Races of Middle Earth-character-BlueCougar

[BlueCougar]

I'm gonna start on the modeling probably tomorrow. Still working out how to modify the otter body to account for evolution into a higher functioning anatomy for something other than just swimming and eating.

[BlueCougar]

Here are some screenshots of the rough figure. I'm working in LW by the way. Don't know how I'm going to handle the fur aspect of the character. Still deciding on if he wears any clothes/armor/ or such. Same thing with the weapon
.http://www.bluecougarstudios.com/cgtalkchallenge/shatksi_rough1.jpg


Gotta good start so far. Front and back follow in next post.

[BlueCougar]

http://www.bluecougarstudios.com/cgtalkchallenge/shatksi_rough2.jpg

Any feedback is welcome. I still haven't decided about clothes/armor and such. Not sure what kind of weapon gonna have fun designing that one as well, guess I can do that one as an object.

[BlueCougar]

Whoops, just realized I didn't show it without the wireframe so you can see what it looks like in the light. Needs alot of form tweaking to get the right shape and proportions.

http://www.bluecougarstudios.com/cgtalkchallenge/shatksi_rough3.jpg

[RockinAkin]

Wow, looks great.
Very original concept.

Keep it up!
-DivideByZero-

[SheepFactory]

:applause: awesome concept

[cerreto]

Be careful they dont call him sheep factory for nothing LOL!!

cool looking lil guy there !

[Per-Anders]

i love the concept drawing, and what you're doing so far (so fast too!). looking forward to seeing this one progress :)

[BlueCougar]

Well, had some other work to do that sidetracked me but I got back to the grindstone for a bit and refined him some more. I did some surface colors just to give me an idea of color for the form. Its fun trying to get detail with such a simple creature/form. Had fun creating the details in the hand and the feet...check out the Raptor-style dewclaw on him!
http://www.bluecougarstudios.com/cgtalkchallenge/shatksi_3_view_1_13_03.jpg

[BlueCougar]

http://www.bluecougarstudios.com/cgtalkchallenge/shatksi_hand_detail_1_13_03.jpg
Nice looking set of claws there huh? Man he could really pimp slap someone with those.

[BlueCougar]

http://www.bluecougarstudios.com/cgtalkchallenge/shatksi_head_detail_1_13_03.jpg

I just realized posting this that he looks a little like "Kipper" the kids cartoon....:D

[BlueCougar]

http://www.bluecougarstudios.com/cgtalkchallenge/shatksi_feet_detail_1_13_03.jpg

Still thinking about armor/clothing and weapons....I'll figure something out. I'm thinking he trades with the Wood Elves so he mind have some interesting items that way as well....Open to feedback or ideas!

[Clanger]

Bloody hell, what a great start.
Cool idea, Tales from the river bank in middle Earth.

[dark_lotus]

Very Cool!!

[Remi]

Looks good to me...what makes this different than the otters we have here..magical? Keep it up Blue...let's see some fur on this guy...:thumbsup:

[BlueCougar]

Need to catch up on my replies!

DividebyZero, Sheep Factory, Cerreto, mdme_sadie, Clanger, dark_lotus -- Thanks for posting and checking out my work!


Remi -- They are equal and bigger than the size of a Hobbit at 4.5 feet tall at 85 pounds for a grown male adult. They are intellengent and speak Common Tongue, Elven, as well as their own "whistle-song" language that sounds like music, and a sign language for underwater . They have an affinity for river/wetland creatures & plants the same as the Wood Elves have for the creatures & plants of the forest. They aren't magical but they can do shamanic magic similiar to the high magic of the elves. Because of the dexterity of their hands the are superb craftsmen as well, with their work having a look of nature about it.

[RandomTask]

Very Cool!
The face and body look all inocent and peacefull and then bam you get a claw in the face.
I like it, but slow down, you'll be finished before I start modeling.:thumbsup:

[RobertoOrtiz]

What is it with this topic that we are getting such wonderful entries?
Dude your piece looks really cool.
:bounce:
-Roberto

[BlueCougar]

Well with the holiday season over with everyones ready to roll. For me, in between jobs looking for anything at this point, the time is there. Hey, plus its a New Year! All those resolutions to get more work done I guess. Here is an update on the face...whiskers!
http://www.bluecougarstudios.com/cgtalkchallenge/shatksi_whiskers_detail_1_13_03.jpg

[leigh]

Cuuuuuuuuuuuuute :love: :love:

[BlueCougar]

Man this board is busy...dragging along. Well, I'm bouncing around trying to read everyone's progress.

