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Good OC design


LordSwinton

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What do you think makes a good OC design? Rainbow colours? Unique manestyle? What do you think is the best part of your OC's design?

 

I mean like physical design, it's appearance

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Be it the physical design of a character, the personality, the backstory, whatever....I think the most important and crucial thing is this:

 

The character should be made in the image or light of something or someone you know. I've built an entire character off of one quirk a good friend has. I try and put a little bit of myself into each of my characters, reasoning that is why I no longer have a ponysona to RP with. Being me just isn't fun or effective. But being able to live through these little parts of myself or others that I thoroughly understand and am in touch with usually makes for the best possible RPing I could do, and for some fantastic stories. It's not always good results, but I'm saying that this method allows the potential for marvelous results.

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A unique mane and tail design are probably one of the defining factors. There isn't really anything else that the pony's have that is different from each other apart from eye's and cutie mark.

 

Comes down to how much life you can draw them with as well but that's less to do with design and more so with drawing talent.

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I think its a mix of personality/story and how they are used.  One factor is also they need to have faults and room to grow and stuff as a cannon and not all perfect to Mary Sue.  I'd look at other ocs to even well known cannons of fictions of comic books and books and shows and etc to see what makes them stand out!

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From a pure physical design perspective, it think that thoughtful color schemes are very important. The best color designs imho have a light/neutral base coat with a darker mane/tail and some sort of accent, whether its an extra streak in the hair or some sort of prop. I would also have to agree with @Bucky McGillyCuddy in that mane/tail design is super important too. 

Finally, I would say that the cherry on top is a good simple cutie mark. Too often I see cutie marks that are so complicated that you cant even tell what it is when it is shrunk down to the correct size. A simplified cutie mark may not have as good of story or fit to the character's total personality, but on a pure aesthetics point of view it takes a design to the next level.

 

If I didn't emphasize it before, always take this with a grain of salt.

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  • 2 weeks later...

a good thing in OC designs is if looks and backstory are entwined by the littel details ^^ for an instance: your Character has serverd his lifetime in the royal guard? then he would probably have 1 or more scars. did your OC come froma ffar away land? change up his coloursheme to reflect this if you like that.

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What do you think makes a good OC design? Rainbow colours? Unique manestyle? What do you think is the best part of your OC's design?

 

I mean like physical design, it's appearance

 
post-29013-0-54578900-1433075990_thumb.png
 
I'm not gonna lie--I think my OC is adorable. The only thing I'm unsure of is colour...because I'm picky. :P
I think what makes Amber's design good is the fact that she's unique looking, (as in, she's not a copy of a canon character, nor a result of Pony Creator games,) while still fitting the show's general guidelines and not being too over-the-top with crazy saturation and rainbows and harsh blacks or whites everywhere.
 
She doesn't have any unique markings, or overly in-your-face colours, but she's still memorable, If I do say so myself. Amber have her own unique hairstyle, somewhat-different eyes, and other little extras that set her apart, like freckles and earrings.
Simply put, good character design, in this fandom, is about matching the style and choices the creators would use. Look at the mane six for examples. See what sets them apart (design-wise) from OCs and background ponies, and try to sort of mimic the way their colours, accessories, and other features are balanced.
 
Are you having trouble with a design, or were you just curious?
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I was just curious. Have you ever sent her in for a review?

Yes! I hardly remember though. I think I only got one? Might have been two. I'll try and find them.

Why do you ask?

Oh, here's one: https://mlpforums.com/topic/114752-silverwisp-rates-your-oc/?p=3566481

 

Aaand the other:

 

 

 

OC: Amber Dust  Owner: AmberDust   Well, you’re off to a pretty good start with this OC’s design. The mane design is pretty, and the cutie mark has a nice simple design (wouldn’t hurt to make it a little bigger though, and I’d do away with the white splatter behind it; It doesn’t add much). I also like the freckles; nice touch. However, the color scheme could use some work. Green and blue aren’t really the most appealing colors together (though it can be done). I personally think the shades you’ve chosen clash a bit, so I’d suggest making the green coat a more bluish-green color. That would go much better with the mane. I also think the mane could stand to be a bit less vibrant from what I’ve seen in other drawings of her. Finally, the eyes. They are way too bright, and are very distracting. Try toning them town a bit, and limit the use of highly saturated colors.   I also think the silver cuffs don’t add anything worthwhile, and look out of place compared to the straight style used in the mane. That makes her come off as more refined, while the cuff suggests the opposite.   But other than the color scheme and cutie mark, Amber Dust is a pretty nice looking OC. Like I said before, the cutie mark and mane design look nice.   Now for the personality. This is one of the best personalities I’ve ever seen on an OC. Right off the bat, you’re impressing me with realist, but strong ideals. I rarely ever see this trait in other OCs, let alone use it as the opening trait, so kudos to you. It’s a very unique trait that makes for interesting characters from what I’ve seen in characters who have had this trait. As for the rest of the personality, I like that you got out of your way to not emphasize shyness or magic skill, and instead; emphasize Amber’s more unique traits. A lot of other people who have made OCs could learn from this.   Essentially, I like everything about this personality. You use so many uncommon traits that really make your OC’s personality shine above the rest (my favorites would be: realist, but has strong ideals, aspiring to be artist, comfortable who she is, and loves everything ancient).   As for the backstory, I like it. It fits well with her personality, though I wouldn’t mind seeing a little more specific descriptions of some of the adventures she went on, rather than just mentioning them briefly.   Overall, Amber Dust has a decent design, excellent personality, and good backstory.   Grade: A-

Edited by AmberDust
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The best designs go beyond the show style, and play around with different types of bodies, different builds based off different types of real life horses.

 

Also, clothing, and hair and tail is pretty important, as well as expressiveness, if we're talking different styles here. Markings are kinda cheap if you don't have good story to back it up. Tattoos are a bit of a rarity, but could probably be executed well by someone that knows what he's doing. Otherwise, it looks like another cutie mark,

 

Show-style MLP OC's get pretty boring pretty fast. It's like an assembly line.

 

But, bottom line, OC's have to, at least, follow basic colour theory, if nothing else.

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Honestly, it's all just curiosity. I always though Amber would be very squishy like a squeeky toy. The Green is a bit out there. I would love to squish her and see what sound she'd make.

Uuuh...

...Wat?  :lie:

Does that mean she's cute? :lol: Or that she looks like flubber lol

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Hmmm, things I generally consider and look for in a OC of high quality:

 

- Backstories of course have to be solid. Refer to this to avoid overpowering and perfecting your character and to generally stray away from stereotypes. If you're unsure of the amount of quality you've put in to your OC after reading guides and perhaps some quizzes on the subject that are available at your disposal, you could leave it as is, or refer to a critiquer for another's perspective and direct input. I guess it all comes down to context for an OC's backstory.

 

- If you want to know how make a fantastic character tropes and personalities, do a little research on the animation pitch process. I highly recommend seeing what professionals did to make their characters as believable and vivid as their seen on screen.

 

- General coat/mane design is great when you don't use solid pastel colors. Try veering down in the softer, grayer line, or in other words colors that are not located on the farthest right and farthest up on HEX color tool, you know? Manes should not be overly complicated, it makes it seem too much might be going on with my eyes. Same goes for non-pony OCs.

 

- Cutie marks for me look the best when they are rather simplistic yet still stick the cartoons' stylization. PNG stock photos just don't work out, you know, especially if they have colors completely contrasting the rest of your design.

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I find an OC to be more of a reflection of eho you are. but what do i know? i mean just look at my oc. My character sheet makes him sound like a 3 edgy 5 me alicorn god or something, when he's more of a supervillan of sorts. :P

 

But, i mostly designed him as i did because i enjoy creepy and dark readings. heck, i read edgar allen poe in the 2nd grade and couldnt stop referencing it. I choose to make him a intelligent engineer, who is a cyborg, because I hope to become a robotic engineer someday. and I just found the color scheme I picked to be quite fitting. not too bright, but pastel-ish.

 

so, in general, I mostly see an OC as a reflection of  your personality and who you are, as well as your Interests.

 

but, that is just my opinion on this subject matter :/. 

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Colors and designs that relates to the oc~ that's what I believe~  :love:  :love:  :wub:  :wub:  :wub:  :wub:

Yes! Colour psychology is always a good thing to consider. Pinkie Pie, being a bubbly, energetic character, uses bright, happy colours, All pinks, blues, and yellows, which are notably colour most used for baby toys, etc.

Fluttershy, being shy and quiet, uses pale, calming colours that aren't too in-your-face. Rainbow Dash, being loud and energetic, is the opposite. Her coat is blue, which hints at tomboyishness, and her multi-coloured mane shows her energy and general presence.

Rarity, being posh and sophisticated, uses royal purples and blues, all on a chic white base. 

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