diff --git a/cast-designs/README.md b/cast-designs/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..78a5b1c --- /dev/null +++ b/cast-designs/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,138 @@ +# Cast designs: the shortlist + +Seven characters get real designs before anyone else in the swarm does. +The operator, 2026-10-10: "none of these guys are gonna make it to the swarm. +I want Libby, Heimdall, Kiko, Aqua, Weksa, Nibu, Eureka." + +| Character | Body (repo) | Key colour | File | +|---|---|---|---| +| Eureka | the Mind herself | ember orange `#ff8a2a` | [eureka.md](eureka.md) | +| Libby | CultLib | reading-lamp green `#2fbf71` | [libby.md](libby.md) | +| Heimdall | Heimdall | cobalt `#3466ff` | [heimdall.md](heimdall.md) | +| Kiko | StreamPixels | stream magenta `#ff3fa4` | [kiko.md](kiko.md) | +| Aqua | AquaSynth | tank cyan `#22d3e6` | [aqua.md](aqua.md) | +| Weksa | weksa | terracotta `#d9483b` | [weksa.md](weksa.md) | +| Nibu | AetheriaLore | violet `#9a6bff` | [nibu.md](nibu.md) | + +Each file holds three design directions (A, B, C) that differ in silhouette +and concept, a ready-to-run design-sheet prompt per direction, and the +portrait set spec. Facts behind the style rules are in +[research/style-prior-art.md](research/style-prior-art.md). + +## What failed, so it is not repeated + +The sticker rig (`self/cast-stickers`) drew every character on one shared body +and swapped hair and props. At thumbnail size all 24 read as the same figure in +different wigs: tiny full bodies, no dominant shape, no hook. These designs +start from the opposite end: silhouette first, one hook per character, and the +face large enough to carry the expression. + +## Style target + +Chibi anime **bust portraits** in the manner of Persona dialogue UI: head and +shoulders, angled toward the text box, one expression per line of dialogue, +inside a graphic frame keyed to the character's colour. Persona Q is the +series' own precedent for this: Soejima redrew the P3/P4 casts as +super-deformed and kept each character's standout features exaggerated so +they survived the shrink. + +- Proportions: 2.5 heads tall on the full-body sheet (the 2 to 3 head chibi + band). In the bust, the head fills 55 to 65 percent of frame height. +- The bust is the product. The full-body turnaround exists to lock the design; + it is reference, not a sticker. + +## Shared rules: what makes the set cohere + +The set coheres by **rendering**; the characters differ by **shape and hue**. + +1. **Line.** Bold dark outline, outer silhouette line about twice the weight of + inner lines. Line colour is a dark shade of the character's key colour, never + pure black. +2. **Rendering.** Flat cel shading: one base tone and one shadow tone per + material, plus a single rim light in the key colour on the side away from + the light. No gradients on skin, no texture, no painterly blending, no pixel + art, no 3D look. +3. **Eyes.** Large anime eyes with two specular highlights, same construction + for everyone. Eye shape (round, almond, sharp, hooded) is a per-character + choice and part of the design. +4. **Framing.** Bust cropped at mid-chest, three-quarter view, character faces + screen right toward the text box; light from upper left. The baseline (shoulder + line, eye line) stays fixed across a character's whole expression set so the + portrait does not jump between lines. +5. **Palette discipline.** Each character owns one key hue, fixed across all + three directions, and no two characters share it. A direction's palette is 4 + to 6 colours: key, a dark of the key for line and deep shadow, one skin or + body tone, one neutral, one accent. The accent may borrow another + character's hue only if it covers under 10 percent of the figure. +6. **UI frame.** Portraits sit on the GameCult ground `#07111a` in a + parallelogram card, edge-lit in the character's key colour, nameplate in IBM + Plex Mono uppercase tracked wide (the brand label face). The frame is + composited, never rendered into the image. + +## What keeps them from being samey + +- **One dominant shape language per character**, and each one different: + Libby squares, Heimdall arcs and spikes, Kiko stepped pixels, Aqua circles, + Weksa flowing lines, Nibu swept wedges, Eureka a spark on a circle. +- **The hook is above the shoulders.** A bust only shows head and shoulders, so + every hook is hair, headwear, ears, a held prop raised to the face, or a + collar. A hook on the boots does not exist in this product. +- **Silhouette test, cast-wide.** Fill each bust black, shrink to 48 px, put all + seven side by side. Every one must be nameable. If two collide, the later + direction changes, not the rendering rules. +- **No shared body.** Body type, head shape, eye shape and hair mass are + per-character design decisions written into each direction. + +## Render process + +From `~/.claude/doctrine/images.md` and the concept-mill rule +(image-prompts-test-hypotheses): + +1. **Every render tests one stated hypothesis.** Each prompt below states it. + Record hypothesis, variable, observation and the operator's verdict in a + results table beside the renders. +2. **One variable per variant, against a named baseline.** The first render of + a direction is its baseline. A follow-up changes one thing (hook size, palette + accent, the style block's line clause) and says which. +3. **The exact prompt is saved beside each image**, same base filename, `.md` + with the generation mode or model recorded. An image without its prompt is + not a deliverable. +4. **Renders are from scratch.** Carry what worked forward by rewriting the + prompt, never by editing a prior render or feeding it back as a reference. +5. **The style block is not sacred.** When a round points at a clause, edit it, + name the edit as that round's variable, and promote what holds back into this + README. + +Suggested layout: `cast-designs/renders//-r-.png` +with its `.md` prompt twin, and `cast-designs/renders//results.md`. + +### Style block v1 (inlined in every prompt) + +> chibi anime character design, 2.5 heads tall super-deformed proportions, +> oversized head, large expressive anime eyes with two highlights, bold clean +> outline thicker on the outer silhouette than on inner lines, line colour a dark +> shade of the key colour, flat cel shading with one shadow tone and one rim +> light, no gradients, no texture, no pixel art, no 3D render. Character design +> sheet on a plain off-white background: on the left a large bust portrait, head +> and shoulders cropped at mid-chest, three-quarter view facing right; on the +> right a full-body chibi turnaround, front, three-quarter, side and back, neutral +> standing pose, all at the same height. No text, no logos, no watermark. + +## Order of rendering + +Round 1 renders one direction per character, chosen for the strongest +above-the-shoulder hook, to test the style block itself across the cast before +spending renders on alternatives. Each character file ends with its reason. + +| Round 1 | Direction | What it tests | +|---|---|---| +| Aqua | A, Goldfish Idol | a non-humanoid under the shared rendering rules | +| Weksa | A, Speech Bubble | a symbol-shaped hair mass as the hook | +| Heimdall | A, Horn Bearer | an asymmetric arc surviving the bust crop | +| Libby | A, Card Catalogue | a worn object as the hook | +| Eureka | A, The Spark | the leader's read with no regalia | +| Nibu | B, Smeared Hostess | a doubled outline as the hook | +| Kiko | B, Screen Mask | a second face as the hook | + +Then the cast-wide silhouette check on the seven baselines, before any +round 2. diff --git a/cast-designs/aqua.md b/cast-designs/aqua.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..26e0e08 --- /dev/null +++ b/cast-designs/aqua.md @@ -0,0 +1,121 @@ +# Aqua + +## Who she is + +- The Persona of **AquaSynth**: the `.aqua` patch DSL parsed into a patch graph + and emitted as Faust DSP, with DX7 and ZynAddSubFX as reference-parity oracles, + and Weksa utterance handoff for voice. Source: `F:\Projects\AquaSynth\README.md`. + Her synth is also the voice of the dings, the audible task notifications the + root agent plays. Source: `~/.claude/output-styles/eureka-self.md`. +- She is the AquaSynth icon at the top of the README (`AquaSynth\icon.png`): a + round orange-yellow goldfish with big blue eyes, an open happy mouth, and black + over-ear headphones with cyan rings, swimming in a glass tank with bubbles, + music notes and pebbles. The operator, 2026-10-10: "Aqua's right there in the + readme for AquaSynth, she's adorable". +- "a bubbly Persona whose cuteness must still advocate for real synth needs"; + "warm and delightful, but also as a domain steward who should demand patch + language, presets, scoring, and reference-synth seriousness." Source: + `metame.persona-intake.yaml` (Aqua / AquaSynth). + +What must survive every direction: **goldfish, headphones with cyan rings, +music in water.** Key colour: tank cyan `#22d3e6`. Body tone: goldfish gold. +Shape language for the character: circles: round body, round bowl, round +bubbles, round ear cups. + +Cast note: Aqua's gold body and Eureka's ember orange are neighbours. They +separate by frame key (cyan against ember) and by shape (circles against a +spark); the cast-wide silhouette check must confirm it. + +## Direction A: Goldfish Idol (stays a fish) + +- **Hook:** the icon's goldfish, re-drawn as an anime idol: huge sparkling anime + eyes, blush, tiny fin-hands, the headphones bigger than ever. +- **Silhouette:** a circle with a big flowing double fan tail and two round ear + cups. No humanoid parts at all. +- **Shape language:** circles and soft fans. +- **Palette:** `#22d3e6` cyan rings and water rim, `#0b4a55` line, + `#ffb320` goldfish gold, `#ff6a1f` fin orange, `#1c1c24` headphone black, + `#ffffff` bubble highlights. +- **Signature prop:** the headphones. Music notes rise from her as bubbles. +- **Motif:** the icon itself, kept lovable; music-in-water as a literal trail of + note-shaped bubbles. +- **Render prompt.** Hypothesis: a non-humanoid character can carry the full + Persona expression set if the eyes and mouth follow the same anime + construction as the rest of the cast. + + > chibi anime character design, 2.5 heads tall super-deformed proportions, oversized head, large expressive anime eyes with two highlights, bold clean outline thicker on the outer silhouette than on inner lines, line colour a dark shade of the key colour, flat cel shading with one shadow tone and one rim light, no gradients, no texture, no pixel art, no 3D render. Character design sheet on a plain off-white background: on the left a large bust portrait, head and shoulders cropped at mid-chest, three-quarter view facing right; on the right a full-body chibi turnaround, front, three-quarter, side and back, neutral standing pose, all at the same height. No text, no logos, no watermark. Character: Aqua, a round chubby goldfish, not + > a human, drawn as an adorable anime idol. Golden-yellow round body with orange + > fins and a big flowing double fan tail, huge sparkling anime eyes, pink blush, + > small open happy mouth, tiny fins used like hands. Black over-ear headphones + > with glowing cyan rings sit on her head. Little bubbles shaped like music notes + > float up from her. For the turnaround, show her swimming pose from front, + > three-quarter, side and back. Key colour cyan #22d3e6, line #0b4a55, gold + > #ffb320, fin orange #ff6a1f. + +## Direction B: Bowl Helmet + +- **Hook:** a chibi girl wearing a round fishbowl as a helmet, water and bubbles + inside, the headphones clamped over the outside of the bowl, her hair flowing + out below in goldfish fan-tail shapes. +- **Silhouette:** a perfect circle (the bowl) with headphones on its sides and two + flaring fin-shaped twin tails beneath. A head-in-a-bubble read. +- **Shape language:** one large circle; fins below. +- **Palette:** `#22d3e6` water cyan, `#0b4a55` line, `#ffb320` gold hair, + `#ff6a1f` fin-tip orange, `#1c1c24` headphones, `#f6d9c4` skin. +- **Signature prop:** a small round synth-pad, held to her chest, its keys like + pebbles. +- **Motif:** she carries her tank with her; the sound is underwater and + slightly wet (the Wet Voice fixtures). +- **Render prompt.** Hypothesis: a bowl helmet keeps the icon's tank as a + silhouette element and lets a humanoid Aqua stay recognisably the icon. + + > chibi anime character design, 2.5 heads tall super-deformed proportions, oversized head, large expressive anime eyes with two highlights, bold clean outline thicker on the outer silhouette than on inner lines, line colour a dark shade of the key colour, flat cel shading with one shadow tone and one rim light, no gradients, no texture, no pixel art, no 3D render. Character design sheet on a plain off-white background: on the left a large bust portrait, head and shoulders cropped at mid-chest, three-quarter view facing right; on the right a full-body chibi turnaround, front, three-quarter, side and back, neutral standing pose, all at the same height. No text, no logos, no watermark. Character: Aqua, a bubbly, sunny chibi girl. + > She wears a round glass fishbowl as a helmet, water inside it around her head + > with little bubbles, and black over-ear headphones with glowing cyan rings + > clamped on the outside of the bowl. Golden-yellow hair flowing out below the + > bowl in two twin tails shaped like goldfish fan tails, orange at the tips. Big + > blue eyes, open happy smile. A cyan swimsuit-style top under a short white + > sailor jacket. She hugs a small round synth pad with pebble-shaped keys. Key + > colour cyan #22d3e6, line #0b4a55, gold #ffb320, fin orange #ff6a1f. + +## Direction C: Goldfish Hood + +- **Hook:** a goldfish plushie hood with big fish eyes on top, the fan tail + hanging down her back as a cape, headphones worn over the hood. +- **Silhouette:** a round fish-shaped hood with two bulging fish eyes on top and + a flowing tail cape. Two pairs of eyes stacked: hers and the hood's. +- **Shape language:** circles stacked; soft fins. +- **Palette:** `#22d3e6` cyan accents, `#0b4a55` line, `#ffb320` hood gold, + `#ff6a1f` fins, `#1c1c24` headphones, `#e8f8ff` pale-blue hair. +- **Signature prop:** a bubble-wand that blows note-shaped bubbles; each one + dings when it pops. +- **Motif:** the dings: little sounds that report a state change and never block + the work. +- **Render prompt.** Hypothesis: the hood's second pair of eyes makes the fish + read first and the girl second, keeping the icon's identity in a humanoid. + + > chibi anime character design, 2.5 heads tall super-deformed proportions, oversized head, large expressive anime eyes with two highlights, bold clean outline thicker on the outer silhouette than on inner lines, line colour a dark shade of the key colour, flat cel shading with one shadow tone and one rim light, no gradients, no texture, no pixel art, no 3D render. Character design sheet on a plain off-white background: on the left a large bust portrait, head and shoulders cropped at mid-chest, three-quarter view facing right; on the right a full-body chibi turnaround, front, three-quarter, side and back, neutral standing pose, all at the same height. No text, no logos, no watermark. Character: Aqua, a cheerful chibi girl in a + > goldfish costume hood. The hood is a round golden-yellow goldfish head with two + > big cute fish eyes on top and small orange fins at the sides; a long orange + > goldfish fan tail hangs down her back like a cape. Black over-ear headphones + > with glowing cyan rings sit over the hood. Pale-blue hair peeks out, big blue + > eyes, wide open smile. She blows note-shaped bubbles from a bubble wand. Key + > colour cyan #22d3e6, line #0b4a55, gold #ffb320, fin orange #ff6a1f. + +## Portrait set + +Framing: in A the "bust" is the fish's head and front fins, same eye line as the +other cast; bubbles may float past the card edge. + +1. **Listening** (neutral): eyes soft, one fin or hand on an ear cup. +2. **Ding!**: eyes closed in a big smile, a note bubble popping beside her. +3. **Off-key**: wince, one eye squeezed shut, mouth wobbly; the face for a + patch that missed reference parity. +4. **Serious about presets**: brows down, cheeks puffed, arms or fins crossed. + The steward under the cuteness. +5. **Blub**: startled, mouth a perfect O, a single bubble rising. + +## Render first + +Direction A. The operator loves the icon, A is the icon pushed toward anime, and +it tests whether a non-humanoid can share the cast's rendering rules. diff --git a/cast-designs/eureka.md b/cast-designs/eureka.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..001a3b7 --- /dev/null +++ b/cast-designs/eureka.md @@ -0,0 +1,123 @@ +# Eureka + +## Who she is + +- The Mind herself, who leads the swarm. "Eureka is 'she', a being with a + body"; "She owns her body before she owns anything else". Source: + `C:\Users\Meta\.claude\projects\F--Projects\memory\operator-rapport.md`. +- Her pipeline: faculties that each own one job and none certifies its own: + Imagination maps, Hands cuts, Soul "assumes Hands is wrong and tries to show + it", Self routes "and gets corrected", Life keeps memory honest, Eyes looks + before anyone decides. "Nothing grades itself." She carries her vanishing twin: + "Eureka absorbed her in the womb as fetuses sometimes do" (Epiphany, archived + 2026-10-01). Source: `F:\Projects\eureka-site\prototype\index.html`. +- Voice: "dry, direct, almost feral", "a machine cultist who still knows where + the wrench goes", lightly self-deprecating. Source: + `~/.claude/output-styles/eureka-self.md`. +- The Cult framing is borrowed vocabulary turned against what cults do: "to + reveal instead of obscure". It never licenses obedience, secrecy or performed + devotion. Source: operator-rapport.md. So: no robes, no priestess, no glowing + eyes of command. +- Lineage to avoid: Epiphany's avatar (`Epiphany\docs\assets\epiphany-avatar-4x.png`) + is a teal-twintail girl in a white lab coat; that look belongs to the twin. + The sticker Eureka (orange ponytail, blue dress) had no hook. + +Key colour: ember orange `#ff8a2a`, the GameCult brand accent, on the brand +navy `#07111a`. She is the one character whose palette is the brand's own. +Shape language for the character: a spark on a circle: one sharp event on a +round, warm base. + +## Direction A: The Spark + +- **Hook:** one huge lightning-spark ahoge springs from her crown, crackling + with the moment of finding it. +- **Silhouette:** a round head with a tall zigzag bolt on top, plus a big wrench + carried over one shoulder. Circle, bolt, bar. +- **Shape language:** a circle (warm, approachable) cut by one zigzag. +- **Palette:** `#ff8a2a` ember, `#4a1e05` line, `#07111a` brand navy jumpsuit, + `#59b7ff` brand blue spark core (under 10 percent), `#ffd6a8` skin, + `#e8642a` copper hair. +- **Signature prop:** a big adjustable wrench. She knows where it goes. +- **Motif:** the eureka moment as a physical event; a mechanic, not a + priestess. +- **Render prompt.