First concept I posted was this: a heart-shield with a symbolic Overcharged Io on it. I love the single CK weapons that got into the game and thought a shield would be a good accompaniment:
A Dark Seer concept below: his armor set from the previous war from his world, battered and salvaged. Wearing it as a proof of his survival and victory.
Had an idea a while back for a single Centaur headpiece, something more appealing for the HUD portrait view. Meant to match his manly beard, and I took the ponytail off for more focus on the spiky hairdo. Looks a lil' anime-ish, but then again I used Fist of the North Star as a general guide. :poly121:
A second Centaur headpiece: mohawk, darker scalp and new horns. Brazen warrior's fashion.
Its pretty dang adorable. Though it would be impossible for the air bubble look like that due to the nature of the shaders. The Transparency is only on or off, if I recall correctly, so translucency is not an option. You may have to rethink the flying version though he could just 'swim' through the air.
But like I said, its adorable in a creepy way, much like Itsy the Spider
Sukotto> Thanks for explaining that, I really appreciate it. Back to the drawing board for the flying form! And yeah, it's a balance between cute and creepy, fearsome Maelrawn deserve some proper minions but who doesn't like cute Workshop couriers?
I've been playing with ideas of a series of related couriers, "The Servitors of Maelrawn". Here's the first one of the little fellas:
Any ideas how to improve this? It's based off the scotoplanes (sea pigs); carrier shell based off quahogs (hard clams).
Go with the lighter shell, the pinkish/purplish one, I think that reads better then the brown one. I like this design, I'd love to animate this but I don't think I'll have the time for another courier. I'd be happy to overlook them and offer my critiques
Based of the idea of "elemental spectres", lesser manifestations from Mercurial's home dimension. They could theoretically assume any forms, but here they're weapons.
For Water and Fire, left is initial wild stuff, right is (hopefully) optimized for LOD1 300.
Hmm. I really like the idea of the concept, and I think it clearly fits the CNY theme, but technically there are some weird points for me.
So the big thing with the Northern Dancing Lion is the way it moves and preforms. Huge sweeping motions + hair followthrough = highlight of any chinese parade (haha). How do you see this getting across similarly in engine with the character or mesh? Alternatively with the current concept, do you think there's enough visual interest/anatomical tells with all the fur? Is he all organic, or is he going to be fur + porcelain?
Sorry if I'm drilling you hard, I like the idea and I'd love to see it in game,but I think explaining these concerns via the concept can really produce a stronger concept and inform modelers/animators about why this idea is so badass.
Hmm.
So the big thing with the Northern Dancing Lion is the way it moves and preforms. Huge sweeping motions + hair followthrough = highlight of any chinese parade (haha). How do you see this getting across similarly in engine with the character or mesh?
What if he said he was basing it off a Chinese temple stature. Would you still feel it is out of place?
I think the basic idea is fine and it has the cuteness-factor that would have been impossible/harder with a concept based on the snake-shape dragon. It wouldn't be cuddly enough
Yet, you are right too. This concept needs some more definition and also a re-evaluation of the proportions. The material definition is unclear and the Chinese lantern will be great when properly integrated and resized. Iterate it and it will be cool for sure.
Also "drilling you hard" could be misunderstood ^^ But we are all adults here, right?!
Sorry guys, I was away setting up shop in an annual art market this weekend:
Jed> Nice sculpt! Though I think some proportions are out, like the head-to-body ratio and the beard should be more like Street Fighter Zangief's beard.
Boltz and Sinking> I love that you ask the important questions! This courier is meant to be the fully organic version of the Northern Dancing Lion, because I feel this is a good chance for a living version of the supposed depicted creature. No porcelain or marble here.
Being and looking alive is the core of the Northern variant, but that's only based on the costumed dancers. For a living creature, I had to look into what it's also based off: the pekingese. Puppy mode because of cute and the proportions that I imagined to be a combination of Shagbark and the Pudge bulldog for basic movements. Ears will flop and swing around for head jiggling, dancing motions. This is a child; the adult creature would be fierce and more temple statue in proportions.
Like the Abaddon horse and its real life counterpart, huge gradient colours will define its look, especially from far away. As for materials, it'll be like Lone Druid's spirit bear in bodily fur, cloth for the saddle, slightly reflective metal for the heavenly bronze pot (it'll be clean and polished rather than green with age; see below).
Dota 2 lore-wise, it's going to come from the Three Spirits' celestial home of Wailing Mountains, which Valve has patterned after the Kunlun Mountains, the Taoist Mt. Olympus. It's going fit right in.
