[FCG] Morrowind creatures

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Post by Nalin »

Euron wrote:Yeah, I've seen that redgaurd one as well. Bloody ugly thing, and looks like it probably moves pretty awkwardly...The way I picture the one from battlespire (and subsequently mine) moving doesn't look awkward at all.
It moves as awkwardly as a Khajiit or Argonian does as it has those multi jointed legs that they have. Unless of course we redesign them away (which I don't think we should). I could take a look at the vermai model we have now and see what I can come up with directly in blender as it takes almost as much time as coming up with a decent sketch.

BTW I have a Nix mount (based on the original Nix hound concept art) almost finished, I'll post screenshots tonight.

Edit: I made[url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6j6ZIjDSOwM]a movie of it instead[/url]

P.S. Myzel, can you replace my velk concept with [url=http://img515.imageshack.us/img515/1517/bambivelk.png]the latest one I did[/url]?
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Post by Euron »

Ugh, got a look at the Vermai....

Even if the animation get's fixed it'll definitely need a re-texture, but I can see how it would benefit from a new model as well. Even if old bethesda concept was used it could still be modeled better. I'm still going to try to post some new ideas for it after the outage this weekend though, just as food for thought.

As for fixing the awkward movement, the problem as I see it with how the khajit and argonians move in MW is that they slap their feet when they walk, in a sort of wide, waddling stance, like their center of gravity is off. A creature with legs like that who walks on two feet should move with a more sinuous, weaving lope. Not to flog a dead horse, but as I've said before, think velociraptor. Watch the raptor scenes from Jurassic Park (sorry, it's the movie that comes to mind that shows what I mean). The other idea I'm working on looks and moves more like a monkey, but I'm afraid it's gonna end up looking too much like the new troll...
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Post by Worsas »

BTW I have a Nix mount (based on the original Nix hound concept art) almost finished, I'll post screenshots tonight.
Yay, that's a model, Nalin.
If you don't mind waiting a few weeks, I might try to animate that creature for you. But that's up to you, of course.
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Post by Nalin »

Worsas wrote:If you don't mind waiting a few weeks, I might try to animate that creature for you. But that's up to you, of course.
That would be great Worsas! I'm working on a Velk at the moment too - hopefully you'll be ok with animating that too (amongst other stuff I'll hopefully have waiting for you soon).
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Post by Worsas »

I am just happy if I don't need to worry about making whole models. That's something for artists.

And animating, I would say, I am sort of used to it already.
For this nix creature I would maybe use the nixhound-skeleton and -animation as a base but all heavily modified (not that I couldn't make it from scratch...).

But, I'll stop writing offtopic now.
I'd say, let's manage further things via pm now.
:)
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Post by Bloodthirsty Crustacean »

Nalin, I really like your Nixmount. The 'shoulder spikes' at present perhaps look a bit too 'separate' from the rest of the model? Also, perhaps the texture could be given some spice to make it more visually distinct from the Nix? Dunno how, just an idea. Anyway, I really like its simplicity.
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Post by Lady Nerevar »

bitchin' :D the only thing i don't like is those weird flaps on its front legs, they seem like they'd get in the way.
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Post by Nalin »

Bloodthirsty Crustacean wrote:perhaps the texture could be given some spice to make it more visually distinct from the Nix?
It's set up to use stock nix hound textures as it is but it would be just as easy to "mark it" a little differently or even change the whole colouring. Personally though I like it the way it is coloured now.
LN wrote:the only thing i don't like is those weird flaps on its front legs, they seem like they'd get in the way.
They angle out so as not to interfere with the rest of its body (hopefully). They also help to differentiate it from the nix hound...

...and i like them
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Post by Bloodthirsty Crustacean »

I like the idea of the leg spikes just fine, but at present they look more like 'fins' than anything else, and a bit too fragile? Could they be made to look more like part of the carapace?

And yeah, I like the present look texture-wise too. I was just wondering whether it maybe looked too similar to the regular nix, and could do with being made more distinctive. Would you have time to see if you could come up with any ideas?
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Post by Nalin »

@BC Yeah, the "fins" were thrown on at the end and need doing properly. They'll be shaped more like the concept art when done properly.

