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Topic: Fanart designs (Read 43405 times)
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Tiberian
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I'm not sure if this is from SC2 or SC3 but a Spathi has indeed said that all the modules sticking out from the central module are decoys. The central module might even be a decoy as well. Anyways, only one of the pods is 'real'.
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FalconMWC
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The main module (at least according to the link, which I think is correct) says that the main module is a fake, along with everyone of the pods except one of the small ones.
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Arne
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I think you *can* pick a middle path between saying froglike aliens have to have froglike ships -- you can make a ship design that's a realistic, mechanical design for a ship that doesn't *directly* reflect a species' actual appearance, but reflects the state of their technology, their culture and their personality.
Yes, yes, agreed. This is the kind of stuff I need your assistance with. I'm not yet familiar with the personalities of all the species, just their appearance.
To tell the truth I haven't gotten very far into the game yet. I got UQM a week or less ago, and being a fan of unlinear exploration games, I liked it. I'm very disappointed at modern games, it's a pity all this processing power isn't used for 2D awesomeness.
I found a page with all the quotes on, but I don't want to spoil the surprises for myself. At the same time I must, if I want to do better designs, sigh.
I updated the project page with subpages and stuff. I got some roughs up of the Yehat and Pkunk if You scroll down.
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« Last Edit: October 03, 2004, 11:11:56 am by Arne »
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Art
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Hmm... if you really haven't gotten that far in the game yet, it may be early for you to be making design decisions, since some of the coolest stuff about the races is stuff that doesn't get revealed until later on.
The biggest thing I can think of is the Mycon -- I don't know whether your choice to change the Mycon's history was a deliberate one or not, but it omits the single most interesting and cool aspect of the Mycon. (I won't give it away; let's just say that it *does* make sense for the Mycon to have tons and tons of subspecies, each very, very well adapted to a very specific task.)
There's a few other details from the games that affect your choices, too. For example you've made the Yehat truly humanoid with large, well-developed legs, which makes them look a little more humanlike and makes it easier to identify with them, but makes it a lot harder to imagine them actually flying, and there are aspects of their personality that depend on the fact that they're a flying, not walking, species. (Like their natural, homing-pigeon-like ability to navigate over long distances using magnetic fields; the fact that the Yehat can naturally sense magnetic fields ties into some of their unique features, like their ability to devise a magnetic energy-shield for their ships.) In general I think the idea of Yehat who can't walk and move by flying makes them much more alien to us humans, and it's important that they be alien in little ways like this because they're so... well... human in other ways.
The idea that Furies are based on an actual animal is cute; perhaps the "lowly Pootworm" has a short-lived adult flying form? Furies should look very "organic" -- not literally made of biological parts, but as though they're designed so that a Pkunk pilot can very naturally control it with the direct movements of his body. They're intimately linked to their pilots to the degree that their weapons are powered by the pilots' own emotional rage, and the ships themselves resurrect when the pilots' spirits do.
No real quarrels with the Earthling ships, though I do think it is a cool idea that humans in the future should be influenced by our ancient fictions, like Star Trek, when building their real-life ships. (It's not that far-fetched when you think about it.) Obviously there are problems with having a ship that's *too* detailed and obviously based on the Enterprise, but it would be a cool idea in general for human ships to be built with many nods to real-life traditional ideas of what spaceships would look like -- I like your idea of using real-life naval designs for inspiration, but perhaps some stylings from early NASA spacecraft can be brought in too. I can't imagine a human ship designer wouldn't be thinking about the Apollo missions and the Space Shuttles when making the first Cruisers.
About the Utwig: their place in the story might be silly, but they're actually one of the least silly ideas in the game, from my perspective. I think the idea of having a skeletal, never-seen Utwig body, constantly changing into different masks (and perhaps whole outfits based around the mask) for different moods and different social positions, is quite cool. It would be interesting to see an Utwig wearing a very ornate, martial costume for going into battle, and then see what's somehow recognizably the same Utwig dressed completely differently in plain, drab clothes for mourning or light, casual clothes for leisure.