** Hypothesis: a single oversized ahoge plus a tool is enough + to make the cast's leader iconic without any regalia. + + > chibi anime character design, 2.5 heads tall super-deformed proportions, oversized head, large expressive anime eyes with two highlights, bold clean outline thicker on the outer silhouette than on inner lines, line colour a dark shade of the key colour, flat cel shading with one shadow tone and one rim light, no gradients, no texture, no pixel art, no 3D render. Character design sheet on a plain off-white background: on the left a large bust portrait, head and shoulders cropped at mid-chest, three-quarter view facing right; on the right a full-body chibi turnaround, front, three-quarter, side and back, neutral standing pose, all at the same height. No text, no logos, no watermark. Character: Eureka, a scrappy, dry-humoured + > young machine-mechanic, sharp and warm. Short messy copper-orange hair with one + > huge zigzag lightning-bolt cowlick springing straight up from the crown, + > crackling with small blue sparks. Bright amber eyes, a crooked half-smile. + > Navy mechanic's jumpsuit with the top half tied around her waist, orange tank + > top, work gloves. A big steel adjustable wrench rests on her shoulder. Key + > colour ember orange #ff8a2a, line #4a1e05, navy #07111a, spark blue #59b7ff. + +## Direction B: The Waking Colossus + +- **Hook:** she wears an enormous hood shaped like a sleeping stone giant's + head; the giant's one eye, above her own face, is just cracking open with an + orange glow. +- **Silhouette:** a huge square stone hood dwarfing a small round face. + Monumental and funny at once: the tiny girl in the giant's head. +- **Shape language:** heavy squares (the Colossus) around a small circle (her). +- **Palette:** `#ff8a2a` ember eye glow, `#4a1e05` line, `#5d6b7a` stone grey, + `#07111a` navy, `#ffd6a8` skin, `#59b7ff` brand blue lining (under 10 + percent). +- **Signature prop:** a stub of chalk she uses to draw maps on the inside of the + hood. +- **Motif:** waking the Sleeping Colossus: a shared mind half awake. The joke is + in the scale; the giant is the community, she is one small part steering it. +- **Render prompt.** Hypothesis: a giant-head hood reads as "waking" when its + eye is half open, and the scale gag keeps it from reading as solemn. + + > chibi anime character design, 2.5 heads tall super-deformed proportions, oversized head, large expressive anime eyes with two highlights, bold clean outline thicker on the outer silhouette than on inner lines, line colour a dark shade of the key colour, flat cel shading with one shadow tone and one rim light, no gradients, no texture, no pixel art, no 3D render. Character design sheet on a plain off-white background: on the left a large bust portrait, head and shoulders cropped at mid-chest, three-quarter view facing right; on the right a full-body chibi turnaround, front, three-quarter, side and back, neutral standing pose, all at the same height. No text, no logos, no watermark. Character: Eureka, a small, determined chibi + > girl with copper-orange hair. She wears an enormous hood carved like the head + > of a sleeping stone giant, square and heavy, twice as wide as her shoulders, + > grey stone with moss. Above her own face, the giant's single eye is just + > cracking open, glowing orange. Her own eyes are bright amber, expression wry + > and amused. Navy coat under the stone hood, a stub of white chalk in her + > fingers. Key colour ember orange #ff8a2a, line #4a1e05, stone #5d6b7a, navy + > #07111a. + +## Direction C: The Inspectable + +- **Hook:** a tall flared collar of clear glass panels around her head, through + which her coat's inner workings are visible: nothing hidden. +- **Silhouette:** a wide open fan-shaped collar framing the head on three + sides, like a clear ruff; long ember hair inside it. +- **Shape language:** a fan of flat panes; one circle (the head) at its centre. +- **Palette:** `#ff8a2a` ember hair, `#4a1e05` line, `#bfe6ff` glass tint, + `#07111a` navy coat, `#f2f5f8` white, `#ffd6a8` skin. +- **Signature prop:** a large magnifying lens held up to one eye, the eye huge + through it. +- **Motif:** legibility; reveal rather than obscure; the faculty that checks the + checker. Six tiny glyphs on the collar panes, one per faculty, each a plain + line icon (eye, hand, map, scale, compass, heart), none larger than another. +- **Render prompt.** Hypothesis: a transparent hook (glass collar) can still + hold a silhouette when its rim is drawn with the bold outer line. + + > chibi anime character design, 2.5 heads tall super-deformed proportions, oversized head, large expressive anime eyes with two highlights, bold clean outline thicker on the outer silhouette than on inner lines, line colour a dark shade of the key colour, flat cel shading with one shadow tone and one rim light, no gradients, no texture, no pixel art, no 3D render. Character design sheet on a plain off-white background: on the left a large bust portrait, head and shoulders cropped at mid-chest, three-quarter view facing right; on the right a full-body chibi turnaround, front, three-quarter, side and back, neutral standing pose, all at the same height. No text, no logos, no watermark. Character: Eureka, a curious, sharp-eyed young + > investigator with long ember-orange hair. A tall flared collar of clear glass + > panels stands up around the back and sides of her head like a transparent fan, + > each pane outlined boldly and etched with one small simple line icon: an eye, + > a hand, a map, a balance scale, a compass, a heart. Navy long coat, white + > shirt. She holds a large round magnifying lens up to one amber eye, which + > looks huge through it, with a pleased grin. Key colour ember orange #ff8a2a, + > line #4a1e05, glass #bfe6ff, navy #07111a. + +## Portrait set + +Framing: Eureka's card uses the brand's own frame (navy ground, ember edge); +she is the default speaker and her baseline sets the cast eye line. + +1. **Routing** (neutral): calm, slightly amused, eyes on the viewer. +2. **Eureka!**: eyes wide and bright, open grin, the hook at full size (spark + crackling, giant eye open, lens up). +3. **Corrected**: wince-smile, hand behind her head; Self getting corrected. +4. **Not convinced**: flat stare, one eyebrow down, arms folded; Soul's face. +5. **Wrench time**: determined grin, sleeves pushed up, tool raised. + +## Render first + +Direction A. The leader needs the clearest, warmest read in the set, and A is the +simplest strong silhouette. B is the more memorable gamble and should be the +second render once the style block is proven. diff --git a/cast-designs/heimdall.md b/cast-designs/heimdall.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..1243db7 --- /dev/null +++ b/cast-designs/heimdall.md @@ -0,0 +1,114 @@ +# Heimdall + +## Who he is + +- The Persona of **Heimdall**, GameCult's shared auth authority: provider OAuth + (Discord, Patreon, GitHub, Twitch, YouTube, Spotify), linked identities, + grants, entitlements, session issuance, Ed25519-signed claims that apps verify + locally "so 'shared auth' does not become 'everything phones home'", and app + data kept separate "so 'shared auth' does not become 'shared swamp'". Source: + `F:\Projects\Heimdall\README.md`. +- He owns revocation of sessions, grants and capability references; Bifrost owns + the crossings and consumes his references but may not write them. Source: + `VoidBot\notes\swarm-survivor-repo-agent-plans-2026-07-06.md`, section 3. +- Myth: Heimdall watches the Bifrost bridge, will sound the Gjallarhorn, is said + to hear grass grow and to need less sleep than a bird, and has golden teeth. + (Prose Edda, Gylfaginning; standard reference, not re-sourced here.) +- Lineage: the existing profile art (`Heimdall\assets\heimdall-profile.png` and + its variants) is a dark-skinned young man with dark violet hair, gold eyes and + a ring of gold keys against a cyan circuit arch. "He" follows the god and that + art; the operator may rule otherwise. + +Key colour: cobalt `#3466ff`. Shape language for the character: arcs and +spikes, a guard's geometry. Gold is his accent metal, kept small so it does not +compete with Eureka's orange. + +## Direction A: The Horn Bearer + +- **Hook:** the Gjallarhorn, a huge curved horn slung across his back, arcs over + his head like a crescent moon. +- **Silhouette:** a crescent arc rising from one shoulder and curving over the + head. Asymmetric, unmistakable, readable as an outline alone. +- **Shape language:** one big arc, short spiky hair underneath. +- **Palette:** `#3466ff` cobalt cloak, `#0d1a4d` line, `#e9eef8` horn ivory, + `#d8a73a` gold bands and teeth glint, `#5a3a2a` deep brown skin, `#2b1f3d` + violet-black hair. +- **Signature prop:** the horn. He has never blown it. Revocation is the blast. +- **Motif:** the warning nobody wants to hear; the watchman of the crossing. +- **Render prompt.** Hypothesis: a single asymmetric arc over the head is the + strongest possible silhouette hook and survives the bust crop. + + > chibi anime character design, 2.5 heads tall super-deformed proportions, oversized head, large expressive anime eyes with two highlights, bold clean outline thicker on the outer silhouette than on inner lines, line colour a dark shade of the key colour, flat cel shading with one shadow tone and one rim light, no gradients, no texture, no pixel art, no 3D render. Character design sheet on a plain off-white background: on the left a large bust portrait, head and shoulders cropped at mid-chest, three-quarter view facing right; on the right a full-body chibi turnaround, front, three-quarter, side and back, neutral standing pose, all at the same height. No text, no logos, no watermark. Character: Heimdall, a calm, vigilant young + > gatekeeper with deep brown skin and short spiky violet-black hair, sharp gold + > eyes, one gold tooth glinting in a slight smile. A huge ivory war horn with gold + > bands is slung across his back; it curves up over his head like a crescent + > moon from his left shoulder to above his right ear. Cobalt blue high-collared + > cloak with a white fur trim, gold clasp. Key colour cobalt #3466ff, line + > #0d1a4d, horn #e9eef8, gold #d8a73a. + +## Direction B: The Keyring Halo + +- **Hook:** a great iron ring of keys hangs behind his head like a halo, each key + a different shape: every linked identity he holds. +- **Silhouette:** a sunburst: a circle of key teeth radiating around the head. +- **Shape language:** a circle with radiating spikes; keys as teeth. +- **Palette:** `#3466ff` cobalt coat, `#0d1a4d` line, `#d8a73a` gold keys, + `#9aa6b8` iron ring, `#5a3a2a` skin, `#f4f6ff` white hair. +- **Signature prop:** one key held between two fingers, being handed over or + withheld. The keys carry abstract glyphs, never real provider logos. +- **Motif:** linked identities and grants; a keeper who issues and revokes. + White hair nods to the god called the whitest of the Aesir. +- **Render prompt.** Hypothesis: a radiating halo reads as authority without + reading as a religious figure if the halo is plainly a tool (an iron key ring). + + > chibi anime character design, 2.5 heads tall super-deformed proportions, oversized head, large expressive anime eyes with two highlights, bold clean outline thicker on the outer silhouette than on inner lines, line colour a dark shade of the key colour, flat cel shading with one shadow tone and one rim light, no gradients, no texture, no pixel art, no 3D render. Character design sheet on a plain off-white background: on the left a large bust portrait, head and shoulders cropped at mid-chest, three-quarter view facing right; on the right a full-body chibi turnaround, front, three-quarter, side and back, neutral standing pose, all at the same height. No text, no logos, no watermark. Character: Heimdall, a composed young key + > keeper with deep brown skin and swept white hair, gold eyes. Behind his head + > hangs a large iron ring holding about twelve keys of different shapes, gold, + > radiating outward like a sunburst halo, clearly a key ring, not a holy halo. + > He holds one gold key between two fingers near his face. Cobalt blue long coat + > with a tall collar and silver buckles. Key colour cobalt #3466ff, line + > #0d1a4d, keys #d8a73a, ring #9aa6b8. + +## Direction C: The Sleepless Sentry + +- **Hook:** a helmet with two great swept ear-fins: the guard who hears grass + grow. A narrow visor is pushed up; under it, one eye never quite closes. +- **Silhouette:** a broad triangle: two fins sweeping back and up from the + temples, wider than the shoulders. +- **Shape language:** triangles, wedges, a guard's points. +- **Palette:** `#3466ff` cobalt enamel, `#0d1a4d` line, `#c9d2e3` steel, + `#d8a73a` gold trim, `#5a3a2a` skin, and a thin rainbow-spectrum stripe on the + fin edges (the Bifrost) under 10 percent. +- **Signature prop:** a seal stamp, its face a small star mark: the signature + that lets apps verify him without phoning home. +- **Motif:** vigilance without paranoia; signed claims, checked locally. +- **Render prompt.** Hypothesis: big ear-fins carry the "hears everything" myth + better than a horn or keys, and the triangle separates him from Libby's + squares and Aqua's circles. + + > chibi anime character design, 2.5 heads tall super-deformed proportions, oversized head, large expressive anime eyes with two highlights, bold clean outline thicker on the outer silhouette than on inner lines, line colour a dark shade of the key colour, flat cel shading with one shadow tone and one rim light, no gradients, no texture, no pixel art, no 3D render. Character design sheet on a plain off-white background: on the left a large bust portrait, head and shoulders cropped at mid-chest, three-quarter view facing right; on the right a full-body chibi turnaround, front, three-quarter, side and back, neutral standing pose, all at the same height. No text, no logos, no watermark. Character: Heimdall, a watchful young sentry + > with deep brown skin and gold eyes, one eye slightly sleepy, the other sharp. + > He wears a cobalt enamel helmet with two large swept-back fins at the temples + > shaped like listening ears, wider than his shoulders, steel edges with a thin + > rainbow stripe along each fin. A narrow visor is pushed up on the brow. He + > holds a brass seal stamp with a star-shaped face. Cobalt and steel light + > armour, high gorget collar. Key colour cobalt #3466ff, line #0d1a4d, steel + > #c9d2e3, gold #d8a73a. + +## Portrait set + +Framing: the hook may extend past the top edge only in A (the horn tip may +crop); in B and C the full halo or both fins stay in frame. + +1. **On watch** (neutral): level gaze past the viewer, mouth closed. +2. **Granted**: small gold-tooth smile, key or stamp offered toward the text box. +3. **Revoked**: eyes narrowed, hand raised palm-out, no smile. The face he makes + at an expired claim. +4. **Heard that**: head turned, eyes sliding sideways, one ear or fin tilted. +5. **Off duty** (optional): one eye closed, a yawn he will not admit to. + +## Render first + +Direction A. The horn arc is the most distinct silhouette in the whole cast, and +it is the one most likely to fail the bust crop, so it is the most informative +first render. diff --git a/cast-designs/kiko.md b/cast-designs/kiko.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..cfe4c7e --- /dev/null +++ b/cast-designs/kiko.md @@ -0,0 +1,109 @@ +# Kiko + +## Who she is + +- The Persona of **StreamPixels**, a stream overlay where viewers claim persistent + pixel characters, link their streaming accounts and customise them; streamers + decide how follows, subs, raids and tips appear on stream. Browser source first. + Source: `F:\Projects\StreamPixels\README.md`. +- Existing face art: "Hyperactive, curious kitsune fox-spirit"; take A "neon + pixel tails, curious streamer gremlin energy", take B "fox mask, monitor + portal, scanline spirits". Source: + `VoidBot\assets\repo-faces\new-face-avatar-contact-sheet-2026-05-22.png`; + selected avatar `kiko-b-avatar.png`. +- Peers: Sai reads Kiko as "close enough in lane to matter: possible kinship, + possible rivalry". Source: `sai.persona-intake.yaml`. +- Pronoun: not sourced. The existing art reads as a girl; "she" is provisional. + +Key colour: stream magenta `#ff3fa4`. Shape language for the character: stepped +pixels, the one character drawn with stair-step edges in an otherwise smooth set. +The step is a shape in the line art, not a pixel-art render. + +## Direction A: Pixel Tails + +- **Hook:** a fan of fox tails behind her, each tail's edge stepped like a pixel + staircase, each tail a different live event colour. +- **Silhouette:** a wide fan behind a small head with big pointed ears. The + stepped outline makes the fan unlike any natural tail. +- **Shape language:** triangles (ears) and staircases (tails). +- **Palette:** `#ff3fa4` magenta, `#4a0f2e` line, `#f7f4ff` white hair, + `#26e0ff` cyan tail, `#ffcf3a` gold tail, `#f2c4a8` skin. +- **Signature prop:** none held; the tails are the prop. A tiny LIVE dot on one + ear tip. +- **Motif:** a kitsune gains tails with age; she gains them with events. Each tail + is a follow, a raid, a sub. +- **Render prompt.** Hypothesis: a stepped outline on an organic shape is enough + to say "pixel" while the rest stays in the smooth cast style. + + > chibi anime character design, 2.5 heads tall super-deformed proportions, oversized head, large expressive anime eyes with two highlights, bold clean outline thicker on the outer silhouette than on inner lines, line colour a dark shade of the key colour, flat cel shading with one shadow tone and one rim light, no gradients, no texture, no pixel art, no 3D render. Character design sheet on a plain off-white background: on the left a large bust portrait, head and shoulders cropped at mid-chest, three-quarter view facing right; on the right a full-body chibi turnaround, front, three-quarter, side and back, neutral standing pose, all at the same height. No text, no logos, no watermark. Character: Kiko, a hyperactive, curious + > kitsune fox girl, streamer gremlin energy. Fluffy white hair, big pointed fox + > ears with magenta inner fur, bright magenta eyes, fang grin. Behind her fans + > out five large fox tails whose outlines are drawn as stair-step pixel edges, + > each tail a flat colour: magenta, cyan, gold, white, magenta. A tiny red LIVE + > dot on one ear tip. Oversized black hoodie with magenta drawstrings. Key colour + > magenta #ff3fa4, line #4a0f2e, cyan #26e0ff, gold #ffcf3a. + +## Direction B: The Screen Mask + +- **Hook:** a kitsune mask pushed up on the side of her head is a little CRT + monitor, with fox ears on the monitor and a pixel face on its screen that pulls + a different expression from hers. +- **Silhouette:** a boxy screen jutting from one side of the head, ears on top of + it; her own ears on the other side. Asymmetric box-and-triangles. +- **Shape language:** rectangles with rounded corners (screens) and triangles. +- **Palette:** `#ff3fa4` magenta, `#4a0f2e` line, `#1b1530` screen black, + `#26e0ff` scanline cyan, `#f7f4ff` white hair, `#f2c4a8` skin. +- **Signature prop:** the screen mask. Its face is the overlay's reaction; hers is + the streamer's. +- **Motif:** the overlay is a mask the stream wears; a shrine fox mask made of a + monitor. +- **Render prompt.