The color and shading is unique. An very excellent choice. Now that I've seen it, I can't imagine any other color scheme. I'm curious if you had this coloration in mind all along, or if it was something that came to you as the design developed.
I don't think that's clipping - the left-side just isn't detailed yet (you see a lot of things are missing from that side - including the arm). I think the button is just missing, and what you see there is just the indentation of the cape where it should be.
I assume that once one side is complete you can largely just mirror it over. It's a work in progress snapshot remember
So many subtle improvements here to nearly all areas.
Mask changes: Excellent. Such an improvement over the rough sketch an I love the subtle detailing without drawing too much attention.
Half-helmet: Beautiful details, and even looks plausibly functional as added protection without the bulk of a proper helm. It looks even more plausible as a proper light armor set now without removing much if any from the shadowy rogue appeal. Didn't even see this detail on the previous sketch, but I see now what you had in mind
Abdominal scales: I think you found exactly what was needed here. They look very good now. I also notice the subtle shaping on the abdominal side-scales. Even better now even though they were already good on the last pass
Arm wraps: Yeees, nice!! I love that sort of stuff. I probably imagined something more along the lines of buckled straps rather than wraps, but that would maybe go overboard and end up looking weird. I think this is an excellent way of adding detail and a bit of "roughness" without being too conspicuous. I think having calmer areas is important to accentuate the flashier details elsewhere, and this seems like a good way to do that.
The back and back of the head is always hard to balance. It does look good, if a bit busy maybe. The bat symbolism fits for a predator of the darkness but it does seem a little bit conflicting with the nightingale imagery. A slight upturn of the wings might give it a more birdlike appearance. All in all it looks good though, and I'm of the opinion that you have to go with what works well rather than trying to stay 100% lore at all costs. Hard to critique something of this quality really.
Texture for the cloak just looks sweet, I love the rough grains look. I don't know if the reflections layer is complete in this image or not - but it looks really good already. More of a synthetic mesh-cloth look to it than the original that looked more like embedded fine chainmail, but I enjoy this look.
Can't wait to see what you do with the lower half. I can only imagine the armor-skirt, kneepad and boots will end up suitably epic. Sorry for rambling, but I'm just so excited!
Absolutely incredible work, Zero. But on a side note, what happened to the Dragonlord armor you were making? Are you making minor adjustments or did you scrap the idea?
"It's a remaster of my Nightingale Prime but this time with new meshes, textures and design. I will keep the overall theme of the original nightingale while incorporating my own elements(for example a 3d emblem instead of just a drawn one). I do plan to do the same with the Silver dragon Armor and Blood witch. I will release the whole set of armors/dragon (Dragon Lord, Valkyrie, Garo...) as a pack by the end of December (or as a successive pair of armors releases by mid december) for Skyrim O/SE. Past that month, i won't have the same amount of free time to mod as i have right now."
lol wonderful! Inigo may just look good in nightingale armor yet! though doesn't mean i wont have him alternate to the shrouded armor from Arise, simply cause his comments on it are too funny xD
at any rate lovely work! i really appreciate all the time and effort you put into this! <3
17 comments
I assume that once one side is complete you can largely just mirror it over. It's a work in progress snapshot remember
-Stigma
So many subtle improvements here to nearly all areas.
Mask changes: Excellent. Such an improvement over the rough sketch an I love the subtle detailing without drawing too much attention.
Half-helmet: Beautiful details, and even looks plausibly functional as added protection without the bulk of a proper helm. It looks even more plausible as a proper light armor set now without removing much if any from the shadowy rogue appeal. Didn't even see this detail on the previous sketch, but I see now what you had in mind
Abdominal scales: I think you found exactly what was needed here. They look very good now. I also notice the subtle shaping on the abdominal side-scales. Even better now even though they were already good on the last pass
Arm wraps: Yeees, nice!! I love that sort of stuff. I probably imagined something more along the lines of buckled straps rather than wraps, but that would maybe go overboard and end up looking weird. I think this is an excellent way of adding detail and a bit of "roughness" without being too conspicuous. I think having calmer areas is important to accentuate the flashier details elsewhere, and this seems like a good way to do that.
The back and back of the head is always hard to balance. It does look good, if a bit busy maybe. The bat symbolism fits for a predator of the darkness but it does seem a little bit conflicting with the nightingale imagery. A slight upturn of the wings might give it a more birdlike appearance. All in all it looks good though, and I'm of the opinion that you have to go with what works well rather than trying to stay 100% lore at all costs. Hard to critique something of this quality really.
Texture for the cloak just looks sweet, I love the rough grains look. I don't know if the reflections layer is complete in this image or not - but it looks really good already. More of a synthetic mesh-cloth look to it than the original that looked more like embedded fine chainmail, but I enjoy this look.
Can't wait to see what you do with the lower half. I can only imagine the armor-skirt, kneepad and boots will end up suitably epic. Sorry for rambling, but I'm just so excited!
-Stigma
Lookin' fantastic Zero!
But on a side note, what happened to the Dragonlord armor you were making? Are you making minor adjustments or did you scrap the idea?
at any rate lovely work! i really appreciate all the time and effort you put into this! <3