As my work continues here, i have some questions to community. Basically because working without feedback and suggestions seems for me like walking blind.
Here they are:
1. most important: What do you think of new volumetric walls?
2. And what about new adventurer/non-fortress-dwarf tile?
3. How do you like ascii version?
That's it. If you have any other thoughts — feel free to tell me
Disclaimer: I can only go from sctreenshots here, haven't played with your tileset yet.
But I figured you might want to hear it anyway when you specifically ask for feedback.
1. Volumetric walls
I like them, they look good. However, it doesn't work visually when the end of a wall (pillar?) is north of the rest of the wall. It looks like a piece is missing. See your screenshot above directly northeast of the "Y" with red background (dead yak?). It's not something that can be changed with the way DF works, but I think it would make me reconsider using the volumetric walls.
They do harmonize better with the rest of the tileset than the old version though. I suggest experimenting with thinner non-volumetric walls. Basically just take the volumetric walls, center them and remove the volumetric effect.
Generally I like the whole look. Coming from someone that struggles to get some more consistency in his own tileset, I think you did a
very good job on that end.
2.dwarves
I'm not convinced yet with your dwarves. They improved since the first implementation, but I think it's not there yet. Have you tried full-body graphics instead of just the head? I think that could fit the rest of the tileset better.
3. ascii
Looking at the comparison screenshots above, the non-ascii version really looks better. I guess it's because you achieved a certain, very sharp and consistent style with your floor/soil/(volumetric)wall tiles and the finer details on the non-ascii symbols harmonize with that better. The letters are great (especially in text!), but you can't change the monospaced nature of tile based graphics, so the letters look clunkier amongst wall and floor tiles than they would normally, I think.
The furniture (of the non-ascii version) especially is fantastic. Armor stand could be better, barrel is fine, but could look more like the other furniture (i.e. finer and more detailed). Don't know how much that conflicts with how easily it is to identify as barrel though.
Other things:
*Trunk looks great, fits with rest, not sure about other tree tiles.
*Don't like the ramps; there's only so much you can do with unidirectional ramps while keeping your style consistent, but I'd try to experiment with them a little more.
*Contrary to my own tileset, floor on the current z-level and floor on a level below can be distinguished well.
*Letters are great
All in all it's already one of my favorite tilesets and I'm looking forward to what you do with it.