Hope you don't mind that I started a new thread. It made sense to me to get one going for the 2D work that Balthasar & I are doing, and I'm sure others will eventually contribute as well.

Here's where I'm at with the era splashes -

I came up with five images I really liked. So eventually there will be five in the set. Because of the pictures I chose for now I'm calling them:
Age of Clockwork
Age of Steam
Age of Analysis (Babbage or Freud or both)
Age of Electricity
Age of AutomataI've got versions saved with & without titles in case you want different labels or none. Era 1 (Clockwork) is shown in a finished (unless there's an oops) state. The preview of the others shows versions without titles and without palette reduction. I hope it's obvious which is which.

Era 1
http://img135.imageshack.us/img135/5642/era1titledwq1.png

Eras Preview Thumbnail
http://img388.imageshack.us/img388/3664/speraspreviewjc1.th.jpg (http://img388.imageshack.us/my.php?image=speraspreviewjc1.jpg)

Here's Era 2. It's a slow process to finish these because a large amount of pixel-by-pixel cleanup is needed around the title.

http://img212.imageshack.us/img212/7757/era2titledfx6.png

Go Blue! ...and I don't mean Michigan!

Sorry it took me so long to spot the new thread! These are absolutely beautiful Blue. I've spent some time trying to come up with constructive suggestions, but these are so perfect that there's almost nothing that I can suggest, save for this: I understand (and vigorously support!) the breakdown of the ages into clockwork, steam, electricity and automata, and I am intrigued by the possibilities of each, but (you can see this coming) why have an Age of Analysis? It doesn't seem to fit. Explain, please.

Sorry it took me so long to spot the new thread! These are absolutely beautiful Blue. I've spent some time trying to come up with constructive suggestions, but these are so perfect that there's almost nothing that I can suggest, save for this: I understand (and vigorously support!) the breakdown of the ages into clockwork, steam, electricity and automata, and I am intrigued by the possibilities of each, but (you can see this coming) why have an Age of Analysis? It doesn't seem to fit. Explain, please.There are only four eras but I had five really nice pictures.;)

Then I had to come up with & justify the specific name. I told myself - how could you have a SteamPunk world without some analog to Babbage's engines? (Gibson & Sterling (http://www.amazon.com/Difference-Engine-Spectra-Special-Editions/dp/055329461X/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1205971976&sr=1-1), anyone?). Turing machines (general purpose computational devices) would have to precede true automata in a logical progression of technology. The Analytic Engine was more general purpose than the Difference Engine; and also it allowed the word play connecting in psychiatry, which was at least in proto form by the late Victorian Era (conscious machines & man's unconscious).

I'm finishing the pixel clean up on the last of the eras that remained to do. I hope to post the set by the end of the week.

And speaking of difference engines - here's a little sneak peek at my other major project (well more of just a tease) - the one I've been working on for a few months now:

http://img187.imageshack.us/img187/3695/diffengsamplejw4.png

Let's just say that it's got about eight bits' worth of brothers & sisters. But keep that under your hat.:p

YESYes! You are cookin' some good stew there, brother. I'm working on some terrain ideas I can preview soon.

Edit: I wanted to mention that I like the type fonts you're using.

Nice work, Blue!

Thanks, guys.

Edit: The fonts used are "Percival" in the era splashes & "Folkard" for the tech icon.

"Do you dare, Sir, to accept the challenge that faces you?" - Professor Symian Azure

http://img503.imageshack.us/img503/8153/alicedoor2hi4.png

"Nothing would please me more; I must warn you though, I am confident of my success" - Phileas Fogg

Great work Blue!

Thank you. I'm still working on the other little project; now it looks like it won't be finished until sometime next week.

.
http://img503.imageshack.us/img503/8153/alicedoor2hi4.png

Reposted in the map creation thread. Look there.

BM- did you miss the Tsuga graphics I uploaded on post 25? - 0 views since I posted them.Mentally bookmarked - just not at stage where I'm ready to put them to use yet.

Did you say you were looking for Victorian Leaderheads?
Here's a sample of what you can find in our own database:

http://img61.imageshack.us/img61/5300/victorianleaderheadspt1xq0.jpg

Couldn't fit it all into one file, so here's part 2:

http://img61.imageshack.us/img61/8248/victorianleaderheadspt2bw3.jpg

To comment on your favorites, imagine them numbered by rows, left to right.
For instance, my picks would be:

Fogg = 1(5), 2(5) Mina Harkin = 1(3)
Moriarty = 2(1) Dracula = 2(3)
Victor Frankenstein = 1(7)

I think that it's pretty obvious that the Tharks are Orks with extra arms, so we can decide, for their Leaderhead between This (http://forums.civfanatics.com/downloads/tharpreview3_9f8.jpg) guy and this guy (http://forums.civfanatics.com/downloads/grimpreviews2_H1h.jpg).

I was thinking that any of these we don't use for leaderheads (we only need two of these for that), I could turn into advisors, so your opinion of which would be best for domestic advisor, etc., etc. would also be helpful. In fact, we could probably get a set of "Evil" advisors together as well.

Unfortunately GI Dustin's site went down before I could check out "heads" there, so if that comes back online, we have more options!

And so Gentlemen,the floor is open!

The second "guy", upper left, has a very Barsoom looking background. The Slann LH from WH is another possibility.


"More" 3(1) looks like a passable Ming. There's got to be an Asian LH out there that would work for Fu Manchu.

Maybe one of the LH makers (R8XFT ?) that has made some Indians could be persuaded to make a Nemo with a more SPish background.

R8XFT did most of the best of these. He's really good with Victorians. King Arthur has said that he's thinking of Moriarty as leader of the Evils, and Phineas Fogg leader of the Gentlemen. The LOEG stories suggest Mina Harkin or Allan Quartermain. We could mix it up in future Steampunk scenarios (there will be more! mwahahahaha!), such as your Other Worlds Map. That one you suggested for Ming (actually at 2(7) as I count it) would be good for that. He's wonderfully evil looking, that's why I couldn't resist having him in here. I'm actually more interested in which of these would go with which advisor? Don't forget there will be units for all these guys as well, if all goes as planned. You know which Indian units are available (and some that aren't, I'm sure) around here, so I'm interested in which unit you'd pick to be Nemo.

I'm actually more interested in which of these would go with which advisor? Don't forget there will be units for all these guys as well, if all goes as planned. You know which Indian units are available (and some that aren't, I'm sure) around here, so I'm interested in which unit you'd pick to be Nemo.Actually I'm not aware of a good Nemo unit. I would think he ought to be turbaned, sort of a nehru-collared jacket, loose trousers with boots, a pistol (tesla/volta*) in one hand and a mameluke sword (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mameluke_sword) in the other. Something like:

http://img406.imageshack.us/img406/1892/napoleonicindiansvs6.jpg

*
http://img526.imageshack.us/img526/9982/retroblastermx7.th.jpg (http://img526.imageshack.us/my.php?image=retroblastermx7.jpg)



As to a science advisor - (personally I prefer Dr. X, second from last):

http://img138.imageshack.us/img138/7079/madscientistadvisorgallerytl5.jpg

I like 2 (6) as Fogg but I also had in mind the Industrial Era Hannibal from PTW. I quite like the 2(1) Moriarty too and agree with BM about the Martian background.

The Slann I see as being Venusian since it conjurs up hot, steamy, jungle type planet; besides the orcs have those tusks that are a prominent feature of Tharks.

For Nemo, I like the top left pic- with a tesla pistol and mameluke sword that would be a really cool look.

Good idea for turning the others into Advisors Balthasar. I have no real preference for who is who but a few females in there might be a nice touch.

I like 2 (6) as Fogg but I also had in mind the Industrial Era Hannibal from PTW. I quite like the 2(1) Moriarty too and agree with BM about the Martian background.

Oop! I had forgotten to scan my own files for leaderheads. I have to respectfully disagree about the Hannibal as Fogg, though. He has bad teeth.

For Nemo, I like the top left pic- with a tesla pistol and mameluke sword that would be a really cool look.

I strongly agree!

I'm gonna start on those advisors, then. I think I have a good handle on which ones we won't be using as leaderheads, at least in this scenario.

If you can find one that looks like Ada Lovelace, she'd make an excellent science advisor.
Images here (http://www.tgdaily.com/images/slideshows/200803241/ada3.jpg) & here (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Ada_Lovelace).
"Researching Precision Gearing would make a Difference, Sir!"

http://img150.imageshack.us/img150/3451/vicadvisorsad8.jpg

The Victorian Advisors are complete.
And yes, Ada Lovelace is the Science Advisor.

EDIT: The link is here (http://forums.civfanatics.com/downloads.php?do=file&id=9787).

Looks great Balthasar. And you even found a place for the guy with the bad teeth :)

you even found a place for the guy with the bad teeth

...and I had to recolor his chin in every frame.

Unfortunately, the response to these advisors has been underwhelming, with only one DL, apparently you (although, as director of this project, you're the guy that counts). I'm thinking of redoing the idea anyway, taking more advantage of the opportunity to animate and back-light the side icons. My thought is to use images of, say, a ledger, a barrel, a globe, etc instead of the "left side" advisor heads, while leaving the "Victorian" heads on the advisor screens. Any thoughts? (I realize it's actually a minor matter - I'm really just looking for something to do.)

I like them, too :)

You must have another fan as I left my comment at work but downloaded the file just now. I'd say the idea of the left side icons has merit. I had thought of something resembling the old wire-bell-pull systems with name boards underneath: Domestic, Trade etc. As if you were ringing them up on the internal communication system (see attached pic). But I think your icons sound better.

Ok guys, I changed the Left Side Advisor Icons to look like this:

http://forums.civfanatics.com/downloads/advisor_icons_5t6.jpg

The pages turn, the box opens, the medal waves, the globe turns, the violin fiddles, the electricity crackles. Not bad for a night's work. I just rewrote over the rar file, so you must re-download it if you want these.

I've been working on Buildings. Here's the first Batch:

http://img134.imageshack.us/img134/3440/buildingspart1vw5.jpg

http://img134.imageshack.us/img134/1156/buildingspart2fi2.jpg

Two more sets to go....

Here's the third batch of buildings:

http://img144.imageshack.us/img144/8638/buildingspart3gh1.jpg

One to go...

Those are great Balthasar - the cloudbuster is weirdly Monty Python like but great. I really like the Secret Passage too.

Thanks, King Arthur. I was going to insert the giant foot nuke here and facetiously suggest it be used for the Fulgerator, but I can't find it anywhere. The originals of all of these look much better, by the way.

Thanks, King Arthur. I was going to insert the giant foot nuke here and facetiously suggest it be used for the Fulgerator, but I can't find it anywhere. The originals of all of these look much better, by the way.I'm sure I could track it down for you, but shouldn't it be the wonder splash?

I'm sure I could track it down for you, but shouldn't it be the wonder splash?

You're quite right. Something like this, perhaps?

http://img233.imageshack.us/img233/6950/pythonmachinezk9.jpg

Now I have to get back to making little pink icons....

Something like this, perhaps?

http://img233.imageshack.us/img233/6950/pythonmachinezk9.jpg

Now I have to get back to making little pink icons....:lol::eek::lol:

More Buildings:

http://img230.imageshack.us/img230/3917/buildingspart4rc9.jpg

Just 3 buildings to go....

