Jesusemora Maybe add an environment in that rendering style as well to see how it all works together.

I personally am not a big fan of rendered outlines. No matter how well it's done, it always suffers from artifacts. On your particular screenshot the contours in the distance are so thin that they start to look broken/jagged. If you want to go with hard outlines, the best method is rendering them in screen space as a post effect, which is somewhat hard to do in Godot. Displacing meshes along normals always looks kinda sloppy imho.

    Jesusemora what do you think?

    The contours are done quite decently. Some "roughness" only emphasizes the style. It is quite possible that many players will like it. But, personally, I don't like contours and cartoonishness either.

      xyz Yeah, if we had geometry attributes like in blender or softimage xsi I recon a lot more interesting things could be done. At least a lot more interesting things somewhat more easily. I do not however feel properly qualified to go writing up a proposal on the repo.

        That's fair criticism, you really need other people's opinions when testing new things, what I think looks cool might not look good to another person.

        xyz Maybe add an environment in that rendering style as well to see how it all works together.

        yes, the project is in a very early stage, I didn't have much time for making assets, I fixed many bugs, cleared the code a bit (and still needs some work) and added new features like melee combat.
        the units are very simple meshes baked from a higher poly model and using mixamo animations (that's why the hands look wrong), then I painted the lines over.
        Going for an anime style was partly to speed up my workflow, and because the PBR materials didn't look very good on bigger mechs.
        I'll try to work on assets now that basic mechanics are done.

        here's one:

        xyz I personally am not a big fan of rendered outlines. No matter how well it's done, it always suffers from artifacts. On your particular screenshot the contours in the distance are so thin that they start to look broken/jagged.

        I don't like cellshader effects either, the best I've seem was from the last walking dead game. This was an attempt to make it work.
        I was going for 80s/90s/00s hand drawn anime, so the jagged edges were actually a good side effect.
        But I went back and tried to improve it, the edges looked wrong because of FXAA and too thin outlines, it looks better with MSAA and TAA, but I get lower FPS and I also need to test it with higher resolution. I'll add options to change it in game.
        the outlines are solid because transparent edges also cause FPS drops, I also have a texture with the traces and the original albedos, so it can be changed at any point or even remove them completely.
        I'm making a special shader that changes outline size depending on distance to camera, and recently added FOV to the equation. now the edges look mostly the same width at all distances. I might add some instanced coloring later.
        here's the improved version:

        and with FXAA:

        If you want to go with hard outlines, the best method is rendering them in screen space as a post effect, which is somewhat hard to do in Godot. Displacing meshes along normals always looks kinda sloppy imho.

        not always. In this case I don't want everything to have edges, things like backgrounds should look painted or even rendered. Using outlines allows me to give each unit a different outline color, the blue outline would look better on a blue or white unit, while a red or green outline would look better on a darker one, I could extend this by using textures that give each part a different outline color too.

        Tomcat The contours are done quite decently. Some "roughness" only emphasizes the style. It is quite possible that many players will like it. But, personally, I don't like contours and cartoonishness either.

        that's fair, thanks for your feedback.

        Megalomaniak Yeah, if we had geometry attributes like in blender or softimage xsi I recon a lot more interesting things could be done. At least a lot more interesting things somewhat more easily. I do not however feel properly qualified to go writing up a proposal on the repo.

        I don't use blender 3 enough to know what you are talking about, there's a lot of things from blender 3 I don't like, so I use 2.79 for everything and blender 3 for exporting.
        Could you tell me more about what these features can add that can't be done with conventional shaders?

        packrat i'm a sucker for black outlines and hard contrast

        I'm glad someone likes it.

        I think the style looks good, it wood be cool if it was highlighted blue or red depending on color.

          Idk, but i like cell shaded. DBZFZ imo did it the best, second to BOTW. BOTW cells were shaded but overall it was beautifully integrated into the world. DBZ is very vibrant.

          THe characters are 3d models yet it looks like a drawn, similar to modern animes.

            lukboy already done. also made some changes to the shader and tried some things.
            I'm currently using the Toon shader with roughness 0.

            I tried some changes to the outline using scissor and dot(-VIEW, NORMAL), also tried using the TANGENT and BINORMAL, but was not convinced by the results. In the end I just multiplied the vertex "grow" by a vec3 scale to make the edges uneven.

            kuligs2 DBZFZ imo did it the best, second to BOTW. BOTW cells were shaded but overall it was beautifully integrated into the world. DBZ is very vibrant.

            DBZ uses some really detailed meshes, it can do this because it's a fighting game so there's only 6 characters on screen. I haven't decided on a style yet, but it's going to be something darker. because of the way I'm doing things, the units will be affected by environment light and take advantage of different atmospheres. for now they are in a clear skybox for testing.

            I've done some more bug fixing and clean up, and implemented a turn order bar:

            It uses toggle buttons, a button_group and a theme variant. the pressed state and normal state have different styleboxes, so more customization can be made later.

            I'm also using an invisible button on top of the turn_order_icon that moves the camera to the unit, and only works when the camera can be controlled by the player.

            Maybe you could use this shader. For some reason it was removed from the documentation of the new version.

