Rehab Modelling!

It took pain...it took discomfort...and it took a whole lot longer than it ever used to... but I think this is not too bad for a crippled modder ;)

https://img83.imageshack.us/img83/8239/dem19qu.jpg

https://img74.imageshack.us/img74/4500/dem22ff.jpg

I messed about with these guys way back, but this was a good thing to try re-working. I re-did the mesh, vastly improved the textures, and made a few variants. I am liking the way they have turned out! I need to tweak some of the rigging on the Skeleton Monk, since the skull clips through the hood ( should have set this to the head bone.... but he looks nice and 'nasty' :skull:

you're back and your work is always great!

Very nice Bwian. Good work.

Wow! great skeletons!

Bwian, fantastic, as always. An awesome retunr to modding RTW

Yes, they are VERY nice. Please contact me Bwain.:book:

Good work Bwian!:)

These are the horseman.

https://img369.imageshack.us/img369/896/dem37jv.jpg

I also have some elephant skeletons planned....but not today! Can't tell you how good it feels to be making stuff again!

Not nearly as good as it is to see it!

those horse men..... simply amazing, it's great to see you back bwian! :2thumbsup:

Sinister, but very nice. :skull:

Great Job Bwian!:2thumbsup:

Absolutely great. And it´s good to see you´re back up and running, or rather, modelling ~;) , Bwian.

https://img214.imageshack.us/img214/1650/dem43hq.jpg

Carthaginians manage to inflict a 'mammoth' defeat on their enemies... ( sorry)

I still think they ought to feed those beasts a bit more often!

You're sadistic. :laugh4:

They look better now they have a skeleton rider, and skeleton archers on board. Next job is to add a suitable nasty looking howdah to hold the archers!

I have some heavy cavalry to make, with armoured skeletons and chainmailed up horse skeletons, plus I fancy a skeleton chariot too.... then I pretty much have a full set of skeletons to replace a complete faction.....my Gauls are a lot more interesting now :skull: :2thumbsup:

Wohoo Bwain!

They look great!

And you said you couldnt model very well anymore. Thats the biggest lie ive heard all year.

Actually...the bulk of the work here was done a long while back, and all I have done is to tidy it up and tweak some details. I have been trying to improve my texturing a little, and have been able to make them look a lot better than they used to. The annoying bit is the occasional 'twitch' that messes stuff up. I keep saving work like crazy just in case ~;)

Still...I have at least got the bare bones of this work done......:skull:

https://img101.imageshack.us/img101/8660/dem53wj.jpg

Wow, a whole skeleton horde. Very nice work and its even better to see you are still working, even if not at the same pace as before. Still no sense of humour though... :laugh4:

Regards,

Sundjata

I didnt know moddeling that good was possible...

good to see you back :)

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Originally Posted by Bwian

Actually...the bulk of the work here was done a long while back, and all I have done is to tidy it up and tweak some details. I have been trying to improve my texturing a little, and have been able to make them look a lot better than they used to. The annoying bit is the occasional 'twitch' that messes stuff up. I keep saving work like crazy just in case ~;)

Still...I have at least got the bare bones of this work done......:skull:

https://img101.imageshack.us/img101/8660/dem53wj.jpg

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May I see a screen with these units in action?

Whoa, an all skeleton faction! Those look sweet!

r these gonna be for download soon

Good to see you back, and nice work!

Good to see Bwain :smile:

Tell me, whats the poly count on those skeletons? Did you use Alpha maps to make the ribcage?

Polycount on the skeletons is bang on the 1000 poly mark. There are 4 full levels of detail in place for all units, and with a full-blown HORDE on screen, she runs smooth and sweet. I am running this with dynamic shadows on, huge units. PC is a Athlon 64 3000, with 1Mb ram and a GF 6800GT. Minimal spec PC's might want to tone down the unit sizes...

The rib cages are not done with Alpha textures...I trid it, and didn't like the way it looked. The ribs are triangular section, and the total ribcage is less than 100 polygons. There are far fewer ribs than there should be ... but it doesn't matter in game...you don't notice it! One side benefit I got from doing it this way is with dynamic shadows! It's expecially noticable on the mammoths, where the skeletons shadow is spot on. Alphas just give you a solid block.