Leigh-Thanks...gonna have to try and figure out how to get a fur texture without using a plug-in. Maybe a procedural or bumpmap for the fur. I have a pic of an otter if anyone has any ideas from it.

I'm currently rendering out a quick blink/breath cycle of the Shatksi. I've changed the coloring scheme again trying to settle into something. I'll post a link as soon as its done, I can get them down pretty small too so even dial-up's should be able to get it.

[eirenicon]

Great stuff... he definitely looks cute. For the hair, I'm sure LightWave would have something similar to max's Scatter... because that's probably what I would use for the hair if I didn't have Shag:Fur. Scatter basically 'scatters' an object across the surface of another, so you can create splines and scatter them like fur. Not the best way of going about it, though.

[leigh]

For the fur, why don't you use Saslite? It's works pretty well :)
Otherwise, I can show you a cool trick with gradients to get a soft, fur like look ;)

[BlueCougar]

Leigh--I just read in the challenge thread that we're not allowed to use Fur rendering plug-ins for the contest. Maybe I misread it. No matter I would love to know how to do the gradient stuff regardless. I can do 2 versions one for the contest and another for me :D

I've changed the color scheme from before, let me know what you think about it. I sorta like the simpler with the plain surface, I think it'll look better as a texture with some gradient and blending. Need to make the rest of the stuff for him and tweak out some more details to his body.

Well, here goes a little facial test render, still trying to get a good feel for the character.

Shatksi Facial test 611KB @ 480x640 mpeg1 (http://www.bluecougarstudios.com/cgtalkchallenge/shatksi_facial_test_v1.m1v)

I'm thinking of a weapon for him like the one the assassin used in Octopussy in the palace where he tore up the down pillows from the balcony...the bladed yo-yo.:scream: made of gold and sharpened shells...

[mrwilt]

Fantastic work Blue Cougar! I remember that weapon. That would be an awesome weapon for this character. :applause:

[BlueCougar]

mrwilt--Thanks, I see you're in my neck of the woods.

Here's an update to the face. I finished out the interior of the mouth and refined his nose, "lips" and the crease in the middle. Another 3 view as well with the legs tweaked a little bit.

http://www.bluecougarstudios.com/cgtalkchallenge/shatksi_face_detail_1_14_03.jpg
http://www.bluecougarstudios.com/cgtalkchallenge/shatksi_3_view_1_14_03.jpg

[OZ]

:eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: ........but.....but.......wordless............100 points!!!

[Gandalf]

OMG amazing work... :eek:
You are fast man!
:thumbsup: :thumbsup:

[leigh]

Hey that's coming along really well, BlueCougar :thumbsup: Very nice work indeed :applause:

[BlueCougar]

Got the torso refined a bit more. Still letting the ideas and thoughts about armor and such bounce around the brain pan. Hopefully something will start to fall out!:lightbulb :D

http://www.bluecougarstudios.com/cgtalkchallenge/shatksi_3_view_1_14_03_v2.jpg

[BlueCougar]

There's really no way to make another on entry for an object on the CG Challenge site, so I'll just put it here. Its the weapon of the Shatksi. Its called a "Skier-kee toketh" and its a weapon worn on the back of the hand that is used in hand to hand as well as being thrown spinning on two razor sharp mithral wires. I did a real quick concept pic in Photoshop using clip art from the Corbis site, the rest of the info about it is on the concept pic!

If I need to make another thread for this object mods just let me know.:D

http://www.bluecougarstudios.com/cgtalkchallenge/skeir-kee%20toceth_final_concept.jpg

[NANONEEN]

nice concept bluecougar!
very well done!
I think you should dress him more, with an helmet, glows, leather clothes...
oyu are very fast for modeling! it's impressive
:applause:

[Totitch]

Really nice work!

