[CommanderDJ]

...well, one or two modellers, really.

Here’s the deal. As some of you would know, I released a teaser demo for my WIP campaign, The Pirates of Yore, which you can find here. As stated in the release post, one of the main purposes of the release was to raise awareness. The awareness was needed mostly due to what I’m about to discuss.

I need a ship to be modelled, textured, and gotten in-game specifically for The Pirates of Yore. It is integral to the plot of the campaign, and so I cannot release all the details, but I can tell you that it will be a fighter carrier (I’m thinking somewhere between the Fenris and Deimos in terms of size) and quite new-looking. The reason I cannot use any of the existing, community-developed carriers is that this ship must have very specific aesthetic and functional characteristics, which I will disclose to the modeller(s) who are chosen. Disclosure of the ship’s details to the general public would be quite spoilerrific, and so if anyone volunteers they must be prepared to keep the nature of the vessel secret. The ship will not be needed until the latter parts of the campaign, so the modeller has some time to work on it, but the quicker it can get done, the better as I would rather not have it be on hold for extended amounts of time, as that is the path to never releasing. The modeller will also get access to inside information about the plot of the campaign and a chance to play the missions before the general public. As I know nothing about modelling, trust will be placed in the modeller to make sure the ship works properly in-game and of course to make sure it looks good. I will of course assist in testing and can create/tweak the table entry for it. If the modeller needs someone else to help with UV-mapping/texturing/whatever else, they can PM me and we can discuss it. Most importantly, the modeller must have the time and commitment to see this ship through to the finish line. If you think you’re going to be bogged down by RL issues for the next two months, then it’s probably better that you don’t volunteer. That said, all these conditions are negotiable (beggars can’t be choosers) and can be discussed with me via PM. So either post here or PM me if you’re keen.

This means a lot to me, HLP. I’m asking for your help. Thanks in advance.

CommanderDJ

EDIT: A suitable volunteer has been found. Thank you for your time.

[The E]

I don't want to discourage you or anything, but custom models are probably the hardest assets to get, unless you are a modeller yourself. Reason being that most modellers are already busy with their own projects, and the rare cases that can do everything, from modelling to texturing to conversion, are almost all "employed" by bigger projects already.

Also, we as a community do have a very large pool of assets that can be used; surely there is at least one ship that roughly matches your requirements.

[Droid803]

I don't want to discourage you or anything, but custom models are probably the hardest assets to get, unless you are a modeller yourself. Reason being that most modellers are already busy with their own projects, and the rare cases that can do everything, from modelling to texturing to conversion, are almost all "employed" by bigger projects already.

Also, we as a community do have a very large pool of assets that can be used; surely there is at least one ship that roughly matches your requirements.

This.

If you can't find an existing ship meeting your requirements, change your requirements. Don't ask for a specific ship. People are busy.

[Angelus]

It can't hurt to ask, sometimes one might get lucky.

[The E]

True enough. Just saying that it's not a good idea to have everything depend on having a specific model done to a specific set of specs.

[CommanderDJ]

Understood. Being inexperienced with these sorts of things, I didn't know that it would be that unlikely. I guess you learn something every day though. I can use one of the community-made ones, but it'll be a whole lot less awesome.

[FUBAR-BDHR]

Actually the custom model isn't the hardest thing to get.  Now getting one mapped and textured.....

[CommanderDJ]

I guess there's only one thing left to do: learn modelling, texturing, and uv-mapping.

I will actually do that eventually. But not in the near future.

[Droid803]

Actually the custom model isn't the hardest thing to get.  Now getting one mapped and textured.....

Yeah, there's about a hundred models lying around without mapping/textures in various modeldumps...
At least.

[TrashMan]

Understood. Being inexperienced with these sorts of things, I didn't know that it would be that unlikely. I guess you learn something every day though. I can use one of the community-made ones, but it'll be a whole lot less awesome.

I know there are at least several carriers that are 1km or less in length. There should be something you can use.

People tend to be busy with their own little projects, but every once and a while, some opening in their schedule happens. Who knows, you might get lucky.

I'd reccomend that for now, you use some other model, at least as a placeholder...that way you can develop missions, but still add the "real" ship later.

I would help you DJ, but I have already some things in development, so before those are done....unlikely.

[CommanderDJ]

Thank you for your input, TrashMan.

Yeah, like I said, it's only going to be needed towards the end of the campaign, so it'll be a while before I get to FREDding that stuff, so I won't need it for a while yet. That's why I made this thread now rather than later. At least now while development is still in its early stages I can workaround the predicament if no one volunteers

I understand that people are busy, I guess I just didn't realize how busy most people are. Like I said, I don't have any experience with these things. Are there any sites that would have community-made ships besides FSMods? I'm currently tossing up about one or two ships on there, but it doesn't hurt to look elsewhere.

[Dragon]

Can you PM me what you're looking for?
While my modelling knownledge is limited to making meshes, I have a good knownledge of available assets, so I can help you to find a ship you need.
Chances are, you'll be able to use a reskin of a completely forgotten model, or one never released outside some obscure place, which is about as good as having an unique one.

[CommanderDJ]

PM sent, Dragon.

[Black Wolf]

You could try the Canberra, but it's far from "new looking" I'm afraid - it was designed for the TV-War era.

[CommanderDJ]

Yes, I considered that one. It's size was a little big for the context I wanted to use it in though. And as you said, it doesn't really look new.

[Rico]

I'd love to help, however I can only model and texture (in lightwave), I would need assistance in converting into game (something I've been meaning to learn anyway).
Rico

[ShadowWolf_IH]

If all else fails a work trade sometimes helps.  ie....you build me a model and i will build you some missions type thing.  It's worked for me in the past. 

Another thing i might add is that asking a modeller directly is always a good idea.  I needed a model that was specific in characteristics for CoW 3.  I looked at what the modellers were doing, and found a model that was made by a modeller who could easily handle what I needed.  I asked him directly in PM, and explained what i needed.  Because it was something that was up his alley, he was happy to do it.  Because he was happy to do it, and didn't do it begrudgingly, I got a really kick ass model from him, and he got to enjoy himself during the building of it.  a win win situation.