I re-did the horse ribacage the same way...originally that was a solid block.

Pantsalot...as far as download availability goes...that depends. As a bit of fun, the skeletons currently just replace Gaul. Except for the Mammoth skeletons. Some work needed to balance that. Once I have a full set of units in place, I don't see why I couldn't release this as a single faction mod.

https://img212.imageshack.us/img212/4503/dema3aj.jpg

and these are basic skeletons having a scrap!

Bwian, are you sure there was anything wrong with you? those models look to good to be true, I'll wake up tomorrow and find out it was all a dream.

So are you going to release them?

Nope...not dream. There is still some other stuff to come before a release, but the plan is to release a full replacement faction. It will basically replace Gauls with...er...ghouls. :skull: I am not sure how the mammoths will affect gameplay, but they are just too much fun to leave out. None of the stats have been changed... just the physical models.

Am I sure there was something wrong with me....er...yes. I have the scars to prove it. Including a nice round shape where the end of the bike handlebars went into the side of my hand....On the plus side, I am finding the laptop easier to get on with than the desktop and this is helping me get some of the ideas I have into polygons. My thumb works fine, where my index and middle fingers don't, the the laptop mouse replacement things work better for me. And I am back on the bike after a 4 month lay-up.

And..Ian of Smeg16....you do know, there is no dark side of the moon...as a matter of fact, it's all dark :2thumbsup:

amazing m8!

Bwian, Great work!!! I came from the searching engine, and... oh, amazed, and much more!!! I have a question: is it will be a free models for use in perspective? I have a friends who makes a War-Immitation project (NONE_COMMERCICAL - people for people as is) on the one russian-language forum. Economics, policy, role playing and battle simulation. The last one is on the modifed R:TW-BI engine. Some kind of late roman imperia and fantasy races mix. Now solves a question about Undead units fraction and it model basis. If you have any interes on this - please, write here, or to the PM. Hope, my pore english will be enough for discussion :D

Azorex ... drop me a PM and let me know exactly what it is you are planning and how my skeleton units would fit in.

With the underfed boys all but done, I have turned my attention to some opposition for them!

For those of you familiar with Warhammer 40K ....here is a budding Chaos faction. Cue the Heretics!

https://img205.imageshack.us/img205/8167/chaos13pl.jpg

more to follow....

Bwian, it is done. Waiting for response.

The 'green' party manifesto seemed to include mostly shouting and killing...

https://img517.imageshack.us/img517/1479/orc13pe.jpg

And the slogan 'Careless Orc Costs Lives' won them no votes at all.

https://img205.imageshack.us/img205/7870/orc21xq.jpg

Of course, it all came to blows....

https://img205.imageshack.us/img205/9821/orc34oy.jpg

https://img221.imageshack.us/img221/92/16ef.jpg

ORCS, ORCS, ORCS, ORCS ..... repeat until battle is over.

https://img83.imageshack.us/img83/6829/22br.jpg

https://img221.imageshack.us/img221/8813/37ir2.jpg

https://img221.imageshack.us/img221/6661/48am.jpg

Excellent! Is this turning into a proper mod, or just practising to get into it again?

This looks wonderful. I hope some sort of download will be available.

Those look good Bwian.

I'm in the Warhammer - Total War mod, and our orcs need all new animations to work well, and we haven't got an animator that wants to do it. If you're interested, could you send one of your orcs so we can modify ours to work as yours?

Also, we haven't got any skellies, except for one model, and if you want, we would gladly use yours with all creds to you of course!
If you want to look at our work, here's some examples:

Empire troops
Orc BigUn
Chaos Khorne warriors

The Orcs are achieved by a simple trick ....

The Orc needs to have shorter legs in proportion to it's arms, as we all know. You can't shorten the legs without a whole new set of skeletons which cannot be done. There are 'tricks' that involve HUGE numbers of animations and work ... or there is the way I have done it!

The legs are normal, and all animation sets are normal. All I have done is to extend the arms. This means that you cannot use the 'hands' at all. All the lower arm vertices are attached to the forearm bones. The weapons are also attached to the forearms not the hands. It works.

