Defeated. It came back, greater than ever.

It looked like the Dryads had fallen under the Nightmare influence.

liked your new skin, perfect for satyr race like Evil keeper of corrupted grove or like that

This one have 4 variations but I be focusing on the one in the thumbnail. Since Betsy has been AWOL lemme just take his review spot.

Before I start reviewing the Dark Sinister 2, I wanna point out a crucial point about Keeper Of The Grove model. I think you can replace KeeperVines.blp as seeing any KoTG skins while having grass effect still playing is a bit awkward to use. So I have to note that whenever I dip my hand to this 4 legged tree hugging goat boy here.

To start off, this skin is definitely an improvement over the Original Dark Sinister. I have certain comments about what is good and what is not but what I will say that you can't compare older works while upscaling over the original. That's a ground of unfair comparison and i'm sure 7 years old younger ~Nightmare doesn't appreciate that.

The DS2 face is a bit questionable because while I do believe this is better, the older skin is much more scarier, uglier intentionally make it even more convincing for a dark being. This one is just too much KoTG face pattern, I will say that the facework is impressive and I love that little "goat"ee. His hair is groovier than original, the original I thought it got a bottle of Head n Shoulder (tm).

About the armor, It's impressive but i feel recycled from K'Nawa. It's good but it's not something i have wide eyes open. The belt is probably the best part here and I love the bronze outerline. I also like TC capes, excellent shading for that one.

About those ... Magneta? Ruby pink? Let's just call it Crimson Pink. I think those color pop, especially the one on the hooves for the darker tone in this skin.

---

For a star rating: I give it a 4/5 - It's great but not trying to be the Dark Sinister. The skin changed way too much that is off the title.

For quality rating: I think Recommended if you like Demonic keeper of the grove and if your map like hot pink fire. I'm not sure of HQ because this skin didn't convince me as improvement but rather than a rework. Imma stick that rating just like og texture.

Nightmare has chosen to revisit an older texture and give it a facelift (literally and metaphorically it seems) and this also seems to be another Night Elf unit texture which is interesting as we have had quite a few recently, must be the summer season:

The Good:
The face seems like a natural place to start, before we had a blurry, grinning monster whereas now we have a vicious, scary looking character which makes this one seem more "intelligent" than the original version. Like a demon you could talk to rather than just bite your head off. The subtle lighting of the red eyes on the rest of the face is a nice detail and the protruding bones in the style of hair is inventive. The shape of the face also looks sharper and very forward facing all angled towards his nose.
The armour also looks better than the original there's the contrast between the silver/grey sections and the subdued red tone sections. In the other version we still get that subtle contrast except with a bluer hue. The shading on the armour is also really well done with the sharp highlights on the brightest sections and duller tones on the darker bits; this all serves to shape the armour turning the naked KotG into a fully armoured demon.
On the "horse" body we also have a transition from the armour into what appears to be dark skin raising the prospect that his armour is a growth from him, what gives this more credence is the ribs which look like more bone similar to the face.
In terms of the hooves we have the choice of the reddish flame effect against a dark grey almost solidified rock look. This bright contrast works well against the rest and ties into the weapon arm which has the bright red look of a razer sharp blade.
We then come to the piece de la resistance, the cloak that drapes round and off the body. The chain and end piece look phenomenal. Seeing it on the model itself it looks amazing. The red eyes, the shading etc this part alone is what really sells the quality of the texture.
The hair on the unwrap looked concerning to me but after seeing it applied you've done an excellent job to make it look like a thick white mane.
The quality on display here is incredible! Well done!

Areas for Improvement:
None that I can see, other than perhaps subjective ideas.

Conclusion:
Following on from all the points raised, this texture was submitted for consideration for Director's Cut... and was agreed it was worthy! This skin would make an excellent main villain, the quality is on clear display with many unique and cool elements. Approved as DC. Well done ~Nightmare!

Shido said:

This one have 4 variations but I be focusing on the one in the thumbnail. Since Betsy has been AWOL lemme just take his review spot.

Before I start reviewing the Dark Sinister 2, I wanna point out a crucial point about Keeper Of The Grove model. I think you can replace KeeperVines.blp as seeing any KoTG skins while having grass effect still playing is a bit awkward to use. So I have to note that whenever I dip my hand to this 4 legged tree hugging goat boy here.

To start off, this skin is definitely an improvement over the Original Dark Sinister. I have certain comments about what is good and what is not but what I will say that you can't compare older works while upscaling over the original. That's a ground of unfair comparison and i'm sure 7 years old younger ~Nightmare doesn't appreciate that.

The DS2 face is a bit questionable because while I do believe this is better, the older skin is much more scarier, uglier intentionally make it even more convincing for a dark being. This one is just too much KoTG face pattern, I will say that the facework is impressive and I love that little "goat"ee. His hair is groovier than original, the original I thought it got a bottle of Head n Shoulder (tm).

About the armor, It's impressive but i feel recycled from K'Nawa. It's good but it's not something i have wide eyes open. The belt is probably the best part here and I love the bronze outerline. I also like TC capes, excellent shading for that one.

About those ... Magneta? Ruby pink? Let's just call it Crimson Pink. I think those color pop, especially the one on the hooves for the darker tone in this skin.

---

For a star rating: I give it a 4/5 - It's great but not trying to be the Dark Sinister. The skin changed way too much that is off the title.

For quality rating: I think Recommended if you like Demonic keeper of the grove and if your map like hot pink fire. I'm not sure of HQ because this skin didn't convince me as improvement but rather than a rework. Imma stick that rating just like og texture.

Click to expand...

While I appreciate your feedback, and I agree that this is not on par with the old one in terms of "scaryness". I do have some points to give out.

First of all, this is a remake (or rework perhaps) as noted in the description. As I don't have a grasp yet in texturing units back then (take note that this is my first contest entry for skins), I am unable to incorporate the ideas that I had back then. Moved away from the long teeth and wide jaw idea as the imperfections will be much seen in the portrait model. Which we should always take into consideration when texturing.

Secondly, I don't see how the armor is recycled from K'Nawa. This has always been my style for armors. I would agree though if you pointed out that I always have gold trim for armors on which I am completely aware. But for this one, I can't see how it is the same.

Lastly, can you elaborate what you mean about the face being patterned with the original KoTG skin? Just to let you know, I paint directly to the model. That means that my canvas is grey or blank without anything as a reference. And if you carefully compare it side by side it is different.

Most of the changes here, or rework perhaps, is based on the judging of the old version from the contest.

I am however, open for this resource to be re-rated for the sake of everyone. A downgrade of rating is not a big deal for me. I just want to share my creation.

As a reply to your rant in Discord. To prevent any of my resource (new ones) from being rated, I will no longer upload them through Hive. Instead, people can just pm me to get a copy.

Perhaps, @Archian can explain how DC is given out. And I am pretty sure that it is not @Footman16 's decision to solely give out such rating.

~Nightmare said:

As a reply to your rant in Discord. To prevent any of my resource (new ones) from being rated, I will no longer upload them through Hive. Instead, people can just pm me to get a copy.

Click to expand...

Then that just it make even worse for me because now people blame me for no more ~Nightmare work and start paint me like a bloody villain. I revived this section, somehow got you back and you got energy to keep making texture. Would that defeat my reasoning?

In that same rant btw, i have no mention that ~Nightmare did not directly cause either breakdown making it I got personal problem. Most of the case, I have major disagreement with Footman decision to give out Director Cut while the resource is still way new to be rated as it is. Sometimes your work is too fantastic that cause me to work much harder. I don't provide you full story so maybe a little dm of how I feel about your return will get you full story of that rant. (that last one is going to be longer as i filled your place when you are absent)


Okay, about the recycled armor from K'Nawa, yeah it's likely you just get used to how you draw your armor that lead me to that conclusion. The face was due to how I look the original because it's bloody fantastic looking face that look overhere feel downgraded. Maybe that's just my taste and i still compliment it but i kinda prefer og face because that's probably the selling point.

In order to bring some balance, from entirely objective standpoint, I don’t think this texture is a DC level resource, at least not from the standpoint of DC description: ‘’it exceeds all expectations and excels in every regard’’.
Some elements are DC quality level, such as the TC parts with chains and hair and perhaps overall idea. It also has areas for improvement, such as shading, focal points, rendering of certain details and sharpness.

Or, alternatively, from a perspective of an ex 2D art moderator, if we will take this texture as DC quality example, then many High Quality badge textures should also be promoted to DC.

@~Nightmare The majority of a panel of people have to agree before a DC can be awarded e.g if 5 staff members vote, at least 3 have to agree to a DC. No staff member can give out a DC on their own without the consent of the staff.

Any mod or admin can nominate a resource for DC, however.

BTW sick texture dude!

Archian said:

@~Nightmare A panel of people have to agree before a DC can be awarded e.g. If 5 staff members vote, at least 3 have to agree to a DC.

Any mod or admin can nominate a resource for DC.

BTW sick texture dude!

Click to expand...

A panel of people? Are they writing more than 2 paragraphs? It's not like they just casually like "yeah, this stuff can be DC". That's make you blindly pick this out of nowhere when older resource was not giving a consideration.

Btw sir, why don't you clear my air over Discord or talk to me privately why I got here in the first place?

Shido said:

I revived this section, somehow got you back and you got energy to keep making texture. Would that defeat my reasoning?

Click to expand...

I feel really insulted. Almost every year, I post in my profile that I will make a texture but never got the time due to my work. And since I changed careers and I no longer work graveyard shift, I had more time to spare. Don't incite that I came back because of someone, I came back because I had the time. This is really insulting, I swear.