I fits well with lord of the ring univers! I can easily imagine an army of those little Shatksi creatures fighting with orcs!
not sure they will win! :D

Will you add some protections! it will be nice! Tribal paint will be nice too! it will give it a more "Human" touch!

Very funny and clean work! :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

[BlueCougar]

I have ideas for his armor. It will look similiar to the armor of feudal Japan. The Shatksi have a secret process of using dried reeds to construct objects, (armor and such) which they cover with a laquer that when fired refines to a thin layer of mithril with the reed burned away leaving it hollow, light, and strong capable of being worn underwater without weighting the wearer down. Then they do enameling on the surface for decoration similiar to cloisonnet with beautiful colors and patterns adorning the surfaces imbueing the object with magic. You ask how can they afford these materials? Well, there is alot of stuff left on the bottom of the river over the years as well as freshwater oyster beds that produce phenomenal pearls that they trade and with which they produce crafts.

Nanoneen-Thanks, the armor and weapons are on the way. It will give me some distance from his body to go back and refine with a fresh look at him.

Totitch- The face paint is a bit primitive for these folks, they're a little more refined than that, thanks for the suggestion. As far as Orcs go they wouldn't be fast enough for these buggers!:D

[karabo]

you are a great modeler. I have a problem with the whole concept though, it just looks like an otter standing upright and holding a sword and shield. You haven't really changed much. I thought it was supposed to some kind of cross between a person and an otter but right now it just looks like a plain otter. It's just not very creative, IMHO. If you had made it look like some kind of man with otter attributes and features, I think it would be better.

[BlueCougar]

I thought it was supposed to some kind of cross between a person and an otter but right now it just looks like a plain otter.

I didn't know there was a rule about it!:D Thanks for the honest feedback on the concept. Here's a comparison pic between an Otter and the Shatksi. Either way the conclusion goes, I like the direction he's going.:shrug:

Karabo--Thanks again for looking in on my thread. Now to start on his armor!

http://www.bluecougarstudios.com/cgtalkchallenge/Otter_vs_Shatksi.jpg

[fleedawg]

I can see what Karabo is saying, but I really like the concept, and I think that it can truly show off your skill if you can give the model very human qualities while staying true to the general shape. For example, I really like the arms, since they look like an otter's arms, but at the same time, look like they have human muscles. I haven't seen an otter flex though, so for all I know they could look like that. ;)

Also, I think it would be great if you could put some sort of human facial expression on it. But either way, it will be great, because, well, it already is great.

[BlueCougar]

Fleedawg--Thanks for the feedback. I'm still refining his form. After I get his armor and weapons done I'll go back and see how I can push his face around and see what I get from it.

Here's the concept sketch for his armor, got it done while the kids were napping. This 'Mr Mom' gig isn't too bad, I love spending time with the kids, but I would prefer being in a production house working on paying projects! I'll get more work done later tonight after they're in bed.:wip:

http://www.bluecougarstudios.com/cgtalkchallenge/shatksi_armor_concept.jpg

[BlueCougar]

Started modeling the Skeir-kee toketh after the kids were in bed.
Ended up doing alot of freeflowing organic forms. I was thinking the reeds could be actually applied like papermache to the intended user in a form fitting way then laquered, fired and enameled. Here's a start. Still need to model the Water Lilly that goes on top of the "kee" (the bladed lily pads) catcher. Hope you like it. Open to feedback.

http://www.bluecougarstudios.com/cgtalkchallenge/skeir-kee%20toceth_1_15_03_v1.jpg http://www.bluecougarstudios.com/cgtalkchallenge/skeir-kee%20toceth_1_15_03_v2.jpg

[smfjersey]

Hey BLue Cougar,
It looks as if they changed there mind on the fur issue. That is if you have a fur plug-in.

[leigh]

Hehehe smfjersey beat me to it - yeah, BlueCougar you can use Saslite for your creatures now! As long as you keep the fur short ;)

[BlueCougar]

Whoohoo! Rock and Roll! Leigh you gonna need to give me a bit of help on the gradient stuff you were talking about earlier in the thread!

:bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :applause: :applause: :applause:

[leigh]

Sure thing ;)

I actually have this pic here that demonstrates an easy technique, using gradients, to make things appear very soft - it would certainly add to the effect of the fur ;)

here is the little pic to look at (http://leigh.cgcommunity.com/temp/orc_velvet.jpg) :D

You basically put those gradients over your colour maps :)

Let me know if you need any more help!

[BlueCougar]

Thanks Leigh for the pic. BTW my kids get a kick out of your avatar gif. They wait to watch the tongue stick out, then laugh out loud....to be 3 & 4 again!:D

[leigh]

LOL! Well, at least my avatar is entertaining :p:D

[BlueCougar]

Okay here are the weapons on him. I'll probably go back and refine them a bit more later but for the most part its all there.

I decided to include the snake as part of their connection with nature. Its symbolizes the weapon, like a snake hiding under a lily blossum ready to strike. First all the textures are place holders, they will all be replaced later or in the least refined. The gloves are enameled to look like water to symbolize fluidity of motion in fighting, similiar to Tai Chi & Taoism. I may dirty them up a bit later to give them some age and history of use. I'll add a liner to it later to stop the pass through at the cuff.

Now to start on the armor! :wip: :wip: :wip:

http://www.bluecougarstudios.com/cgtalkchallenge/skeir-kee%20toceth_1_16_03_v3.jpg http://www.bluecougarstudios.com/cgtalkchallenge/skeir-kee%20toceth_1_16_03_v4.jpg http://www.bluecougarstudios.com/cgtalkchallenge/skeir-kee%20toceth_1_16_03_v5.jpg :

[BlueCougar]

I've been thinking about what Karabo said about the look of him especially while I was modeling the weapon and had dead time to just think. I'm gonna go back in a rework him along the lines Karabo mentioned before I make the armor. That way I can just copy and enlarge the body mesh to modify for armor if I want, otherwise it could be alot of unnecessary tweaking. I'll post the changes later. Hello?....echo......mmmm...everybody's busy working...:wip:

[pigwater]

blue cougar..hey, been enjoyin this thread..wonderful stuff

as far as karabo's comments...well, i've never seen a otter with a six pack...it may be 90% otter but the sapien is comin through, unless you do some mass tweakin

the armour may just do the trick..but overall the comments made here have been pretty much in favor of what you've been creating

i think the thing is great

[dakmoden]

nice model and very original concept cougar. and great detail on the feet:thumbsup:

[BlueCougar]

:bounce: Okay, I'm dizzy enough to puke from "spin-quad-ing" trying to clean up mesh as I added detail. Remind me never to do that again!
:wip:
:argh:

Here's the comparison. On the left the old "Otter" on the right the new version. Let me know what you think and what needs tweaking on the new one. Thanks Karabo for starting the thought process!

http://www.bluecougarstudios.com/cgtalkchallenge/shatksi_compare_1_16_03_v1.jpg http://www.bluecougarstudios.com/cgtalkchallenge/shatksi_compare_1_16_03_v2.jpg

Alright tear 'em up!:beer:

[Joril]

Does he really need all that muscle?
I liked him better before.
After seeing the picture posted before I even think he should be a little longer like a real ortter.
It's a really nice concept though :)
So have fun with it :D

[BlueCougar]

Reworked head some more as well as the body. Having to move geometry around to keep & make loops and such. I think I'll start on the armor this weekend. Any C&C is welcome.:thumbsup:



http://www.bluecougarstudios.com/cgtalkchallenge/shatksi_face_detail_1_17_03.jpg http://www.bluecougarstudios.com/cgtalkchallenge/shatksi_3_quarter_1_17_03.jpg

[BlueCougar]

I'm out on SasLite, it won't work. I got too many poly's already. I may try to seperate some of the elements onto different layers and see if that will help.

[OZ]

I like more the animal version of ur character:shrug:
,ok....but GOSH!!!...u are doing a great job here!!:applause:

[Joril]

Originally posted by -OZ-
I like more the animal version of ur character:shrug:


I think our comments are in vain, OZ.:shrug:

[BlueCougar]

Hey, I'm open to feedback. I'm taking a step back now after such a big jump in a different direction that wasn't in the original plan anyways. I'm trying to make sure its the right direction as well.

