Alright, I'm tired of these cookie cutter comp themes. I think it's about time we get a theme to really stretch those creativity muscles. So whats the theme? Well, I'm going to give a hypothetical game plot for a Mario game (more along the lines of a M&L game), and you will create a villain to fit it. The story: "Tired of the residents of the Mushroom Kingdom constantly cheating death with the 1up mushrooms, the Grim Reaper has decided to take control of the Mushroom Kingdom and make it his new "Land of the Dead"." Your goal is to sprite the Mario equivalent of the Grim Reaper/his minions. Remember to keep the design fitting to the Mario world. Maybe he's just a floating head with hands, maybe he has a more traditional figure, or maybe he's some kinda shadow creature. Remember that since this is the Mario version, you are free to change things up, but please, lets avoid "Oh man, it's a dry bones with a scythe!". Rules: 1. Must sprite Grim Reaper and at least 1 minion. 2. Must be original in design but still fitting to the Mario world. Comp ends in 1 week.

Nice, but I personally don't like rule 1. That sounds like too much. But then again, I'm just barely a rookie, :whoops: Also, does the minion have to be a Bowser minion?

No, it's a minion of the main villain you will be designing. THe reason I made it a rule is because I figured most people will base it heavily off of the main villain anyways, so it wouldn't take much more effort on their part. Granted, if enough people really find it that hard to make a second sprite, then I'll remove that rule, but honestly, most entries consist of multiple sprites, and sometimes even full sheets, so I don't think 2 sprites should be an issue.

That's an awesome theme. I'll try to enter. EDIT: WIP concept art: [img]http://i.imgur.com/WrytP.png[/img]

I'll be honest, I think, if this concept works, it would be nice to use every once in a while (Comp starter makes a story and we have to go with it). I think it could help newer spriters to try new things and sprite more than "I put a hat on 8bit goomba, it's Goombario!!!".

[img]http://img577.imageshack.us/img577/1419/grimy.png[/img] Even I don't know what I'm doing right now. WIP, of course

[img]http://i.imgur.com/Y9gGt.png[/img] WIP

Yeah, I like this concept too. Plus it might result in sprites useful for an original character in a fangame or even an indie game.

[quote="Chaoxys"]I'll be honest, I think, if this concept works, it would be nice to use every once in a while (Comp starter makes a story and we have to go with it). I think it could help newer spriters to try new things and sprite more than "I put a hat on 8bit goomba, it's Goombario!!!".[/quote] I totally agree. I really like these kinds of competitions. I'll try to whip something up.

Wow, 2 M&L:BiS entries. Now I'm afriad to post my WIP since it's also M&L:BiS. Then again, I guess, considering the "plot" I gave, it does work with M&L like I said in the first post, so most people would go for the most modern style.

[quote="Chaoxys"]Wow, 2 M&L:BiS entries. Now I'm afriad to post my WIP since it's also M&L:BiS. Then again, I guess, considering the "plot" I gave, it does work with M&L like I said in the first post, so most people would go for the most modern style.[/quote] Do it! I love your ML sprites.

[img]http://i1191.photobucket.com/albums/z472/Goombaking123/GrimMFGG.png[/img] A WIP. The first figure is Death while the second is a Greed, a monster that can shiftshape. They turn into coins to trick people so they can eat them.

[quote="Chaoxys"]No, it's a minion of the main villain you will be designing. THe reason I made it a rule is because I figured most people will base it heavily off of the main villain anyways, so it wouldn't take much more effort on their part. Granted, if enough people really find it that hard to make a second sprite, then I'll remove that rule, but honestly, most entries consist of multiple sprites, and sometimes even full sheets, so I don't think 2 sprites should be an issue.[/quote]...but I don't see how it's related to Mario if the villian doesn't exist in Mario to begin with. :(

But you're making something that could exist believably in the mario universe. For the minions, could you do themed (I guess dead themed, looking like the main guy you design) enemies like MLBIS did with the fawful enemies, or do you have to create something totally different?

Yes, although heres something to consider. If you are doing a M&L style, then you'd want them to look like their leader, just like in the other M&L games. If you are doing SMB3 style, you'd want them to look different. If you think about it, the series genre often effects the designs. Granted, this is just a suggesting for the sake of adding some authenticity to your sprites, you can do whatever you want.

I see what you're getting at.

[img]http://i42.tinypic.com/zvu2ab.png[/img] Hooray for my lack of originality. EDIT: [img]http://i43.tinypic.com/dfcbcg.png[/img]

[img]http://img266.imageshack.us/img266/1991/grimf.png[/img] Let's try this again EDIT: [img]http://img683.imageshack.us/img683/2485/grimp.png[/img] Alright, this scythe's just getting silly

@Gameboy - The shading of the grim reapers robe could use some work. :/ (The first ones shading looks better than the second however)

[img]http://i1191.photobucket.com/albums/z472/Goombaking123/GrimMFGG-1.png[/img] I edited Greed. He now is a Skull with an eyeball. BTW, the original one doesn't work now. EDIT: A GOLDEN eyeball.