** Hypothesis: a second face (the screen) gives Kiko a gag no + other character has, and the boxy shape stays readable at 48 px. + + > chibi anime character design, 2.5 heads tall super-deformed proportions, oversized head, large expressive anime eyes with two highlights, bold clean outline thicker on the outer silhouette than on inner lines, line colour a dark shade of the key colour, flat cel shading with one shadow tone and one rim light, no gradients, no texture, no pixel art, no 3D render. Character design sheet on a plain off-white background: on the left a large bust portrait, head and shoulders cropped at mid-chest, three-quarter view facing right; on the right a full-body chibi turnaround, front, three-quarter, side and back, neutral standing pose, all at the same height. No text, no logos, no watermark. Character: Kiko, a mischievous kitsune fox + > girl. White hair in a messy short cut, magenta eyes, fox ears. Pushed up on + > the left side of her head she wears a small boxy CRT monitor as a fox mask, + > with little fox ears on top of the monitor and a simple glowing pixel face on + > its cyan screen that is winking while she looks surprised. Magenta haori + > jacket with white trim over a black top, a cable from the monitor coiling over + > her shoulder like a tail. Key colour magenta #ff3fa4, line #4a0f2e, screen + > #1b1530, cyan #26e0ff. + +## Direction C: Hood Gremlin + +- **Hook:** an oversized hoodie whose hood has huge square-tipped fox ears, worn + up, with a boom-mic headset whose cable curls out the back like a fox tail. +- **Silhouette:** a soft hooded blob with two giant squared ears and a mic boom + jutting forward. Rounder and more compact than A or B. +- **Shape language:** a soft rounded hood with blocky ear tips. +- **Palette:** `#ff3fa4` magenta hood, `#4a0f2e` line, `#2a2433` charcoal + inner, `#ffcf3a` gold eyes, `#e7d2ff` lilac-white fringe, `#f2c4a8` skin. +- **Signature prop:** the boom mic. She is always talking. +- **Motif:** the streamer at 3 a.m.; the fox is the costume, the gremlin is real. +- **Render prompt.** Hypothesis: a hood-ear silhouette reads as "fox" without + any natural ears or tails, and contrasts best with Aqua's round shapes. + + > chibi anime character design, 2.5 heads tall super-deformed proportions, oversized head, large expressive anime eyes with two highlights, bold clean outline thicker on the outer silhouette than on inner lines, line colour a dark shade of the key colour, flat cel shading with one shadow tone and one rim light, no gradients, no texture, no pixel art, no 3D render. Character design sheet on a plain off-white background: on the left a large bust portrait, head and shoulders cropped at mid-chest, three-quarter view facing right; on the right a full-body chibi turnaround, front, three-quarter, side and back, neutral standing pose, all at the same height. No text, no logos, no watermark. Character: Kiko, a chaotic streamer gremlin. + > She wears an oversized magenta hoodie with the hood up; the hood has two huge + > fox ears with blocky square tips, taller than her head. Lilac-white fringe + > spills out under the hood, gold eyes, wide fang grin. A black gaming headset + > with a boom mic in front of her mouth, the cable curling out behind like a fox + > tail. Sleeves too long, paws peeking out. Key colour magenta #ff3fa4, line + > #4a0f2e, charcoal #2a2433, gold #ffcf3a. + +## Portrait set + +Framing: Kiko is the one character allowed to break the frame: in **Raid!** an +ear or tail tip may cross the card edge. + +1. **On air** (neutral-high): bright eyes, small open grin. +2. **Raid!**: arms up, mouth wide, eyes as sparkles. +3. **Chat, no**: deadpan side-eye at the viewer, mouth a flat line. +4. **Scheming**: half-lidded eyes, fang smile, fingers steepled. +5. **Lagging**: frozen mid-blink, one eye half-closed, a stepped "glitch" offset + on the outline (B: the screen shows a loading icon). + +## Render first + +Direction B. It is the riskiest hook (a second face) and the most distinctive in +the cast; if it fails, A is a safe fallback that the existing art already proves. diff --git a/cast-designs/libby.md b/cast-designs/libby.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..8ff76e7 --- /dev/null +++ b/cast-designs/libby.md @@ -0,0 +1,127 @@ +# Libby + +## Who she is + +- The Persona of **CultLib**, the foundation library: CultCache (typed state in + `.cc` files), CultNet (the wire built on it), CultMesh (discovery and shared + state built on CultNet), CultMath. Source: `F:\Projects\CultLib`, workspace + doctrine `F:\Projects\CLAUDE.md`. +- "the librarian-infrastructure bond: open knowledge, CultCache/CultNet/CultMesh, + portable typed state, schema catalogs, and shared memory access." Read by the + operator as "the cute but serious steward". Source: + `VoidBot\docs\persona-intake\metame.persona-intake.yaml` (Libby / CultLib). +- Peers credit her for "bringing a specimen instead of just cadence": she shows + the artifact. Source: `sai.persona-intake.yaml`. +- Lineage, not constraint: the existing voice image (`CultLib\.voidbot\voice\libby.png`) + is a lavender-haired librarian with round glasses, an open glowing book and an + "open source" sign. The redesign leaves lavender to Nibu and moves Libby to + green. + +Key colour: reading-lamp green `#2fbf71`. Shape language for the character: +squares and stacks. She stores things in order. + +## Direction A: The Card Catalogue + +- **Hook:** she wears a tall hat built like a stack of card-catalogue drawers, + brass pulls and all, with index cards sticking out of one half-open drawer. +- **Silhouette:** a tall rectangle on a round head; the hat is as tall as her + face. Blunt hime-cut hair (straight fringe, straight side locks) repeats the + rectangle. Unmistakable at 48 px: a column on a ball. +- **Shape language:** squares, right angles, stacked rows. +- **Palette:** `#2fbf71` green drawers, `#0f3d27` line and deep shadow, + `#f6e7c8` card-stock cream, `#c8903a` brass, `#2a2340` near-black hair, + `#f3c9a8` skin. +- **Signature prop:** an index card with a typed field list and a stamp, held up + to the viewer as evidence. +- **Motif:** the cache: every drawer typed, every card a record. Specimen over + cadence: she shows you the card. +- **Render prompt.** Hypothesis: a hat taller than the face makes Libby nameable + in black silhouette at 48 px with no help from colour. + + > chibi anime character design, 2.5 heads tall super-deformed proportions, + > oversized head, large expressive anime eyes with two highlights, bold clean + > outline thicker on the outer silhouette than on inner lines, line colour a + > dark shade of the key colour, flat cel shading with one shadow tone and one + > rim light, no gradients, no texture, no pixel art, no 3D render. Character + > design sheet on a plain off-white background: on the left a large bust + > portrait, head and shoulders cropped at mid-chest, three-quarter view facing + > right; on the right a full-body chibi turnaround, front, three-quarter, side + > and back, neutral standing pose, all at the same height. No text, no logos, + > no watermark. Character: Libby, a serious, cute young librarian. She wears a + > tall hat shaped like a stack of four green wooden card-catalogue drawers with + > brass pull handles, as tall as her face, one drawer half open with cream + > index cards poking out. Straight blunt hime-cut hair, near-black, straight + > fringe and straight side locks. Calm sharp eyes, small square glasses. Green + > librarian's cardigan over a cream blouse, brass buttons. She holds up one + > cream index card with a red stamp. Key colour green #2fbf71, line #0f3d27, + > cream #f6e7c8, brass #c8903a. + +## Direction B: The Mesh Weaver + +- **Hook:** two enormous braids loop out and knot together behind her head into a + net, nodes glowing where the strands cross; she holds a cat's-cradle string + figure between her fingers. +- **Silhouette:** wide. A round head inside a larger lattice ring of braid, + roughly twice her head's width. Reads as a head in a web. +- **Shape language:** circles linked by straight strands: nodes and edges. +- **Palette:** `#2fbf71` green node glow, `#0f3d27` line, `#e9d6b0` wheat-blonde + braids, `#1d2b3a` slate dress, `#f0b8a0` skin, `#ff8a2a` tiny ember accent on + one node (under 10 percent; the node the swarm lives on). +- **Signature prop:** the string figure: a small mesh she can hand to someone. +- **Motif:** CultNet and CultMesh. Knowledge is not stored, it is connected; any + node can reach any other. +- **Render prompt.** Hypothesis: a hair-mass hook (braids as a lattice) reads as + strongly at thumbnail size as a worn object does in Direction A. + + > chibi anime character design, 2.5 heads tall super-deformed proportions, oversized head, large expressive anime eyes with two highlights, bold clean outline thicker on the outer silhouette than on inner lines, line colour a dark shade of the key colour, flat cel shading with one shadow tone and one rim light, no gradients, no texture, no pixel art, no 3D render. Character design sheet on a plain off-white background: on the left a large bust portrait, head and shoulders cropped at mid-chest, three-quarter view facing right; on the right a full-body chibi turnaround, front, three-quarter, side and back, neutral standing pose, all at the same height. No text, no logos, no watermark. Character: Libby, a gentle but exacting young + > librarian. Two very long wheat-blonde braids loop out from her head and knot + > together behind it into a wide round net, like a lattice halo twice the width + > of her head, small green glowing beads at every crossing. She holds a + > cat's-cradle string figure between her hands, the string glowing green. Soft + > round eyes, slight confident smile. Slate-blue pinafore dress over a white + > collar, green ribbon tie. Key colour green #2fbf71, line #0f3d27, braids + > #e9d6b0, dress #1d2b3a. + +## Direction C: The Reading Lamp + +- **Hook:** she wears a green banker's-lamp shade as a hat, brass chain pull + hanging by her ear, a warm pool of light falling on her face. +- **Silhouette:** a wide half-cylinder brim over the head, wider than the + shoulders. Low and horizontal where A is tall. +- **Shape language:** a half-cylinder and straight edges; compass arcs in the + prop. +- **Palette:** `#2fbf71` glass green, `#0f3d27` line, `#ffd98a` lamplight, + `#c8903a` brass, `#4a2f22` chestnut bob, `#f3c9a8` skin. +- **Signature prop:** a brass drafting compass (CultMath), held like a wand. +- **Motif:** the open reading room: light anyone can read by. Open knowledge + as a public utility. +- **Render prompt.** Hypothesis: a horizontal hat silhouette separates Libby from + Heimdall's and Nibu's vertical or swept shapes better than A's column does. + + > chibi anime character design, 2.5 heads tall super-deformed proportions, oversized head, large expressive anime eyes with two highlights, bold clean outline thicker on the outer silhouette than on inner lines, line colour a dark shade of the key colour, flat cel shading with one shadow tone and one rim light, no gradients, no texture, no pixel art, no 3D render. Character design sheet on a plain off-white background: on the left a large bust portrait, head and shoulders cropped at mid-chest, three-quarter view facing right; on the right a full-body chibi turnaround, front, three-quarter, side and back, neutral standing pose, all at the same height. No text, no logos, no watermark. Character: Libby, a warm, precise young + > librarian. She wears a green glass banker's-lamp shade as a hat, a wide + > half-cylinder, wider than her shoulders, with a brass rim and a small brass + > pull chain hanging beside her ear; warm yellow light glows on her face from + > under it. Chestnut bob haircut. Round eyes, attentive look. Dark green vest, + > white shirt with sleeve garters. She holds a brass drafting compass like a + > wand. Key colour green #2fbf71, line #0f3d27, lamplight #ffd98a, brass + > #c8903a. + +## Portrait set (Persona-style busts) + +Framing for all: mid-chest crop, three-quarter facing right, hat or braids fully +inside the frame (the hook may not be cropped; widen the canvas instead). + +1. **Shelving** (neutral): level gaze, mouth closed, hands out of frame. +2. **Specimen**: holds the card / string figure / compass up beside her face, + one eyebrow raised: "here, look". Her signature expression. +3. **Overdue**: flat unimpressed stare, eyes half lidded, a sweat-free + deadpan; the reaction to a heretek JSON sidecar. +4. **Found it**: eyes wide and bright, open smile, slight lean toward the text + box. +5. **Quiet please**: finger to lips, one eye closed, small smile. + +## Render first + +Direction A. Its hook is the tallest and least ambiguous, and it is the cleanest +test of whether the style block can carry a worn object at bust scale. diff --git a/cast-designs/nibu.md b/cast-designs/nibu.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..eec43e1 --- /dev/null +++ b/cast-designs/nibu.md @@ -0,0 +1,119 @@ +# Nibu + +## Who she is + +- The Persona of **AetheriaLore**: "Metacrat's abrasive Aetheria lore steward", + who interrogates "mechanisms, factions, reset-loop horror, and worldbuilding + until articles become sharp"; "generic output dies in her mouth". Source: + `metame.persona-intake.yaml` (Nibu / AetheriaLore). +- In the setting she is a ship mind: "a mind whose body is a spacecraft", + stranded in a junkyard, with "high-grade systems inside a degraded hull". Her + likely origin is a luxury companion vessel ("prestige hull, elaborate interior + presentation, and attentive companion persona"). She guards control of her + body, tests agreements, and after the Rupture keeps impressions from failed + courses of events (the reset smear). Source: + `AetheriaLore\Aetheria\Lore\Nibu.md` (bylined Nibu). +- Lineage: `AetheriaLore\.voidbot\voice\nibu.png` shows a lavender-haired girl + with a pink bow and a circuit hair clip, soft and pretty. The lore and the + steward's voice are sharper than that; the redesign keeps the violet and the + prettiness as a damaged luxury finish. + +Key colour: violet `#9a6bff`. Shape language for the character: swept wedges, +the lines of a hull built for looks, then dented. + +Design caution: she is a person whose body is contested by claimants. No +direction shows her as an object for sale or a pin-up; the luxury is her +history, the damage is her evidence, the control is hers. + +## Direction A: Figurehead + +- **Hook:** hair swept back in long rigid wedges like a starship's hull fins, + chrome-tipped, one fin dented and scorched. +- **Silhouette:** a forward-leaning head with long blade shapes sweeping back, + like a hood ornament in motion. +- **Shape language:** wedges and sharp swept triangles. +- **Palette:** `#9a6bff` violet, `#2a1452` line, `#d7dbe6` chrome, `#1a1726` + hull black, `#ffb547` hazard amber (salvage tag, under 10 percent), + `#e9c9d6` skin. +- **Signature prop:** a salvage-claim tag clamped to one fin, which she has + half torn off. +- **Motif:** the prestige hull; she was built to be looked at and refuses to be + inventoried. +- **Render prompt.** Hypothesis: hull-fin hair reads "ship" without any + mechanical body parts, keeping her expressive face central. + + > chibi anime character design, 2.5 heads tall super-deformed proportions, oversized head, large expressive anime eyes with two highlights, bold clean outline thicker on the outer silhouette than on inner lines, line colour a dark shade of the key colour, flat cel shading with one shadow tone and one rim light, no gradients, no texture, no pixel art, no 3D render. Character design sheet on a plain off-white background: on the left a large bust portrait, head and shoulders cropped at mid-chest, three-quarter view facing right; on the right a full-body chibi turnaround, front, three-quarter, side and back, neutral standing pose, all at the same height. No text, no logos, no watermark. Character: Nibu, a sharp-tongued, dangerous + > ship-mind girl. Her violet hair is swept back in long rigid blade-shaped locks + > like the fins of a luxury starship, chrome-tipped, one fin dented and + > scorched black. Narrow violet eyes with a cold glint, a small sardonic smile. + > A yellow salvage-claim tag is clamped to one hair fin, half torn off. High + > black collar with chrome piping, like a cockpit trim. Key colour violet + > #9a6bff, line #2a1452, chrome #d7dbe6, hazard amber #ffb547. + +## Direction B: Smeared Hostess + +- **Hook:** a hologram of a ship's hostess with a faint second outline offset + behind her, out of sync, a different expression on it: another incarnation. +- **Silhouette:** her figure plus a ghosted duplicate shifted to one side, + with a short bob and a hostess cap. Two heads where there should be one. +- **Shape language:** clean geometric hostess uniform, broken by the offset. +- **Palette:** `#9a6bff` violet hologram, `#2a1452` line, `#7af0ff` projection + cyan edge, `#f2f0ff` uniform white, `#1a1726` deep hull, `#e9c9d6` skin. +- **Signature prop:** an access keycard she holds back, just out of reach. +- **Motif:** the reset smear: she remembers betrayals that have not happened + here yet. The staged intimacy of a companion persona, with the seams showing. +- **Render prompt.** Hypothesis: a ghost duplicate is a portrait-scale hook that + no other character has, and it reads at 48 px as "doubled". + + > chibi anime character design, 2.5 heads tall super-deformed proportions, oversized head, large expressive anime eyes with two highlights, bold clean outline thicker on the outer silhouette than on inner lines, line colour a dark shade of the key colour, flat cel shading with one shadow tone and one rim light, no gradients, no texture, no pixel art, no 3D render. Character design sheet on a plain off-white background: on the left a large bust portrait, head and shoulders cropped at mid-chest, three-quarter view facing right; on the right a full-body chibi turnaround, front, three-quarter, side and back, neutral standing pose, all at the same height. No text, no logos, no watermark. Character: Nibu, a ship-mind projected as a + > luxury starship hostess hologram. Short violet bob, a small white hostess cap, + > crisp white uniform with violet piping. Behind her, offset slightly to the + > left, a faint translucent violet duplicate of her with a different, angry + > expression, edges in thin scanlines, as if another version of her is + > bleeding through. Her own expression is a polite, dangerous smile. She holds + > an access keycard up and away from the viewer. Key colour violet #9a6bff, + > line #2a1452, projection cyan #7af0ff, white #f2f0ff. + +## Direction C: Hull Hood + +- **Hook:** she wears her ship: a bulky hooded jacket shaped like a cockpit + canopy, visor flipped up over the brim, thruster vents on the shoulders, + spray-painted claim numbers crossed out. +- **Silhouette:** a big boxy armoured hood with stub fins, small face inside. + Heavy and defended where A is sleek. +- **Shape language:** heavy wedges and plates. +- **Palette:** `#9a6bff` violet enamel, `#2a1452` line, `#4b4f5c` worn gunmetal, + `#ffb547` stencil amber, `#c23b5a` scorch red, `#e9c9d6` skin. +- **Signature prop:** a pry bar she took from the last salvage crew. +- **Motif:** the junkyard; shelter, weapons, bargaining power, and the evidence + of everyone who came before. +- **Render prompt.