In the same mindset as the design commentary, how does everyone feel about these new character designs?

I think that they're pretty well done, but they might be a little too cartoony.

The new characters look less serious to me.

Anime Rorschach!!!

But I liked serious. Serious is very steampunk.

Honestly? Not a fan. None of them "feel" like pmog. And there is no armor on the bedouins. That's just not right. lol.

But seriously.. Bunni3 doesn't like the new cartoony look. :(

Personally I love it. (But then I like comics)

I'm not feeling them right now, I would have liked to see something more like this part of the artist's portfolio: http://colinadams.com/traditiona...

For me, my favorite part of PMOG has really been the community. As long as you guys are around, the cosmetic changes of the toolbar or website are small potatoes. *cue touching music

I know that updating the overall look is a huge undertaking. I've been wanting to do the same thing to my own little web space for over a year. So, I've been trying to reserve my judgment until I see the whole package.

I didn't even know they had been changed till right now. Personally, I prefer the older ones. They looked more professionally done.

I've been a very harsh critic of the new art in the IRC channel, so I've taken a few minutes to step back and try to think of this objectively. After reading what I had written below, I realized I failed.

I know that PMOG is attempting to broaden it's audience with the use of these figures. My assumption is that this means eventually we will lose all but a shred of the Steampunk look and feel. This makes me sad.

The artwork was a MAJOR factor in attracting me to PMOG. There is a matured feel to the game, and a lot of adult players. While I understand the need to attract younger players, you're going to alienate adults by cartooning things.

I wish the artwork could look a little more serious, even if cartoonish (does this make sense?).

what was the thought behind switching up the artwork?

If you guys take a look at http://extensions.flock.com you can see our new logo there.

I know at least part of the motivation behind the new artwork is an eventual complete overhaul of the PMOG web experience (as was done and will continue to be done to the toolbar).

Merci, et al. likely have a more in depth explanation.

While the artwork was not a major factor in attracting me, I do agree with stephen. The old artwork was more matured and stylish. But, as sikkdays indicates, community overcomes any Mickey Mouse Magezination of pmog.

I do like the new logo though.

We are going for a broader audience, not necessarily younger. We'd make uh... Dragonball PMOG if we were going to do that.

But I disagree that adults don't like cartoons. The feedback on the old art (that I personally LOVE) from product designers and many, many casual game designers was that it's too 'in-your-face-sit-up-straight RPG/paper games.' As someone who has played DnD since she was 15, ahem... that RPG look was totally the point. But I've found that there is a cognitive dissonance between the depth of play that PMOG offers and its cover. Also I still love Steampunk and don't think that displaying it in a cartoon damages the theme. Behold, from the Brass Goggles nonetheless: http://steam.punqs.org/brassgogg...

Part of what I love about Steampunk is that it DOES inspire a more adult audience. Everything is a bit more civilized because of it. And Steampunk is at an intersection of technology and romance that I find compelling.

Thank you all for the feedback. I'm trying to make PMOG a bit more approachable, is all. :)

why do i keep seeing pics of guns in the new pics/logo?

Oh. Hmm. If this was the only set of characters I'd seen, I'd be okay with them, although I feel like we're about to embark on some wacky after school adventure special. I definitely miss the pretty old school artwork, especially the shoat, which was the classiest noob icon I've ever had. The only thing I overwhelmingly applaud is the different ethnicities represented. Oh, and that this would make a pmog Halloween costume much easier.

(Does anyone else think that the dude vigilante is checking out the gal vigilante, or is it just me?)

I'm kinda baffled by the concept that D&D is not considered a casual game any more. PMOG requires the same amount of weekly time as a D&D session, with the difference that you can spread it out in a week rather than concentrating it all in 3 hours on a Sunday afternoon. Even the Gold Miner players can go at it for more than one hour at a time.
So what kind of casual are we talking about here? 10 minutes a week? Install it once and never play it again?

And I admit I was initially drawn it by the graphics; the gameplay did not really look that interesting but ooh, pretty, and steampunk, and my friend who invited me likes it, so let's give it a try. It worked, and it's still a big deal to me, to the point that I can say that yes, I might stop playing if the graphics keep changing this way.
I'm not there yet, but every day that passes by I feel less and less like playing.

Thinking about what Squish said...it's true, it probably wouldn't bother me as much if I had never seen the old graphics before. But still, I really don't care for the cartoon-y look. The old art was more mature and refined, and this whole new direction is like "let's have goofy fun on teh intrawebz!!1" I dunno, I'm sure it's staying so I'll have to get used to it.

One thing that is nice is how we now have characters of varying race and gender. But yeah, the Bedouin just doesn't represent a Bedouin at all, and I feel that none of the new class picture feature their tool which is lame. The worst new ones are Bedouin, Vigilante (what's with the scarves?) and Shoat. I loved the old shoat icon :|

ps--dragonball pmog sounds like a good idea. let's see some concept art.

ps--dragonball pmog sounds like a good idea. let's see some concept art.

chetyre don't tempt me. I'm basically unemployed and addicted to the internet, at this point. ;) (The class I was teaching was only for half a semester and freelance around here is getting sketchy.)

I feel the new artwork continues the trend of lowering the quality of the game and dumbing it down. PMOG had a consistent style and artwork that set it apart from what was out there. The new artwork looks very, for lack of a better word, average.

It has a generic corporate feel to it. And looks to me like what I would expect if I asked any of generic cartoon company to make me some steam punk characters.

Perhaps, "more broad appeal". requires less soul and personality. Personally I find it just sad.

We don't feature the tool of each association in their artwork, because, well, each association is going to get at least a few more tools over the next few months. The Puzzle Crate, for instance, is the first of new tools for the Benefactor.

So it would just be a bit silly to be dressed in armor when that's merely the Level 1 tool of the Bedouin, don't you think?

The deep aspects of the game are getting more complex not less.

Ooh, i like hearing that new tools are coming.

The puzzle crate is the first new tool for the Bedouin? I can hardly wait to see what you're going to come up with for the benefactor then!

:P