[Character Design] 17: Sulfur Creature Research & Possible Abilities

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Next will be the creation of an Influence Map for the creature, then onto character design...


About sulfur
Sulfur dioxide can produce acid rain when in combination with water.

Brimstone of myth and legend. Yellow in colour. Known for its nasty odor when heated, due to the release of sulfur dioxide. Sulfur samples are very soft, with a 1.5 - 2.5 Mohs hardness. Melting point = 112.8°C, Boiling Point = 444.6°C. When melted also lets off toxic sulfur trioxide which causes a choking, burning sensation in the lungs.


About sulfuric acid
Toxic and Corrosive. Risks: Toxic by inhalation / in contact with skin / if swallowed. Causes severe burns. Irritating to eyes / respiratory system / skin. May cause cancer by inhalation. 

Safety advice includes not breathing gas/fumes/vapours/spray and to never add water. 

Contact with skin may cause redness, pain, severe burns. Contact with eyes may cause blurred vision, redness, pain, severe tissue burns and blindness.


Possible Creature Abilities
Due to sulfur toxicity, when within a certain area of effect, it will slow the player e.g. roll a 2, move 1.

Blood composed of sulfuric acid. Close combat will cause minor damage to the player per strike, due to creature wounds releasing acid blood.

When damaged, acid blood will release area of effect based fumes causing the player to lose focus, when moving the player must move in an irregular fashion e.g. roll a 5 = forward 1, diagonal 1, left 1, back 1, right 1. This effect will begin after 1 full turn of exposure, allowing the player time to escape.

If the player remains within the area of effect of the acid blood's fumes for more than two turns, this will induce a permanent cap on the players health e.g. if a player with a 90 point health cap with a health level of 80, consumes an item which gives them 20 health, they will only receive 10 hp and must not adjust their slider past 90 hp.

Ability to shoot acid rain 'missiles' at the player, doing gradual, but minor damage over a set number of turns. During these turns, the player is only able to move a maximum of two squares per turn.


Resources
http://www.esci.umn.edu/courses/1001/minerals/sulfur.shtml
http://www.msdsauthoring.com/sulfuric_acid_nugentec_ghs_msds.pdf
http://www.infoplease.com/encyclopedia/science/sulfuric-acid-uses-sulfuric-acid.html
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FoBbx_F5gys
http://www.rockcollector.co.uk/infocus/sulphur.php
http://www2.uncp.edu/home/mcclurem/ptable/sulfur/s.htm
http://www.chemicalelements.com/elements/s.html

@Alan -- [Narrative] 27: Female Character Re-Design; Front Orthographic

Development

Influences

@Alan -- [Narrative] 26: Male Character Re-Design; Thumbnails 27 - 30

Thumbnails 27 - 30.

Influence Map.

[Narrative] 25: Male Character Re-Design; Thumbnails 23 - 27

A couple more adjustments are to be made to thumbnail 27 to properly achieve the correct proportions and a successful design, based on advice given by Alan.

[Narrative] 24: Male Character Re-Design; Thumbnails 14 - 23

Due to the late hour of posting, the Influence Map will be arranged and posted separately. Influences include 60s French chic illustrations and sketches from the Disney short, Paperman (2012).

Main thumbnail.

Thumbnail Development

[Narrative] 23: Female Character Re-Design; Thumbnails 18 - 28

Main thumbnail

Working from advice given to me by my teammates and others including Alan and Jackie, I began to redevelop the design of our female character. This advice included:

Basing the body shape off of a more curved French pepper grinder than the one chosen, because the body shape was to close to that of the male character. 

To suit the new art style of the kitchen, having my new design inspired by 60's French chic illustrations. 

Losing the clothing's stripes due to the connotations associated with a stereotypical French chef. 

Losing the jumper, and returning to the dress. 

Making her dress' neckline lower.

During the process I was asked to bring the shoulders lower, and bring the inside of the legs closer together.

Also during the process I received advice from Alan concerning gaining better proportions, as well as correctly achieving the female body curve and positioning of the bust. During the colouring process the black outlines will be replaced, to better suit the French chic style as well as the style of the kitchen itself.

Other Thumbnails

Influence Map

[Narrative] 22: Female Character Development 02; Thumbnails 13 - 17

After receiving more feedback from my teammates, I have designed the female character further. Sukhi provided me with more influence images, which I used along with my original Influence Map.

