Zulus Skins

I am experimenting with skin changes for enemies in order to provide some variety. Currently the Fel Stalker is used for many different units and the zombies all look the same. There are also 4 different parasites and each of them have the same model. I am testing out skins which were recently made by Mr. Goblin. Not much, if any, maps have theses skins in them. Furthermore, the last official version from Azazel was released when the map size limit was 4mb. They were running out of space for the map and could not import much more. Now we have a limit of 128mb.

I propose we change the weaker, most common zombie with this: 

Zombie Comparison

ETA could also use a special skin considering many normal enemies use his model. I chose this:

ETA Comparison

Lastly, just because I thought it looked awesome, I changed the Chordata skin to this:

Chordata Comparison.

All of the original skins are still currently in the game and I am only adding for variety.

I agree with zombie retexture as it feels more realistic and adds variety to Zulus, and I feel the same about the change to the Chordata. Though the Etaphreven reskin is a quality skin and offers variety for the common boss, I feel it best suits the Blood Hound. If we can find another skin for Etaphreven or possibly another 'dog' model then it could work out fine.

I agree with zombie retexture as it feels more realistic and adds variety to Zulus, and I feel the same about the change to the Chordata. Though the Etaphreven reskin is a quality skin and offers variety for the common boss, I feel it best suits the Blood Hound. If we can find another skin for Etaphreven or possibly another 'dog' model then it could work out fine.

I got all of the skins from this pack. There are a couple dog/wolf textures in there that could be used.

https://www.hiveworkshop.com/media/unit_...1517031281
https://www.hiveworkshop.com/media/unit_...1517027431

We'll have to get more opinions on it but they both seem really interesting. There are normal dogs that have a chance to spawn and attack Echo Company, it might be a good retexture for them. Though to seem like normal dogs and not undead is part of the deadliness of the unit, I suppose. The wolf retexture might even be good for the Bloodhound, we'll have to talk about it.

I like the original mob skins from 1.5d beta 8 and would prefer if they returned to that. While it seems like a good idea to change the look of the game, in practice this just makes the game feel peculiar without really adding anything new to the gameplay. I think the skins that are most lacking in variety are the marine skins. The marine skins should have different gun representations (smg, rifle, sniper, shotgun, flamethrower, machine gun) and I think that would be enough (not sure if this is offtopic because the title says zulu skins)

That said we should hold a vote about 1) whether we want skin changes 2) which skins we would like to be changed

Current skin problems:
-blood hound used to be smaller than the devourer, and now they are the same size
-normal parasites are darker than they used to be (they now look like the parasites that give you the exploding parasite debuff)

The higher res skins look nice in their own way, but they're almost certainly going to look out of place compared to the other units. Warcraft III has a very specific aesthetic and the proposed changes don't really fit that.

The higher res skins look nice in their own way, but they're almost certainly going to look out of place compared to the other units. Warcraft III has a very specific aesthetic and the proposed changes don't really fit that.

Previously Azazel just tinted Zombies to where they were dark. These new skins in-game are naturally dark so they look like they fit. Not to mention we have tanks, helicopters, bombs, and all other sorts of things that don't fit the wc3 style. These arguably fit much more compared to those things.

I like the original mob skins from 1.5d beta 8 and would prefer if they returned to that. While it seems like a good idea to change the look of the game, in practice this just makes the game feel peculiar without really adding anything new to the gameplay. I think the skins that are most lacking in variety are the marine skins. The marine skins should have different gun representations (smg, rifle, sniper, shotgun, flamethrower, machine gun) and I think that would be enough (not sure if this is offtopic because the title says zulu skins)

That said we should hold a vote about 1) whether we want skin changes 2) which skins we would like to be changed

Current skin problems:
-blood hound used to be smaller than the devourer, and now they are the same size
-normal parasites are darker than they used to be (they now look like the parasites that give you the exploding parasite debuff)

In terms of functionality it lets you visualy know which zombie is which easier. Other than that, it just improves the aesthetic. I mean, using that argument we don't need any skins for anything. Although I am not 100% convinced on the skin changes, I am leaning towards them.

Also there is a poll at the top of the thread.

Skins for sure will revitalize the map. As you said yourself Trigger, back then authors didn't have resources we have now. I was also more skeptical before but I m learning it as well and I think for sure some changes in this aspect could outline Zulu forces and also give more depth into the map.

Previously Azazel just tinted Zombies to where they were dark. These new skins in-game are naturally dark so they look like they fit. Not to mention we have tanks, helicopters, bombs, and all other sorts of things that don't fit the wc3 style. These arguably fit much more compared to those things.

That's fair.

For sure we do not want to pack everything new into the map and make an abomination out of it. New things/skins can/should be added but with reason and of 'course not too much of them.

PS. Nice to see you here Kith!