Pactio!

[Prime32]

UPDATE 10/07/10: Version 1.1 can export as PNG - get it here

So, I recently created a program which generates Pactio cards in the style of Mahou Sensei Negima. I thought it would be fun to see what people will make of it - what characters, what in-jokes in the stats... Here's an example done by Associate:

Spoiler

For those not familiar with the series, the card is basically "proof of contract" between a mage and a partner. The partner is depicted on the front holding (or wearing) an artefact, a magic item provided by the contract which the card transforms into on command. The mage's name is on the back.

Names spelling:

Spoiler

There's some weird spelling in the names of the magus and partner.

• "K" is replaced by "C"
• "W" is replaced by "V"
• "Y" is replaced by "J" when used as a consonant, and "I" when used as a vowel. (ie. "Yuri" becomes "Juri", but "Yvonne" and "Mary" would become "Ivonne" and "Mari")
• Japanese names: "TSU" becomes "TU", "CHI" becomes "TI", "SHI" becomes "SI"
• Certain names become more archaic, eg. "Negi Springfield" -> "Negius Springfieldes" and "Jack Rakan" -> "Jacobus Racan"

Names are given in Eastern or Western order depending on how they would normally be written (click a name to change the order)

Latin:

Spoiler

Characters have a Latin title/description below their name - for those using translators note that the adjective comes after the noun.

Virtus = "virtue"

• sapientia = prudence
• audacia = fortitude
• temperantia = temperance
• justitia = justice
• fides = faith
• spes = hope
• caritas = love

Directio = "direction"

• septentrio = north
• auster = south
• oriens = east
• occidens = west
• centrum = centre

And then there are the colours and planets, which shouldn't be too hard to figure out.

[Maximum Zersk]

I see you used Game Maker on this?

Definitely trying this out.

EDIT: But I've seen "i" used as a consonant, as in "Iupiter".

[Prime32]

Originally Posted by Maximum Zersk

I see you used Game Maker on this?

Didn't think there was any point trying to hide it.

[Maximum Zersk]

Originally Posted by Prime32

Didn't think there was any point trying to hide it.

Oh, I don't mind it. I just noticed it when I started it up. I remember using it a few times.

[Fri]

really cool, prime. We should have something like this already!

[Nerd-o-rama]

Working on the Wolkenritter, because, well, fanboy. They're also some of the few people in other fiction with an obvious Magister Magus, after all.

I do have a question, though: are there meanings associated with directions and planets? Virtues and colors are simple enough, but what does it mean for a person to be "north"? I can guess on some of the planets by going with associations of Roman gods, but still.

Also, portraits aren't loading, even though they're 414x750. Do they need to be in a particular format?

[Prime32]

Originally Posted by Nerd-o-rama

Working on the Wolkenritter, because, well, fanboy. They're also some of the few people in other fiction with an obvious Magister Magus, after all.

I do have a question, though: are there meanings associated with directions and planets? Virtues and colors are simple enough, but what does it mean for a person to be "north"? I can guess on some of the planets by going with associations of Roman gods, but still.

*shrugs* There are plenty of places that can give you associations. The numbers usually have something to do with the relationship between the magus and partner (eg. Negi's partners use their seat number in his class, while Negi's own pactio has the sum of their seat numbers).
EDIT: I've seen The Four Gods (and the Dragon of the Centre) suggested, so we at least know what directio Erio and Caro would have.

Also, portraits aren't loading, even though they're 414x750. Do they need to be in a particular format?

Well, Game Maker should be able to accept

Spoiler

png
psp
cut
gif
pcd
pic
cel
pbm
pgm
ppm
pdd
psd
bw
rgb
rgba
sgi
rla
rpf
scr
pcc
pcx
eps
fax
tif
tiff
icb
tga
vda
vst
win
dib
rle
jpeg
jpe
jpg
jfif
emf
wmf
ico
bmp

What format were you using?

You can actually use larger or smaller pics, but the former will be trimmed and the latter is unlikely to look right.

[Nerd-o-rama]

Originally Posted by Prime32

*shrugs* There are plenty of places that can give you associations. The numbers usually have something to do with the relationship between the magus and partner (eg. Negi's partners use their seat number in his class, while Negi's own pactio has the sum of their seat numbers).

Well, Game Maker should be able to accept

Spoiler

png
psp
cut
gif
pcd
pic
cel
pbm
pgm
ppm
pdd
psd
bw
rgb
rgba
sgi
rla
rpf
scr
pcc
pcx
eps
fax
tif
tiff
icb
tga
vda
vst
win
dib
rle
jpeg
jpe
jpg
jfif
emf
wmf
ico
bmp

What format were you using?

