Grrr Need some advice ShipSet Blues
 

Hey guys,
I have not been active on the forums because i have been trying to work on my shipset! I am so such a newbie its not even funny. I tried out several styles but I feel quite depressed.. I want to have a very good shipset like Fyron, and as dedicated to his race, but I am getting depressed:( It doesnt seem to me that I do not have any good skills at using any of the programs Not to mention that I stil have to figure out the paint schemes and such. Anyone have any ideas on how I can work out my Ship Set blues... http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon9.gif

Re: Grrr Need some advice ShipSet Blues
 

start somewhere and go on until you get to the end.

it makes more sense than it might sound.

[ July 08, 2003, 05:54: Message edited by: narf poit chez BOOM ]

Re: Grrr Need some advice ShipSet Blues
 

Start with something simpler than a ship. Work your way up.

Re: Grrr Need some advice ShipSet Blues
 

I think what it is that i need to have some kind of common theme. Something that would fit a fierce cat warrior type race with a cool leader like me http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

Re: Grrr Need some advice ShipSet Blues
 

tiger strips or lepord spots on your ships?

Re: Grrr Need some advice ShipSet Blues
 

Kind of like the Puntheraians or however you spell that.

Re: Grrr Need some advice ShipSet Blues
 

me and Fyron. one-two advice.

Re: Grrr Need some advice ShipSet Blues
 

lol yea you guys are funny...i just gotta figure out the ships first , shapes that is, but kinda of difficult cause i dont want to copy someone elses:(

Re: Grrr Need some advice ShipSet Blues
 

What software are you using to create the race? If you're not getting on with it, try something else.

THe other way to do it is to commission someone else to do your race for you. That's how several races came into being (including, oddly enough, another feline race- the leonine.)

Re: Grrr Need some advice ShipSet Blues
 

thanks for conern Dogscoff
its actually an easy program DogaL3
but its not the program, its trying to figure out what kind of look i was going for
I went on the complete race directory, and its hard to not copy others, and darn those Kilrathi shipsets...they look good http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon9.gif
lol

Re: Grrr Need some advice ShipSet Blues
 

Try what the ILM boys do: pick a common object (outboard motor) and then distort and elaborate on it (B-Wing Fighter).

street light head
PS/2-to-9-pin-D (serial) connector
ergonomic mouse or trackball
toilet (would be difficult to make it unrecognizable enough to be a nice ship set)
egg beater
mixer
sun glasses
head phones
maple leaf
sea shell (may ne difficult to loose the 'organic' look)
feline shoulder blade (nicely unsymetrical)
bird pelvis
PCI card
hand soap pump dispenser
shrimp fork
men's belt buckel
revolver
wall sconce
mezo-american anthropomorphic pottery
cooling fan
bottle opener
unindetifiable women's jewlery
WWII tanks
mushroom cloud
Full Winsor knot
octothorpe
slice of pie

I think the most promising of that heap is the shoulder blade.

Re: Grrr Need some advice ShipSet Blues
 

Rojero, I had the same problem with the Verdurans (I almost quit several times) and the only thing that kept me going was random experimentation. I used vegetables as my inspiration, but I ran out of ideas after the destroyer. So, I just started adding shapes (especially spheres and cylinders) to my basic hull and by accident created something I liked. They didn't really turn out the way I expected, but in the end I do like them.

PS. Don't feel obliged to make them look feline (unless you really want to). Human ships don't look remotely human, and I don't imagine aliens would make self-portrait style ships either.

PPS. Try not to feel discouraged about all the great ship sets out there - most of their creators have many years of experience. It's impossible to be perfect the first time (and you can always make a newer Version later). http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

Re: Grrr Need some advice ShipSet Blues
 

Rojero, same here. I have zero artistic ability, but I still want a shipset of my own. I've started, then aborted one, I may revisit it soon.

Some more suggestions ...

Select an intermediate hull size, for example, light cruiser or battle cruiser, and decide how it should look.

Have smaller ships be the same basic size, but smaller, and simpler. Have larger ships not only be larger, but have more "things" on them.

Look to any sci fi tv show or movie to see what "dodads" your ships should have. I saw once how the nacelles on a shuttlecraft for ST:Next Gen were actually painted disposable razor handles -- so inspiration can really come from anywhere.

I really liked the missile picture from the terran shipset and wanted to slightly modify it. I tried to do this a pixel at a time. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/shock.gif I've abandoned that plan (try not to be too shocked guys). I'll go with the symetrical sphere so many shipsets seem to use. The point here is don't be afraid to abandon something that turns out to be too difficult and approach the problem a different way.

Not every shipset has to have every image in it be a work of art. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

Re: Grrr Need some advice ShipSet Blues
 

ok i have done a few ships
now how can i upload it so you guys can give me your opinions?
its not colored or anything
but you can give me some thoughts?
(still trying to figure out the computer lingo)

Re: Grrr Need some advice ShipSet Blues
 

Upload files in the appropriate thread (SE4 Shipsets/Races or whatever it is called) in the Shrapnel Scenarios/Mods Upload forum, the first one on the main Intel Forums page.