              Tomcat that's a simple sobel shader, I already have one and don't plan on using it.
              sobel works by finding the difference between the colors in the screen, so it doesn't differentiate objects. You get little to no control over the result. I'm using vertex outlines because I can change the color of individual outlines and have background objects without one, it gives me more control.
              all of the screenshots have been done at half resolution, in a window. It can look better with MSAA and a higher resolution.
              I also need to work on assets, one being the background and floor. It's going to look better once I have some finished models and textures that contrast better. even these units are for prototyping, I might replace them with higher poly ones or scrap them entirely.

              Hello, another mech fan here; I love what you are doing. Even if it´s still too soon to ask, what are you aiming to make?, a X-com of human versus machines or something like Final Fantasy Tactics in space?. Those bubblegum crisis suits alikes came out very well, kudos for that.

              If you want some license friendly models I made this list some time ago, maybe you can use something for a quick variety filler:
              https://opengameart.org/content/models-for-a-space-game

              I think these ones fit your style pretty well:
              https://opengameart.org/content/animated-mech-pack

                Danimal what are you aiming to make?, a X-com of human versus machines or something like Final Fantasy Tactics in space?

                The original-original idea was to make an RTS, but I didn't want to mess with networking or real time AI, and it would've been a lot of work. Making a Tactical turn based game was much faster to code, because there's fewer unknowns, one unit acts at a time, in a phase, and then the next unit acts.
                The next idea was to make a mech vs mech game like battletech or phantom brigade, with localized damage and salvage. I didn't have a mech model so I baked a sci-fi cinematic mesh that I had and looked good enough.

                The story will be about a planet that has to defend itself from an empire, so the game will start at the geoscape, missions will pop up, and then you would send your mechs to fight other mechs. there will also be research, and mechs will be able to be outfitted with different weapons, maybe even parts like arms. after the mission, weapons and parts will be damaged or destroyed, and the rest will be salvaged. new mechs and weapons will have to be researched to be used and will unlock new technologies.

                There's a ControllableUnit class and the units inherit from this, so far the foundations for localized damage, turn based gameplay, visual customization, weapon customization, ranged combat and melee combat are done, but these units are a single mesh. the next step is to make an actual mech with different parts that can be damaged and weapon slots.

                If these placeholder units are kept, I might split the gameplay into two "phases", in the first phase the giant mechs would fight other giant mechs, and try to reduce collateral damage to buildings. the second phase would take place inside buildings, with smaller mechs and powersuits. This was decided because of the size difference between a human and a bigger mech that would make the gameplay more engaging, and because coding 4x4 units will mean creating a parallel pathfinding system, and the maps will shrink as a result, so no "armor hunting" for now.

                Danimal Those bubblegum crisis suits alikes came out very well, kudos for that.

                yes bubblegum crisis was the inspiration, thanks for noticing. I just hope the other mechs end up as good.

                I'm almost finished with the fist mech, it will be a basic medium sized mech with some weapon slots, mostly for testing the new features, but will be kept in the final game:

                Danimal If you want some license friendly models I made this list some time ago, maybe you can use something for a quick variety filler:
                https://opengameart.org/content/models-for-a-space-game

                I think these ones fit your style pretty well:
                https://opengameart.org/content/animated-mech-pack

                I will try to make my own models for now, but I will look into it.

                  Jesusemora The story will be about a planet that has to defend itself from an empire, so the game will start at the geoscape, missions will pop up, and then you would send your mechs to fight other mechs. there will also be research, and mechs will be able to be outfitted with different weapons, maybe even parts like arms. after the mission, weapons and parts will be damaged or destroyed, and the rest will be salvaged. new mechs and weapons will have to be researched to be used and will unlock new technologies.

                  May I suggest a change to the story?, instead of being attacked by an empire (which is a bit plain and overused imo), make the enemy a rogue scion of an imperial family that failed in his/her throne takeover and is on the run. He/she arrives from very afar at the systems owned by your state, obliterates all space defenses (due to technological superiority but with small numbers) and starts with light plundering initially (not just your planet, but many systems at the same time) to outrigth conquest.

                  And as they become more desperate by the mounting resistance, lack of resources and retribution army coming after them, intensifies pressure and goes outright crazy, ordering orbital strikes, deploying bioweapons and other future war crimes; also add some goverment traitors for plot twists. You can tell the story little by little by using tv war emisions from your state of how other planets are getting conquered, or suffering big attacks. Final objective could be like all Xcoms to take down their mothership.

                  Because what conqueror gives their prey the chance to grow strong little by little instead of crushing them swiftly unless having very small numbers or being outstreched?, in which case they wouldn´t attack at all.

                  Anyways, sorry for ranting, I hope to see your progress from now on.

                    Danimal instead of being attacked by an empire (which is a bit plain and overused imo)

                    There's no overuse here. It's very real.

                    Because what conqueror gives their prey the chance to grow strong little by little instead of crushing them swiftly unless having very small numbers or being outstreched?

                    Underestimating the enemy. That's what we're seeing in our world right now.