Also, my main problem with your drawing of the ZFP is that they *are* linked by the big googly eyes. The big joke with the ZFP is that the three species are almost completely unlike each other (except in their small size and relative weakness) and the juxtaposition of their having to constantly cooperate is funny. Hence one species with an enormous eye and no mouth, one species that bounces around without limbs, one delicate, plantlike species waving in the wind... The Zebranky should be similarly different from all three, and should probably also be much larger and more threatening-looking. (That was the picture in my head, anyway, and why I laughed so loudly when the ZFP matter-of-factly describe how their grand alliance annihilated their predators.)
All that aside, I really love your drawings so far and hope you keep it up. Hope one fan's perspective of the personality behind the series helps you find inspiration.
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Art
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Other comment: I don't know what you mean by the Mmrnrhrrm and Chenjesu engaging in "total war"; if you mean that they warred against each other, this is really out of character for both races as they're (vaguely) portrayed in the SC2 universe. The Unification Process was a specific plan agreed upon by both races in order to oppose the Ur-Quan, not something forced by one race upon another -- the races were good friends since the Mmrrnmhrm's arrival, and the Mmrrnmhrm might've had a much tougher time surviving if not for Chenjesu help.
Also, we're meant to be given the impression that the Unification is the result of the amazingly ridiculously powerful Chenjesu technology and not because of any natural compatibility between the two species. Heck, the Chenjesu might've merged with humans if they'd had to, though that might be a good deal harder because of how delicate humans are. In any case the Process was an incredibly technologically intensive procedure that took lots of investment to do, not a natural merging of the two races.
The alien-ness of the Chenjesu comes mainly through the fact that they *are* "technology" (refined and powerful on the level that other races only get through artifice). Their crystalline bodies naturally create the machines they need in crystalline form, from the soup of exotic compounds they live in -- they have to, since they don't have any appendages to do "normal" work with. Thus everything made by Chenjesu, including the Broodhome, is crystalline -- and the existence of "robot" crystals like the Broodhome's DOGI may mean that the line between Chenjesu reproduction and manufacture of smart machines, and the line between Chenjesu and their machines, is blurry. That's one of the major factors that probably allowed the Chenjesu as a species to be able to merge with the Mmrrnmhrrm. We're meant to look at them kind of in awe as thoug their whole society were a gigantic, pulsing, crystalline super-machine, and their Broodhomes reflect that. So while I like your design as one for a Chmmr ship, I think making Chenjesu ships more "realistically" technological-looking takes a lot away from the spirit of the Chenjesu.
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Arne
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Here's some new ZFP color roughs, more like the originals. I just ran into them but when I goto their system I get killed by tons of wormships after talking to ZFP on their planet. I guess you have to be quick in and quick out.
The green one got a root with some leafs on. I'm not sure if the vines are drum-sticks or eyes, but I attached them more at the root of the creature. The Eye is just a 'bag' with a silly head popping out, and a trunk/tongue.
Where I'm currently at: Spathi has shielded, ZFP invited me (I get killed by worms), probes replicating (their homeworld is too far away), I talked to the Syreens and got the Mycon egg, but I read I need to talk to the trader to 'activate' the Syreen.
I'll be changing stuff as I make my way through the game. As said, I need some more info on the species before I can draw stuff, but... well, it's very hard for me not to draw nonstop, and it's not like it's impossible to just change things as I go.
As for the human ships, I might make them NASA black and white style for the fighters.
The reason I had for making the Yehat more humaniod was that I thought the wings would be too clumpsy. I read somewhere, that if a human had wings, they'd need to be 6+6 meter to support flight, and the muscles would need to be huge. Those wings attached to the arms-hands would make it hard to cook and construct microprocessors (well, zfp managed and they pretty much only have torsos).
I thought about putting them on the back, like on an angel, or figure out some new joint and fold system.
A lot of things can be pushed in one direction or the other when I color. For the Chmmr/Chenjesu my idea was that they kept some of the 'avatar' fighter look after my proposed split. Why the split? Well, I didn't like Chmrr much, and I liked Mhrhrm* a lot. I thought Chenjesu was rather boring so I sort of made them something inbetween.