They're brill! Great job Balthasar.

Realized my tech & wonder WIPs should probably be over here.

How's this for Worldwide Commerce (not yet an indexed palette)?

http://img338.imageshack.us/img338/6500/wwc1kk3.png

Ooh lovely money. I like it.

Ooh lovely money. I like it.
Next up, scaling & indexing (ooo, that sounds so fiduciary).

The final three buildings:

http://img66.imageshack.us/img66/2033/buildingspart5mv6.jpg


For anyone who can't wait for the assembled mod, the whole set can be uploaded here (http://forums.civfanatics.com/downloads.php?do=file&id=10743).

Okay Blue Monkey, now I'm looking forward to your Wonder Splashes. Are you going to do the icons too, or could you use help with that?

Those are great Balth. I can't even pick a fave out of those 3.

Okay Blue Monkey, now I'm looking forward to your Wonder Splashes. Are you going to do the icons too, or could you use help with that?I have no experience with the wonder icons - have at it.

Here's a list of my current work queue for the tech icons & wonder splashes. "Done" is self-explanatory, WIPs are WIPS (the ones with my name are redoes of the old wonders), anything under possible images, a lot of the WIPs, or not on my list at all is free game for anyone - not at all stepping on my steel-toed work boots.


http://img217.imageshack.us/img217/3774/techwipshp2.jpg

I have no experience with the wonder icons - have at it....anything under possible images, a lot of the WIPs, or not on my list at all is free game for anyone

I'm on it.

Here's my take on the Sick Asylum Districts Icon:

189384

189383

189385

Florence Nightingale.

An icon to envy. :goodjob:

MARS FOREIGN OFFICE TO BE UNVEILED ?

http://img508.imageshack.us/img508/805/mars1lp1.png

If this works for the Mars Foreign Office, then I'll index the palette.
The Lunar will be similar, but with a dark sky & Earth well in view.

Looks great BM

Looks great BMBalthasar PMed me that perhaps it was a little too yellow. I'm going to try a version with the sky paler, & the whole a bit desaturated. He also expressed the opinion that perhaps the Brits should be larger - what do you think?


The building, by the bye, is Victoria Memorial (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victoria_Memorial), in Kolkata (formerly Calcutta), India.

IMO, the sky is too flat -- clouds would be nice.

Balthasar PMed me that perhaps it was a little too yellow. I'm going to try a version with the sky paler, & the whole a bit desaturated. He also expressed the opinion that perhaps the Brits should be larger - what do you think?


The building, by the bye, is Victoria Memorial (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victoria_Memorial), in Kolkata (formerly Calcutta), India.

Here are some variations on the MFO:

thumbnail
http://img91.imageshack.us/img91/606/mfopreviewxl9.th.jpg (http://img91.imageshack.us/my.php?image=mfopreviewxl9.jpg)

and a late dispatch - a less yellow "D"
thumbnail
http://img73.imageshack.us/img73/515/mars3gsepiapreviewls9.th.png (http://img73.imageshack.us/my.php?image=mars3gsepiapreviewls9.png)

I tend to prefer images "B" and "F" because of the texture; but is there any way that you can alter the attitude of the Embassy so that the door faces into the frame? I was always taught to try to have everything face into the frame if possible. I like the hint of color in that last one; in fact, if you changed the orientation of the embassy and added just a hint of texture to that one, it would probably be perfect.....

I tend to prefer images "B" and "F" because of the texture; but is there any way that you can alter the attitude of the Embassy so that the door faces into the frame? I was always taught to try to have everything face into the frame if possible.The orientation was a chosen just because it was easier to work with a ragged bottom where other elements of the photo was cropped, but that is entirely doable without excessive amounts of work. I like the hint of color in that last one; in fact, if you changed the orientation of the embassy and added just a hint of texture to that one, it would probably be perfect. The texture is added by a GIMP filter that is called "Old Photo". I'm pretty sure there is a setting that will not darken the photo so much - thus preserving the color you like. I can also try using that filter on a separate transparent layer to see if more of the color can be preserved & to control the texturing without losing the underlying image. Do you think it would look better with or without the image blurring, and also with or without the bordering?

Without and without. Thanks.

Here's the best I can do - the titles refer to where the mottling has been applied. The darkening is an unavoidable artifact of the mottling process. These are both indexed. If one looks acceptable then I will start the same process on a Lunar version.

http://img90.imageshack.us/img90/9857/previewmd8.jpg

The only thing I know I could do differently is to swap the sky between the images. If I just try to lighten the second one I can't maintain a good look for the building & figures.

I think they both look great. If I was forced to a decision, I'd say the 'Sky only' one.

I think they both look great. If I was forced to a decision, I'd say the 'Sky only' one.My choice also - I like the greater color variation. Here it is.

Mars Foreign Office (MFO) (http://forums.civfanatics.com/downloads.php?do=file&id=10761&act=down)

Now on to Luna.

Updated buildings files posted in Downloads Database here (http://forums.civfanatics.com/downloads.php?do=file&id=10743). Fixes: fixed pallette on Railway Station Small ; added in Salon pcx that was inexplicably left out of the original. If you've already downloaded them all I've attached the fixed files to this post.

Needed to clear my head before I tackle the LFO, so I looked through the WIPs to see what I could bring to a nearly finished form in short order. Critiques & comments?

http://img220.imageshack.us/img220/9437/80days1fy2.png

I love the background image. I think the lettering is a little hard to see against that background - putting it in french is an interesting touch.

edit: You might keep that color though, if you move the first 3 lines of the Title over to the left (the darker part of the picture) and let the "en 80 Jours" tail off to the right....

I love the background image. I think the lettering is a little hard to see against that background - putting it in french is an interesting touch.

edit: You might keep that color though, if you move the first 3 lines of the Title over to the left (the darker part of the picture) and let the "en 80 Jours" tail off to the right....I'll try that. If it doesn't work, I've got just the bg in both sepia & b&w.

Bensington & Redwood's Elixir, and Iron Works. Acceptable?

http://img301.imageshack.us/img301/9415/brironpreviewwf2.jpg

download (http://forums.civfanatics.com/downloads.php?do=file&id=10780&act=down)

What will next be revealed to the world ... the Giant Rat of Sumatra?

http://img301.imageshack.us/img301/6787/junglesherlockok3.png

thumbnail
http://img527.imageshack.us/img527/5001/5wonderpreviewvo3.th.jpg (http://img527.imageshack.us/my.php?image=5wonderpreviewvo3.jpg)

So, what's all this then?

My best shot at the "80 Days" - I'm going for the look of those florid Belle Époque book covers.
I could think of no better "Crystal Palace" splash than Her Majesty Queen Victoria opening the Great Exhibition.
An unexpected (& unasked for) event - "May God continue the unity of our Country, as this Railroad unites the two great Oceans of the world."
2 versions of the "Red Cross" ;)

Download (http://forums.civfanatics.com/downloads.php?do=file&id=10782&act=down)

I'm really digging these Wonder Splashes. These and the previous two are just inspired. While I'm putting these into the game, I made some placeholder icons which are available here (http://forums.civfanatics.com/downloads.php?do=file&id=10783). I'll be making icons for all of these tonight.

http://forums.civfanatics.com/downloads/chancewonder_kv7.jpg

Here's a taste: Around the world in 80 Days

http://img146.imageshack.us/img146/2826/80daysya6.jpg

Here's a taste: Around the world in 80 Days

http://img146.imageshack.us/img146/2826/80daysya6.jpg
With a little more contrast from the bg it will be excellent.



I'm really digging these Wonder Splashes. These and the previous two are just inspired.Thank you. It's important to remember that these are just rectified readymades (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Readymades_of_Marcel_Duchamp). A very few, like the MFO, rise to the level of montage.

http://img171.imageshack.us/img171/8211/dada2bn2.png (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LHOOQ)

How's This:

http://img218.imageshack.us/img218/2717/80dayspy8.jpg

I like the coloration on the first better; it just needs to be lighter vs. the green bg.

Reminds me of the trophy for the Great Automobile Race of 1908...an around-the-world auto race funded by the New York Times and Le Matin. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1908_New_York_to_Paris_Race
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1076/1199845901_d6a2dafea4.jpg?v=0
The trophy is said to be the largest ever made for a sporting event. Solid marble, too!

Here are some potentialities for Torchwood. These are all 256 colors, but not yet truly indexed. Several views of Torchwood Estate itself: with & without Dr. W- ; T. E. within the local countryside, guarding the passage between light & dark. & finally, a proto-X-files exploration by two gentlemen.
thumbnail
http://img300.imageshack.us/img300/854/twpreviewcf5.th.jpg (http://img300.imageshack.us/my.php?image=twpreviewcf5.jpg)


Work progresses on the LFO. I need to take these little breaks from working on layering together 6+ images & work on something simpler.

I like the very first on the left, although I'm also partial to everything in the middle row. I was considering that scene from "The Illusionist" for Wireless Transmission once as, in the movie, it was a demonstration of just that idea by Tesla. Great Images.

I like the sepia tones of B or any of the proto-x files ones off the bottom row.

Balthasar: just to clarify. Is wireless transmission the transmission of "power" or strictly communications i.e. radio?

Depends whether you're talking to Edison or Tesla. Tesla believed that electric power lines were unnecessary and would have rather "beamed" electricity to the masses. That's what the Tower was for, and what Tesla was demonstrating in that scene. We know now that such a thing could easily be done with microwaves, and some people have even suggested beaming electricity directly from solar panels in space. Every radio signal, in fact, contains a "carrier wave" of pure electric power to extend its transmission radius. Build the right kind of collector, and you could probably run your home on just the ambient electricity in the air these days. (If you don't mind extremely angry neighbors, as such a thing would probably interfere with every TV in the neighborhood) In the end, it's probably better that we didn't go with "broadcast" electric transmission. I saw a report once that suggested that two thirds of those who have reported alien abductions also live near high tension power lines. And we've all heard about cellphones frying brain cells.....
To answer the question you are probably actually asking, I'd think that in this game it could be either, as Tesla has a significant presence in the Steampunk world.

Thanks Balthasar. I was trying to remember what we had put down on the spreadsheet (I'm just dipping in and out of here while at work). For example, what building and unit prereqs. do we have for our Wireless Transmission. The Tesla stuff sounds jolly interesting if we can fit something in.

Ah, I remember now why I didn't use that image. The tech is Wireless Telegraphy, i.e., radio. The Wardenclyffe Tower Wonder is available three techs earlier with Electric Power, so we have already incorporated the Tesla vision....damned smart of us.

I like the very first on the left, although I'm also partial to everything in the middle row. I like the sepia tones of B or any of the proto-x files ones off the bottom row. Unless the two of you have some sub rosa method to settle on an image (Marquess of Queensberry?), since KingArthur seems to prefer sepia in all his choices & Balthasar Torchwood Estate itself perhaps the best choice is B?



