millea
Posts: 45
2/12/2018
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The discussion on this particular topic has started back in the Website Redesign thread and I feel it's definitely something worth pursuing further! That's why I decided to make a separate thread so we wouldn't clog up the other one.
I'm sure we've all noticed the slow but steady change in the art direction of the game - moving away from the cartoony portraits of before to a much more realistic style. What are your thoughts on it?
Personally, I'm not too happy about that. While the new art blows the old one out the water with sheer skill and attention to detail, I feel like it lacks most of the personality that the old, cartoony portraits possessed. I felt like the art style of Sunless Seas was the perfect mix of skill and style, looking much better than some of the previous pictures (coughcougholdduchesscoughcough) but still keeping the personality and charm.
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 Elvira Blake, the Pariah's Doctor. ༺⚜️༻ Anne Meredith, the Disfigured Captain. 
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millea
Posts: 45
2/12/2018
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Canvas Blank wrote:
Looking at you, Chruch Renown icon.
Say what you will about Father Norton, but you can't deny the personality (and lust) is just oozing out of him.
--
Elvira Blake, the Pariah's Doctor. ༺⚜️༻ Anne Meredith, the Disfigured Captain.
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Jolanda Swan
Posts: 1789
2/13/2018
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Beautiful as the new icons are, they are not good for thumbnails.
I would prefer it if instead of an art makeover, we had some of the duplicate art replaced. An aunt that is not Gerbrandt for example. New art, no style clash.
Still, the change is not gamebreaking for me. Sometimes it is even helpful, i.e. the tiger ministers.
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Lover of all things beautiful, secret admirer of ugly truths, fond of the Parabola Sun... and always delighted to role play.
http://fallenlondon.com/profile/Jolanda%20Swan
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The Maltese Raven
Posts: 22
2/13/2018
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Count me in as someone, who finds the art direction Sunless Sea the most charming.
Some of the (really) old character art could use some cleanup or sometimes just looks "too funny" for a certain mood in some stories.
My biggest gripe with the new painting style is the size. A big opportunity card portrait with the new "Secular Missionary" art looks impressive, but most of Fallen London consists of tiny buttons. There the distinct outlines of the comic portraits work a lot better.
Could be interesting to find some middle ground there.
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http://fallenlondon.storynexus.com/Profile/The Maltese Raven
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yetanotherone
Posts: 135
2/13/2018
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Look, there is no room here for 'fans of both styles'.
Or any kind of reasonable discussion, acceptance of different viewpoints, or any of that modern nonsense.
Fallen London is clearly set somewhere around the end of an alternative 19th century, with a whimsical art style inspired mainly by things created in the other (allegedly 'real', but quite insane) 20th & 21st centuries.
And there it shall remain. For perpetuity!
Sarcasm aside though, this sort of thing:
https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/fallenlondon/images/2/29/Oldqueenie.png/revision/latest?cb=20180212132830
is really putting me off.
That could be +5 respectable, and I still wouldn't use her because the goat/owl has way more charm.
And I now know how people who won't do things in-game for roleplaying reasons feel...
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https://www.fallenlondon.com/profile/AncientDrunkard
https://www.fallenlondon.com/Profile/ModernDrunkard
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CatLady
Posts: 53
2/13/2018
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Well, as it was said earlier, Sunless Sea portrait art style was *perfect* mix of realism with Fallen-London'ing cartoon'y. I agree, that recent Missionary/Firebrand are leaning waaaay to much into faux-realism side, while many old icons are just too simplistic.
Stick to the Sunless Sea style guidelines, and all will be well, and all matter of things shall be well!
edited by CatLady on 2/14/2018
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http://fallenlondon.storynexus.com/profile/CatLady_
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phryne
Posts: 1351
2/12/2018
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Personally, I like the new pics - with His Amused Lordship as the one glaring exception.
However, I never had a problem with the old style. If there's something I don't like too much it's seeing old and new portraits next too each other - they don't mix very well. That's why I hope the remaining 'cartoony' ones will disappear rather quickly now, since I don't think the new ones are going anywhere (unless the community response is overwhelmingly negative).