I'll probably change the Mycon story later. It was just a theaory I had when I saw the blue plasma ball on their head.
It's really fun to design life planets. Here's one with just a big 'golf-green' and mystical walking metal tripods (no explaination).
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FalconMWC
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Can't you tell? Its a precursor weather station! 
Anyway, the Zot-Fot-Pik look VERY good. Just have one question about it though. For some reason, I don't remember or don't picture the green one having a belly like that. The blue one looks perfect to me though....
Good job!
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« Last Edit: October 04, 2004, 06:20:58 pm by FalconMWC »
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Art
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Ooh, nice ZFP designs. They definitely make the little guys look more like real, complete living animals rather than doodles.
The thing about the Yehat is that one of the things that makes them alien is that they don't necessarily come from a planet that looks like Earth. I forget whatever the actual stats were for the Yehat homeworld in the game, but I believe the surface gravity was meant to be a lot lower than Earth's, allowing something Yehat-sized to at least glide with its wings, if not fly continuously under its own power. I agree, though, that there is a difficult trade-off between limbs that are flexible manipulators (arms) and limbs that have a lot of surface area to catch lift (wings), and making the wings more vestigial might be a good idea. I don't know, it's just that to me the Yehat with big strong legs looks distorted, especially since the Yehat's design resembles a pterodactyl more than anything else and it's weird to me to see a pterodactyl on ostrich legs.
I think the creators may have shared your disdain for Chenjesu appearance, given that we never see Chenjesu in the game nor get a clear idea of what Chenjesu look like (they may not even have a consistent appearance -- every crystal may look different). But I do find it fascinating to speculate about the Chmmr and just how the Process worked. I personally think looking at a Mmrrnmhrrm body that's been encrusted and warped out of shape with crystalline structures all over would be pretty cool, though that might just be me. (It can look distorted and painful, if you intention is to show that the Process is flawed and slowly undoing itself.)
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0xDEC0DE
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While I would prefer to remain silent (the talent showcased here speaks well enough for itself, and needs no help from me), I figured I'd throw some ideas on the fire, if you're looking for conceptual designs for ships and races. Here's something I wrote on PNF regarding a seperate project:
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In my mind's eye, when I just imagine the characteristics of the races, and try to visualize appropriate tech for them, ignoring the ships from the game, I imagine Ur-Quan ships as gigantic floating cities, capable of raining several square miles of concentrated fire on a planetary target. An attack from one would look like a "rain of fire", with millions of fiery bolts emanating in any direction they choose, and with a range capable of laying waste to an entire hemisphere simultaneously. In other words, a "planetary siege unit", enormous, unstoppable, and unbelievably powerful.
I imagine the Chenjesu, in a similar vein, as commanding enormous "battle snowflakes", intricate crystalline structures, crackling with energy (of course, electricity needs an atmosphere to arc through, so maybe it's atmospheric containment  ) and capable of raining billions of crystalline shards upon their intended targets, tearing them to pieces.
The Yehat, I have always imagined as partial to beautifying their weapons of war, as well as finding glory in one-on-one combat. As such, their ships would be large, elegant-looking carriers, filled with vast numbers of single-person fighters, each equipped with shielding (cuz they're Yehat) and packed with weaponry capable of annihilating a vessel several times its size.
The only ship design I cannot re-imagine is the Mycon Podship. I think the aesthetic is just perfect there.  I am also partial to the Spathi design, but I like to imagine them as much bigger, more asymmetric, and occasionally I think it would be funny if the ship could break itself into pieces, casting fully-functional, well-armed "decoys" into harms' way while the crew sections flee to safer locations.
As for the rest, well, I've tried not to think about this thing too much, lest I go mad.
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"I’m not a robot like you. I don’t like having disks crammed into me… unless they’re Oreos, and then only in the mouth." --Fry
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Arne
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Oy! Interesting to hear battleship ideas.
I just did the Ultron mission, and the Supox+Utwig moved into battle. Are there any game mechanics behind that or does the fleet spheres just move (and shrink it seems)?
