New Race Portraits Site...!
 

http://jdtaylor.home.mindspring.com/...aitsbanner.jpg

Hey guys, I am new to SEIV and I love the customizability of it. In my quest to add something I settled on some new race portraits (128x128, 36x36 and 20x20) to go along with the beautiful custom ship sets that have been made by others, and created a small site at:

http://jdtaylor.home.mindspring.com

I will add new races over time and will also add _main files for each race for that extra bit of distinction. In time, I hope to add AI files as well.

Cheers,
Monolith

Re: New Race Portraits Site...!
 

Sweet !!

Welcome aboard http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

Re: New Race Portraits Site...!
 

great portraits!
keep up the good work http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

Re: New Race Portraits Site...!
 

Thanks for the positive feedback guys, it means a lot! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

Re: New Race Portraits Site...!
 

http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/shock.gif

Do you do custom requests? http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif

Also, you are in the news (at SE.net). http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif

[ October 21, 2003, 15:32: Message edited by: Imperator Fyron ]

Re: New Race Portraits Site...!
 

Oh wow...
Nice work man, welcome to the board.

Re: New Race Portraits Site...!
 

<font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">Thanks Fyron, I appreciate the coverage!

As for requests, I can try. The models are not really mine, but that of the Instant Monsters toolkit, a library of sorts for meshes. Coloring (and skinning) them, adding little bits to them here and there, or sticking pieces together in some cases is all I have done _so far_. That being said, I can draw and visualize pretty well, and I am open to ideas people have for races, so send me what you might have as an idea and I will see what I can do. I am still trying to learn Cinema 4D too, but it's pretty friendly a tool, and I have a strong desire to do some pure custom races. Thanks again!

Re: New Race Portraits Site...!
 

It would be for a race that make ships looking like this:

Battle Cruiser:
http://www.spaceempires.net/files/te...tlecruiser.png

Large Fighter:
http://www.spaceempires.net/files/temp/fighterlarge.png

The race is somewhat draconic (though not actually dragons... http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif ). They are mean and nasty, so they should look fearsome and, well, nasty. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif Also, they make use of organic technology.

[ October 21, 2003, 21:28: Message edited by: Imperator Fyron ]

Re: New Race Portraits Site...!
 

tsk, tsk. there's no reason for nasty races to look nasty.

Re: New Race Portraits Site...!
 

Welcome to the forum Monolith.

You do realize now that many of us will have to make ship sets to fit those races?

Re: New Race Portraits Site...!
 

your supposed to be retired.

Re: New Race Portraits Site...!
 

At the price I am retired!

CINEMA 4D R8 STUDIO Bundle PC $2495

Re: New Race Portraits Site...!
 

Wow ... really good work! Well done!
Keep on, Monolith!
( i was just looking for new race pics, http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif ).

Re: New Race Portraits Site...!
 

Really impressive race pics. Two thumbs up for ya.

Re: New Race Portraits Site...!
 

<font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">There is no reason for them to look pleasant, or like anything else, for that matter. I want them to look mean and nasty. Nothing wrong with that.

Re: New Race Portraits Site...!
 

<font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">There is no reason for them to look pleasant, or like anything else, for that matter. I want them to look mean and nasty. Nothing wrong with that. </font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">What looks mean and nasty probably depends a lot on what features scream "PREDATOR!" that we have evolved to recogize. True aliens might likely flip out at the site of say thick fur if the predators they evolved to recognize had it, so a furry cat-creature might appear wicked to them but appear cute or benign to us. All that being said, I think that many creatures will indeed have features we consider threatening, since common evolutionary pressures probably result in the same predator/prey recognitions on worlds similiar to ours. Truly "alien" lifeforms and environments would spawn other lifeforms with a range of different predator/prey traits, some we would recognize as threatening and some not. For the sake of SEIV, it's more fun if some aggressive races appear that way, and some don't; likewise for peaceful races.

In the end it's about what we desire to add flavor to the game in the style we want. A buddy of mine is hung up on the more "real" alien looks from Babylon 5. In the context of SEIV with the original races I wanted something a bit more non-human, but still somewhere in the neighborhood of the 1960's stylizations of the original races in SEIV so they wouldn't be SO jarring next to them.

