There has been lots of speculations. What is Arclight Vel'koz supposed to be inspired by?

5G8Nri0B54·Jan 23, 2015·3 votes·4,085 views

It's a bunch of metal pieces surrounding an energy core that also happens to shoot light lasers. And it happens to have tentacles of light to do naughty things to the forces of evil.

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4NghL-5iAEM/VMGcFzxRbyI/AAAAAAAAiPA/kxDVQOXLpb0/s1600/Velkoz_Splash_2.jpg

When I called it a Protoss reference I was simply joking because as cool as the skin looks, I just don't know what it's supposed to be. Who is the lead artist for this skin?

16 Comments

A Superb VillainJan 23, 20157 votes

Alone, I would have called ~~Arbiter~~ Arclight Vel'Koz "Protoss Vel'Koz" due to how similar the aesthetic design is. However, released within the context of his new splash it becomes infinitely more fascinating.

Look at the architectural style, grand, eastern-themed stonework. It looks like something out of the imperial dynasties of Persia. Couple that with Vel'Koz's radiant appearance and his abilities' elegant, wavy patterns, and I think of an ifrit, "a class of infernal Jinn noted for their strength and cunning; an enormous winged creature of fire."

PositiveWasabiJan 24, 20151 votes

the spires do look very persian don't they, the soldiers however look european

Wild WiccanJan 23, 20153 votes

That splash art could have been better.

SlackosaurusJan 23, 20154 votes

Personally I think it's amazing and fits the skin well.

PositiveWasabiJan 24, 20153 votes

He's either "judging" criminals , or the soldiers think they are going to their gods grace and sacrificing themselves for him. OR he could be healing them...

its a different style of splash art it seems more like those things for story concept YES concept art it's interesting the only problem i have with it is his elongated eye part looks very long instead of spherical, but that could be just me

5G8Nri0B54Jan 24, 20153 votes

On another note...is Vel supposed to be that huge?

A Superb VillainJan 24, 20151 votes

Yes. His release teaser also depicts him as massive, towering over Helmet Bro. I think it is simply a discrepancy between in-game representation and actual size, same issue with Nautilus.

5G8Nri0B54Jan 24, 20151 votes

Wait, I thought that was just simply Vel hovering above him making it look like he's bigger and more imposing...

A Superb VillainJan 24, 20151 votes

That is a possibility. I only presume Vel'Koz is much larger on the basis of proportion and perspective.

http://i.ytimg.com/vi/4PlyIrz08YM/maxresdefault.jpg

Vel'Koz's tentacles are fairly slender, so for it to be so close to Helmet Bro yet appear so large leads me to presume the Eye of the Void is actually quite large.

Granted, Arclight Vel'Koz is significantly larger than any previous representation. I mean, damn, he's huge.

5G8Nri0B54Jan 24, 20151 votes

Hard to tell.

I always assumed he was as big as he is in-game because, well...look how squishy he is.

I mean, Rek'sai and Nautilus are much smaller in-game too, but they have the tankiness to help reflect that they're supposed to be massive.

Stars ShaperJan 23, 20152 votes

This: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_qFdxo2EN0M

And this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t4CKJE-LBEw

GreenLoreJan 23, 20151 votes

Probably multiple inspirations.

Personally he reminds me of the angels from bayonetta being pretty much an abomination with light powers

RainbowgasmJan 24, 20151 votes

The Orzhov Guild.

5G8Nri0B54Jan 24, 20151 votes

I think Boros may have been a better fit...

Looks like he's meting out justice with burning holy light. Not boring helmet-bro to death with a court trials and fines.

RainbowgasmJan 24, 20151 votes

{quoted}

I think Boros may have been a better fit...

Looks like he's meting out justice with burning holy light. Not boring helmet-bro to death with a court trials and fines.

The Boros don't line themselves up for ritual sacrifice, people who owe money to the Orzhov do.

5G8Nri0B54Jan 24, 20151 votes

Is that a ritual sacrifice going on though? Looks more like he's dishing out justice to the guy in that stage there...in an as over the top way as possible.