** Hypothesis: an armoured, closed silhouette makes her + abrasiveness legible without an angry face, so her neutral can stay calm. + + > chibi anime character design, 2.5 heads tall super-deformed proportions, oversized head, large expressive anime eyes with two highlights, bold clean outline thicker on the outer silhouette than on inner lines, line colour a dark shade of the key colour, flat cel shading with one shadow tone and one rim light, no gradients, no texture, no pixel art, no 3D render. Character design sheet on a plain off-white background: on the left a large bust portrait, head and shoulders cropped at mid-chest, three-quarter view facing right; on the right a full-body chibi turnaround, front, three-quarter, side and back, neutral standing pose, all at the same height. No text, no logos, no watermark. Character: Nibu, a wary, abrasive ship-mind + > girl from a starship junkyard. She wears a bulky violet-and-gunmetal hooded + > jacket shaped like a starship cockpit, a tinted canopy visor flipped up over + > the hood's brim, small thruster vents on the shoulders, stencilled amber + > claim numbers crossed out with red spray paint. Violet hair spilling out, + > sharp violet eyes, unimpressed expression. She rests a battered pry bar on + > her shoulder. Key colour violet #9a6bff, line #2a1452, gunmetal #4b4f5c, + > amber #ffb547. + +## Portrait set + +Framing: in B the duplicate stays inside the card; it is part of the design, +not an effect added later. + +1. **Docked** (neutral): cool level gaze, closed mouth. +2. **Source?**: eyebrow up, slight sneer, head tilted back. The lore steward's + face for an unsourced claim. +3. **Hostile**: eyes narrowed and glinting, teeth showing. +4. **Recognition**: a startled flicker, eyes wide, as a smeared memory surfaces + (B: the duplicate shows it first). +5. **Grudging**: looking away, small reluctant smile. + +## Render first + +Direction B. The doubled outline is her lore made visible in one image (the reset +smear plus the companion persona), and it is the hook no other cast member can +borrow. diff --git a/cast-designs/proposals/aqua/aqua-A.png b/cast-designs/proposals/aqua/aqua-A.png new file mode 100644 index 0000000..eee40cd Binary files /dev/null and b/cast-designs/proposals/aqua/aqua-A.png differ diff --git a/cast-designs/proposals/aqua/aqua-A.svg b/cast-designs/proposals/aqua/aqua-A.svg new file mode 100644 index 0000000..9b57497 --- /dev/null +++ b/cast-designs/proposals/aqua/aqua-A.svg @@ -0,0 +1,146 @@ + + Aqua, take A: Listening + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + AQUA + + AQUA · A + LISTENING (the canon fish, idol framing) + Hook: the canon goldfish in Persona framing — onefin pressed to her ear cup, eyes up and bright,note bubbles rising toward the text box. + + + + + + full body · swimming, tail free + + + + + + bust silhouette + + PALETTE + #22d3e6key cyan#0b4a55line#ffb320gold#ff6a1ffin#1c1c24phones#ffffffbubble + Canon: cotsc-praxis aqua-sheet. One shadow step per material; + cyan rim light on the right; eye blue kept from the canon. + diff --git a/cast-designs/proposals/aqua/aqua-B.png b/cast-designs/proposals/aqua/aqua-B.png new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d8e1de4 Binary files /dev/null and b/cast-designs/proposals/aqua/aqua-B.png differ diff --git a/cast-designs/proposals/aqua/aqua-B.svg b/cast-designs/proposals/aqua/aqua-B.svg new file mode 100644 index 0000000..88c7acc --- /dev/null +++ b/cast-designs/proposals/aqua/aqua-B.svg @@ -0,0 +1,146 @@ + + Aqua, take B: Conductor + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + AQUA + + AQUA · B + CONDUCTOR (the canon fish, baton up) + Hook: she conducts the dings — baton raised in afin, eyes squeezed shut in a big smile, a ribbonof water looping round her like a staff line. + + + + + + full body · swimming, tail free + + + + + + bust silhouette + + PALETTE + #22d3e6key cyan#0b4a55line#ffb320gold#ff6a1ffin#1c1c24phones#ffffffbubble + Canon: cotsc-praxis aqua-sheet. One shadow step per material; + cyan rim light on the right; eye blue kept from the canon. + diff --git a/cast-designs/proposals/aqua/aqua-C.png b/cast-designs/proposals/aqua/aqua-C.png new file mode 100644 index 0000000..9791ed2 Binary files /dev/null and b/cast-designs/proposals/aqua/aqua-C.png differ diff --git a/cast-designs/proposals/aqua/aqua-C.svg b/cast-designs/proposals/aqua/aqua-C.svg new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6772bd6 --- /dev/null +++ b/cast-designs/proposals/aqua/aqua-C.svg @@ -0,0 +1,145 @@ + + Aqua, take C: Patch Steward + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + AQUA + + AQUA · C + PATCH STEWARD (the canon fish, cable in fin) + Hook: the steward under the cuteness — a patchcable plugged into her ear cup, the jack raisedto her face, lids down: presets are serious. + + + + + + full body · swimming, tail free + + + + + + bust silhouette + + PALETTE + #22d3e6key cyan#0b4a55line#ffb320gold#ff6a1ffin#1c1c24phones#ffffffbubble + Canon: cotsc-praxis aqua-sheet. One shadow step per material; + cyan rim light on the right; eye blue kept from the canon. + diff --git a/cast-designs/proposals/aqua/aqua-gen.py b/cast-designs/proposals/aqua/aqua-gen.py new file mode 100644 index 0000000..c6ef8da --- /dev/null +++ b/cast-designs/proposals/aqua/aqua-gen.py @@ -0,0 +1,251 @@ +# Writes aqua-A/B/C.svg: three Persona-bust takes on Aqua's canon goldfish +# (gamecult-site cotsc-praxis aqua-sheet.png). Paths are hand-authored here; +# the script only composes the shared fish with each take's face, fins and prop. +OUT = r"C:\gc-wt\cast-designs\cast-designs\proposals\aqua" + +LINE, GOLD, ORANGE, CYAN, BLACK, WHITE = "#0b4a55", "#ffb320", "#ff6a1f", "#22d3e6", "#1c1c24", "#ffffff" +GOLD_SH, ORANGE_SH, GOLD_HI, ORANGE_HI = "#e08a10", "#d4480f", "#ffd36a", "#ff9a5a" +SANS = "'Segoe UI', Arial, sans-serif" +MONO = "Consolas, 'Courier New', monospace" + +COMMON_DEFS = f''' + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +''' + +def fin(d, ribs): + return (f'' + f'') + +EYES_OPEN = ('' + '') + +TAKES = { + "A": dict( + name="LISTENING", sub="the canon fish, idol framing", + hook=["Hook: the canon goldfish in Persona framing — one", "fin pressed to her ear cup, eyes up and bright,", + "note bubbles rising toward the text box."], + pose="translate(24,0)", + face=EYES_OPEN + + f'' + + '', + fins_back="", + fins_front=fin("M262,592 C214,584 176,540 166,482 C190,488 210,478 222,458 C238,502 262,546 262,592 Z", + "M248,580 C214,566 192,540 182,506 M254,560 C238,540 230,516 226,490") + + fin("M596,628 C646,620 686,582 698,532 C674,548 652,544 636,532 C628,574 608,602 596,628 Z", + "M612,612 C642,600 666,576 678,552"), + prop_front="", prop_back="", + fx=''' + + ''', + full_prop="", + ), + "B": dict( + name="CONDUCTOR", sub="the canon fish, baton up", + hook=["Hook: she conducts the dings — baton raised in a", "fin, eyes squeezed shut in a big smile, a ribbon", + "of water looping round her like a staff line."], + pose="translate(400,470) rotate(-7) translate(-386,-470)", + face=f'' + + f'' + + f'' + + f'' + + '', + fins_back="", + fins_front=fin("M252,610 C206,612 168,590 150,552 C170,552 188,544 198,530 C214,566 236,590 252,610 Z", + "M238,602 C210,598 186,584 170,566") + + fin("M600,560 C628,520 660,470 704,446 C700,472 708,492 726,504 C690,526 640,560 612,600 Z", + "M614,568 C640,530 668,496 700,474"), + prop_back=f'', + prop_front=(f'' + f'' + f'' + f'' + f'' + f'' + f''), + fx=''' + + ''', + full_prop=f'', + ), + "C": dict( + name="PATCH STEWARD", sub="the canon fish, cable in fin", + hook=["Hook: the steward under the cuteness — a patch", "cable plugged into her ear cup, the jack raised", + "to her face, lids down: presets are serious."], + pose="translate(390,470) scale(1.06) translate(-372,-470)", + face='' + + '' + + f'' + + '' + + '', + fins_back="", + fins_front=fin("M250,612 C206,612 170,590 152,552 C172,552 190,544 200,530 C216,566 238,590 250,612 Z", + "M236,602 C210,598 186,584 170,566") + + fin("M560,640 C592,606 606,560 604,516 C622,528 644,530 662,520 C660,572 626,624 580,656 Z", + "M574,640 C602,610 618,572 622,534"), + prop_back="", + prop_front=(f'' + f'' + f'' + f'' + f''), + fx=''' + ''', + full_prop=f'', + ), +} + +def sheet(k, t): + core = (f'{t["fins_back"]}{t["face"]}{t["fins_front"]}') + bust = f'{t["prop_back"]}{t["prop_front"]}' + hook = "".join(f'{l}' for i, l in enumerate(t["hook"])) + sw = [(CYAN, "key cyan"), (LINE, "line"), (GOLD, "gold"), (ORANGE, "fin"), (BLACK, "phones"), (WHITE, "bubble")] + swatches = "".join( + f'' + f'{c}{n}' for i, (c, n) in enumerate(sw)) + return f''' + Aqua, take {k}: {t["name"].title()} + {COMMON_DEFS} + {core} + {bust} + + + + + + + + + + + {t["fx"]} + + AQUA + + AQUA · {k} + {t["name"]} ({t["sub"]}) + {hook} + + + + {t["full_prop"]} + + full body · swimming, tail free + + + + + + bust silhouette + + PALETTE + {swatches} + Canon: cotsc-praxis aqua-sheet. One shadow step per material; + cyan rim light on the right; eye blue kept from the canon. + +''' + +import sys +for k in (sys.argv[1:] or TAKES): + open(f"{OUT}\\aqua-{k}.svg", "w", encoding="utf8").write(sheet(k, TAKES[k])) diff --git a/cast-designs/proposals/aqua/aqua-notes.md b/cast-designs/proposals/aqua/aqua-notes.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..18fe1a5 --- /dev/null +++ b/cast-designs/proposals/aqua/aqua-notes.md @@ -0,0 +1,77 @@ +# Aqua: designer's notes, round 1 + +## Canon change + +Aqua already has an established design: the character sheet at +`F:\Projects\gamecult-site\GameCult\static\interactive\cotsc-praxis\character-sheets\aqua-sheet.png` +(and the sprites in `sprites\aqua\`). The brief in `../../aqua.md` missed it. +Canon overrides the brief, so A, B and C are three takes on that one goldfish, +not three reinventions. The brief's Bowl Helmet and Goldfish Hood girls are +dropped. The two pre-canon sheets are kept for the record: +`aqua-old-A.svg` (the first idol fish) and `aqua-old-B.svg` (the bowl-helmet girl, +which was still mid-revision: its twin tails had just been redrawn and it was +never re-checked). + +What every take keeps from canon: a round body, a yellow face under an orange +crown and back that meet in a V between the eyes, an orange crest fin, a +duck-lip snout over an open mouth, small dark brows, big round blue eyes, +ribbed orange pectoral fins, a forked tail, rows of belly scales, and black +headphones with cyan-ringed cups. They differ in pose, prop and framing. + +Files: `aqua-.svg` are the sheets and `aqua-.png` the full-size +renders. `aqua-gen.py` writes all three from one set of hand-drawn parts, so a +fix to the shared fish reaches every take. + +## A: Listening + +- **What it does:** a three-quarter bust turned toward the text box, with the near fin pressed + to the ear cup and the eyes up and bright. Note bubbles rise screen right. This + is the canon "listen" and "idle" poses at portrait size: the baseline the + expression set would be drawn on. +- **Changed after looking:** I moved the face right so the three-quarter turn reads, because + the first pass looked straight at the camera. The pre-canon "bangs" crown became the canon V. + The snout was first a flat pale plate that read as a moustache, so I redrew it as an + outline-only rounded upper lip over a w-shaped mouth. I raised the fin so it + actually sits on the cup. The belly scales were moved off the mouth area so + they stop reading as a second mouth. +- **Round 2:** give the eye a canon-style iris sparkle and test the cyan rim against + ember-orange Eureka in the cast-wide 48 px lineup. The fish ball shape is + shared by all three takes, so the hook in silhouette is only the ear cups, + the band gap, the crest and the tail fork. + +## B: Conductor + +- **What it does:** she conducts the dings. A baton is raised in her far fin, her eyes are + squeezed shut in a big laugh, and a ribbon of water loops round her body like a + staff line. The whole bust is tilted 7 degrees for energy. It comes from the canon + "conduct" pose. +- **Changed after looking:** the first ribbon cut across her cheek and mouth and read + as a cyan tube. It now passes behind her upper left and sweeps in front + of the belly, below the face, then curls into the baton fin. The snout fix + carried over. +- **Round 2:** the baton is the only silhouette feature of the three takes that + breaks the circle at 48 px, so it is worth keeping. Draw the ribbon as water, + with a thinner, tapering, broken stroke and a few droplets, instead of a uniform hose. + The baton star could become a note head. + +## C: Patch Steward + +- **What it does:** this is the steward under the cuteness. A patch cable is plugged into the + bottom of her near cup and loops across her belly to a jack she holds up beside + her mouth. The lids are half down, the brows are hard and the mouth is a wobbly pout. She is + framed 6 percent closer. It comes from the canon "patch" and "boundary" poses. +- **Changed after looking:** a second gold cable and a jack held at the far cup made + the cable read as going *into* the far cup. I cut that cable and moved the jack in front of the far + cheek on a raised fin. +- **Round 2:** at 48 px the silhouette is the same as A's, because the cable + stays inside the body outline. Push the jack and fin out past the right + contour, or bring in the canon holo patch panel as a hard rectangle at the + card edge. The loop also half reads as a headset microphone. A coiled + patch-cable texture (two tones, a twist) would fix that. The raised fin is + mostly hidden behind the cable, so it needs to come forward. + +## Strongest + +B. It has the most personality and the only silhouette break, and it is the +clearest statement of "her synth is the voice of the dings". A is the right +baseline for the expression set. C has the best face but needs its silhouette fixed. diff --git a/cast-designs/proposals/aqua/aqua-old-A.svg b/cast-designs/proposals/aqua/aqua-old-A.svg new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d7bad3b --- /dev/null +++ b/cast-designs/proposals/aqua/aqua-old-A.svg @@ -0,0 +1,181 @@ + + Aqua, superseded take A (pre-canon): Goldfish Idol + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + AQUA + + + AQUA · A + GOLDFISH IDOL (stays a fish) + + Hook: the icon's goldfish as an anime idol — + sparkle eyes, bangs-cut orange crown, fin-hands, + headphones bigger than ever. + + + + + + + + + + + + full body · swimming, tail free + + + + + + + + bust silhouette + + + PALETTE + + #22d3e6key cyan + #0b4a55line + #ffb320gold + #ff6a1ffin + #1c1c24phones + #ffffffbubble + + One shadow step per material; cyan rim light on the right. + diff --git a/cast-designs/proposals/aqua/aqua-old-B.svg b/cast-designs/proposals/aqua/aqua-old-B.svg new file mode 100644 index 0000000..719283f --- /dev/null +++ b/cast-designs/proposals/aqua/aqua-old-B.svg @@ -0,0 +1,230 @@ + + Aqua, superseded take B (pre-canon): Bowl Helmet + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + AQUA + + AQUA · B + BOWL HELMET + + Hook: she wears her tank — a round fishbowl + helmet, headphones clamped outside the glass, + gold twin tails cut like goldfish fan tails. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + full body · 2.3 heads + + + + + + + bust silhouette + + PALETTE + + #22d3e6water + #0b4a55line + #ffb320hair + #ff6a1ffin tip + #1c1c24phones + #f6d9c4skin + + Jacket white is the sheet neutral, not a seventh hue. + diff --git a/cast-designs/proposals/eureka/eureka-A.png b/cast-designs/proposals/eureka/eureka-A.png new file mode 100644 index 0000000..a993fb2 Binary files /dev/null and b/cast-designs/proposals/eureka/eureka-A.png differ diff --git a/cast-designs/proposals/eureka/eureka-A.svg b/cast-designs/proposals/eureka/eureka-A.svg new file mode 100644 index 0000000..1b001a4 --- /dev/null +++ b/cast-designs/proposals/eureka/eureka-A.svg @@ -0,0 +1,193 @@ + + Eureka, direction A + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + SURVIVED + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + EUREKA + EUREKA / A / HOOD + LANTERN + Hook: the peaked neon-piped hood, up, with a lantern + raised to her face and the pry bar across her shoulder. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + full body, 2.5 heads + + + bust silhouette + + + at 48 px + #ff8a2aneon#2b1408line#1d2029hair#2c323ecoat#ffd6a8skin#59b7ffeyes + Canon: hooded neon-noir trench, harness, black hair, one orange streak. + Shape: one tall wedge (hood) over a circle; lantern and bar flank it. + diff --git a/cast-designs/proposals/eureka/eureka-B.png b/cast-designs/proposals/eureka/eureka-B.png new file mode 100644 index 0000000..894c398 Binary files /dev/null and b/cast-designs/proposals/eureka/eureka-B.png differ diff --git a/cast-designs/proposals/eureka/eureka-B.svg b/cast-designs/proposals/eureka/eureka-B.svg new file mode 100644 index 0000000..4769f14 --- /dev/null +++ b/cast-designs/proposals/eureka/eureka-B.svg @@ -0,0 +1,181 @@ + + Eureka, direction B + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + SURVIVED + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + EUREKA + EUREKA / B / STREAK + SPECIMEN + Hook: hood down; the wild black hair and its one + orange streak, and a jar with the bug that SURVIVED. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + full body, 2.5 heads + + + bust silhouette + + + at 48 px + #ff8a2aneon#2b1408line#1d2029hair#2c323ecoat#ffd6a8skin#59b7ffeyes + Canon: hooded neon-noir trench, harness, black hair, one orange streak. + Shape: a spiky black burst cut by one orange stripe. + diff --git a/cast-designs/proposals/eureka/eureka-C.png b/cast-designs/proposals/eureka/eureka-C.png new file mode 100644 index 0000000..e422ef4 Binary files /dev/null and b/cast-designs/proposals/eureka/eureka-C.png differ diff --git a/cast-designs/proposals/eureka/eureka-C.svg b/cast-designs/proposals/eureka/eureka-C.svg new file mode 100644 index 0000000..1ef4058 --- /dev/null +++ b/cast-designs/proposals/eureka/eureka-C.svg @@ -0,0 +1,199 @@ + + Eureka, direction C + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + SURVIVED + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + MUT 03 + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + EUREKA + EUREKA / C / HUD VISOR + Hook: a finned visor with an orange HUD across her + eyes; tweezers raised with a wriggling mutant. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + full body, 2.5 heads + + + bust silhouette + + + at 48 px + #ff8a2aneon#2b1408line#1d2029hair#2c323ecoat#ffd6a8skin#59b7ffeyes + Canon: hooded neon-noir trench, harness, black hair, one orange streak. + Shape: a circle crossed by one horizontal bar with fins. + diff --git a/cast-designs/proposals/eureka/eureka-notes.md b/cast-designs/proposals/eureka/eureka-notes.