[FfH II Art Team Blog]

[WarKirby]

It's not the beard on the outside that counts. It's the beard on the inside.

Dwarven Champion now available, download here: http://forums.civfanatics.com/downloads.php?do=file&id=12631

I never liked the original Dwarven Champion we had before. Seemed uncharacteristic compared to the axeman before him. So I set out to redo him. This design is based on a Great Prophet picture we're using in FF, but I did the textures myself for the most part. Fully gloss mapped too, even his bald, shiny head is gloss mapped :3

He uses a custom kfm and tweaked animations, included in the download. Does not have to be in the same folder as the unit. New button image also included.

The general thing I was looking for here, is big and heavy. forgoing speed for big heavy armour and a massive shield, in true dwarven style.

Recommended Scale: 0.34

 

[Tasunke]

Cool! what was the dwarven art for champs before?

 

[thomas.berubeg]

Some kind of scrawny skeletal thing, IIRC.

 

[Avahz Darkwood]

AAHHH its a bearded turtle with an ax!!!! Na just kidding, I like it =)

but I must admit the one(or two) shots with the shield jammed into his skull must really hurt

 

[cfkane]

Hooray for Dexter's Lab quotes!

 

[WarKirby]

For comparison, here's a pic of the old dwarven champion

he's a retextured swordsman, squashed vertically. The proportions just don't look right. Especially when compared to some of the other wonderful dwarven units, warrior and axeman for example. Also, his beard is short and just textured on. And the skintone between his face and body is different.

I hope I've succeeded in improving the unit.

 

[Squirm]

Looks like an improvement to me.

I've taken up modelling myself now with a view to getting new units into Fall from Heaven. Subdivision modelling, UV unwrapping, rigging and animating have all come fairly easily.

Texturing from scratch, as opposed to modifying existing DDS files, is stumping me, though, as I don't even have the simplest of techniques in my repertoire yet. Would you mind imparting some tips on what your usual work process is, Warkirby (or even Sezereth, if time permits) for starting texturing on a flat UV file. How do you personally tackle basic texturing for units such as skin, faces, metals, leather and cloth folds?

 

[Rystic]

@Squirm

I'm going to take a guess... is that what you're planning for a Mobius Witch? It looks great so far. I like the boots and cape.

 

[Squirm]

Svartalfar Illusionist, based on the attached picture. No idea how I'm going to do the streaming hair, though, other than the vague "find out how the alpha on the spectacular Mercurian Angels' wings were done and copy it poorly."

Also attached is the work in progress on the ragged cloth "wing" attached to her left arm, which also goes onto the "find out how to get black treated as an alpha" action list, so the holes and tears become see-through. I'm quite pleased with the velvety look, although defining the shape of the, uh, vanes to look anything like the piccy has been too difficult for me to accomplish so far.

 

[Rystic]

Svartalfar Illusionist, based on the attached picture. No idea how I'm going to do the streaming hair, though, other than the vague "find out how the alpha on the spectacular Mercurian Angels' wings were done and copy it poorly."

The skull she's holding looks necromatic, and the knife looks like a sacrificial dagger. Overall, she looks like the female equivalent of a Sheaim Mage. That model would make a fantastic Mobius Witch. Right now, they're this kind of... Toaist Monk... recoloring... thing. They need it badly.

 

[MagisterCultuum]

The current Svartalfar Mage graphics are among the best in the arcane line, and do not need replacing. Also, that picture really doesn't seem appropriate for an Illusionaist. It is much too dark, and she is in Sheaim colors. It would be better to switch to making it a Mobius Witch.


The tattered robes in the picture fits the Mobius Witch description well. On the other hand, the pedia seems to indicate that Mobius Witches have strangely distorted bodies, like they can't fullt fit into our dimension.

...A mobius witch drove the carriage. Her form twisted and bent back in on itself as if she was a leather skin stretched tight over a rough stone, as if she wasn't able to fully enter this world. But inside the carriage was a more amazing site...

...The tattered edges of the mobius witches robes reached through the window of the carriage and brushed up against Gaulos's neck. The touch made him shiver even in the oppressive heat of the day...

