Maio Shadow:Terror Unit

[maio]

my shadow unit specialises in : Skirmisher, Demoraliser, Terror, Defender and Hand to hand

the idea behind him is that we robots have pinpointed a weakness in the other races, that being fear. This unit aims to be deployed into the battlefield to create fear in its opponents, cripping their judgments.

It goes abut this goal in a number of ways

Confusion : the unit scans the face of whomever it is fighting, and projects this face onto a holographic panel... so the attacker is taken back by seeing his own face on the machine (might be far fetched but it could also scan memories and project a loved one? .. not sure about this.. might be cool tho to have an evil machine with a kids face...muhaha)

Shadow : the unit collects the blood of the fallen attackers, storing it in tanks wheres it mixed with crude oil and burnt off into dense, choking smoke at the disadvantge of those using sight to aim ;) .. it also has the option of heating the smoke, creating a screen against thermal vision. This not only creates panic in the blind soliders, but they know that they are also breathing in the blood of their fallen comrades. From a distance pillars of black smoke can be seen rising, proclaiming 3dtotals slaughter.

Im gonna keep this page updated with my lastest updates so people dont miss em

[Kalango]

wee.....go on man, kick some butt!

[maio]

EDIT : Heres my first sketch at this design

[TheWinterLord]

when you attach images like you did only attach one image to each post, otherwise use another image host. Right now we see them as links and we can go and see them but thats annoying. Keep up the good work soldier!

[bb0x]

Your designs look solid... I like the holographic idea...but most people but in combat there should be no thing as feelings....ANYWAYS :P keep up the good work :D

I agree whit what TheWinterLord is saying...It like visiting a portfolio where you dont see any thumbnails...that makes a portfolio allot less atractive...

[maio]

thanks .. i think the main point of focus for me would be the fans/bloodtanks/bloodsystem

as u see the design now. id want to be able to view thru to the back of the unit thru the tank...

my colour scheme would be dark grey/orange.. but on the fans id have alot of mess from residue blood.. this area would be caked in it

and throughout the bodyarmour im thinking of placing "veins" for the blood to run from the arms to the tanks, then to the sprayers

i havnt designed the method of extraction yet, that will be in the weapon design

[bb0x]

I see what you mean with the gore on the fans sounds good..

I hope the veins will be protected :)

dark grey/orange always looks nice :D

Oh btw why is he slanted?...because the big hammer?

[maio]

lol nah because i cant draw straight :P

and the other arm will be there btw.. it just not there so u can see the leg :)

...what do u guys think of the name shadow btw... i think its a bit annoying, it leans towards stealth imo... i reckon we will see alot of stealthy, sleek designs from all sides...


Does any1 have any idea in what ways i can push this design further?

[bb0x]

We all are doing "shadows" at least that is what it said in the "3dtotal story" so I might change the name..into something stealthy-ish...like i dunno some animal that only shows itsself at night...

[Shadow_Rising]

wow these are amazing, i've seen a couple of concept on here before but they rarely go into this much detail. these are well thought through. look forward to seeing your work in progress.

[maio]

thankyou i really appreciate the comment, im trying to refine and improve on the top design, and its frankly driving me crazy.. so thanks for the encouragement :)

[Shadow_Rising]

I found over my years of modeling, foundation is key and 100% drawings saves a 1000hours when u come to modeling from your images. Take time and remember, your work is only as detailed as your understanding of it or your drawing of it. I've seen too many good models fall at the design stage because modellers jump the gun and try to do it "on the fly". I learnt the hard way and after several years of unemployment went back and did an illustration degree and now i'm earning well and working in a field i love. hope you can learn from my mistakes.

[maio]

made a start on the modeeling .. though its a little shaky.. tryign to work my way through the shoulders / blood fans.. but its kinda tough

i thought i may as well slap a wip up though.. if any1 has input please do give it :)

[maio]

just an update.. ive marked out with orange and blue where i will be splitting the fans when its textured...

ive not finished the back so it rolls into bloodtank properly yet.. oh and i marked the tank with red ;)


Depending on how i fare on my poly count i may form the holographic plate into the front of a face, though scaled flatter.. if not it will be projected onto the plane.. the image breaking up into glowing orange hexagon the further from the middle...