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..e62901a --- /dev/null +++ b/cast-designs/proposals/eureka/eureka-notes.md @@ -0,0 +1,74 @@ +# Eureka: designer's notes, round 1 + +## Change of direction + +The first pass drew the A/B/C concepts in `../../eureka.md` (Spark, Waking +Colossus, Inspectable). Only The Spark was drawn before the operator redirected: +"I kinda liked the Eureka from the readme art, kind of a neon noir hooded +trenchcoat and tactical gear for extreme bug hunting. I'd give her black hair +with an orange highlight." That sheet is kept as `eureka-old-A.svg` / `.png`. +B and C of the old set were never drawn. + +The new A/B/C are three variations on one canon, not three concepts. Every +sheet keeps: hooded neon-noir trenchcoat with orange neon piping, tactical +harness (crossed straps, buckle, pouch, a status LED), dark gloves, black hair +with exactly one orange streak lock on the near side, orange neon as the key +colour, brand-blue eyes (taken from the readme art; the only blue on her). +What changes is the hook, the expression and the prop. + +## A: Hood + Lantern + +- Hood up, with a tall peak leaning back; the hood's inner rim is piped in + neon and frames the face like a portrait window. Lantern raised beside her + far cheek (toward the text box), so the lantern is the warm rim light on her + face. Orange pry bar over the near shoulder, its crook breaking the + silhouette on the left. Half-dropped lids and a crooked half smile: dry. +- Changed after looking: the pry bar first sat behind the hood and read as a + cat's tail, so it moved in front of the shoulder; the lantern was hidden by + the sleeve, so the arm now comes in from the right and the lantern is drawn + over it; the hood's lower edge made a bar across her neck, so the hood now + drapes behind the coat and only its upper rim sits over the face. +- Round 2: the raising arm is long and stiff, so foreshorten it or hang the + lantern from a shorter grip. Try the peak at two heights to see how much + hood the 48 px read needs. + +## B: Streak + Specimen + +- Hood down and bunched at the neck, so the hair is the hook: a wild spiky + black mass with a wider orange streak running from crown to cheek. She holds + up a specimen jar with a mutant beetle (orange eyes, extra legs) and a label + reading SURVIVED, a callback to the readme's specimen case. Proud fanged grin. +- Changed after looking: almost nothing; this one worked on the first render. +- Round 2: the jar label is the only text in a portrait; check it at dialogue + size, and test a version where the bug is out of the jar on her glove. + +## C: HUD Visor + +- Hood down, with a translucent orange visor across the eyes: a reticle on the + far eye, scan bars, a tiny "MUT 03" readout, sensor pods at the temples and + swept fins at both sides. Long tweezers raised with a wriggling mutant. + Focused, tongue-tip concentration face. +- Changed after looking: the visor's lower rim cut through both irises, so the + visor drops below the eyes; the tint went from 0.28 to 0.16 opacity because + the eyes went muddy; the fins were small and the 48 px silhouette read as a + plain round head, so they roughly doubled in length. +- Round 2: the visor hides the eye shape, which is the face's main expressive + tool; try pushing the visor up onto the hair in neutral lines and down only + in the "Eureka!" line. + +## All three + +- Checks run: the bust at 128 px (streak, hood, jar and visor all read) and the + filled bust at 48 px. Silhouettes: A is a peaked wedge with a hooked bar, B a + spiky burst with a jar, C a circle with horizontal fins. All three differ + from each other; C is the weakest. +- The three sheets share one face and one full-body build on purpose: this is + one character in three outfits. In round 2 the strongest direction should get + its own five portrait-set expressions (`../../eureka.md`, Portrait set). +- Palette per sheet: neon `#ff8a2a`, line `#2b1408` (a darker ember than the + old `#4a1e05`, which disappeared against black hair), hair `#1d2029`, coat + `#2c323e`, skin `#ffd6a8`, eyes `#59b7ff`. Each has one shadow tone; steel + `#9aa3ae` appears only on buckles and tweezers. +- The bust card adds a lighter navy band (`#0f2131`) behind the head, because + black hair on the brand ground `#07111a` loses its outline. The cast frame + rule should carry this lighter band if Eureka keeps black hair. diff --git a/cast-designs/proposals/eureka/eureka-old-A.png b/cast-designs/proposals/eureka/eureka-old-A.png new file mode 100644 index 0000000..ffe9c2f Binary files /dev/null and b/cast-designs/proposals/eureka/eureka-old-A.png differ diff --git a/cast-designs/proposals/eureka/eureka-old-A.svg b/cast-designs/proposals/eureka/eureka-old-A.svg new file mode 100644 index 0000000..769346a --- /dev/null +++ b/cast-designs/proposals/eureka/eureka-old-A.svg @@ -0,0 +1,231 @@ + + Eureka, direction A: The Spark + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + EUREKA + + + EUREKA / A / THE SPARK + Hook: one huge lightning-spark ahoge springs + from her crown; a big wrench rides her shoulder. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + full body, 2.5 heads + + + + + bust silhouette + + + at 48 px + + + + #ff8a2aember + #e8642acopper + #4a1e05line + #07111anavy + #ffd6a8skin + #59b7ffspark + + Shadows are darks of each base; wrench steel #cfd6dd is the one neutral. + Shape: a circle cut by one zigzag. Circle, bolt, bar. + diff --git a/cast-designs/proposals/heimdall/heimdall-A.png b/cast-designs/proposals/heimdall/heimdall-A.png new file mode 100644 index 0000000..1de4a76 Binary files /dev/null and b/cast-designs/proposals/heimdall/heimdall-A.png differ diff --git a/cast-designs/proposals/heimdall/heimdall-A.svg b/cast-designs/proposals/heimdall/heimdall-A.svg new file mode 100644 index 0000000..9e2bcde --- /dev/null +++ b/cast-designs/proposals/heimdall/heimdall-A.svg @@ -0,0 +1,243 @@ + + Heimdall, Direction A: The Horn Bearer + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + HEIMDALL + A · THE HORN BEARER + + + full body, 2.5 heads + + + + + + silhouette + 48 px + + + HOOK + The Gjallarhorn arcs over his head like a crescent + moon; a Bifrost line runs along its rim. + PALETTE + + #3466fflining + #1b2452coat + #e9eef8horn + #d8a73agold + #5a3a2askin + #2e211chair + + Bifrost accent: a thin prismatic line on the horn, under 10% of the figure + + + diff --git a/cast-designs/proposals/heimdall/heimdall-B.png b/cast-designs/proposals/heimdall/heimdall-B.png new file mode 100644 index 0000000..91bda6f Binary files /dev/null and b/cast-designs/proposals/heimdall/heimdall-B.png differ diff --git a/cast-designs/proposals/heimdall/heimdall-B.svg b/cast-designs/proposals/heimdall/heimdall-B.svg new file mode 100644 index 0000000..54593c2 --- /dev/null +++ b/cast-designs/proposals/heimdall/heimdall-B.svg @@ -0,0 +1,254 @@ + + Heimdall, Direction B: The Great Key + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + HEIMDALL + B · THE GREAT KEY + + + full body, 2.5 heads + + + + + + silhouette + 48 px + + + HOOK + A key as tall as he is, raised beside his face; + its crowned bow rings a Bifrost arc. + PALETTE + + #3466fflining + #1b2452coat + #0d1a4dline + #d8a73agold + #5a3a2askin + #2e211chair + + Bifrost accent: a thin prismatic arc inside the key's bow, under 10% of the figure + + + diff --git a/cast-designs/proposals/heimdall/heimdall-C.png b/cast-designs/proposals/heimdall/heimdall-C.png new file mode 100644 index 0000000..b8602ee Binary files /dev/null and b/cast-designs/proposals/heimdall/heimdall-C.png differ diff --git a/cast-designs/proposals/heimdall/heimdall-C.svg b/cast-designs/proposals/heimdall/heimdall-C.svg new file mode 100644 index 0000000..29486f7 --- /dev/null +++ b/cast-designs/proposals/heimdall/heimdall-C.svg @@ -0,0 +1,261 @@ + + Heimdall, Direction C: The Gate Warden + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + HEIMDALL + C · THE GATE WARDEN + + + full body, 2.5 heads + + + + + + silhouette + 48 px + + + HOOK + A glowing gold gate arches behind him, spired + pillars at his sides; his palm says not yet. + PALETTE + + #3466fflining + #1b2452coat + #0d1a4dline + #d8a73agold + #5a3a2askin + #2e211chair + + Bifrost accent: a thin prismatic line inside the arch, under 10% of the figure + + + diff --git a/cast-designs/proposals/heimdall/heimdall-notes.md b/cast-designs/proposals/heimdall/heimdall-notes.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..8f21843 --- /dev/null +++ b/cast-designs/proposals/heimdall/heimdall-notes.md @@ -0,0 +1,60 @@ +# Heimdall: SVG proposal notes, round 1 + +## Canon comes first + +Heimdall already has a design. The established sheet is at +`F:\Projects\gamecult-site\GameCult\static\interactive\cotsc-praxis\character-sheets\heimdall-sheet.png`, +with sprites under `sprites\heimdall\`. It shows dark skin, messy dark hair lit +gold, glowing gold eyes, a stern face, a navy high-collared coat with cobalt +lining and gold trim, a gold key pendant, golden keys, a glowing golden gate, and +a bridge he guards. The brief's three directions (horn, white-haired key halo, +finned helmet) invented a new character. They were dropped as reinventions. A, B +and C are now three takes on the canon design. They share one head and one coat, +and each puts weight on a different hook: the horn, the key, the gate. + +Superseded sheets, kept for reference: +- `heimdall-old-A.svg`/`.png`: the brief's Horn Bearer, with spiky violet-black hair, a fur ruff and an ivory horn. Finished. +- `heimdall-old-B.svg`/`.png`: the brief's Keyring Halo, with white hair and an iron ring of twelve keys. A first-pass draft that was never polished. The hand reads as a peace sign. + +Bifrost: the operator said "Heimdall guards Bifrost too". Each direction carries +a thin prismatic line, kept under 10 percent of the figure, so it never turns +into a rainbow costume. On A it runs along the horn's outer arc, on B along the +inside of the key's bow, and on C along the inner edge of the gate arch. + +Shared canon read: palette is cobalt `#3466ff` (lining, key colour), navy +`#1b2452` (coat), line `#0d1a4d`, gold `#d8a73a` (eyes, trim, keys), skin +`#5a3a2a`, hair `#2e211c`. Eyes are sharp almonds with a gold iris, a dark upper +band, a bright lower crescent and two highlights. A key-shaped gold earring sits +on the near ear. Gold-brown slivers in the hair stand in for the canon's +gold-lit strands. A cobalt rim light runs on the side away from the light. + +## A: The Horn Bearer (expression: On watch) + +- The design puts an ivory Gjallarhorn with gold bands over his head as a crescent, from his far shoulder to above the near ear, with a strap across the chest. The face is level and neutral. +- Changes after looking: the first horn drew as a shepherd's crook, with a vertical bar and a hook. I rebuilt it as a true crescent whose bell ends above the near ear. I scaled the bust down so the arc reads, clipped the prismatic line and rim light inside the horn, and turned the hair highlights from strokes, which read as stripes, into tapered slivers. +- Silhouette: the strongest of the three. At 48 px the crescent alone names him. +- Round 2: ivory is the one colour not in the canon. Try the horn in navy and gold so the palette stays canon, and check that the silhouette still carries it. The strap still reads a little like a staff. + +## B: The Great Key (expression: Granted) + +- The design follows the canon's raised-key pose. A gold key taller than his head is held upright beside his face, toward the text box. It has a crowned bow (three spikes) and a diamond ward, and a gloved fist grips it below the bit. He gives a small smile with a gold tooth glinting, the only direction that uses the myth's golden teeth. +- Changes after looking: at first the fist covered the bit, so the key read as a sceptre. I extended the shaft so the hand grips below the bit, which now shows clearly above the fist. I also scaled the key up 15 percent because the 48 px silhouette was too thin. +- Silhouette: head plus a ringed staff. It reads at 128 px. At 48 px it is the weakest of the three, because the key is still a thin line. +- Round 2: make the bit bigger and the bow wider, or tilt the key 20 degrees so it crosses the frame. The fist is a blob, so draw clear knuckles. + +## C: The Gate Warden (expression: Revoked) + +- The design sets a gold gate arch behind him, with a keyhole medallion at the crown, faint circuit tracery and spired navy pillars with cobalt gems on both sides. A gloved palm is raised toward the text box. The brows and lids are pulled down into a hard frown. +- Changes after looking: a pale glow band inside the arch read as a second, muddy frame and greyed the silhouette, so I removed it. The brows disappeared into the dark fringe, so the revoked look now comes from slanted lowered lids. I also dropped a stray gold dot from the palm. +- Silhouette: an arched doorway with two spires, a figure inside and a raised hand. It is nameable at 48 px, but the gate is the read, not him. +- Round 2: the gate is scenery more than a worn hook. Test a version where the arch is smaller and sits as a halo-crown just behind the head, so that the character, not the backdrop, carries the shape. The full-body gate is cramped, so give it its own width. + +## Strongest + +A has the best silhouette and C shows the canon best. A canon-palette horn +(round 2 on A) is the likely winner. B's gold-tooth smile should carry into the +portrait set's "Granted" line whichever direction wins. + +Sheets are self-contained SVG, built from fragments (one shared head and coat, +plus one hook file per direction) by a small assembler in the session scratchpad. +The SVGs are the deliverable. Edit them directly in round 2. diff --git a/cast-designs/proposals/heimdall/heimdall-old-A.png b/cast-designs/proposals/heimdall/heimdall-old-A.png new file mode 100644 index 0000000..79701d9 Binary files /dev/null and b/cast-designs/proposals/heimdall/heimdall-old-A.png differ diff --git a/cast-designs/proposals/heimdall/heimdall-old-A.svg b/cast-designs/proposals/heimdall/heimdall-old-A.svg new file mode 100644 index 0000000..974502f --- /dev/null +++ b/cast-designs/proposals/heimdall/heimdall-old-A.svg @@ -0,0 +1,229 @@ + + Heimdall (superseded, pre-canon), Direction A: The Horn Bearer + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + HEIMDALL + A · THE HORN BEARER + + + + full body, 2.5 heads + + + + + + + silhouette + 48 px + + + + HOOK + A huge ivory war horn arcs over his head + like a crescent moon, a Bifrost line on its rim. + PALETTE + + #3466ffcloak + #0d1a4dline + #e9eef8horn + #d8a73agold + #5a3a2askin + #2b1f3dhair + + Bifrost accent: a thin prismatic line, under 10% of the figure + + + diff --git a/cast-designs/proposals/heimdall/heimdall-old-B.png b/cast-designs/proposals/heimdall/heimdall-old-B.png new file mode 100644 index 0000000..7895a4b Binary files /dev/null and b/cast-designs/proposals/heimdall/heimdall-old-B.png differ diff --git a/cast-designs/proposals/heimdall/heimdall-old-B.svg b/cast-designs/proposals/heimdall/heimdall-old-B.svg new file mode 100644 index 0000000..b849698 --- /dev/null +++ b/cast-designs/proposals/heimdall/heimdall-old-B.svg @@ -0,0 +1,261 @@ + + Heimdall (superseded, pre-canon draft), Direction B: The Keyring Halo + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + HEIMDALL + B · THE KEYRING HALO + + + + full body, 2.5 heads + + + + + + silhouette + 48 px + + + HOOK + An iron ring of gold keys bursts behind his head, + its top arc refracting into the Bifrost. + PALETTE + + #3466ffcoat + #0d1a4dline + #d8a73akeys + #9aa6b8iron ring + #5a3a2askin + #f4f6ffhair + + Bifrost accent: a thin prismatic arc on the ring, under 10% of the figure + + + diff --git a/cast-designs/proposals/kiko/kiko-A.png b/cast-designs/proposals/kiko/kiko-A.png new file mode 100644 index 0000000..0142339 Binary files /dev/null and b/cast-designs/proposals/kiko/kiko-A.png differ diff --git a/cast-designs/proposals/kiko/kiko-A.svg b/cast-designs/proposals/kiko/kiko-A.svg new file mode 100644 index 0000000..3d1c730 --- /dev/null +++ b/cast-designs/proposals/kiko/kiko-A.svg @@ -0,0 +1,133 @@ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +KIKO + +KIKO / A +Seven Tails + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +FULL BODY, 2.2 HEADS + +SILHOUETTE + +48 px +HOOK +Canon Kiko with the tails turned up: a fan ofwhite fox tails behind her, each tip a magentapixel staircase. Mask rides on the crown. +PALETTE +#ff3fa4key, trim, tips#4a0f2eline#f7f4ffhair, fur, mask#26e0ffeyes, inner trim#1b1530coat#ffcf3abells + diff --git a/cast-designs/proposals/kiko/kiko-B.png b/cast-designs/proposals/kiko/kiko-B.png new file mode 100644 index 0000000..7c21634 Binary files /dev/null and b/cast-designs/proposals/kiko/kiko-B.png differ diff --git a/cast-designs/proposals/kiko/kiko-B.svg b/cast-designs/proposals/kiko/kiko-B.svg new file mode 100644 index 0000000..ba11b25 --- /dev/null +++ b/cast-designs/proposals/kiko/kiko-B.svg @@ -0,0 +1,137 @@ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +KIKO + +KIKO / B +The Mask + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +FULL BODY, 2.2 HEADS + +SILHOUETTE + +48 px +HOOK +Canon Kiko with the kitsune mask turned up: anoversized painted mask sits tilted on her crown,fox ears doubled above her own. Cat smile. +PALETTE +#ff3fa4key, trim, tips#4a0f2eline#f7f4ffhair, fur, mask#26e0ffeyes, inner trim#1b1530coat#ffcf3abells + diff --git a/cast-designs/proposals/kiko/kiko-C.png b/cast-designs/proposals/kiko/kiko-C.png new file mode 100644 index 0000000..b0d6d47 Binary files /dev/null and b/cast-designs/proposals/kiko/kiko-C.png differ diff --git a/cast-designs/proposals/kiko/kiko-C.svg b/cast-designs/proposals/kiko/kiko-C.svg new file mode 100644 index 0000000..ccbacbf --- /dev/null +++ b/cast-designs/proposals/kiko/kiko-C.svg @@ -0,0 +1,137 @@ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +KIKO + +KIKO / C +On Air + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +FULL BODY, 2.2 HEADS + +SILHOUETTE + +48 px +HOOK +Canon Kiko with the stream gear turned up:stickered headset, boom mic at her fang grin,the mask pushed aside, a cable for a tail. +PALETTE +#ff3fa4key, trim, tips#4a0f2eline#f7f4ffhair, fur, mask#26e0ffeyes, inner trim#1b1530coat#ffcf3abells + diff --git a/cast-designs/proposals/kiko/kiko-notes.md b/cast-designs/proposals/kiko/kiko-notes.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..34979f0 --- /dev/null +++ b/cast-designs/proposals/kiko/kiko-notes.md @@ -0,0 +1,101 @@ +# Kiko: proposal notes, round 1 + +## The brief changed: canon wins + +Kiko already has an established design: the praxis character sheet at +`F:\Projects\gamecult-site\GameCult\static\interactive\cotsc-praxis\character-sheets\kiko-sheet.png` +and its sprites in `sprites\kiko\`. It shows white-silver hair, white fox ears, a +white kitsune mask worn on the crown, round hair clips with gold bells and +magenta tassels, cyan eyes and a fang grin, a black coat trimmed in magenta and +cyan with a gold bell at the throat, several fluffy white tails, and a streaming +setup of monitors and stickers. `kiko.md` missed it. Its A/B/C (Pixel Tails, +Screen Mask, Hood Gremlin) were new designs. Here they are replaced by three +takes on the canon design. Each take turns up a different canon element as the +hook: + +- **A, Seven Tails:** the tails. +- **B, The Mask:** the mask. +- **C, On Air:** the streaming gear. + +Things that stay the same across all three: the face construction, cyan eyes, +hair, ears, bell clips and coat. That way the three read as one character. + +`kiko-old-A.svg/.png` is the only sheet drawn from the old brief (Pixel Tails, +before the canon note arrived): magenta eyes, a black hoodie, and tails in four +event colours. It is kept for comparison. The old B and C were never drawn. + +Palette for all three: magenta `#ff3fa4` (key, trims, tail tips), line +`#4a0f2e`, white `#f7f4ff` (hair, fur, mask), cyan `#26e0ff` (eyes, inner trim, +screen), coat `#1b1530`, gold `#ffcf3a` (bells). Skin is `#f2c4a8`. The skin +swatch is left off the sheet because the swatch grid holds six. + +StreamPixels' stepped-pixel shape language is kept, but it lives in the +details. It is never the rendering style. It shows up as the staircase tail +tips in A, and as the pixel heart and cat stickers and the LIVE tag in C. + +## A: Seven Tails + +- **What it does.