CGTalk - Races of Middle Earth - Character

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rockrat

01-16-2003, 01:33 PM

This is a race known as Yhetil in Westron and hirveä herra jää to the Elves, translated this means “terrible ice man”. In the second age they lived in all the mountains of Middle Earth above the 5,000’ contour, and were regularly seen crossing the Gap of Rohan from Isengard to Helm’s Deep. By the end of the Third Age they were believed to only survive in the Misty Mountains and many a traveller had a tale of “a living snow man” sighted in the swirling snows as they crossed the Redhorn Pass late in the season. Forgotten by Man and Dwarves (though they used to trade with the Dwarves of Moria) they were still known to the Elves of Rivendell and the Ents of Fanghorn. The high wizards too remembered their existence, but considered them insignificant as no allegiances had ever been formed with them.

They are a nomadic people, living in clans, herding goats around the high pastures. They stand about 4’6” high, they can walk on their hind legs but rarely do. They have long light brown hair that turns silver in the winter and live to around 50 years. The older Yhetil keep their silver coat the year round and have piercing blue eyes. They are masters at tanning, with nearly all their commodities being made of hide. Knowledge from the Dwarves of Moria survives among them and they are capable iron smiths.

They are not a war like race, but the high chiefs each train one of the mighty snow leopards as a mount, which they use to defend their clan and to hunt the wolves that threaten their goat herds. Indeed, it was Yhetil hunting the Wolves of Sauron that inadvertently pushed them to the west of the Misty Mountains and so into the path of the Fellowship as they travelled between Redhorn and Moria.

This character is named ‘Yala’, high chief of a Clan that roams the southern slopes of Celebdil in the high valley of the River Nimrodel.

rockrat

01-16-2003, 01:46 PM

Some sketches (not very good ones!)

I guess my character will be a bit like a big white chimpanzee. Not using plug ins makes it hard choosing a hairy character. Intending for him to have some (minimal) armour and a cloak.

http://www.justbikers.com/contest/Yhetil1.jpg
http://www.justbikers.com/contest/Yhetil2.jpg
http://www.justbikers.com/contest/Yhetil3.jpg

Now some modelling.

All C & C welcome!

Clanger

01-16-2003, 01:52 PM

Should be great if you can pull it off.

Fur plugins are allowed again, so long as the hairs very short.

somlor

01-16-2003, 02:56 PM

wow, are you going to model both creatures?

(s)

rockrat

01-16-2003, 04:15 PM

I've started modelling his face, heres the first render - not much to yet!

http://www.justbikers.com/contest/render1.jpg

Somlor: I'm concentrating on the Yhetil, may do a 'Blue Peter' with the Leopard.

Clanger: I'll try my best! Will re read the rules :)

rockrat

01-17-2003, 09:58 AM

I've built in round the eyes, next the nose.

I intend that he has a large scar across one eye, I'm also going to make his brow more prominant. I was going to give him big ears, but they would be prone to frost bite.

http://www.justbikers.com/contest/render2.jpg

rockrat

01-17-2003, 10:52 AM

Here's the nose and some 'glass' eyes (I know they don't fit).
http://www.justbikers.com/contest/render3.jpg

rockrat

01-17-2003, 02:35 PM

http://www.justbikers.com/contest/render4.jpg

rockrat

01-18-2003, 02:20 PM

Finished the outline for the head and started blocking in the body and arms.

I'm not happy with the ears, originally I was doing them bigger and further back, but moved them forward, shrank them and made them pointy. Any ideas?

http://www.justbikers.com/contest/render5.jpg

rockrat

01-20-2003, 12:59 PM

Finished blocking out the body, maybe going to make his thighs bigger.

Now for some fun adding detail than mapping!
http://www.justbikers.com/contest/render6.jpg

rockrat

01-20-2003, 03:20 PM

Started modelling in some detail.

When Yala was young he was mauled by a wolf, leaving him scarred and blind in his left eye.

As the Yhetil progress through their social hiarachies they have their top lips pierced with studs.

Three gold studs signifies a high chief.

http://www.justbikers.com/contest/render7.jpg

rockrat

01-21-2003, 07:13 PM

Started on the bump map. Any thoughts most welcome.

http://www.justbikers.com/contest/render8.jpg

rockrat

01-21-2003, 09:05 PM

More work on the bump and start of the colour.
http://www.justbikers.com/contest/render9.jpg

rockrat

01-22-2003, 10:10 AM

Bit more mapping and the eyes.

http://www.justbikers.com/contest/render10.jpg

Any suggestions for improvements would be greatly appreciated.

rockrat

01-29-2003, 01:46 PM

Aren't hands a bugger to model?

http://www.justbikers.com/contest/render12.jpg

Yala lost two fingers on his right hand in the fight with the Wolf.

rockrat

02-12-2003, 10:31 AM

Some more work on ears, added eye lashes and some quick fur.

Any C&C most welcome!

http://www.justbikers.com/contest/render13.jpg

rockrat

03-04-2003, 04:32 PM

:( Well thanks for all the feedback! :(

I did get more work done on him, but couldn't be arsed posting it.

Neox

03-04-2003, 05:26 PM

i really haven't seen this! its not perfect, but hey its a really good start, and the fur is great, how did you do that? you said you don't use a plugin? so how did you do that?!?!?

fellah

03-04-2003, 06:58 PM

sad to see you haven't got much feedback on this yet. I have a couple of suggestions for you,

the corner of the mouth looks to sharp imo, I would have worked more there if I where you.

I would also have skipped the procedural bumpTexture at the face, or tuned it down a bit.

the eyes looks like completely round spheres to me, no real depth in there. would be cool if you modeled them, with the cornea iris etc.. here's a tutorial link for that:
http://www.3dluvr.com/rogueldr/tutorials/eye/eyes.html

maybe you could try different colors for the skin to, it looks good at it is, but you can be really surprised of what you might see when you change the colors in photoshop.. might find something else you like more.

the hair looks really good, love it!

it's a pretty good start you have there, with some more work I'm sure it will turn out great, hope this gave you some ideas,
take care

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