I thought me making textures again will inspire someone, but I guess I was wrong.

Also a question, what would you feel if someone says to you that some of your HQ rated works doesn't deserve such rating? Don't you think of what I feel after reading your comments? Think again.

If you know me, I don't really entertain dramas. But this is just unacceptable and is not worth my time. I've had enough. I will no longer engage in any further discussions connected with this issue.

I view ~Nightmare as a freaking role model when i was fresh new in texturing. I don't know your story and you don't know mine, but what you just said put us in opposite spectrum because one of them doesn't even know work environment like ever. Making me a foil to you, someone who cannot have normal human decency to ever be in that environment that you used to have.

This drama is all about bad timing. I don't want to drag you in here in the first place because I view you as a person i wanna look up to improve myself. So seeing you saying that you feel insulted, I literally drench in gult because I look up from your own creation that responsible for my own works. Didn't help that seeing you return was something i .... almost got in trouble with the neighbor (I recall screaming the heck of my lung that: "OMFG, teh ~Nightmare is back.")

Also a question, what would you feel if someone says to you that some of your HQ rated works doesn't deserve such rating? Don't you think of what I feel after reading your comments? Think again.

Click to expand...

I feel disappointed, forcing myself to work much harder to be much better. I even ask Footman just to simply please downgrade it which he didn't want to. So I get you are in the same mindset as I just explain right there.

That's why I got harsher view on skin when come to Director Cut it because only I would be that invested. That also make obsessive in the first place, I have no problem with this being DC if your KoTG was around long enough. It's all that sudden, it's all timing. I have no problem viewing stuff DC if they are at least marinated long enough to register that event.

I don't even view my own work worthy for DC as I know how hard to get them. So when something just fresh out the oven get it right away, I feel broken because i feel like i wasted my life over it. Let's say in that same night that what if anyone contacted me tell like: "Hey Tom, Chill. This one DC because it's astonishly too amazing that we give it right away without waiting for discussion whether you have reached there." I doubt someone NOT even Archian would ever said that this one is too amazing that we skip the gathering. You get my point of view from here.

Now that I have calm myself over this discussion and Archian have to make a statement about this. I'm deeply sorry for what i have done to you and to Footman because I let my own selfishness, unstable emotions over my head and my action cannot be forgiven but rather wish to be understood. All I left is waiting for the grey man give a comment about this and personally no longer consider getting Director Cut with possible ordering that all of my resource if HQ will be downgraded back to Recommended.

~Nightmare said:

Also a question, what would you feel if someone says to you that some of your HQ rated works doesn't deserve such rating? Don't you think of what I feel after reading your comments? Think again.

Click to expand...

I don’t know the answer to that question, but such rhetoric speaks volumes about lack of resilience to criticism. When criticism is not constructive and when it is presented in a manner in which has been, without a manner so to say, why would you absorb it or attach value to it to a point where it affects your motivation or whatever?
Your texture is awarded with DC and yet you feel as if you are being unfairly treated? So much that you don’t feel like posting textures in here? All because of one person’s… nasty comments?

Archian said:

The majority of a panel of people have to agree before a DC can be awarded e.g if 5 staff members vote, at least 3 have to agree to a DC. No staff member can give out a DC on their own without the consent of the staff.

Click to expand...

Good. Let’s hope they are qualified in field themselves to make such assessments on what qualifies for DC.

Did I say that I feel unfairly treated? Have you read what he/she's been saying in Discord? Again, stop with this issue. It's annoying, it has been already resolved.

I don’t visit Discord.

I only read what was written in profile posts. I think we all (including author) can agree that content of those messages was out of order. Regardless, whatever was written on Discord, it should not be allowed to affect motivation, mood etc. because two wrongs wouldn’t make right. That’s my opinion.

When faced with issues concerning the moderation system or any other aspects of the community, it is essential for all members, to utilize the appropriate channels to address their concerns i.e. Staff Contact. Going through these established channels allows for a fair evaluation and resolution of the matter at hand.
Never take it out on another member We all handle situations differently, but one thing that is unacceptable, is for personal grievances of someone to cause harm or distress to others.

It's crucial to foster a respectful and supportive environment within our community. Everyone should be encouraged to express their concerns through the proper channels, ensuring that their voices are heard and that actions can be taken to rectify any issues - if there is any.

So let's focus on promoting constructive dialogue, encouraging others to continue sharing their creations, and reinforcing the importance of appropriate channels for addressing concerns. This will help maintain a healthy and thriving creative ecosystem for everyone involved. Keep the artwork itself and moderation system two separate topics.

It's important to focus on maintaining a positive atmosphere and ensuring that everyone can freely share their creations without fear or hindrance. Or having to listen to other members complain about issues unrelated to the actual creation itself.

Thread locked until further notice.