TF2 - Polypack - MGDenton

mgdenton

I've decided to try and make a Pyro set because I don't think the Pyro gets enough love. If there is one class that gets called N00B above all others it is Pyro. I don't care though because he's fun as hell.

Anyways I wanted to make him some sort of high-techish futuristic looking flamethrower to make him look more badass, but I realized that wouldn't fit the theme. So instead I decided maybe a retro futuristic style would be the way to go. I started looking online for reference and I found out there was a company in the 1950s called Pyro Plastics that made awesome futuristic ray gun toys. So I'm pretty sure it was meant to be.

Here's the first shot I found to show you the style I'm going for.



I'm probably going to make a version like this of the flare gun and the flame thrower and make him some sort of space helmet hat. I'll have some drawings up soon. Hope y'all like the idea, just not enough to steal it. :P

Lozanov

Hey. Looks good but keep in mind it has to be in the TF2 era...right now it looks a bit futuristic EVEN if it is a toy from 1950's. As long as I can remember people ALWAYS get the first impression just by looking at your work and not reading your 'why this way and not that' explanation. Advice(since you like flamethrowers): Imagine a high-tech flamethrower and the compare it to the Pyro's.
Keep up the good work I'll join you tomorrow with my wicked SG design :P

Fragus

waaaaaaay too 1950's "space-style", TF2 is very mechanical, look at the revolver,the rocket launcher, they are very industrial,urban. I don't think that this will fit the style!

Bal

Fragus, dunno, I agree it's a bit far-fetched, but it's not so distant in style from some of the mad-scientist vibes you have in a few of the TF2 maps, like the Death Ray Beam above the final point of Gravel Pit.
http://www.tfportal.de/gfx/content/tf2/maps/cp_gravelpit_big.jpg

mgdenton

It's a style that was created in the 1950's, precisely when TF2 is supposed to take place. Boxing gloves aren't really "industrial" or "urban". Neither is a bow and arrow or a machete. I think the important thing is that it is something that belongs in the era and didn't come from 1960's and beyond. I appreciate the input though and would like to know what others think.

Does an art style created in the 1950s not belong in the 1950s?

Enderstaley

I agree with Bal. It needs some tweaking but the theme itself could work.

duoxan

i dont think this exact gun fits, but with some tweaks i think youd be fine. id say it has too many curves, and make it a bit more angular, if that makes sense. less bulbous shapes and more aerodynamic ones.

mgdenton

Thanks for the input guys, I will definitely take that into consideration. I also didn't even know that giant ray gun was in Gravel Pit, that makes me feel even better about the concept.

Like I said this is just one of the first reference images I found, so it won't be this exact gun (that wouldn't be very original anyways). I'll have some concepts up later in the week, I hope you guys will let me know what you think as I progress.

Simski

As much as I hate the Brainslug and want it's creator to be savagely mauled by rabid cats, this would go great with it.
If Valve accepted something like that, they might accept something as similar as this.

Then again in the rules section they have said that you guys should base it more on the official "character backgrounds".

Enderstaley

Why does everyone hate on the brainslug? I thought it came from one of the guys here?

mgdenton

The problem with basing it on the official character background of the Pyro is that he barely has a background. His background consists of him liking to light things on fire and mumbling. Also he might not be a man. So might he be an alien? To me the Pyro having such a mysterious background means he's pretty open to interpretation. I think I like this idea enough I'm going to risk it and hope Valve likes whatever back story I'm able to come up with to explain the Pyro having acquired alien ray guns...alien ray guns that light things on fire.

Psyke

make it quirky and not too serious and i'm sure they will love the backstory enough to take the item along with it

mgdenton

Thanks for all the input guys.

Simski

mgdenton wrote: »

The problem with basing it on the official character background of the Pyro is that he barely has a background. His background consists of him liking to light things on fire and mumbling. Also he might not be a man. So might he be an alien? To me the Pyro having such a mysterious background means he's pretty open to interpretation. I think I like this idea enough I'm going to risk it and hope Valve likes whatever back story I'm able to come up with to explain the Pyro having acquired alien ray guns...alien ray guns that light things on fire.