Have I beat this issue to death yet http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/tongue.gif

Re: New Race Portraits Site...!
 

So do you want to make me an image or not? http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

Re: New Race Portraits Site...!
 

<font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">Hey, believe it or not all the work you see is done using the DEMO Version of the Cinema 4D that is on the disk for Instant Monsters. I am trying to get a buddy to get it under an educational discount from www.studica.com, so the Cinema 4D package itself would only be like $289, Body Paint would be another $289.

The only problem is NONE of the work so far was able to be saved in the demo; you can only work with the tool but not save the final work (all I have are screen captures). Kind of reminds me of the art teachers (sadistic ones) in junior high that thought it was cool to tear up your work after you finished http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/image...s/rolleyes.gif

btw, there are several variations of the greenbrainybug (bottom left corner of the grid) in the zip with all the races. Kind of a cheap bonus for downloading them all!

Re: New Race Portraits Site...!
 

<font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">Sure, if you have something in mind!

Just email it to me!

Re: New Race Portraits Site...!
 

I had something in mind, but you went on a tangent. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif I emailed more info to you.

Re: New Race Portraits Site...!
 

<font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">Here's a first stab, Fyron...


http://jdtaylor.home.mindspring.com/...e_portrait.jpg

Re: New Race Portraits Site...!
 

Hmm...I really like your stuff man. I was wondering...would you mind making me a shipset for the Jonol? It would seem right up your alley. If you dont mind doing so, just say so and I will have all you need and then some emailed to you.

Nice work, and keep it up! ^______^

Re: New Race Portraits Site...!
 

Perhaps a bit more "jagged"? The front part of the face looks too soft and cuddly. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif

Could you give it a scaley texture?

Once we get the image finalized, if it is not much more trouble than just changing a few color settings and re-rendering (as that is how most 3d programs work http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif ), could you make several Versions of various colors?

Re: New Race Portraits Site...!
 

Thanks Kodos, I do what I can with what tools I can find http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon6.gif

I am happy to do a race portrait for you, but for now I am passing on a full ship set. The ones that others have made are so darn good its a bit intimidating. Once I feel more confident with the Cinema 4D I will probably do a "learning" one to get a feel for it. Then I may take some requests if I have the time. Just send me a note or post your ideas for a race and once I finish with one or two who have asked I can work on it. It's a FIFO queue!

Re: New Race Portraits Site...!
 

Fyron, here's another try...

http://home.mindspring.com/~jdtaylor...dragontest.jpg

[ October 25, 2003, 04:17: Message edited by: Monolith ]

Re: New Race Portraits Site...!
 

Perhaps an eyeball that looks like that of a dragon? http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif

Other than that (and the lack of scales), much nicer (well, meaner really). http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif

Re: New Race Portraits Site...!
 

Hey Fyron, here's a rework:

http://home.mindspring.com/~jdtaylor..._portrait1.jpg

In the meantime I think thats probably the best I can do with the look of the scales until I learn some more http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon9.gif

Re: New Race Portraits Site...!
 

Well then it will have to do for now. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif Perhaps you would want to make a 128x128 Version? http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif

Re: New Race Portraits Site...!
 

Great work monolith, and don't pay attention to Fyron, it is rumored that he is a spoiled little rich kid whos computer is bigger than he is. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif


J/k http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif

Re: New Race Portraits Site...!
 

and take it from me, he's not always right, either. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif

Re: New Race Portraits Site...!
 

<font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">I think you are the only person circulating such a rumor...

<font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">Well when someone is making a custom image for another, "right" or "wrong" don't really matter, only aesthetics. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif

[ October 25, 2003, 22:24: Message edited by: Imperator Fyron ]

Re: New Race Portraits Site...!
 

<font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">spongebob squarepants as the portrait for a race of canniballs.

two horror's for the price of one. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif

Re: New Race Portraits Site...!
 

<font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">I think you are the only person circulating such a rumor...

</font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">Who me? Oh hell no, I am the one saying that your a poor college bound artist with the high IQ and talent to back it up. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

Re: New Race Portraits Site...!
 