                    Without going political, it´s best to stick to fiction. Right now the world is in a very scary state and I would rather not see any paralels in mah videogames. Let´s not hijack a game development thread.

                      Danimal Without going political, it´s best to stick to fiction.

                      Let's not talk politics. But it was you who started talking about the scenario not being realistic enough.

                      Danimal (which is a bit plain and overused imo)

                      I only pointed out the factual errors and tried to argue that the author's original scenario is quite realistic.

                      Danimal would rather not see any paralels in mah videogames.

                      Games (tales, novels, movies etc.) always are reflections of the real world.

                        Danimal make the enemy a rogue scion of an imperial family that failed in his/her throne takeover and is on the run. He/she arrives from very afar at the systems owned by your state, obliterates all space defenses (due to technological superiority but with small numbers) and starts with light plundering initially (not just your planet, but many systems at the same time) to outrigth conquest.

                        That sounds a bit cliche, not that mine isn't. Like the story of Char's revenge, or Battetech's clan wars. I think there's enough space medievalism in mecha, although my idea was also based on mecha anime.

                        Danimal And as they become more desperate by the mounting resistance, lack of resources and retribution army coming after them, intensifies pressure and goes outright crazy, ordering orbital strikes, deploying bioweapons and other future war crimes;

                        was going to do that anyways, the player doesn't just fight giant robots, but I'm going to throw in some monsters too. When there's no one to control the powerful, they have no reason to "act honorably", they have no need for a justification, and it really sends the message that they are the bad guys.
                        Like in X-COM, there will be terror missions where you protect the cities, recovery missions against landed ships, base attacks, base defense, and some other objectives.

                        Danimal also add some goverment traitors for plot twists. You can tell the story little by little by using tv war emisions from your state of how other planets are getting conquered, or suffering big attacks.

                        the problem with this is it adds a lot of work to do, like cinematics. I'm planning on telling the story through some dialog system and messages to start, maybe if there's time there will be an opening cinematic of some sort.
                        I though about other planets, but I can't imagine how that could be handled, you go from having one planet to having to monitor others, and that could make the gameplay slower.

                        Danimal Final objective could be like all Xcoms to take down their mothership.

                        For the final mission I was thinking of some fight in space against a fleet. like in Char's revenge (sigh).

                        Danimal Because what conqueror gives their prey the chance to grow strong little by little instead of crushing them swiftly unless having very small numbers or being outstreched?, in which case they wouldn´t attack at all.

                        the kind that underestimates their enemies.

                        Tomcat Danimal Without going political, it´s best to stick to fiction.

                        Let's not talk politics. But it was you who started talking about the scenario not being realistic enough.

                        Danimal (which is a bit plain and overused imo)

                        I only pointed out the factual errors and tried to argue that the author's original scenario is quite realistic.

                        Danimal would rather not see any paralels in mah videogames.

                        Games (tales, novels, movies etc.) always are reflections of the real world.

                        please do not draw parallels between my game's story and the various wars going on at the moment, that was not the intention.

                        I think I should post a more detailed synopsis, because "planet that defends itself against empire" is very vague, but it's still in work and prone to changes:

                        It takes place on an Earth like planet that has been settled for 400 years. It has been isolated from the struggles between the Galactic Alliance and the Conglomerate by being in an unimportant sector of space.
                        One day the Conglomerate sends a small army to conker the planet, they defeat the defense forces using superior technology, enslave the population, and start building strange machines. They maintain control of the planet though fear, with mechs scattered across the planet and covering the mayor cities.
                        But one mistake results in a combat mech being misplaced and ending up in the hands of the resistance.

                        The first mission will be one mech against other 2, and 4 mechs that were in storage will be captured.
                        In the second mission the enemy realizes that the resistance obtained mechs and recalls their entire army of 10-20 mechs to protect their HQ while they wait for reinforcements, The player will have 4-6 mechs.
                        After this battle the planet ends up in the hands of the resistance and you get to build the first base, and get to keep whatever survived the battle.

                        Again, this can all be changed at any point, and it needs more work.

                        the idea is to have the player start from zero and with very few resources and having to research the technology and capture enemy weapons and mechs until they can develop their own.

                        I made some progress on the first mech, now it has arms. I need to make some weapons.

                          I have never seen Gundam... I prefer the western style of mechs which are basically bipedal tanks. Maybe your very first mission should be a tutorial where a group of infiltrating footsoldiers steal their first mech while learning the controls.
                          The news I mentioned before can just be a fixed pic with the reporters/random place informing what´s happening in other worlds, so you don´t have to move from your own to get some flavour news of what´s happening outside. I personally like the idea of a space mothership/superweapon since it´s kind of a Damocles´ sword constantly hanging over you, but that can also be achieved in other not so obvious ways.

                          How much love are you planning to give to the pilots? Will they be faceless soldiers with no impact or will they level skills and the like?.

                          I like your WIP mech, but I thought it already had integrated weapons on the arms.

                          You probably know this title, but Front Mission has a lot of similarities with what you are planning; and the forgotten and criminally underrated "Mission force: Cyberstorm" can become a wealth of ideas for you. That game is old but AWESOME.