[UE4] Pagoda Environment

Arendt

Hey there ! 

Generally I haven't been posting on polycount much except my first environment in UE4 about 2 years ago , so I think it is time to start posting some of my work here since I've got more time to work on personal projects now .

I've started to work on pagoda scene ( getting ready for 4.12 reflections )  inspired by this piece of work : 
http://ryky.deviantart.com/art/Red-Lights-601407037

I am currently mostly blocking out and working on materials ( even if blockout is not fully done yet ) 
Here is the current state and I would appreciate all kind of constructive critiscism .
Thank you in advance ! 
I am also using this scene to try out substance designer and so far I'm loving it


[video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9JHHNcIaNA8[/video]

Lether

I'm probably not the most skilled of the forum, but one thing take my attention. I would finish blockout completely before modeling. I know it's difficult, but i think it's necessary to understand what is feasable and not feasable on the map in term. By the way, i love your flying lantern. Did you use particule?

Arendt

Lether said:

I'm probably not the most skilled of the forum, but one thing take my attention. I would finish blockout completely before modeling. I know it's difficult, but i think it's necessary to understand what is feasable and not feasable on the map in term. By the way, i love your flying lantern. Did you use particule?

I believe I should focus on blockout as well , but I just can't focus on it , will try though .
For lanterns I just used mesh and World Position Offset in the material so that they will move around depending on the world position , it took me some time / experimenting and documentation helped me a lot here , but after some hours I got it working

Arendt

So here is some small update, haven't been sculpting a lot lately since the material editor kept me interested , but I'm actually happy with the result .
I should have spent more time designing since I don't really know where to put this lion , but that will work for now
Hoping to get some more feedback

Revolutionart

Alright, here it goes

Your deck wood lacks a decent normal map showing the fine details.
All of your wood should be less glossy, and all of them should have better normal maps.

The overall scene (textures) lack details, you should work and focus on the normal maps and the roughness maps. Once you've done that post it again.

Good luck

Arendt

Cheers , I would also appreciate any level design tips , some ways I could make the scene more interesting and appealing.
Some of the materials I made in substance , but some other are still placeholders from unreal starter content , will sure work on that .

dpadam450

The statues are way too reflective. Everything needs normal/spec maps. They all seem to look like the same plastic looking material. You could add some pots with tall bamboo plants in them. Make it bigger and put in some chairs or a bar with barstools. Then you could add a staircase and multiple levels or soemthing.

Arendt

Thanks for all of the feedback , seems like everything is overall too glossy so I will work on the materials first , I will sure add some plants , that should make it way better , but the bar idea doesn't really fit the environment as it is supposed to be pagoda temple not in our present time , will also need to add some kind of altar .

Arendt

Some small progress , going slowly forward.

Savannakhet

I think the jetty is way too shabby - the way in which the individual planks are unevenly cut is incongruous with the rest of the building. It's like the architects built this really precise, carefully designed building in a lake and when the jetty was being added they though 'oh fuck it, just cobble together some off-cuts and strap them to the front'

Arendt

I was thinking to do the main floor the same way , just didn't think of way to do that yet
Will propably add some wood planks sticking out here and there and around the seams .
Thanks for posting .

Arendt

I have some new progress , it took some time since I couldn't find motivation for a few months, but recently got back to the environment to finish it.
Worked on some sculptures, lighting and other things.
Still some meshes to do and will show more images soon.