I'll be happy to answer any further questions!
Hudston> Feel free to take the sea pig! Maelrawn is in dire need of servitor creatures for a Cthulhu-like underwater god.
Replies
I use Bucket for quite a number of things
First concept I posted was this: a heart-shield with a symbolic Overcharged Io on it. I love the single CK weapons that got into the game and thought a shield would be a good accompaniment:
A second Centaur headpiece: mohawk, darker scalp and new horns. Brazen warrior's fashion.
Any takers?
Any ideas how to improve this? It's based off the scotoplanes (sea pigs); carrier shell based off quahogs (hard clams).
But like I said, its adorable in a creepy way, much like Itsy the Spider
Sukotto> Thanks for explaining that, I really appreciate it. Back to the drawing board for the flying form! And yeah, it's a balance between cute and creepy, fearsome Maelrawn deserve some proper minions but who doesn't like cute Workshop couriers?
Go with the lighter shell, the pinkish/purplish one, I think that reads better then the brown one. I like this design, I'd love to animate this but I don't think I'll have the time for another courier. I'd be happy to overlook them and offer my critiques
Based of the idea of "elemental spectres", lesser manifestations from Mercurial's home dimension. They could theoretically assume any forms, but here they're weapons.
For Water and Fire, left is initial wild stuff, right is (hopefully) optimized for LOD1 300.
Any takers?
So the big thing with the Northern Dancing Lion is the way it moves and preforms. Huge sweeping motions + hair followthrough = highlight of any chinese parade (haha). How do you see this getting across similarly in engine with the character or mesh? Alternatively with the current concept, do you think there's enough visual interest/anatomical tells with all the fur? Is he all organic, or is he going to be fur + porcelain?
Sorry if I'm drilling you hard, I like the idea and I'd love to see it in game,but I think explaining these concerns via the concept can really produce a stronger concept and inform modelers/animators about why this idea is so badass.
What if he said he was basing it off a Chinese temple stature. Would you still feel it is out of place?
I think the basic idea is fine and it has the cuteness-factor that would have been impossible/harder with a concept based on the snake-shape dragon. It wouldn't be cuddly enough
Yet, you are right too. This concept needs some more definition and also a re-evaluation of the proportions. The material definition is unclear and the Chinese lantern will be great when properly integrated and resized. Iterate it and it will be cool for sure.
Also "drilling you hard" could be misunderstood ^^ But we are all adults here, right?!
You can cuddle with snakes! i think.. but they just arent good at cuddling back :x
Jed> Nice sculpt! Though I think some proportions are out, like the head-to-body ratio and the beard should be more like Street Fighter Zangief's beard.
Boltz and Sinking> I love that you ask the important questions! This courier is meant to be the fully organic version of the Northern Dancing Lion, because I feel this is a good chance for a living version of the supposed depicted creature. No porcelain or marble here.
Being and looking alive is the core of the Northern variant, but that's only based on the costumed dancers. For a living creature, I had to look into what it's also based off: the pekingese. Puppy mode because of cute and the proportions that I imagined to be a combination of Shagbark and the Pudge bulldog for basic movements. Ears will flop and swing around for head jiggling, dancing motions. This is a child; the adult creature would be fierce and more temple statue in proportions.
Like the Abaddon horse and its real life counterpart, huge gradient colours will define its look, especially from far away. As for materials, it'll be like Lone Druid's spirit bear in bodily fur, cloth for the saddle, slightly reflective metal for the heavenly bronze pot (it'll be clean and polished rather than green with age; see below).
Dota 2 lore-wise, it's going to come from the Three Spirits' celestial home of Wailing Mountains, which Valve has patterned after the Kunlun Mountains, the Taoist Mt. Olympus. It's going fit right in.
I'll be happy to answer any further questions!
Hudston> Feel free to take the sea pig! Maelrawn is in dire need of servitor creatures for a Cthulhu-like underwater god.
...damn it..
Merry christmas guys! Keep up the baller work
Looking for a modeller for this set!
also the Xin is not bad too
Hey I would like to work with you on the abaddon sword contact me on steam if needed please: [NB] Mohsen
Sorry, it's already completed:
You might have seen this original concept art from cottonwings:
cottonwings and I sure learnt a lot working on this single piece. We started a chest project, so expect more updates to the collection.
Lil' sea pig got lost in the depths of development netherworld, so I'm opening it to modeller and animators again.
Who's up for it?
More single items to come!