Some advice needed...

[Poncho]

K, 3rd post.. (me thinks) here we go

Having started endlessly rpg projects, but always being bored, getting stuck or with the project just fading away as the days goes, I finally think I have a concept going, that I actually might finish, and find interesting making to the very end.

Think "shadowgate" ^^ but ofcoure with regular rpg elements aswell, such as battles, proper loot (not just puzzle items), character advancement etc.

I actually look forward of making a game like this, since it has to be more textdriven, and I always wanted to make an IF game. It also requires more thinking, and from the FPS view, the puzzles will be a blast of fun to make.

What I have a hard time with, though, is the placement and design of characters you meet, and I'm not talking about personality or any of that sheit, but the actual placement on the screen.

I'm having a real hard time with this, and I have never had an eye for what fits, and what's pleasent to look at. Anyway, here is somewhat what I had in mind:

http://www.picfury.com/7/RPG123-1.html
The picture of ppl you meet have a frame, cuz (according to my bad taste) it looks better, since I made their background black.

What I need help with:

Should the portraits frame "go in" in the user panel, as it does on that screenie, or should I redesign the frame, or "cut it" from the user panels frame?

Would it look better if the pic was located in the middle of the screen, not being a part of the user panel at all? I made it like this cuz since it's 1st person, it kinda looks like the person is standing right in front of you. With a transparent gap between the pic, and user panel, this wouldn't be the case.

I've tried putting the image on the far ends of the screen, and enlarge its height, so it reaches all the way to the high end of the screen, but it always end up looking really sucky, probably cuz the upper half of the screen doesn't have a frame, and I have no idea what I'm doing wrong.

As I said, I have no eye WHATSOEVER for this kind of work. A simple paint template or something, about good ways to build up the interface of a game like this would be highly appreciated.

Also, this game is in extreme pre-alpha-on-the-horizon-planning, so don't judge the font, user face etc, cuz It's most likeley to be changed. This is just for planning. Also any advice for this kind of game is welcome )

[DragonBlaze]

Err, I have no idea about this type of thing. What if you would just remove the frame, and have the picture of the char in the middle of the screen (or to one side of the screen), and make it look like they're actually standing there? I think that would be best.

[Meiscool-2]

Just change the frame into a picture.

[Poncho]

Originally posted by DragonBlaze
Err, I have no idea about this type of thing. What if you would just remove the frame, and have the picture of the char in the middle of the screen (or to one side of the screen), and make it look like they're actually standing there? I think that would be best.

The thing is, even without the frame, the black background of the character is still there (as the picture already had background, and this was the easiest way to get rid of it, with still having goodlooking contures on the character), so the frame is there, basically to distract you from the black background, which would leave a frame, even if I removed the blue from the pic.

Also I meant the frame I put along the sides of the portrait -_-
Not some kind of addon layer to the screen (don't know anything but that sheit)

I would really like it for the characters background to be transparent for the best effect, but this will require heavy editing on the original pic, which probably wouldn't turn out good anyway.

Originally posted by Meiscool
Just change the frame into a picture.

It is already It's a pic, together with the character portrait.

edit: Also, when talking about frames, I mean the end lines surrounding the user panel, and the portrait :S Not the regular RPG maker thingie called frame, I know and can move everything on the screen, I just don't know where to put it for it to look "attractive".


Ack. Sorry if I don't make much sense I really don't have any vision on how the end result will be, just want advice, and brainstorming.

Should the portrait frame take part of the user panel frame, or should it stand alone on the screen etc.

Took 2 more screenies with the pic being placed differently:

Here it's all the way to the right, but it seems terribly misplaced..

http://www.picfury.com/7/Rpg242-1.html    

Here, it stands on it's own. This one is probably the best IMO, but still, it takes away that feeling of the character standing face to face to you, that I want On this one, the char could be anywhere.

http://www.picfury.com/7/Rpg353-1.html  

edit: Again, this is not a question of something not working, it's a question of design. I need someone with the common sense I lack to help me improve this interface.