Riddle's Sketchez

Every great piece starts as a doodle, or a sketch.

[riddlessketchez]

Glimmer the Carbink.

So this is based on something that happened when I started using Carbink on my team. Just beautiful to see it just tank a hit from a 2 Dragon Dance Mega Salamence. Rest and Chesto Berry, Moonblast, Stealth Rock, and Toxic, it's literally a stone wall and I love it!

I think Carbink might be one of my top 10 favorite Pokémon. XD

[riddlessketchez]

Ridley The Unbreakable

"No one's invincible. No one's unstoppable. But my will is like fire. You can't break fire." -Ridley

[riddlessketchez]

Well, it's been a while...

Anyway. Here's some sketches of Ridley. Practice makes perfect. I seem to have been slipping in quality when it comes to drawing his goggles on him, so that's pretty much why this exists.

[riddlessketchez]

Wow, I've been sitting on a lot of sketches I could've plopped here. Doesn't help the fact I totally forgot about this blog. Whatever. I remember now and I'll try to do some relaxing sketches since I'm between chapters right now.

[riddlessketchez]

Okay, cards on the table. I completely forgot I had this sketch blog. Been so busy with comics and...comics that it'd slipped my mind. That needs to change. Anyone ready for a dump? XD

[riddlessketchez]

Okay, so Here’s What Happening with Kalos Chronicles

First off, Kalos Chronicles’ final chapter is still being worked on with 17 of 30 pages all lined and coloured and there’s nothing stopping it. However progress has hit a snag. My desktop, the long time workhorse for producing all my artwork for the past 8 years appears to be on it’s final leg. I’m still gonna keep trying to see if I can fix it, but production has for now moved to a new location with a new setup and an updated version of my software for making art. 

As you can imagine, between the updated software and the different setup, I’m gonna be in a bit of a transitional period for a while. I fear the quality of the latter half of Chapter 6 may drop slightly and there might be some inconsistencies with fonts as two of the fonts I was using aren’t in the updated software.

But this will not stop it’s production. I WILL get it out. It might take a bit longer than I expected as I readjust to a new setup after eight years of the same one. l’D 

[riddlessketchez]

Chapter 6: ???

And finally, a sneak peek at what’s to come. No story spoilers here so I’ll focus more on the art itself.

Well, it’s the final chapter. The backdrop MUST fit the feeling of the final confrontation. Dark, looming clouds that block almost all the sunlight. The pinnacle of an ancient tower. Surrounded by the antagonist’s minions. And the antagonist with no where to go. 

These are the qualities I wanted for this last battle and so far, it’s living up to those expectations.

Will Ridley defeat Bouclier? Or will history repeat itself?

[riddlessketchez]

Chapter 5: Bend not Break

Now we get to the good part! Last chapter I was excited to get to, but THIS chapter, THIS was several months in the making! No words could describe how much I was looking forward to this part.

For this Chapter, we reach the final point for Ridley’s quest for a Mega Stone to give him the edge over Bouclier’s Genesect. But I needed a guardian to test Ridley to see if he was worthy of the Mega Stone. It would’ve been boring to just give it to him, so Ridley had to earn it. But I needed a guardian that would prove the ultimate challenge for a Charizard.

I discussed it with a friend of mine and she had a very good suggestion. There’s only one Pokemon that can be considered the ultimate challenge for any Charizard trainer. Blastoise! And from that, everything else just feel into place.

This chapter had more stock backgrounds than the others thus far. There where many angles to this battle and I wanted to show as many as I possibly could. The many blues of these backgrounds help to make Ignis stand out more while making Blastoise seem more at home in it. This helped to show the contrast between the sides. 

[riddlessketchez]

Chapter 4: Operation Icebreaker

This chapter had been in my head ever since Kalos Chronicles’ story took shape. Needless to say I was VERY excited to reach this point. (not as excited as the next one, buuuut that’s for another post.)