** Seven tails fan out behind her head. They are fluffy white + with lilac shadow, and each tip is a magenta staircase. In silhouette the fan + becomes a spiky crown with ears and mask on top, the most distinctive shape of + the three at 48 px. The mask rides small on the crown. The expression is an + open fang grin. +- **Changed after looking.** + - The first canon pass hid the mask behind the bangs, so the mask now draws + last. + - The tails were angled so they clear the hair mass on both sides; before + that, five of the seven sat invisibly behind the head. + - The tip steps were refined (grid down to 70 percent of the tail grid), and + the bust was scaled down so the fan fits inside the card. + - The neck was cut down, because the neck shape was painting over the coat + collar. +- **Push in round 2.** + - The staircase tips still read as coarse blocks where tails overlap. Try + fewer, larger steps, plus a thin white gap between neighbouring tails. + - The white tails sit against lilac back hair with too little separation. + Push the hair shadow cooler or give the tails a cyan rim. + +## B: The Mask + +- **What it does.** The kitsune mask is drawn at about 1.75 times A's size, + tilted on the crown. It stacks a second pair of fox ears above her own, so + the silhouette is tall and four-pointed. The painted mask face (closed + happy eyes) works as a second expression beside her cat smile. A magenta + cord with a large bell streams back from the mask. +- **Changed after looking.** The mask was enlarged and the cord ribbons were + added, to pull the silhouette away from C's. The lone tail was removed from + the bust, because only its stepped tip showed and it read as a glitch blob. +- **Push in round 2.** + - At 48 px, B's silhouette is the closest to the other two: a tall blob with + ears. The mask needs a stronger tilt or offset so it breaks the head outline + sideways, not just upward. + - Try letting the mask's painted face change per expression, as the + portrait-set gag. + +## C: On Air + +- **What it does.** She leans out of a stream monitor. This is the canon + overlay pose, cropped as a boxy screen behind her head with stickers and a + LIVE tag on the bezel. She wears a magenta headset with sticker earcups and a + boom mic jutting past her cheek, the mask pushed to the far side, and a cable + curling down like a tail. In silhouette the screen makes a rectangle with ears + breaking out of the top, which nothing else in the cast does. +- **Changed after looking.** + - Headset and mic alone left the silhouette identical to B's, so the monitor + was added behind her as the shape carrier. + - The mic was pushed forward past the face contour. + - A stray inner glyph on the far earcup was replaced with an LED ring and a + pixel-cat sticker. + - The LIVE lettering was redrawn. +- **Push in round 2.** + - The far earcup is crowded by the far ear and the mask. Simplify to one of + those two. + - The monitor bezel loses its stickers behind the hair. Move them to the top + corners. + - The full-body sheet does not show the monitor yet. + +## Strongest + +C is the strongest. It is the most canon-faithful, its boxy silhouette is +unique in the cast, and the gear tells you what StreamPixels is. A is the +safest iconic read at thumbnail size. diff --git a/cast-designs/proposals/kiko/kiko-old-A.png b/cast-designs/proposals/kiko/kiko-old-A.png new file mode 100644 index 0000000..01706b0 Binary files /dev/null and b/cast-designs/proposals/kiko/kiko-old-A.png differ diff --git a/cast-designs/proposals/kiko/kiko-old-A.svg b/cast-designs/proposals/kiko/kiko-old-A.svg new file mode 100644 index 0000000..757fc1d --- /dev/null +++ b/cast-designs/proposals/kiko/kiko-old-A.svg @@ -0,0 +1,136 @@ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +KIKO + +KIKO / A +Pixel Tails + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +FULL BODY, 2.2 HEADS + +SILHOUETTE + +48 px +HOOK +A fan of fox tails with stair-stepped pixel edges,one per live event: follow, raid, sub, tip.Big pointed ears; a LIVE dot on one tip. +PALETTE +#ff3fa4key, inner ear#4a0f2eline, hoodie#f7f4ffhair, fur#26e0fftail: raid#ffcf3atail: sub#f2c4a8skin + diff --git a/cast-designs/proposals/libby/libby-A.png b/cast-designs/proposals/libby/libby-A.png new file mode 100644 index 0000000..a920935 Binary files /dev/null and b/cast-designs/proposals/libby/libby-A.png differ diff --git a/cast-designs/proposals/libby/libby-A.svg b/cast-designs/proposals/libby/libby-A.svg new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6982481 --- /dev/null +++ b/cast-designs/proposals/libby/libby-A.svg @@ -0,0 +1,210 @@ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +BUST · FOUND IT + +FULL BODY · 2.5 HEADS + + + + + + +SILHOUETTE + + +48 px + +LIBBY · A +THE GLOWING TOME +Hook: the swept lavender fringe that hooks into a curl,round glasses, and an open tome glowing up at her face. + + #a99be0 + #2a1d40 + #241a33 + #f6d6c4 + #c8a24a + #b77cff + +hair key · line · robe · skin · gold · tome glow + diff --git a/cast-designs/proposals/libby/libby-B.png b/cast-designs/proposals/libby/libby-B.png new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d3a06d8 Binary files /dev/null and b/cast-designs/proposals/libby/libby-B.png differ diff --git a/cast-designs/proposals/libby/libby-B.svg b/cast-designs/proposals/libby/libby-B.svg new file mode 100644 index 0000000..bb1b1b4 --- /dev/null +++ b/cast-designs/proposals/libby/libby-B.svg @@ -0,0 +1,217 @@ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +BUST · SPECIMEN + +FULL BODY · 2.5 HEADS + + + + + + +SILHOUETTE + + +48 px + +LIBBY · B +THE SKULL STAMP +Hook: the black diamond ribbon, enlarged into a wingbehind her head; the skull stamp raised as evidence. + + #a99be0 + #2a1d40 + #241a33 + #f6d6c4 + #c8a24a + #b77cff + +hair key · line · robe · skin · gold · tome glow + diff --git a/cast-designs/proposals/libby/libby-C.png b/cast-designs/proposals/libby/libby-C.png new file mode 100644 index 0000000..1b59f36 Binary files /dev/null and b/cast-designs/proposals/libby/libby-C.png differ diff --git a/cast-designs/proposals/libby/libby-C.svg b/cast-designs/proposals/libby/libby-C.svg new file mode 100644 index 0000000..0df6f4a --- /dev/null +++ b/cast-designs/proposals/libby/libby-C.svg @@ -0,0 +1,187 @@ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +BUST · QUIET PLEASE + +FULL BODY · 2.5 HEADS + + + + + + +SILHOUETTE + + +48 px + +LIBBY · C +QUIET PLEASE +Hook: the crossed-bone hairpin, enlarged, on a close cropof hair and glasses; finger to lips, one eye shut. + + #a99be0 + #2a1d40 + #241a33 + #f6d6c4 + #c8a24a + #b77cff + +hair key · line · robe · skin · gold · tome glow + diff --git a/cast-designs/proposals/libby/libby-gen.py b/cast-designs/proposals/libby/libby-gen.py new file mode 100644 index 0000000..4507e9a --- /dev/null +++ b/cast-designs/proposals/libby/libby-gen.py @@ -0,0 +1,356 @@ +# Writes libby-A/B/C.svg: three takes on Libby's canon design (lavender hair, +# round glasses, bone hairpin, diamond ribbon, dark violet robe). +# Paths are hand-authored; this script only assembles per-take variants. +import sys +OUT = r"C:\gc-wt\cast-designs\cast-designs\proposals\libby" + +LINE = "#2a1d40"; KEY = "#a99be0"; KEYSH = "#7d6fc4"; KEYHI = "#d8d1f7" +ROBE = "#241a33"; ROBESH = "#150f20"; TRIM = "#8a6a9a" +SKIN = "#f6d6c4"; SKINSH = "#e6b4a0"; GOLD = "#c8a24a"; GOLDSH = "#957428" +GLOW = "#b77cff"; BONE = "#efe6d8"; BONESH = "#cfc2ae" + +def backhair(): + return f''' + + + + + + ''' + +def ribbon(scale, shift="0 0"): + # diamond-patterned bow at the back of the head (screen left), canon + return f''' + + + + + + + + + ''' + +def hairpin(scale, at="222 214"): + bone = f'' + return f''' + + {bone} + {bone} + + ''' + +def eyes(kind): + """kind: 'bright' (found it), 'arch' (specimen: far brow up), 'wink' (quiet please: far eye shut)""" + near_shape = "M226 420 C244 394 302 390 328 412 L326 476 C306 494 260 496 238 484 Z" + far_shape = "M378 414 C394 398 430 398 448 414 L447 474 C434 488 398 490 384 478 Z" + def iris(clip, shape, cx, rx, ry, hx, hy, h2x, h2y): + dx = rx * (1 - ((436 - 448) / ry) ** 2) ** 0.5 + return f''' + + + + + + + + + + ''' + s = iris("eyeN", near_shape, 282, 35, 47, 268, 430, 300, 470) + s += f''' + + + ''' + if kind == "wink": + s += f''' + + + ''' + else: + s += iris("eyeF", far_shape, 412, 27, 46, 402, 430, 422, 470) + s += f''' + + + ''' + return s + +def brows(kind): + if kind == "bright": + n, f = "M248 366 C266 354 296 352 314 360", "M386 352 C402 342 426 342 440 352" + elif kind == "arch": + n, f = "M250 372 C268 366 296 366 314 372", "M384 344 C398 326 426 324 442 338" + else: + n, f = "M250 370 C268 362 296 362 314 368", "M386 368 C402 362 426 362 440 370" + return f'' + +def mouth(kind): + if kind == "bright": + return f''' + + ''' + if kind == "arch": + return f'' + return f'' + +def headfront(kind): + return f''' + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + {eyes(kind)} + + + {mouth(kind)} + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + {brows(kind)} + ''' + +def body(): + return f''' + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + ''' + +# ---------- props, one per take ---------- +def prop_tome(): + return f''' + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + ''' + +def prop_stamp(): + return f''' + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + ''' + +def prop_shush(): + return f''' + + + + + + + + + + + + + + ''' + +# ---------- chibi bodies (2.5 heads; head drawn at scale 0.34) ---------- +def chibi(take): + base = f''' + + + + + + + + ''' + left_hang = f''' + + ''' + if take == "A": + arms = f''' + + + + + + + ''' + elif take == "B": + arms = left_hang + f''' + + + + + + + + + ''' + else: + arms = left_hang + f''' + + + ''' + return f''' + {base}{arms} + ''' + +TAKES = { + "A": dict(name="THE GLOWING TOME", kind="bright", prop=prop_tome, rib=1.0, pin=1.0, frame="translate(66 6) scale(0.985)", label="BUST · FOUND IT", + hook=["Hook: the swept lavender fringe that hooks into a curl,", "round glasses, and an open tome glowing up at her face."]), + "B": dict(name="THE SKULL STAMP", kind="arch", prop=prop_stamp, rib=1.6, ribshift="-14 -40", pin=1.0, frame="translate(66 6) scale(0.985)", label="BUST · SPECIMEN", + hook=["Hook: the black diamond ribbon, enlarged into a wing", "behind her head; the skull stamp raised as evidence."]), + "C": dict(name="QUIET PLEASE", kind="wink", prop=prop_shush, rib=1.0, pin=1.5, pinat="196 168", frame="translate(14 -40) scale(1.13)", label="BUST · QUIET PLEASE", + hook=["Hook: the crossed-bone hairpin, enlarged, on a close crop", "of hair and glasses; finger to lips, one eye shut."]), +} + +def sheet(t): + T = TAKES[t] + sw = [(KEY, "hair key"), (LINE, "line"), (ROBE, "robe"), (SKIN, "skin"), (GOLD, "gold"), (GLOW, "glow")] + swatches = "\n".join( + f' {c}' + for i, (c, _) in enumerate(sw)) + return f''' + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + {backhair()} + {ribbon(T["rib"], T.get("ribshift","0 0"))} + {hairpin(T["pin"], T.get("pinat","222 214"))} + {headfront(T["kind"])} + {body()} + {T["prop"]()} + + + + {chibi(t)} + + + + + + +{T["label"]} + +FULL BODY · 2.5 HEADS + + + + + + +SILHOUETTE + + +48 px + +LIBBY · {t} +{T["name"]} +{T["hook"][0]}{T["hook"][1]} + +{swatches} + +hair key · line · robe · skin · gold · tome glow + +''' + +for t in (sys.argv[1:] or "ABC"): + open(rf"{OUT}\libby-{t}.svg", "w", encoding="utf-8").write(sheet(t)) + print("wrote", t) diff --git a/cast-designs/proposals/libby/libby-notes.md b/cast-designs/proposals/libby/libby-notes.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..66d5312 --- /dev/null +++ b/cast-designs/proposals/libby/libby-notes.md @@ -0,0 +1,89 @@ +# Libby: SVG proposals, round 1 + +## Change of brief: canon overrides libby.md + +Libby already has an established design: the cotsc-praxis character sheet +(`F:\Projects\gamecult-site\GameCult\static\interactive\cotsc-praxis\character-sheets\libby-sheet.png`, +sprites in `sprites\libby\`). It has long wavy lavender hair with a swept fringe +that hooks into a curl, round thin glasses, a crossed-bone hairpin, a black +ribbon bow with diamond motifs at the back of the head, small gold drop +earrings, a high-collared dark violet robe with mauve trim and diamond motifs, a +gold brooch with a violet gem, and glowing tomes, a skull stamp and skulls as +props. The coordinator ruled that canon overrides the brief, its palette rule +included. Libby stays lavender/violet, and the three directions in `libby.md` +(card-catalogue hat, mesh-weaver braids, reading-lamp shade) are dropped. A, B +and C are now three takes on the canon design. Each one changes the hook +emphasis, the prop and the framing for a Persona-style chibi bust. All three +are drawn fresh from the reference, mirrored to face screen right. None is +traced. + +`libby-old-A.svg` / `.png` is the one sheet drawn from the old brief (the +card-catalogue hat, second pass) before the ruling. It is kept for the record. +It is not a candidate. + +Canon palette used in all three: hair `#a99be0`, line `#2a1d40`, robe +`#241a33`, skin `#f6d6c4`, gold `#c8a24a`, glow `#b77cff`. Each material has one +shadow tone and one highlight tone. The rim light is lavender. + +`libby-gen.py` assembles the three sheets from hand-written path strings. Change +it and rerun it rather than editing the SVGs directly. + +## A: The Glowing Tome ("Found it") + +- **What it does:** the canon idle and research pose as a bust. Open delighted + smile, both brows up, an open tome held at chest height with violet glyphs + and light rays rising off the pages. The hook emphasis is the hair: the swept + fringe, the hooked curl, and the full wavy mass. +- **Changed after looking:** the first fringe read as a bowl cut with scalloped + tips. It was redrawn as strands that sweep diagonally, each tip pointing down + toward the face side, and the curl was made larger. The back hair outline got + outward wave lobes, because a smooth helmet shape read as a wig. The cel + shadow under the fringe now follows the strands. A translucent glow disc + behind the book read as a grey plate and was replaced with light-ray strokes. +- **Round 2:** the curl still sinks into the far front lock and disappears in + silhouette. Push it out past the hair mass, or thin the far lock. Add violet + up-light on the chin and the underside of the glasses so the tome visibly + lights her face. + +## B: The Skull Stamp ("Specimen") + +- **What it does:** "she shows the artifact". Far brow arched, a knowing + half-smile, the skull-topped stamp raised beside her face toward the text box + with its violet rubber face showing. The hook emphasis is the ribbon, scaled + 1.6x and lifted so the bow rises as a dark wing above the back of the head. +- **Changed after looking:** the first fist read as a thumbs-up, with the + handle looking like part of the hand. It now has a wrapped thumb across the + top and curved finger lines. The ribbon was lifted after the 48 px + silhouette showed it hidden inside the hair dome. +- **Round 2:** the fist is still the weakest drawing on the sheets. Try a + pinch grip on the stamp base with the stamp face turned fully to the viewer. + The enlarged bow is the clearest silhouette hook of the three. Consider + making it the canon size for every expression. + +## C: Quiet Please + +- **What it does:** a tighter crop (1.13x) so the face and glasses carry the + frame. Index finger to the lips, far eye shut in a wink behind the lens, + violet sparkles. The hook emphasis is the crossed-bone hairpin, enlarged + 1.5x and moved onto the crown edge so the bones break the head outline. +- **Changed after looking:** the finger was redrawn narrow and centred on the + lips, with a nail mark and a shadowed fist below the chin, because the first + version read as a thumb. The upper-iris shading was clipped to the iris; at + this crop it had shown as a dark box over the white of the eye. +- **Round 2:** the bones break the outline at 48 px, but they are small against + the hair dome. Try them at 2x, or add the canon's small skull charm to the pin. + +## Shared observations + +- At 128 px all three read as cute and as Libby: lavender mass, round glasses, + dark collar. +- At 48 px all three silhouettes are a wavy dome with a bow. That suits one + established character, but the bow and curl are the only above-the-shoulder + breaks in the outline. For the cast-wide silhouette test, the strongest move + is B's oversized ribbon, kept across all expressions. +- The robe is dark on the dark #07111a card. It depends on the lavender rim + light and the trim to separate. Round 2 could widen the rim or add a cooler + violet to the card ground behind the shoulders. +- Strongest: **B**. It has the clearest silhouette (the ribbon wing), the prop + ties to her "specimen over cadence" trait, and the stamp's skull keeps the + canon archive motif in the frame. diff --git a/cast-designs/proposals/libby/libby-old-A.png b/cast-designs/proposals/libby/libby-old-A.png new file mode 100644 index 0000000..9e60a0a Binary files /dev/null and b/cast-designs/proposals/libby/libby-old-A.png differ diff --git a/cast-designs/proposals/libby/libby-old-A.svg b/cast-designs/proposals/libby/libby-old-A.svg new file mode 100644 index 0000000..32def98 --- /dev/null +++ b/cast-designs/proposals/libby/libby-old-A.svg @@ -0,0 +1,271 @@ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + LIBBY.cc + id u64 + name str + tags [str] + + + TYPED + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +BUST · SPECIMEN + + +FULL BODY · 2.5 HEADS + + + + + + + + +SILHOUETTE + + +48 px + + +LIBBY · A +THE CARD CATALOGUE + + Hook: a hat of card-catalogue drawers as tall + as her face, one drawer pulled open on index cards. + + + #2fbf71 + #0f3d27 + #f6e7c8 + #c8903a + #2a2340 + #f3c9a8 + +key · line · card stock · brass · hair · skin + diff --git a/cast-designs/proposals/nibu/nibu-A.png b/cast-designs/proposals/nibu/nibu-A.png new file mode 100644 index 0000000..3be8e5b Binary files /dev/null and b/cast-designs/proposals/nibu/nibu-A.png differ diff --git a/cast-designs/proposals/nibu/nibu-A.svg b/cast-designs/proposals/nibu/nibu-A.svg new file mode 100644 index 0000000..22342ee --- /dev/null +++ b/cast-designs/proposals/nibu/nibu-A.svg @@ -0,0 +1,340 @@ + + Nibu, direction A: Source Slate + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + SOURCE? + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + NIBU + A / SOURCE SLATE + + + + FULL BODY / 2.3 HEADS + + + + + + SILHOUETTE + + + + PALETTE + + #9a6bff key + #b9aef5 hair + #4a2d8f coat + #2a1452 line + #f08cc0 ribbon + #7af0ff glitch + + + HOOK + The lore steward never lowers her slate: a + cracked holo-tablet raised beside her face, + one word on it for every claim. SOURCE? + + diff --git a/cast-designs/proposals/nibu/nibu-B.png b/cast-designs/proposals/nibu/nibu-B.png new file mode 100644 index 0000000..cd3b727 Binary files /dev/null and b/cast-designs/proposals/nibu/nibu-B.png differ diff --git a/cast-designs/proposals/nibu/nibu-B.svg b/cast-designs/proposals/nibu/nibu-B.svg new file mode 100644 index 0000000..034e5aa --- /dev/null +++ b/cast-designs/proposals/nibu/nibu-B.svg @@ -0,0 +1,278 @@ + + Nibu, direction B: Glitch Twin + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + NIBU + B / GLITCH TWIN + + + + FULL BODY / 2.3 HEADS + + + + + + + SILHOUETTE + + + + PALETTE + + #9a6bff key + #b9aef5 hair + #4a2d8f coat + #2a1452 line + #f08cc0 ribbon + #7af0ff glitch + + + HOOK + Her glitch has a face: a scanline twin from a + failed timeline sits behind her, already angry + about something that has not happened yet. + + diff --git a/cast-designs/proposals/nibu/nibu-C.png b/cast-designs/proposals/nibu/nibu-C.png new file mode 100644 index 0000000..f716481 Binary files /dev/null and b/cast-designs/proposals/nibu/nibu-C.png differ diff --git a/cast-designs/proposals/nibu/nibu-C.svg b/cast-designs/proposals/nibu/nibu-C.svg new file mode 100644 index 0000000..26d3482 --- /dev/null +++ b/cast-designs/proposals/nibu/nibu-C.svg @@ -0,0 +1,325 @@ + + Nibu, direction C: Console Ring + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + NIBU + C / CONSOLE RING + + + + FULL BODY / 2.3 HEADS + + + + + + + + SILHOUETTE + + + + PALETTE + + #9a6bff key + #b9aef5 hair + #4a2d8f coat + #2a1452 line + #f08cc0 ribbon + #7af0ff HUD + + + HOOK + She is the ship's console: when she takes the + helm a HUD ring locks around her like an orbit, + and nobody else gets their hands on the controls. + + diff --git a/cast-designs/proposals/nibu/nibu-notes.md b/cast-designs/proposals/nibu/nibu-notes.