I was considering that scene from "The Illusionist" for Wireless Transmission once as, in the movie, it was a demonstration of just that idea by Tesla.I enjoyed the visuals of the filmed "Prestige" greatly, although the novel is far creepier & steampunkish in the Gibson/Sterling PoMo manner. "The Illusionist" was also very enjoyable, especially because of the way they gave it a 19th C. look & feel, even though it lacked any overt SP elements. It did include a practical application of the "Smoke & Mirrors" wonder.
;)



Balthasar: just to clarify. Is wireless transmission the transmission of "power" or strictly communications i.e. radio? The tech is Wireless Telegraphy, i.e., radio.
thumbnail
http://img405.imageshack.us/img405/706/spcellphonefv5.th.jpg (http://img405.imageshack.us/my.php?image=spcellphonefv5.jpg)

The image is far too poor to make an image from. He's got a transceiver in his pocket connected by cable to the antenna/umbrella. Perhaps someone could make a suitable icon?



Build the right kind of collector, and you could probably run your home on just the ambient electricity in the air these days. A description of a 1000 foot loop antenna array (built by Art Bell) that gathers 400 volts from ??? (http://www.ccrane.com/library/art-bell.11.19.02.aspx), Another photo (http://www.smeter.net/w6obb/antenna-farm.php) with description of the array, Closeups (http://www.coasttocoastam.com/gen/page158.html) of an individual antenna & the lines passing above a more standard antenna, a brief transcript of his radio talk show discussion (http://artbellradioshow.click11.com/Art_Bell_Describes_Voltage_Generated_By_His_Loop_A ntenna,_September_13,_2003) thereof, and a short technical description of the effect (http://www.coasttocoastam.com/gen/page1220.html), quoting Tesla, from his talk show's web site.

Unless the two of you have some sub rosa method to settle on an image (Marquess of Queensberry?), since KingArthur seems to prefer sepia in all his choices & Balthasar Torchwood Estate itself perhaps the best choice is B?

Well, okay, B then. But I still like the colors of A better. More contrast.

I enjoyed the visuals of the filmed "Prestige" greatly..."The Illusionist" was also very enjoyable...

For some reason I always get them confused with each other.

Thanks to the link to Art Bell's array. I hope it inspires somebody. Like Einstein's refrigerator (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Einstein_refrigerator) (which doesn't use electricity or freon), designs making use of the Tesla effect may belong more to the future than to the past.

Well, okay, B then. But I still like the colors of A better. More contrast.I'll play a bit with B & see if I can get better contrast.

Finally, a reworked AW80 wonder icon.

http://img228.imageshack.us/img228/4930/80daysut7.jpg

Sorry this took so long, had other things to attend to.

Also, re-indexed the Opium small.pcx file:

190298

This has been repaired in the Steampunk Buildings Download.

Looks great Balthasar!

OT: Why not enter a unit idea for Utahjazz's Halloween competition.

I'm thinking: Jack the Ripper or Frankenstein's Monster. I've asked for Jekyll/Hyde as a long shot.

Frankenstein's monster would probably have the best shot, if I read Utahjazz's prologue correctly. I was also thinking that a Vampire/Vampiress might have a chance - though there's already a vampire unit, there are other ways to do it, and of course there is no female vampire unit available.

190331

P.S. Just for an experiment, I substituted the Fell Bat Run animation in a Dracula unit, and it works pretty well. Kind of fun to see the Bat suddenly fly away. I'd like to try the same thing with Jeckyll/Hyde and the Invisible man, if I can find the right units to modify (and Utahjazz doesn't make either of them).

for Torchwood I'm doing some final palette work on A, B (with increased contrast), and I (the fogginess reminds me of the early "medium" photos). I'll post the three as a set.

As to the LFO, here's a "rough" of its current state - shown mostly for comments as to composition. This is not the final assembly. I'm still working on individual elements. Then there's a lot of contrast work to do, clouds to add to earth, stars as well, ...

http://img124.imageshack.us/img124/2541/trialpostzc9.png

The set up of the elements is fine, except that I might drop the earth closer to the horizon. I would put a little less contrast on the moonscape, and some refraction on the helmet glass. It might help to "paint" in the space in the background, to give it an "illustration" look. I have some alternative earths for you to peruse:

190887

I know it's a WIP, but I can't help offering my opinion when it's solicited. It looks good.

I know it's a WIP, but I can't help offering my opinion when it's solicited. It looks good.Hey, that's why I posted it.

The set up of the elements is fine, except that I might drop the earth closer to the horizon.I'll try that. I'm looking for a subliminal "Earth dominant" message.

I would put a little less contrast on the moonscapeI'm still working on the individual elements. The moonscape is going to be greyed out relative to the figures. The LFO building is probably going to be lightened to be a little more prominent.


and some refraction on the helmet glass.I'm trying to avoid anything too realistic - aiming for a cross of the look of the "London Illustrated News" & an Ernst/Gilliam montage.

It might help to "paint" in the space in the background, to give it an "illustration" look.Imageshack is frustrating me this morning. I want to post an image to show the kind of starscape that will be included. It's not at all going to be a blank background.

I have some alternative earths for you to peruseWhat's posted is very much an early prototype. I want a view with Europe looming large. The ultimate version will have a view with Vickie's house much more prominent (;)) & have a few clouds thrown in.

ImageShack finally decided to be cooperative. Here's a source for the kind of sky I'll be incorporating:

http://img171.imageshack.us/img171/1072/skylargenx0.png

Three versions of the Torchwood Wonder (splash):

thumbnail
http://img115.imageshack.us/img115/3766/torchwoodpreviewit4.th.png (http://img115.imageshack.us/my.php?image=torchwoodpreviewit4.png)

download page (http://forums.civfanatics.com/downloads.php?do=file&id=10900)

I've decided that I like the sepia building best after all.

I've decided that I like the sepia building best after all.I took your advice & widened the contrast. That probably helped.

http://img517.imageshack.us/img517/7513/sandorftitlerr5.png

http://img262.imageshack.us/img262/7232/sandorf3zt4.png

Download Page (http://forums.civfanatics.com/downloads.php?do=file&id=10981)



...

Oooooooh! Oh my, that's awesome. The icon won't be easy.

Oooooooh! Oh my, that's awesome. The icon won't be easy.It's an illo- from a book. I can send you the raw scan (very large) if you think you could do something with it - maybe use the domed building on the right?

It's an illo- from a book. I can send you the raw scan (very large) if you think you could do something with it - maybe use the domed building on the right?

I don't see anything I could use to get the whole idea there - are there any illustrations in that book that give a view from above, or from a distance?

I don't see anything I could use to get the whole idea there - are there any illustrations in that book that give a view from above, or from a distance?Sorry, no. It's just a single page in a book about a variety of "lost worlds" legends.

http://img139.imageshack.us/img139/1607/setpreviewbp5.png

I think this clears the deck as far as tech icons, as far as I have images to work with. They're indexed & available for upload (along with the others I've already previewed) - pending favorable comments.

:goodjob::goodjob: I can't wait!:D

Hi Blue. I'd like to add some favourable comments. They're great, thanks for doing them. Please upload at your earliest convenience.

Hi Blue. I'd like to add some favourable comments. They're great, thanks for doing them. Please upload at your earliest convenience.Thanks for the vote of confidence. I was worried that I didn't have the right concept of landships.

I don't know how I missed previewing this - it was right with the others. It'll be in the pack.

http://img60.imageshack.us/img60/4633/wirelessprevay4.png

The concept is ideal at least the one on the left is. It's one I'd really wish to have a matching unit for.

These are all dead-on perfect Blue Monkey. I like the PBW on the right, myself.

The new set of techs is now formally available. Official preview, download page (http://forums.civfanatics.com/downloads.php?do=file&id=11023).

I've only found one suitable image of Lloyds. Just for fun, I made a slightly "cartoonified" version of it. So at least you have the illusion of a choice. :p
thumbnail
http://img139.imageshack.us/img139/3169/lloydsselectwy6.th.jpg (http://img139.imageshack.us/my.php?image=lloydsselectwy6.jpg)


On the other hand, I've found several period pictures of the Royal Exchange. "A" is a print done in 1751 and "E" is a photo from 1855. The others are from intermediate years.
thumbnail
http://img139.imageshack.us/img139/2516/exchangeselecttl5.th.jpg (http://img139.imageshack.us/my.php?image=exchangeselecttl5.jpg)

Are any of these suitable?


On another note - the B&R Elixir wonder was not trimmed to proper proportions. For convenience sake, I will re-upload a corrected version at the same time as the final versions of these two.

I've only found one suitable image of Lloyds. Just for fun, I made a slightly "cartoonified" version of it. So at least you have the illusion of a choice. :p
thumbnail

I honestly can't tell the difference between them. Great image though.

On the other hand, I've found several period pictures of the Royal Exchange. "A" is a print done in 1751 and "E" is a photo from 1855. The others are from intermediate years.
thumbnail
Are any of these suitable?

I like "C".


On another note - the B&R Elixir wonder was not trimmed to proper proportions. For convenience sake, I will re-upload a corrected version at the same time as the final versions of these two.

Yeah, Funny thing about that: recently I uploaded some placeholder files (http://forums.civfanatics.com/downloads.php?do=file&id=10783) that I made up for working on this project. I checked a random wonder splash for the dimensions when I did the wonder placeholder. Turns out I used that one. Kind of a Murphy's Law with me - if there's a pcx with the wrong dimensions hidden in a file, I'm sure to use it for a template.
I've since updated the placeholders. :cool:

I honestly can't tell the difference between them. Great image though.The cartoon effect is slightly more "contrasty". If you look at the dark edges, such as the folds of the men's coats, you'll see that they are darker & thicker. Just an experiment. I like the original better myself. I like "C". I like D because it's a good view of the activity inside the Exchange, but I also think C is the best image. I'll index those 2 - & if KingArthur has another choice then his as well.

I can't choose between the Left hand Subscription room from the first set and View 'A' from the second set of images. If pushed I'd go for the subscription room just because it captures the esssence of the inner workings of the place (I like the clocks showing times in different parts of the globe perhaps?!).

I can't choose between the Left hand Subscription room from the first set and View 'A' from the second set of images.I thought that there were to be both a Royal Exchange & a Lloyds wonder?

Oh of course. I was in a rush when I posted.

A Christmas Carol - I'll be interested to see what you come up with.Still quite bit of messing around to do, but is this on the right track?

http://img146.imageshack.us/img146/1209/xmassneakee2.png

Blue Monkey you have a gift!

That's a wonderful image BM, but I think I was hoping for something more evocative of Dickens, and what's generally referred to as the Dickensian world.
One of the reasons that "A Christmas Carol" merited inclusion here as a wonder is that Dickens managed to combine not only all of what we think of as the traditional elements of an English Christmas (much of which was actually quite new to them at the time) into his story, but to add an overlay of social consciousness onto that, reflecting a real debate in Victorian society - the extant to which the "haves" have obligation to the "have nots". The characters of the Crachet family were central to Dickens' argument - the anti-reformers of the time wanted to characterize the poor (as many do even now) as victims of their own indolence and bad character ("I can't afford to make idle people merry" says Scrooge), yet Dickens presents us with Bob Crachet - loyal, uncomplaining, and making the best of a bad situation - and poor Tiny Tim, the innocent victim of circumstance - as antithesis of all that the anti-reformers were saying. Indeed, in the end, the "crime" that the ghosts accuse Scrooge of is being on the wrong side of that debate, embodied in his vocalization of their argument that the government was already providing sufficient services - "Are there no prisons? And the Union workhouses? Are they still in operation? The Treadmill and the Poor Law are in full vigour, then?"
The publication of "A Christmas Carol" changed that debate irrevocably and forcefully, and by tying it to Christmas, annualized it as well, so that no one, henceforth, could indulge in the pleasures of the season without simultaneously thinking of the suffering of the poor. That is why this story, of all that was written in the 19th century (and this mod is, among other things, a celebration of 19th century transformative literature), deserves to be a "Wonder".

