You've been very helpful, and might I add, your knowledge of how to spell "per se" has me enthralled. I salute you, madam.
I don't have any ritual per se. I tend to sketch out some of the character basics then embellish them when I build them in LBP. The landscapes and props are totally driven by theme so far on my levels. First choice I usually make is what material or materials I'm going to use. I'll experiment with a few different materials with and without stickers to get the look I want. Then I'll do variations on that throughout the level. Gives it an overall feeling that one part of the level relates to the other. I'll also usually find a group of four or five stickers that will appear in various parts of the level too. So yea I guess my process is sketch then experiment.
I would like, if you have a minute, a few pointers on the technical aspects of creating visuals on levels. I've gotten handy enough with the corner editor, and taking pictures of myself in costume to create characters. I still feel, though, like my backgrounds are utter bunk compared to what I'd like them to be. If you have anything you do ritually (for instance, I've seen MrsSB make storyboards) that helps with this, I'd love to know.
cool idea for the seahorses! I'll have to see if I can pull that off!
About them bosses... I just commented on ALL the Chroma Stones. You were talking about bosses. I, too, hate how logic is explained, even as I want more of it. I go to Snowflakecat's basement, look at all those switches, then read the explanations and feel stupid. Before I go further, let me offer you a suggestion on your seahorse boss: Put thin, 1-to-4-grid-square slice of dark matter where I can't see it. glue dissolve brick, same size or smaller, to DM. glue mag switch, set to DIRECTIONAL, to dissolve brick. DO NOT ADD a corresponding magnet. Remove that lever you've got in the boss room, then wire the mag switch to the second seahorse piston instead. Wire a one shot, inverted mag switch to the dissolve brick I had you make. Put the corresponding magnet on the first seahorse. Now: seahorse one dies, his magnet dies with him. Inverted mag switch goes off, killing dissolve brick. dissolve brick makes second, inoperable mag switch disappear...leaving seahorse two completely free on his piston. He now shoots, spins, AND changes bobs up and down...making him slightly tougher to kill than seahorse one. But he doesn't move at all UNTIL you kill seahorse one. Voila. Multi-stage boss that isn't too much harder, but is slightly more interesting. If that is no longer the sort of thing that's even remotely helpful to you, I'll shut up now. But I remember figuring out this interruptor switch thingie, and feeling pretty danged clever for about thirty seconds.
Thanks for the pointers. I'll get going with uploading some stuff first. Once I know what I want sackboy to look like for posterity, I'll have a better idea what I'd want a banner to look like.
Well, where to begin... Easiest way to get photos onto the site here is upload them from your PS3 HDD. Just upload to HDD from the photo options in LBP, then log onto LBPCentral.com from the PS3, go to either the gallery or you can upload them into an album here on your profile page. That will get you pictures here but for signatures/avatar you'll need to have access to Photoshop or another graphics program. Are you looking for someone to make you a signature/avatar? I'd be happy to make you one but there are other signature makers here on the site who'd also be happy to do that for you. Just let me know. I didn't mean the comment about material usage in a really bad way. It just stood out in some spots. I've hearted all your levels & you as a creator. I even played the 4th one last night - really fun stuff.
I think this conversation is proof positive of my complete newbhood to forums. I just found this private conversation five minutes ago...THAT's how much help I need. A photo next to my name on the left side would be the first obvious thing. I don't 'ticular need a smarmy saying/level ads in my sig, but a banner photo down there would eventually be nice. I imagine you guys are making these fancy things elsewhere, then porting them in. The biggest challenge, as I see it, would be exporting pictures of Sackboy from the PS3 (since I see many of you in costume in your banners, I assume that's what everyone else is doing). I'm not sure how to do that in an efficient, yet not-ludicrously-expensive manner. I really dig Chroma Stone Chronicles, btw. One of the best things about LBP is seeing what female players will do with a game that isn't Barbie Pony Adventures. Your crack about material design choices cracked me up, in particular. My wife actually chose a few of the walls in Episode 2...without seeing the rest of the level. :P "Ooh, shiny! Use those!"
What would you like to know about signature and avatar help?