I always thought of the Pyro background as describing someone who's anonymous and a pyromaniac.
Then there's all the hints in game about Pyro's nature who I personally would also count as his "background".

So if I had to follow a theme related to Pyro, I'd follow a theme that's either:
Stereotypical to Pyromaniacs.
Based on his feminine traits and implied ownership of the purse.
Based on his nerdy taunts.
Based on his insane traits.
Based on his unknown background and nationality.

mgdenton

One other thing I noted about the Pyro is that his flamethrower is a mishmash of things he found and made into a flamethrower. So I was thinking of maybe incorporating that into my design. Maybe a ray gun that's been modified and combined with other found items to form something more interesting. That definitely fits with his nerdiness and insanity. Where he obtained these alien items (and his green slug) fits with his unknown background. I'll definitely try and find some way to hint at femininity but I'd probably try and make it subtle and hard to notice.

Simski

mgdenton wrote: »

One other thing I noted about the Pyro is that his flamethrower is a mishmash of things he found and made into a flamethrower. So I was thinking of maybe incorporating that into my design. Maybe a ray gun that's been modified and combined with other found items to form something more interesting. That definitely fits with his nerdiness and insanity. Where he obtained these alien items (and his green slug) fits with his unknown background. I'll definitely try and find some way to hint at femininity but I'd probably try and make it subtle and hard to notice.

Sounds like a good idea, don't force the feminine thing in there though.
If it goes well with your idea, do it. It it doesn't, just stick to the rest of the idea.

Noors

arf well, 60's scifi for the pyro was kinda my idea to
look at this :
http://fc08.deviantart.net/fs24/f/2007/325/e/6/Retro_Steampunk_Raygun_montage_by_PReilly.jpg
edit: ah well gonna do it, i WANT to do old scifi stuff
Also, indeed there are some scifi/weird/space technology in tf2, so for me it's ok to explore this theme.

Simski

Noors wrote: »

arf well, 60's scifi for the pyro was kinda my idea to
look at this :
http://fc08.deviantart.net/fs24/f/2007/325/e/6/Retro_Steampunk_Raygun_montage_by_PReilly.jpg
edit: ah well gonna do it, i WANT to do old scifi stuff

I don't see why you can't both do it.
A contest within the contest, let the best modeler win :P

mgdenton

Noors wrote: »

arf well, 60's scifi for the pyro was kinda my idea to
look at this :
http://fc08.deviantart.net/fs24/f/2007/325/e/6/Retro_Steampunk_Raygun_montage_by_PReilly.jpg
edit: ah well gonna do it, i WANT to do old scifi stuff
Also, indeed there are some scifi/weird/space technology in tf2, so for me it's ok to explore this theme.

No reason why we can't both do it. I'm sure they'll be pretty different. Especially if you follow the steam punk style of the gun above. I'm probably going for a shiny new ray gun or shiny new mixed with old junk like the Pyro's flamethrower. I'd say if you want to make sure we're different pursue the steam punk style.

Like Simski said it's a contest within a contest.

Noors

Yeah you're right
There are so many participants, there will necessarily be some clone ideas anyway.

mgdenton

Funny thing is my alternate idea to ray guns was steam punk.

mgdenton

This is my first stab at my Flamethrower raygun. I've decided to scale back some of my earlier ambitions due to having a full time job and realizing it will be difficult to go too crazy. I will probably be altering this a lot as I go forward but I'm thinking of just starting out modeling this and seeing how it goes.

ant

haha..i'm doing the 50's raygun /buck rogers thing for the scout . lol (yknow toys that work)


now some ref to help you with ur long gun ...though it is way too steam punk victorian and tf2 is cast / bolted 1950's
http://www.wetanz.com/holics/media/DrG_Gallery/Blunderbusses_together_750px.jpg

greg broadmore of weta fame has designed a buttload of ray guns..

mgdenton

Yeah I saw that stuff as well. I'm probably not going to be able to get that ornate. I'm also probably not going for the steam punk so much as the 1950's raygun. There's certainly some overlap but I probably won't be using any wood. Thanks for the ref though.