[Shadow_Rising]

this is why good design and concepts are vital, you seem to be modeling straight ahead and i dont see any finished concept design, unless you just havent posted them yet. i dont want to be to critical of someone i dont know, but i would possibly go back to the design page untill i was fully sure of what to create. hope this helps and keep on posting.

[maio]

im off back to paper for specifics like arms, legs and joints now.. these shoulder pads though, i couldnt figure out on paper.. everytime i looked at what id drew it was hard to make sense of in 3d.. i mean if u look at the concept, the fans seem to be at the back of the bot, yet the arm goes behind them.. i made it in 3d to see if i could make them as shoulderpads .. ive stuck to my design though

im not sure if im gonna make my joints synthetic muscle or ball / pivot joints

[Oltskul]

jep.. its fore somebody worse to draw an outline... "even over it" few line can help to create a model....
like me...
look at my sketch - or at my model..
at this moment both is no good :D

[maio]

decided on synthetic muscle arms as it will help my poly limit.. tho i may use a hinge join on the elbow, and will likely use em for the fingers

still yet to tackle the arms or legs :P...

crits plz.. this really is the stage where they matter

[Tank[NL]]

if i were to fight him, id go for the blood tanks or his midsection. they look the most vulnerable.

maybe you could add some kind of protective mesh in the bloodtanks or something to give them a stronger appearance.

gl man

[maio]

yeh good point.. will amend.. though its gonna be a balance as its a design feature... id want the enemy to see just how much blood has been spilt ;)

think im gonna work a bit more armour into the mid section as well, tho whats there wouldnt be too weak.. it ill be a kinda of intertwined cables... robot muscles :D

[BiG ToE-3DT]

thumbnail for the thumbnail page.

[maio]

soon.. atm it looks a lil like a fancy bottle cork :P... maybe when its got arms on it ;)

[maio]

did the back :)

got an idea of where im going with the hands now, but im pretty new to this whole wacom buisness. so gonna wait till i go into college tomorrow, print a few of these off, and work back into with a pen :D

[Shadow_Rising]

nice to see you doing more concepts work, i'm liking this colored version. would look nicer with bigger shoulders maybe. is there a side view or a three quarter i find they really help you to know what it will look like in 3d. but nice work so far. Never eradicate line soldier. wacoms are also a great tool for quick concepts, all people should use one. hope this has been help full, just ask if u want any ideas. :D

[maio]

just not sure if i like him symmetrical .. i think asymetrical designs tend to look weired/scarier

been chatting to a college mate, may collab on the concept with him.. so things on this design are in limbo right now..

though my other train of thought is that if its not symetrical then the fans wont work too well.. tho i could make the weapon the main producer of smoke

feel free to throw ideas at me ;)

oh and typically ive not been able to get into college for two days cos of snow lol

p.s i should learn to proof read before the post... thered be alot less edits ;)

[mim]

nice! I like that octopus liky concept miao! ;)
keep up workin on n hurry man! ;)
mim, :wave:

[Oltskul]

looking good

[maio]

thankyou mim and olt :)

an update on this design.. added lower arms, darkened some armour


by the way, anyone know if theres a way to liquify more than 1 layer? ive tested some changes to the waist, and the size of the fans (bigger ;) ) which i like.. but i cant do it without flattening the psd.. which i dont wanna do just yet

[Agent-X]

Very cool concepts. I cant wait to see them in 3d. Keep up the good work.

John Inman
Agent-X

[Oltskul]

iam looking on your model an idea come...:D
u can use for head sphre-like-shape with subtracted cross :*poly:

and now please post something to my thread
:wave: :wave: :o :D:D

[Shadow_Rising]

your concepts are coming along nicely, in the liquify filter in photoshop you can save the mesh within liquify and then load it onto the separate layers. this is 100% effective but its how i tend to work. hope that helps. this competition is hotting up and i haven't even got a solid concept down yet. working doesn't help.

[maio]

agent-x thankyou, and likewise loving your work so far :)

oltskul, thanks for the input but i was planning on making that head a holographic screen... im now thinking im gonna show the image of its last victim in its death throes...

shadow : thankyou for the help, ill try that out.. i prefer the slimmer design much more... and get to work! would love to see ur concept , know the feeling though.. ive also had a lazy weekend.. back to work the avengence i reckon :)

[maio]

trying to work out my legs.. any input would be appreciated :D

[Tank[NL]]

#1 looks really cool, but far to massive for the rest of him. id merge 1 and 2. use the shape of 1 with the sleeker look of 2, including the foot design.

gl man

[carlosf]

I agree with Tank, the #1 is to massive for the rest of the torso. But the #2 and #3 looks to unstable. Maybe merging...

