[DS2] Axe, tedark1

tedark1

Update:

Changes the wings (there are now seven on each wing), added the text to the blade, added some more jems (one is hidden behind the head in the halo) so that there are seven of them per side. Thinking I may be done?



I think it's getting close to being done. Might try to work on this iteration of wing some more, but other than some asthetics it shouldn't change much more. The text on the right is my attempt at some angelic runes.



The bounding box is kicking my butt at this stage.



Different axe heads and wing types for the angel:



Changed the blade so it would be less boring:



Can't decide:The left or right transition from the axe head to the grip.

Lowpology

Eh it really looks a lot like maybe a 'Batman' symbol? I think the idea is pretty cool though!

XRevan23

I think the Blade is a cool idea, but i think the handle and bottom of the handle need something more.

Fritzzz

I agree with Revan on both counts. The wing as a blade is a good way to go, but the silhouette seems a bit too clean, too streamlined.
I'd add some detail around the edges, maybe bits sticking out?

reverendK

i think you would benefit from playing with the vertical symmetry. make it a little more bottom or top heavy. the style is all about pushing and pulling proportions to find that nice exaggerated balance, imho.

*edit: a good deal more variation in weight in general would help. think thin vs. thick pieces - everything's very middle-ground.

tedark1

Updated: With more time to clean up and add more details. Also, used the critiques to add more variety in the size and weight of the axe.

tedark1

Another update. I cannot for the life of me decide on a pommel or transition from the axe head to the handle. I also changed my dimensions as i realized I made sections too big like the handle. Once I can figure out something with the bottom half of this thing I plan on moving back up to the top and redoing the blade a few more times to come up with something a little more interesting.

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tedark1

Just realized as I'm looking at them all like this that if i flipped the pommel/handle of the 3's it'd look sweet as well.

tedark1

Updated the top of the axe, and narrowed down my decision of the pommel and transition down to two each.

Alemja

The top of 1 with the bottom of 2, do it man! It's looking good so far!

Daven

I'm a big fan of everything but the blade honestly. Looking sweet though. It'd be nice to get those expanding lines from the guard and the pommel into the blade, if you wanted to go with the Holo-wing idea. Keep it up man

tedark1

One last choice.

tedark1

@suburbbum: I'll take another go at blade types and see if I can't get some more variations. Last thing I need is a boring blade!

My biggest problem with the blade is I want it to convey the fact that this is a two handed axe, with a broad cutting area, but still have it look like a wing. That and it has to be interesting.

naruSol

Look at some ceremonial axes for blade shape ideas. Eastern stuff especially has some pretty interesting shapes that could be adapted.

Daven

You could have a large, broad blade on the end and have the extended feathers kind of be supports connecting it to the handle. Then you'd have a nice break of shapes between each extended feather. Does that make any sense?

tedark1

@naruSol: Thanks, looking into them now.

@suburbbum: My brain is working in over time to create a picture. Let me see what it makes.

tedark1

Oh yea. Loved the idea suburbbum!

Daven

awesome man. I'd love to see a few more iterations of this, but you've really got something special now

tedark1

And I think that is all the creativity I can squeeze out tonight. Thanks again Suburbbum for all the comments and good advice.

Alemja

It feels like the one on the right has a slightly more interesting silhouette and has the best balance of geometric and curved shapes. Although I do like the kind of larger feathers in the center one, if you take those and perhaps exaggerate the size of the blade on the right just a bit, I think you will have a pretty solid design nailed. I'm really excited about your concepts and can't wait to see you start the model.

tedark1

So I'm having trouble making anymore changes while trying to stay in the constraints of the games collision box. I know we have a little leeway when it comes to pieces of the model sticking out of it, but I'm afraid I've got too much.

akacg

I really like all your different ideas! awesome work

Daven

I'm a big fan of the second one, but I think the blade can still use a little work. See if you can match the sharpness of the rest of the weapon in some new blade designs.

