Hard Light Productions Forums

Modding, Mission Design, and Coding => The Modding Workshop => Topic started by: StratComm on March 30, 2005, 01:09:33 am

Title: Suggestions?
Post by: StratComm on March 30, 2005, 01:09:33 am
I'm working on the last capital element to my terran fleet, a fleet carrier.  There's the revamp of the old Phoenix class...

(http://www.duke.edu/~cek6/phoenix_new1.jpg)
(http://www.duke.edu/~cek6/phoenix_new2.jpg)
(http://www.duke.edu/~cek6/phoenix_new3.jpg)

it's completely ready for in-game use including LODs, debris, pathing, even the obscure header stuff that as far as I know, unless you've written a converter, only I know about.  It's what I would consider to be a release-grade model.  But, that face on the front (look at the main guns and the windows below :ick:) is going to keep me from releasing it.  If you really want it over any alternative, I'll (grudgingly :rolleyes:) give it to you.  However, that's not why I'm starting a new thread.  Instead of the light strike carrier with the elephant-ears hanger bays, I'm taking a more sturdy and much larger approach to this.  It's going to be on-par with the Raynor class in size and structure, but with a drastically different profile.  Tentatively called the Titan, here's what I have so far:

(http://www.duke.edu/~cek6/carrier_wip_1.jpg)
(http://www.duke.edu/~cek6/carrier_wip_2.jpg)
(http://www.duke.edu/~cek6/carrier_wip_3.jpg)
(http://www.duke.edu/~cek6/carrier_wip_4.jpg)
(http://www.duke.edu/~cek6/carrier_wip_5.jpg)

It's late and it may just be my creative juices falling to sleep.  But I'll put what I have up for you all to look at and give me feedback on; I really need an idea for the front ~1/3.  The area that's missing needs to be mostly hanger space, I'm just not really sure how to go about that.
Title: Suggestions?
Post by: neo_hermes on March 30, 2005, 01:16:59 am
Those Engines look Rather interesting.:nod: everytime a look at them though i imagine some sort of sphere to be at the fore end of the ship.
Title: Suggestions?
Post by: StratComm on March 30, 2005, 02:04:24 am
Something bulbous is the direction I'm leaning.  Trouble is, something on the front half has to drop way down from where I've constructed to.  The bottom engine block is currently not behind anything, and for balance I need something down there.  The bit I've got forward of the tubes probably has to go and get redone, likely in a tall, vertical style.  I actually have an idea as to how to go about this, but I still want feedback.
Title: Suggestions?
Post by: karajorma on March 30, 2005, 04:47:34 am
Repent sinners. For you face the evil face of DOOM!!!!

(http://homepage.ntlworld.com/karajorma/freespace/Misc-Pics/phoenix_new3.jpg)

:lol:

You know if you hadn't mentioned it I doubt anyone would have spotted it :D Couldn't you just more the front turrets a bit futher up? :)

To be honest I reckon a couple of minor changes would save the old version. If you don't want it I certainly wouldn't mind taking a look.

The new version is of course very good :D
Title: Suggestions?
Post by: aldo_14 on March 30, 2005, 04:57:01 am
What's wrong with having a face?  Just look at the front turrets of the Damocles (http://www.sectorgame.com/aldo/media/gtd_carrier.jpg)......
Title: Suggestions?
Post by: Black Wolf on March 30, 2005, 05:39:29 am
Quote
Originally posted by aldo_14
Damocles (http://www.sectorgame.com/aldo/media/gtd_carrier.jpg)......


Damn that's a cool model/render. Not to diminish what SC's done - I'm really looking forward to seeing that engine block ingame and glowing - but... damn.
Title: Suggestions?
Post by: BlackDove on March 30, 2005, 05:55:50 am
With all those engines, it better be FAST. :p

Looks :yes:  to me tho.
Title: Suggestions?
Post by: StratComm on March 30, 2005, 08:15:45 am
ROFL @ kara's pic :p

Actually it would have taken precisely .02 seconds for almost anyone to notice.  Besides, those huge hangers aren't exactly practical, since their volume is almost completely unused.
Title: Suggestions?
Post by: Alpha_Monkey on March 30, 2005, 04:58:06 pm
personally, i like the big chunky carrier design.

reminds me of something you'd see in homeworld cataclysm.
Title: Suggestions?
Post by: Grug on March 30, 2005, 05:12:48 pm
:lol:@ kara's pic.

I like both versions really.

