DWIII - 3D - Somnium - Elk

[Somnium]

Alright well it's about time I posted something for this I have no plans on winning but I will try my hardest and Try and learn what I can while I'm doing so...

Been drawing for a good week now trying get something that stuck in my head lots of paper in the virtual and real recycle bin later I have a concept I want to take further. It's an Humanoid/Elk I am unsure of what class I want it to be yet But I am pretty sure I will be going the caster route. Weapon/Artifact is unsure yet aswell..

These sketches are by no means final and needs lots of refinement and addition so please crit away anything helps.

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b279/Arcalinte/concept1-1.jpg

[L3XICON]

hey thats a really cool idea :D really looking forward to more sketches and details

[Somnium]

So this has been some good fun practice for the wacom... I SOO don't draw enough.
Anyway small update:

I want to get the proportions down to a point I can start sketching clothing/armor and the weapon and start trying out some different poses. So please crit on the proportions would be awesome and same with the head I like the one on the left of the middle three personally but maybe tiredness has tainted my view.
BTW Thx lexicon lets just hope I learn a bunch from this!

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b279/Arcalinte/head_prop.jpg

[Somnium]

Ok well I think I am going for a hybrid of them all something not so huge it has a horse like head something more sleek (I want him to be a bow wielder so I think slightly sleek features would accent that)

The body is well I think these are the proportions I want I will start drawing some armor and weapons for him tomorrow to fit the plates I put on his head. Please ANY comments and or Crit are very much encouraged as this will be a big learning experience for me I hope.. Thanks

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b279/Arcalinte/newhead_proportions1.jpg

[L3XICON]

when I look at your images, the first thing that entered my head was 'Herne the Hunter' the celtic horned god, often potrayed as half man, half stag or goat. if you google search it there is some great images and maybe some further insperation or ideas can be found :D although I am not sure you need it, just waiting for some armour designs. I think you have a really original and refreshing idea with this :D keep it up!

[Somnium]

Very kinda words thanks! I will work on armor tomorrow! Provided I don't sleep tomorrow away. And yea I have never heard of this Herne the Hunter definitely going to read up on him. Thanks again

[Somnium]

Ok well I have a BIT of an idea what I want to do for armor and abit of an Idea for a back story for Physis I will type that out when I get back from picking up the wife from work but this is what I have for a bit of an idea for armor. The severed tree trunk on his left arm provides him with his abilities and Binds him( will explain in back story later) Crit is always welcomed of course. Thanks
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b279/Arcalinte/armo1.jpg

[Somnium]

Ok the story I decided to not type it out before I think more on it but I did a bit more with the armor. I am struggling with this because Honestly when I think armor the most important piece seems to be shoulders and when I think of shoulder ideas I realize O SNAP wow already did that... So yeah Blizzard I hate you and love you.

Anyways I like the idea of the tree trunk because it brings my character more into the nature theme and also I don't think I have ever seem a tree trunk spoulder set anywhere... So I may continue with that.. I still have alot to do with the armor so bear with me comments are welcomed thanks.

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b279/Arcalinte/armor2.jpg
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b279/Arcalinte/armor3.jpg

[Tank[NL]]

i love the design of the head. it looks great.

[haikai]

one thing that you kind of had going in the early sketches that got lost later on was
a longer neck that made it feel more naturally elk-like. the later sketches feel more like a human with an elk mask on because of this, i think.

i wonder if his eyes are a little too gentle Bambi looking. i don't know if that was your intention, but perhaps giving him deeper set eyes or eyebrow tufts that overhang the eyes would make him look a little more serious.

i think i prefer the tree-themed armor too although maybe instead of just stumps (which remind me of deforestation) they can be living branches that form his armor.

[Somnium]

Tank: Thanks Took whle but yeah I am finally happy with this one though as Haikai mentioned some issues should be adressed

Haikai: I see what you mean with neck I will drag up and see how that looks and with the eyes I will see what I can do. Yeah as for the tree stump I had a back story that made it seem less tree killing but I see your concerns for that. Anyways I will work on this tonight for now time to find a place to live.

Thanks to you both

[Somnium]

HOLY CRAP ARMOR is hard to design with so many MMORPG's out there that take all the designs... I am beating myself up because I want an truely original concept but it's proving very hard.. the one I like the best seems to be in WOW already go figure... Anyways here is a couple ideas I have for the main part of the armor. The left shoulder. so that when he has his bow raised he is protected around the face area... I don't know I feel it's needed to have your left side of your face guarded when using a bow but I do... Maybe from the sun?

here are a couple more ideas.. I am going to work my ass off to get more done though I am not happy with any of em yet just maybe looking to bounce some thoughts around.
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b279/Arcalinte/armor4.jpg
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b279/Arcalinte/armor5.jpg
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b279/Arcalinte/armor6.jpg

[Somnium]

Alright well I have to be done for tonight unfortunately I have Maya homework to do...(XSI I still love you) This concept is so much fun to work on and am loving the tablet practice. But it's stressful because I know concepting is something I never spend enough time on and this time I better! 3rd Character's a charm! Anyways I have been thinking of having the tree trunk thing part of his abdomen but was skeptical of doing it because of Gavin's DW II Entry but hell. I want it to be the source of his powers imagin it glowy green with lots of moss on it and green so it's dead but not DEAD. As for the shoulder thingy I wanted to have it there to contrast the pure nature theme because this guys' story is that nature fused a trophy hunter with his prey so I wanted to keep some human trademarks other then just his body. Please crit and comment me to hell I need some learning! Thanks
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b279/Arcalinte/armor10.jpg
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b279/Arcalinte/armor9.jpg

[Puckducker]

I like the armor that's got a pretty natural feel to it, like he created it from the tree's of wherever he lives. Works well the antlers too.