You sure turned tails quickly on that one.

Re: New Race Portraits Site...!
 

Next request:

The Tyran are mammalian, with an average life span of just under 80 terran years. They resemble a 1.8 meter tall cross between a gorilla and a Bengal tiger. They are massive, possess black or red fur (which can be striped or unstriped), and have gruesome fangs.

Re: New Race Portraits Site...!
 

<font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">Believe it or not, there is a facial structure in the toolkit that might actually work for that. I am going to work on one for either Johan or Kodos next, but after I finish with them, I will get on it!

Re: New Race Portraits Site...!
 

<font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">my, what a long nose you have. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif

Re: New Race Portraits Site...!
 

Here's a new one for Johan...

http://home.mindspring.com/~jdtaylor...e_portrait.jpg

...I also revised this one...

http://home.mindspring.com/~jdtaylor...e_portrait.jpg

[ October 28, 2003, 15:22: Message edited by: Monolith ]

Re: New Race Portraits Site...!
 

A couple more revisions to existing portraits...

http://home.mindspring.com/~jdtaylor...e_portrait.jpg


http://home.mindspring.com/~jdtaylor...e_portrait.jpg


http://home.mindspring.com/~jdtaylor..._portrait0.jpg


http://home.mindspring.com/~jdtaylor...e_portrait.jpg

Now that I am learning what works and doesn't, I will likely be revising most of the existing ones to make them less blurry, have higher contrast, use special effects, etc. I haven't forgotten about the requests, but these were bothering me enough I felt like going back and taking care of them first http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/tongue.gif

[ October 29, 2003, 22:57: Message edited by: Monolith ]

Re: New Race Portraits Site...!
 

Latest addition to the page...

http://home.mindspring.com/~jdtaylor...e_portrait.jpg

http://home.mindspring.com/~jdtaylor...e_portrait.jpg

This one was not much to do really with the toolset, so I pushed it out. The custom ones take longer, but I haven't forgotten you guys at all. The order is such:

Kodos
Fyron
Johan
Kodos
Kodos

I am rotating off to be as fair as I can http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

[ November 05, 2003, 20:40: Message edited by: Monolith ]

Re: New Race Portraits Site...!
 

Okay, Kodos, here's the racial portaits for two:

http://home.mindspring.com/~jdtaylor...e_portrait.jpg

http://home.mindspring.com/~jdtaylor...e_portrait.jpg

And an update to the spacetroll:

http://home.mindspring.com/~jdtaylor...e_portrait.jpg


FWIW, if you download all the files by using the download all files link, there are variants for a number of the portraits in the file, along with the Fyron's custom race (hope you don't mind making it public Fyron http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif ).

[ November 11, 2003, 14:56: Message edited by: Monolith ]

Re: New Race Portraits Site...!
 

Okay, another new portrait:

http://home.mindspring.com/~jdtaylor...e_portrait.jpg

And a couple of revisions to existing ones to make them more "SEIV-like":

http://home.mindspring.com/~jdtaylor...e_portrait.jpg

http://home.mindspring.com/~jdtaylor...e_portrait.jpg

Re: New Race Portraits Site...!
 

Holy cow!

I like that top bug!

Re: New Race Portraits Site...!
 

You should make a Neutral Race pack that includes neutral races using these cool new race portraits (save those that are made for full races). http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif

Re: New Race Portraits Site...!
 

<font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">Ya know, I keep toying with something like that. I notice that there are 6 neutrals in the base game; as long as you increment the number, is there any limit to the number of possible ones? I can't find any limit value in the settings.txt file, but I have heard of mods with more...

Re: New Race Portraits Site...!
 

No limit on they number you can have in the folder. You can only have 5 in a game, but they can come from as many possible folders as you want. And, I do not think you even need to name them as Neutral###.

Re: New Race Portraits Site...!
 

Hey guys, just wanted to say I haven't forgotten about working on custom portraits for you by any means. Because the next set requires me to do full custom ones, I can't do the best work I want to without the full Version of the program I work in (mainly because I can't save the work). Once I have the extra money to pick up Cinema 4D (fortunately on educational discount), I will pick up doing them.

Happy Holidays,
Monolith