The only down side is when they stand at rest. The arms are held straight down, and looks a bit poor. You also can't go too far, since the arms will still bend in the elbow position and you are increasing the forearm only.

On something more sophisticatd than an orc, this would not look at all right...but I find it completely acceptable!

Cool, thanks for those tips Bwian! We'll try that for sure!

And your undead then? Maybe I was expressing in a wierd way, but with

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Also, we haven't got any skellies, except for one model, and if you want, we would gladly use yours with all creds to you of course!

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I meant if you would like to help us a bit by giving us your undeads with full credit given back :)

If you decided to make a proper mod out of this, it would be absolutely amazing my friend. Great screens. Keep up the good work.

This should be with the warhammer:total war mod
as they're in the middle of making skeletons & orcs

those look amazing:2thumbsup:

Hey Bwain, ive been using max for over a year and i am now completely comfortable with aspects of moddling RTW models, but im not sure how to improve my moddeling skills so that i can create elements on my own instead of importing them from another model. Was there any tutorial sites you went to in particular to build up your skills?

Many thanks
Lentonius

Pantsalot...er...why should this be in the warhammer mod? I'm not a part of their mod team, and I am doing this purely for my own personal pleasure.

Zap is asking...but I don't know what I will do on that score. I will discuss that via PM.

Lentonius...as far as modelling tutorials go, I am not sure what to suggest. I have been modelling on a variaty of packages for quite a few years. 'people' modelling is not really my strong suit, and is something I have been working on. I really cut my teeth on spacecraft, cars, planes and tanks for other sims. Also, I am not a Max user y inclination, so my techniques don't really 'fit' the Max way of working. I learnt to model on Lightwave, and STILL rate that a far better tool. But...Max is the 'standard' so I have to use it. The best advice I can offer is practice...practice...practice! Look at as many other models as you can find, preferably in wire-mesh view, and see how polgons can be used effeciantly, and where the texture is the better choice for an effect. Steer WELL clear of any tutorial that starts meshsmoothing a lot....and anything that is intended purely for render. Stick with low-polgon mesh modelling tutorials.

The best thing I ever did was to invest in a really good Max book. The manual is a daunting and dusty creation, and didn't focus on what I wanted to do. For a game like this you are only scratching the urface of Max's toolset, so look for something that focuses JUST on what you need to learn.Then...get practicing! You will produce a lot of rubbish....but you will get better as you get the 'eye' for polygons!

Thanks, i will buy a nice book from amazon now...

One thing, how do you view something in wire mesh view?

What I did to get a feel for RTW models was to import lots of the stock RTW models into Max. Then you switch the viewport to 'wireframe' and you can see how hte mesh was built up. You can see the symmetry, and also how many polygons are used. Also of interest, is the way the mesh is divided up at the joints. This is important if you want the models to bend nicely and not distort.

I was more used to mechanical joints which required seperate pieces rather than single continuous meshes....so it took a while to get this right. When making human units for RTW, I still tend to use arms and legs from stock models as a starting point and reference!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Bwian

Pantsalot...er...why should this be in the warhammer mod?

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well because u got orcs that can easily be edited into normal warhammer orcs
& those skeletons as well that r a part of warhammer

:dizzy2: Holy blazes, I wish I could do something even a fragment as great in best health as you do for rehab, Bwian. By the way, what are you going to do with all that stuff? Make a mod of your own, or put it into the Repository, like your first skelletons (which I dearly love, by the way). I´m hoping for the latter, of course ~;), not the least because of the bigger chance to be ever able to use them...

The plan is, right now, to carry on messing about with stuff. The Skeletons are now almost complete. I just need to do the Strat Map models and hte unit cards for spies, agents etc. The banners need re-doing and the unit descriptions are still the gaulish ones. Then they are done. They make an almost complete replacement for Gauls, with very few actual value changes. This means you can still run a campaign with them! The only unbalanced unit is the mammoth skeleton, and this is not buildable in campaign.

It should be possible to release them as a complete faction for fun. Then do another faction...and so on.

I use JSGME to swap stuff in, which makes it easy to package and distribute.