Chew on that before you settle on an image. With all due respect.

P.S. I think I've inadvertently written the civilopedia entry for this here...

That's a wonderful image BM, but I think I was hoping for something more evocative of Dickens, and what's generally referred to as the Dickensian world.
...Chew on that before you settle on an image. With all due respect.I am certainly aware of the import of "Dickensian". Whilst your little essay may make a quite good pedia entry it is no help at all to my knowledge of what you wish to see - which could be anything from the 5 of Pentacles to a delivery boy with a turkey.

I have looked at quite few etchings that accompanied the original publications, stills from a few of the filmed versions, etc. Coming to a single visual that expresses the spirit & message of the story is quite a trick. A ghost? Which one? Cratchets at dinner? Which one? Xmas party? Which one? Personally, I'd like to find a good image of Xmas Present with his two little guests clearly shown, but so far I haven't.

I am certainly aware of the import of "Dickensian". Whilst your little essay may make a quite good pedia entry it is no help at all to my knowledge of what you wish to see...

Oop. Sorry. Admonishment accepted. I do get verbose sometimes, and deserve to be called on it. I've been all caught up in this election, and after arguing days and days with my brothers, it spilled over here, I guess. Not a bad little essay, though... So I apologize for that. I certainly appreciate and respect the work and thought you've put into this so far.

Tell you what: allow me to come up with some sample images for this for you to choose from (or to inspire you), and I promise I'll stay off my high horse on the next go round. Cool with you?

Tell you what: allow me to come up with some sample images for this for you to choose from (or to inspire you), and I promise I'll stay off my high horse on the next go round. Cool with you?If I came off combative then I also need to apologize. I'm pretty good at finding images - I just need a hint of the general type. Most of the reproductions of John Leech's etchings/engravings are either too blurry or too small. One idea I've had was to do a sort of triptych from his etchings of the three spirits - possibly with Marley's ghost instead of "Past". Would that get the Dickensian idea across? I could throw together a quick prototype.

I've still got the LFO on the "easel" as well.

That sounds good. I look forward to both of them.

Here's a Q&D mockup for Xmas. Posted only for subject matter & very basic layout.

http://img136.imageshack.us/img136/2741/3ghostmockupzh0.png

One alternative I've thought of would be to trim the main images so that the three ghosts are larger - with Marley on the right & Future on the left so that they face the Present. & then paste in Ebeneezer kneeling down front.

Here are some Q&D variations on the alternative I mentioned above.

large image
http://img389.imageshack.us/img389/6391/3gpreviewzk9.jpg

Obvious to some, but worth mentioning for the benefit of others who may wish to post a comment:

No attempt was made to blend borders between pictures, so far.
Note the contrast/color saturation differences between some of the "Xmas Present" - it's the same original.
Ignorance & Want, the other ghosts, and the kneeling Ebeneezer are separate layers.
The superimposed images are also just rough cut-outs.
Opacity of those elements can be changed without affecting the main image.
This also means that the composition is flexible.
I have very large originals to work with, so it should be no problem to swap out Ebeneezers & still have good looking backgrounds.

Definitely D for me. A & B are slightly incongruous with a smiling Scrooge before the poor ghostly urchins. It would be nice to see how that scene would look if you could switch Death to the right hand side and Marley(?) to the left.

I would also say D, but I would "horizontal flip" the center characters, or the whole thing, instead. It seems to then put more emphasis on Scrooge. Looks magnificent.

Definitely D for me. A & B are slightly incongruous with a smiling Scrooge before the poor ghostly urchins. It would be nice to see how that scene would look if you could switch Death to the right hand side and Marley(?) to the left.I would also say D, but I would "horizontal flip" the center characters, or the whole thing, instead. It seems to then put more emphasis on Scrooge. Looks magnificent.I spent last night & this morning knocking out a draft that I think incorporates the sense of the changes you have both requested:
Kneeling Scrooge instead of smirking
Flip-Flop Future & Marley
Adjust composition to emphasize Scroogehttp://img220.imageshack.us/img220/27/newxajv1.png

The more I look at the various versions the more they all look too busy & crowded to me. So here's a simplified one with Xmas Present & orphans, but with the kneeling Scrooge. It's got the essence of the story: ghosts, a Xmas spirit, & the remorseful Scrooge - sort of a "reform now or else!" version:

http://img369.imageshack.us/img369/7980/presentonlyww9.png

Both, of course, would require quite a bit of cleaning up to be ready. EDIT: I could eliminate some of the blank space by cropping the top, CnP the flame of the brand to be closer to Present's hand, & enlarging the whole to fill more of the image.


I'm going to concentrate on knocking out a version of the LFO & leave finalizing whatever choices are made on Xmas until after that one's ready to upload.

Something like this perhaps, from your last image? I didn't know how else to describe it other than to do a mock-up:

http://img217.imageshack.us/img217/6392/scroogekw3.jpg

I'd be very tempted to put holly in the upper corners.

Something like this perhaps, from your last image? ...

I'd be very tempted to put holly in the upper corners.I was also thinking that the bg needed to be darkened - but perhaps not that dark. Post that bg for me to work with, if you don't mind. I can probably find some decent "Boston Charlie" for the hall.

Sent the whole GIMP file to your regular email. Haven't heard the term "Boston Charlie" in years....

Sent the whole GIMP file to your regular email. Haven't heard the term "Boston Charlie" in years....Thanks!

Work proceeds on the LFO (mostly adding cloud cover & other work on Vicky's House today). That is, when I can tear myself away from reading Peshawar Lancers.

Whilst reconnoitring hints as to the Hollow Earth I stumbled upon some fellows in the yards at the Cheshire "Skunkworks". Does either of these early "proof of concept" tests look promising? Perhaps the bearded gentleman would be a better subject?
http://img386.imageshack.us/img386/3559/invisiprevzd8.jpg

And before anyone delurks to discuss the collar - this is a "proof of concept" ;)

Lest you think all these other postings means i'm not working on the LFO -

Having come across the art of astronomer Trouvelot, I am looking at how to incorporate elements. Here's a sample of his beautiful work:

http://img171.imageshack.us/img171/796/trouvelotmoonpi4.jpg

Perhaps the bearded gentleman would be a better subject?

Not really. I rather like his expression. By the way, I had a whole backstory concocted for this picture involving harmonic vibrations, blackberries, seances, temporal waves, and photochemical anomolies. I named the sitting fellow Hammond Eggleston and his friend R.T. Shaw and,....never mind.

Having come across the art of astronomer Trouvelot, I am looking at how to incorporate elements. Here's a sample of his beautiful work:

Edit: maybe not for the LFO, but I could imagine a use for it somewhere.

Not really. I rather like his expression. By the way, I had a whole backstory concocted for this picture involving harmonic vibrations, blackberries, seances, temporal waves, and photochemical anomolies. I named the sitting fellow Hammond Eggleston and his friend R.T. Shaw and,....never mind.Perhaps elderberries rather than blackberries? ...This mod is rife with possible backstories. The fully developed 'pedia ought to be a hoot.maybe not for the LFO, but I could imagine a use for it somewhere.My idea was to do some perspective transformations to make some usable ground elements. I'll have to get you the other of his drawings I have dl'd.

Moosezilla asked about the image we were using for helium in another thread, and that's when I realized that I never posted the Resources that I did. Not that I did every one of these*, but I did do a great number of them; you can tell by the strange backgrounds which ones....

Strategic Resources

http://img222.imageshack.us/img222/8974/resourcesstrategichd1.jpg

Luxury Resources

http://img222.imageshack.us/img222/4163/resourcesluxuryiw8.jpg

Bonus Resources

http://img390.imageshack.us/img390/5835/resourcesbonusyk0.jpg

Moosezilla, I hope this answers your question.

*For instance, the Shrine is a CnP from an original by Hikaro Takayama. The original is found here (http://forums.civfanatics.com/downloads.php?do=file&id=9019).

I'm intrigued by how several of these will be used. Notably the Hippo, & League of the Sea.

The hippo is a basic bonus resource. The League of the Sea is an idea I had for Atlantis, which is resource-poor anyway. I thought it might be placed in the Atlantan cities (literally) to boost production and to allow the League & ESS to build nautical marines in any of those cities once it's been been captured. Alternatively, it could allow the building of something that would spawn attack fish or Nautilis Marines or tridentmen. I was really just about to run this past KA, so we might as well discuss it now.

Both those ideas sound great. I can see the scene now "Turn the hippo steaks before they carbonize, Friday, there's a good chap!". & I like the idea of the city based resource as well.

I like the "goal" resource for ESS and LOG idea: perhaps allowing Nautilus Marines for LOG and Pirates for ESS. Bonus Production is also a good idea.

Some screenies for our loyal followers:

Carlisle

http://img61.imageshack.us/img61/7526/screenshotrailinprogresxk8.jpg

This image shows the railroads I'm in the process of making...

Allan Quartermain faces giant spiders in the Vril Caves

http://img65.imageshack.us/img65/5131/screenquartermaininthevdl9.jpg

I just like this image.

It amazes me that my South Asian Terrain is doing better than the Lost Worlds map in the PCX of the year contest. The Lost Worlds map was ten times as much modding...

It amazes me that my South Asian Terrain is doing better than the Lost Worlds map in the PCX of the year contest. The Lost Worlds map was ten times as much modding...I don't think most people realize how much time you spent making terrain for the mod. I don't expect to get any votes for the icons - no one who doesn't already know will look at the thread and see what I did.

Allan Quartermain faces giant spiders in the Vril Caves

http://img65.imageshack.us/img65/5131/screenquartermaininthevdl9.jpg


I can't see this image... :cry:

I can't see this image... :cry:It has to be on your end, V_C. I can see it fine, even in your quote. It's linking to Imageshack. Might you have it blocked for some reason?

I can see it now :D

Err... what's strategic about a white rabbit?... :confused:

Nothing, unless your name is Alice (or Neo)....... Thanks for paying attention, though. If you want a more pseudo-scientific answer, one could say that white rabbits have a natural predilection to building their homes along temporal rifts that are otherwise undetectable to 19th century (and, for that matter, modern) scientists. This was discovered by Alice Liddell, who, as a young adult, discovered the truth among the papers of the by-then-deceased Charles Dodgson (an Oxford Mathematics professor): as a child she had actually disappeared for several hours and was discovered by Dodgson half out of a rabbit hole rift, hallucinating and babbling. Dodgson used a deck of playing cards he was carrying to shoe-horn her out of the rift and then, afraid of the controversy that such an event would engender (for he had other secrets with Alice that others could not know), he strung her babblings together into a story to convince the child that she had dreamt the entire thing, going so far as to write it all down for her later. Dodgson tried some experiments to test his theory, but after the child again disappeared into a mirror, frightening him nearly to death, he abandoned the effort. Years later, a chance meeting between Alice and Ada Lovelace led to the discovery that Alice had a unique ability to access these portals, perhaps because of her earlier experiences. The older Alice learned to control her ability to "teleport" and joined the League. Still, Alice ever afterward carried a rabbit's foot on a chain around her neck...for good luck.