I'm also working on a new Vermai (amongst other things) - I'll post screens when it's screenshot worthy. I actually called a photograph a screenshot the other day - that might be a sign that I'm on the PC a bit too much.

Any ideas for the nix mount colouring?
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Post by Bloodthirsty Crustacean »

Perhaps emphasise those 'armour plates' on the front of the Nix's legs, and his feet? But otherwise I'm warming to the current texture set up.

As an aside, we'll probably want a variant with a saddle etc., won't we?
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Post by Nalin »

Bloodthirsty Crustacean wrote:we'll probably want a variant with a saddle etc., won't we?
That can be arranged :)
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Post by Nalin »

I'm not intending to divert focus away from the creatures mentioned already in need of replacement but this seemed like the best place to post these concepts for a replacement of the current plainstrider. The model looks fine for the plainstrider, aside from the fact that it's a siltstrider with repositioned legs and therefore looks like a siltstrider with repositioned legs :/

So I did these
[url=http://img84.imageshack.us/my.php?image=plainstriderwild.jpg][img]http://img84.imageshack.us/img84/8158/plainstriderwild.th.jpg[/img][/url][url=http://img413.imageshack.us/my.php?image=overhang.jpg][img]http://img413.imageshack.us/img413/514/overhang.th.jpg[/img][/url][url=http://img260.imageshack.us/my.php?image=caravan.jpg][img]http://img260.imageshack.us/img260/1408/caravan.th.jpg[/img][/url]

They're what Scribs grow up to be if you'd stop chopping them to bits everytime you stumble upon them.

The first one is wild and the other two used for transport (the bound forearms forming the frame overhead)




I have actual relevant stuff on it's way here too
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Post by Why »

Scrib = larval Kwama, but those drawings look rather nice
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Post by Nalin »

Why wrote:Scrib = larval Kwama
I know. Even though they have more limbs, paralyze you when they bite you and generally look nothing like anything else in the Kwama family. What about when they don't become Kwamas? Then they don't mix with the maggot bit, keep to themselves become daddy scribs and get BIG!...or maybe not. We can take the creature whatever way we want to (if we decide to take it at all).
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Post by Myzel »

I don't really like where this thread was going. It was turning into a models thread. Nalin, if you're modeling already provided concepts, please post them in the model forum where they really belong. This thread is for concepts only.

Also, people should not assume that a concept will be used just because someone decides to model it.


I'm not addressing Nalin here, as much as the people who replied to him.
Of course Nalin is free to model whatever he likes, and maybe it will be used. No such decisions have been made though. Until then, please don't assume such things.

Edit: I've split this topic and moved all the discussion regarding Nalin's models into the model forum.
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Post by Nalin »

Thanks Myzel, there was no other suitable thread without making one myself and losing all the relevant feedback and comments.

As far as us implementing these models - I have said all along that the Vermai model is my concept art for it. I never stated that it is to be the new Vermai (though, let's face it - It probably will unless we stick with the old one) and the "velk" is being modeled primarily for my own gratification, If we decide to use any of the models I'm currently working on then that's fine with me, If not, then that's fine too - they can be released as stand alone mods just as easily.

So, yeah, let's got on with some more concept art - I have some more on the way.
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Post by Andres Indoril »

[url=http://tamriel-rebuilt.org/old_forum/viewtopic.php?p=287242#287242]Linky[/url] to the creature that I posted in my thread of artlike things.


If this specific post here was absolutely useless, then you have my apologies. :P
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Post by Myzel »

That thing reminds me a little of [url=http://www.majhost.com/gallery/Lutemoth/munsters/Morrowind/fungibugeye.jpg]this image[/url] by Lutemoth.

I'll comment more in your own thread.
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Post by Jule »

Lutemoth's creature looks awsome :shock:

However, if I were to create a creature (and I probably won't, because I suck at sketching and such) with fungal growth on its body, I would use shelf-fungus-like mushrooms, because a creature with mushrooms sticking out that far would have serious trouble maneuvering around the mushroom forest.

