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How to build a better rat?
bravehoptoad
Posts: 248 Arc User
Trying to make a good rat in this game is tough. Do you have any ideas?
Here's what I've got so far, my erstwhile hero Rat X:
Head: the "rat" head in the designer looks nothing like a rat. The best I've been able to do is take the wolf head and make it as tiny and narrow as possible. (Get them close enough together, and those stop being canines--they become incisors!) It would really help if I could adjust ear size on the wolf head, but no go. Any other ideas?
Tail: rat tails are NOT segmented, so you'd think the "rat" tail would be a terrible choice. However, none of the other tails have the right taper. The lizard tail is too thick at the base; the cat tail doesn't taper at all.
Fur: I'm using simian -- for one thing, it's the only fur I can find that doesn't require shorts. I'm fading to a hairless pink on the hands and feet. I go back and forth whether a brown rat or a black rat looks better with this fur (sorry, no screenshots of the black rat).
Waist: The one drawback of simian fur is the pale patch around the waist, so you have to put some kind of belt there (still better than shorts). I'm going with the basic rope.
Hands: Settings long and skinny.
Feet: Rat feet don't have a backward-pointing claw, but I can't find another foot that looks remotely close to a rat's foot--most of them just can't get skinny enough. These feet are at the smallest setting.
Not as rat-like as I'm hoping for, but I DID get one heroine to say, as I was running by, "Oh no, a giant ugly rat!" To which I could only reply "SQUEAK."
Halp?
Here's what I've got so far, my erstwhile hero Rat X:
Head: the "rat" head in the designer looks nothing like a rat. The best I've been able to do is take the wolf head and make it as tiny and narrow as possible. (Get them close enough together, and those stop being canines--they become incisors!) It would really help if I could adjust ear size on the wolf head, but no go. Any other ideas?
Tail: rat tails are NOT segmented, so you'd think the "rat" tail would be a terrible choice. However, none of the other tails have the right taper. The lizard tail is too thick at the base; the cat tail doesn't taper at all.
Fur: I'm using simian -- for one thing, it's the only fur I can find that doesn't require shorts. I'm fading to a hairless pink on the hands and feet. I go back and forth whether a brown rat or a black rat looks better with this fur (sorry, no screenshots of the black rat).
Waist: The one drawback of simian fur is the pale patch around the waist, so you have to put some kind of belt there (still better than shorts). I'm going with the basic rope.
Hands: Settings long and skinny.
Feet: Rat feet don't have a backward-pointing claw, but I can't find another foot that looks remotely close to a rat's foot--most of them just can't get skinny enough. These feet are at the smallest setting.
Not as rat-like as I'm hoping for, but I DID get one heroine to say, as I was running by, "Oh no, a giant ugly rat!" To which I could only reply "SQUEAK."
Halp?
Post edited by bravehoptoad on
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Comments
I'm sorry, I honestly can't suggest anything to better your rat; I think he's great the way he is now.
Its always great when people "get" what you are doing.
This is really good, and while I still prefer the standard rat head I have two rodent characters I may be revisiting based on some of the inspiration provided here.
As far as actual design suggestions, looking at my sister's rat and over costume parts my thoughts would be:
* Head: I'm not sure your exact settings, but a broader head (though still small and short) *might* be more rat-like. Actually even the existing rat head ends up looking a little more ratlike then normal with maximum width if the other settings are minimum, though I like what you are doing with Wolf.
As a weird suggestion you might want to experiment with the Santa Beard from the Santa Costume Pack (which amusingly works with Bestial heads). With tinkering it could provide a bit of bulk to the section under the chin. Or it may look horrible, not sure.
* Ears: Nothing I could find. If only Bat Ears were set a little higher / further back on the head they could be used to mask the existing ones and are resizeable, but unfortunately their positioning produces doubled ears.
* Feet: I'd actually suggest the "Werewolf" feet that are unlocked by "Dogz Werewolf Feet". They don't have the bulk of Wolf or the oddness of Monster Claw and aren't shaggy human feet like "Werewolf * Monstrous". Interestlingly if it I wasn't for the Simian's built in crest of hair (which Bare Foot doesn't remove) I'd almost suggest it, as a lot of rats don't actually have significant claws and their rear feet have much the same structure as the front.
* Eyes: Outside cartoons, rat eyes are often appear solid black (unless unhealthy). Unfortunately that doesn't come off looking well on the wolf head you are using (when set to No Pupul), but I figured I'd mention it.
Jack fool or classic Foxbat helm for face
Well. It probably helps when you have a giant RAT X floating over your head.
I'll play with the rat head. Initially I took one look and said "ew, that's no rat, that's a rabbit with tiny ears," but I didn't try the sliders.
I set the wolfhead to its narrowest setting. I think it looks more rat-like that way not because it's particularly rat-like, but because that's the way it least resembles a wolf. In profile, when the narrowness of the skull isn't evident, is when I most look like a 2' tall wolfman with an ugly tail. Any other angle and I at least look rodential, if not rat-like.
I'll have to try both of those. Particularly thanks for the Dogz feet suggestion. I'll have to run to Vibora Bay and start farming Dogz.
Thanks. I was feeling all dark and gloomy because I'd failed. You guys bucked me up. He's become my favorite guy to run around with...maybe something about being 2' tall.
I do admit I never considered using the wolf head for a rat, so good find.