people can do some really sick realistic stuff with just the diffuse/normal/spec combo, without any fancy rendering techniques. post an example and then people can tell you exactly where you need to go with it :)
Since the skin should me mil-spec I figured I should make a Version that has some more subtle colors. So I made a Black and White Variant. http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=680401820
I think it's fine to use a higher level of detail than most games, but no matter what spec, optimizing away less important geometry is good. Even with a higher polygon budget, distribute it according to where it will have the most impact.
Looks really great so far man, I agree with Duncan though it's a bit too saturated. I'd also recommend bumping up the spec map on the floor, and if you're able too, include the ashes that are piling up in the hearth.
pose it!pose it!!pose it!!! Really nice looking I think it came out a lot nicer without the normal or spec the texture has a really nice simplicity to it. Just find a nice pose for it put it on a base and pat yourself on the back. :)
Dang man, This stuff rocks! Really solid work. Do you mind if I as what that last map was? The first was your diffuse, 2nd was the spec... But I have never seen a map that looks like that last one. Glossiness?
On that axe thing, what is the map in the upper right? I see diffuse, spec and normal, but I'm not sure what the upper right one is. Is that some sort of colored reflection mask or something? Excellent work, by the way. Beautiful material work.
i totally agree with giving it some degree of slime or wetness. Think of a sting ray, it has that somewhat thick layer of translucent goo all over it. I think something like that in parts would help out the spec greatly.
edit: the max polys was 400 i beleive i was under 300. For the outline we were given three shapes and told to pick one of the shapes and then make a crate heres the wire aaaand texture maps (normal) (diffuse) (spec)
Saw the box the other day, had to actually laugh out loud at their minimum specs... 2gb RAM, dual core processor, Geforce 7900 or Radeon x1800, something like 5gb hard drive... why all that if it runs on a 360? :|