The new one looks like two vasuden cruisers having dolphin intercourse... :p
Title: Suggestions?
Post by: StratComm on March 30, 2005, 05:24:10 pm
The sad thing is, the first design looks worse than what Kara posted from certain angles.  But I find it interesting that a lot of folks like it.
Title: Suggestions?
Post by: Grug on March 30, 2005, 05:33:43 pm
Take a few more screens of a well lit version, forget the atmosphere for the moment. :p

I find it original yet remeniscant of the Droid Frigate from Homeworld.
It just appeals to me. :)
Title: Suggestions?
Post by: StratComm on March 30, 2005, 06:21:09 pm
Ok, fine.  I'd hoped to not have to show it so blatently.
(http://www.duke.edu/~cek6/phoenix_new4.jpg)

I can't stand the thing grinning back at me, so I'm building something different out of spite :p
Title: Suggestions?
Post by: Ransom on March 30, 2005, 07:09:27 pm
Haha... it looks like an autistic elephant with tiny feet. The other angles didn't look so bad, but now I see the problem all too clearly.

The face is disturbing... but couldn't you, I dunno, divide the two hangers in half or something?
Title: Suggestions?
Post by: Gregster2k on March 30, 2005, 07:33:54 pm
Replace the two glowing orbs for eyes with a single long horizontal strip in their place of the same color as the orbs (blue) -- essentially, a blue bar above the "mouth". Problem solved? :)
Title: Suggestions?
Post by: Unknown Target on March 30, 2005, 07:34:57 pm
Make those sharp angles that make it into a smiley face, and lower them until they're even with the center. Also, delete those ion beams maybe and put them vertically in the center.
Title: Suggestions?
Post by: Taristin on March 30, 2005, 07:41:22 pm
Quote
Originally posted by aldo_14
What's wrong with having a face?  Just look at the front turrets of the Damocles (http://www.sectorgame.com/aldo/media/gtd_carrier.jpg)......


The Damocles (http://3dap.com/hlp/hosted/14_year_war/Raa/damglory.jpg)...? Now why is that name familiar? :rolleyes:
Title: Suggestions?
Post by: Taristin on March 30, 2005, 07:43:16 pm
Quote
Originally posted by StratComm
Ok, fine.  I'd hoped to not have to show it so blatently.
http://www.duke.edu/~cek6/phoenix_new4.jpg

I can't stand the thing grinning back at me, so I'm building something different out of spite :p


*dies laughing*

*gasps for air*

*passes out, and hits the floor with a "THUD!"*
Title: Suggestions?
Post by: Grug on March 30, 2005, 07:49:55 pm
:lol: ROFL!

The problem is revealed. lol.

But no need to waste an entire model because of that. Just pointalize it, get rid of the face and fixed.

...:lol:

Does it shoot beams out of the eyes? Get a pic of it shooting laser beams out of its eyes! :p
Title: Suggestions?
Post by: DaBrain on March 30, 2005, 07:58:16 pm
Oh man it does look funny now. I didn't even realize it before Kara posted that pic. :D

Quote
Originally posted by Grug


Does it shoot beams out of the eyes? Get a pic of it shooting laser beams out of its eyes! :p


:lol: :lol: :lol: (http://www.forum-3dcenter.org/vbulletin/images/3dc/smilies/common/biggrinflip.gif) (http://www.forum-3dcenter.org/vbulletin/images/3dc/smilies/common/biggrinflip.gif) (http://www.forum-3dcenter.org/vbulletin/images/3dc/smilies/common/biggrinflip.gif)
Title: Suggestions?
Post by: StratComm on March 30, 2005, 08:23:22 pm
And no one believed me when I said it wasn't usable :rolleyes:

Anyway, it's done.  I'm not reworking the whole damn thing just to make the eyes problem slightly better.  I'm just coming up with something new.
Title: Suggestions?
Post by: Grug on March 30, 2005, 08:37:23 pm
Can I use the model in a freespace parody video?

Looks like its saying "Bwwwaaaaarrrr! I a shooty you with-a lazy beams! Bwaaaaaarrrrr!"
:lol: :p

Still, nice works man. :D
Title: Suggestions?
Post by: ShadowWolf_IH on March 30, 2005, 08:59:34 pm
actually...if you got rid of the mouth it wouldn't look bad at all.  I rather like it in fact.  even it retains the shape...it isn't a bad thing...look at the Grasshopper head on a hecate

or maybe just make it frown....nah that won't work either..i could still pick the autistic elephant out of a police line up.  Remember the grin that the Stay Puft Marshmallow man had when he was stomping New York in Ghostbusters?  Is that NOT the same grin?

Seriously, try getting rid of the mouth entirely.

i am trying so hard not to trash it, and i am dying laughing.
Title: Suggestions?
Post by: StratComm on March 31, 2005, 12:17:51 am
So bulbous it is.  This is just a general shape; I'll detail it and clean it up as it progresses.

