Because I am seeing a pattern here..

If you are recieving this ping and you had concerns about the wings, please refer to page 9 where it is stated that the wings of the Kelpari will be transparent. You need not worry about gene coverage. If you see more people expressing this concern feel free to quote this at them.

Back onto topics at hand..

I for one am very thankful the webbed feet are going away, considering I cannot count the number of times I heard them mentioned specifically as the reason a person did not collect Kelpari. They were one of a number of reasons I did not collect them, myself.

I would also like to point out that creating your own fantasy creature merely based on a mythological creature, does not mean that the species must stick to the literal literature interpretations of said creature.. since you are only using it as a basis, not recreating that exact creation. If these were meant to be merely Kelpies, they would be called Kelpies. Not Kelpari. I don't think any of us have the right to tell the site creators whether a creature is or isn't the very thing they themselves created from scratch. It's rather presumptive.

I love the male, the female has a couple of issues that I find a bit odd. Her right leg looks off, but I'm not sure exactly what it is (too stiff, not meeting the body quite right?). Plus she is way too skinny going from her body into the tail.

While I understand the reasoning for the wings, I really don't like them. Especially on the female. They cover too much of the body (even if they are transparent it's still another layer of color) and they are attached in an odd place on the female. I think losing the wings would also help in reducing the over abundance of fins look. I'd much prefer the wings were a mutation rather than a set part of the species. I do like the idea of transparent wings, though.

I like that they don't have the back legs. I think it makes them more unique. If they have back legs they really just look like Qits with a fish tail.

I don't usually worry too much about how the babies look since most of the babies are too cutesie for my taste anyway, lol!

Just my 2 cents! I've really been enjoying the redraws and I'm sure this one will be no exception.

Adding on to my exuberant comment on the first page, as I've seen lots of back and forth since then.

I am decidedly in the camp of glad there are no webbed feet in this version. I'm all for a webbed feet mutation for those that adore them, and even a mutation that adds in hind legs, but yeah... the webbed feet and general... I don't know, graceless?... feeling to them made me stay away previously.

As for those mildly complaining that this version looks 'like the qitari', the game lore specifically mentions that they and the qitari have a common ancestor. It's like dogs and wolves looking similar, or even dogs and foxes. I'm personally happy that they have more of the water-horse look than before. Previously I didn't really see where the common ancestry between them and the qitari were, except in the hooved hind legs.

Now... one thing about the babies: I have to agree with a lot of people: they remind me of the sea ponies from the 1980's My Little Pony. Not that I dislike this aspect, as I adore the original MLP, but.... if you're looking for them to not look like a well-known franchise... well, I think you already know they do XD

All in all, I still think this version of the Kelpari is beyond gorgeous (particularly the transparent wings and the incredibly lovely tails), and I've already started buying up a ton of them in anticipation of the change ^__^

edit: I've been looking at the adult female's far leg, trying to figure out what bugged me... and now I know what it is! there's a white space between the near leg and her chest that should show where the far leg is coming up to meet the body. It's like she had a chunk bitten out of that far leg, or something.

Awesome! No offense, but I found the previous design kinda creepy and ugly. The new one looks great, though! Can't wait!

I personally like that there's dimorphism in the revamp. It feels more like a 2 for 1 deal giving more variety as to what we get to play with later in designing.

Regarding the lack of hind legs, the kelparies as they are currently are the least popular species. I agree with trying something new. I personally find the new revamped version to be more beautiful and elegant.

I think it's easiest to pretend that the kelparies always looked like the revamp, but if someone needs a headcannon here's one that I suggest. All the sylesties seem shaped by magic connected the the elemental gods of Sylestia. (I'm basing this on the final magic spells in all the proficiency trees.) Wruen, the god of water, realizes that there's an upcoming conflict in the world and decides to bless the kelparies with a new form to help give them a better edge in battle.

Thanx, Colonel and Malas!

And good eye, Mika!

