6 months to create ONE equipment set!?

[Delsus]

The process involves the creation of a number of different concept sketches, reviews, modifications, approvals. They could be picking and choosing between a number of different possibilities, perhaps mixing elements from one concept with that of another. It's not a straight-forward process where one person is drawing away in their studio for a couple days, turning the work in as "finished" and moving on to the next one.

I would like to know on average how many concepts get thrown out making the artist have to start again as well, if somthing isnt up to scratch for the devs it will get scrapped. I could imagine its atleast 10 sketches for each piece of gear, because it needs to work with all models.

[Preypacer]

I would like to know on average how many concepts get thrown out making the artist have to start again as well, if somthing isnt up to scratch for the devs it will get scrapped. I could imagine its atleast 10 sketches for each piece of gear, because it needs to work with all models.

I don't even think it's a matter of "having to start again". I think it's more a system of iterative refinement.

In most cases, they'll come up with a bunch of different concepts to begin with. Each is a bit different, has a different style, etc... From there, they're reviewed and a decision is made on which concepts seem the best in line with what they're after. The artists might be asked to create additional concepts that are a mix of 2 or 3 of them... They'll go, create those concepts... come back... review, etc.

Ultimately, the final design is decided, and the artist then creates the final, high quality concepts (which are the ones we usually see). They'll create studies of them in different poses; in this case, it might be a character wearing the armor.. They'll also create the concept art for the modelers to use as reference which are typically drawn at specific orthographic angles (front, side, etc).

I don't know exactly how SE does it, but that's the general approach used by many/most studios.

Like you, though, I would also be interested to know how much of it ends up "on the cutting room floor", so to speak.