservice on the sorceress model. But at least her design and poses suggested confidence and competence, rather than a snapped spine and sexual receptivity.

....It's called Feminine Charms, sir. It exists in 3d as well. And I'm saying this as someone who doesn't like badly done bikini armor, or overly gratuitous fanservice. In 2d, or 3d.

I can say what I like about their *designs*. They created them and released them into the world. That's not private. If I think they're nothing but pandering stereotypes, or juvenile power fantasy, I can say that. I don't have to say anything in particular about the artist, though I would surely like to talk to them about their choices. The DII designs are tight enough that I'm not going to kick up a fuss. Dragon's Crown is way, way over the line.

Again, who is 'they'? And why yes, you or anyone else can say what your opinion of the design is, and since 'they' put this out on a PS3 disc for sale, it's not private.

It is absolutely your right to have an opinion that says it's over -your- line. But -the- line? Yeah, no such agreed boundary there. At least, not anything I ever signed onto.

Regardless, you were the one who accused me of projecting mommy issues, and since that's about, you know, ME, maybe we ought not to talk too much about who has the right to say what.

See first paragraph of this post. I stand by my first impression, until you provide clarification. Who is this mysterious 'someone's' you're referring to? The artist? The creative director? The CEO? The magic art making fairy who works for a thimble of rum while the artist sleeps?

(edited for fumblefingering the preview vs update post.)