M&B Graphic Novel

[Ryuta]

Hi, everyone. I'm a newly graduated graphic designer (who does everything visual, illustration, editorial, typography, corporate identity, packaging, advertising etc) and thinking how to contribute to this wonderful game. Then, I thought. 'How about making illustrations, or even a graphic novel?'

So, that's how my project started, about a week ago. But, I know that a graphic novel needs story and lots of designing which have the potency to destroy the game. It is not the thing I want. So, I made some rules over doing this project.

1. Things (storyline, artwork etc) on the GN should be made public prior to final decision and open to discuss and change.

2. When it's made, it should be free to everyone (hope I could post it in somewhere in this forum).

3. When Armagan said No, it is NO. (I deeply respect the developer's opinion).

I am planning to put the story about how the war between Swadis and Vaegis started and the main place of the story is Zendar. I aimed at the size of the novel approx. 20-40 pages (20, I hope). I'd take at least two or three month to complete. Hope I could post more on Monday (I don't have internet access at home).

Here is my first thing to ask.

Should I start the project?

If you want to see samples of my work, tell me. I'm more than happy to show them to you. Of course if you give me a job (een a small one), that's better!

 

[Temujin]

good idea, I was thinking about making a tribute mv for the game.

 

[Incendiary Lemon]

I'd love to see it.

 

[n00854180t]

I can host it, just let me know.

 

[konskrypt]

Awesome!

 

[Orion]

great idea, man.

We need armagan to see this, so...

*bump*'ed it up for you

 

[Konradude]

I'd like to see ome of your previous work.

 

[Pavlov]

I'd also like to see some sample, simply out of curiousity. If you want to do this man, more power to you. If you put the work in, i'm sure the community will back you even more.

 

[Lhorkan]

Ok, I know I sound dumb here, but could someone explain what a graphic novel is?

 

[Cosan]

Ever played Max Payne? Their whole story is in graphic novels.

They are kinda like cartoons. But ... err, in adult form. In Max Payne's view anyway.

*Remembers the Kung Fu Mod for Max Payne* Man, that was Awesome!

*drools*

OFF TOPIC EDIT: Does anyone know where I can get that? I lost that mod some time ago. I know that its made by a guy called Kenneth Yeung, and its very, very cool.

 

[Ryuta]

Yes I have some stocks but I don't know how to post it in this forum. How very sad. I've made images in 400pix wide max so that the page wouldn't go too wide.

For the samples, I've made 2 illustrations for M&B (with my experimental logo of M&B) in the weekend. They're not as highly finished as I wished (they're mainly based on pen drawings) but they'll give you an idea.

I was thinking of posting historical background stuff but I'll wait to see what others are thinking of it. please tell me your idea of the history. And, Your ideas about theh heraldry of Swadis, vaegis and Zendar.

Thank you for your support. I'm absolutely thrilled!

 

[sheek]

Yes I have some stocks but I don't know how to post it in this forum. How very sad. I've made images in 400pix wide max so that the page wouldn't go too wide.

For the samples, I've made 2 illustrations for M&B (with my experimental logo of M&B) in the weekend. They're not as highly finished as I wished (they're mainly based on pen drawings) but they'll give you an idea.

I was thinking of posting historical background stuff but I'll wait to see what others are thinking of it. please tell me your idea of the history. And, Your ideas about theh heraldry of Swadis, vaegis and Zendar.

Thank you for your support. I'm absolutely thrilled!

I think what you have to do is go to photobucket.com register at an email address for free. Then there's some kind of tool that lets you 'browse' your folders like you're opening a file in Microsoft Word. You select your jpegs (your files have to be .jpg format) click OK. Then you're given a link and you post it here.

 

[DJ Dethnutz]

Yeah, or for something quick and dirty you can just go to www.imageshack.us, which requires no registration and takes like 30 seconds to host something. I think it expires after a few weeks though and you'd have to rehost the image.

 

[Orion]

make an imageshack gallery and they don't expire.

 

[Ryuta]

Thank you everyone for advice. I'm managed to upload images. Here's the images.

[/url]



Not related to M&B images are...


This one is from Little Red Riding Hood. It's made concertina so you can stretch it to see as a single illustration.


It's from Bad Zodiac Calendar.


This one is music score calendar for D&AD competition this year.

Hope this will satisfy you. Post me some of your ideas!

To Lhorkan; Graphic novel is cartoon or comic strips. You're not dumb. I haven't known the name until recently.

To Cosan; I killed Vlad Lem yesterday. Yes, the game is great.

 

[sheek]

What's the "For Honor, For Desire, For Love" thing about? The pictures don't correspond and I don't see what love and desire have to do with M&B.

Or are they just demonstrations?

 

[Worbah]

What's the "For Honor, For Desire, For Love" thing about? The pictures don't correspond and I don't see what love and desire have to do with M&B.

Or are they just demonstrations?

he's probably adding a 'story' to it.

 

[DJ Dethnutz]

Looks good! I would only suggest a couple changes. I would change "For Desire. For Love" to something more in line with the theme of the game. M&B isn't a hugely romantic game... for the most part it's a bunch of dudes running around killing each other. The only interaction you have with the main girl character in the game is to fight her in the arena. If your character is a girl instead of a guy, then you still only run around kicking the crap out of everyone.

I mean hell even the story is just "These two countries are at war. A bunch of adventurers come in to try and make some money and get some glory. Most of them get their asses kicked, because war is a *****."

 

[Ryuta]

Thank you for the comment.

That's true that the 'For...' thing is not on the theme on M&B. I put this because it allowed you to interpret in many way. Love could mean in different ways, it could be romantic love, patriotic love, love for money or fame or glory, or even killing. I put the word Love as the greatest motivaton that drives your character.

But the point is, M&B's world is now shaped around your imagination, and I wanted to represent the fact that your decision, your motivation is the main engine of your world. Not the story given by someone like me. When I started the thread, I was worried, almost scared, that my Graphic Novel project would ruin/ spoil/ destory your precious world view, gradually created by hours of gameplay.

Graphic novel needs story and backgroud to make it credible but it also means that this could contradict what in game and your world view. That's why I've been kept the storyline and background from posting.

So, I think it's the time to ask you about the background history. It's debatable and I'm happy to hear your suggestion.

In my view, the world was separated in East (Europian style culture) and West (much like Muslim/ Near East). They have been know each other, but the communication between them was virtually none, because of a huge desert sitting right between them.

Then, one day, a hero was born in the West. He united West and with buring ambition of uniting the world, pushed into West. When he died, his empire stretched deep into the heart of the East (approx. the world in the game).

Few generation later, the empire was broken into pieces by succession war and revolts. The result is multitude of small kingdoms and new ideas, thinking, born from the mixture of East and West.

Vaegis is one of such kingdom founded by one of prince of the empire. He made a pact with Swadis, then a tiny kingdom to divide their territory along Zendar-Four Ways Inn line. thouse two cities are left as neutral, independent countries.

So the story begins...

 

[Ryuta]

Sorry I've forgotten one thing. The illustration below is my sketch for Xerina. I thought it's better introduce the character known to everyone.



I think her armour should be more earlier type of plate, or simply mail. The shield straps were completely wrong! I've found correct strapping so that it would change. Her lance is simple - Not later type of lance - and has spearhead with crossguard to prevent excess penetration. I'm not sure it's medieval (I'll provably remove it later). What hanging from her coif is her face guard (it's early medieval item).

Hope that satisfy your curiosity.