VCMI: CCP - On planning and what to do next

[SomeGuy]

This thread is exclusively dedicated to the VCMI Content Creation Project [temporary name, as I have yet to get more name suggestions], which will focus on the project management itself.

I’ll just copypaste my post from the original fork thread for this one. This is the original plan I sketch I conceived earlier:

I’ve elaborated a simple plan to get this idea running. It would be split in five phases that would require different amounts of input and support. What I would like to ask of you, if you think it would be possible, would be the creation of a modding section here on VCMI forums as soon as possible, so we could have an actual place to debate on artwork before making commissions to artists. So far I’ve tracked a few artists that might be able to help us for free, or at least a fairly cheap price at a conceptual stage. Here’s my idea of the 4-stage plan:

1st stage

Discuss which style to adopt. Town, creatures, and battlescapes. This would be a feedback-only phase which would focus in getting as much community feedback as possible. Eventually a satelite thread could be created at heroes community forums to link more people here. At this stage we would decide:

• The graphic style - cartoony vs realistic. Linework vs Colour. High fantasy vs Low Fantasy. Soft colouring vs strong colouring.

• Concept reconsideration - there have been other game after HOMM3, and some have taken better approaches to some creatures. For instance I prefer the HOMM5 gremlin to HOMM3’s gremlin. Whether we should remain faithful to the original HOMM3 concepts or change them would be something to discuss as well.

2nd stage

After we have settled on all issues regarding the 1st stage we can finally being commissioning work to artists. Each new sketch would be posted on the forums to be analyzed and discussed by the community. Additionally the following would also begin by this stage:

• Production of some bits of static artwork such as the paintings for the battlescapes.

• Concept sketches for new menu artwork

3rd stage

At this stage the production of definitive creature model sheets would begin. These would include black and white front/side view of the characters along with a few “action stances” and a fully coloured sketch. Some battlescape paintings should be concluded by now along with the basic plans for a revamped menu artwork.

4th stage

With the completion of the majority of creature concepts and having finished most battlescape paintings, this would be the phase which we would finally hire animators. From this point we could choose two possible routes:

a) hiring 3d modelers and animators to create creature models that would be subsequentially animated and captured in form of high-res, pre-rendered sprites

or

b) hiring actual cartoonists to create pure 2d animations, also hi-res

The new menu artwork should enter it’s final stage here.

5th stage

Having completed most creature sprites, the final production stage would begin: making the map art. I prefer to leave this one for last, since HOMM3’s map art is the one that has the best looks after all these years. Replacing it wouldn’t be as essential as replacing creature artwork, for instance.

Obviously this is still nothing but a rough perspective. There are many points left to debate. For instance we need to decide how we will deal the whole crowdfunding idea, and how we will approach artists based on this proposal. If anyone has any other suggestions, please say so.

[SomeGuy]

I’ve just created a satelite thread on the Wesnoth forums. Hope we can get some help from them. If you’re part of theme or simply a member of the VCMI community, try leaving some comments on the project if you think you could add something to it. Remember, the more cohesive our group seems, the more support we’re likely to get.

EDIT

And Warmonger had the generousity of mentioning us on the official VCMI thread at the Heroes Community forums! Cheers mate.