[BNW] 3D Artist needed

[adan_eslavo]

I'm looking for a help of an 3D artist in my current modmod for Vox Populi enhancement. Of course this work would be available for other mods outside Vox Populi too. What is the topic and artist would devote himself?

1. More Wonders for VP is mod adding new World Wonders and Natural Wonders to the game.
2. Right now I (with help of @Iamblichos and earlier work of @LamilLerran) managed to incorporate this new feature of Natural Wonders, with new models, to the game.
3. Those 3 models currently included, require some work to make them better, prettier and more appealing for an civ 5 gamer's eyes.
4. After that, it would be nice to continue cooperation and make some more of them, like Terra Mirabilis from @Deliverator or @sukritact' wonders did for civ 6. I will do my best to do code it as well as possible.

Spread the info and let me know if you or one of your colleagues are intersted!

 

[adan_eslavo]

You may ask: "What is done, and what needs to be done?" Below, I will try to sketch brief plan of changes that could be done in current setup:

1. Mt. Everest: current wonder model is good, but fits the tiles badly. Also it is now 1-tile wonder, but if divided on three parts it could be set as 3-tile wonder in triangle shape. This would require serious coding, but I did already 3-tile wonder in line (Great Barrier Reef), so it is matter of time.

Spoiler Mt. Everest :

2.Giant's Causeway: first, it is also 1-tile wonder that can easily be redone to 2-tile wonder. Code is almost ready: only placement of second tile must be added. The model is not perfect. It misses regular hexagonal shape of basalt stones and has bad texturing.
​

Spoiler Giant's Causeway :

3. Lake Victoria: it is original 1-tile wonder that should be, and it is perfect candidate for first 4-tile wonder (diamond shape). Much of work, both, modelling and coding.
4. Lake Retba: if model was about to be created it would be better to rework it to Lake Hillier.
​

Spoiler Lake Retba/Lake Hillier :

5. Eye of Sahara (3-tile), Bermuda Triangle (3-tile), Bioluminescent Bay, Dallol: four "flat" wonders, that will be programmed soon. After that only making proper models will be left. They are flat, because I managed (or i will try) to program them without model shape (only texturing).

6.Further steps will be up to discussion. If we manage to reach this point I will be more than happy ​

 

[Deliverator]

The Civ V native Natural Wonders use Terrain Pieces which are constructed from 2D texture files rather than 3D models. As well as a heightmap and texture map there are blend maps for both which is what makes the height and texture of the Natural Wonders blend into the landscape.

For example this the heightmap (_H) and the heightmap blend (H_BLEND) files for Civ 5 Barringer Crater.

Civ VI Natural Wonders can use a heightmap or a 3D model or often a combination of the two, however I don't know that anyone has successfully added a terrain piece to Civ V via a mod (although it looks like some of the NWs above are editing the heightmaps). The layout of Civ V terrain pieces is defined but a set of arcane CSV files and I don't think they can be added to or altered via a mod. All this is just to give some background.

The best that can be done with 3D models is to try and modify the meshes and textures so that they blend with the landscape.

 

[adan_eslavo]

The Civ V native Natural Wonders use Terrain Pieces which are constructed from 2D texture files rather than 3D models. As well as a heightmap and texture map there are blend maps for both which is what makes the height and texture of the Natural Wonders blend into the landscape.

For example this the heightmap (_H) and the heightmap blend (H_BLEND) files for Civ 5 Barringer Crater.

View attachment 567738

View attachment 567739

Civ VI Natural Wonders can use a heightmap or a 3D model or often a combination of the two, however I don't know that anyone has successfully added a terrain piece to Civ V via a mod (although it looks like some of the NWs above are editing the heightmaps). The layout of Civ V terrain pieces is defined but a set of arcane CSV files and I don't think they can be added to or altered via a mod. All this is just to give some background.

The best that can be done with 3D models is to try and modify the meshes and textures so that they blend with the landscape.

I tried to do only _h modification to make wonders higher or lower, but what I got is visible on pictures above. Mt. Everest and Causeway have appropriate models with textures and they are much higher. Is it possible to make such thing using only _h or blend_h?

With Barringer Crater you mentioned, what is 3D model for it? Flat? All the thing is shaped by those two files?

 

[Deliverator]

Is it possible to make such thing using only _h or blend_h?

Not sure is the answer. The workaround that uses 3D models for Natural Wonders is the only way I've seen anyone use to add new NWs to Civ 5. I don't know if you can even add new ones via the native system as the list of NWs might be hardcoded.

With Barringer Crater you mentioned, what is 3D model for it? Flat? All the thing is shaped by those two files?

For Barringer Crater there is no 3D model. The Civ 5 Natural Wonders are mostly shaped by 2D height, texture maps and decals - only a few such as King Solomon's Mine or El Dorado use 3D models.

 

[adan_eslavo]

Not sure is the answer. The workaround that uses 3D models for Natural Wonders is the only way I've seen anyone use to add new NWs to Civ 5. I don't know if you can even add new ones via the native system as the list of NWs might be hardcoded.

I've already added functional NWs thanks to code made by one player and introduced to VP by @Iamblichos. The last thing I must do is to add or modify models. They are PseudoNaturalWonders, because if you added NaturalWonders it was not possible to add models.

For Barringer Crater there is no 3D model. The Civ 5 Natural Wonders are mostly shaped by 2D height, texture maps and decals - only a few such as King Solomon's Mine or El Dorado use 3D models.

I modified Salar de Uyuni already and I'm happy with the result, but Everest and Causeway use 3D model. If it would be possible to remove it or modify existing one I would be more than happy. Rest I've added try to use 2D blending but result is tragic. Could you help me with that? At least to show how to make them? I'm able to modify 2D graphics by myself, but don't know how achieve such great heights of mountains or terrains digged into the ground (like in barringer). Also I have problems with placing texture over water... It is always "covered"

Spoiler Texture covered by water :

Texture is pure black, but in game...

I cannot find Great Barrier Reef model or 2D art to copy their method...