The white rabbit then, indicates the existence of a rift, enabling the building of a teleporter.

Sufficient explanation?

So we got steampunk matrix? :D

So we got steampunk matrix? :DBetter than that. We've got steampunk Night Watch. :hmm: (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Night_Watch_%282004_film%29)

I take it you didn't read our description of Alice (http://img360.imageshack.us/img360/8918/alicecharzc6.jpg) in the Steampunk Units Request Thread (http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?t=302186). There are lots of little references to Alice in the Matrix. There are hundreds of little hidden references to lots of things - from Fritz Lang's Metropolis to Galaxy Quest - in the Steampunk mod. We can't help it.

I mentioned Night Watch because it's got portals, the battle takes place in our world, there are animals that are guardians or enemies, people and things look ordinary but aren't, and the heroes are repairmen for the power company. Every self-respecting steampunk's gotta have a tool belt. ... and dreams of working for Tesla.

....and hopes that when getting said employment they don't repeat Murphy's Tangusta foible.

Err... what's strategic about a white rabbit?... :confused:If you want a more pseudo-scientific answer, one could say that white rabbits have a natural predilection to building their homes along temporal rifts that are otherwise undetectable to 19th century (and, for that matter, modern) scientists. This was discovered by Alice Liddell, who, as a young adult, discovered the truth
...
The white rabbit then, indicates the existence of a rift, enabling the building of a teleporter.

Sufficient explanation? There are lots of little references to Alice in the Matrix. There are hundreds of little hidden references to lots of things - from Fritz Lang's Metropolis to Galaxy Quest - in the Steampunk mod. We can't help it.Doing my usual random browsing (following intriguing links without knowing where I'll get to) came across this about a RL mysterious tunnels connecting widely separated places (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ley_tunnel). When I lived in Heidelberg I was told indepentantly by several individuals about one that connected the castle hill to a hilltop monastery on the other side of the river. Perhaps there is something usable there, at least as part of a 'pedia description.

Just redid some of the Interface advisor screens for El Justo's Age of Imperialism mod. You can see them here (http://forums.civfanatics.com/showpost.php?p=7686468&postcount=3956). Not bad, if I say so myself...
Now I've got to get back to work on this mod before everyone uses all of our graphics in other mods. I hear it now: "yeah, I've already seen that done somewhere..."

At last, the long promised Lunar Foreign Office. The landscape is from Woman In The Moon (Fritz Lang). I was looking at the work of Adolfo Farsi (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adolfo_Farsari) the other day & decided to do a hand tinted look. I hope you like it.

http://img91.imageshack.us/img91/3961/lfopreviewlm7.png

EDIT: This is a preview. I have an indexed version on hand.

As far as I remember there are no tech icons left to do. If I have things right this is where things stand for the wonder splashes that are yet to do:

WIP
A Christmas Carol - Blue Monkey
Gold Bug - againsttheflow

Open Season
Magickal Cabal
Predictive Engine
The Wardenclyffe Tower
The Roch Fulgerator
Universal Library
The Penny Dreadful
The Weldon Institute
Baker Street Irregulars
Scotland Yard
Bedlam
Ada Byron Institute
Edison's Lab
The Salvation Army
Public Call Stations
Das Kapital
Home Office

I think all the others have been at least previewed. Please let me know if I've left anything off the to do list. Also, I need help to remember what I have previewed but not uploaded.

EDIT: Those done & previewed below have been removed from the list. Anything in the "Open Season" list is fair game for other pcx makers.

Of course I have to superannuate my list as soon as possible. Previews of -

Frankenstein's Laboratory

http://img147.imageshack.us/img147/2274/franklabaz8.png


An image I found to good to resist. He had to learn somewhere, so here's the Operating Theatre:

http://img147.imageshack.us/img147/141/operatingtheatrehp5.png

The Wonder splashes that I have are:

80 days
B&R Elixer
ChrystalQV
MFO
Red Cross B

I really like the LFO. You finally nailed it. Didn't we finish the Christmas Carol? I still have a file from working on it.

I really like the LFO. You finally nailed it.Thanks. It took your support via the conversations about the MFO, your contribution of the breathing apparatus, and the learning curve via all the other work in between.The Wonder splashes that I have are:

80 days
B&R Elixer
ChrystalQV
MFO
Red Cross BI thought I had posted Iron Works as well. I've got it and can post it.Didn't we finish the Christmas Carol? I still have a file from working on it.We worked on it, and came to a meeting of the minds as to composition. But I still have to do the final execution. I'll probably leave it while I knock out some of these other simpler ones.

I just combed through my attachments and files in the dl db. Iron Works (http://forums.civfanatics.com/downloads.php?do=file&id=10780) is in the same DL as the Elixir. Torchwood (http://forums.civfanatics.com/downloads.php?do=file&id=10900) is done as well. Then there's Sandorf's Armory (http://forums.civfanatics.com/downloads.php?do=file&id=10981), and the dl with both The Royal Exchange & Lloyds (http://forums.civfanatics.com/downloads.php?do=file&id=11048) in it. It looks like anything else was previewed but not finished and uploaded.

Ok, now I've got everything you've posted so far.

I sympathize with you about the Frankenstein's Lab Image. Yours is as good as any of these, that I put together:

http://img228.imageshack.us/img228/1395/frankensteinslabmd9.jpg

I sympathize with you about the Frankenstein's Lab Image.What am I supposed to say about that?

"They laughed at me at the university!"

"Ah, Mom. The cat was already dead anyway!"

"The doctors say I can use the sharp crayons today!"

:mwaha:



This does go with a tech from the TATTMWNMTK category after all. but if that's too Grand Guignol for you then pick one of these.
http://img218.imageshack.us/img218/8861/frankprevmp9.jpg
"We don't discuss the ones that did not survive. He's very sensitive about that, you see."

Sorry Blue Monkey, you misunderstood me, and I wasn't very clear in my comment. I meant to say I liked the image you chose (though I'd choose a different shade of red) and sympathized with the fact that that must have been a hard one to find because there were so many different ways that particular wonder could have been done (see examples). I find it interesting, though, that we each included an image from "Young Frankenstein" among our 'second choices'. If we were making a generic wonder, that would probably be the fitting image. Stick with the one you picked, and don't pay too much attention to me.

Sorry Blue Monkey, you misunderstood me, and I wasn't very clear in my comment. I meant to say I liked the image you chose
...
Stick with the one you picked, and don't pay too much attention to me.Hey, you misunderstood me. My arid sense of humour again. I've been walking around chuckling to myself all day - "...but the cat was dead ... ha ha ha ha ha ... today I get to use the sharp crayons ... ha ha ha ha ha ..."

Ultimately it's the one you want that matters to me.

(though I'd choose a different shade of red)About a third of the total time I spent was just on the red. It's a layer on top of the actual image. I struggled to get a suggestion of blood, with a bit of mottling, that still worked well when made transparent enough for the images underneath show through effectively. A true blood-red was too dark even with the transparency increased. I could try some more, I guess.

and sympathized with the fact that that must have been a hard one to find because there were so many different ways that particular wonder could have been done (see examples).Yeah, the choice was difficult. That image is actually a composite. One image was the anatomical drawing, with actual surgical instruments on it. The other was the homunculi sketches, which I cut & rearranged, partially transparent. You may notice a spot where I flipped the writing. I thought ole Victor might have known Da Vinci's trick for keeping a secret.

I find it interesting, though, that we each included an image from "Young Frankenstein" among our 'second choices'. If we were making a generic wonder, that would probably be the fitting image.It used some of the genuine working props from the Whale version. The equipment is actually shown off to better effect than in the original. As to the other images, Branagh's version is probably the closest to what would have been doable in the period imho.

All the splashes I'm previewing in the next little bit are ready to upload. I'd prefer to wait and upload as a group, if possible.

And of course I like the YF images best. Balth, sould I pm you?

Okay guys, my pet project, A Victorian Railroad, is finished, and everyone can see it here (http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?t=308500). I really didn't expect it to take a month or I wouldn't have started it.

Here's a screenie:

http://forums.civfanatics.com/downloads/kings_road_two_1et.jpg

Now I can go back to nuts & bolts construction! Yay! And, yes, Moosezilla, you can PM me now.

I have to say again that both the roads & rails appeal to me. The more I look at the rails, the more they make me think about my grandpa, who was a railroad machinist at the tail end of the steam & of the diesel era.


Here's another set of wonder splash previews. Subject, as usual, to suggested changes. All originals are indexed. I could write a long yadda yadda about the whys & wherefores, but I'll wait for whatever you think needs discussion - with the exception to say that I've got several images to work with that could do for either Illuminati or Magical Cabal that aren't shown here. You'll notice a "placeholder", which is included at the end of the post as an attachment.

large image
http://img4.imageshack.us/img4/1052/febsetpreviewpu3.jpg

202529

It's very strange. I'd swear I posted an answer here yesterday.. Oh well..in my imaginary answer, I said: I'm really torn between the two for Royal docks, you've done really well in all of these - but I'll go with the second one. The first one for Violet Ray - those brass electrodes are excellent - and although I love a president in an apron, I think the second image of Illuminati is awesome. As I said, they're all great, and I especially like Buffalo Bill's traveling show.

The needed wonder splashes list (http://forums.civfanatics.com/showpost.php?p=7707440&postcount=145) in post #145 has been revised and reorganized. There is first a short list of whatever has been "claimed" and then a list of whatever is open to anyone with an itchy mouse. Post WIPs in this thread & expect a discussion all along the creative path.

Here's a first version of the bicycle / pennyfarthing resource. It's indexed and should have an identical palette to the resources.pcx in the latest version of the scenario you uploaded.

202857

http://img140.imageshack.us/img140/4602/pennyfarthing8rn5.png (http://imageshack.us)

Penny Farthing added.

New topic: because we use the bigger format for our Wonder Splashes, a bug crept in that we didn't anticipate. In the lower left corner, we see the title appear:

http://img100.imageshack.us/img100/3530/wonderscreensampleho4.jpg

This could ruin our wonder splashes, except that I have an idea; to put a frame around the titles, like so:

http://img90.imageshack.us/img90/652/wondersplashtitleframesco1.jpg

Or for the larger/longer titles:

http://img26.imageshack.us/img26/2980/wondersplashtitleframesmx6.jpg

That's the general idea. I could do a template to put this directly on an image; it won't show up if I put it on the Wonder Splash background.

Comments?

If you find a version you like, go ahead & post the template. I'd be happy to go back & add it to the splashes I've already made & incorporate it in future ones. If the position obscures something critical to the image I'd be willing to redo the pcx.

