[darkvatican]

Well, I’ve been trying to work on gradient lighting effects (that is the term, right?) while also putting together the first of a three-stage character progression.  here’s the first one with a default pose. Tell me how the lighting works and if you know see how to make it better, please!

This character’s name is Kezron. He was a character I created (with help) for a game I had with my older brother (the issuer of the progenitor challenge pics). Kezron was originally a mighty warrior, champion of the people, and a noble paladin. Kezron was unmatched in martial skill and his honor was likewise without equal. He died hundreds of years before our game took place. Our antagonists were facing an enemy with many lieutenants, one of which was a necromancer. The necromancer raided Kezron’s tomb and raised Kezron as a death knight, giving him an unusually strong sense of self, in an effort to make use of the hero’s legendary tenacity, skills, and powers. Kezron faced the heroes numerous times, often times bringing them to the very edge of defeat, but Kezron was unable to defeat them outright. Each time Kezron was defeated, the necromancer would give Kezron more and more free will, to better enable the death knight to make use of more of mortal Kezron’s more advanced techniques and tactics. This eventually led to Kezron gaining enough free will that he was offended by the dark task to which he was bound and he rebelled against the compulsion that the necromancer used to bind kezron to his task.

In addition to gaining more free will, each time Kezron was summoned more thoroughly into the physical world, he gained more powers and his appearance would change to reflect his more corporeal undead nature.

Kezron, stage one

 

 

 

[darkvatican]

Interesting item combinations, AMS. Killer shading, as usual. Those claws are awesome, too. Great job!

[darkvatican]

I quite I like the name Lord Projector. 🙂 What gives him his powers, Vengeance? I like the way you modified how the colors would play out across his uniform.

[darkvatican]

Vampyrist wrote:

…I’m studying chemical engineering. Its hard, very hard, it might be slowly killing me, but I enjoy it and it will pay the bills when I graduate in a year and a half or so.

 

Wow, chemical engineering… That’s some dense stuff! I was pursuing civil engineering (lightweight, in comparison), and I had to change majors because I couldn’t stand being in school for so long. lol Good luck!

[darkvatican]

Well well, so Legatus lives, eh? ^_^

 

Thanks for the compliments, all.

[darkvatican]

You have some great pieces, here. If these are examples of the improvement you’ve made in just a month’s time, then you’re probably a power user in the making. *impressed*

[darkvatican]

Hmm, I never ever EVER made an introduction in these forums (or the old UGO forums, even!), so I guess I’ll do it, now that I’m back to posting regularly-ish.

Well, my name is Josh. I’ve used the handle “darkvatican” (usually abbreviated as DV or “Vat”) since I was a teenager and I’m almost 34, now. I’m a bit of a lightweight, when it comes to sci-fi/fantasy. I don’t choose between the Wars and the Trek, for example, and I have only read the Tolkien/CS Lewis/Jordan series of fantasy novels within the last ten years. Both of those things make me a lightweight, right? 😛 I’m a superhero nut who doesn’t read comics anymore (too much continuity turmoil and dumb writing), and I don’t play and RPGs (of any variety) anymore. I used to play D&D/Cyberpunk/homebrew RPGs/console RPGs, but I gave it up years ago, after getting married. (There’s just not enough time in a day to do all the things I like, if I want to have a happy wife! 😉

 

I used the old HM2 and even purchased the program years ago (I think it was 2007 or 2008), and I began using HM3 when it was still in the early stages of the “alpha” build. I’ve recently begun doing HM3 character art again, after a long hiatus (about four-five years, I believe), although I had a few posts in that time and I still browsed others’ artwork. I primarily concentrate on creating (or reproducing) character designs that are distinct, but simple enough that they could be reproduced again (in other mediums and/or by other artists).

Anyways, that’s me in a nutshell. Cheers!

[darkvatican]

You can tell he’s a villain by the fact that he always wears a belly shirt. Sooo eeeeeeviiiiiiiil…! ;-]

That background is absolutely stellar, man! ^_^

In all seriousness, I like the design, how you’ve go the shredded cloth coming out from beneath the cybernetic/armor pieces. And the background really is very cool. I don’t know where people get the idea for such interesting backgrounds, because I can never come up with such good designs. *shrugs*

What are you studying in college, by the way?

[darkvatican]

ams wrote:

Is the dispenser dead? You still kicking around, Dblade?

 

dblade’s last post was over a year ago, according to his profile… My guess: life happened. *sigh* I’ve been there, before!

[darkvatican]

Spectrum looks good, but Blackout looks killer! It’s a really simple image, but you killed it with the energy effects. Great work! 🙂

[darkvatican]

JR19759 wrote:

Dude, why are you so good at living up to your name?

 

I totally concur with this sentiment! Excellent work!

[darkvatican]

I love the names Iron Spark and Cold Front! 🙂 Good designs too, dude.

[darkvatican]

*grumbles* So, I don’t know why I can’t attach the original pic to the post or why the image won’t display without being distorted, but I’ve tried numerous times. If the image doesn’t display correctly or if you can’t get access to the image via photobucket, then please let me know. *grumbles some more*

[darkvatican]

ExtremelyEPIC wrote:

…is it ok if i call you Vati?

Usually I get called DV, but you can call me whatever you want, “EE”.  lol

ExtremelyEPIC wrote:

maybe the shadows behind him should be softer.

I have taken your advice into account (as well as some of your lighting effects!) on this next piece – the last of the three-part challenge my brother issued to me. Here is the Arkonian Progenitor.

[darkvatican]

Corellian ancestor challenge pic, take #2!

All right, this is my new version of the progenitor of the Corellian race. I re-vamped it, based on tips from Anarchangel. Let me know what y’all think.

[Author]

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