This chapter was to serve mainly as a mid-story generator of suspense. Ridley, still incapable of beating Genesect being forced to deal with him. Not only that, I wanted put Bouclier’s actions into perspective not just for Ridley, but the readers as well. And too add to the suspense, a Legendary Pokemon.

See, Legendary Pokemon aren’t like regular Pokemon. They stand far above the norm to the point their very presence can drastically alter the world around them. Articuno was picked specifically for two reasons. Number one, because the Pokemon of Kalos Route 9 (the location of Chapter 4) where either Ground types, or cold blooded Pokemon. A sudden blizzard would drastically hurt the ecosystem, and helped to show the true dangers of Bouclier’s ambitions.

Secondly, it allowed me to show Reine wasn’t just some random companion Ridley picked up. There’s something special about Reine. That her affinity for the cold and her love of Ice Types was no coincidence. (Who know? Mayhaps it’ll be explored in the future?)

From the artistic standpoint, I wanted to make it look cold of course, but I wanted to make it look unnatural. Those who have played Pokemon X and Pokemon Y and have played to Route 9 know it’s a jagged rocky pass, inaccessible by foot. But the snow has fallen so much, so fast that it actually makes it traversable on foot. Which is very dire for everything in that ecosystem.

[riddlessketchez]

Chapter 3: Break a Leg

Chapter 2 set how things would go both in story and comic construction, but Chapter 3 is when they where all first implemented.

Following Ridley’s defeat at Bouclier’s hands, he had to re-evaluate his approach towards battles. I needed to follow that lose with something to both reinvigorate his confidence, and show how he’s grown from his loss. 

And for that, there was no better opponent than Bouclier’s second in command. Commander Stall was seen in Chapter 2, but Chapter 3 was his proper introduction. Fiercely loyal to Bouclier, Stall serves as an example of the doctor’s influence on people. It also served as an opportunity to explore the background of Kalos Aegis, it’s creation, and it’s leader. A voice from the other side of the argument to make the group seem more human.

I also needed an opponent who can both prove to be an easy victory, but also a great obstacle. Since Kalos Aegis’ Pokemon are primarily Magnemite and Magneton, naturally the Commander would have a Magnezone. Being a Steel Type, Ignis’ Fire moves would blast it away. But it’s also an Electric Type, so the same can be said in reverse. This was a similar scenario to the battle with Bouclier so he had to take a step back and rethink his plan.

On the artistic front: buildings, other man-made structures are not my strongest areas. Ask me to do a forest, no problem. Mountain? Cave? Easy! Old buildings with all those fancy details? Not so much. Despite my short comings I’m proud with how it came out, even now after I’ve improved. (Though in hindsight, it was a little bright for a windowless hallway. l’D)

[riddlessketchez]

Chapter 2: Unbreakable Shield

Okay bare with me, this is gonna be a long one. l’D

After finally pinning down where I wanted to go with Kalos Chronicles, all that was needed was to organize the pieces into a story. Normally when I tried to create a long term story outside of OCTs, they never got past a few pages. This time was gonna be different!

Chapter 2 properly introduced reader to our story’s antagonist, Dr. Faux Bouclier and his Kalos Aegis. They where meant to serve as antagonists readers would disagree with, but not hate. Truth is, members of Kalos Aegis, even Bouclier himself love Kalos, but their methods is were they'd be wrong.

This chapter also set many themes and structures for the rest of the story and creation process going forward.

For one, about half way in to lining and colouring this chapter I noticed Chapter 2 and Aura Break both had “break” in their names. So I decided to include the word “break” in all subsequent chapter. And while unintentionally, seeing as it’s my first successful attempt at a stand alone Ridley story, it’s a sort of mold breaking experience. So it oddly fits.

It also served as the final “one page” at a time chapter. Ultimately it was a change for the better as I got more comfortable making longer pages. 

It also serves as the first time Ridley loses, and actually feels that cold sting of defeat. Not only did it serve to show Ridley is capable of failing, but to show a change occur and create development in his character, however small it maybe. Seeing how cocky he was in Aura Break and how easily Bouclier dispatches him with Genesect had to make him re-evaluate how he addressed foes that “appear” easy to defeat, as well as giving Ridley a goal and long term obstacle to surmount.