In the end I guess I don't have a strong opinion on this topic, except for that atrocious HAL portrait, but I guess Time will heal this wound, too  .
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Accounts: Bag a Legend • Light Fingers • Heart's Desire • Nemesis • no ambition
Exceptional Stories, sorted by Season and by writer ― Favours & Renown Guide
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nyana
Posts: 11
2/12/2018
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The cartoony portraits had a special charm in them - sure, some artwork needs to be updated, but I feel lately said updates have come at the cost of that special feeling the old artwork had, makes sense what am I saying?  It's not godawful per se, but personally, I thought that quirky drawing style added a unique feel to Fallen London. With the photorealistic new portraits, though, it feels... strange. Like it doesn't really fit with the atmosphere of the verse, which has been bothering me for a while.
Also agreed with the above comment; the new artwork feels so different that (at least to me!) it feels just jarring.
--
→ The Ethereal Versifier ; Glasswoman & writer. Bohemian-alligned. Friendly and dreamy, known to many a devil or thug. Open for chess games, coffees, packages and loitering.
→ The Rambunctious Navigator (Bag a Legend) ; Monster-Hunter & cartographer. Ex-naval officer, always followed by two-fisted rats. Open for sparring, coffees, loitering and chess games.
→ The Lethargic Enforcer (Nemesis) ; Licentiate & ocassional undercover. Weary but dangerous, has a fondness for honey. Open for sparring, loitering, coffees and boxed cats.
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silurica
Posts: 210
2/13/2018
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Gosh, the tiger ministers are some of my favorite artworks in the whole FL/SSea/SSkies. They're not just pretty art, but they also tell you what kind of characters the tigers are, very well done. I think His Amused Lordship's new portrait captures this well too. I realize this is easier said than done, but I wish more of the new portraits were like them.
As an artist myself, I actually enjoy observing the art evolution, it gives me a sense of history. But I have to echo the sentiment that the new style doesn't suit icon purpose very well. For example, I'm fine with the new Firebrand portrait and still can recognize him (unlike the Missionary (yes, I realize her old portrait isn't something especially drawn for her, but still we've associated it with her and the new portrait should've reflected it better)), but it's too dark and it's harder to make out the details compared to the old style, and so it's harder to see in the inventory/profile. The Enthusiastic Visitor suffers the same problem. And this one is more of my personal taste, but I also could do without the strong, "greasy" highlights like in the Dowager's portrait, but something like this is fine with me.
And honestly, as a newer player, my brain just connects the more polished artworks with "new, likely important content" lol
--
 Meika Osborne, the Reckless Researcher
 Leonard West, the Scarlet Informant
 Chizuru Nishiooji, the Rueful Ex-Diplomat
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Plynkes
Posts: 631
2/13/2018
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I like the old art (mostly, there are a few stinkers) and I like the new art.
I just don't think they mix well together.
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"Then tell Wind and Fire where to stop, but don't tell me."
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nyana
Posts: 11
2/13/2018
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Kaijyuu wrote:
I want the old Revolutionaries art (the one with the bomb) back. It was updated like 2 years ago and doesn't look nearly as good.
On the other hand, some of the old art, like the old male devil, were pretty awful.
Personally I detest the search for "realism" in game art, since it loses a lot through lacking stylization.
I personally found the old devil art pretty cute, I mean, he looks like an excited puppy about to get your soul! :p
But, I agree with you on the last part 100%
--
→ The Ethereal Versifier ; Glasswoman & writer. Bohemian-alligned. Friendly and dreamy, known to many a devil or thug. Open for chess games, coffees, packages and loitering.
→ The Rambunctious Navigator (Bag a Legend) ; Monster-Hunter & cartographer. Ex-naval officer, always followed by two-fisted rats. Open for sparring, coffees, loitering and chess games.
→ The Lethargic Enforcer (Nemesis) ; Licentiate & ocassional undercover. Weary but dangerous, has a fondness for honey. Open for sparring, loitering, coffees and boxed cats.
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turbosnowy
Posts: 33
2/14/2018
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Nothing they ever do will beat the Salt Weasel. This has been proven by NASA. Whoever drew the Salt Weasel needs to do all the art forever, which I think is a reasonable stance to take.
