All of the species (except for Griffi onward) will be getting a revamp in some way. The older species are currently not built well for mutations or even having their genes properly mapped out. Hence a ton of layering issues that we have with them. The newer species are all basically built in pieces...their tails etc are removable.

Link: https://www.sylestia.com/forums/?thread=22276&page=7#61 Author: Faiona Time Posted: 2/6/2015 at 11:45 PM All of the species (except for Griffi onward) will be getting a revamp in some way. The older species are currently not built well for mutations or even having their genes properly mapped out. Hence a ton of layering issues that we have with them. The newer species are all basically built in pieces...their tails etc are removable.

Oh, good to know! Thank you!

GUESS WHO? That's right.



Alright, starting from left to right, clockwise:

Zolnixis are definitely foxes, according to the majority of the folks on here. Clearly not wolves, as those are more like Luporas. So I made the adult male have a longer snout, skinnier limbs, and smaller ears. Actually, everyone got smaller ears because they weren't that big on the originals, and on the new ones, honestly, they're way too gigantic. It's fine on the pups, but not on the adults. Male got a bigger smile, too. Also watch it with those paws-- they all need to be aligned on the same plane. Unless he's doing an action pose or is on uneven ground, which he doesn't seem to be.

Now, the female, unlike the male, is much more groomed and ladylike. In fact, she feels like the most glamorous pet on the whole site, to me. So she should have less fluff and much more smooth, primped fur. Hence, I made her tail way less poofy-- but I left that top bit because it reminds me of an ink brush and that's cool. |D Also fixed the angle on that back leg because she's clearly moving, so the knee shouldn't be curled forward while the rest of the leg is moving back (that just don't make sense). Also fixed her ears too, because they were too far forward on the head and kind of crowded the face area. Also longer snout, smaller nose compared to male, fixed her smile and eyes so it's kind of more alluring and "come hither".

Female pup, fixed the ears. That back one should be going back in space, like it's folded back, rather than standing straight up like it's a flat, cardboard object. It's like the Sylvorpa babies. Trimmed her body, too, as it made her look more like a tiny adult. Puppies have big heads and paws, and small bodies. And the tails should be shorter too, look at nature. Most dogs and wild canines have shorter tails as puppies than as adults. And they're a lot less fluffy, too. And since she's the female, she shouldn't have MORE cheek fur than the male, she should have less.

Male pup, I like that playful pose, it breaks up the monotony of standing and sitting poses. I tilted his ears because, hey, he's a playful pup! He's supposed to look like you captured a single frame of him while he was running around, so he should be all loose and carefree. Also fixed his limbs and tail. As for the eyes, seriously, those are kind of... creepy. xD; You could try making him winking, or maybe have him blinking, or change the angle or something. Also, that snout. I know what was trying to happen with the mouth line disappearing behind the snout so as to create the illusion that it's going back behind it, but you don't need to do that. Remember, he's a puppy. He can be drawn simply. In fact, less lines = more cute. It's true.

That about wraps up this week's lecture. |D;; *punched* However, I do have one more word of advice. And seriously, think about this one, because I've seen it SO much and it's completely unnecessary. Obviously, these guys are gonna be shaded and have value and color thrown on them. In that case, you see those little lines on there, like the shoulder marks on the adult female, or the fluffy fur lines inside the tail on both adults? And those (admittedly annoying) chest fur lines?

Get rid of them.

"BLASPHEMY!" you say. WRONG, I sez. Listen, the only reason you'd need those lines is if you're either A: going to render the rest of the shading and stuff with lines, or B: you weren't going to color and shade it at all. You really, really don't need them. All they do is denote useless information. Like those fur lines inside the tail. It's like telling me that that super fluffy tail is super fluffy. NO KIDDIN'?! Or those shoulder lines. They look like little sketch marks that weren't cleaned up, and they don't tell me anything. I know that it has a shoulder, I can tell because I see it right there attached to the leg. As for the chest lines, unless they're dead center in the middle of the chest, the illusion won't work. And you don't need them; we get that the animal is fluffy. In fact, if it's so freaking furry and fluffy, how can we even see that line in the first place?