This type of fungi would better suit a smaller animal, for example a mudcrab. If there was a river flowing through the forest (which I do expect, since mushrooms need a humid climate to grow), then there could be a specific type of mudcrabs with mushrooms growing from its shell.
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Post by SamirA »

Here is a very rough concept of what I see for the cephalopod which is like and unlike anything in the real world as many things in morrowind tend to be. If I get access to a scanner I will upload my sketch which is of a much higher quality than this job done in paint.

Basically it is an upside-down octopus where two tentacles have evolved into the grabber arms seen on some squid and it has a shell like that of a sea-snail instead of the typical nautilus. The shell would still function as a nautilus' with it being chamber filled and each chamber having gas which helps to regulate the up-down position of the cephalopod. the mouth would be a beak like your typical squid and the creature could move by sucking in water and expelling it through the holes behind the eyes on either side of the head. That's just my take on it and of course the helm would be crafted out of the shell but the shell does not look like the helm from the outset, it takes some crafting to avoid the helm with octopus glued on look.

Sorry for the long description.
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Post by Myzel »

That doesn't look bad I think. I'd like to see a more detailed concept if you are able to do that.
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Post by SamirA »

I have a better version on paper that I am going to take a picture of after reading the IRC posted and finding that idea and will post it up.

Edit: Still not the best of quality but thats the clearest pic I could get with what I have right now. I'll still try for a more detailed picture later if I can get hold of a scanner or better camera.

Edit 2: Tried to brighten it up and contrast it so the detail may be better seen. I think the second download (titled ceph) should be better.
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Post by SamirA »

Yet another cephalopod concept, this one more of a take on a squid that has secreted a hard calcium-carbonate shell over its front cephalon. Here you can see clearly the beak that would also be found amidst the tentacles of the other concept I created as well. I think stylistically the other concept would work better in Morrowind as a creature that would be interesting to come upon but this one shows other aspects that could be incorporated into that design.
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Post by Nalin »

I mentioned this on IRC and TF suggested I raise this here to see what the concensus is on this is. You know
[url=http://www.uesp.net/wiki/File:TR-creature-HulkingFabricant.jpg]those hulking fabricants from Tribunal[/url]? Well they kind of look like salamanders with a few extra legs and I think they'd make a nice new creature addition to the southern border. Argonian jungle creatures (perhaps a couple owned by dres slave hunters as sniffer "dogs" - burrowers maybe used to dig the undersluge lizards out - just an idea).

The model isn't far off done if we take that one and tweak it back into an unrobocop'd version. I'll do it if we deem it worthwile, It wouldn't take long to do. So, yeah, what do ppl think?

I'm still working on a few creature ideas and I'll post updates soon.
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Post by Bloodthirsty Crustacean »

I prefer the idea that Sil's creatures are his own unique creations, rather than just mechanical rip-offs of wild Morrowind beasts. To use it rings of something done for convenience given the existing model rather than something that makes sense: it's 'moddy'. But that's my opinion.
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Post by Yeti »

I agree with BC, though we could make a unique creature that has some similarities with Sil's fabricants. One of the potential locations of Sotha Sil's Clockwork city is around the Argonia border. Its possible Sil could've had some inspiration from the native creatures when he made his fabricants.

If it's done it should be in a non-obvious way.
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Post by Myzel »

Yeti wrote:I agree with BC, though we could make a unique creature that has some similarities with Sil's fabricants. One of the potential locations of Sotha Sil's Clockwork city is around the Argonia border. Its possible Sil could've had some inspiration from the native creatures when he made his fabricants.

If it's done it should be in a non-obvious way.
I'm assuming that would require a from-scratch model anyway, so that'd be kind of beside the point. (And the point really is convenience I believe). I pretty much agree with BC, so I don't feel too strongly about this either.
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Post by Adanorcil »

Bloodthirsty Crustacean wrote:I prefer the idea that Sil's creatures are his own unique creations, rather than just mechanical rip-offs of wild Morrowind beasts. To use it rings of something done for convenience given the existing model rather than something that makes sense: it's 'moddy'. But that's my opinion.
I agree with this one. It is important that Sil's creatures can be considered his own creations, because that's just what he does. And indeed I think it will be pretty obvious and rather amateurish. (Not to mention remodeling the creature drastically is really hardly faster than making a new one.)
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Post by Myzel »

Taking this down from the stickies, as I don't think we're in dire need of more concepts.
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