"there's a white space between the near leg and her chest that should show where the far leg is coming up to meet the body. It's like she had a chunk bitten out of that far leg, or something."

I noticed that too when I was messing about with the design. No doubt it will be corrected, as these are not finished drawings.

Personally, I don't really mind the webby claws going away, perhaps to become a Mutation. Just wanted to show that they could still work.

Zelly, you're perfectly correct.

"I would also like to point out that creating your own fantasy creature merely based on a mythological creature, does not mean that the species must stick to the literal literature interpretations of said creature.. since you are only using it as a basis, not recreating that exact creation. If these were meant to be merely Kelpies, they would be called Kelpies. Not Kelpari. I don't think any of us have the right to tell the site creators whether a creature is or isn't the very thing they themselves created from scratch. It's rather presumptive."

That's why I didn't tell the site creators that my drawing was what a Kelpari ought to look like. I merely submitted the drawing for people, include the site creators, to consider, ponder, comment on, etc., etc. My previous post was an attempt to explain, with humor, that I had really, really been hoping for two aquatic equines (greedy? why yes, duh! ;) and the new design, while getting three thumbs up from me (I'm gifted), dashed my faint, wistful hopes of getting an "Eq'incampari" or similar critter in a future Sylestia zone. As I stated in the previous post, I was ill when I created it, so the humor may have been harder to see than is usual for my posts.

I see. I saw no humor in that post at all, merely the claim these were somehow not 'Kelpari', with no context to indicate it should be read as a joke somehow. Perhaps next time try an 'lol' or winking smiley face if you wish to be taken as being sarcastic when making a joke that isn't likely to come across as one.

I do agree that weird slight chunk missing on the leg throws things off, but it should be a quick and easy fix. I only noticed it after looking at it for a while, in fact.

Definitely a huge improvement over the previous design, personally, i find the current kelpari to be totally unappealing, this redraw was much needed!

However, i, like many othesrs have previously said, think the wings are just too big, yes, even if they are transparent, it still blocks the view of the body genes partially, they should either be made smaller or gone completely and instead be a mutation and not a standard for all Kelpari's to have.

The first thing i thought when i looked at the baby male was that he looked like a tiny cupid, but i don't care at all if they look too humanish, in fact, i just adore the babies, they are just sooo adorable!!!!! <3<3<3

They look stunning! The little ones are so adorable and the adults look great.

As a huge fan of the Kelparis, I definitely felt the need to take on a part of this discussion. I hope I don't offend anyone as I give off a few of my personal opinions.

First of all, I love the current Kelpari design. Its actually why I started loving them in the first place. Their webbed feet and their majestic look just drew me into loving them for the way that they are. As for the Kelparis that are of the revamp, they seem much more..."cartoony". Its as if they lost their older majestic or regal look to them and brought in a fluffier cutesy look. As a personal opinion however, this is the way how I see it. I understand a lot of people like the revamp because they are looking cuter than before.

I also found that their watery mane was a bit too much like real hair in a sense. I don't know if many people care as much as I do, but the hatchlings are really the only ones that I'm bothered with the hair about. I know a couple people added this in as well, that the hatchlings look a bit "human". I think it was just the more cartoon style that had been brought upon them. The hair is just really bugging me because it doesnt remind me of water anymore besides the texture. It's shape and form are all drawn to resemble a cute Bettie Boop kind of hair (that's the only thing coming up in my mind to describe it).

Otherwise, I'm really quite excited for this revamp. I think the adults look amazing, and the webbed feet a suppose were unpopular with other people. (I loved them, personally) and aside from the mane, I think the artist did an amazing job with the revamp. It's going to be sad seeing the old Kelpari style go, but things have to keep getting new or else it wouldn't be as fun haha.

((If I were to give any constructive criticism on the art, I would only point out that the hatchling girl definitely looks a bit wonky with her right eye. Not only this, but her head is much bigger than the male's as well.))

That's it for me, I'm really quite excited to see how this turns out!

Edit: Looks like my collection of 42 Kelparis is turning out to pay off lol