A few questions about tilesets and graphics

[C Frost]

So, after another long hiatus, I've refined my approach a bit (I realized I was always trying to do too much in previous attempts to make progress on what would be my first game) and am diving back into VX Ace. To that end, I've been trying to decide whether to use the default Ace tilesets (with a bit of Mack mixed in), or the DS set (which I bought ages ago). I like both, so it's a tough decision.

In regards to the DS pack, one odd thing I've noticed is this "darker grass." There's the "standard" grass tile, then there's a tile that appears to just be grass but darker:

Maybe I'm being dense, but for the life of me I can't figure out what this is supposed to be for. It doesn't look like it's supposed to be tall grass, but could it be that? If not then what? And if it ISN'T tall grass, does anyone know if there is a tall grass tile that's compatible with the DS pack art-style wise floating around somewhere? Tall grass (with a bush flag) is an effect I like to use on my wilderness maps.

Secondly, one thing I REALLY like with the DS pack is the large tree.

The closest thing I've found to this as an add-on for the default Ace art style are these, which are pretty good but I have to admit I like the DS tree a bit better (plus it's not as HUGE as the big trees in that link, so it's easier to manage in a tileset). Part of me almost wants to just use the default Ace set and toss in the DS tree, but even though I don't have a great eye for clashing art styles, even I can tell that that would... well, clash. So I'm hesitant to do any tile mixing between Ace default and DS. Does anyone have any other recommendations for large/tall trees that wouldn't look out of place with the Ace default style? I've looked through most of the ones in GrandmaDeb's list (that's how I found Pentagonbuddy's) but I could have overlooked some.

One last question. When it comes to character sprites, the Ace default provide several that will fit in quite well with my game idea, whereas the DS set doesn't, so I'd like to stick with default for sprites. Now, obviously mixing default tilesets with DS tilesets won't work, because the former is painted and the latter pixel art. Similarly, mixing default sprites with DS sprites would be weird because they are in a completely different style. But, what about mixing one consistent sprite style with one consistent tileset style? i.e. using all Ace default sprites, but all DS tilesets. Like so:

Like I said I don't think I have a real good eye for this kind of thing, so I want to see what others think - if you came across a game with this combination of visuals, would it look odd to you, or does it work?

Thanks for any and all assistance with any of the above.

 

[Cadh20000]

While the character sprites and the rest don't really match, I don't think they look bad. I'm pretty sure I've seen similar mixes of styles in some SNES games I've played and those did okay. At least, I never heard any complaints about it!

 

[Uzuki]

Well from what little of nature that I know of, darker colours of grass usually indicates swamps or bogs. Frankly I like the look.

 

[Sharm]

The darker grass on the DS pack seems depressed or wet to me. I agree, I don't think it's meant to be taller. There is a "tall grass" tile in the DS+ pack, really it only looks taller because of the bushy edges but that works. There isn't one that I can see in the first DS pack and there hasn't been one made for Members+. Because the DS tiles have to be paid for separately you're not as likely to find edits of them anywhere so I doubt you'll find taller grass anywhere else. If you want something that looks a little more like tall grass all the way through, you could possibly use the tall grass for XP.


I know I've seen other large trees, but I don't recall where. Have you checked the ReStaff releases?


The only problem I see with using the Ace sprites with DS tiles is that you're going to have problems with scale, especially when you start making man made items like doors and such. If you can get the scale to work for you then I don't think it'd be bad to use those sprites.

 

[amerk]

The Mack set may work better with DS than the VX/Ace set. I like the screenshots you have using DS, so I'd encourage you to go with that.

 

[C Frost]

Thanks for the feedback everyone!

Well from what little of nature that I know of, darker colours of grass usually indicates swamps or bogs. Frankly I like the look.

Oh yeah, that makes sense.

The darker grass on the DS pack seems depressed or wet to me. I agree, I don't think it's meant to be taller. There is a "tall grass" tile in the DS+ pack, really it only looks taller because of the bushy edges but that works. There isn't one that I can see in the first DS pack and there hasn't been one made for Members+. Because the DS tiles have to be paid for separately you're not as likely to find edits of them anywhere so I doubt you'll find taller grass anywhere else. If you want something that looks a little more like tall grass all the way through, you could possibly use the tall grass for XP.

I know I've seen other large trees, but I don't recall where. Have you checked the ReStaff releases?

The only problem I see with using the Ace sprites with DS tiles is that you're going to have problems with scale, especially when you start making man made items like doors and such. If you can get the scale to work for you then I don't think it'd be bad to use those sprites.

I'll look through the ReStaff stuff, didn't think of that before, thanks.

Might try using Mack's tall grass tile with the DS set, if I don't pick up DS+ (thanks for letting me know about the grass in there tho). And yeah, that's my one frustration with all this - on the one hand, variety is nice, but on the other, sometimes I wish that the default assets and the DS stuff was all just in the same style, so it'd all be one big resource base, heh.

I didn't think about this before but you're right - the Ace sprites with DS sets looks pretty weird when it comes to doors and buildings...

Don't think I care for that. So I'll still need to pick and stick to a style, either default or DS. Thanks for bringing that up!

The Mack set may work better with DS than the VX/Ace set. I like the screenshots you have using DS, so I'd encourage you to go with that.

Thanks. To be fair, the screenshot of the area made with the DS tiles, above, was a remake of an area I'd already made using (mostly) default tiles. I created it again with the DS set specifically to have a comparison map. The original looks like this:

I swapped in Mack's grass because I like the color better, and added gray cliffs cause I always liked how they looked (a holdover from working with XP, I used the gray cliff tiles a lot  ) and the Ace default RTP only has brown ones. If I use default for my game, this is what it would be: mostly RTP with a bit of Mack and those slight alterations that I made (minor recolors being pretty much the extent of my resource altering skills unfortunately). Plus whatever extras like large trees I can find, of course!