TheIceHeLater's Workshop

TheIceHeLater · Apr 2014

Hi everyone!

This thread is going to contain my work for the workshop.

If you go to the last page you'll find what I'm working on right now.

Any comments and help are appreciated!

Submitted items:

Axe of remains
http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=253942076&searchtext=

Remains of the Tropical Arachnid
http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=263837870

Staff of Nature's Essence
http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=265334082

TheIceHeLater · Apr 2014

TheIceHeLater · Apr 2014

It's now up on the workshop. Had much fun making this

http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=253942076

StuBurrito · Apr 2014

TheIceHeLater: Congrats man, your on first page!

TheIceHeLater · Apr 2014

Thanks StuBurrito! Not that many votes though but it's great to see that some people like it

Changed the profile picture now in hope that it will give it a boost.

TheIceHeLater · May 2014

Started working on a new item for Witch doctor. It's supposed to be a staff made out of some kind of fantasy tropical spider's legs.
I belive it looks pretty boring right now so I would appreciate some advice

Automedic · May 2014

In my opinion the Witch Doctor staff has too many joints to be recognized as a spider limb. I think it would be better to turn it into several broken off limbs that are strapped together if you really want to go for that theme. Plus right now it looks as the spider limb has two foot ends, which is a bit odd.

TheIceHeLater · May 2014

That's a good point Automedic. Thank you for the advice!

TheIceHeLater · May 2014

Is this any better?

EDIT: Working on a solution on the limbs thing that might make it look better. Doesn't make sense right now.

TheIceHeLater · May 2014

After some testing I decided on fixing the issue with the limbs thing by making it look like it is tied together with leather straps. To change it in another way I would have to remodel the entire thing I belive. Any thoughts?

TheIceHeLater · May 2014

A quick preview in-game. Need to work more on the materials and the diffuse texture.

cottonwings · May 2014

That is some amazing ideas you have, really adore the WD staff. The larger red colour scheme seems unusual yet it looks pleasant in-game! Keep up with the great work

TheIceHeLater · May 2014

Thank you cottonwings!
Yeah the color scheme is a bit wild, but I am also pleased with it

Let's hope everyone else feel the same way.

Cheers!

TheIceHeLater · May 2014

An idea for the cover photo. Any advice?

TheIceHeLater · May 2014

Decided to make a custom ulti for this staff also. Any advice? Is it possible to change the particle effects and redesign the floating skull in the standard ulti?

Silwer · May 2014

Oooh!
I was just thinking about how cool it would be it the death ward was a dead spider lying on the back with its legs spread in the air.

like this:

TheIceHeLater · May 2014

Silwer: Great idea! Will sketch it up if that's ok?

TheIceHeLater · May 2014

here's a reaallly rough sketch. I'm at work so shouldn't really be doing this

cagdasx44 · May 2014

Loved the weapon and ward, are you going a full set with this or just this 2.

belkun · May 2014

Really original stuff for WD! You should definitely go for a full set IMO, the theme is pretty nice, fitting and different from his other sets. Maybe just some color adjustments here and there, but I like the direction of this so far!

About the promo picture, it's not bad, but IMO you could ditch WD from it and focus entirely on the item if you're submitting this as a single item.

Nikey · May 2014

Ward looks good!

TheIceHeLater · May 2014

Thank you guys for the kind words! I appreciate it.

Yeah, I might actually consider making it into a set now that I think about it

belkun: Yeah, I tried to make one without the character but it didn't look that good. If it becomes a single I'll give it another try! If it becomes a set I'll do something a bit different

Thanks again!

[NB] Mohsen · May 2014

Spider head with glowing yellow eyes for a head item maybe?

TheIceHeLater · May 2014

The spider head thing is a good idea but I don't wan't it to be too much like previously submitted items for him. Maybe if I do it some way different

TheIceHeLater · May 2014

The ward doesn't seem to work with alpha maps and floating energy balls and the skull dissapears. Anyone know what I'm doing wrong? Thanks!

AndrewHelenek · May 2014

The particle doesn't load in the editor. You'll have to just manually compile that in.

TheIceHeLater · May 2014

Yeah so Ive heard! Will try and follow the guide on the workshop thread. It's a bit complicated.
The thing I don't understand is that when i compile my ward, what makes the particles appear? As I understand it the editor is just an automatic way to do the exakt same thing?

TheIceHeLater · May 2014

Argh! I think I'll give up and try and team up with someone on this set. Anyone interested in helping me with the particles for a percentage of the profits if it gets submitted? Would be sooo greatful.