The eventual end product will be a series of fantasy races that can be umped into a stock campaign for a bit of fun!

Pantsalot...these are NOT intended as part of someone else's mod. They are my work. I am more than happy to chat with the Warhammer team if they want to use some of my work....but it is NOT designed with them in mind. I am building what I want to build for my own enjoyment. If someone else feels they can benefit, great. All they need to do is PM me and we can talk about it. I am not joining their mod... nor am I working for it. Just because they can make use my stuff doesn't mean it goes in their mod. It's mine.... There has been much talk about IP recently, and this is EXACTLY the sort of situation that was talked about. The community does not dictate ownership or use of someones work. Thats the reward I get for putting in the modelling hours!

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The community does not dictate ownership or use of someones work.

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Bwian It's great to hear that you think so... I'd like it, very. But many peple have disagreed with you - they need something more for they ambitions... Money. Avard. Respect in some kind. But Truly respection - when people makes someth. for people as is - simply because they can do that and they like to do this work. IMHO.

And that's why I've asked your "sanction".

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Bwian

Pantsalot...these are NOT intended as part of someone else's mod. They are my work. I am more than happy to chat with the Warhammer team if they want to use some of my work....but it is NOT designed with them in mind. I am building what I want to build for my own enjoyment. If someone else feels they can benefit, great. All they need to do is PM me and we can talk about it. I am not joining their mod... nor am I working for it. Just because they can make use my stuff doesn't mean it goes in their mod. It's mine.... There has been much talk about IP recently, and this is EXACTLY the sort of situation that was talked about. The community does not dictate ownership or use of someones work. Thats the reward I get for putting in the modelling hours!

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lol it was just a suggestion, u don't have to get on fire because of it

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Originally Posted by Pantsalot

lol it was just a suggestion, u don't have to get on fire because of it

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Well, to be fair, it would have been better to make it clearer that it was a suggestion. Something along the lines of "Hey Bwian, it looks great. I happen to know that the Warhammer mod are doing orc and undead factions at the moment. If one of the team asked, would you be willing to let them use them in the mod?" might have made your intentions clearer.

Pantsalot .... Like ER says .... your message wasn't exactly clear.

'This should be with the warhammer:total war mod as they're in the middle of making skeletons & orcs'

That comes across really pushy and implies I have done something wrong. I have been following some of the stuff on your Warhammer forum after Zapp asked to use my stuff, so I know what is going on there. All I can say is that a bit more detail to your post would have got your message across a lot better. You made a blunt statement and got a blunt reply. I spend all my working day dealing with misunderstandings, and when I want to make a point....I like to make it very clear! And if you thought I was riled...nope. I get nasty when I am really on fire!

Incidentally...it made no difference as far as my decision on the use of my models in the Warhammer mod. I have offered Zapp their use, but as they are. Not modified. I know that gives Zapp some issues, but that's the way of it.

Azorex....the same pretty much applies to your project. I am happy to let you use them in an 'as is' state. Let me know what units types you need, and I can let you know what I have to fit that list.

I don't have much time so I do my messages really quick, so I can't
make my messages that much clear. It's hard to do when I go on 4
differnet websites & only got 5-10mins, but later this year then I will
be able to get a 2nd computer with the internet.
But sry if my message wasn't very clear but I had something important
to do because I had a business e-mail on something that I needed to buy

No problem :2thumbsup:

https://img301.imageshack.us/img301/...ratskel7il.jpg

Hooray! The strat map models are done! Spy, diplomat, assassin plus general model for the units on the strat map. Haven't done unit cards for them yet....but I will next!

Fantastic work

OK...well, the skeletons are available for upload now.... but it runs to about 12Mb compressed. This includes some tweaked animations, which inflates the filesize some. There is a full set of meshes, skins, unit cards, descriptions and strat map models....Any ideas where I can upload this to?

what units r u planning on doing?
right now u seem to have only mentioned
heretics, orcs & skeletons :phonecall:
unless u're just gonna do what comes
into u're head, or just keep it a little
secret???