SO THERE. >:V

Oh. My. God.

*in love with no words left*

Don't usually respond to these because up until now, I haven't felt very strongly on the species being revamped. But nixi wad my starter and definitely my 2nd fave sylesties (under puffs ) so very much opinionated on theM.

I honestly feel kinda iffy about them. ..the art is nice but. ..just something about them seeems horribly odd...especially the male hatchling. I have to honestly agree with most of Cloudsoda's points. The outline Cloud did for the female, fit example, Is stuning and gorgeous. I'm not sure what it is between the official version and clouds, but I kinda like clouds better =/ and the rear end in adult males is. ..kinda awkward =( looking at mocha's post helps a bit but it still seems a bit proportionally small. ..


I've always been pretty worried about the nixi revamp, since they were my ultimate fave before puffs were released and I actually have a lot of projects with them and everything. ..and honestly still not totally sure how I feel about the revamp. ..again, I like the art itself, the artists airways do a great job, but I just don't feel like I an totally in love with the revamp add I wad with the original design. ..maybe I'll Like it better one shaded and everything but. ..I'm scared for it =(

pleaseee, PLEEAAAASSSSSEEEEEEEEE!!!! TAKE cloudsoda's advice, PLEASE I BEG YOU!!!!!!!!!!
Zolnixi is the only reason i play syletsia, and i love them the way they are but i also accept they'r a first version and need a revamp but Cloudsoda's drawing fixed EVERYTHING i disliked about the first revamp version, so again
PLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAASEEE I BEG YOU to consider his small changes that makes a BIG different in the positive way

Link: https://www.sylestia.com/forums/?thread=22276&page=7#63 Author: Cloudsoda Time Posted: 2/7/2015 at 12:31 AM GUESS WHO? That's right. Alright, starting from left to right, clockwise: Zolnixis are definitely foxes, according to the majority of the folks on here. Clearly not wolves, as those are more like Luporas. So I made the adult male have a longer snout, skinnier limbs, and smaller ears. Actually, everyone got smaller ears because they weren't that big on the originals, and on the new ones, honestly, they're way too gigantic. It's fine on the pups, but not on the adults. Male got a bigger smile, too. Also watch it with those paws-- they all need to be aligned on the same plane. Unless he's doing an action pose or is on uneven ground, which he doesn't seem to be. Now, the female, unlike the male, is much more groomed and ladylike. In fact, she feels like the most glamorous pet on the whole site, to me. So she should have less fluff and much more smooth, primped fur. Hence, I made her tail way less poofy-- but I left that top bit because it reminds me of an ink brush and that's cool. |D Also fixed the angle on that back leg because she's clearly moving, so the knee shouldn't be curled forward while the rest of the leg is moving back (that just don't make sense). Also fixed her ears too, because they were too far forward on the head and kind of crowded the face area. Also longer snout, smaller nose compared to male, fixed her smile and eyes so it's kind of more alluring and "come hither". Female pup, fixed the ears. That back one should be going back in space, like it's folded back, rather than standing straight up like it's a flat, cardboard object. It's like the Sylvorpa babies. Trimmed her body, too, as it made her look more like a tiny adult. Puppies have big heads and paws, and small bodies. And the tails should be shorter too, look at nature. Most dogs and wild canines have shorter tails as puppies than as adults. And they're a lot less fluffy, too. And since she's the female, she shouldn't have MORE cheek fur than the male, she should have less. Male pup, I like that playful pose, it breaks up the monotony of standing and sitting poses. I tilted his ears because, hey, he's a playful pup! He's supposed to look like you captured a single frame of him while he was running around, so he should be all loose and carefree. Also fixed his limbs and tail. As for the eyes, seriously, those are kind of... creepy. xD; You could try making him winking, or maybe have him blinking, or change the angle or something. Also, that snout. I know what was trying to happen with the mouth line disappearing behind the snout so as to create the illusion that it's going back behind it, but you don't need to do that. Remember, he's a puppy. He can be drawn simply. In fact, less lines = more cute. It's true. That about wraps up this week's lecture. |D;; *punched* However, I do have one more word of advice. And seriously, think about this one, because I've seen it SO much and it's completely unnecessary. Obviously, these guys are gonna be shaded and have value and color thrown on them. In that case, you see those little lines on there, like the shoulder marks on the adult female, or the fluffy fur lines inside the tail on both adults? And those (admittedly annoying) chest fur lines? Get rid of them. "BLASPHEMY!" you say. WRONG, I sez. Listen, the only reason you'd need those lines is if you're either A: going to render the rest of the shading and stuff with lines, or B: you weren't going to color and shade it at all. You really, really don't need them. All they do is denote useless information. Like those fur lines inside the tail. It's like telling me that that super fluffy tail is super fluffy. NO KIDDIN'?! Or those shoulder lines. They look like little sketch marks that weren't cleaned up, and they don't tell me anything. I know that it has a shoulder, I can tell because I see it right there attached to the leg. As for the chest lines, unless they're dead center in the middle of the chest, the illusion won't work. And you don't need them; we get that the animal is fluffy. In fact, if it's so freaking furry and fluffy, how can we even see that line in the first place? SO THERE. >:V

