Altar | Altar

[Higurashi]

As always, I like cards that give Death a way of benefiting from sacrificing (still have no idea why it can't sacrifice already), and this could be very good. 2 practically guaranteed bone counters on Bone Wall per turn -and- more quanta/life is a very, very good thing. 'Course, the life gain feels weird for Death to have, but I don't mind it that much.

[ratcharmer]

Want some art for this?  I could lay down some sketch ideas.

I take it this means you don't like the image I showed above? If you'd like a specific change, sure lay it on me.


These are things I'm thinking about changing right now:
-Change the perspective, it's kinda boring right now.
-Make the altar longer -> looks a little coffee table-ish right now?
-Needs a more interesting background, I'm debating about what should be in the background.
-Change the lower part of the altar. I just looks funny as is.

What I actually do like:
-The kris
-putting the symbol on the altar surface, maybe make it just a darker gray though?

Anyways, that's why it's taken me so long to come up with a decent image for this card. I keep drawing things then scrapping them.

@Hirugashi:
The thought behind life gain was that a elemental isn't truly "alive" and would therefor sustain itself in a manner befitting its element.
And that most of the other ways I could think to improve it for the upgraded version didn't balance/work well.

[redium]

Just offering some help if need be.

[Higurashi]

Hirugashi is not my username, but I understand you mean me.
Yes, it makes "sense" and all, but it's still not like the element Death. Mostly because it could be a very reliable way of gaining quite a good amount over time. Synergises even more with the stalling Bone Wall offers, which is cool in its own way.

[ratcharmer]

How's this image?

(http://imageplay.net/view/m7Gbd84708/Altar_Window003shrink)

Obviously it's nowhere near completion, just want to make sure I'm on the right track before I put to much more effort in.

Things I know need fixed:
-I haven't added shading/shadows in some places
-Some of the lighting is sloppy
-haven't done some of the textures yet
-some of the textures I have done need cleaned up
-I think the spider needs to go, it just doesn't show up as anything but a black spot

And there's probably a lot more I haven't caught yet

@Higurashi: my apologies for the name mangling

[redium]

Good perspective ratcharmer, the main things that stick out are the legs of the altar and window being off (in terms of perspective), as well as  the emptiness of the picture.  I think the textures will help the second problem a lot but not fully.  The contrast of the bright window to a dreary room is a cool idea, just make sure to have the alter itself pop.  I like the idea a lot and hope it pulls what you want.

I also want to apologize for my former offer.  I did not want to imply that I thought your picture was not drawn/rendered well. I only mistakingly believed you were going to use the stock image and wanted to help out since I really like the card. 

Good luck!

[dramore]

Image needs a blood channel. No true sacrifacial Alter is complete without the blood channel.(<keeps the biggest mess away and makes it easier to collect the needed offering)

[ratcharmer]

@redium: You're fine, in fact I'm glad to hear people are willing to offer a hand if need be.

@dramore: *whimpers a little* the blood channel might be really hard to add . . . sorry, I'm new to this whole ritual sacrifice thing . . .

Now for an update on the image:
(http://imageplay.net/view/m7Gbd84851/Altar_Window003_edit)
First off, sorry it's a really low quality jpeg right now, imageplay started crying when I uploaded a higher quality version last time. The final image will be higher quality & resolution, don't fret.

Now as to what I've changed:
-Added shadows to the altar and the knife
-Added reflections to the knife blade
-fixed the shading on the altar
-removed spider
-Added murk into the corners of the room
-Fixed the perspective on the verticals (the room was actually drawn crooked, which made the window & the altar look wrong)
-Cropped the image to get rid of dead space
-Added coloring to floor and walls
-Added a giant red circle around the last perspective problem I can't figure out.

Seriously, can someone tell me what's wrong with that corner of the altar?

*Edit: Okay, I think I just figured it out, the distance from the top of the altar to the base of the pedestal is wrong . . . darn, that's gonna be hard to fix . . .

[redium]

The legs of the altar are at a different perspective than the altar and room.  On another layer (preferably above the top most layer of the drawing)  redraw the legs as squares, that will help clarify the dimension and position.  You will see that they both lean too far to the left (from the viewers perspective).  Another way to help find mistakes in the drawing is to flip/mirror it.

Good luck.

[ratcharmer]

Fixed some of the perspective issues with the legs.
(http://imageplay.net/view/m7Gbd84892/Altar_Window003shrink)

Any thoughts on how to make the edges of some of the shadows look a little better? I'm using GIMP, with each lighting effect on a different layer.

[redium]

I have not used gimp, but if there is an airbrush tool use it on a low opacity with whatever color you use to shade.

[MrMojo]

IMO, I think this is pretty underpowered.

It's like a super fail immolation :|