Blue Monkey asked if I'd be willing to take on a project or two and here is the first.. The Gold Bug. Still don't have a feel for exactly what ya'll are looking for so feel free to critique. This preview is of the indexed version which I went ahead and did so as to better adjust colors. I have a 5-layer version still so if there is something that needs changing... When it meets the criteria I'll go ahead and upload to the db. :)

http://i247.photobucket.com/albums/gg125/Andru_pics/goldbugwonder3prev.png

Edit: the gold does may not "shine" in quite the same way on this monitor as the one I did it on. What do you guys think?

Of course you realize that what we need now are screenshots of every Wonder splash, each with its correct name on it, so that we can properly place the plates. Only then will we know if the Splash has to be redone. Sounds like a long-term project to me, but I will begin the process. I'm already near the end of era 1 on the game I'm playing, so I'd have to go back, so if you get the chance get some of the early screens yourself. I'm pretty sure that you might want to strip the large "Le Tour Du Monde" title from that splash. I can't think of any of your other splashes that would suffer from having a plate there, but you can determine that yourself.

You can get the template here (http://www.divshare.com/download/6506140-7da). It's a GIMP file, for maximum flexibility.

againsttheflow - I think that's a very nice image. I'm not sure what you have to work with, but if it was me I'd make the bug much larger against the background. The gold looks shiny on my monitor, so colors are fine, I'd think.

Againsttheflow: that's a beautiful image, and the bug-through-the-skull is true to the original Poe story, but, for our purposes it needs 'juicing' to get our message across. Perhaps you just need to make the skull more visibly apparent. Being way up on top there, it could get lost in the picture frame... Then (and you may hate this, as a creator) we need to tie this in with the cryptography in the story; so perhaps we add, in the foreground, an old cryptographic note as if it was dropped on the ground, or held right in front of us? Or overlaid against the picture in double exposure? Something...gotta get the code in there........The color of the bug is perfect in my monitor.

P.S. Just so you know, that image is so beautiful that I would use it even if you didn't fix it. Remember that there'll be a nameplate added down in the corner (see immediately previous posts). I imagine that since the name of this wonder, "The Gold Bug", is short & sweet, the small nameplate could be added without modification.

Then (and you may hate this, as a creator) we need to tie this in with the cryptography in the story; so perhaps we add, in the foreground, an old cryptographic note as if it was dropped on the ground, or held right in front of us? Or overlaid against the picture in double exposure? Something...gotta get the code in there....
I have some images that could work as an overlay - like an ACW era encoding wheel - if you want them.
Remember that there'll be a nameplate added down in the corner (see immediately previous posts). I imagine that since the name of this wonder, "The Gold Bug", is short & sweet, the small nameplate could be added without modification.I looked at the template you provided. I'm confused by the three different scrolls. I wouldn't know which to use on which image. They are all nicely designed. Is it possible to pick one that would work for all splashes? Then I'd happily redo all the ones I've made to include it.

Then (and you may hate this, as a creator) we need to tie this in with the cryptography in the story; so perhaps we add, in the foreground, an old cryptographic note as if it was dropped on the ground, or held right in front of us? Or overlaid against the picture in double exposure? Something...gotta get the code in there.


Yes, er, we'll see what we can do. The first challenge here is just figuring out a way to implement it, probably one of your ideas if we can make it work...

I have some images that could work as an overlay - like an ACW era encoding wheel - if you want them.

Sure, I did some scrounging around today to see what I could come up with, more options would be good.

I made a few changes to the image today including lightening the skull a little, increasing the bug's size a little, two versions a little more zoomed in, and adjusting the string to morph "a little" better around the bug. One of the tricks is going to be getting the image indexed again as I did a few dozen versions last time to get the gold and bone right. :ack:

I will post what I've got for raw images here.

EDIT: In the zip are several pictures of a cypher wheel and of a peculiar clock. Sample images:

http://img242.imageshack.us/img242/4672/gbprevgp5.png

203148

Actually, I was thinking of something like this:

http://img87.imageshack.us/img87/4803/goldbugscreenierp0.jpg

Looks good Balthasar, I like the end result. If that's the look your going for go ahead and upload the and I'll add another layer. :)

edit: ooooooohhh wow, deca-post. :huh:

edit2: now double...

againsttheflow: Glad you like it. Sorry for doing such violence to your original image in the process.

Do you use GIMP? If so, here's a file to work with:


203213

Here's a WIP of Xmas Carol. It's not yet indexed:

http://img140.imageshack.us/img140/2933/xmasprezra8.png

Speaking of indexing - if the title scroll is to be pasted into the images themselves, then I should go back to the RGB versions and redo the palettes, right? That makes it even more important to settle on one scroll for all.

atf: I took a quick look at the file Balthasar sent you. One quick hint: If I have to enlarge an image some times it comes out jaggy. I find it useful to enlarge 2 to 4 times bigger than the range of the final size I want. Reducing it then makes the image come out better. Also, if I need to do any brightness/contrast/saturation adjustments it works better for me to do them whiles it's enlarged, before the final shrink.

Also, if I need to do any brightness/contrast/saturation adjustments it works better for me to do them whiles it's enlarged, before the final shrink.

Same here though I understand others like to do some of these things after (BK I think for one). On the enlarging I generally (of course) try to avoid it all together.In this case I may try bringing down the size of the original before bringing in the code.

As Balthasar pointed out I had 590 x 370 as opposed to 570 x 390 which is funny because the image which I originally shrunk was a wallpaper with a ratio basically exactly that of the former = my point of confusion.

That's a fine looking splash btw!

Here's all the alterations. I've done a version with a shovel and without. All unindexed.

http://i247.photobucket.com/albums/gg125/Andru_pics/goldwonder3done.png

http://i247.photobucket.com/albums/gg125/Andru_pics/goldwonder3altdone.png

In an attempt to preserve some of the semi-gloomy-mysteriousness on the right which I liked so well I did not zoom in quite as much as Balthasar. I think my personal preference is the second as I like the way the the gold in the bug feeds of the yellow paper and is almost (IMO) brought out by it. The bug is further to the left and so the balance seems to work out better than in Balthasar's example. If you like the shovel should I consider making the handle a darker brown? edit; I like the balance in the shovel version too.

If you stick with the shovel version, the shovel should be blurred a little & toned down (darker?) so as to blend a bit more with the background.

Ok, it started very light so I'd already toned it down quite a lot but I can see how it might need some more.

I prefer the one with the shovel myself. You only have to darken the shovel til it looks like it's in shadow. Reducing the saturation on it a little might help. Otherwise it looks terrific.

Whatever happened to the Gold Bug? It was done, wasn't it?

I've been fooling around with City Icons. Here's a screenshot:

http://img134.imageshack.us/img134/8509/cityiconsscreenshotwl8.jpg

Whatever happened to the Gold Bug? It was done, wasn't it?



I have it sitting on the other desktop as yet unindexed. RL has not been conductive to that sort of thing lately and I was gone all last weekend.

Also, there have been other little projects here. For one I wanted to create the other icons for this, for the city icons would you prefer a bug, shovel, or scrap of paper?

Hmmmm. A Bug, I think. That would be cool.

A bug it is then.

I'm loving the city icons Balth esp. the coins and hammers. The food looks a lot like muffins though - were you aiming for bread?

They are muffins - good eye! I thought: man does not live by bread alone. Actually, I just like the way the muffins look. I was going to use a table-ready chicken, but the "half-eaten" version would look pretty gross. I was going to use pie, but it ends up looking like whitish disks when reduced (they can only be 30 pixels wide, and most have to be no larger than 20 pixels wide - it's a wonder we can recognize anything!) So I figure: if bread can act as all food in the regular game, then muffins can represent food in this one. Besides, I've seen plenty of breads baked in such a way that they end up muffin-shaped.....
I'm glad you like the other stuff. Some of it, like the Pound coin and the chimney tops were authentically victorian to begin with - even though you can't really tell now. Can you tell that that's a microscope on the research row? That's the problem child. I couldn't find anything less complicated to shrink, and I didn't want to cop out and just have another flask there...
Now, we adjourn to the private thread ....

How about magnifying glasses for the science icon? They were used to examine fossils, etc., not just by the world's only consulting detective.

^ what he said or maybe getting a different angle on the microscope. I'm not sure what the object above it is though it does seem like it should be recognizable (= it's seems clear enough, just don't know what it is..).

It should look like a British "pound" sign, the equivalent of the American "$" sign. The Magnifying glass is a legitimate idea.

Mmmmm Muffins with a nice cup of tea :) A more English alternative would be a scone but I doubt they would look good at that scale - I can only imagine your difficulty working with that number of pixels.

I could make out the microscope just fine. Meant to say I love the chimney tops for pollution but wasn't sure they were part of city icons set.

It seems to me that everything seems good so far. :goodjob:

Mmmmm Muffins with a nice cup of tea :) A more English alternative would be a scone but I doubt they would look good at that scale -

You see? That's why it's good to have one of Her Royal Subjects on the payroll. Scones? You want scones? I give you...SCONES! ...and half-eaten scones...

http://forums.civfanatics.com/downloads/city_icons_screenshot_2_fyL.jpg

Also, I fixed the commerce icons. Now they look like a pound symbol and a microscope, no denyin' it. Here's a file that you can test in-game (it goes in the Art/city screen file):

204747

I prefer the scones to the muffins - they look scrumptious: the half eaten ones look all fluffy inside (marvellous). :D

P.S. As I'm Scottish I'm not sure that being a Royal Subject sits easy with me ;). However, according to Wikipedia Scones were 'invented' in Scotland so everything is all ok again :)

I think all three are wonderful. :thumbsup:

I've posted the whole city icons file to the database. The download includes a redone city screen (wider title area, pollution box), the icons, the Governor, Hurry, and Draft buttons, and a single file in the Advisors file: maintenance. I particularly like the Draft button - Kitchener Wants You!


The link to the database file is in my signature.

http://img61.imageshack.us/img61/8813/elpreview.png

http://img61.imageshack.us/img61/4825/weldonprev.png



I'm also at early stages on a couple of possibilities for Magical Cabal & Baker Street Irregulars.

Ooooo I really like those.

Mmmm especially the first.

I'm glad I don't have to pick between them, they're both good, and both very effective.

I'm glad I don't have to pick between them, they're both good, and both very effective.

Diplomatic way of reiterating that there were two different wonders?? :lol: If it was for me, I was not choosing the one over the other. :)

Diplomatic way of reiterating that there were two different wonders?? :lol: If it was for me, I was not choosing the one over the other. :)

Oh, no, I didn't mean that at all. Sorry. I was thinking that Blue usually puts up a couple of options to pick from, and that I'm glad this wasn't an instance of that, because these are both perfect as-is, and I'd hate to have to choose between them. In other words, I agree with you about the Edison pick, wholeheartedly.

