vagrant-soul

[vagrant-soul]

GPose Guide: Dark-skinned characters

I got some questions about how to work with dark-skinned characters - and also heard some comments on how hard it is to gpose them. So here's a compilation of use cases, some techniques, and setups!

Posing in dark settings

This is where dark-skinned characters shine, pun intended. Point lights give a lot of flexibility, and character/environment lights are great tools to give volume and detach characters from the background.

In this example, 3-point sources are used to provide volume to the characters, without relying on character brightness at all. The Neneko Nikuman preset gives excellent brightness, contrast, and depth of field (DoF) options.

Posing in bright settings

Contrast is a powerful tool, and dark-skinned (and dark-clad) characters can use that to their great advantage.

In the following example, a hard white light is positioned to create a strong rim light for volume, with a support gold source for tone and a light purple point to bring up the character's face. The Neneko Cocktail preset gives rich metal tones and excellent contrast.

The second example is about color. The same preset (Neneko Cocktail) is used, with ADOF+BOKEH and ADOF+BLUR enabled to give a dreamy quality to the background. Light sources emulate the sky.

Colorful/Pastel clothing/scenario

You may have heard that dark-skinned characters don't go well with certain colors, like pink or white. That is not true: Dark skin palettes have as much width as pale ones, just in a different range - and light sources can bring them up.

The first example uses a very colorful background, with Neneko Lux driving the hue and brightness up. Instead of fighting it, we use the scenario colors to our advantage by projecting them around the character.

The second example is a portrait where we again use the scenario to provide hints about the light sources. Neneko Melonpan gives an excellent, smooth pastel treatment. Let's see the step-by-step from the original state to the final result.

The first light is placed to emulate a cyan reflection from the water. The second emulates the bluish reflection from the sky, and The third is pretty near and creates a sunny rim light.

With everything in place, we can enable the preset - and play around with DoF to decide how much we want to detach it from the scenario, taking away attention from the background and popping the character.

 Posing together with fair-skinned characters

We can borrow some practices from real-life photography. The most important: position your light sources around the dark-skinned character. This will give you enough contrast to play with, and lessen the amount that reaches the other.

Composition (Extreme)

Compositions with lots of glow elements make it hard to pop the character features: since armor and weapons don't emit real light, everything needs to be compensated with the three-point lights, plus character and manual scene brightness.

In this case, the character is positioned in such a way as to hide frontal reflections while still bringing his expression out a bit with well-defined rim lights.

Comment: The default in-game lighting leaves much to be desired

This is certainly true to an extent. The in-game settings are apparently tuned towards a common denominator between wildly different form factors (i.e. PC, Playstation 3-5), so a muted palette is used.

This results in ashen colors and small gradient differences between dark tones in certain situations; keep that in mind if you're looking for locations. Again, lighting can be used to remediate - but not eliminate - these limitations.

Final Thoughts

This isn't, by any means, a comprehensive guide. Dark-skinned characters come in a glorious amount of shades and tones, so I tried to keep it simple and discuss some basic aspects.

If you have any questions, feel free to ask! It'll help others that may stumble over this thread.

And thank you for your patience!

[vagrant-soul]

For all of your fake cutscene needs, I present to you a template of the FFXIV in-game dialogue textbox and choice screen, available in both a blank png and layered PSD format.

They are free to use across the board, but I do ask if you could link back to this post so others can find the resource if they find it useful!

DOWNLOAD TEMPLATES HERE

Text used in both templates is Myriad Pro.

Example use of both templates can be found under the cut below:

Keep reading

[vagrant-soul]

Azem / Hecate / Lea Monde

[vagrant-soul]

YCH, ftw

Source: @Schakerin on Twitter - transparent PNG available for download here

[vagrant-soul]

ok here's the pre-endwalker standings, place your bets

[vagrant-soul]

Lea chilling with the girlies

[vagrant-soul]

FFXIV Lore Resources

Hey dudes! Lately I’ve been reaching out a bit to some FFXIV players who expressed interest in getting a hold of lore resources. I mentioned to them I’d  try to set up a post making the most helpful ones I’ve encountered readily available, and this?

It’s that post.

MIRKEMENAGERIE: Easily one of (if not the) most complete and comprehensive collections of lore I’ve encountered online. Includes quotes from NPCs in-game, Encyclopedia Eorzea I and II, item references, and more. The Twelve posts and location lore are some of my favorites but really all of this is fantastic. Very accessible.

HARMONEA: Has assembled a HUGE collection of lets plays on youtube that are organized and well-paced, showing everything from MSQ to Ascian-lore specifically to Job quests and beyond. This has been truly helpful whenever I want to check a reference but don’t necessarily have time to New Game + or check the Unending Journey in-game. It’s easy to jump around to find exactly the scenes you’re looking for, and compare moments from different points during the game.

GARLAND TOOLS DATABASE: Sometimes I need lore details from specific quests, that aren’t in cutscenes or easily found in a video. Garland Tools helps with tracking down quotes, character information, and much more. Also contains data around NPC character designs. Doesn’t have cutscene quotes, but does have enough info to track down what cutscenes you’ll likely need to watch. Whether on youtube or in the Unending Journey, it gets much easier tracking down references.