As far as the bounding box goes, the blade part doesn't have to fit primarily inside of it, it's more of a reference (at least I think).

tedark1

@Suburbbum: Trying to figure out what you are thinking. Do you mean more straight and less curvy? I'll get to tinkering with some more designs, but I'm at a loss at what else I can do to the blade other than add damage to it. Been looking at these to try and get some inspiration from the concepts of the first games angelic weapons. Too bad for me they're all straight swords.

tedark1

Also, I do plan on adding runes to the axe once I can get a solid enough sketch of it using these as ref:

Habboi

I wouldn't focus on the DS1 angel art too much as I remember reading them say they changed their design for DS2.

Also your axe which goes outside the green box is perfectly fine. Bobo released an axe that exceed the proxy by a lot.

tedark1

God, my brain is dead after everything today. I went through about a dozen or so iterations of blades and decided on this one. I might try to get some energy and work on it a little more.

tedark1

A little story time:

Weapon name: Finalis Donum (Latin for "The Final Gift")

This axe is the 7th and last gift given to mankind by the Archangel Michael roughly 700 ad. It was given to a knight of unquestionable purity for his heroic assistance in the fight with the forces of hell that had spilled forth on to Earth.
It is said that when the Archangel arrived to where the demons were coming forth onto the Earth he gazed upon a lone knight fight the forces of hell. This knight not only attacked each new demonic adversary without hesitation, but no manner of gift or promise from the forces of hell would stay his hands. Though he was so outnumbered he had no chance of victory, he continued to fight proclaiming that while he still drew breath no creature from hell would pass.
The Archangel was moved by his courage, his valor, and his selflessness; so much so, in fact that Michael found it hard to believe this to be a mortal man. The Archangel watched until the host of the demonic hoard grew tired and moved in to take the first kill on earth. The human bellowed a final curse of defiance at the demon believing his time had come only to watch Michael close grips with the demon. The knight watched first hand heaven and hell in combat. After a clash of monumental proportions the demon lord was slain by Michael, and he turned to the knight and beckoned him to fight along side him against the rest of the demonic forces.
For a day and night did Michael and the lone knight fight the forces of hell, and once they were all slain Michael gave the knight a gift of the axe he used in the fight. Michael told the knight that no mortal weapon could match the purity of his soul for heaven. With that the Archangel returned to heaven leaving the knight alone with his heavenly gift.
The knight passed the axe to the church where it was revered as a holy relic and as the years passed so too did the axe from one champion of heaven to the next.

tedark1

Unless someone catches something that I missed, or can think of anything else that might make this better I think I'm done.

Daven

Looks good man, I say go for it.

tedark1

Checking to see if the size is fine.

Skyerzz

I like the work on handle and pummel a lot, honestly one of my favorites so far. I think the blade edge part should be solid to add some weight to the weapon. There is too much negative space going on with the blade like that.

eazy

yup, i agree with skyerzz on this one. But overall I REally like the design! I'm probably going to steal some of your angel theme stuff for mine, actually!

tedark1

Work kicked my butt last week! Everyone was calling off and while I ended up getting a decent amount over overtime, I was not only exhausted almost all the time, but I barely had time to work on this. All I managed to get done last week was a base mesh that I tweaked, and then I managed to mess up my new mesh that I plan to take into zbrush. The former is on the left, latter on the right. After watching Bobo's video a few times I tried to make Nurms work for me. It took me a few hours to get the hang of it, but by the time I got it down I had got my base mesh locked into the first subdivision of Nurms. Not the worst thing in the world, but all the polies makes it hard to take nice pics even with self illumination on. Also, the lower two pics are of the high poly version zoomed into the center to help show the poly flow a little better.

I'll tell you what getting Nurms to work was actually very satisfying. So big thanks Bobo for showing that little trick in your video. I can now worry a lot less in the future about hard surfaces in zbrush without having to go through adding all the extra loops like I've been used too.

Going to take the high poly, nurms loaded, version into zbrush today and get cranking on the normals.

AlanSMitchell

I'd fill in that negitive space with something. It looks way cool but personally it looks like it would break slicing into a bad guy.

AlanSMitchell

kinda like this

it just looks sturdier

tedark1

Done for the comp. Will come back to this and work more on the diffuse as I suck as Photoshop. It's my Achilles heel.