my ideas for the contest over at [link]
First I want to say that even though these two look very different the concepts behind them are very similar.

On the right:
Spell Sword
xD well, as you can see by looking, its pretty much a red mage. but like with the blue mage being redone and called Gunner Mage, I went along those lines. Similar concepts in abilities but maybe executed a little different. Would fight with one sword which she infuses with different magics that do more/different damage or status effects on contact. Also erects barriers around herself that do the same thing when struck. Attacks at super high speeds with stabs and short slashes. A style that wears down the opponent rather than overpower. Has a special move at which she travels at such high speeds that a 'copy' of herself is left behind (up to two extras at a time) (hahahah like shadow clone jutsu xD? ) though the copies can't take too much damage before being destroyed. And keeping with red mage tradition can cast low levels of black and white magics.
The hat could (and probably should ) be stylishly discarded at beginning of battle (heheh )

on the left:
Sword Dancer
a more chinese themed version of above (with the design idea of a Lotus flower ^^ )
fights with one sword ( much in the style of Xiang Hua of Soul Calibur ) many large but fluent movements. Can do the high speed attack with the copies, but right before the last disappears, the copy passes the original her sword so the original now has two swords. Fighting style would change to something like Lau from Bujingai.
Not necessary, but the spell infused blade could also be used. (<--- this one would probably only work visually, if the environment was brighter than the previous DF's, in such a serious area the bright colors might look silly ~~)

So over all pretty much the same idea only one in a more gothic aristocrat, european style, and the other in a chinese, flowery style.

even though I ended up liking the Sword Dancer allot (omg, the first draft was horrible... and even this one might not go over well because of the ruffles xD ) I think I still like the image of the Spell Blade ... though thats might be because its more something I would wear..

OH-oh~
and keeping the the FFX-2 wave, the swords used would be from Tidus or Auron ( I don't remember if there were any themes to who got what )... but if something original would be better.. I could try ^^
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also, this is completely unrelated to the drawing its self, I've been wondering this for a while:
Are the images I submit like huge for anyone? because I've noticed with different types of monitors out there these days .. not everyone has the same resolution. And what might be smallish to me might be huge to someone else ><

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edit:
weapon design for Spell Sword: [link]