The Alexander the Great Project!

[The Capo]

Hey, fixed the cheek-guard and connected the feather to the helmet, I just have to alter the top/lion part and connect it properly to the rest of the helmet and then I'll do a quick (probably crappy) skin job so you guys can see what it will look like before Bernie gets to work on skinning it. But I think its pretty close to being flawless as far as a model goes at least. Check it out!

 

[The Capo]

Damn it! I nearly had the helmet entirely finished and then I screwed up somehow and hit the wrong button and ended the session. So unfortunately I have to start from the last point I posted again. Which means it is going to take longer, which demoralizes me and makes me want to stop for the night, I'll try to have the final version up soon. Sorry.

 

[The Capo]

Well, before I quit for the night I threw together a VERY crude model of what the helmet will look like with the colors (sort of) that it will have. I don't think it looks too bad, obviously there is going to be a much better skin made for it but its a pretty good indication that its going to look pretty sweet when its finally finished.

 

[The Capo]

Since I'm all about keeping people updated on what I am doing I threw the helmet mock-up (again, it is still unfinished) on top of the model I have so far for alexander (also unfinished) and this is what it looks like right now...

 

[Vrenir]

I'm not sure that you even need to have the helmet removed in an animation. You don't get his flowing locks with this look, but you could add a little sticking out below the helmet and it might be perfect as-is.

 

[The Capo]

The helmet may not even go on the LH, although it'd be cool. Either way he is going to have the long hair, and he actually does in this image with the helmet on (its, well, under the helmet). Either way, I don't think leaving the helmet on as the normal LH would be a good idea, it would get in the way of his animations and facial expressions in my opinion.

 

[bernie14]

coming along very nicely

question: are u planning to raise the crest, as in the pic, or leave it down on the helmet?

 

[The Capo]

I could raise it, that's not a problem. I was just tinkering around with it for now and figured it'd be easier like this, but raising it shouldn't be much of a big deal. The other issue is the pony-tail in the back (if that's the proper term), I could add that as well but it would look too solid and almost detract from how the LH looks. What do you think of that?

 

[The Capo]

Here is a more "true to life" version (assuming the one we're basing it on has any historical basis) I've raised the plume and added a tail to it just like in the image. Now i just have to tie up some loose ends and I'm hoping you (Bernie) are prepared to skin it.

BTW; we are really raising the bar for ourselves with Hitler and now this. I mean the helmet alone is going to be amazing.

 

[The Capo]

Now, another question for you Bernie; none of the parts have been joined yet (and that includes the trim on the face/cheek-guard since I had to remove part of it to make it smaller. Do you want me to send you this blend so you can join/fuse/merge everything since you are skinning it, or should I try and do it myself. I am concerned I might not join the Lion head and helmet properly, or at least to your specs, as far as the skinning goes. I have it all arranged though. I guess what I am asking is whether or not you want the blend as it stands or if you want me to try and polish it off and then send it to you. Obviously the first option would be easier for me, the only reason I suggest the second is in case I gloriously screw something up. Which, despite what many think of my abilities, is a strong possibility.

 

[The Capo]

Another reason the current Civ IV Alex sucks; he apears to be in his mid to late thirties and in Greece. There are two problems with this; he never really reached that age, and also he certainly wasn't in Greece at that time. I believe he was around 24 when he left and never returned. So yeah... ours will rock Firaxis' version!

 

[bernie14]

Now, another question for you Bernie; none of the parts have been joined yet (and that includes the trim on the face/cheek-guard since I had to remove part of it to make it smaller. Do you want me to send you this blend so you can join/fuse/merge everything since you are skinning it, or should I try and do it myself. I am concerned I might not join the Lion head and helmet properly, or at least to your specs, as far as the skinning goes. I have it all arranged though. I guess what I am asking is whether or not you want the blend as it stands or if you want me to try and polish it off and then send it to you. Obviously the first option would be easier for me, the only reason I suggest the second is in case I gloriously screw something up. Which, despite what many think of my abilities, is a strong possibility.

send it to me as is, i'll polish'r up real purdy (i hope)

 

[The Capo]

Okay here are the files, I have attached an image of what it looks like (As it is) in NifSkope. It is VERY sloppy at this point because I didn't fine tune any of the texturing, but I did include the files to texturize it. I'm not really good at texturing so this is the best I could do as far as the number of files go.

Nothing is attached, its just placed where the peices should be. The lion head is not properly fitted to the helmet just yet but I figured you'd do a better job at that considering you are the one texturing it. The plume on top is two peices, so keep that in mind, the crest holding the plume is one peice, the bars that connect to the crest and the feathers are three individual peices (I used the musket for that), the lion's head is one peice, the helmet itself is actually three peices (the main portion and then the trim on either side of the face), the feathers are two peices as well but I guess I screwed up because the texture is on the BACK of the feather on the left side, I put up an image so you can see what I am talking about. I put in a nif and a blend for you to look at. Good luck.

EDIT: This should help know where the skinning is on each peice:
- Plume ; Tachnechobrus, it is two parts, one under the other.
- Crest that holds plume; from praetorian
- Tail of the plume; also from Tachnechobrus
- Bars that hold the Crest and Feathers; Musketman
- Lion Head; From Lion
- Helmet, including trim ; From Pericles
- Feathers; Paul Chomedry/Louis Frontenac (its Fronteac but it says Paul Chomedry or something I think)

 

[smeagolheart]

Any progress on the helmet so far?

 

[The Capo]

I'm pretty sure Bernie is working on it. It looks like a pretty tough job so I wouldn't rush him on it either.

Also, I injured my hand pretty badly so it may effect my abilities quite a bit.

 

[Ekmek]

Also, I injured my hand pretty badly so it may effect my abilities quite a bit.

you really need a girlfriend.

i'll try to pick up the slack on the LH

 

[The Capo]

you really need a girlfriend.

LOL, nice one. If you knew my ex you may not be saying that though... she was literally crazy, well not literally, but she was a terror.

Its not that bad, it just hurts like a . .. .. .. .. . right now.

 

[bernie14]

i'm almost done...just want to touch up the texture slightly and maybe add some alphas to make the feathers a little frilly/transparancy....here is a pic of the progress so far....

 

[The_Coyote]

bernie14, i think your textures are always masterpieces, but this is already awesomeness (<- is this a word?)

 

[bernie14]

thanks The_Coyote, truly appreciated

ok, here it is....i have included the blend, nif, and various dds files....the main texture file is a 512, i put in a slight gloss effect, so there is a GLOSS file (if u don't like the gloss, just blacken the gloss file or remove the NiTextureEffect "Environment Light" form the nif file)....i have also enclosed (2) *environment_fx_greymetal.dds* files, the default is a bronze, but it could be changed to a more silverish tone by replacing it with *environment_fx_greymetal2.dds*