Grand Space Opera 3D Entry: Mark V. Lawson

#1

Mark V. Lawson has entered the Grand Space Opera 3D.

#2

Alrighty then! I thought I’d give one of these challenges a shot…so here goes.

In a Universe so impossibly vast, many civilizations have risen and fallen and continue to do so totally unaware of the existence of the human species. While relatively isolated in our little arm of the Milky Way, other sections of the galaxy are quite populated and have seen countless evolutions and extinctions of both species and civilizations.

One such civilization to rise to the heights of glory only to face unexpected extinction is that of the Tregg Stellar Empire. Encompassing a hundred or more systems for centuries the Tregg now face annihilation. The Ra’g’duun quarantine has been compromised and they now face the advance of the G’duun.

This is a Tregg soldier weilding a plasma arc. A most fearsome weapon, the plasma arc properly used can kill a single enemy or can sweep and destroy an entire battalion.

#3

One of the first species to fall to the G’duun, the Polythians were peaceful and agrarian. Most were killed outright but many were kept as slaves to tend r’occ’tak herds.

This is a distraught Polyth with two young buds.

#4

The r’occ’tak graze the plains of Ra’g’duun in vast herds. No one knows when the first merging of g’duun and r’occ’tak took place. But the herds are tended by merged G’duun to ensure a constant supply of mobility for the G’duun.

A non sentient quadruped, the r’occ’tak uses four small feeding arms to put food into the mouth at the bottom of the torso. But under the merge of the G’dunn, the feeding arms become prehensile and can do anything a human hand can do including weilding weapons.

#5

This is a g’duun, a semi sentient creature inhabiting the planet Ra’g’duun. The closest Terran approximation would be the mollusk. Unlike earth equivilents, the g’duun is parasitic by nature. Unmerged, it is a docile creature living in coastal lowlands. Merged, however, with any other lifeform, and it becomes the highly sentient, voracious, and totally alien G’duun.

This is an older specimen with shell spikes.

#6

This is a creature used by the G’duun for aerial transport. A huge beast, it is actually a helium producing colony of creatures. The G’duun use the transport by forcing it to ingest them then ride in the underbelly until a destination is reached and are then ‘excreted’. A single G’duun merges with the airship to pilot.

#7

This creature is used by the G’duun for aerial defense purposes. Extremely delicate and fragile the ‘kitehead’ uses air currents to fly it’s head up into the atmosphere where it spews forth corrosive spores that ride the currents in layers attaching themselves to any ships passing through.

Kiteheads are usually the first targets of incoming Tregg vessels as the spores disable ships rapidly. Enough kiteheads placed and an invading fleet will never reach the G’duun enemy.

#8

This is a merged G’duun. On their native planet of Ra’g’duun, the r’occ’tak is the favored host for this parasite. But off world, no species is safe from G’duun merge.

Adapting it’s mollusk/aeomebic flesh to microscopic size, the G’duun peirces the body and brain of it’s host, taking over all functions of the body and essentially destroying the being within it. Some beings, it is said, have survived the initial G’duun onslaught only to carry out an excruciating existence trapped in a hijacked body.

The G’duun have a pathological need to merge with other species, not only for mobility and whatever capabilities the host may have, but to fulfill their quest for completion. The G’duun beleive they are one half of a divine being and will not rest until the other half is found…in the supreme merge.

The first stop on this quest, after Quarantine was broken and the G’duun obtained a space vessel and knowledge of other worlds, was the Tregg Stellar Empire.

#9

your designs are very outlandish, i like them…is there a layout or setup of what the final may or may not look like coming out soon?

#10

Greetings Funkymunky from Winchester, Virginia. I see you are in Richmond. Not very far away.

Yes, there will be a compositional draft in maybe a week. I want to develop the parts for the saga first before I try arranging them in some fashion. I want to get a rough 3d sketch of the composition when I do. Drawing is just not my forte.

#11

I love your concept art for this one - really good sci-fi ideas! They are each really great - I like the plasma infantry with a long witch doctor like helmet the most. :bounce:

You will find the composition gets easier when you have a couple of ideas posted here - everyone is very helpful with ideas to improve that. :wise:

And Curvy 3D is a great place to be making these cool creatures - as you well know since you are the Curvy Creature King! :applause:

#12

Sweet concepts! I like the nature theme of it. Hope to see more soon, Monsoon.

Keep it up!

#13

Love your sketches. Organic to the max. :thumbsup:

#14

I have decided that my final image will depict the first arrival of the G’duun on an alien world, Ttomp, home of the Polyths and frontier of the Tregg Stellar Empire. It is a major turning point in the destiny of that portion of the galaxy, the G’duun plague being a threat to all sentient life.

Ra’g’duun, homeworld of the G’duun has been under quarantine since it’s discovery by the first Tregg explorers. The extreme parasitic nature of the dominant life form left no other choice.
But somehow, a Tregg ship was found on the surface of Ra’g’duun and through merge with several organic components of it, the G’duun learned of space and other worlds and their quest to find ‘their other half’ became a crusade.

This is a G’duun merged Tankworm. Incapable of manufacture, the G’duun have adapted many of the bizarre lifeforms of Ra’g’duun to their service.

The Tankworm is a huge creature devouring everything in it’s path. This will be a small portion of my final scene with Polyths fleeing a marauding Tankworm.

#15

The G’duun can extend the r’occ’tak host to imposing heights. Also, triggering a fear most beings have of creatures that do this, they can jump.

My final scene of the G’duun onslaught will feature G’duun in walking posture, extended, and leaping out of the invading horde.

Just a couple of more ideas to work out, then a couple of compositional sketches and then I think I’ll be ready to model in Curvy.

Thanks for lookin’

M

#16

All yor creatures are full of creativity and imagination. Very organic shapes.
The Tregg soldier is looking to me like a shaman. I dont know if its good or bad. Maybe his head is giving me this impression? Polythians really looks a peacefull race. The merged G’duun is a great idea. Fearfull creature, especially in the G’duun extended and leaping sketch. Not to mention the G’duun Tankworm. A lot of cool and original ideas. Anctious to see the entire scene of the G’duun onslaught upon the Tregg Stellar Empire.
I’ll be looking forward to your work Mark, keep it up! :thumbsup:

#17

Mark, dont forget to put a link to your Grand space Opera in yor signature. Its easier for the others to follow your work. I had to do a little browse in your profile to find your thread.
Keep it up!

#18

Thanks for your feedback guys. I think I’m going to revamp the Tregg. There are no humans in this saga and I want to do away with any humanoid semblance as well. I don’t want to dispense totally with bilateral symmetry however, but I think there’s a way to juxtapose the Tregg’s anatomy to be totally alien and yet be more civilised looking than the animalistic G’duun and their creatures. I think I’m going to keep the long helmet, yet dispense with the ‘shaman’ look. I think that’s because of it’s humanoid appearance as it stands.

#19

hey, like your initial design on the alien’s civilisation, very uniqe and wormlike, i cant imaging seeing all those designs coming alive in 3d… so quickly start modelling! :scream:

#20

I’ve revamped my concept for the Tregg to get rid of that humanoid shaman look.

This time 'round, the Tregg is built somewhat like an aphid but with elephantine features. Standing about 5-6 ft. in height, the Tregg is a compact creature with a large braincase that is also the central part of it’s body.

Though the Tregg have an Empire and are opportunistic and dynastic in nature, they are not tyrannical. My final image will depict a Tregg soldier trying to protect some polyth villagers from destruction.