I think a problem you might run into though is with the antlers and having lots of branches/root type things flowing around, it'll be tough to make the model look convincing with only 9000 tri's. Maybe try to keep your armor rooted in nature, but keep the long spindly branches to a minimum.

Keep it up though.

[Somnium]

Hey thanks. Yeah lots of people (not on the forums) keep suggesting make the trees mroe alive with branches and stuff but yeah I guess they don't understand the 9000 Tri's rule... I am going to try keep details I can't add with normal maps to a minimum because the vein/branch off the shoulder and the Antlers are going to be tricky to look good with little tri's (never done anything like that before so who knows)

Thanks again

[Somnium]

Alrighty I think i have basically what I want for armor and the General look of the character I just need to slap some color on it. I am pretty sure I will start modeling tomorrow, This concept isn't 100% so please continue to provide me with any sort of feedback you have to offer it really helps.
I may slap color on tonight but it's 1:43 and after quite a literal Energy Drink over dose last night I think I may hit the hay pretty quick.. Anyways thanks in advance for any advice.
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b279/Arcalinte/armor11.jpg

[Somnium]

Ok wont be able to model tonight later then I thought and had some more concepting to do... and will continue tomorrrow.. I had to do some color (HOLY haven't colored in ages) and do his weapon up which I will finish tomorrow I hope. This is an idea for color I have I wouldn't mind seeing how he would look with no human skin tone and all furish but I dunno we shall see. Comments and Crit please?

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b279/Arcalinte/armor12.jpg

[Tejay]

the colours work, but i do agree, maybe subsitute the skin tone for more fur

[Somnium]

Thanks Tejay and yeah not tonight but maybe later I will color it differently or just do that when texturing comes around the bend. And could anyone offer any feedback on the position of the tree trunk?

[Somnium]

OK I may redesign his chest area... I read the rules of the DW wrong didn't realize the artifact needed to be the weapon I want his chest root thing to be the artifact but instead though Hey that could work as a bow... So this is what I got going I may keep the chest thing going as a reoccurring theme for the model but we'll see maybe I will give him a big honkin belt I'm not sure. Please feedback is greatly appreciated as I am no designer! thanks

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b279/Arcalinte/weapon1.jpg

[Somnium]

Could anyone give me any suggestions on this? My teacher is saying screw tree trunk and the shoulder armor o.0 I think of that and it makes me think he would look rather bare with that...I don't know what to do :S

[L3XICON]

well, i like your design so far :P It is true that both the trunk and the shoulder look a different design concept to the rest of the character, though for me this isnt always a bad thing, complimentary design can mean things get lost in the over-all detail of the character. I suppose a lot of it boils down to what you want a viewer to see standing out, attracting the eye. define what those areas are, and work your design to compliment that.

if you are looking for new insperation or ideas. one thing your character reminds me off, is the beastman miniatures from Games Workshop, here's a few links that maybe could inspire you in terms of armour and clothing design :)

http://uk.games-workshop.com/download/popup.htm?/beastsofchaos/artwork/images/10-big.jpg

http://uk.games-workshop.com/storefront/store.uk?do=Individual&code=99060201175&orignav=13
http://uk.games-workshop.com/storefront/store.uk?do=Individual&code=99060201176&orignav=13

good luck! and most of all, I would say, stick with what you think looks cool :D you'll be a lot more inspired that way

[Somnium]

Awesome thx for the ref images. I was going with the trunk mainly because I thought it would balance it out kind of how that first image you linked has a gut sticking out.. but mine would have more magic o.0 I really want this to be as organic as possible ( though the shoulder armor would be that of his old human self ) and I am honestly sick of seeing layered armor o.0 so BAHHH to will figure it out lol thanks lexicon was hoping you would reply!

[Somnium]

SOOO juggling a comp like this and home life, and finals week isn't the easiest thing in the world :P, I decided to go the all natural armor.. Meaning no metal nothing the roots are going to reinforce parts where it is needed. I wanted this character to be as natural as he could be I may still add a little bit or human armor to be the human hunter half of him but we will see. I am going to start modeling this tomorrow if I can. Please any crit questions of suggestions are welcome and stongly encouraged. Thanks
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b279/Arcalinte/Rotation.jpg

[Somnium]

Don't know if this is enough work to bother posting but who cares looks like I am just posting for me :P Anyways just wanted to finally block out his shape.. I am way far behind on this comp but I don't care gonna try and finish if I can. Man whack proportions are fun! ^^ Umm I will work more tomorrow for now it's 130am so sleep is needed. Comment if you wish. Thanks
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b279/Arcalinte/WIP1.jpg
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b279/Arcalinte/WIP2-1.jpg

[Somnium]

I looked at these screenshots and thought HUH those legs loops wont work... SO I had to fix it quickly before bed...
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b279/Arcalinte/WIP3-1.jpg

[Somnium]

Well I Doubt I would have been able to finish intime anyway... But My computer in which has all my modeling software has a virus and needs some serious tending too if not a reformat. I will finish this model regardless but probly not for the deadline.

[lampshadehead]

Noooo! Anti-Virus software won't remove it for you? If you need to reformat just back up your project files, I highly doubt any files of that type would be affected.