In other words, I agree with you about the Edison pick, wholeheartedly.Thank whatever Victorian slowly went blind and arthritic with a burin in his hand. All I did was a little cropping, resizing, & tinting. I wish I had been able to include all the weird flying machines in the original for the Weldon Institute. Both intaglios were huge.I was thinking that Blue usually puts up a couple of options to pick from, and that I'm glad this wasn't an instance of that, because these are both perfect as-is, and I'd hate to have to choose between them.:blush: :dunno: I'm not at all sure what you are looking for with the Magical Cabal:

thumbnail
http://img3.imageshack.us/img3/1949/mcpossprev.th.jpg (http://img3.imageshack.us/img3/1949/mcpossprev.jpg)

On the other hand, the ten versions of this one (all the way from sharp, full color to blurry sepia) started to look the same to me. So I'm only letting you see the one where I was going for the look of an early autochrome -

http://img3.imageshack.us/img3/4843/bsiposs.png


:coffee:

Baker Street Irregulars: I think I had almost that exact image in mind, I swear.

Magikal Cabal: It's King Arthur's idea, so his call. As far as I'm concerned any of those images would work perfectly well.

Baker Street Irregulars: I think I had almost that exact image in mind, I swear.Yeah, it was in my mind when I first started looking around. What's amusing is that it's the Artful Dodger, et al.

Oh, no, I didn't mean that at all.

It's all good. I thought you were probably on a different track but I try to be alert to subtle hints.

That Baker Street shot is great BM, the kid in the middle is so cute.

I'd be referencing the pedia for the Magikal Cabal, still not quite sure what it is even after the 5 previews.

I'd be referencing the pedia for the Magikal Cabal, still not quite sure what it is even after the 5 previews.

Welcome to the club; what I can tell you is that it doesn't match up with any previously known wonder, and it boosts research 100%. If that sounds far out to you, consider where the Skull & Bones is found, and who's in it. The science and 'magic' techs and wonders cluster at the the beginning and end of the mod in order to affect gameplay.

Yeah, it was in my mind when I first started looking around. What's amusing is that it's the Artful Dodger, et al.

...who would have been the perfect recruits for the Irregulars. Why not? The better to flavor this marvelous literary mash-up. I love it.

I've done the nameplates on all the finished and approved wonders, afaik. Check the file to make sure I haven't left any out that were previously previewed.

These were done assembly-line fashion - change palette modes, paste, change back to indexed - with one standard reduction technique, rather than trying several to find best results. You're going to see a slight variation in the name plate from image to image, because of the palette reduction.

Please look for any images that may not be acceptable. I suspect the top image below, for example. On the other hand I don't expect to have time to go back and redo images because of composition problems (like the second example) before you release the first version.

http://img156.imageshack.us/img156/1108/badexamples.jpg

Included are a couple of versions of the Library wonder, which I think you have not seen before. They were completed, but waiting for a solution to the nameplate issues.

http://img156.imageshack.us/img156/5999/librariespreview.jpg


Splashes with nameplates (http://forums.civfanatics.com/downloads.php?do=file&id=13141)

Recent thoughts on the wonder splashes:

It would be simpler for me to just batch redo all the wonders with the narrower plate. In the long run I think it will also be aesthetically better for the scenario.


Scotland Yard
First off, four possibilities that might only need indexing. They are shown half-size for speed of loading. The Met. Police Flag could easily be redone with VR instead of ER. Personally, I like the whistle the best of this set.
http://img246.imageshack.us/img246/1555/scotprev1small.jpg
Could go with a period etching of the building itself. Haven't been able to find anything but tiny blurry images though. Could use one with some work. These images are shown at actual size. In fact the one on the upper left was scaled up to splash size.
http://img246.imageshack.us/img246/7505/etchings.jpg
Architecturally, this is the most interesting I've found. Although I doubt it would be appreciated by anyone unfamiliar with the pastiche end of the steampunk spectrum.
http://img246.imageshack.us/img246/7118/bar2d.jpg
Fulgerator
If we want to go with the more humorous type of image discussed elsewhere I could do something with the upper left image superimposed on a disaster scene like any of the rest. These images are shown reduced from the originals. Another option would be to go with one of the many weapon images (not previewed here) that I collected while thinking about the unit requests.
http://img246.imageshack.us/img246/6357/fulgerprop.jpg
Public Call Stations
Images of Police Boxes are relatively easy to find. I like these of the lamp & the box at Covent Garden - supposedly the oldest still in place. But they're not the right size to work with. I could perhaps overlay just the box (in color) on the etching above of the bobby discovering jack's work.
http://img246.imageshack.us/img246/2210/callbox.jpg

I'm not posting a Wardencliff Tower WIP yet because it's too early in the editing process.

I like the whistle best too.

Not keen on any of the public call station options.

Out of the Fulgerator pics the bottom centre black & white one is the most striking one for me

sorry not much time to post an indepth critique.

Scotland yard: the whistle is striking, but I also like the etchings, particularly the two at the bottom, although the one would have to be flipped to avoid having the title bar cover the two cops - having a copper in the picture helps for me...

Fulgerator: Not seeing anything that grabs me yet. Maybe more focus on the weapon...
Perhaps a victorian foreground could be superimposed on >this picture (http://aftermathnews.files.wordpress.com/2007/09/atomic-soldiers.jpg?w=546&h=369)< ?

Like KA, also not keen on the Public call stations options presented, but you said as much yourself...

Scotland Yard: I would have to enlarge the picture anyway. When I do that I like to enlarge it about 10x & do a lot of contrast & sharpening before I reduce it to the needed size. Another advantage of working at that scale is that I can CnP the bobbies to the other side of the street & the downsizing pretty much renders the rough edges invisible.

Fulgerator: I could easily insert the mushroom cloud behind the crowd fleeing across the bridges ( the one KA favored).

I've got to spend the next couple of days prepping for my class on Saturday. Then get out the latest downloads announcement. But I should be able to show you some WIPs by Monday if those choices sound OK. I can also pull together some potential weapon images for the fulgurator if you like, potentially for early next week.

Scotland Yard: I would have to enlarge the picture anyway. When I do that I like to enlarge it about 10x & do a lot of contrast & sharpening before I reduce it to the needed size. Another advantage of working at that scale is that I can CnP the bobbies to the other side of the street & the downsizing pretty much renders the rough edges invisible.

That sounds good.

Fulgerator: I could easily insert the mushroom cloud behind the crowd fleeing across the bridges ( the one KA favored).

That really sounds interesting.

. I can also pull together some potential weapon images for the fulgurator if you like, potentially for early next week.

Not necessary, if the image you describe above works. Don't worry about the time it's taking, I'm busting chestnuts trying to get the biq into some sort of presentable shape, having turned all my attention to that task. I'd like to get these splashes into it, particularly Scotland Yard, which appears early in the game. When I get that all finished, I'll have a spanking-new unit request list for you, sorted by need.

Speaking of unit requests: UNIT MAKERS - now would be the time to finish up those units-in the works for inclusion in the new ceta (not yet beta) biq. You can always tweak these units later, I just need placeholder animations....

Preliminaries for Scotland Yard. Upper left is the original, rescaled. Upper right - bobbies moved. Lower left - with an adjustment in contrast/brightness; lower left - the same in sepia. I will go back & clean up the "nimbus" around the bobbies & make some adjustments to their shadows. How I do so depends a bit on whether or not you want a more contrasty or sepia'd final version.

http://img339.imageshack.us/img339/9103/scotyardprev1.jpg

After much consideration, I'd go with the Sepia.

Good. I'll work on getting rid of the nimbus. It just occurred to me that Affinity Bridge, which I'm currently reading, has a "glowing blue bobby" as an important plot element. Synchronicity!:lol:

I've shifted my postings on the Vernean Capsule over here. for the sake of those new to the discussion here are images of my first prototype:
thumbnail
http://img43.imageshack.us/img43/9822/vernetestaprevsmall.png (http://img43.imageshack.us/img43/5053/vernetestaprev.jpg)

Balthasar pointed out some changes that need to be made to the finial - most importantly to make it not look like an arrow. After looking at a lot of photos of finials, I'm thinking thus - a simple cone shape piercing 2-3 spheres. The largest sphere will have the civ color (something like the glass globes illustrated below). A sphere about the middle will be the open spiral work - this will be the source of the "energy globes". I'm thinking of giving the reinforcing bands a patina to help them stand out from the main body. But I'm not very sure of that idea.

http://img4.imageshack.us/img4/2407/finialdesign1.jpg

I also need some guidance as to the size. My instructor liked my basic design. He's given me some advice about how to construct the next version in a way that will make the textures & mapping easier to accomplish.

@ Balthasar: I'm also working on the splashes. ;)

I sooo need to take a class just like that one. Looks like you're on the right track, Blu!

I sooo need to take a class just like that one. Looks like you're on the right track, Blu!I think it's more the teacher than the particular class that matters. But local community colleges are a good way to go - Saturday / evening classes, friendly to older students, more informal class structure ...

If this looks okay for the Scotland Yard splash...

http://img28.imageshack.us/img28/6270/scotyard.png

Then here it is (http://forums.civfanatics.com/downloads.php?do=file&id=13553).

I hope to have some more work on the modeling of the capsule to show you in the next few days.

It looks perfect, Blu. The folder you link to has two files in it; one is the pic I see above, the other won't open.

It looks perfect, Blu. The folder you link to has two files in it; one is the pic I see above, the other won't open.It's probably just an example of a rarely occurring problem others have reported to me. Seems to be a harmless artifact of a Mac => PC glitch. Trash the file.

I sent you the splash without the plate. Did we settle on giving all the splashes the long plate? After I finish the Fulgurator & Wardencliff Tower I can send you the whole set redone.

Yeah, we went with the long plate, I'm pretty sure. If wishes were fishes, I'd do them all that way now, leave it that way through test playing the next beta, then recut them (using screenshots for sizing) for the final iteration.... I mean,... you might want to save the work file in case you'd like to do that....

I'm looking forward to the next two...

Still early days with figuring out details & proportions. Looking just at the finial - is this more like what you want?

http://img692.imageshack.us/img692/8112/verne3.jpg

Still early days with figuring out details & proportions. Looking just at the finial - is this more like what you want?

No, no; the question is, is this more like you want? If I suggest a change, it's just my sense of design talking, and I've learned not to depend too much on it, myself. For instance, if I had the Steampunk interface to do over, it would be much darker, more whimsical and much more, um, punk. More Terry Gilliam, less Disney/Verne, perhaps. Maybe someday; we do what we can do.

As to your image, that finial does look quite nice. Let's see where you take it from there.. Have you considered legs for this?

No, no; the question is, is this more like you want? If I suggest a change, it's just my sense of design talking, and I've learned not to depend too much on it, myself. For instance, if I had the Steampunk interface to do over, it would be much darker, more whimsical and much more, um, punk. More Terry Gilliam, less Disney/Verne, perhaps. Maybe someday; we do what we can do.

As to your image, that finial does look quite nice. Let's see where you take it from there.. Have you considered legs for this?I've done more work - a finial with 2 spheres. I'll post an image soon. I don't like the idea legs for this craft - I want to keep the ballistic look since it is meant to be fired from a cannon.

Once I get better at the modeling I want to do an "aetheric car" based on the descriptions in Edison's Conquest of Mars. If you remember the "flying toasters" screensaver, picture something like a cross between that and a railway private car, powered by Tesla style equipment, including ray weapons. I can easily see that with the clawed feet I associate with Victorian furniture.