 

[KillerClowns]

I'm gonna second third making that a Mobius Witch, it's definitely demented and awesome enough, and the overall style matches the wonderful Mordorpunk theme the Sheaim have going on. (Yes, I did just make the phrase "Mordorpunk" up.) We'll call the lack of warped distortion artistic licence.

 

[WarKirby]

The current Svartalfar Mage graphics are among the best in the arcane line, and do not need replacing. Also, that picture really doesn't seem appropriate for an Illusionaist. It is much too dark, and she is in Sheaim colors. It would be better to switch to making it a Mobius Witch.

I have to second this. Sezereth did some wonderful, and very recent work on the svartalfar arcane line. I don't think it would be a good idea to try to replace those.


I made a dwarven champion, because in my first major khazad game, the emotions I felt at seeing the old one could only be described as disappointment. There are a great many units with placeholder, or poor quality art needing overhauled, but svart mages certainly aren't one

I think the unit you're making there would actually be quite suitable for a Calabim mage, considering the bloodstained hands

Also, be aware of poly count. I can't tell for sure, but the unit you're making there looks pretty detailed. For a foot unit, <700 faces is good. Less than 1500 is "acceptable", but not really good unless it's a hero. (some doviello units are about 1200). I'm not sure what kael defines as the upper limit of acceptable.

 

[WarKirby]

Texturing from scratch, as opposed to modifying existing DDS files, is stumping me, though, as I don't even have the simplest of techniques in my repertoire yet. Would you mind imparting some tips on what your usual work process is, Warkirby (or even Sezereth, if time permits) for starting texturing on a flat UV file. How do you personally tackle basic texturing for units such as skin, faces, metals, leather and cloth folds?

I'm not too well versed in doing human skin. Mostly, I just take samples from existing units and adapt as necessary. From what I can tell looking at his files, seZereth seems fond of reusing firaxis body textures too. The units I've made new faces on, are usually photosourced. For metals, start with a base greyish color, some bevelling, dirt brushes, dodge/burn and occasionally a lens flare. with cloth, I usually draw folds and creases by hand with the burn tool.

If you make any progress, do come back and tell. I'm still learning too !

 

[Fenboy]

Completely OT, but have you considered doing some work on the Mercurians' human units WK? They seem to be right at the bottom of the team's 'to do' list.

 

[Rystic]

Completely OT, but have you considered doing some work on the Mercurians' human units WK? They seem to be right at the bottom of the team's 'to do' list.

I second this. The Mercurians receive no love

Spoiler :

The humans at least.

 

[Lone Wolf]

Who cares about the expendable humans?

 

[WarKirby]

The mercurians hardly have any human units, and nothin that other factions don't get. Besides that, they're generally designed to be reliant on angels, and in most circumstances will have a plentiful supply.

I don't really see the need for unique art for mercurian human units.
Although, I didn't see a need for an Orcish paladin either, but seZ did that

But still, it's not something I'm going to work on. I'm currently doing some stuff for FF, but if I do more FFH stuff in future, Gilden Silveric and the Ljosalfar champion are at the top of my list. Both are SORELY in need of new art. If you haven't seen it already, go look at the ljosalfar champion, you'll see what I mean. Also compare it with the awesome Ljosalfar Paladin.

 

[Rystic]

The mercurians hardly have any human units, and nothin that other factions don't get. Besides that, they're generally designed to be reliant on angels, and in most circumstances will have a plentiful supply.

The Mercurians use their human fodder more than the Calabim! At the very least, they could use some unique art for Axemen. I usually have droves of them suiciding against enemy walls for easy Angels.

But still, it's not something I'm going to work on. I'm currently doing some stuff for FF, but if I do more FFH stuff in future, Gilden Silveric and the Ljosalfar champion are at the top of my list. Both are SORELY in need of new art. If you haven't seen it already, go look at the ljosalfar champion, you'll see what I mean. Also compare it with the awesome Ljosalfar Paladin.

You know what I'd like? Unique art for Great People. That would be awesome.

 

[Lone Wolf]

Mercurian default slightly brutish-looking "Sergeant Chop" axemen graphics are OK for them.