[maio]

thx tank and carlos, ive played around a bit

i wanted bloodfans on the lower legs, which i did as spike on the back at first... but i reckon they look pretty cool incorporated into the feets...

what do people think of this design, are the proportions any better?.. crit plz :D

[Tank[NL]]

nice work man. i would lenghten the legs. proprotions dont look right. other than that, the new design is great

[frostsnake]

cool concept, the feet seem kinda broken.. try to put three links in before the foot..maybe you can break the first part of the feet in two..
something like this (http://www.3drt.com/3dm/mech/mech02_03.jpg)
(ignore the mech just look at how the feet is constructed..)

[maio]

oki doki heres an update.. pretty happy with how things are going.. im gonna do a two final designs i think... take a look at the pic below and ill explain my two options...


1: somewhat different from my initial concept... this unit is more hi tech and efficient. Rather than releasing bloodclouds, this unit farms blood from the fallen and uses it to form nano-swarms, the swarms are tuned to either eat flesh or corrode metal depending on the shadows target. This design would have the hologram face from my original idea, as it would match the style of the shield, but no occult symbols.

2: basically my original idea.. bloodclouds, occulty symbols (skulls basically :P ) although i dont think the hologram face fits this design, so i will try a more cyborg apporach.. i was actually thinkin rather than an actual head, it could have the skin of a fallen enemy commanders face stretched across a metal plate, or sphere....

really not sure which way im gonna go with this.. i had my mind totally set on the first idea.. but i just love how design one looks.... so i guess ill see when i do my final concepts

[Agent-X]

Cool concepts. I think its safe to start modeling some of this stuff in 3d now.

John Inman
Agent-X

[maio]

ive been modeeling as i go along, some bits proxy mesh.. just placeholding, some bits are pretty much finished.. ill show that as i creep closer to my poly limit :D

[Agent-X]

very cool I cant wait to see what ya got. Go team 3dtotal! Woo hoo.

John Inman
Agent-X

[maio]

... actually i may as well show u my current wip wire :)

im pretty sure im gonna go for the sword design.. (the sword is currently just placeholding...)

need to design a new arm for the sword, as the design i had seemed too weak... works well for the shield arm tho

hovering around 4000tris atm... gonna use some of the rest to sculpt the main shoulder a bit, gonna make the sword arm more detailed than the shield, place some detail in the mid section / shield and the maybe a little head scultp (still gonna be holograph, but maybe make is semi 3d...) if i got any spare

[frostsnake]

hie totaly dig that shield you got on concept1!
3d lookig sweet , keep refining ;)

[maio]

here the back n front

the swords still just placeholding

i dont think im gonna go with the holographic face because i dont think it reads well.. i dont think its either scary, but also i think i make it look like a man in a suit


im gonna try to make a robot head, either entirely bot, or partly cyborg, ill keep u posted

[B-E4sy]

your concept is very original. had an idea. maybe u could translate the hologram system by pasting a random face photo on a plane and adding some transparency.

[maio]

yeh thats what i was originally planning, just modeled a little depth into it, but still wanted it to be flat... but i dunno... need to try a few bot heads i think

[maio]

ok this is pretty much the final design , though i havent done the sword, and the face may be subject to late change... i can only tell if its gonna work when ive got the textures on my model...

hope you like it... ive tried to make it high tech, yet grungy... i didnt want it to look like its just rolled out of the factory

the base mesh is also made, gonna unwrap and give mudbox my first try..eek.. wish me luck :)

[Shadow_Rising]

looking good maio i really like the way its coming together!!! doesn't look like i'm gonna be able to join the contest this year either after my business trip. keep up the good work and i'll be here to cheer on the warriors. fight for victory soldiers

[maio]

just a small update .. moved to texturing

this is the reason i entered this competition really.. to help push my texturing skills as they arnt all that great

this is an early wip.. im texturing in 4 parts.. there no lighting here, and only normal map and diffuse... is just the base layer as well, still need to work into it .. bit anooyed with myself the blood seems a bit blurred.. dont think i gave myself enough uv space the that part .. but meh

using mudbox atm.. its driving me crazy .. but its the first time ive really used a 3rd party app to add normal maps so im learning as i go

[maio]

oh btw im tryin to think of a name and was looking at latin temrs to try and help

minuo : to draw blood, let blood, to bleed (someone)
voro : to eat greedily, swallow up, consume, gorge oneself
cruor : cruoris : bloodshed, murder, slaughter, gore.

what do ppl think of them?