I'd like to know what others C&C's are on it. Heck, let me know what's the best in each and I can use that and move forward. One thing I think I would change about the old one is the way the shoulders are. I wouldn't make them as big as the new one but a little bit more defined and wider with the torso longer to match the size of the head.

I'll give it a day or so to sit and wait for any feedback anyone wants to give.:D

[Jeebus]

I think I liked it more before also. It's not BAD how you refined it, but I think it would look better with a compromise between the extremes you have there. If you go with slightly smaller muscles, he'll look quick and agile and toned.

Also, what about adding a little indentation going along his leg to indicate a tendon.

Looks really good. Keep it up.

[somlor]

Bluecougar, I reallly like this model. Great character. I also tend to agree with the others ... he looked cooler before you broadened the chest. You can probably even work with the tighter muscle definition, but IMHO I think you should make him more bottom heavy like he was...

hope you don't mind, i tried to bang out an example:

[seantree]

I like the original best, it seemed to go along with your backstory a bit better. Like they are all happy and cute, but if ya &*%$ with them you are gonna get it.

[BlueCougar]

OZ, Joril, Jeebus, Somlor, Seantree--Thanks for the feedback it definately helps. I enjoy hearing other peoples points of views. I guess its a habit from the daily crit, you hate it sometimes but when you don't have it you feel like your just floating out there somewhere. I also wanted to post a link to a little clip of "Randal" from Monsters Inc. I really liked the way he moved in this scene its actually my favorite. He has that little jiggle and he moves so quick, I see the Shatksi moving like this without the jiggle but with the fluidity.
"I'm in the zone today Sullivan. Gonna be doing some serious scaring. Putting up some big numbers." (http://disney.go.com/disneypictures/monstersinc/randall_pop.html)

[bentllama]

I think now you can call him "Steroid Steve".

I can hear the sales pitch now:

" Try new RiverRoids! 100 percent natural! What? You say you have never done steroids? Well, you otter!"

In all seriousness, I have to concur with the others, in that he was more appealing when he was thin...you could say I liked it better the otter way...now he is looking out of place, with a mis-macth of anatomy that would technically not work...

[edit:...the other way you had the model was more appealing...he was more of an anti-hero...an underdog...every hero on screen does not have to pack thick-ass protein cable...some of the best saviors in literature are the ones you never would have expected...an underdog theme is prevalent in the subject of this contest too, just look at the Hobbits :)]

[BooRadLey]

Hi, I really like your character, if there was one thing I would change on the buff version it would be the abdominal muscles, they seem too high up to me, though he is an otter, so who knows lol, good work so far. :beer:

:thumbsup:

[anthony_rjs]

This character is really cool :)
But i'd have to agree with the others. . the version where he still looked like an otter was much better, simply because it was different to a lot of the other entries.

[Johnlittle]

It's pretty good. But I just cannot place it in the World of Tolkian. I like the original way better as well.
The feet are well done, as is the whole model,but it just seems misplaced.I am proably the only one that thinks so,but then again that could also mean it's totally original.Regardless it's fine work.:thumbsup:

[BlueCougar]

bentllama-I'm here to pump, you, up! :bounce: Hehe, just wait and see what direction I went now. John Basedown would be ashamed of him, he's even lost his six-pack! As far as the anti-hero that was my intention in the first place. That's what cool about the Elves, they look like a bunch of pansies, but they'll kick your @#% before you know what's happening. That and I wanted a sort of a "Watership Down" aspect to the Shatksi.

BooRadLey, anthony_rjs, Johnlittle -- Thanks for the feedback, you don't know how good it is to get some reference responses on transition decisions. I'm glad its seen as " different to a lot of the other entries", I didn't want to do the expected "D&D"/Tolkien view of fantasy characters. But with the "Watership Down" english country-side feel to it I think I can tie it back into Tolkien and some of the areas of Middle Earth he styled after his native England. Thanks again! :thumbsup:

Well one thing I got out of this is a new saying for my sig and the realization that if someone else had to clean up the mesh they would have been cussing me for some of my geometry! I definately want to hit the form for him but I also want the geometry in place to animate him as well without funky deforms. Tweaked the whole body as well as the face. I may loose the navel and refine the lower area somemore as well.


http://www.bluecougarstudios.com/cgtalkchallenge/shatksi_3_quarter_1_18_03.jpg http://www.bluecougarstudios.com/cgtalkchallenge/shatksi_face_detail_1_18_03.jpg

Hit ME!
:wip:
:D

[MikaelPersson]

Sorry to dis your latest work. But I really prefer the first version when he looked like a plain otter. The muscled one is a no-no the new fat one just looks like you dont know where you are going.