(http://www.duke.edu/~cek6/carrier_wip_6.jpg)
(http://www.duke.edu/~cek6/carrier_wip_7.jpg)
(http://www.duke.edu/~cek6/carrier_wip_8.jpg)

And what it looks like, untextured, with respect to the rest of the fleet.  For reference.
(http://www.duke.edu/~cek6/fleet_comparison_1.jpg)
(http://www.duke.edu/~cek6/fleet_comparison_2.jpg)


Quote
Originally posted by ShadowWolf_IH
actually...if you got rid of the mouth it wouldn't look bad at all.  I rather like it in fact.  even it retains the shape...it isn't a bad thing...look at the Grasshopper head on a hecate

or maybe just make it frown....nah that won't work either..i could still pick the autistic elephant out of a police line up.  Remember the grin that the Stay Puft Marshmallow man had when he was stomping New York in Ghostbusters?  Is that NOT the same grin?

Seriously, try getting rid of the mouth entirely.

i am trying so hard not to trash it, and i am dying laughing.


No, laugh.  Trash it away.  I think I scared my roommate the first time I noticed it; I literally fell out of my chair laughing.  Believe me, there's no pity being asked for here ;)
Title: Suggestions?
Post by: karajorma on March 31, 2005, 03:42:44 am
Put it up for download (along with the cob or max file) and let us play with it then :)

THe new ship is much nicer though :D
Title: Suggestions?
Post by: aldo_14 on March 31, 2005, 03:51:15 am
Quote
Originally posted by StratComm
Ok, fine.  I'd hoped to not have to show it so blatently.
(http://www.duke.edu/~cek6/phoenix_new4.jpg)

I can't stand the thing grinning back at me, so I'm building something different out of spite :p


Just move the turrets to the middle & vertically align them (one above the other)... I actually quite like Dumbo, here, because of that 'ear' lighting detail.
Title: Suggestions?
Post by: NGTM-1R on March 31, 2005, 05:52:46 am
Cataclysm Swarmer Frigate.

I like the Swarmer, don't worry. Aldo's right, though, it's really quite easily solved...
Title: Suggestions?
Post by: aldo_14 on March 31, 2005, 06:26:37 am
Actually....adding some asymmetric detail to the front would also fix it.
Title: Suggestions?
Post by: StratComm on March 31, 2005, 02:43:23 pm
Quote
Originally posted by karajorma
Put it up for download (along with the cob or max file) and let us play with it then :)


Done.  It's in Max 5 and pof; all of the textures are either in the zip or are common to FS2 or my fleet pack.  If you're missing anything, let me know.  This is only going to stay up for a few days though, so if you want to play with it, grab it fast.

PhoenixCarrier.zip (http://www.duke.edu/~cek6/PhoenixCarrier.zip)

That scene is also a very good reference for making a capital ship POF out of a Max scene.  It's missing glowpoints if you'd want to use those, and as it's not a fighter has no insignia, gun/missile banks, or shields, but I think everything else you'd need to convert is where it should be.  The detail is a little more thorough than the sample conversion scene Styxx provided with the converter.
Title: Suggestions?
Post by: karajorma on March 31, 2005, 02:59:46 pm
Which is one of the main reasons I wanted it :D I'm not planning one at the moment but if I ever get around to making a DEM style campaign have you got any objection to the dumbo face of doom making a re-appearance? :D
Title: Suggestions?
Post by: Roanoke on March 31, 2005, 03:02:31 pm
you could just reposition the "eyes" into a vertical arrangement in the central (lighter texture) position.
Title: Suggestions?
Post by: StratComm on March 31, 2005, 03:04:58 pm
Quote
Originally posted by karajorma
Which is one of the main reasons I wanted it :D I'm not planning one at the moment but if I ever get around to making a DEM style campaign have you got any objection to the dumbo face of doom making a re-appearance? :D


I'd rather the Dumbo face never made another appearance in-game, but I did give you the pof :p  You're welcome to do whatever you like out of it, of course.  And if someone makes a non-retarded version, please release that as well.
Title: Suggestions?
Post by: Grug on March 31, 2005, 04:06:17 pm
lols.

As for the new design, plus the fleet:
Very nice. Once the bulbous nose is formed more it will be a nice addition to the kick ass fleet you've got growing there. :) :yes:
Title: Suggestions?
Post by: StratComm on March 31, 2005, 08:41:33 pm
Some more work on the nose.  Ignore the smoothing "errors;" I'm just making sure that the smoothed faces bridge the symmetry seam.  More importantly, I'm trying something with the hangers (it is a carrier, after all).  Persue, or not?

(http://www.duke.edu/~cek6/carrier_wip_9.jpg)
Title: Suggestions?
Post by: Taristin on March 31, 2005, 08:57:58 pm
That looks like the ship I was playing with, that you said better be vasudan. I have two curved...things... about that same shape that I was considerring making a fighterbay (2 actually)
Title: Suggestions?
Post by: StratComm on March 31, 2005, 11:36:16 pm
You know there is some resemblence there.  It's not intentional, but now that you mention it, I do recall a vaguely similar shape.  Though I can't seem to find that thread for the life of me to check.