Early Bird Steed

stray-shadow

I'm helping out doing 3D assets for a game and for the first time find myself modeling a bird.

I'm not sure how to approach it, this is my first attempt. I'd really appreciate feedback and advice.



It functions as a flying steed similar to Skyward Sword. At the moment its just under 2500 polygons but I can go up to 10,000 for the final version.

It needs to be able to flap its wings and accommodate the players character sitting on its back.

I have until the 20th of March but want to get ahead with it.


The Herring Gull texture is placeholder, the Designer said they scared him so that's what it became! =D It'll be getting a much friendlier look for the final version. They also want hand painted textures, which I'll be working on once I build a new mesh.

Thanks for checking this out! Help and feedback really appreciated!

Brian "Panda" Choi

There's nothing really about this that I can read that says it's a mountable.

Either a scale reference is provided, or you do something to the design to add a saddle, severely increase the resolution "look" of the mesh, or something else.

It looks solid. Topology looks good, base colors look good. Just looking at this now, I see a high-resolution bird creature model.

stray-shadow

This is my first attempt at the mesh, the saddle would be added later when I have a better idea on the topology.

I'm not sure how to lay out the mesh to best deform when it flaps its wings. Best placing for additional edge loops.

As I said, this is only 2500 of a possible 10,000 polygons and the texture only exists so that it would appear in the engine so there is a lot of room to add detail, but first I want it to be functional.