Color!

The 3rd person camera will be looking at her back most of the time in-game, so I did color comps from a rear view. I also figured that since the camera is above her, she'll most likely be set against a tan stone floor color.

The battleship-style label grid is so that my teammates and I can communicate quickly and clearly about the different options over our online forum while we get only limited face time during summer semester.  

Thrones

Here is some early exploration for the thrones. Not only do they need to read as wind-god thrones, but I also want them to help tell the story of the two brothers. My current favorite is the one on the left because the heights show which brother is older and more dominant, the flags indicate wind, the broken leg hints at the little brother's downfall, and it is such a big brother thing to steal all the throw pillows. 

Temple Arena

Basic "How to Play" instructions and overview of current high-level game design:

The whole game takes place in the Temple of the Wind Gods high up in a tower in the middle of a desert. The main sanctuary is acting as our arena. Here are some early ideas about the space:

Rough Concept Illustration

This is a moment from our game when Hadiyah, the blacksmith warrior woman, takes on a wave of lizard minion enemies. We now have a much clearer idea of the characters. My teammate, Parker Pierce, has been working on the lizard minion designs. 

Hadiyah 1st Rough Turn-Around

Hadiyah Refinement

Getting closer to a final rough character design. I took my team's feedback and mix-and-matched our favorite pieces. 

Contrast: Earth v. Wind

While working on the character development, I really wanted a more clear-cut way of visually distinguishing the good guys from the bad, so I made the following handy chart for myself and my team.

Bladed or Blunt?

Can't design a warrior without her weapon. I've been exploring the options: battle ax? mace? war hammer? We've even toyed with the idea that she made herself a weapon out of an old anvil. The anvil-hammer is probably too humorous for the tone of this game, but it was fun to try out none the less.