After encountering the utwig, I realized that I need to give them a more depressed suit, the one I drew looks too neutral. Maybe I'll give the mask a 'the crow' makeup and toss on a hood, make sad eye holes. Mainly black colors. Would it be out of character to give them a colorful party suit? Are they ever balloon party happy?
I got a new Yehat concept I'll scan in a bit. I made them very tall, and wrapped the wings around their body like a cloak, sort of. Might work better.
I also had the idea of Spathi dumping parts of their ship. It's so them somehow.
ZFP could have some sort of grapling arms at the front on their ships. I'm not sure what the insect legs are doing there now. I made some sketches for the zebranky. I'm not sure if they were a similar species, or a large predator like say the T-rex. Maybe the zebranky is the model behind the ZFP ships? (ie. a licky tounge ZFP-style toad)
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Art
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Oy! Interesting to hear battleship ideas.
I just did the Ultron mission, and the Supox+Utwig moved into battle. Are there any game mechanics behind that or does the fleet spheres just move (and shrink it seems)?
Unfortunately, you'll never get to see whole fleets of ships in combat with other ships. It's a shame; the only way to learn about the battle is to watch the sphere of influence shrink, and to hear about it by interviewing the Utwig, Supox and Zoq-Fot-Pik.
After encountering the utwig, I realized that I need to give them a more depressed suit, the one I drew looks too neutral. Maybe I'll give the mask a 'the crow' makeup and toss on a hood, make sad eye holes. Mainly black colors. Would it be out of character to give them a colorful party suit? Are they ever balloon party happy?
POSSIBLE SPOILER:
Yes, the crippling depression is actually a fairly recent thing. They're quite chipper when they have a working Ultron. (Though, unfortunately, they have no time to manufacture any new masks and costumes during the game, so you don't get to see what a happy Utwig looks like.)
ZFP could have some sort of grapling arms at the front on their ships. I'm not sure what the insect legs are doing there now. I made some sketches for the zebranky. I'm not sure if they were a similar species, or a large predator like say the T-rex. Maybe the zebranky is the model behind the ZFP ships? (ie. a licky tounge ZFP-style toad)
Grappling arms would make the tongue-like weapon make a lot more sense, if the tongue does in fact work by directly injecting reactor fuel from the core. (Pretty unwieldy idea for a weapon, as far as I can tell; you'd *have* to be able to hold the other ship in place for that to work at all well in real life.) Though I always thought of the arms as being exposed magnetic-field generators to contain the cone of antimatter pellets that Stingers fire as their primary weapon.
My impression was always that Zebranky were enormous (to a ZFP) predators that were much larger and more horrifying than the the ZFP. It better justifies the awed, hushed tones in which the ZFP seem to speak of their ancient predators, and it makes sense if a single Zoq, Fot or Pik is a meal to a Zebranky the way one rocky fungal clinger or cloud of airborne zooplankton is to one Zoq, Fot or Pik. And of course it's all about the humorous ironic juxtaposition of the tiny Zoq, Fot and Pik somehow being able to ally and kill off enormous T-Rex like predators.
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Arne
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Updated with some scribbles and nerdy text: Project page
Changed the chenjesu-chmmr thing.
And I just completed the game, so now I'm familiar with the stuff a bit better. Is there anywhere I can see the extro sequence?
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« Last Edit: October 08, 2004, 09:27:00 am by Arne »
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Cronos
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I like what you've done so far but I dont really like what you've done with the Shofixti so far. They're meant to be the suicidal, honourable, half feral Samurai style society that impressed the Yehat so much that they took it upon themselves to "Uplift" their race.
Cute does not suit them. Thats what the Zoq-Fot are for, the Shofixti are meant to tear you to shreds or die trying (and die a lot  ).
Still you've been doing some excellent work.
I also read that part about the bases you mentioned. Try giving Star Control 1 a whirl and see how that pans out. It had a fairly balanced resource system and each world had a use (Life Worlds for Crew, Mineral Worlds for StarBucks, dead worlds as... fortification fodder ).
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