A lot of these points that you bring up are stylistic choices. The Zolnixi have never been something that is suppose to be a straight copy of a fox. Their originals don't look like pure foxes and these don't either. And it is intended to be that way, they are Zolnixi not foxes.

"BLASPHEMY!" you say. WRONG, I sez. Listen, the only reason you'd need those lines is if you're either A: going to render the rest of the shading and stuff with lines, or B: you weren't going to color and shade it at all. You really, really don't need them. All they do is denote useless information. Like those fur lines inside the tail. It's like telling me that that super fluffy tail is super fluffy. NO KIDDIN'?! Or those shoulder lines. They look like little sketch marks that weren't cleaned up, and they don't tell me anything. I know that it has a shoulder, I can tell because I see it right there attached to the leg. As for the chest lines, unless they're dead center in the middle of the chest, the illusion won't work. And you don't need them; we get that the animal is fluffy. In fact, if it's so freaking furry and fluffy, how can we even see that line in the first place?

This by the way, is pretty uncalled for. I don't think there is a correct way to portray a fantasy creature. I specifically requested them to have more fur detail and in the original drawings requested the ears to be overtly large, which carried over to how they are now.

You brought up two good points that others have as well. There are complaints about the adult male's rear end and then having the adult female's ear slightly turned. I will see about that getting changed. However, please do not call our stylistic choices wrong as that is not anywhere near constructive.

I should start off by apologizing for my tone in the way I wrote that last part. The more I wrote that gigantic, sheer-cliff-face-of-an-essay, the more I ended up getting a little more... heated up, I guess I would put it? I didn't mean to sound like a jerk, so I apologize.

But I still believe you don't need those lines. The color and shading is going to do the job for them, so why draw them at all in the first place? If you just do some light airbrushing with a few sharp lines on the tail, it'll show how fluffy it is. A very good example of this is on the Lighira, particularly the female:



See on the belly all the fur shading? That's good. That's fine. That's all you need! And on the tail, those three little lines. Now, in that case, they actually work because the shading denotes the furriness, and those lines denote the girth of the tail. We see that it's heavy and thick, and simultaneously covered in fur. I'm just wondering why you need those lines on the Zolnixi at all, if the shading is going to be (at least somewhat) like the shading on the old lines.

As for the stylistic choices, I don't think it would hurt to try and make them at least a little more stylized. Right now, a lot of folks seem to agree that they look more like wolves, so unless the Lupora are going to look really shaggy and untamed, perhaps a bit of stylizing would help differentiate the two species.

So far I like this. I'd like to see more! :D

Quite nice. The art work actually makes them look a little more realistic. I will probably like it even more when you do get them shaded.