OOO! Profanity! Hope you aren’t scandalized. But I do call this PG-13, so…
Anyhow, this week is your first glimpse of CONASUR military hardware, which I’m sure it won’t surprise you to know is every bit as effective as that possessed by the UNA and FSR, and is actually in some respects superior. They also have camouflage, which I can tell right now is going to get to be a total pain to draw later, but it looked so good I couldn’t help it.
And speaking of things that are a pain to draw, let me tell you that chain-link fence, though it makes for fantastic set pieces, is a ROYAL hassle to draw, especially in perspective – it’s one of the things that I’ve never been able to make into a convincing pattern, and therefore simply find myself drawing raw every time I have to use it. Or want to use it, like here. It livens up an otherwise “lonely” scene.
ANNNNyway, this week was super-spectacular for me, because I got some really positive responses to my request for guest artwork for the post-Chapter 3 lull, and every one of them was from an artist who is so intimidatingly excellent that I can hardly contain my excitement. To all of you, my heartfelt thanks, and know that I’ll be contacting you very soon. And to everyone else, this hiatus is going to promise some work from some of the hottest artists and writers I’ve ever met. It is going to be really cool. And so hopefully it will cushion the blow of 6-Commando’s “summer vacation.”
But we aren’t there yet, so don’t get to panicking right away. In the meantime, there’s this week’s page, and now I better get some sleep. I’m sure there was something else I wanted to tell you, but I can’t remember it now, so…
Have a good week everyone. See you next time!
I knew you’d do that: Take us back to the secret agenda of Haulley and Zaballa.
Is it just me or does this “observer mission” has more to it than one might think on a fist glance? I mean posting a few officers to observe along is one thing, but admitting them to your command base, granting them a own sector and their own (highly armed?) security detail…
Since we haven’t seen much information on the CONASUR yet, a few questions:
Where do they stand politically? In the real world South America was closer to the Soviet Union than to the West. They’re also traditonally more leftist. Where do they stand in the 6-C world?
One step ahead, Ulrich!
In answer to your query, CONASUR is technically neutral, and they have observers on both sides of the conflict. They are an advanced, atomic-armed alliance, and a leading proponent of the Nonaligned Movement. So they’re really, officially at least, on their own side.
Or are they? You’ve noticed that there seems to be more going on than simple observation…
–M
And their political system is?
Republic? Authoritarian? Fascist?
Various, since it’s an alliance, not a unitary state. Most are democratic republics, with very modest authoritarian leanings (strong centralized government). Brazil and Argentina are more liberal, federalized states.
Ideology is mixed, but predominantly capitalist or state capitalist.
–M
So probably more likely to side with UNA than the FSR.
Assuming of course, they want to take sides.
That green guard has so many nice details. I like his finger indexed next to the trigger guard. His weight shift is nice and give him a sense of massive presense. Maybe even a little bored by the way he is holding the weapon.The chain link looks so natural that it adds to the scene without drawing attention. Atta’ boy.
😀
I based his gesture on a photo I found of a Belgian infantryman, who had the exact right combination of confidence and nonchalance. And I’m glad you dig the chainlink because it was very time consuming to draw.
–M
I have to agree about the green guard and the chain link fence. The fence looks particularly natural in the inset.
😀
It took half the week to draw it!
–M
I’m getting some serious Star Wars flashbacks looking at that CONASUR armour. The tri-point visor, the shape of the helmet and the shoulders are all dead ringers for the Mandolorians from Knights of the Old Republic. Is this intentional as an easter egg/homage or just as cool design that happens to coincide?
Actually, I have to be honest, I reworked the design from an old comic of mine (never completed) – it’s the armor of a modern Roman legionnaire. Note the shoulder pieces, etc. The helmet was inspired by the headgear worn by Breen technicians in the animated series Aeon Flux. The resemblance to Star Wars is unintended and coincidental.
–M
They UNA power-suit does have some resemblance to Warhammer 40.000 Imperial power armor. Especially the hughe shoulder-pads. The boots kinda remind me of the power-suits in Starcraft.
They look great!
I think you did a excellent job on the suit design. They do look bulky, but not too bulky. They also don’t distort proportions. Ergonomically and designed with human engineering in mind (you are a archtiect afterall and this really shows). And no insanly big backpacks. I also like the details, such as the guinholster on the UNA soldier or the grenades (?) on the UNA soldiers belt.
Bonus credentialy for the little details here and there, like the worn of paint on the floor or the cracked walls.
Thanks! Truth be told, I often dread introducing new designs like this because it turns into a whole new set if standards to follow. But the CONASUR soldier designed himself, really. An older, bulkier design got slimmer ans more streamlined and all the parts just came together.
–M
It’s almost as if Star Wars also included a Roman aesthetic…
Well then it would have been Spartacus in Space, not World War Two in Space. But I have the idea in my files…
–M
I made the comparison to the Mandalorian armour from Knights of the Old Republic, who were basically Spartans in space, so perhaps thats the connection
Yeah, I see the resemblance. The CONASUR armor is much bulkier though.
–M
Chainlink is a pain to draw, I would have thought GIMP or Ink Scape would have a chain link pattern to make this type of stuff easier.
There are, but if you look at chain link, the way it works us really subtle. Every piece tends to vary and bend in it’s own way, and when you repeat those variations as a pattern the effect is really noticeable. The only way I’ve found to draw it right is to sketch it out fully in perspective and then draw it all in by hand. It’s laborious but the effect is worth it. I did the same in an exterior shot of Command Post Alpha early in the chapter.
–M
With that big faceplate going all the way down to the chest, can the CONASUR guys turn their heads? Or do they need to turn their whole body?
I really like the roman twist to the modern armor though, the shoulder plates make him look bigger and more intimidating, just like they did for the romans 😛
The helmet isn’t directly linked to a headpiece, so technically the wearer can turn his head inside it without moving his whole upper body. However, CONASUR soldiers have a tendency to do it anyway, because they wear neck braces to prevent whiplash from sudden shock, and that restricts their ability to turn their head suddenly.
–M