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Kalamari
Posts: 17
2/12/2018
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The faux-realism is already rather bothersome due to how out of place it looks, but it's gotten worse lately due to the utter of the Missionary and Firebrand. They, along with the Vistor from the Feast, all look completely obscured in the shadows around them. It'd be a good mood piece if it wasn't the only look we had at these characters.
The Incarcerate is remarkably FL though, and partially makes up for the Dowager, who looks so glossy I'm convinced something inhuman, like a wax figure.
Or a snuffer.
Or perhaps a snuffer wax figure?
--
http://fallenlondon.storynexus.com/Profile/Kalis%20Amar Main account, zailor and monster hunter extraordinaire! Open to all actions except Seeking and other negative ones.
http://fallenlondon.storynexus.com/Profile/Rebecca%20Bhatt Alt account, poet and thief, tries to stay out of danger. Open to peaceful actions.
http://fallenlondon.storynexus.com/Profile/Herbert%20Phillips%20West Second alt, seeker in the making. Will take any punishment.
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Barse
Posts: 706
2/12/2018
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I'm conscious that these kinds of threads often become a place for people to gather who may have grievances or strong feelings to air. Perfectly content people rarely come and rave, and I've seen a fair bit of pushback over the new stuff, so just in case any of the artists ever see this - I like the new style!
As phryne says, it's a little weird seeing the new stuff right up against the old stuff (the artwork has come a long way since the early days), but I love a lot of the newer-style portraits, as well as the increased amount of new artwork we're getting since the art department doubled in size. Okay, it only went from one to two, but still. As much as I'm attached to the old web 1.0 look of Fallen London and the (sometimes slightly wonky) cartoony artwork, the new direction is also very cool.
Edit: I also have no problem with Brian Blesse- I mean, HAL. He just looks so happy, how can you hate that?
edited by Barse on 2/12/2018
--
 The Scorched Sailor, up for most social actions and RP. Not as scary as he looks.
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Harlocke
Posts: 506
2/13/2018
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I'm a fan of both art styles. While I prefer the newer realistic images, the cartoony old images don't bother me. In fact, I find them charming to come across occasionally , though perhaps that's partly from nostalgia.
The only artistic thing that bothers me is when a new item/person reuses an old piece of art with no alteration whatsoever.
--
I welcome social actions, and can visit your salon as an author.
http://fallenlondon.storynexus.com/Profile/Harlocke
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millea
Posts: 45
2/12/2018
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Kalamari wrote:
The faux-realism is already rather bothersome due to how out of place it looks, but it's gotten worse lately due to the utter of the Missionary and Firebrand. They, along with the Vistor from the Feast, all look completely obscured in the shadows around them. It'd be a good mood piece if it wasn't the only look we had at these characters.
You raise a good point - the Missionary especially has some heavy mood lighting which makes the portrait extremely hard to read when in your inventory:
The Enthusiastic Visitor, meanwhile, just seems like a big fan of the highlighter-only makeup challenge.
Kalamari wrote:
Or a snuffer.
Listen, bub, say what you will about those adorable face-stealing, wax-munching monstrosities, but they, at least, know the tricks of a good skin routine!
edited by millea on 2/12/2018
edited by millea on 2/12/2018
--
Elvira Blake, the Pariah's Doctor. ༺⚜️༻ Anne Meredith, the Disfigured Captain.
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Slyblue
Posts: 224
2/13/2018
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Count me in for Team Tiger Ministers! The bright colors and the not-so-realistic style, I think, is a nice middle ground between the old cartoony style and the new, darker one.
Still, while the old style will always hold some nostalgia for me (And I wasn't even around for the very first ones. Looking at you, Weaseller icon), I'd welcome a new style if it was actually streamlined/done in one go.
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The Smiling Devil • The Curt Licentiate • The Keen-Eyed Captain
"For hearts of truest mettle, absence doth join and Time doth settle."