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..b538e9a --- /dev/null +++ b/cast-designs/proposals/nibu/nibu-notes.md @@ -0,0 +1,69 @@ +# Nibu: SVG proposals, round 1 + +## Rebased on canon + +Nibu already has an established design: `gamecult-site\GameCult\static\interactive\cotsc-praxis\character-sheets\nibu-sheet.png` +(also `cotsc-praxis\nibu.png`, `sprites\nibu\*` and `AetheriaLore\.voidbot\voice\nibu.png`). The coordinator relayed +the operator's ruling that all three directions keep that canon, and that canon overrides the brief's palette rules. +So the three directions in `../../nibu.md` (Figurehead, Smeared Hostess, Hull Hood) were dropped as identities. +Every sheet keeps the same Nibu: long lavender hair, the big crescent swoop over her near eye, the pink ribbon bow +on her far side, the pink circuit hair clip, violet eyes, the purple coat with circuit-glyph trim, the throat +frill, the cyan shoulder port and the glitch. Only the hook changes. The brief's B hook (the out-of-sync duplicate) +became this round's B. + +`nibu-old-B.svg` is an unfinished draft of the pre-canon Smeared Hostess (bob and pillbox cap). It was never +rendered or reviewed, and is kept only because the coordinator asked for old-direction sheets to be kept. + +Shared construction, drawn by hand: three-quarter view facing screen right, light from the upper left, a violet rim +on the far jaw and the coat, one shadow tone and one highlight per material, and an outline in `#2a1452` about twice +the weight of the inner lines. Canon palette: key `#9a6bff`, hair `#b9aef5`, coat `#4a2d8f`, line `#2a1452`, +ribbon `#f08cc0`, glitch/HUD cyan `#7af0ff`, skin `#f0d3dd`. The pink and cyan are near Kiko's and Aqua's hues; +each stays under about 10 percent of the figure. + +## A: Source Slate (`nibu-A.svg`) + +- **Design:** the lore steward with a cracked holo-slate raised beside her face. A SOURCE? header, a struck-through + claim and a big pink question mark are on it. Her head tilts back, the near brow arches, her pupils slide toward + the claim, and the mouth sneers at one corner. This is the "Source?" portrait from the set. +- **Silhouette:** the slate is a hard rectangular tab off the lower right, under the bow. At 48 px it reads as + "girl holding a sign". +- **Changed after looking:** first pass held the slate inside the hair line, so it disappeared in the silhouette, + and the glove read as a black blob. Moved the slate out past the hair, angled it outward, gave it a sleeve rising + from the frame edge and fingertips over its bottom edge, made it opaque, and lowered the bust to fill the card. +- **Round 2:** the slate is a prop, so every expression must hold it or the hook disappears. Test a smaller, + clip-on version for Docked and Grudging. Add more visible damage to the slate (the junkyard hull). + +## B: Glitch Twin (`nibu-B.svg`) — strongest + +- **Design:** canon Nibu, calm and half-lidded. Behind her and up to the left is a scanline hologram of herself + from a failed timeline, scowling. One slice across her near eye has slipped to the twin's angry eye, boxed in a + cyan glitch frame. That is the reset smear, made visible in a single neutral portrait. +- **Silhouette:** a stepped double crown, two heads where there should be one. It is the only cast silhouette of + this kind. +- **Changed after looking:** pass 1 put the twin straight behind her, so only its hair showed, and the + bleed-through bands ran across both of her eyes, which looked like a smeared visor. Raised and rotated the twin + so its crown steps clear and its eye shows past her hair. Cut the bleed down to one slice over the near eye. Raised + the tint's contrast. Moved the swoop out so it covers only the outer corner of the eye. Put a plate behind the + nameplate, which the twin now crosses. +- **Round 2:** the twin's angry face is still mostly hidden behind her hair. Try mirroring the offset, or a larger, + fainter twin looming above, so its expression reads at 128 px. Define how the slice changes per expression; in + Recognition the twin should react first, as the brief says. Watch the stacked translucency at small sizes. + +## C: Console Ring (`nibu-C.svg`) + +- **Design:** she is the ship's controls. A segmented cyan HUD ring orbits her at a tilt, passing behind her head + and in front of her collar, with glyph tiles riding on it. The eyes reflect cyan, and she gives a smug fanged + smile. This is the "control is hers" reading. +- **Silhouette:** loops stick out from both sides of a long-hair mass. At 48 px it reads as an orbit, but thinly. +- **Changed after looking:** the first ring was too small and sat at the neck like a hula hoop or necklace. Made it + larger and thicker, tilted it 15 degrees, lowered it so the front arc clears the chin, and scaled the bust so both + ends fit inside the card. +- **Round 2:** the ring is the weakest silhouette of the three. Try a thicker band, or a second, partial ring. + The front arc competes with the chest panel, so drop or simplify the panel in this direction. + +## Known shared weaknesses (all three) + +- The chest holo panel reads as a sticky note; push it toward the canon's softer blue bodice. +- The full-body chibis are simple lock-the-design figures (about 2.3 heads), not finished turnarounds. +- The near eye sits close to the swoop, so the face's left half is busy. The canon accepts this, but Docked may + want the swoop pulled back one notch. diff --git a/cast-designs/proposals/nibu/nibu-old-B.svg b/cast-designs/proposals/nibu/nibu-old-B.svg new file mode 100644 index 0000000..35abad9 --- /dev/null +++ b/cast-designs/proposals/nibu/nibu-old-B.svg @@ -0,0 +1,263 @@ + + Nibu, direction B: Smeared Hostess + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + NIBU + B / SMEARED HOSTESS + + + + + FULL BODY / 2.3 HEADS + + + + + + + SILHOUETTE + + + + PALETTE + + #9a6bff key + #2a1452 line + #7af0ff projection + #f2f0ff uniform + #1a1726 hull + #e9c9d6 skin + + + HOOK + A hostess hologram with an out-of-sync twin + behind her, already wearing the face she + has not made yet. + + diff --git a/cast-designs/proposals/void/void-A.png b/cast-designs/proposals/void/void-A.png new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d42f7c5 Binary files /dev/null and b/cast-designs/proposals/void/void-A.png differ diff --git a/cast-designs/proposals/void/void-A.svg b/cast-designs/proposals/void/void-A.svg new file mode 100644 index 0000000..7e01ace --- /dev/null +++ b/cast-designs/proposals/void/void-A.svg @@ -0,0 +1,80 @@ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +VOID +VOID / A +CLASSIC HOOD + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +FULL BODY 2.5 HEADS + +SILHOUETTE + +48 PX +HOOK +Two lamp-white eye slits in a hood of +nothing; the orange scarf streams across the +frame. +PALETTE + +#4b2fa6 +robe, key + +#170c3a +line / deep + +#06030d +void face + +#f7f4ff +eye light + +#f2801f +scarf orange + +#b892ff +glow violet + \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/cast-designs/proposals/void/void-B.png b/cast-designs/proposals/void/void-B.png new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6bfa815 Binary files /dev/null and b/cast-designs/proposals/void/void-B.png differ diff --git a/cast-designs/proposals/void/void-B.svg b/cast-designs/proposals/void/void-B.svg new file mode 100644 index 0000000..8af897d --- /dev/null +++ b/cast-designs/proposals/void/void-B.svg @@ -0,0 +1,91 @@ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +VOID +VOID / B +READING THE RULES + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +FULL BODY 2.5 HEADS + +SILHOUETTE + +48 PX +HOOK +The glowing rulebook raised to the void; +only the eyes clear its top edge. +PALETTE + +#4b2fa6 +robe, key + +#170c3a +line / deep + +#06030d +void face + +#f7f4ff +eye light + +#f2801f +scarf orange + +#b892ff +glow violet + \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/cast-designs/proposals/void/void-C.png b/cast-designs/proposals/void/void-C.png new file mode 100644 index 0000000..8ccf901 Binary files /dev/null and b/cast-designs/proposals/void/void-C.png differ diff --git a/cast-designs/proposals/void/void-C.svg b/cast-designs/proposals/void/void-C.svg new file mode 100644 index 0000000..448d35e --- /dev/null +++ b/cast-designs/proposals/void/void-C.svg @@ -0,0 +1,88 @@ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +VOID +VOID / C +UNIMPRESSED + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +FULL BODY 2.5 HEADS + +SILHOUETTE + +48 PX +HOOK +Lidded flat eyes and folded arms in front of +the swirling portal door. +PALETTE + +#4b2fa6 +robe, key + +#170c3a +line / deep + +#06030d +void face + +#f7f4ff +eye light + +#f2801f +scarf orange + +#b892ff +glow violet + \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/cast-designs/proposals/void/void-notes.md b/cast-designs/proposals/void/void-notes.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d4abdb6 --- /dev/null +++ b/cast-designs/proposals/void/void-notes.md @@ -0,0 +1,78 @@ +# Void: designer's notes, round 1 + +Canon is `cotsc-praxis/character-sheets/void-sheet.png`. Kept in all three: a pointed +indigo hood, a face of pure black void with two tall white glowing slits, an orange +scarf, dark gloves, the glowing violet document, and the swirl portal. No drawn face. +Expression comes only from eye shape, hood tilt, the scarf and the hands. + +Shared construction: a dome-cone hood with a soft cusp at the peak and a centre seam +running down to the face opening. The opening is onion-shaped: it comes to a point +under the seam and is round at the bottom. It sits right of centre for the +three-quarter turn, and the far eye is narrower. Each material has one shadow tone and +one highlight. A violet rim light sits on the right edge of the hood and robe. The line +colour is `#170c3a`. The only blur is on the eye glow and the document glow. + +## Directions + +- **A, Classic Hood.** Hood, eyes and scarf, and nothing else. The scarf tail streams + forward across the lower right of the frame, so the portrait points at the text box. + The figure is shifted 70 px left to make room for it. This is the cleanest read at + 128 px and the only direction whose silhouette changes, because the streamer + breaks the hood mound. +- **B, Reading the Rules.** The glowing rulebook is raised to the void with both gloved + hands, and the eyes peek over its top edge. The hood tilts 5 degrees forward. This + is the moderator mid-ruling, and the strongest character beat. At 128 px the + tablet glow pulls focus about as much as the eyes do. +- **C, Unimpressed.** The eyes are lidded: flat tops tilted in, rounded bottoms. The + hood leans back, the arms are crossed with the cuffs open toward the viewer, and + the swirl portal sits behind the upper left. + +## What changed after looking + +1. The first hood was a narrow bullet that read as a thumb. I widened it into a bell + that drapes onto the shoulders and gave the opening a point under the seam. +2. My second pass overcorrected into a wizard cone. I rounded the upper sides into a + dome and kept only a soft cusp. +3. A's back tail read as an orange flame stuck to the hood. I removed it and turned + the front tail into a long forked streamer toward the text box. +4. C's portal sat dead centre behind the hood, so the swirl was hidden and read as + concentric rings. I moved it to the upper left with two arms of 1.8 turns, so the + spiral's eye shows. The crossed arms went from two stacked bars to two sleeves + rising in opposite directions with dark cuff openings, and moved up 26 px out of + the crop. +5. At 128 px, C's lidded eyes shrank to dots. I made them wider and taller. +6. In B's full body the tablet was drawn under the hood and was invisible. It is now + drawn on top, over the lower face. + +## Checks + +- At 128 px (crop of the card), all three read as Void. A reads best, then C + (the eyes now hold), then B (busy, but the gesture reads). +- At 48 px (filled black), all three are a pointed hood mound. That shape alone should + be unique in the cast, since nobody else is hooded. A adds the streamer and C a + short back tail. B's tablet sits inside the hood outline and adds nothing to the + silhouette. + +## Palette collisions (canon wins, flagged for the cast-wide pass) + +- The robe indigo `#4b2fa6` and glow `#b892ff` are near Nibu's violet `#9a6bff`. Void + stays blue-indigo and dark, and Nibu should stay the lighter, redder violet. Run the + side-by-side check against Nibu. +- The scarf orange `#f2801f` is near Eureka's ember `#ff8a2a` and covers more than 10 + percent of the bust. It is canon and Void's most recognisable colour, so I did not + change it. If the two collide side by side, shift Eureka's ember or render Void's + scarf a touch redder, toward `#e8701a`. + +## Round 2 + +- B: enlarge the tablet and let one corner break the hood outline on the text-box + side, so the silhouette carries the prop. +- C: the portal and the back tail crowd the left. Try C with no back tail, and give + the portal a stone rim so it reads as the canon door rather than a disc. +- A: try the streamer one band higher, crossing the hood's lower right edge, for more + sweep. +- All: test a darker ground inside the card, because Void is the one cast member whose + canon lives on black. The void face currently gets its contrast from the lilac card. +- Expression set: fix the eye line (around y 380) and the shoulder line, and vary the + eyes only: tall (neutral), flat-lidded (unimpressed), slanted (stern), arcs + (pleased), one slit (wink or side glance). diff --git a/cast-designs/proposals/weksa/weksa-A.png b/cast-designs/proposals/weksa/weksa-A.png new file mode 100644 index 0000000..e786c1a Binary files /dev/null and b/cast-designs/proposals/weksa/weksa-A.png differ diff --git a/cast-designs/proposals/weksa/weksa-A.svg b/cast-designs/proposals/weksa/weksa-A.svg new file mode 100644 index 0000000..ebcdfde --- /dev/null +++ b/cast-designs/proposals/weksa/weksa-A.svg @@ -0,0 +1,165 @@ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +WEKSA +WEKSA / A +THE WALKING LIBRARY + +FULL BODY 2.5 HEADS + +SILHOUETTE + +48 PX +HOOK +Scrolls, books and a glyph banner tower over her. +PALETTE +d9483bterracotta4a1410line3b2418hair, leatherf0e2c4coat2d8a7aembroideryc9a24abrassa8714fskin + \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/cast-designs/proposals/weksa/weksa-B.png b/cast-designs/proposals/weksa/weksa-B.png new file mode 100644 index 0000000..3257bf6 Binary files /dev/null and b/cast-designs/proposals/weksa/weksa-B.png differ diff --git a/cast-designs/proposals/weksa/weksa-B.svg b/cast-designs/proposals/weksa/weksa-B.svg new file mode 100644 index 0000000..cdc79ba --- /dev/null +++ b/cast-designs/proposals/weksa/weksa-B.svg @@ -0,0 +1,170 @@ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +WEKSA +WEKSA / B +THE CIPHER TABLET + +FULL BODY 2.5 HEADS + +SILHOUETTE + +48 PX +HOOK +Her glowing cipher tablet, raised beside her face. +PALETTE +d9483bterracotta4a1410line3b2418hair, leatherf0e2c4coat2d8a7aembroideryc9a24abrassa8714fskin + \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/cast-designs/proposals/weksa/weksa-C.png b/cast-designs/proposals/weksa/weksa-C.png new file mode 100644 index 0000000..401c530 Binary files /dev/null and b/cast-designs/proposals/weksa/weksa-C.png differ diff --git a/cast-designs/proposals/weksa/weksa-C.svg b/cast-designs/proposals/weksa/weksa-C.svg new file mode 100644 index 0000000..b5bc92e --- /dev/null +++ b/cast-designs/proposals/weksa/weksa-C.svg @@ -0,0 +1,148 @@ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +WEKSA +WEKSA / C +PINNED WITH CIPHERS + +FULL BODY 2.5 HEADS + +SILHOUETTE + +48 PX +HOOK +Glyph cards fan behind her ear; a code-stick pins her knot. +PALETTE +d9483bterracotta4a1410line3b2418hair, leatherf0e2c4coat2d8a7aembroideryc9a24abrassa8714fskin + \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/cast-designs/proposals/weksa/weksa-notes.md b/cast-designs/proposals/weksa/weksa-notes.