I think you need to make some outlines
Or turn these soldiers into Pirates/Vikings/Knights
Because I only see some kind of monster or centipede here
@Brandell This is useful feedback for the developers who have to accept the achievement art. Normally, I send my image to a dozen or so friends on Steam with the question "Do you recognise this?", and every time there has been a 100% success rate with regards to guessing it correctly. This way, I know, through unbiased eyes, that my achievements can easily be discerned and related to their description/title.
That said, when I sent people this one, most people said Iwo Jima, and some said "raising the flag after WWII" - what I gathered is that at the very least people had the image in their mind enough for me to accept it's recognisable enough.
Personally, this is such an iconic, unmistakable image, that I have a hard time believing anyone might confuse it with anything else. On the other hand, if people are failing to recognise it,
"I only see some kind of monster or centipede here" then that reflects poorly on my ability to portray it artistically.
As it stands, I'll not be adding outlines, this would take away from the style I was going for, which is 1-bit silhouette, simplistic achievement. I would rather it not be accepted in - I'm to lazy to start from scratch with a different style. I'm not too lazy to replace the U.S soldiers with Pirates or Vikings or Knights, but I think that would definitely make it unrecognisable, but maybe I'm wrong about that - it could be debated (I'm willing to hear people out).
Sorry, but this is one of the achievement images I don't seem to like. That is "Keeper's Finders".
Silhouettes or not, instead of soldiers there should be Heavy Knights, but if that's not possible or somehow breaks the point of the image, then change up the silhouettes, make them look more stand-out, maybe by just adding outlines will do.
Thing is, even if you can make it better...Will it actually fit the name "Keeper's Finders"? Heh, actually, that's something I should blame the developers about.
@El Negro I'm sorry you feel that way, and no need to apologise, honest critique is useful and rare enough.
"instead of soldiers there should be Heavy Knights" - I actually thought about adding PVKII characters in, but the conclusion I drew was that if recognising Iwo Jima would be tricky already, it would certainly be an even bigger challenge to recognise if the iconic M1 standard issue U.S combat helmets were missing from the silhouette. You recognise this yourself, seemingly, in the same sentence
"but if that [...] somehow breaks the point of the image". Given the recent criticism (which I am thankful for) I'll evaluate my thoughts on using PVKII characters, I'm certainly willing to change my opinion and the design that way, if I can be convinced. Will think on it!
"make them look more stand-out, maybe by just adding outlines will do" - This would require an overhaul in style (I consciously went with simplistic, 1-bit silhouette, with a touch of ambiguity (the soldiers are not very distinct) to keep it smooth and simple, while being recognisable for anyone as the raising of the flag in Iwo Jima (in my eyes, hopefully that means everyone, I'd be sad to hear people don't know about this iconic moment/photograph). As such, whereas I am not too lazy to change the soldiers to be characters, I am too lazy to start from scratch with a new style (not quite lazy but that feeling of re-treading the same piece, knowing the first attempt was a waste, is akin to fatigue). I'd rather have the developers not accept it, if that's the stone in their shoe, I'd be glad on it.
"Thing is, even if you can make it better...Will it actually fit the name "Keeper's Finders"? Heh, actually, that's something I should blame the developers about." - I'm not sure I fully understand. Are you saying you don't see the connection between "
Capture and hold at least one territory for an entire round" and an iconic image of soldiers of a faction, after much turmoil, putting down their flag, signifying their capture and domination of that region? If that's the case, we'll just have to agree to disagree.
I think the achievement name, "Keeper's FInders", its description, "Capture and hold at least one territory for an entire round on te_tortuga", and its earned title, "The Settler", are all pretty coherent, thematically. You could dispute that the achievement art I submitted doesn't match it (though, again, in the absence of any reasoning, I'd have to agree to disagree for now), but the achievement itself, with its description, is not something that I feel should be criticised as much, personally.
Thanks @Brandell and @El Negro for the feedback. I'm always grateful to hear others' thoughts on anything I output. 'T was very kind of you [two] to spend time doing so.