Re: Grrr Need some advice ShipSet Blues
 

go to the mod forum, got to post new, on the left side of the post thing there should be a small 'upload' link. click that, follow the instructions, copy the link, come back here and paste it.

and you could always do what i did - get confused by the instructions and have to ask 'what?' about twice.

Re: Grrr Need some advice ShipSet Blues
 

Ok here is my first attempt at shipset making, since my race is figther based i started with the fighters tell me what you guys think? There is no color of course, just basic ship design, but i think i want to go the way of a slick route? Something really smooth and cunning looking there are two fighter types a large and medium
http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/newup...1057697527.jpg
http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/newuploads/1057697631.jpg

[ July 08, 2003, 22:24: Message edited by: Rojero ]

Re: Grrr Need some advice ShipSet Blues
 

Ok did a few ships and its actually coming out pretty good:) Now I have a question for all who use DOGAL3, what pain program should I used to color the ships? or should I use the color program that comes with it? It seems ok but I have not delved with it yet.

Re: Grrr Need some advice ShipSet Blues
 

That's a good start.

As for colouring, Doga's own colouring/ texturing system works pretty well. I haven't got the hang of it completely yet, but even so you can get pretty good results. I still like to smooth them out a little in paintshop pro though=-) (click my banner below and look at the KanesS to see my Doga-ings)

Re: Grrr Need some advice ShipSet Blues
 

ok, first of, that's a good job and better than i can do.

but: they look skinny and my logical mind doesn't like the wings.

what, i have a logical mind? of course i do.

Re: Grrr Need some advice ShipSet Blues
 

Ok friends I need good critique on the following:
Cruiser
http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/newup...1057741659.bmp
Dreadnought
http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/newup...1057741541.bmp
Huge Carrier
http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/newup...1057741896.bmp
Small Fighter
http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/newup...1057741959.bmp
Medium Fighter
http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/newup...1057741989.bmp
Large Fighter
http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/newup...1057742023.bmp

Be very honest, I just learned the program in 1 day, and it was a pain. So please http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif Let me know
Also if a few of you can rate me I would appreciate not being a corporal anymore http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif I feel the bottom of the totem pole hehehe

[ July 09, 2003, 10:30: Message edited by: Rojero ]

Re: Grrr Need some advice ShipSet Blues
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Nice set there Rojan. I really like it alot. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

Oh, and as for rating you to get you off being Corporal...Rating doesn't effect that part of it. That is tied in with your post count. You will go up a level when you hit 200 Posts. So keep talking around here and you'll make it. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif

Re: Grrr Need some advice ShipSet Blues
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Thank I will look into how to make them less skinny, I was trying to go for a sleek look, but, I guess from a certain perspective it would be hard to see in game, I also check them from top view and I guess changing its camera can help that.
<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Thanks well then i will be a POSTING fool!
LOL, yea a posting fool! woot!

Re: Grrr Need some advice ShipSet Blues
 

I think fighters are fine ! They should be smaller than ships, right ?

Re: Grrr Need some advice ShipSet Blues
 

Yes, but it looks as if they are massive, as the size of the cockpit is really really small compared to the size of the wings and such.

Re: Grrr Need some advice ShipSet Blues
 

Sweet. I dig the colors. They remind me of the old UPS web site and one other I won't mention. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif

Narf is right that the fighters look awfully skinny. This is not a problem, but I must wonder if it will look bad once the images are shrank for the mini-pics.

I cannot tell if the Fighter's tail is asymmetrical or if the other half of the tail is viewed edge-on.

Similarly, the Cruiser may be asymmetrical or it may be that the effect is simply a result of the perspective. Perhaps a wider angle lens, a slightly different angle of view, or more pronounced asymmetry will clear that up.

Great looking ships. I do like their lines.

Re: Grrr Need some advice ShipSet Blues
 

I think what it is that the cockpit i selected was skinny to begin with , but hey its a work in progress

Re: Grrr Need some advice ShipSet Blues
 

Hey I have a question on troops for ship set creation. Should it actually be an actual soldier or some type of vehicle? Your thoughts peeps would be much needed http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

Re: Grrr Need some advice ShipSet Blues
 

I think it can be either - whatever you have the best art for. Alien infantry can be fun to see. I always missed having actual soldiers, though - Proportions and the Image Neo-Standard (hint) have a seperate Infantry type. Although, you could still make the unmodded "troop" images also look like (better- and better-equipped) soldiers.

PvK

Re: Grrr Need some advice ShipSet Blues
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">You should make Flying pigs with cruise missiles attached to their bellys. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif

Nah... It can be anything you'd like it to be.

Re: Grrr Need some advice ShipSet Blues
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">ROFL http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif