The New Look for Circle of Thorns

Ok now those are great, specially the bosses!

My only issue with it is how it looks like oranbega has a gym now.
Some of them look really buff.

Maybe tone down the muscles a little?
It's barely noticeable on the bosses, but the casters have SUCH well toned muscles! And I fully expect the minion to go singing Machoman anytime now.

First, many thanks to the devs and the art department for their openness to player feedback and flexibility with this design.

While my first impression still stands, I would like to articulate a few points.

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Originally Posted by El Topo We are very excited to introduce this modern take on an enemy group near and dear to your hearts.

The idea that CoT needs a "modern take" may be the premilinary misstep that sent the redesign in to the wrong direction. As many players pointed out in the earlier thread, the CoT are first presented as having their routes in the late-Victorian magik scene (Theosophy, Aleister Crowley, etc.) and then revealed to have their origins in a mystical lost civilization - none of which counts even remotely as "modern".

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For example, the thorny look you see on the new pieces is based on the spiky elements in the first incarnation of Circle of Thorns.

The spikey elements in this redesign still resemble the style of plated armor that has been adopted as standard issue in many other games (going back to the Warhammer tabletop games of the 80s). The original CoT spines looked otherworldly and unnatural as they protruded from the cultists' robes. There was no way to tell if they were part of their costume or if they were somehow part of their skeletons.

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Here is a list of the changes we are incorporating into this enemy group in an upcoming beta build: Long garments have been given to all members of this group including the minions. Faces have been obscured across the entire group. Some costume colors have been tweaked and toned down to be closer to the original costumes, but with others we have taken creative liberties. Eye auras have been tweaked to be green on several costumes.

These are all welcome changes and steps in the right direction. These basic adjustments have improved the quality of the redesign several times over.
Thanks again to the art team for these redesigns - we're grateful that our criticisms have been taken constructively.

Muuuuuuuuch better.

I like the pope-hats, they lend to the iconic aspect.
I can see how some folks might see "another game's influence" in the layered spikyness, but I think it works just fine. They are, after all, called the Circle of Thorns.
I also like the loincloth/buttcape as a substitute for the robes. Long garments also lend to the iconic CoT profile.
I'm fine with the "artistic license" for the colors. Makes it easy to pick out which one you want to smack down first.

Thank you for listening to your players.

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I'm more or less on the side of true gentleman here.

Personally I would simply like to know why the new redesign at all? Is it to impress the new kids that will be joining us come freedom?

The new designs, while not total eye sores, almost have a sense to me of old folks trying hard to be hip and impress the kids.
There is something dignified and very silver age about the old COT and something very 90's and image comics about these; "omg spikes, spikes and shoulder pads everywhere." All they lack is a plethora of chains.

Just curious really, as I don't honestly see the need for a change.


The pope hats do make me smile though. I'm certain, It'll feel like I'm punching the daylights out of some strange bizarre offshoot of the catholic church...

They'll just be a little more ~fabulous!~

Make the death Mage shoulder pieces for players tooo!!!!!! They are awesome!!!!

I can only hope that crazy back... spine... thing on the Death Mage is available as a purchasable. In color and structure he and the Energy Mage scream awesome. Or maybe they moan it. Or chant in phrases best never heard by human ears. This is overwhelmingly better then what was shown before: Ancient and alien, and almost buglike.

I'm impressed. This is leaps and bounds better than "Spandex and spikey shoulder pads", and greatly appreciate that the devs took to heart some of our biggest concerns, such as the green eye glow and making them faceless.

Perhaps all the pointy bits are their way of saying "Oh god, oh god, not in the face, not in the face." Sort of a porcupine defense? Made of fragile, fragile garments. besides if you're society was composed of fragile, undead bookworks, perhaps this is their way of looking all that more imposing when they attend hogwarts or something.

Also? Some of the screen caps makes it feel like they should be wielding instruments and they've just stepped on stage. Ladies.. and demons... CIRCLE. OF. THORNS!!!!!!! *Guitar blast* OHHHHHHHHH YEAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!

Thanks for the link, I had missed that.

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I endorse these changes. Particularly like the elemental casters. Thank you for listening!