[Dota2] – Meepo – The Skeleton Key

ashleighmills

I'm done! That was a great experience and really pushed me. I learned a ton. I would love to do more contests in the future. Thanks, Polycount! The advice and help on here was invaluable.

Sword - http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=111280907


Bandana - http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=111278805


Cloak - http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=111287144


Shoulder - http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=111289672



(First Post)
Hey everyone! I have some sketches for Meepo. I really like his scavenger story. I was thinking about how he gets in and out of these places, and I thought of a skeleton key. After that I thought I would play up the skeleton part in his armor and make him feel like a thief. Here are some sketches I've started. Suggestions and feedback are welcome!

bounchfx

clever idea, I really like this theme. The bandit mask going on there looks like it fits really well with the character, and I like the addition of the painted on skull as a continuation of his face. As for the weapon, I'm liking the top right one and the last one the most. I think you have a few more designs in you though, yea?

D4V1DC

Shit yea! Loving the bandanna, keep it.
As for the blades maybe 1 and 3 at top more towards 3 though.

Loving it looks great.
edit:
(LOL, pwnd by Spellcheck)

ellisq

Finally a good Meepo concept!

Selaznog

Wow great concept! I agree with the others, 3rd top row is my favorite. Though, I would have the key ridges running down the length of the blade, and have them slightly larger too

SiL

love the raven skull! try referring to kingdom heart's key to get a better silhouette great job

ashleighmills

Thanks for the feedback! Very helpful. I'm trying to refine this concept before I start modeling sometime this week.

More sketches:

D4V1DC

Weapon #1

Spudnik

#1 from me as well

LuCh!

loving the raven skull and that there is a skull painted on to the cloth, really nice!
the weapon isn't there yet though, I'm liking 8 the most cause it looks the most like a blade, but not the handle!
maybe try something in the raven theme, that there are wings around the handle as hand protection are something

lishaleston

I actually really like 3. The hilt is really nice, but I also like the blade from 8.

Un_Delincuente

Aww man, was about to do soemthing similar to yours, but yours is so much better ill just sit down ont he corner and cry

Un_Delincuente

Also #3 lokos good to me asweel

SiL

1 combine with 7? =D

ashleighmills

More progress! I started modeling the bandana and raven skull. I also did some more key sword sketches and I think I've finally settled on a design. Still open to suggestions of course .

lishaleston

Make the feathers bigger! Large crow with tiny feathers T.T

ashleighmills

Very busy weekend! I got the game-res models about 90% done, and then tested them in game. I had to learn how to skin in Maya, but it was actually pretty easy.

Game-res models (before optimizing and fine-tuning):


Learning Maya!


After figuring out skinning in Maya I brought the meshes into the game. The bandana and shoudler don't look like they'll be a problem, but I obviously need to work on the weapon and cloak. I feel better knowing the process before I get into finishing these up.

HononRed

Looking forward to it! Keep up the good work!

D4V1DC

Sexy stuff, yea good thing you got that in early for testing purposes, I found for me anyway adjusting them either a little more forward backwards or a bit of rotating is needed to feel at least comfortable with the clipping that will occur since even the defaults clip and at their view range you can't see that in game.

Deadpixel.GC

YES! looks fantastic!

ashleighmills

I started sculpting this weekend, which I would say is my weakest area. I'm happy with how it's looking so far though! I've been watching some sculpting tutorials and I switched around which brushes I was using. I did this in Mudbox. I've really been wanting to learn Zbrush, but I think that will have to be over my next break.

Here's the sculpt!

ashleighmills

I started the textures this weekend. The normal maps, ambient occlusions, and light maps are all done. I started painting a little bit as well. I was really surprised following that texture guide how far you can get just with the sculpt. I'm in the home stretch!

Here's my texture progress on the game-res models:

D4V1DC

Nice texturing work, the meshes are looking good.
glad to see you've stuck to it.

So curious how it will look in game.

ashleighmills

Textures are pretty much done . I think with this extended deadline I'll add on to the back piece. He's looking a little boring from behind. I'm thinking of doing a key ring or a longer strap with keys hanging under the hood.

Textures so far:

D4V1DC

Try adding a bit of faked shadowing or additional color on that white shoulder piece.

For me I think It's just really plain, perhaps a painted pattern insignia right on the head would help? I was thinking if you also made the beak a bit more darker? not sure though these are just suggestions.

Was wondering how the cloak would look if It was a different color from the hood and mask? That might help, test some ideas I'd love to see some color schemes (as I don't know the default colors for this guy) if you have the time that is.

Nice work almost done.

ENODMI

Sweet! Keep pushing those textures, it kinda reads like a first pass right now. Get some noise and grunge going and push those materials. Looks fairly matte throughout. good luck

ashleighmills

@$!nz
Thanks! I like the idea of a symbol or something on the top of the shoulder. It definitely looks plain, especially from the game view.

The blue is his default hood color. I'll check out some more color ideas too .

@ENODMI
Since we have 2 more weeks I'll be working on this more for sure. I was trying to match the style of the default textures for Meepo, but I've been meaning to look at some more characters as well.

ashleighmills

Just finished getting the meshes weighted and tested in game. The cloak was by far the most difficult, and I still have some small clipping issues.

ALMOST DONE BLARGGHHH. When I finish the color maps and do the masks it should look much better.

ashleighmills

I'm done! That was a great experience and really pushed me. I learned a ton. I would love to do more contests in the future. Thanks, Polycount! The advice and help on here was invaluable.

Sword - http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=111280907


Bandana - http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=111278805


Cloak - http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=111287144


Shoulder - http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=111289672