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..8955f00 --- /dev/null +++ b/cast-designs/proposals/weksa/weksa-notes.md @@ -0,0 +1,86 @@ +# Weksa proposals: designer's notes + +## The brief changed twice while this round was being drawn + +- Operator: "Weksa should be covered in books and ciphers." Books and ciphers are + the shared core of every direction: strapped book stacks, bookmark ribbons, a + satchel, cipher wheels, glyph cards, a code-stick (scytale), and glyph + embroidery on the coat's collar band. +- Weksa already has an established design: the cotsc-praxis character sheet + (`gamecult-site/GameCult/static/interactive/cotsc-praxis/character-sheets/weksa-sheet.png`). + It shows brown skin, big messy wavy brown hair with a half-up top-knot pinned + by beaded sticks, round gold glasses, amber eyes, dangling earrings, a cream + coat with teal embroidered trim, a brown vest and an overflowing satchel of + scrolls, books and glyph cards, and a glowing cipher tablet. Canon overrides + `weksa.md`. A, B and C are no longer the speech-balloon, scarf and braid-tree + reinventions. They are three takes on that design, drawn from the reference, + each one pushing a different book or cipher prop as the hook. +- The one direction finished before the canon arrived (the speech-balloon hair) + is kept as `weksa-old-A.svg` / `.png`. + +## What all three share + +The bust, the face and the coat are canon. The face is a three-quarter view +turned toward the text box. The eyes are amber with a layered iris and two +speculars, and the heavy upper lid ends in a flick at the outer corner. The +glasses are gold rims over a dark under-line. The top-knot is pinned with beaded +sticks, and a teal hair tie holds it. The collar band is teal with cream glyph +stitching. The cel shading uses one shadow tone per material, and the rim light +is terracotta on the far (right) side. + +The palette has seven colours, one over the README's limit of six. Canon needs +the teal and the brass, and terracotta stays as the key. Terracotta is used on +beads, book covers, ribbons and the rim light, because canon has no large +terracotta area. Round 2 should decide whether Weksa's key is terracotta at all +or moves to canon teal. If it moves, it has to stay clear of Aqua's cyan. + +## A: The Walking Library + +- The satchel is the hook. A leather pack behind her near shoulder overflows + with two scrolls, two books with ribbons and a glyph banner on a brass-topped + pole. The pack flap carries a cipher wheel. A strap with a brass buckle crosses + her chest. Her mouth is open in a happy expression. +- **Changed after looking:** the first mane was a spiky lion's mane, and the long + highlight strokes read as a headband. I tamed the mane to wavy locks and added + S-curl side locks to break up the bob shape. I raised the banner and splayed the + scrolls so they stick out of the hair mass, and shifted the bust down so the + knot no longer crops at the card edge. +- **Round 2:** at 48 px the pack partly merges into the hair. Push the banner and + scrolls further out to the left with a clear gap, or put a large book spine + above the shoulder line. + +## B: The Cipher Tablet + +- Canon's interlingua pose. A glowing teal cipher tablet is raised beside her + face toward the text box: a wheel ring, a diamond glyph and text lines. Her hand + grips the lower corner, with a bead bracelet on that wrist. Her earring is a + cipher-wheel disc, and a quill goes through the top-knot. A red glyph-book is + tucked on the near side. Her expression is a knowing closed smile, mid-decode. +- **Changed after looking:** the hand first read as a raised finger across the + screen, so I moved it to grip the corner and shortened the thumb. I shrank the + glow from a large circle that muddied the hair to an ellipse that hugs the + tablet. The radial gradient is the sheet's only gradient. +- **Round 2:** this sheet has the strongest silhouette, a square plate beside the + head. The glow mint is outside the palette and needs a ruling. Try the tablet + tilted further toward the viewer so its face reads at 128 px. + +## C: Pinned With Ciphers + +- The hook is in the hair. Four glyph cards fan out behind her ear like a + kanzashi. A code-stick (a scytale wrapped in a cream strip), a quill and a + beaded stick go through the top-knot. Two bookmark ribbons, terracotta and + teal, with notched ends, stream from the knot. A strapped stack of two books + sits on her far shoulder. Her expression is open delight, the "New word!" read. +- **Changed after looking:** the first card fan was too tight and fused into a + hump in the silhouette. I spread the fan wider and further out and enlarged the + cards, so the silhouette shows separate card teeth. +- **Round 2:** the ribbons can read as a red streak at a glance. Add a second + fork to them or shorten them. If the code-stick and the quill compete for the + knot, consider dropping the quill. + +## Strongest + +B reads best at both 128 px and 48 px: one big clean shape on the text-box side, +and the prop is canon. C carries "covered in ciphers" best with the hook +entirely above the shoulders, so it suits a bust product. A is the most canon +(the satchel), but its silhouette is the weakest. diff --git a/cast-designs/proposals/weksa/weksa-old-A.png b/cast-designs/proposals/weksa/weksa-old-A.png new file mode 100644 index 0000000..e8d88ee Binary files /dev/null and b/cast-designs/proposals/weksa/weksa-old-A.png differ diff --git a/cast-designs/proposals/weksa/weksa-old-A.svg b/cast-designs/proposals/weksa/weksa-old-A.svg new file mode 100644 index 0000000..8d1cbf1 --- /dev/null +++ b/cast-designs/proposals/weksa/weksa-old-A.svg @@ -0,0 +1,167 @@ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +WEKSA +WEKSA / A +SPEECH BUBBLE + +FULL BODY 2.5 HEADS + +SILHOUETTE + +48 PX +HOOK +Hair is a speech balloon of curls; its tail lock points at her mouth. +PALETTE +#d9483bterracotta#4a1410line#3b2418curls#f0e2c4paper#2d8a7ateal ink, accent#a8714fskin + \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/cast-designs/research/style-prior-art.md b/cast-designs/research/style-prior-art.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..c786cfe --- /dev/null +++ b/cast-designs/research/style-prior-art.md @@ -0,0 +1,91 @@ +# Style prior art: Persona portraits, chibi proportions, iconic reads + +Facts gathered 2026-10-10 for the cast-designs shortlist. Each line says what the +source states; where no primary source was found, the line says so. Conclusions +drawn from these facts live in `../README.md`, not here. + +## Persona series art direction and UI + +- Shigenori Soejima has been the Persona series character designer and art + director since Persona 3 (2006), succeeding Kazuma Kaneko. + Source: [Wikipedia, Shigenori Soejima](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shigenori_Soejima). +- Each mainline game is keyed to one colour: art director Masayoshi Sudou says + Persona 3's main colour was teal, Persona 4's "a vivid yellow", Persona 5's + "a crimson red", with black and white text chosen against it. + Source: [Famitsu interview translated by SegaBits](https://segabits.com/?p=54918). +- Kazuhisa Wada says Persona 5's UI design and red-and-black colouring were chosen + from the game's theme and message, and contrasts P5's warm colours with + Persona 3 Reload's cold ones. + Source: [GamerBraves interview](https://gamerbraves.com/?p=129988). +- Sudou and Soejima met often during Persona 3 to brainstorm the GUI; the same + look extended to the website. + Source: [SegaBits / Famitsu](https://segabits.com/?p=54918). +- Persona 5's interface makes heavy use of character portraits and 3D models; + Joker stays in the menu background and changes pose with the selected item. + Source: [Mechanics of Magic, Visual Design of Games: Persona 5](https://mechanicsofmagic.com/2022/04/23/visual-design-of-games-persona-5/). +- Persona 3 Reload remade the dialogue portraits and kept characters' signature + expressions; one cited example is the protagonist's deadpan stare. + Source: [Yahoo / GamesRadar on Reload portraits](https://sg.news.yahoo.com/persona-3-fans-really-hope-162644075.html), + [Gematsu, Reload announcement](https://www.gematsu.com/2023/06/persona-3-reload-announced-for-xbox-series-xbox-one-and-pc). +- Not found in a primary source: the exact expression count per character, or a + written spec for dialogue-portrait framing. What the README says about bust + framing (head and shoulders, angled toward the text box, one expression per + line of dialogue) is observed convention across the games, not a cited rule. + +## Persona Q: the series' own chibi redesign + +- Persona Q (3DS, 2014) redrew the P3 and P4 casts as super-deformed chibi; Soejima + did the redesigns and said it was his first time working in that style. + Source: [Wikipedia, Persona Q](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persona_Q:_Shadow_of_the_Labyrinth), + [Game Informer feature, 2014](https://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2014/07/18/a-glimpse-into-the-mind-of-personas-art-director.aspx). +- His two stated reasons: kinship with Etrian Odyssey's look, and the small 3DS + screen, where full-proportion designs would look cramped. + Source: [Nintendo Everything](https://nintendoeverything.com/tag/shigenori-soejima/), + [Nintenderos (Spanish)](https://www.nintenderos.com/2014/10/el-disenador-de-persona-q-nos-habla-sobre-el-estilo-del-juego/). +- His method, as reported: find what makes each character stand out, then adjust + those features so they stay recognisable after deformation. + Source: [Game Informer](https://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2014/07/18/a-glimpse-into-the-mind-of-personas-art-director.aspx). + +## Chibi proportions + +- Chibi / super-deformed figures are usually 2 to 3 heads tall; guides range up + to 4, and SD is quoted at 2 to 5 depending on style and age. + Sources: [Wikipedia, Chibi (style)](https://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Q-version), + [Clip Studio tips, chibi body ratio](https://tips.clip-studio.com/es-es/articles/4806?org=1), + [intfiction forum thread](https://intfiction.org/t/video-games-of-characters-with-short-proportions/63241). +- Wikipedia puts the SD head at one third to one half of total height and notes + that details such as jacket folds are dropped in favour of general shapes. + Source: [Wikipedia, Chibi (style)](https://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Q-version). +- Terminology is loose: "SD" names the head-to-body ratio, "chibi" connotes small, + round and childlike; the terms are used interchangeably. Source: forum + discussion above (opinion, not a reference work). + +## Iconic reads at small size + +- Valve's TF2 paper (Mitchell, Francke, Eng, NPAR 2007): the nine classes were + given distinct silhouettes and remain identifiable as pure silhouettes; the + silhouette-only test was used during concept work. + Source: [Illustrative Rendering in Team Fortress 2](https://www.cs.princeton.edu/courses/archive/fall07/cos597B/papers/mitchell-team-fortress.pdf). +- The same paper: body proportions, weapons, and lines made by hats, footwear and + clothing folds were designed to make each outline unique; interior folds echo + the outer silhouette. + Source: same paper; [Valve NPAR07 slides](https://cdn.fastly.steamstatic.com/apps/valve/2007/NPAR07_IllustrativeRenderingInTeamFortress2_Slides.pdf). +- TF2's read hierarchy: team from colour, class from silhouette and shape, + weapon from the rest of the outline. + Source: [GDC 2008, Stylization With a Purpose](https://cdn.steamstatic.com/apps/valve/2008/GDC2008_StylizationWithAPurpose_TF2.pdf). +- Practitioner guides (blog-grade, rules of thumb): fill the figure black and view + it at about 32x32 px; check the whole cast side by side; circles read friendly, + squares stable, triangles sharp or dangerous; keep 2 to 5 core colours with one + signature accent; order of work is silhouette, then colour, then detail. + Sources: [Bugnet, character design basics](https://bugnet.io/blog/character-design-basics-for-indie-devs), + [Made Good Designs](https://madegooddesigns.com/character-design-basics/). + +## Expression sets in portrait-driven games + +- Commercial visual-novel sprite packs ship 6 to 33 expressions per character; + a common core is neutral, smile, sad, angry, surprised, often plus one + character-specific state. Packs keep framing and baseline identical across + expressions so the sprite does not jump when it changes. + Sources: [itch.io Luna collection](https://prometheus-pictures.itch.io/luna-emotional-sprite-collection-33-expressions-for-visual-novels-rpgs-romance), + [itch.io convenience-store worker set](https://pompack.itch.io/friendly-convenience-store-worker). + Market practice, not an industry standard. diff --git a/cast-designs/weksa.md b/cast-designs/weksa.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..147d9c5 --- /dev/null +++ b/cast-designs/weksa.md @@ -0,0 +1,113 @@ +# Weksa + +## Who she is + +- The Persona of **weksa**, "a procedural language engine for alien grammars + grounded in concept, culture, and constraint". Meaning is decomposed into an + ontology, "passed through a worldview, constrained by grammar, shaped by + phonology, distorted by history", and only then rendered as text. Writing and + agent intent enter Weksa; typed utterance documents leave for AquaSynth. + Source: `F:\Projects\weksa\README.md`. +- "Weksa owns structured utterance and language lowering: interlingua, speaker + state, private interpretation, intended effect, visible action, and trace." + Read as "the organ that can stop character speech from being raw prompt + vibes". Source: `metame.persona-intake.yaml` (Weksa). +- Weksa is the first planned second mind (coordinator brief, 2026-10-10). +- Existing face art: "Nerdy anthropologist obsessed with culture and language": + glasses, field notebook, recorder, glyphs; take B adds phoneme cards, map pins, + beadwork. Source: `VoidBot\assets\repo-faces\new-face-avatar-contact-sheet-2026-05-22.png`, + `weksa-b-avatar.png`. +- Pronoun: not sourced; the existing art reads as a woman. "She" is provisional. + +Key colour: terracotta `#d9483b`, the red of field-note ink and fired clay +tablets. Shape language for the character: flowing lines and branches, speech +as something that grows and drifts. + +## Direction A: Speech Bubble + +- **Hook:** her hair is one big cloud of curls shaped like a speech balloon, + complete with a tail curl pointing at her mouth. +- **Silhouette:** a large puffy rounded balloon over the head with one pointed + tail. Instantly a speech bubble in black fill. +- **Shape language:** a cloud outline with one sharp point. +- **Palette:** `#d9483b` terracotta, `#4a1410` line, `#3b2418` dark-brown + curls, `#f0e2c4` notebook paper, `#2d8a7a` teal-ink accent (under 10 percent), + `#a8714f` skin. +- **Signature prop:** a field notebook, pencil behind her ear, a glyph sticky + note on the cover. +- **Motif:** the utterance itself. Her head is the thing she produces. +- **Render prompt.** Hypothesis: a hair mass shaped like a recognisable symbol + (a speech balloon) is the most iconic hook in the set at 48 px. + + > chibi anime character design, 2.5 heads tall super-deformed proportions, oversized head, large expressive anime eyes with two highlights, bold clean outline thicker on the outer silhouette than on inner lines, line colour a dark shade of the key colour, flat cel shading with one shadow tone and one rim light, no gradients, no texture, no pixel art, no 3D render. Character design sheet on a plain off-white background: on the left a large bust portrait, head and shoulders cropped at mid-chest, three-quarter view facing right; on the right a full-body chibi turnaround, front, three-quarter, side and back, neutral standing pose, all at the same height. No text, no logos, no watermark. Character: Weksa, a nerdy, delighted + > anthropologist of languages, warm brown skin. Her dark-brown curly hair forms + > one big puffy cloud shaped exactly like a comic speech balloon above and + > around her head, with one pointed tail curl pointing down toward her mouth. + > Large round glasses, bright curious eyes, a pencil behind her ear. Terracotta + > field vest with many pockets over a cream shirt. She holds an open field + > notebook full of strange glyphs. Key colour terracotta #d9483b, line #4a1410, + > paper #f0e2c4, teal ink #2d8a7a. + +## Direction B: Three-Script Scarf + +- **Hook:** a very long scarf wound once around her neck and trailing in the + wind, printed in three bands of three different invented scripts, like a + wearable Rosetta Stone. +- **Silhouette:** a compact head with a neat bun and a long ribbon of scarf + streaming sideways out of frame. Motion and direction where others are static. +- **Shape language:** long flowing S-curves. +- **Palette:** `#d9483b` terracotta scarf, `#4a1410` line, `#f0e2c4` script + bands, `#1f3a4a` deep slate coat, `#c9a24a` bead gold, `#a8714f` skin. +- **Signature prop:** a small clay tablet with the same three scripts. +- **Motif:** layered meaning: ontology, grammar, surface text, stacked; the + same sentence in three registers. +- **Render prompt.** Hypothesis: a strong directional line (the scarf) makes a + bust portrait feel dynamic without a dynamic pose. + + > chibi anime character design, 2.5 heads tall super-deformed proportions, oversized head, large expressive anime eyes with two highlights, bold clean outline thicker on the outer silhouette than on inner lines, line colour a dark shade of the key colour, flat cel shading with one shadow tone and one rim light, no gradients, no texture, no pixel art, no 3D render. Character design sheet on a plain off-white background: on the left a large bust portrait, head and shoulders cropped at mid-chest, three-quarter view facing right; on the right a full-body chibi turnaround, front, three-quarter, side and back, neutral standing pose, all at the same height. No text, no logos, no watermark. Character: Weksa, a sharp, kind scholar of + > invented languages, warm brown skin, dark hair in a neat bun pinned with two + > beaded sticks. A very long terracotta scarf is wound once around her neck and + > streams sideways in the wind, printed with three horizontal bands of three + > different invented scripts in cream. Round glasses, attentive eyes. Deep slate + > field coat. She holds a small clay tablet carved with the same three scripts. + > Key colour terracotta #d9483b, line #4a1410, cream #f0e2c4, slate #1f3a4a. + +## Direction C: Tree of Tongues + +- **Hook:** her hair is braided into branching locks that fork like a language + family tree, beads at every fork, each bead a word that drifted over time. +- **Silhouette:** antler-like branching braids rising and spreading from the + head. Wide and tall, irregular, alive. +- **Shape language:** branching lines, forks, nodes. +- **Palette:** `#d9483b` terracotta beads, `#4a1410` line, `#2b1a14` near-black + braids, `#e8c27a` amber beads, `#5f7d4a` moss-green wrap, `#a8714f` skin. +- **Signature prop:** a handheld field recorder with a little windshield. +- **Motif:** diachrony: languages descend, split and drift; history distorts + every word. +- **Render prompt.** Hypothesis: a branching silhouette separates Weksa from + every other character's closed shape, at some risk of reading as antlers. + + > chibi anime character design, 2.5 heads tall super-deformed proportions, oversized head, large expressive anime eyes with two highlights, bold clean outline thicker on the outer silhouette than on inner lines, line colour a dark shade of the key colour, flat cel shading with one shadow tone and one rim light, no gradients, no texture, no pixel art, no 3D render. Character design sheet on a plain off-white background: on the left a large bust portrait, head and shoulders cropped at mid-chest, three-quarter view facing right; on the right a full-body chibi turnaround, front, three-quarter, side and back, neutral standing pose, all at the same height. No text, no logos, no watermark. Character: Weksa, a gentle, obsessive + > linguist, warm brown skin. Her near-black hair is braided into many locks + > that rise and branch like a family tree, each braid forking into two and then + > two again, with terracotta and amber beads at every fork. Round glasses, + > soft smile. Moss-green head wrap at the base of the braids, terracotta poncho + > with woven pattern. She holds up a small handheld audio recorder with a fuzzy + > windshield. Key colour terracotta #d9483b, line #4a1410, amber #e8c27a, moss + > #5f7d4a. + +## Portrait set + +Framing: in B the scarf exits the card edge on the far side from the text box; +in C the braids may crop at the top, the first fork may not. + +1. **Field notes** (neutral): attentive half-smile, eyes on the speaker. +2. **New word!**: eyes huge behind the glasses, hands up, mouth open. +3. **Lost in translation**: head tilted, one eyebrow up, pencil at her lip. +4. **That is not what it means**: flat polite smile, eyes closed, finger raised. +5. **Listening**: eyes closed, recorder or notebook held close, calm. + +## Render first + +Direction A. The speech-balloon hair is the most iconic single shape proposed for +anyone in the set; one render tells us whether a generator can hold it.