You can actually use larger or smaller pics, but the former will be trimmed and the latter is unlikely to look right.

.jpg, then I tried an (ugly) .bmp, since I noticed the thing saves to .bmp. Do they have to be transparent, or something? I noticed that your sample used a transparent-background image.

[Prime32]

Originally Posted by Nerd-o-rama

Do they have to be transparent, or something?

Ah, yes...

Which probably means gif or png.

[Nerd-o-rama]

Unfortunately, I don't know how to convert something to be transparent if it's not already, and most of my fanart has a colored background.

[Associate]

Originally Posted by Nerd-o-rama

Unfortunately, I don't know how to convert something to be transparent if it's not already, and most of my fanart has a colored background.

You can crop the character out of the image with a decent image editing program (Gimp is what I use) and a lot of patience. That's what I did for this one (made using the pre-release version). The image quality will leave to be desired, though.

Spoiler

Alternatively, look around for transparent fanart. At any of the more popular fanart sites (moe.imouto.org, danbooru, gelbooru, konachan.com...), you can search for 'transparent_background' and the name of your character of choice. However, unfortunately most 'transparent' backgrounds are actually black - I suspect this is because they're saved as jpgs, which doesn't support transparency. However, a black background is still much easier to crop out - that's actually what I did for the Youmu pactio. You need to be careful about not erasing black accessories or the like as well, though.

[Prime32]

1. Click on background with Magic Wand tool (experimenting with different sensitivity levels)
2. Alt-drag with the Lasso tool to remove any part of the character which is still inside the selection.
3. Press delete.
4. ???
5. Profit!*

*This tool is intended for parody purposes and is non-profit. I do not own Mahou Sensei Negima, Touhou, or any related characters or concepts.

[Maximum Zersk]

What if you don't have Photoshop?

[Nerd-o-rama]

GIMP is free, and I plan to download it...sometime soon.

My free trial of Photoshop Elements just ran out, or I'd use that.

[Prime32]

Originally Posted by Maximum Zersk

What if you don't have Photoshop?

Those steps apply to every decent image editing tool. Like Paint.NET or GIMP, which are both free.

[Maximum Zersk]

D'oh, forgot I had Gimp!

[Prime32]

You'll probably want to open the output card again anyway, to save it in a smaller format and delete the grey at the corners.

[Prime32]

Here's another card.

Spoiler

[Needle]

I just downloaded Gimp just to do this, I think I'll have fun with this for a while...

Sorry my bordering* skills being zero :( I suck at this, but well, that won't stop me for trying

Spoiler

I can imagine so many series being mixed with negima magi and lol at poor Shirou's full name being completely destroyed.

PS: *right or wrong word? maybe it's delining?, erm... you know, to cut clean the image from the background. The borders are cutted like crap, don't know the proper word.

PS2: I tried to put King of Kings, but crappy dic doesn't have a word for "of", yeah, I know... so I went and use Holy King lol. Any help coming is appreciated

[Prime32]

Originally Posted by Needle

PS2: I tried to put King of Kings, but crappy dic doesn't have a word for "of", yeah, I know... so I went and use Holy King lol. Any help coming is appreciated

I think "Rex" should be the first word there, and you also have "rgis"(?). Plus you have Shirou's name in Western order.

EDIT:
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/How_do_you...Kings_to_Latin

[Needle]

Strange, I had Rex rgis or Rex Regis as options on the dic... guess I have a bad one :/

And yes, I noticed later the naming order

Thanks, and now to fix those

PS: Fixed now! Hope I forgot nothing this time

[Prime32]

Now you've made me want to do this.

Spoiler

[Needle]

Ahhh, Rin <3 who doesn't love her, and now I remember I still have some Tiger Dojos to unlock... since last year lol

I'll stop a Gash reference for a while just to keep on FSN so (spoiler warning in case anyone didn't play the game)

Spoiler

Yes, I know, not the biggest effort on that image, but after failing two cleanings because... all BGs I have about her are so dark, well... easy one.

This is so fun... now next time I roleplay I'll put my character as a pactio card... that'll be like in 2 weeks sadly (and neither I know what would we play... hope one of the gazillion games whose story is "open")

I guess I'll play with this on night, great fun device you developed here

[Prime32]

Update!

Version 1.1 can export PNGs directly, with transparent corners and everything. It takes a little longer than the old BMP mode though.

http://www.mediafire.com/?lqnjzjj3myv



Next update will most likely be a fix to the magic circle colours.