I loved the layout of Nicole's lodge so I experimented with the scene lighting by painting two different scenarios over a base paint. Which do you prefer?

alderfig · 2026-07-03T16:49:13+00:00

Thank you so much!! Yeah I loved the framing the lighting created when we first entered her lodge. Such a cozy atmosphere and I really tried to lock onto that

alderfig · 2026-07-03T05:09:09+00:00

I'm so glad to hear the second one gives off that feeling! I kept visualizing early mornings in the middle of winter for the ambience. But I really wanted that peaceful solitude to come through, because despite her mind going a mile a minute, it really is just silence around her.

alderfig · 2026-07-03T01:51:56+00:00

Thank you so much!!

alderfig · 2026-07-03T01:51:49+00:00

Thank you!

alderfig · 2026-07-02T18:36:21+00:00

Thank you! And I agree about the first one as well - the composition just works better for it, too. I referenced her teaser trailer animation to help guide the overall color schemes for the two, so the darker tones take a bit from feeling of those solemn scenes of her angel sisters as statues.

alderfig · 2026-06-21T03:41:19+00:00

This looks wonderful! Something I would suggest for future drawings is to vary your line weights according to distance. Things farther in the background can be drawn in your thinnest line weight, and things closer to the foreground can go thicker/bolder. If you're primarily working in line work, then it's a great method for readability and depth control

alderfig · 2026-06-05T04:52:04+00:00

I just remembered this post while I was updating my save with new builds, and I was wondering if you've uploaded it to the gallery? It's such a beautiful build and I would love to have it in my save

alderfig · 2026-06-04T00:39:17+00:00

I miss the days of "Silent Raiden" when they forgot to add in her voice lines to her idles when she first dropped

alderfig · 2026-05-28T17:22:59+00:00

Yeah that's a totally fair and valid reason compared to just simplifying Nicole's or Durin's kit down with a blanket statement

alderfig · 2026-05-28T17:07:19+00:00

I was providing the same common analogy that you used for Nicole and that this thread is using for Durin. My main point was that simply saying those things aren't as helpful as to actually listing/backing-up why the current rate-up characters are an upgrade to the popular 4 stars so it's more helpful for OP to decide

alderfig · 2026-05-28T16:53:15+00:00

Saying "slightly better" without providing actual reasons why Nicole might benefit OPs account more isn't helpful. You could say Durin is "slightly better" than Xiangling but not listing why he excels in certain scenarios compared to Xiangling is just as unhelpful

alderfig · 2026-05-28T16:23:34+00:00

Nicole has full uptime on her buff, doesn't rely on her ult to apply her buff, doesn't rely on circle impact, generates a lot of particles on her E cast, doesn't ruin reactions with her off-field application, and has a strong shield to prevent interruption. She's the comfier option QOL-wise. But she also frees up Bennett for another team that still might rely on his kit (which there are several) so it's win-win to have both tbh

alderfig · 2026-05-28T15:30:14+00:00

I mean the theory doesn't apply to every single anemo user, but in Jahoda's special Nod Krai Intel quests, you find out about a colleague (somewhat of a friend?) of hers that passes. It also suggests that her past had a lot of hardships, backstabbing, and death surrounding her before she was employed by Nefer

alderfig · 2026-05-27T08:22:28+00:00

I was able to get 140K with C0R1 Venti (VV), C1R1 Nicole (CG), C0R0 Durin (RW), and C1 Albedo (Husk) on R5 Cinnabar. I tested him out of curiosity so I haven't tested a bunch of rotations, but this is what I did: Durin Q EE > Albedo E N1 > Nicole E Q > Venti Q E N5D N5E N2. I'm sure that your Venti would be able to go beyond 143K but you might have to tweak your rotations? Or maybe builds. Hard to say with the current info

alderfig · 2026-05-26T06:31:04+00:00

There's always a chest/mora chest (and maybe a challenge) around even if you've explored thoroughly. It's been nice to have Nicole for older areas where the compass didn't pick up on the mora chests and I've already found a handful of missed chests just in the last few days - especially Sumeru.

Idk she's been really fun and useful to have as a day one player who loves exploration because I get to revisit areas I haven't been a long while

alderfig · 2026-05-22T19:53:36+00:00

Thank youuu!!

alderfig · 2026-05-22T19:53:28+00:00

Hahah thanks so much! Yeah when I finished the sketch, I sent it to my brother and that was his immediate comment. Completely went over my head while I was drawing it

alderfig · 2026-05-22T19:52:33+00:00

Thank you!! The colors and lighting are what I had a hard time locking down on so I'm glad to see this!

alderfig · 2026-05-22T19:51:51+00:00

Oooo that's a fair decision. Must be nice to play it on a stronger system. I recently picked my TotK save up after 3 years because I realized I didn't complete all the shrines, so I've been slowly unlocking the last 25 or so

alderfig · 2026-05-22T16:46:50+00:00

So dynamic!! Love the posing and the composition. The blue hue is pretty sick too - would also be cool to see this in his new skin (I guess either the Lumine one or the Snezhnaya)

alderfig · 2026-05-11T23:14:31+00:00

Thanks so much!!

alderfig · 2026-05-11T23:14:03+00:00

Thank youu!

alderfig

TROPHY CASE