It's a 'what I feel like when I feel like it' kind of deal. I haven't planned it, and don't really know right now. I certainly don't have a 'theme' planned to work towards, so I can't give a faction list as such. For Warhammer, you have the races all laid out for you, and can plan around it. This isn't planned. Today...for example...my hand is throbbing and a bit swollen after a bit of enforced DIY...so I won't be modelling till that settles again.

Next on the list might be some reptilian based race to replace Carthage. Smal lstriding reptiles for riding....big lizards for elephant replacements. Crocodilian soldiers. Maybe.

Can i help out with the factions, like give you ideas for factions and units, so basically can i be part of the team. PM me please.

oh my god... very brulat units :inquisitive:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Bwian

Any ideas where I can upload this to?

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barocca deals with all things related to uploading files. Alternatively, you can set up an account at the same place the Org uses www.3ddownloads.com

https://img399.imageshack.us/img399/7552/liz1hb.jpg

Textures are not really right yet ( too pale ) but these guys are cold blooded killers :2thumbsup:

:2thumbsup: Very cool.

What about something like this fellow:
http://www.wesnoth.org/forum/files/d...ighter_115.png

I know we can´t animate the wings, but still...

Yesssssssssss Ssssskaven. :2thumbsup:

Did you find anywhere to upload the undead?

look more like crocs to me...

and looking good as well :2thumbsup:

They are indeed anthropomorphosised crocodiles. They will be a 'primitive' culture, with crude stone weapons, and a stone age feel. This will go well with the intended cavalry mounts ......:laugh4:

:laugh4:
I just looked at the pic again.
I think excessive text editing is making me blind :dizzy2:

Have you had any luck finding a host for this conversion?

My friend has a mod he wants to make but i feel it is too big for him, so i suggested he should join another mod. Would he be able to join this mod, he has ideas for units and factions but he does have very limited skills in modding but he does want to learn.

Don't take this the wrong way.... but I don't have time to take on a novice and teach him how to do all this. It's great that he wants to learn....but not on my agenda right now.

Also...this isn't really a 'mod' and it certainly isn't a team effort. It's just me mucking around with some modelling to get myself back into the modelling habit after I smashed up my right hand in a bike accident last November. Took 2 months of physiotherapy just to get the movement back, and modelling was just impossible. I needed to make some stuff again for the practice and the excercise to get the fine muscle control back. That means I work when I want, if I want. Having a 'team' brings responsibility and I don't want that.

If your friend is having trouble getting models into the game, get him to post in the modding forum, and he will get plenty of help. If he can't model....get the software, get on google, and search for tutorials. I am entirely self taught. It can be done. Seriousely, though, anyone looking to mod stuff for a game must learn the basics first. I have taught people to model before, and it takes months of effort that I just don't have spare.

On the release front, I have sent the bits of to get them hosted at the Org, and hopefully, the Skeleton Horde will be available very soon :2thumbsup:

The skeleton in the toga should win an RTW modding award!!

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The skeleton in the toga should win an RTW modding award!!

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Yeah, simple but excedingly cool

https://img483.imageshack.us/img483/7937/test12ta.jpg

https://img218.imageshack.us/img218/4215/test20jq.jpg

Something else I have been playing about with. Not an original design... but fun nonetheless!

Awesome. I used to collect the Games Workshop games, but I don't have the time/money to keep it up. However, I love the worlds they created as much as I ever did.

now who would expect that u'd make wraith's next....
lol u're trying to make this very suprising & confusing~D

As I mentioned before, I am making stuff for the fun of it, and playing around with concepts and ideas as I go. The Wraiths were a bit of fun.

These guys are aimed at a slightly more useful idea I have. Having played Black and White in the past, I always wondered why they didn't put the idea into a proper wargame... like Barbarian Invasion!

https://img210.imageshack.us/img210/2106/l14vd.jpg

https://img65.imageshack.us/img65/7933/l26yw.jpg

Imagine these puppies available in a variety of sizes, from say...about 1.5 human size, up to about 4 times the size!

Give each faction it's own creature type... lion, rhino, tortoise, horse, sheep, cow, zebra, bear , wolf etc. and pad out the factions with a set of basic human soldiers, and away you go! Just a thought.... but it might be worth following up!