I think I know what your looking for Jeff, deep sea/water fish type creatures - difficult to achieve in my opinion. May I suggest you rather than going for an overall effect you try contrasting colours on different sections of the body - extremities - translucent pink, body - yellow & carapace - blue all pale, but quite different. All sundries - as you will. Washes - Harry's your man for washes suggest you contact Harry and ask for advice.
On the subject of habitat/culture, I'm currently developing a short history, culture idea to expand into an army list for the Lizard men, snake men & Slann which could hit all the necessary targets - Basically Lizard men are the original inhabitants of plant, Slann arrive and persecute a war of ethnic cleansing (easily done as the Lizard men don't have the technology or magic) thus driving the Lizard men deep under ground or into areas the Slann aren't interested in; Slann introduce new races to the world whilst the Lizardmen develop a culture of seclusion & isolation, thus by the values of other they appear backward & slow, where as it's actually the case of having a different prospective of the world (Cold-blooded).
The Slann fall big time and find that their ernst-while victims, slowly (reluctantly) welcome them into their society, thus giving the Cold-bloods access to magic and thus the 'quicker' of the cold-bloods (skinks, chameleon etc) begin to take up the mantel of the Slann priest as the Slann slowly continue their decline, the other types of Cold-bloods develop to become warriors, builders etc. and expand their sphere of influence via the series of tunnels, caverns & mines beneath the earth thus quietly coming into contact with other cultures. First thoughts - but I hope you can see where this is heading?
Paul / Golgfag1
