Crazy - Post a sample of a piece you've made with those normal tricks, I would love to see what kind of effects you are getting. I really like that Fresnel trick, I will use that on this environment I think, just gotta make sure I can get a nice balance. Currently I'm working on the walkways... thank god I unwrapped a base…
Pretty sure that end cap is on its own. Save yourself some headache and make it in two parts. If making it for game then alpha texture will do the trick.
looking good to me but i wonder about the color of those rocks with the colors of the buildings. it feels a little mismatched, like not quite in harmony. is the chimney going to get a sculpted mesh at all? seeing the bricks like that makes it feel like its jenga blocks about to fall over to me. I dont know that you have to…