Raul - Battle Chess

[Raul]

Sup guys and gals?! I think im gonna do this challenge. Not sure how far i will get but at least im gonna try to half ass it till the end!!!

Thinking of doing the rook, figured it would give me the chance of doing something awesome, mech like. My goal is to make it to where not only it looks like it can kick ass, but also put accesorries on it and tell a story.

Alrigths..now for the good stuff. Im not a concept artist so im not even gonna try! lol. However, is my reference, and the block up model ive been messing around tonight.







in a side note, im kinda excited about this comp. this is the 1st personal project for me in a long time. Even tho this is a comp, i expect to learn from everyone else. So good luck to everyone!

[Raul]

worked on the guns a bit, although i think im gonna go back and re work a few things. after i get the top finished. it feels a bit noisy down there. I also feel the chains could go a bit further down to aid the silhoutte. Thoughts?

[Fynn]

looking pretty sweet

[krayzgerman]

This is looking great, I was thinking about joining in and doing a rook as well. My take was more traditional I think. I like your approach here. I would emphasize armorment and defensive design (shielding and plating), seeing as how the rook is a castle really.

[snakeeaterjns]

Very good job. I just think it should have something that reminded me a rook

[krayzgerman]

Originally Posted by snakeeaterjns

Very good job. I just think it should have something that reminded me a rook

This was my first impression as well. Utilizing more armor plating is one way of reinforcing the idea of a castle for its' defensive nature. Something more solid and less mobile.

[TonyClifton]

WICKED! Keep it up!

Thoughts: may be you could come up with an alternative rook without legs. More like a tower sort of player. You could then emphasize on an exaggerated 360° all-around firepower. Obviously the hard modeling is your strength.
I have seen your portfolio work, congratulations! Awesome stuff you have there.

[krayzgerman]

Originally Posted by TonyClifton

WICKED! Keep it up!

Thoughts: may be you could come up with an alternative rook without legs. More like a tower sort of player. You could then emphasize on an exaggerated 360° all-around firepower. Obviously the hard modeling is your strength.
I have seen your portfolio work, congratulations! Awesome stuff you have there.

What do you think about tank tread, instead of the legs? Something solid yet mobile. Exchange the legs for some heavy duty tank tread, a castle-tank.

[TonyClifton]

Originally Posted by krayzgerman

What do you think about tank tread, instead of the legs? Something solid yet mobile. Exchange the legs for some heavy duty tank tread, a castle-tank.

I agree, very good option as well.

[xxxcubanxxx]

Looking good, keeping an eye on this one

[Warlock 279]

Looks like you're off to a great start with the high poly.

I'm thinking you could stand to give it a little bit more of a rook feel tho as others have said. I wouldn't go the tank tread route tho. Personally, I'd just add some heavier armor to the legs and look for a way to work in a subtle battlement look around the turret.

Great start, can't wait to see more.

[krayzgerman]

Originally Posted by Warlock 279

Personally, I'd just add some heavier armor to the legs and look for a way to work in a subtle battlement look around the turret.

With the legs I think heavier armor is the way to go then. From a design perspective, if the mech-warrior approach for the castle is to create it with influence of that from a rook chess piece~then what features would be present in the mech-warrior that would distinguish it from other mech warriors in a mech-themed chess set? Say all the pieces were mech-warriors and the rook was specifically different and unique, it should look like a rook however that may be.

An emphasis on defense yet mobile. The tank tread is one way of creating a sturdy and tough design, very solid. It would be easier to tip over a chicken legged mech than a treaded tank. (Robocop :P)
Tough and sturdy, with the mech I feel like a mech-pawn would be able to tip it over like: cow tipping, center of weight up high on stilts.

Someone should be able to look at it and go "It's obviously a mech-rook chess piece." and not get lost in the sea of other mech warriors designs. But it still looks awesome and is off to a great start.

Imagine you had a box of mech warrior chess pieces and you were setting up the game, how would you know it is the rook piece, what makes it different than the other mech-warrior chess pieces?

[poopipe]

I like this idea, a big effing robot makes a good rook.

I can't help thinking he needs to have a big ol' one shot weapon of total devastation hanging off him to help emphasise the fortressy aspect.

[hulahuga]

Yeah well either the chains can go down in the old fashioned way like that or they can have fixed positions along a curve to add something to the silhouette... .

[Raul]

Thank you guys for your suggestions and comments. I will take them into cosideration next time i sit down to tweak and finish this guy. For now, all i got to show is a small test render i did. ( problably the most productive thing ive done in a while, since i got to clean my place while this was rendering..lol )

Not exactly the kind of update i wanted to shwo, as im still trying to figure out the legs and how to bring that rook feel to it. Also had a few small props like backpacks floating around but i wont be showing that at the momment.