taylor, what's your take on detail-boxes?
When and how should they be used? What's the efficient texture usage with them?
Omniscaper already made a huge impact with his Deathstar, however AFAIK few modellers truely know what they are and how to use them.
On a sidenote: Shinemaps are a lot more than 8-bit black and white images!
Almost none of our models (except the Rahu, Shivan gasminer) use them to their true potnetial.
Bobbau designed something that's way ahead it's time it can:
-Convey the 'texture' of the surface: rough, smooth, jagged, ect // Just apply the apropiate noise maps to the area
-Convey the shine 'color' of the surface. Once again brighting/darkening the main map can work, but there's so much more to this. Ever seen the Arcadia with the blue tint? ....brass, copper, lead, silver, gold, ruby, emerald....all are possible if you're willing to experiment with shine colors different from the main texture.