Thumbnails 13 - 17

Thumbnails 13 - 17 with overlay.

Further influences.

[Narrative] 21: Female Character Development; Thumbnails 1 - 12

Without Overlay

With Overlay

[Narrative] 20: Male Character Development (02) | Post-Feedback

During the continuation of the male character design process, I received consistent feedback from my teammates e.g. having a bowl haircut rather than a hat, or removing the "Elvis" collar; leading to a design we all enjoy. (13)

Influence Maps

Bowl cut Influence Map.

Ugly character & nose Influence Map.

@Alan -- [Narrative] 19: Character Development | Pre- and Post-Feedback

Pre-Feedback Thumbnailing
Using the relevant Influence Maps, for the first pre-feedback batch of male character thumbnails, I played with modern French fashion and French stereotypes. I also used the relevant Influence Maps to map out possible silhouettes for the female character.

Female thumbnails.

Male thumbnails.

Further influences.

Post-Feedback Development
Post tutorial with Alan, character design advice included paring down our designs a bit, and researching French salt and pepper grinders to influence our characters shape, thus connecting their body to France and the kitchen. Alan explained that while pairs of salt and pepper shakers / grinders match (in design), they are opposites; a curvy grinder being feminine, and a predominantly tall and straight grinder being masculine, for example.

Post-feedback male thumbnails (so far).

Post-feedback male thumbnails - grinder overlay.

Even though the chosen grinder had some curve to it, I was able to use this to my advantage; since the curve lay in the bottom half of the grinder, I was able to convert the shape into trousers of a shape relevant to the male character. 

While our character is trying to act like a chef and be romantic, he is also very clumsy; a bit of a clown in that respect - for that reason his trousers take on a form reminiscent of those of a clown, in shape. 

Our animation will be designed with slapstick in mind, a technique often used by clowns; supporting further the choice to incorporate this aspect into the design.

Post-feedback Influence Map.

[Narrative] 18: "Bon Appétit" Influence Map - Character 3D Models

In order to help prevent us designing characters that are too complex to create within the available time, I have researched multiple character 3D models with varying levels of simplicity.

[Narrative] 17: "Bon Appétit" Influence Map - French Women's Fashion

Imagining our main character's date would be a woman with whom he would be "punching above his weight" (she's better looking / better dressed than him), I've put together this Influence Map for inspiration as to what she might wear, and partly what she may look like. However a more specific Influence Map will be produced for her overall design.

[Narrative] 16: "Bon Appétit" Setup, Chain Reaction and Ending Ideas

The idea below is in its pre- teammate feedback form. 

The updated, edited version will be posted on the Screw Loose Productions blog.

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The Setup

Our main character is trying to follow a cooking show / cook book, to prepare a romantic meal for his wife/girlfriend/date. 

It's nighttime and his date stands out on the balcony outside the kitchen, looking out at Paris while smoking a cigarette. 

The table is romantically set up on the balcony; with a table cloth, burning candles, empty plates, knives and forks, a bottle of wine and empty wine glasses. 

In the kitchen a saucepan of water, chopped carrots and celery lightly bubbles on the back oven hob. 

The chicken is nearly finished cooking in the oven - indicated by the oven's timer. 

There is a low shelf above the oven which condiments such as mixed herbs, salt, pepper and vinegar sit on. 

There are some rogue vegetables scattered on the floor e.g. un-chopped carrot or celery.

Chain Reaction: The Build Up

• Guy takes onions out of a knee high cupboard, which is next to the oven and leaves it open. 
• He chops the onions on a chopping board. 
• As he feels the onions effects he rubs his eyes and sniffles at random moments.
• With his head just below the shelf, he drops the chopped onions into the saucepan. 
• He lifts his head from over the pan to grab the condiments, narrowly avoiding hitting it on the shelf.
• While affected by the onion, he removes the lid off a blocked salt shaker and pours too much salt into the pan. 
• As he lifts his head from over the pan he nearly hits it on the shelf. 
• Forgetting to put the salt lid back on, he puts it on the shelf and grabs the mixed herbs shaker, takes the lid off, pours some into the pan - while still affected by the onion smell.
• Again forgetting to put the lid back on and again nearly hitting his head, he puts the herbs shaker back on the shelf.
• The oven timer goes off and he struggles to remove the heavy roast chicken tray from the oven, slamming it down on the oven, in front of the saucepan - causing a loud thud. Due to lack of space it sits dangerously over the edge.
• Hearing the thud his date turns to move and check out the noise, but decides not to, not wanting to ruin the surprise. She rubs her stomach in hunger.
• Guy awkwardly bends over the chicken to stir the saucepan.