TheIceHeLater · May 2014

Here's my first idea for the shoulder piece. What do you guys think? Still WIP.

Marmoset:

In-game:

Pastat7 · May 2014

The theme and execution is really nice. You are doing a nice job man

TheIceHeLater · May 2014

In-game with the staff.

TheIceHeLater · May 2014

Thank you Pastat7! Glad to hear that

Pastat7 · May 2014

looking at the ingame picture, his hand gets lost in the purple wrapings on the staff. See what can be done about that. Just a suggestion

TheIceHeLater · May 2014

Oh, haven't thought about that. I'll see what I can do. Thank's for pointing it out

TheIceHeLater · May 2014

Here's a quick concept of the rest of the set.

TheIceHeLater · May 2014

deleted

TheIceHeLater · May 2014

In-game images and marmoset render. Will delete posts no longer needed.

b3jmty08p

TheIceHeLater · May 2014

Working on a loading screen for the WD set. Here's a wip of my first version. Any feedback?

[NB] Mohsen · May 2014

Maybe get a front view shot of witch doctor and maybe remove brood mother from there :P

[NB] Mohsen · May 2014

Unless you plan on making a brood mother set and bundling it up with the witch doctor set?

Then this promo image would be perfect.

TheIceHeLater · May 2014

For what reason? I wan't to make a loading screen in the right theme for my set. I understand your concern but would like to know why you belive it would be the right choice?

TheIceHeLater · May 2014

The loading screen is not the same thing as a promo image, right? because I plan on making one of those too.

Automedic · May 2014

I really love how your set turned out - that's definitely a thing I'd like to see added.

As for the loading screen: It looks neat, but I think his left arm should definitely have a different pose. It's not really clear what he wants to do right now:

a) He wants to pet the broodmother: in that case the broodmother is too far away to really get the idea; plus her agressive posture doesn't really support that

b) He wants to throw a paralyzing casket or do any other swift motion: in that case the posture of the arm is wrong and his hand and body look too relaxed

c) He wants to cast some sort of spell by waving his hand: in that case a trail of particles/flames/glow would do a great job at showing what his left hand is doing.

d) he wants to offer something to broodmother: in that case the hand should be turned the other way around, like in any normal offering gesture

TheIceHeLater · May 2014

Wow, thanks for the constructive feedback automedic! Really appreciate it

will change the posture and make the story a bit more obvious.

Great to hear that you like the set too!

[NB] Mohsen · May 2014

Ohhh my bad I misread... Well it's a reallyyyyyyyyy cool loading screen then

TheIceHeLater · May 2014

No worries

Haha, thanks man!

TheIceHeLater · May 2014

Update:

TheIceHeLater · May 2014

When making a loading screen I am supposed to make 16:9, 16:10 and 4:3, right? Is it stupid to just apply black edges to the 4:3 one? Because it's ridiculously small and it will give me alot of work to repaint the entire thing to fit in there.

EDIT: Got an answer. You just import the 16:9 and the importer crops it for you, right? Is it possible to import different images for the aspect ratios?

Here's a WIP of the loading screen:

Todestomate · May 2014

Some more feedback, if you want

while the colors are nice the main problem of your loading screen is that there is nothing interesting happening. they just sort of look at each other.
i made some superquick paintovers that might help you :

I moved WD more to the middle, so that he does not hug the edge of the image. also in your current version there is a big nothing in the middle - not exactly a good composition. Throw some action and interaction into it - here he casts maledict, and you can see the effect (violet glow) coming from broodmother.

second version would also look epic: just make WD throne over a defeated broodmother. the spiderlegs would give it an interesting visual (my paintover was reaaaaly sloppy and qquick) and put the focus on WD himself.

hope this helps some!
as of now, stay away from the edges, then you have a much more consistent composition, plus it's easier to crop the image for different resolutions.

as a side note, the eggs in the middle just look off. there should be much darker shadows, and rimlight, as the main light source comes from behind. also, I would not cluster them that much and maybe spread some single eggs around it.

TheIceHeLater · May 2014

That's some really great advice. Really appreciate you taking the time!

I Will definately do another version.

Agree with everything you Said.

Thanks again!

TheIceHeLater · May 2014

Finished my set. Thank's to everyone helping me in the process!

Will make some final adjustments on the loading screen then upload it.

http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=263837870

TheIceHeLater's Workshop

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