It was also the first chapter to include pre-constructed backgrounds as mention in the previous post. It helped to make the creation process go by MUCH smoother. And from it I also learned that I had to make backgrounds that needed to be more versatile to allow use as multiple angles. 

Despite being only the second chapter, this is where Kalos Chronicles truly begins. 

[riddlessketchez]

First of several background for Kalos Chronicles I’ll be uploading to stem the wait as I finish the pages for the finale. Including commentary about the process and creation of each chapter. So without further delay...

Chapter 1: Aura Break

Originally, Kalos Chronicles started as a stand alone story with no real long term plot in mind. That changed with the inclusions of Genesect in the Aura Break prologue splash. It was included to create a reason Ridley would have to “battle” Zygarde (i.e becoming confused from Genesect’s Signal Beam and going berserk). And from that, a reason for a Genesect to be Kalos needed to made. With that, the early ideas for Kalos Chronicles were born. 

This background is really the only one I could get off the original work. After chapter one, it became clear I needed a better way to construct backgrounds in my comics. So from Chapter 2 onward, all comic backgrounds are made before anything else. 

Honestly, it seems to have held up visually well in spite of my improvement over the year and a half. Really it’s the only part of that chapter that has. XD

[riddlessketchez]

Dr. Faux Bouclier 

His name is of French origin, it roughly means “Fake Shield”. An apt name given it’s context. 

He formed Kalos Aegis, a group picking up the mantle of “Kalos’ Guardians”. But at the time, the Region was at peace. There was no need for heroes. It’s then a mysterious benefactor made a deal with him. He gave Bouclier a Genesect, a revitalized and weaponized fossil Pokemon created by Team Plasma. The benefactor give it to him and the idea of using it to secretly cause disasters and then have Kalos Aegis save the day. In exchange, Bouclier was told find an object simple called “Y-717″ and have it delivered to the benefactor. 

Concept wise, I wanted an antagonist who wasn’t “evil”. Someone who’s motives are from a good place. He’s a good man with good ideas, but found a very poor way to execute those ideas. I also wanted him to serve visually as an antithesis to Ridley. With Ridley being muscular and more of a physical presence, I wanted Bouclier to be physically weaker, but have a more intellectual presence to him.

He went through a few design changes, starting as an older man with an Abomasnow mask and having said Pokemon. To the more scientist concept then to what we see now. 

[youaskridley]

With Kalos Chronicles drawing closer to the end, I’ve figured I’d share some on the refs and junk that I’ve been using through the journey. 

Ridley dons a cloak really for no other purpose than to look cool. (opinions on success vary) But his goggles serve as the facet for his Keystone. Custom made after his defeat at the hands of Bouclier and his Genesect early in the story. 

The gauntlets originally where used as a part of a scraped idea of him having a carrier Pidgey/ Pidove/ Fletchling that he’d send messages with. But since that breaks the “6 Pokemon at a time” rule. But I liked how they looked so the gauntlets stayed.

[riddlessketchez]

Yeah. This a thing apparently. Rest in pieces Ridley. l’D

[riddlessketchez]

Pokemon dropped the starters one use. The Barn Owl Rowlet, the Combustible Kitten Litten, and the Performing Sea Lion Popplio. I love all these new starters, but since I can only pick one, it’s gotta be Popplio. There’s a certain charm to Pokemon that like to perform, and so rarely do I pick a water type. 

[riddlessketchez]

Firstly, armor is HARD to draw. l’D

Been playing a lot of Fire Emblem Fates. (Good game, highly recommend it) Personally if I had to be any class, it’d be a Wyvern Rider or one of it’s upgraded classes (Malig Knights wielding magic and I like Magic XD). And since Wyvern Riders in Fates are Nohrians, so would I in that case. I can live with that, Nohr is a pretty cool place, albeit a bit dark.

Also broke out a large set of coloured pencils I got YEARS ago, but never used. Better late than never, right? l’D