Chain Reaction: The Chain

• As he lifts his head, he hits it on the loose shelf, knocking it up and causing the open condiments to tip over and pour into the saucepan.
• In pain he steps back but slips on a carrot on the floor, as he falls backwards he reaches forward, trying to grab the oven to stop himself falling. 
• Instead he grabs the chicken tray, catapulting the chicken onto his head.
• Blinded by his chicken "hat" he gets up and tries to pull it off.
• Finally managing to pull it off it flies through the air, out onto the balcony and onto the table; giving his date a fright. Hungrily staring at the chicken, she quickly grabs her knife and fork...

Credits

Post Credits

Some options:

• Guy walks out of the kitchen with the saucepan to see if his date is okay, only to catch her hungrily tearing at the chicken. He drops the pan in shock. After recovering, he smiles.
• Guy and date eating their meals with the chicken badly damaged from the the ordeal. Date enjoying her meal.
• Date eating her meal greedily, tearing at the chicken with one hand and gulping down her 'saucepan soup' with the other. Guy sits at the other end of the table hesitantly sipping his portion of the soup as he stares shocked at her.

[Narrative] 15: "Bon Appétit" Roast Chicken Dinner - Influence Map

While researching romantic French meals, I came across roast chicken as one of the options. The multiple ingredients and utensils involved in preparing a full roast chicken dinner leaves plenty of room for chaos. Since our animation will rely on slapstick comedy, I thought of the chicken somehow landing on the man's head. This premise has been approved by my team members.

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I later discovered that the popular 90's TV show, Friends had also made use of this method of slapstick comedy - to this day, the show is still being repeated. Audience members who are fans of the show, of whom have seen this episode will not only be amused by the events of the chain reaction, but may also feel a sense of nostalgia.

Research links

23 Romantic French Recipes for Valentines Day

Roast Chicken Dinner Recipe

[Narrative] 14: French Kitchen & Balcony Influence Map

Secret Lair of an Insectoid "Soldier" - Mind Map & Influence Map (2)

For my influence image research I decided upon disregarding the concept of my Insectoid Soldier being of the future, modern times or the apocalypse for the simple fact that apocalyptic scenarios, modern warfare and futuristic warfare have been depicted time and time again and to follow these for my more developed character profile and lair design would simply be too generic. In terms of older examples of warfare such as World War One and Two, they have been once again used in gaming and filmmaking time and time again.

For the reasons of being non-generic I have decided upon taking my Insectoid Soldier and its secret lair back to ancient times. While ancient civilizations have also been used in gaming and movies, they have been much less over-used than more modern examples - the respective militaries themselves have been focused on even less so, for these reasons I have focused on three ancient civilizations - the Ancient Greeks, Ancient Egyptians and the Aztecs in the Influence Map, I have completely avoided the Roman empire due to how well it's become known thanks to different forms of media. The Ancient Greeks have also become well known by the public due to forms of media, one example being the popular movie 300 (2006) which focuses on the Spartans of Ancient Greece thus narrowing my choice down to the Aztec or Ancient Egyptian in terms of culture as well as lair and basic character design.

Secret Lair of an Insectoid Soldier - "Insectoid" Quick Influence Map (1)

Before I can produce basic 'possible character profiles' of my Insectoid Soldier and design its environment I've broken down the word "insectoid" and performed image research on things relating to it. Next I will research more into the "soldier" aspect.I have provided a very simplified idea list related to my influence map for this "insectoid" trait:

"Insectoid"

What it does it mean?
If something is insectoid it is described as a creature/object with a body/traits similar to insects/arachnids.

Breaking it down a bit more

The definition of "Insect" is a small arthropod animal with six legs and possibly wings.

Existing insects.

Existing insectoid designs.

Examples of insect habitats and things found within them.

Insect body parts.

Compound eyes, possible texture or window design idea.

Exoskeleton.

Insect fossils.

Insectoid furniture.