Hedgewars doesn't use gradients. And try to work with outlines.

Nice map so far, I agree with RoFra about the gradients, maybe you should read the Hedgewars Graphics Stiles Page first.

Oh I personally don't care it about 'matching' the Hedgewars graphics scheme. Besides plenty of other games out there have 3D looking areas with 2D sprites. I forgot to mention that in my first post. (I personally prefer more than 3 tones of color anyway)

Thank you for at least saying its nice. In short I am modeling everything in 3D (if need be I can always switch to "flat" shading to give a more cartoon style look, but I think the contrast of the 3D elements and the 2D sprites will look nice.

The background is also going to be a 3D render with some 2D elements that help blending.

Did anyone have any candy suggestions though?

Nothings a candy shop without gummy candies (or at least for a kid)

Also what 3D program are you using?

Thanks, I'll make some gummy bears and maybe some gum drops Good idea.

The program I use is anim8or. I love it. Such a nice program, simple, and when you get completely serious you can make photo realistic things too. http://www.anim8or.com/

Seems like a cool program,
Tip
A good program for making Hedgewars stile graphics is Inkscape.
I really think you should put an outline though.

I have Inkscape and Paint.net and I use MS paint a lot (very useful despite what people say about it). I can't get the hang of Inkscape though. Thank you for the suggestion ^-^

Here is my plan to help with better understanding:

1. Finish all the 3D models

2. Insert all the 3D models onto the map surface

3. Create the background with multiple layers in 3D (that one I will actually render with an outline as I do it by making a clone of it, slightly larger, making the front of the clone transparent and the back side black. This will create an outline for everything in the background saving me about 6 years of my life.

4. Scale my map to slightly larger than what it is and then kill all the colors of the objects to create silhouettes of everything.

5. On the top layer (using Paint.net), add the normal map and fix any line up errors that may have happened.

6. Between the background layers have 2D people that will match or partially match the Hedgewars art style in order to add continuity and provide a look similar to Xenogears without the real time 3D http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vYUu7i70qAw&feature=related . When the camera pans during the game you may be able to see other parts of the people (as in more of their body, sort of like peeking behind the counter) to simulate head movement with the game's scrolling ability.

7. In the background will be a jar of tiny candies tipped over, what they will be I haven't decided yet, but they will be the objects that scroll depending on the wind.

8. Test the map and make changes.

9. Curse myself for errors and fix them.

10. Retest the map and release after ensuring that the map if fun with many 1 on 1 games with myself VS myself, including myself as up to 4 teams.

11. If people like the map, make more.

12. If people don't like the map, try again.

13. If worse comes to worse, resort to trolling by rendering every last sprite in Hedgewars in 3D over the course of a few weeks, replacing all of the in game sprites in my client to the new 3D renders and taking screen shots to further prove that 3D renders (the and 2D (the default levels) can mesh well. (example: Gunbound 3D mobiles (flat shaded), 2D level render, 3D background render). I believe the opposite to be true and that it would look good once I'm finished. ^-^

ok, sounds great

What's the progress?
Looks great so far.

Lenna has mysteriously disappeared! ...