Mockup Progress/Variations

The quickest way to make progress on an environment is to post a mockup and say it was "authoritative." You and your colleague will promptly sit down afterward and discuss all the things you want to change.

The first thing we want start addressing is an issue we're having where the 2D art doesn't feel quite "intentional" enough. We don't want it to feel like the 2D art is standing in for 3D art, shuffling its feet and avoiding eye contact. And so, we're looking for ways to play up the "paper diorama" idea.

One of the things we're trying is having the non-character stuff on the map actually look folded over, like cutouts that are being propped up. I'm also continuing to mess around in this vein—simpler shapes, looking like paper cutouts—with the set pieces in the background, though I'm not sure if it's improving things or not. (I would appreciate any thoughts people have on this, comparing it to the background in the mockup from the previous post!)

I'm trying the same thing in the village too, along with another change:

We enjoy the shapes of the cottages, and we realized that there was a lot of vertical space that we could take advantage of in the village. I think adding the roof to the sides (that face the camera) helps you understand what kind of place you're actually in. Again, because we're not doing real 3D art, you end up with an empty space where the top plane of the roof would be. But between the fixed camera and embracing the paper-construction feel, I think it's worth it.

So then, once a hero goes inside a house (or if you zoom/pan to an appropriate spot?):

We switch to a cut-away version of the front wall, revealing the inside. (I'm keen on adding fireplaces to the inside versions of the walls.)

Oh also remind me to draw bearskin rugs that can go on the floor.