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Siankan
Posts: 1048
2/14/2018
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On a previous thread I mentioned that one definition of great art is that it rewards you for attention; the more you pay, the better you find it. Fallen London's writing has always been great, and fairly uniformly so as well. Its visual representation, on the other hand, has always been a mixed bag.
There are some wonderfully evocative pieces; I am a particular fan of Lilac and Sinning Jenny. On the other hand, the longer you stare at the stock cleric the more you realize that the poor fellow has something badly wrong with his neck. The more I see the architectural icons (both the stock house from, e.g., Unfinished Business in Veilgarden and the Shuttered Palace icon), the less I want to. And so forth.
The newer art, by and large, does not have this problem. There have been many complaints about changes to particularly beloved characters, but few about the quality of the pieces on their own. (I do not say none; I am in the camp that thinks the shadows are off on the newest Secular Missionary--and that she seems to have emerged from a particularly seedy and uninviting brothel.) Whatever else you think of it, the new art for His Amused Lordship certainly captures his great baritone belly-laugh. The new character art from the Season of Ruins sits among my favorite pieces of game art, period. Most importantly, when I have had surface quibbles with a portrait (that wasn't of the Secular Missionary), I found my objections disappearing as I gave it more attention. That, I think, is a very good sign.
Regarding the charge that the newer art looks odd next to the more cartoon-like art of earlier days, this would be true--if that were the whole picture. However, Fallen London is and has long been a mixed bag of styles. There are flat cartoons, there are silhouettes, there are more rounded pieces. Even in a broad style, there is plenty of variation: the standard urchin is much less cartoon-like than the standard priest, and Sinning Jenny, though equally flat, is much better drawn. Case Notes have a much simpler silhouette than the Muffled Intriguer, and both are very different from the Zee-Znail Retreat. Even the newer art is scarcely monolithic in style terms: compare the new Dowager to the smiling gent from The Clay Man's Arm, or either to the Tigers, and you will see noticeable differences in technique and result. In short, Fallen London has accommodated considerable variety in its art and will continue to do so. In that context, the newer portraiture fits in well.
Regarding the decisions on when to release new art, I think it's been logical enough. Characters get new art when they come back into the spotlight. New portraits celebrated the last election. New portraits celebrated the next stage in the Dilmun Club. New portraits celebrated the chance to marry the Firebrand and Missionary. As much as I would love to see F. F. Gebrandt finally get her own art (or see the disappointing icon of the Rubbery Bellringer replaced with an actual Rubbery bellringer), I suspect they will continue to use new portraits to highlight and celebrate important events in Fallen London. It's sensible enough, and doesn't put too much pressure on Paul Arendt's work schedule. Hmmm.... perhaps I should put together a case for F. F. Gebrandt as Mayor.
edited by Siankan on 2/14/2018
--
Prof. Sian Kan, at your service.
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Gul al-Ahlaam
Posts: 225
2/14/2018
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I rather like that the game includes a variety of divergent art styles, even more so than it did before. I was a huge fan of the guest art that used to be used in exceptional stories like Discernment, since a different thematically relevant style for each story felt really fun, and helped get me in the mood for what was going on. Obviously that's financially untenable, but having lots of different kinds of art, some painterly, some cartoonish, some broadly expressionistic, is in my opinion unquestionably for the best.
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The Uncanny Hierophant.
The Jewel-Eyed Prince.
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Dudebro Pyro
Posts: 757
2/14/2018
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Jolanda Swan wrote:
An aunt that is not Gerbrandt for example.
That's my aunt! I would, however, heartily approve of a Gerbrandt that is not my aunt.
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Dudebro Pyro, eccentric scholar
Spare Starveling Kitties always welcome. I collect them.
For that matter, send me your unwanted cat boxes too.
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millea
Posts: 45
2/12/2018
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Hey, it's worked for them so far! (except Fiacre's maybe, his noggin is as shiny as they come)
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Elvira Blake, the Pariah's Doctor. ༺⚜️༻ Anne Meredith, the Disfigured Captain.
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nyana
Posts: 11
2/12/2018
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millea wrote:
Canvas Blank wrote:
Looking at you, Chruch Renown icon.