I'd say stick to the animal like one and give him some otter designed gear instead.

I really like that coloured ring around his eyes, makes him look old and wise.

[BlueCougar]

Mikael P. Thanks, I am just floating around now pushing the form around a bit and "trying to find the Otter within" so to speak. I'm glad you like the eyes, I went several different directions before I settled on that. Well, I've still got time and as its been said, the only thing sacred is the concept and I've only got a little bit over a week in it so far. I'll get the scope sighted in before hunting season!:D Thanks again for the feedback.

The nice thing about it is in the process I'm finding small aspects that I like, though a majority of it still isn't up to the level I want. A painting with one small great aspect is still, overall, a mediocre painting!:arteest: :annoyed:

[Projectkmo]

Looking good man! Though, I know it's a weapon... but he/she looks like he/she's going to the prom.....

doh!...

:p

[BlueCougar]

Projectkmo-- Thanks, considering it is a weapon I'd think twice asking him to "dance" after saying that....tho they are peaceful folk.:D


Got the helmet done. Gonna start on the armor after I get something to EAT! As you can see I'm going with the feudal Japan influence. Textures are placeholders, still debating about the back of the helmet. The top of the helmet looks like a turtle shell so they can sneak up from under water and look, at the most part, like a turtle. The pic shows both positions of the helmet/skeir-kee toceths. The lower one is at ease and when swimming, the helmet will attach at the back to the breast plate of the armor and the rest will be tied with a sash, (given by their favorite female). If necessary the weapons can be put on while grabbing the helmet to put on at the same time. The sash is cut by the blades as the helmet is put on and the skeir-kee toceths are "un-holstered" ready for business. I'll probably have his arms and legs wrapped with silk sashes as well, still debating.
:thumbsup:



http://www.bluecougarstudios.com/cgtalkchallenge/shatksi_helmet_1_18_03.jpg

[OZ]

:applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: clap! clap! clap! clap! clap! clap! clap! clap! clap! clap! clap! clap!

[BlueCougar]

OZ --Thanks man, I appreciate the support! Where are you in Italy? I spent 31/2 months in Cortona near Arezzo & Camucia back in '91 studying art with UGA Studies Abroad and loved it. Heck, I didn't want to leave!

Refined the Helmet some more. Eliminated some polys and pulled back the rollbacks in the front as well as raising the rim near the eyes to allow for peripheral vision to reduce getting blindsided while fighting. The little practicalities huh?

The breast plate is currently a placeholder, working on several shapes. I'll post some sketch work as well. Found some awesome websites on constructing Japanese armor and I'll draw from those resources as I build it. I'm going to try to keep it flexible and light enough to allow the quick movements and graceful style in which I see them fighting.

Oh, if it hasn't been noticed, I'm doing their warrior class, similiar to the samarai class of fuedal Japan. The Shatksi have a whole society with different roles and classes, and with the LOTR focus on battle I decided to go with this class.




http://www.bluecougarstudios.com/cgtalkchallenge/shatksi_armor_1-18_03.jpg

[Faraguay]

:bounce: :bounce: You're doing a great work! I love the detail on his hands and feet. Keep it up!!!:thumbsup:

[BlueCougar]

Did some work in UV mapping to get the breast plate started to rough out. I'll actually model the laces and texture those seperately along the seams. There will also be laced together plates on the shoulders and a series of them hanging from the breast plate. Next texure job will be on the top of the helmet.:D


http://www.bluecougarstudios.com/cgtalkchallenge/shatksi_armor_1_20_03.jpg

[mrwilt]

Man, that looks great! I'm glad you went back to the less "super hero" body style. :D I'm still plugging away at mine, slowly. Seems I never have enough time to get anything done on this, what with work and the wife and the kids. :scream: I figured doing something simple would be easier to finish, boy was I wrong.