TALES FROM THE CALAMITY, TALES FROM THE DRAGONSONG WAR, TALES FROM THE STORM, CHRONICLES OF LIGHT: THE HUNT BEGINS, TALES FROM THE SHADOWS: These are official FFXIV short stories associated with A Realm Reborn, Heavensward, Stormblood, and Shadowbringers respectively. The story from Chronicles of Light is also canon but insanely difficult to track down, contains details surrounding Zenos’s backstory and psychology. These absolutely carry lore details! You don’t need them to understand and enjoy the game, but they give added information and context.

ALL FINAL FANTASY XIV 1.X MAIN SCENARIO CUTSCENES: I have not gone through all of this yet but you can bet your ass I have it saved.

FINAL FANTASY XIV 1.X LETS PLAY: Likewise haven’t gone through all of this yet but if you want really detailed 1.0 lore info, this has it.

OZMA’S ASCIAN REFERENCE PILE: Contains both concrete known information, game data, and speculation by Ozma as a longstanding Ascian fan. 1.0 WHITE MAGE QUESTLINE: This isn’t 100% canon anymore, but I’m including it because it actually shows the Elementals in voiced roles and that is a huge deal. Worth noting this youtuber has other 1.0 videos documented too.

BOTANICA EORZEA: This contains all lore surrounding the plants of Eorzea, organized and accessible.

LODESTONE SONG LYRICS COMPILATION: There are often other places you can google around for official song lyrics and I usually use those, but if you want everything in one place this is your spot!

Lastly, while not lore related I do want to share a particularly fun resource with the people who might be peeking over.

EORZEA COLLECTION: A lot of players in FFXIV are  heavily invested in the design components of the game, and this is a hub for that. Whether you’re looking for something in the vein of Dark Souls, something outrageously silly, something cute, something majestic, etc. you can basically find all kinds of tones/experiments here. You can restrict what you see by job, race, gender, etc. and order according to recency or loves. It’s also somewhere you can see how gear looks with different characters, dyes, and combinations. Very organized and can be a useful resource for farming.

[vagrant-soul]

ARCHON THESIS: LAHABREA

Alright, I am going to do my best to make a Lahabrea analysis masterpost. In my opinion the devs have done some incredibly clever and subtle work with him as far back as A Realm Reborn, and while it’s possible they didn’t initially know all the details of his story—I’m actually inclined to think they either had a decent amount in-mind back then, or have managed to retroactively weave things together in a way that effectively creates the results I’ll describe. Either way, this is the picture that makes the most sense to me.

Warning, some spoilers for Endwalker trailers. Also warning this is huge and some of it just turned into info vomit.

Keep reading

[vagrant-soul]

mirkemenagerie update

Lore Index

I’ve had my own lore compilations thread on the RPC for some time, and now I’m porting the Index over to @mirkemenagerie. So you will now be able to scroll through an itemized list of my lore posts here:

While still finding all lore-related reblogs under the Lore Tag here:

Hope you all like the changes!

Mirke’s Menagerie Lore Index

Tumblr

Aether & Magic

Everything You Could Ever Want To Know About Aether

Magical and Non-magical Healing Lore

Undead Lore, Ashkin and Necromancy

Voidsent Summoning Lore

Linkpearl Lore

The War of the Magi

Deities & Primals

Menphina Lore

Thaliak Lore

Nymeia Lore

Oschon Lore

Byregot Lore

Rhalgr Lore

Azeyma Lore

Nald’thal Lore

Nophica Lore

Althyk Lore

Far Eastern Kami Lore

Mol’s Elder Gods Lore

Tempering Lore

Races of Man & Beastmen

Languages and Accents Lore

Spoken Terminology and Origin of Beastman Slur

Interracial and Inter-clan Heritage

Lalafell Lore

Viera Lore

Miqo’te Lore

Seekers of the Sun Tribe Lore

Miqo’te Purring/Rolling R’s

Hellsguard and Roegadyn Lore

Highlander Lore

Xaela-Raen Relations

The Ashcrown Consortium

The Qiqirn

Guilds, Classes, & Jobs

Spiritbinding and Soul Crystal Lore with Links to Job Lore Compilations

Red Mage Lore

Bard Lore

Monk Lore

Black Magic Lore

Sultansworn and Paladin Lore

Dark Knight Lore

A Warrior’s Axe

Ul’dah, the Jewel of the Desert

Ul’dahn Law, Brass Blades, Stone Torches, and Immortal Flames Lore

Highbridge Executions?

The Order of Nald’thal

The Platinum Mirage and Pugilists’ Guild

Street Names and Districts in Ul'dah

Limsa Lominsa, the Navigator’s Veil

Lominsan Law, Yellowjacket, Cuda, Pirate, and Maelstrom Lore

Limsa Lominsa’s Government

Limsa’s Gun Control Laws

Arcanist & Mealvaan’s Gate Lore

Mistbeard Lore

Sastasha & Mistbeard Cove

Carvallain & Astalicia Lore

The Company of Heroes

Gridania, the Sylvan City-state

Gridanian Law, Wood Wailers, Gods’ Quiver, and Twin Adder Lore

Elementals, Conjury & Hearers, Hedge, Greenwrath, Wildling Lore

Padjal Lore

Tam-Tara Deepcroft

The Holy See of Ishgard

Ishgardian Heresy Lore

Dragon Blood Lore

Chocobo Lore

House Dzemael’s Roegadyn Knights

Sharlayan, the Old World

Nyunkrepf and Sharlayan’s Founding

Sharlayan Lore Compilation

Great Gubal Library Texts, Boy and the Dragon Gay Story

Saint Mocianne’s Arboretum

Ala Mhigo

Expanded Ala Mhigan Lore Part I: History and Culture of Ala Mhigo

Expanded Ala Mhigan Lore Part II: People of Ala Mhigo

Expanded Ala Mhigan Lore Part III: Common Misconceptions about Ala Mhigo

Garlemald

A Timeline of the Garlean Invasion

The Near East (Ilsabard & Thavnair)

The Near East and Thavnair Lore

The Far East (Othard & Hingashi)

The Kingdom of Dalmasca & the Royal City of Rabanastre

Far Eastern Geomancy

The Confederacy and the Ruby Tithe

Doma, Raen, Ninja Lore Compilation

Far Eastern Lalafell Lore

Far Eastern Miqo’te Lore

Ancient Allag

The Allagan Empire, Meteor Project, and Summoning

Meracydia, the Southern Continent

Meracydia Lore

Mamook, the New World

New World Lore

Miscellaneous

The Great Continents Map Labelled

Time Passage 4.0 - What year is it? 

Towns Changed by the Calamity

The Adventurers’ Guild & Eorzea’s Forty Saints

Commoners’ Opinions of Adventurers and the City-states

Commoners’ Opinions of Adventurers and the City-states Pt2

Airship, Ceruleum, Highwind Skyways, and Garlond Ironworks Lore

The Prophet Urianger & The Seventh Umbral Era

All Saints’ Wake

Starlight, Winters’ Knell, and Heavensturn Lore

Formal Education in Eorzea

Orphanages in Hydaelyn

Sex Workers, Pleasure Barges, Pillowhouses

Hydaelyn Alcohol List

Diseases in Hydaelyn

Drugs in Eorzea

Areas with Harsh Winters in Hydaelyn

Eorzean Map Poem by Roddard Ironheart

Eorzea’s Rivers Lore

Eorzean Explosives and Firesand Lore

Zer'maat Five Lore

Paissa Lore

Are Fantasias Canon?

PAX West 2017 Lore Panel Notes

2018 Las Vegas Fanfest Lore Panel Q&A

The First: Norvrandt

The Crystarium, Lakeland, and the Church of Light

Eulmore, Kholusia, Sin Eaters, and the Oracle of Light

Nabaath Areng, Amh Araeng, and Daedalus Stoneworks

Voeburt, Il Mheg, the Fae, and Titania

Ronka, Rak’tika Greatwood, and the Night’s Blessed

The Tempest, Amaurot, the Ancients, and Ascians

Keep reading

[vagrant-soul]

Who are you ma’am ? Minfilia? Venat? An Ascian with hair like Varis?

[vagrant-soul]

Matching the Twelve to Zodiac Signs

yeah yeah. I know they all have months. But the months would make Azeyma virgo despite being associated with the sun and we simply cannot have that, so here is my best guess for each.

Aries - Halone

War/Governed by Mars, this one's pretty straightforward and Halone couldn't go anywhere else

Taurus - Byregot

Byregot was kinda the leftovers tbh but Taurus is a very materially oriented sign that works for a smith

Gemini - Thaliak

Air sign ruled by mercury, suits a scholar, lots of thinking going on here

Cancer - Menphina

Ruled by the moon, similarly emotional and heart-driven

Leo - Azeyma

Ruled by the sun, similarly outgoing and willful

Virgo - Nophica

Virgo's traditionally a young maiden with a scythe associated with wheat and fertility, so a natural fit for Nophica

Libra - Nald'Thal

Nald'Thal's symbols are the scales, another no-brainer

Scorpio - Rhalgr

Scorpio is governed by Mars and Pluto which suits a god of destruction, there's a power motif here that works well

Sagitarrius - Oschon

Both symbolized by the bow, Oschon is a wanderer and Sagitarrius is typically a traveler as well

Capricorn - Althyk

They're austere and serious in similar ways, both associated with earth, and an emperor seemed to fit capricorn. Saturn as a ruler fits here too

Aquarius - Llymalaen

The wind-oriented god of Limsa Lominsa's of course suits the air-sign called aquarius lol

Pisces - Nymeia

Both water signs, and Nymeia governs fate, which makes her seem like a good fit for this "psychic" sign

[vagrant-soul]

“We who walk before may lead those who walk after.”

[vagrant-soul]

through the wood

[vagrant-soul]

black & white

[vagrant-soul]

[vagrant-soul]

1-50

[vagrant-soul]

a couple of dust bunnies