[Thaeris]

All right, reviewing the above comparisons, the current HTL is ****. I'd slightly rather have something done from scratch, but I don't think this is a bad use of time at all.

Again, I'm going to disagree with this. Here's a render of the Medusa, the current HTL model, which shows off the shape, albeit in a slightly stylized fashion:



Are there some parts which could be better worked out? Sure. But the detail is all there. The model looks bad as when it was finished, lighting and texture issues, especially texture issues, make it look bad. What this model needs is an overhaul in the texture department, and perhaps the lighting department as well. Unfortunately, I can't do all that much in either. However, the geometry itself still stands up pretty well.

About the weapon pod mounting? That's a valid issue. The current model seems to have been designed with the thought that ordnance would be transferred to the pods from a central fuselage magazine, and this makes sense. What doesn't make sense is the exposure of the weapons and apparent weakness of the mounting. That said, good call. What you should not devaite from, however, is the design of the pods themselves, which very faithfully matches the original design.

[General Battuta]

I'm going to bet that whatever Hades is doing will turn out better than the current thing. Looking forward to more WIPs.

[Hades]

Geez, that Medusa looks sharp enough to slice any pilot's arms off anyway.

And I used the concept art's shape for the pods because I felt they were much more pleasing, not to mention the ship actually sits on them well.

[headdie]

I am really trying and failing to understand how this thread got to having such a hostile tone.

Firstly who created the original HTL and who on FSU decided include it in MVP because their input would be vital in any discussion about its inclusion.

Secondly and more importantly it was only after others brought up the existing HTL did Hades start talking about it, from what I can read this model started as a personal experiment which he has started posting progress on.  Why not just let him finish it, provide constructive criticism along the way and chuck it on FreeSpaceMods.net when finished, discussions on its inclusion in MVP is a separate issue to the models development and can happen at any point between now and 3.6.14 MVP release.  If we are not on about its inclusion in MVP then why are we talking about the existing HTL other than as a reference to where Hade's model can be improved?

And talking about criticism of Hade's handiwork
1. I prefer the left missile pod mount as you look at it compared to the right hand one as shown in the top right view.
2. As a suggestion if you are not already thinking about it I would partially model the missile tubes shown in the textures unless you are going to use show model on the missile banks.

[Hades]

Yeah, I've spent more of the day responding to this silliness than working on the model. :\

1. I prefer the left missile pod mount as you look at it compared to the right hand one as shown in the top right view.
2. As a suggestion if you are not already thinking about it I would partially model the missile tubes shown in the textures unless you are going to use show model on the missile banks.

1. Left when looking from the front or from the back?
2. I'm gonna model them but... the 'show model' idea isn't that bad of one.

And to Thaeris;

[Hellzed]

Would it mean Cyclops and other heavy bombs poping out of the pods and not just spawning through them ?

[Thaeris]

Note Hades, that I'm merely making comments on the design and attempting to be constructive in that criticism. I've made my opinions noted for the time being, and I feel my opinions are fairly well based.

Those opinions of course should not cause you to cease in your efforts.

[Kolgena]

I have oodles of hate for your interpretation of the exhaust deflectors.

But I will deal with it.

[NGTM-1R]

Yeah, I've spent more of the day responding to this silliness than working on the model. :\

Hi. We're the goddamn end users, and if you want this model to be used for anything you will listen to our goddamn opinions.

YOURSELF.

[Hades]

I think you missed the parts where someone suggested something and I agreed to do it if I liked the idea. I will not, however, change my model for any suggestion, ones that I like or do not like, for I am a man, who thinks for himself. I'm not a machine to put orders into.

[Droid803]

I am a man, who thinks for himself.

Or so you would like to believe.
Is there really such thing as free will?

[Hades]

There is only free will in those who will it.

[General Battuta]

omg, i love that movie!

[Hades]

Never seen that movie, what's it called?

[Pred the Penguin]

Free Willy.
It was pretty moving when I saw it... I don't know how long ago.

[sigtau]

Semi-on-topic: **** the haters, this new model is better.

If someone's making a better version of something (even if it isn't better by a huge margin), does it make sense to reject it?  That's like rejecting a real Coca-Cola for a storebought clone cola that's *almost* as good as the real thing, because it costs a few cents extra or one has shinier packaging or something stupid like that.

Point being, there's no reason to hate on this model.  It's better than what we have, and if Hades is putting forth the effort, we might as well



and we might as well shut the **** up.

[Droid803]

Yes yes fine, this one's better.
Just seems like its not the most productive thing to do seeing as like...all the shivan fighters have no love.

[Solatar]

Maybe you could make a few modifications and turn this into a HTL Gorgon, from Awakenings? It's a pre-FS1 medium bomber which used the Medusa mesh back in the day.

I too would love you for this. . .although wasn't it from Cardinal Spear?

A gorgon version would also give you room to really play with the mesh more without worrying about changing the character of the Medusa.
I'm all for a semi-competitive HTL community.  If you can make it better, make it better.  We did this for the Orion and got a few good models out of it.

[Mongoose]

Yes yes fine, this one's better.
Just seems like its not the most productive thing to do seeing as like...all the shivan fighters have no love.

That's sort of the main point that gave me pause at this.  I mean, everyone's obviously free to model whatever the hell they want whenever they want to, and I have no right to tell anyone what they should be working on unless I can put up myself, which I can't...but there are still a number of retail models that still look exactly the same as they did when FS2 was released, and I'd love to see effort focused on them too, preferably before people concern themselves with upgrading the upgrades.

This isn't saying anything at all about your work on this, Hades, since it does look awesome.  I just hope that someone else comes along and decides to tackle one of the retail models that hasn't even been touched yet.

[headdie]

do we have a list some where of non upgraded models?