Say what you will about Father Norton, but you can't deny the personality (and lust) is just oozing out of him.
He looks like he's judging us D:
--
→ The Ethereal Versifier ; Glasswoman & writer. Bohemian-alligned. Friendly and dreamy, known to many a devil or thug. Open for chess games, coffees, packages and loitering.
→ The Rambunctious Navigator (Bag a Legend) ; Monster-Hunter & cartographer. Ex-naval officer, always followed by two-fisted rats. Open for sparring, coffees, loitering and chess games.
→ The Lethargic Enforcer (Nemesis) ; Licentiate & ocassional undercover. Weary but dangerous, has a fondness for honey. Open for sparring, loitering, coffees and boxed cats.
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Sir Joseph Marlen
Posts: 575
2/13/2018
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Honestly, I'm a fan of both styles! The older cartoony style has its quirky charm about it that's almost become iconic for Fallen London, and on the flipside, the newer artstyle has such an elegant beauty about it that simply oozes with the styles of the late 1800s. I'd also be remiss not to mention how giddy I feel when waiting to see the newest face-lift for a character's new look (I personally loved the new HAL art, even if I wished they'd kept his hair brown). All I can hope for is that they find a healthy balance between traditional cartoonish and the newer stylization. If reworks of older images could receive a simple touch-up and a few newer images retain that old style, perhaps they could keep a healthy balance between the two styles both being in the game. Don't get me wrong, I love the old art and don't want it to disappear, but I'm also afraid of not letting the designs grow into something new. Hopefully they'll be able to satisfy both worries at the same time.
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Sir Joseph Marlen - The Romantic Sophist
Alexus Harven - The Defiant Fatalist
Rose Reinhelm - The Respectful Revolutionary
Cappuccino - The Perfidious Spycraft
Available for any and all social actions.
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Kaijyuu
Posts: 1047
2/13/2018
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I want the old Revolutionaries art (the one with the bomb) back. It was updated like 2 years ago and doesn't look nearly as good.
On the other hand, some of the old art, like the old male devil, were pretty awful.
Personally I detest the search for "realism" in game art, since it loses a lot through lacking stylization.
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Be of good cheer. Our contacts have assured us that your sins are forgiven.
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Kukapetal
Posts: 1449
2/12/2018
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If they all disappear it'll suck the charm right out of the game 
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Canvas Brimming
Posts: 30
2/12/2018
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Admittedly, some of the art in the game definitely needs to be updated. The changes made this Hallowmas were reasonable and the updated artstyle could still pass as Fallen London art -- However, the more recent changes, like the ones made to the Secular Missionary and the Revolutionary Firebrand, don't look like they belong in Fallen London at all (Not to mention their portraits were one of the last things in the game that needed changing. Looking at you, Chruch Renown icon).
Personally, I hate seeing the quirky old artstyle we all know and love get replaced by photorealistic portraits-- Not because the new style is bad, but because it's so wildly different from the rest (The perfect example being the new companions, which look like they were designed for Sunless Skies, not Fallen London) and I hope that in the future they at least try to tone it down a bit to match Fallen London or Sunless Seas' style.
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Canvas Brimming, The Nostalgic Investigator - A private investigator, a Wilmot's End regular and a rising pawn, with an insatiable sense of sentimentality towards the Surface. Why don't you leave a card?
~(Very active, RP always encouraged and appreciated!)
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Kukapetal
Posts: 1449
2/12/2018
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It feels sterile. The characters don't feel alive they feel like pictures.
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Bitty
Posts: 234
2/12/2018
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Yeah i'm that happy with the more realistic styles, the cartoony portraits were so much fun, also the Firebrand and Missionary's portraits are super dark, I was looking at a thumbnail version of the Missionary and could barely even make out her features until I saw a bigger pic
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Deathjack999
Posts: 140
2/14/2018
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I don't know about you, but I think some of the artstyle updates could be explained with LORE!
Like how the Devils originally had bug eyes and protruding teeth (mean they don't now, but that's probably just them realizing they looked weird.)
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Send me anything social, My FL account has the same username as this one.
Ambition Status: Waiting for new content in Bag A Legend.
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