Female Sniper (TF2 Mod project)
polycounter lvl 6
Hi guys!
I did make a thread already in the TF2 section, but I wasn't getting very much feedback there. So I am hoping you guys can help me out. I haven't modeled too many characters, so this is a little bit of an unfamiliar area for me.
I am using Makani's drawings as reference (with permission of course):
And here's the latest update.
And here's a little "Meet the Team" video me and a few others made in SFM for her:
[ame="
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IuMmCsHxEAc"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IuMmCsHxEAc[/ame]
Let me know what you think!
I did make a thread already in the TF2 section, but I wasn't getting very much feedback there. So I am hoping you guys can help me out. I haven't modeled too many characters, so this is a little bit of an unfamiliar area for me.
I am using Makani's drawings as reference (with permission of course):
And here's the latest update.
And here's a little "Meet the Team" video me and a few others made in SFM for her:
[ame="
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IuMmCsHxEAc"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IuMmCsHxEAc[/ame]Let me know what you think!
Replies
As far as modelling for deformation have a look at this, it may help.
wiki.polycount.com/LimbTopology?highlight=%28%5CbCategoryTopology%5Cb%29
Oooh Thank you! I love the polycount wiki. I need to hang out there more. Will work on that!
One thing that I am worried about with the textures is what needs to be a different material ID and what doesn't. On the Valve Developer wiki, I think it said eyes and teeth definitely need to have different shaders. And I would assume that Sniper's glasses would need it as well.
Have any of you guys gone through this process before?
Sorry i can't help with your shader problem.
Thanks! And good question. My day job has been keeping me busy (yaaay money for loans), so progress has been a little slow.
Hoping to start rigging her next week, and then I need to compile her for Source and get the faceposing done. Then of course I need to work on fixing any bugs that come up. So I am aiming for the end of July to have her finished at the latest.
@This_Is_Icarus Yup. Totally see that now. Will fix that!
Also this is really nitpicky but it's kinda bugging me - the shirt hangs really low at her armpits so it makes it seem like she has flabby skin there or something, which would be strange since the rest of her is so thin haha. Keep it up I can't wait to see the texture finished :]
Yeah, the uvs have been a bit of a puzzle. :T See, I'm trying to set them up like the original model just to keep consistent, but... the files I have are a bit confusing. I think I have the textures for both the player model and the hwm model used for Source Filmmaker, but I am not sure...
Here are Sniper's original diffuse textures:
So there's the 1024x512 one for the body, but then there's the 1024x1024 texture dedicated to the head. My guess is that the 1024x512 texture is for the player model used in game. And how does the 1024x512 work? I've only used square textures, so I don't even know how a 1024x512 is set up.
My goal is to create the hwm model first for Source Filmmaker, then create the player model for the mod. With that in mind, do you think I am setting up the texture correctly?
Thanks for nice crit Jessica!
Also, got rid of the flabby grandma armpits:
Going to keep plugging away at it!
right now the overall curve of the arms seems somewhat bowed outward at the elbow, which looks "wrong". puffing them inward would help flatten the outer silhouette.
good job though, i really like this!
This definitely feels more like TF2's style than what I have right now. I was having trouble getting the "caricature" features in there. Thank you so much for the paint-over! This is really going to help!
Makani, the concept artist, sent me this paint-over for the profile when the model was in its early stages, so that's what I have been following:
But since it's only the profile, I've had a little trouble with the front view.
Alrighty! Time to rework that face! Be back soon!
Also started messing around with the shape of her glasses. Still trying to find a style that fits her face well.
So I have been getting some feedback from the TF2 community, and I ended up trying out Fem Sniper with her midsection bare, as it was in the original sketches. The only reason I didn't have it bare before was because I thought such a big section of flesh-tone might break up the design. I ended up liking this version with her midsection bare better, but I'd love to hear what you guys think:
Of course, still working on the texture. I'm going to hop into Zbrush soon to sculpt out some cloth folds for the normal map.
Also worked on her face a tad:
Here's a little teaser trailer I made in SFM.
So the model is finished for now. I ended up getting help from a programmer buddy on Steam to get her functioning in Source. I tried myself and ended up breaking Maya, SFM, and Steam all together (which is quite embarrassing since I'm supposed to be studying tech art. Perhaps this is a sign. XD)
We might end up updating the model in the future, because I know I'd like to at least have another go at the mouth geometry. It ended up working okay, but not as good as I would like it to be.
My programmer buddy is finishing up a few bug fixes, so we should be able to release her soon.
I'll keep you guys posted!
Ah yes I see what you mean. I'll try to fix that in an update if I can. I'm going to be creating a few more models in the next couple of months so I'll watch out for that a little more carefully.
http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=183746953
The model is still in beta because the voice actress and I are finishing the soundpack. Maxxy is also fixing various bugs and whatnot.
We wanted to release the model in time for the TF2 Saxxy Awards, just in case people wanted to use her.
It's been fun seeing all the SFM posters people have made so far. It also reminds me of all the stuff I want to change on the model. XD
This certainly was a learning process, so thanks again for all your help guys. I plan on creating some more fem models for TF2, and I'll be sure to post them here!
[ame="
i love it!
Jokes, great work, mate. Really top-notch stuff: if I hadn't known better, I would have thought Source made it.
Thank you! So glad you guys like it!
By the way, is there a 'Meet the Fem Spy?' video by you guys?
There's a crushed beer can on the title page if you look closely. XD
I have not made any other "Meet the Team" shorts for the lady mercs yet. It's hard getting functioning custom models for SFM. ChemicalAlia made some great female tf2 models a while back, but they weren't created for SFM. So there are rigging and faceposing problems, which makes it hard to create good close-up acting shots.
I do plan on creating a whole set of Makani's fem classes, so even if I can't find someone to help with with ChemicalAlia's models (she doesn't have access to the original files at the moment), at least I'll have my own models to work with. It's just going to take me some time.