[Kalango]

comming along nicely man, i loved the double hammer idea, keep it going :)

[maio]

lol im going sword shield now ><

[Kalango]

yeah i know just wanted to say =P

[maio]

oki doki..

i felt my textures were heading off ina bad direction, as ive said im tryign to push my texturing skills cos its sumthign im not great at.. so after an initial stumble i started again (kinda)

the normals are now finished.. and im gonna build up the textures now.. startin off by making it dirty

i reckon its an improvement .. need to touch up my normal maps to get rid of the glitches, then start addin colour.. im gonna try 2 scheme.. a grey/cream/orange/blue... and a grey/black/red

[maio]

just testing how im gonna do the shield :)

(and eventually the sword)

[zerorhythm]

latin and greek terminologies rule! lol well for me, that is, so keep on it man!
and i am liking the spikes!
about the learning part, yeah same goes with me i guess. it's always a learning experience. there's just so much going ons in this dynamic 3D world =P gotta keep up otherwise we'll eat dust! :-D

[Shadow_Rising]

wow thats looking ace with the normal maps maio. i finally managed to find time to model my entry. so if u search my name you can see what i've created. i really like the black and red robot. not sure if i'll have time to enter my finished piece but it looking like yours will be complete in time. are you texturing yet?

[maio]

thankyou, people seem to be split 50/50 on whether i shoudl go blue orange or black red.. so im gona work on both a little longer and decide myself.. i personally prefer blue but i reckon black and red has potential

i am texturing, what you see here is the normal and the dirt map

[maio]

update : im goin for this colour scheme

the red is attack mode, the previous blue would be idle mode (if this was in a game) .. i think it would be a nice touch changing from one to the other.. and make a nice oh **** moment if u were trying to avoid one :)

if i finish in time the winnning shot will be red, but i will prolly show blue in the beauty shots

comment and crit welcome

p.s its gonna be called a Blood Reaver .. any way of changing the thread name?

[taehoon]

Nice shield Idea... I like it. your model is awesome...keep it up

[EvilKnight]

I like the Hologram look of the face, very cool, I dunno if it was intentionnal or not, but if it is, way to go man!

[maio]

Thankyou Taehoon, i absolutely love your model, so your praise is very much appreciated :)

and evil, im happy to say that was what i had in mind, though it still needs work to get the right effect :)

anyway.. my update, did a little more texturing... i decided to add battle damage to one of the blood tanks... Tank[NL] said that they looked a weak part of the design in an earlier post, and i had planned to beef them up with a mesh.. however i thought it might be nice to make a design feature from it.. so one tank is cracked and leaking blood... :D

[maio]

an update .. near finished.. need to texture the sword more

just found out about the deadline extention.. and dunno what to think of that.. ive kinda gotta move obto a new project anyway cos im tryin to put together a uni grad showreel... so ill prolyl stop soonish

texture are letting me down a little imo... but hey ive improved alot on this, so im pleased with the work so far

... latest wip

[Inpw]

This sword remind me Tidus sword from Final Fantasy X a little:
http://www.ffcompendium.com/art/10-tidus-a.jpg

[Shadow_Rising]

there is an extra week, yay. so will you finish in time? I've given up on this dominance war unfortunately it wasn't going as well as I'd planned. so i hope you get this nicely finished because you were way ahead of me. good luck and I hope you finish in time. always here to help, shadow. [Maio FTW]

[maio]

i finished shadow, could spent more time tweakin but i moved onto ym next project .. i might post that on the forum :)

anway a 360 turnaround is slapped up on my wip website :)

www.k-hammes.cmmc.co.uk feel free to check it out

[Shadow_Rising]

yo what up hammes lloking good, just checked ur turnaround out!!! btw i told you i was hiding something. well it was fun kris. hehe in yo face

[maio]

lol.. oh my... nils i applaud your deceit, got me good