Anyway, keep going. You are a very talented individual. :)

[BlueCougar]

mrwilt--thanks man, I appreciate it. I've got the luxury of alot of time and the handicap of finite funds. Yep, time to find another contract/gig really soon!

Well, after jumping around hooping and hollerin' when I finished this I wanted to post it. Well, its really to gloat at my success, I admit it I'm an immature arrogant bastard...hehe. The first time I really tried a difficult UV map I pulled it off! I created a UV map for the snakes that wrap around the gloves of the weapons.

"WHAT! NO! HOW DID YOU DO THAT?" you say!

Well, I finally found a cool short tut online using morphs to lay flat a mesh to get a good UV map so it may look like your tearing up your object but its only a morph/expression! Once you get your UV map, you delete the morph target, reweld the surface you cut and pasted to seperate it and Presto Change-o! You got a good UV map out of something that otherwise is a muck of lines to sort out and your model is no worse for wear. So now I can put a real looking snake skin on those puppies! Right now I'm trying to normalize the mesh with the red grid to reduce image deformation then I'll start creating a snake skin.

http://www.bluecougarstudios.com/cgtalkchallenge/snake_redgrid_UV_1_20_03.jpg

[bentllama]

Found some awesome websites on constructing Japanese armor and I'll draw from those resources as I build it.

you wouldn't mind listing those resources, would you?
if now now, at least at the end of the challenge. please? :)

:beer:

[BlueCougar]

No problemo Bent!

Japanese site on history and making a suit out of cardboard (for festivals and parades) (http://www.fsinet.or.jp/~usa/historyus.html)

Direct link to the process of making armor out of cardboard (http://www.fsinet.or.jp/~usa/seisakuus.html)

A guy stateside that studied with armorers for a number of years in Japan that's involved with the SCA. (http://www.sengokudaimyo.com/katchu/0.Home.html) Just click on the title.

Hope this helps you. I'm all about sharing info, that's how we all get better! They each take some time to wade through to get the details and track with the Japanese names of everything. You gonna have Bullwinkle in armor? Hehe...:D

[Fetus23]

Hey blueCougar!..I've been following your thread since the begining.... I should have commented earlier cuz this is great!! Great concept and the modeling is looking fabulous...Remmember Wind in the Willows??...remminds me of a character from that show, only he's made for Middle Earth :)..
Can't wait to see the finished peice!!

:beer:
fetus

[Orkan-Slayer]

reminds me of the Redwall series by Brian Jacques more than anything ;P

[dark_lotus]

THIS IS TOTALLY WICCKD!!!!!!!!!!!:beer: :beer:

[BlueCougar]

Fetus23--Thanks man, no I'm not familiar with it. I'll have to find something on the net about it.
Sir_Lavain_78 --I remember seeing a bit of that on PBS one time. I really liked it.
dark_lotus--Thanks man! We'll see if I can get through the texturing now....hehe

[BlueCougar]

Got a base texture started on the snakes, had to do it all by hand. I couldn't find a decent image of a snake skin to use, so I'm hand painting it as I go. Still need to do the turtle for the helmet, just not looking forward to sorting out another UV map so I'll start on more of the armor tomorrow. Got the buddhist monks performing in town gonna go check them out tonite. Later.



http://www.bluecougarstudios.com/cgtalkchallenge/skeir-kee%20toceth_1_21_03_v2.jpg

[anthony_rjs]

I love it!

The armour looks pretty bulky, and like it would be difficult to fight in, but who cares. This is so refreshingly original. :thumbsup:

[RandomTask]

Good work on the armour, it looks solid!

The snake texture is also looking good.
Can I ask where you found the UV tut, Ive never actually surfaced a model so Im thinking Ill need all the help I can get.

The only thing that is looking a bit odd is the width of the helmet, it looks a little large for his head..

[BlueCougar]

wave666 -- Thanks for the feedback. I'll look at in wireframe and see how it lines up. Hadn't even thought about it. As for as the tut goes, I'll see if I can find it. I don't know if I bookmarked it or not.

