[Galemp]

Vasudan Admiral has just given me a tutorial on importing and exporting FreeSpace models from Blender, and as a test, I created an alternate model for the GTC Leviathan. Like the recently released Cain and Lilith, the differences are minor, but noticeable.

As befits its tech description, I've layered armor plating over some of the more vulnerable parts of the hull. The Leviathan is now a mean green rugged machine, and feels a lot more militaristic. What's more, I cleaned up the texture a lot and resolved lots of the little annoyances that have bugged me since I did the original Leviathan hue-shift to blue for the first release of the FreeSpace Port.

This package includes the Leviathan POF itself and refreshed textures that complement the new model.

Download Link

Screenshot 1 Screenshot 2

[Angelus]

The model looks far better with the armor plating.

[starwolf1991]

A very well done improvement of the Leviathan, Galemp. I give you two thumbs up for this one 

Please do submit this to the Mediavps for any future releases. I believe it deserves to be in there.

[Aardwolf]

It's ok, but not great, IMO.

[sigtau]

Oh, hey, you plated off the exposed parts of the Fenris.  That's neat.

Just like the Lilith--subtle changes in hull colour and overall design.

[ssmit132]

I think it's pretty good myself.

[Snail]

Eeeeh. You covered over the details.




I know that was kind of the point, but now it looks simply bland by comparison.

[Kolgena]

Where are my greebles? Oh well. As long as it won't replace the MVP pof, it shouldn't matter.

I agree with Snail. This is a step towards realism, and a step away from Rule of Cool.


I would like to see the new textures as the standard release though, as long as it maps to the old pof properly.

[MatthTheGeek]

I personally prefer the original one, but still looks good.

[Droid803]

I personally prefer the original one, but still looks good.

Agreed.

[Commander Zane]

I'm using Herra Tohtori's wtf-blind-me-shiny-ships light settings and the textures for this release have very little shine, like almost zero.

[Droid803]

Yeah that shinemap's borked.

gogo 20 second photoshop joob
 
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/126554/FS2/Levy-HTL-Shine.dds

EDIT: FIXD

[Galemp]

You couldn't have spent THAT much time on it... it still has the Fenris texture elements on there instead of the Leviathan's armor plating.

[Droid803]

wait...
urr...did I link the wrong one?
I swear I pasted the armor segments over... ('cept the alpha channel)

EDIT: No...should be right...
Shinemap's still got that uh...hue-shift thing cause I used the old one as a base. I rather prefer it with the blue/white extras. The red paint doesn't go too well with the blue lights.

Well, whatever, I did that for my own purposes anyway, so take it or leave it.

[Galemp]

Well, I definitely saw the reflection of the old Fenris bits on the alpha channel (specularity.) That needs to be fiXORed.

[Droid803]

hrm, well then time to re-make the alpha channel from one of the other channels \o/

EDIT: fixed?

[chief1983]

I think this up-armored version would make more sense on the Fenris.  It reminds me of the Hummer's up-armor development.

For the TL;DR, the M998 original Hummer is vaguely reflected in the Fenris, and the later M1114 version seems to be more reflected in the Leviathan.  This mesh could be something like a field installed kit to upgrade Fenris in the interim while Leviathans were rolling off the line, and to extend the lifespan of Fenris ships still in the field.

My main reason for suggesting this is that it doesn't seem to make much sense to up-armor what was already a factory heavily armored version of the Fenris.  Do we need moar daka armor?  Or do we need to protect our aging Fenris ships?

[Galemp]

What? The Leviathan is an up-armored Fenris. It was even produced intermittently. Whatchoo talking about.

[Droid803]

You know what'd be cool?
Being able to blow off the armor panels and explosing the internals beneath

[chief1983]

What? The Leviathan is an up-armored Fenris. It was even produced intermittently. Whatchoo talking about.

Hence, my statement, "it doesn't seem to make much sense to up-armor what was already a factory heavily armored version of the Fenris".

This looks more like a retrofitted up-armor attempt rather than a factory done setup like the Leviathan should.