I think 2 spheres might take away the minaret look it has now. I agree with no legs - this thing should basically crash land, nose first into the side of the moon ;) Have you considered ditching the finial altogether? - seems that most of the concept art/images went down that route.

http://img443.imageshack.us/img443/497/vernian5ba.jpg

I intend the attack to be some kind of an energy burst from the finial - probably balls of st. elmo's fire. Like a reverse lightning rod. :crazyeye: I don't think 2 spheres spoils the look. The lower sphere is probably larger than what I'll end up going with.

The 2 spheres look better than 1. I like it better now that you've put the rims on the top too. Are you going to go for a pop rivet panneled look or a smooth surface? What colour: iron or brass would be nice. :)

The 2 spheres look better than 1. I like it better now that you've put the rims on the top too. Are you going to go for a pop rivet panneled look or a smooth surface? What colour: iron or brass would be nice. :)The main body will probably be smooth shiny brass - like a typical shell casing. The structural beams will probably be riveted & patinaed. The observation windows blue-green bottle glass & translucent (I hope). The finial either brass or copper with one orb civ-colored & the other open-work as in the example posted above. The open work orb will be the source of the energy attack. All these choices depend on what looks right at the game scale. Any advice on how large to make it, either in terms of the samples I posted at first, or in pixel size?

I'm just now learning more complex animations. I've had some side conversations with my instructor about correcting minor problems with the model such as have curves where there should be straight edges. Also about UV mapping & adjusting camera angles by the numbers. Assuming all these things get worked out then the real trick will be figuring out how to get around the way the student version of Maya cripples animated renders. I think I know how to accomplish that, at the cost of doing screenshots of individual frames & construction the animations "by hand". I may end up just rebuilding the model in another program. I'm working on getting an internship with a small game development company. Hopefully that will gain me access to some sophisticated tools that aren't crippled. & some more advanced training.

Here's a newer example. The main visual difference is the open, spiral nature of the larger sphere on the finial. But there are several hours work cutting the finial in sections & substituting new objects for the tip & the two spheres. Next time around I'll have a much nicer door for you. & hopefully a prototype of a couple of animations (attack & run).

rant
The reason for the splitting & separate models is that ultimately it keeps the geometry simpler in terms of adding the texture & rendering. I'll be doing the same with the door.

This is a "learn as you go" since I'm both redoing the model (or parts thereof) as I learn more in class and pester the instructor during breaks for things I'm trying that aren't in the curriculum. The more I work on this the more I'm seeing how crippled the MLE version of Maya is for actual output. Even though I know I'll end up redoing it in another program for the unit animations it's worth it to me to be able to proceed with the design rather than have the confusion of learning two program's UIs simultaneously.
thumbnail
http://img263.imageshack.us/img263/6461/vernian7.th.jpg (http://img263.imageshack.us/img263/6461/vernian7.jpg)

Looking good. I can imagine some crackling electrical effects going on within that open sphere.

See? I'd have never thought of that.

Thanks to you both!I can imagine some crackling electrical effects going on within that open sphere.That's what I have in mind. A sort of Tesla coil that discharges balls of energy - like St. Elmo's Fire. & the finial is like a lightning rod in reverse - it aims the balls at the targeted unit. So they'll spiral out and along it. A weapon that will function both in planetary atmospheres and in the depths of the aether.

http://img714.imageshack.us/img714/1096/steampunklostworldstitl.jpg

Just screwing around today.... playing with page headers.

Here it is in Gif form:

http://img69.imageshack.us/img69/7602/steampunklostworldstitl.gif


A smaller, "banner" gif:

http://img192.imageshack.us/img192/7602/steampunklostworldstitl.gif

Very cool - a great advert for the scenario. Perhaps I could put it on the first post of the Welcome page - unless you want to reserve it for the beta release?

Nah, go ahead and put it up - I'm learning not to say, "Let's do that later." I'm glad you like it.

While you're on the Welcome page, I have the following changes for the "Progress" section:

All eras complete.
Wonders done
Time Machine: Under Construction
Playtesting & Debugging: underway on alpha

First page of the Unit Lines thread should point >here (http://forums.civfanatics.com/showpost.php?p=8580110&postcount=262)< and >here (http://forums.civfanatics.com/showpost.php?p=8814488&postcount=264)< (Barsoomian Beasts)

So sad that Stormrage was the first person to post encouragement in the Welcome thread....

Yeah poor Stormy, he was such an enthusiastic supporter. We could always put a small dedication to him in the game. I've included him as one of the Great Leaders in my Super Hero scenario although I might bump him up to a special unit so I can include a civilopedia entry.

I'll attend to the updates on the first post this evening - got to get back to work now :(

Yeah poor Stormy, he was such an enthusiastic supporter. We could always put a small dedication to him in the game. I've included him as one of the Great Leaders in my Super Hero scenario although I might bump him up to a special unit so I can include a civilopedia entry.

There's an idea. You could do alot with a hero named Storm Rage.... A cross between the Storm girl (from the X-men - I forget her actual name) and the Hulk, perhaps......

Which reminds me, I forget if I've told you this before, but I should let you know that I've been working quietly behind the curtain with Vuldacon to shore up our heroes. You'll remember that I had the idea of combining the Monster Zombie and the Scientist to make a Jeckyll/Hyde unit; well, Vuldacon has been gracious enough to recolor the Zombie to make it less green, and now our Hyde looks much more fearsome (see attachment, below). He's also provided a non-civ-colored bat so that our Vampire can now turn into one when he runs and fortifies...

240730

Perhaps you could find some use in this spider-woman set?

http://i50.tinypic.com/2zdyogx.png

Spider-Woman ?

The centerpiece looks a bit like one, to me at least :)

Not another spider woman set, but i was wondering if any of my towns can be used in this :)

http://i38.tinypic.com/2uh8evq.png

I'm so glad you asked, Kyriakos.

Many of your new cities remind me of the Ancient cities of Barsoom (Mars) which is a big part of our scenario. For instance, take a look at these images of Barsoom cities: >here (http://www.tarzan.org/art/ffgods.jpg)< , >here (http://www.michaelwhelan.com/catalog/collectionpop.php?images/vlarge_thuvia.jpg)<, and >here (http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ZnynueixVa4/SFvLUYahunI/AAAAAAAABDU/x3sTy3LqLk4/s1600/greatwhiteapes3.jpg)<.

Except for some very tall spires, and a few mushroom-shaped buildings, many of the cities seen in these images look just like the ancient cities you make. That is not a mistake: it is written that the ancient Barsoomians were among the first extra-terrestrial visitors to earth, and that many of the Lost Cities, such as Mu, are connected to these visits.

Perhaps you could make some fantasy cities along these lines for us? We could use two versions: the first being as I've described, and another of the same sorts of cities in Ruins - these would be the "lost cities" of our underground world.....

I am prepared to answer any questions you might have about this, and welcome your valuable help....

I might be able to make that, if i ever finish the industrial greek set...

But i will need better pics than these im afraid.

But i will need better pics than these im afraid.

There are no better pics than these; it's fantasy. The idea is to make a fairly standard ancient city with walls as you've already done. Inside the walls the towers of the city are visible as a collection of spires and other buildings with both familiar and unfamiliar shapes.

In the Barsoom Glossary (http://www.erblist.com/abg/man-made.html) they are described thusly:

The building styles appear to be domes (often burnished), towers which are ornamented with elaborate carvings from the fifth story to their crowns, minarets, large low buildings and personal residences built on hydraulic systems that will elevate the dwelling at night for the protection of the occupants. In the residential areas there is much rooftop living, often under silk canopies. Construction finishes occasionally embrace vivid colors such as the Scarlet Tower.
Many Barsoomian cities are surrounded by defensive walls--the walls of Kaol, for example, are 75 feet in height and smooth as glass. Walled cities often have businesses or dwellings embedded in the immense fortifications.

For our purposes, focus on the shapes: walls, domes, towers, minarets; as I said, mushroom-shaped buildings would not be out of place in such a city.

Smaller towns and villages are less well described, but you could safely assume that they are like those on the planet Tattooine (http://www.google.com/images?q=Tatooine&hl=en&safe=off&gbv=2&sout=1&tbs=isch:1&ei=p41rTPnBOMP98AawtrXcAQ&sa=N&start=20&ndsp=20&biw=1049&bih=663) in Star Wars (as seen >here (http://api.ning.com/files/ngMdbWKtT4EUIgdlvcAIcCpyBjfyRjg3Bc3PWXsY2jV3roBmNn hMHH7iEEo6IaNdjN6nZWIVRvHIz8nM0pJhUe3VJ-YK5FPz/Tatooine_big.jpg)< and >here (http://www.fanfilmtheseries.com/store/images/mcquarrie/z-tatooine.jpg)<, for example).

Well i'll see what i can do.

Would you use any of the other sets? :) I might still make an industrial french one.

Well i'll see what i can do.

Thank you. I'll be interested to see what you come up with.

Would you use any of the other sets? :) I might still make an industrial french one.

As you know, we're using elements of both of your old english sets in our english cities:

240848


http://forums.civfanatics.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=240848&d=1264235476

As you can see, it came out very reddish. I was trying for dark roofs....

I cannot see it, but i know which you mean and they are horribly outdated.

But you choose anyway :)

You might be interested in this resource pack i just posted, since it is of the industrial era:

http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?p=9504636#post9504636

;)

I do like those, Kyriakos, especially the gaslight. I'll see what I can fit in. Thank-you.

To kick off the process of making cities here are some ideas for discussion. This is the public continuation of private discussions to help me develop models & assemble them into a set of cities.

I'd like initially to make a "generic city" set that can be used for all the Barsoomian civs. If that works out then, given time, more specific sets can be added. Maybe by geographic types - ie sets for mountainous regions, jungles, desert, etc. Matching architecture to environment as a basic guide.

Taking Frazetta's style as a basic guide, but adding other building types as well.

http://img535.imageshack.us/img535/7357/frazhelium.png

To construct the cities I'd like to make individual buildings then arrange the models once there's an acceptable collection. So below are some concepts of basic types. As usual I've got a wealth of images with many variations as well as other options.

images
http://img535.imageshack.us/img535/9182/towersamples.png
Notes On Individual Buildings

Basic concept - an architecture suitable to a wind-swept arid and dying planet.

Teardrop - a frequent shape of the taller towers. Elongated to avoid looking too arabesque.
Thrust - plainer. Perhaps with a rooftop pavilion.
Mushroom - either enclosed or as a "parasol" pavilion.
Spider - ground-level loggia. Maybe a public building with an open gathering place.
Pyramid - not in strict Egyptian or Mayan style.
Arena - got to have a place for those deadly Jetan contests.
Homes - resemble the eggs of the Red Martians, giving a sense of security. Also to weather sandstorms. Inspired by the stone house on the left, but more like that on the right. could evolve into the oblate teardrops in the Frazetta cities. Perhaps with a rooftop terrace or verandah to enjoy the balmy evenings.

The smaller cities could be mostly houses with a single central tower. Then more towers added for the intermediate sizes. The largest size would have the greatest variety of styles, and the arena.

I'm not really tied to any particular buildings or architectural style at this point. But obviously there needs to be some conceptual outline to construct buildings & preview the wips. Once there are a handful of models to work with, then city layouts and walls can come into the discussion.