Here's some progress on the armor. The lacing that holds the plates together, and Yes, they are geometry not texture maps. I did make a UV map of the very first one and then copied from there so all the lacing will have one UV MAP! MWHAHAHAHAHA! Here's the pic...

http://www.bluecougarstudios.com/cgtalkchallenge/shatksi_armor_1_22_03.jpg

[BlueCougar]

Well, seems like either my servers down, or they've decided to no longer host it. I'll have to call in the morning. In the meantime, I'll just attach the pic. Here's a majority of the lacing done on the breast plate. I'll have the rest hopefully done by tomorrow as well as my site back online!

[KingMob]

I guess I didnt catch this thread befotre, even tho I see you online all the time...

Great work man, Love that armor..

Otter folk are cool as heck man, Two towers need a MASSIVE otter army to fight the orcs...that would be amazing..

Great concept, modeling and detaling thus far! I feel so far behind
:buttrock:

[BlueCougar]

KingMob Thanks man, I noticed you posted here after I tagged yours! Yeah I'm having fun with the armor....I'll attach one of the reference pics, I'm using the one on the right. Roll on man!

[Per-Anders]

i love the armor, i can imagine it haveing a few scratches on it through to the metal and how awesome that would look :thumbsup: it'd be really cool if you could have a scene with a few of these guys in there... but i guess time makes it hard to do taht, great character. keep it coming

[derelict]

it looks sooooooooooooo cute!! me like em alot :)

[BlueCougar]

Armor update....yeah its dragging along. Still not sure where this is leading but I hopeful I'll get what I want out of it. I may backtrack a few times in the process to get there but here is where I am so far....

http://www.bluecougarstudios.com/cgtalkchallenge/shatksi_armor_1_24_03.jpg

[BlueCougar]

Here's a closer pic to see the details....

http://www.bluecougarstudios.com/cgtalkchallenge/shatksi_armor2_1_24_03.jpg

[BlueCougar]

Update:
I'm currently packing up the townhouse to move so I don't know:
1. When I will get done.
2. When I will get the computer set back up again.
3. When I can get hooked back online.

I'll try to get to a better place with him before I break everything down to move. My first plan is to simplify the armor a bit geometrically. Probably the plates that hang off of the breastplate. I'm thinking about just texturing the lacing and such and save on poly count.

Alright, hopefully it will be a short temporary lapse. I've got some collaborations in development that may take precedence in the near future. If that is the case I'll do my best to complete this to the appropriate level of quality.

Thanks,

Blue (&:D

[pogo575]

Looking great! I can't wait to see the final char. all pretty n'stuff :scream: :surprised

[Jeebus]

I have to say I'm not a huge fan of the armor style you're using. It seems too clunky for such an agile creature. I picture him using speed to his advantage. The colors also seem too bright for him. I see him wearing colors that mimic nature, just like his weapons mimic nature.

I really love this character idea. It brings back to mind all of the Redwall books, (which are great if you haven't read them). Just call him "Skipper of Otters" and you're set.

I hope you can finish him.

[SePu]

Hey man, its looks great so far, Im looking forward to see the character finish !!! cool stuff ! :beer:

[BlueCougar]

pogo575, Jeebus, SePu - Thanks for the feedback guys.


I'm not happy with the way the armor is going as far as style and geometry. I still want to go with the influences I'm using I like them. I just rented "Iron Monkey" (AWESOME MOVIE!) again and watched it a few times to help give me some ideas about how the Shatksi might dress.. The Shatksi's style of fighting I invisioned is very similiar to the animal based Shaolin Kung-Fu martial arts, and I need to equip them accordingly. Though I like the idea of the current weapon I'm considering modifying or changing it to another more suitable. I took a week or so off from modeling this project to get some distance to keep to the original concept. I'll get back into it soon since we're heading into February and move in the next direction.

[mtmckinley]

looking cool! I know you're still working on him, I think the colors are a bit saturated right now. And seems too clean.

Great job, though!

[BlueCougar]

Good Luck to everyone who has continued to work on their projects. I regret not being able to continue developing this character to its full potential. Thanks to everyone who commented and helped out behind the scenes. I'm almost completely moved in and I get online at the new place next week. I used a friends comp to post this. Once again Good Luck to All!
:beer:

[OZ]

Still amazing look at ur work!Good luck 4 the final!

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