203 replies to this topic

[Lauri]

[MattTheLegoman]

We ask The Animator, NDC for proper Dwarven rider animations?

 

What if the shields look fine when they are attached to the sides of the Dwarven Phalanx arms? But then there is the issue that we want the shield wall animation. I will recommend BfME I Gondor Tower Guard.

[Nazgûl]

I stand corrected Lauri

Yeah, they might look ok, but indeed. Shield wall would be coool!

[NDC]

We ask The Animator, NDC for proper Dwarven rider animations?
 
What if the shields look fine when they are attached to the sides of the Dwarven Phalanx arms? But then there is the issue that we want the shield wall animation. I will recommend BfME I Gondor Tower Guard.

Yeah, they might look ok, but indeed. Shield wall would be coool!

 
"The Animator", - wow, I'm chuffed to hear such a reference to my humble self - thank you, Matt!
There might be an option of rigging the Pike-bearer to the Phalanx skeleton and then just adding a bespoke shield wall animation to the anim set for the Phalanx (which I can do without much problem, if you'd like me to).

A separate anim set for Dwarwen riders can be produced as well!

Edited by NDC, 03 January 2016 - 10:38 PM.

[MattTheLegoman]

I might not have a part in the amount of work that goes into creating new units for The Battle for Middle-earth series, or an appreciation of the difficulty because of my naivety in the matter, but I hope that you are exalted for your work NDC. Maximan too.

 

When it is ready (mod might be on pause at the moment because of Nazgul's computer) I would love to interview the people involved in creating the entirely new unit for its special feature article.

Edited by MattTheLegoman, 04 January 2016 - 09:09 AM.

[NDC]

I might not have a part in the amount of work that goes into creating new units for The Battle for Middle-earth series, or an appreciation of the difficulty because of my naivety in the matter, but I hope that you are exalted for your work NDC. Maximan too.

Thank you very much and no problem at all mate!

When it is ready (mod might be on pause at the moment because of Nazgul's computer) I would love to interview the people involved in creating the entirely new unit for its special feature article.

Wow, I'm looking forward to that!

[Nazgûl]

We ask The Animator, NDC for proper Dwarven rider animations?

 

What if the shields look fine when they are attached to the sides of the Dwarven Phalanx arms? But then there is the issue that we want the shield wall animation. I will recommend BfME I Gondor Tower Guard.

 

 

I checked the animations for Phalanx, and they won't look good with shield  But, I wouldn't say it's just a matter of asking for animations. Animation sets in BFME games range from 25-45 anims, and logically each single anim would probably take a fair amount of time to create. Also, since they're not motion captured, like many anims in BFME2, it's highly likely that newly hand created anims would look jerky and animatroic in comparison, regardless of how skilled the animator is, even though they might be better than nothing off course

 

I also checked the Towergurd anims, and they are indeed better suited for shilds and shield walls. I think a better solution would be to ask NDC to merge the two versions into one 

 

 

 

 

"The Animator", - wow, I'm chuffed to hear such a reference to my humble self - thank you, Matt!
There might be an option of rigging the Pike-bearer to the Phalanx skeleton and then just adding a bespoke shield wall animation to the anim set for the Phalanx (which I can do without much problem, if you'd like me to).

A separate anim set for Dwarwen riders can be produced as well!

 

 

 

Separate anim set sounds cool, but like I said, I imagine the work load to be extensive and there are other things I rather see you do for SEE   My suggestion would be to edit the Warg rider anims to support spear instead of sword. Perhaps that is easier?

 

 

I might not have a part in the amount of work that goes into creating new units for The Battle for Middle-earth series, or an appreciation of the difficulty because of my naivety in the matter, but I hope that you are exalted for your work NDC. Maximan too.

 

When it is ready (mod might be on pause at the moment because of Nazgul's computer) I would love to interview the people involved in creating the entirely new unit for its special feature article.

 

 

For me, each unit involves:

 

- Sculpting. This process may take days.

- Painting. Several hours.

- Retopology. 3-4 hours

- UV mapping. 1-2 hours

- Exporting

Then the Rigger imports and rigs it, which can be quite a work load too, since I'm somewhat picky with results

[NDC]

I checked the animations for Phalanx, and they won't look good with shield  But, I wouldn't say it's just a matter of asking for animations. Animation sets in BFME games range from 25-45 anims, and logically each single anim would probably take a fair amount of time to create. Also, since they're not motion captured, like many anims in BFME2, it's highly likely that newly hand created anims would look jerky and animatroic in comparison, regardless of how skilled the animator is, even though they might be better than nothing off course
 
I also checked the Towergurd anims, and they are indeed better suited for shilds and shield walls. I think a better solution would be to ask NDC to merge the two versions into one 

Yes, I was thinking about a sort of merging (at least to some extent) as well!
 

Separate anim set sounds cool, but like I said, I imagine the work load to be extensive and there are other things I rather see you do for SEE   My suggestion would be to edit the Warg rider anims to support spear instead of sword. Perhaps that is easier?

Sure, that should do the trick!

Edited by NDC, 08 January 2016 - 06:10 PM.

[Nazgûl]

Bumping this, with edits...

Red: To be decided.
Orange: Current plan.
Green: Decided.
 

We need to figure out suitable anims for this army!

 

- Banner Carriers. Don't really like the vanilla ones with flag on back. Any suggestions?

> TBD

 

- Pikemen, preferably with shields. Phalanx don't use shields, so maybe Easterling anims? Or Gondor Spearmen? Suggestions??
> Towerguard SKL from BFME1&BFME2 combined
 

- Swordsmen with shields. Maybe Gondor soldiers? Theoden?
> TBD
 

- Crossbowmen:
> Uruk Crossbow SKL
 

- Goat Cavalry:

> Warg Rider SKL

 

- Axe Throwers (Battle Wagon crew only)
- Battle Wagon

- Catapult

- Demolisher

 

Last three is unchanged SKL obviously. Axe model is for Banner Carriers.

Edited by Nazgûl, 10 January 2016 - 02:04 AM.

[MattTheLegoman]

What about Guardians for swordsmen with shields?

 

They have an axe and a shield.

[njm1983]

Just a random thought, instead of a banner carrier maybe you could do a "battalion commander" instead. Perhaps a single unit with full armor but wearing a cape. It's different. Kinda reminds me of the botfa, dain gives orders to "give the elves a good hammering" and there is another dwarf issuing commands to the troops.

Edited by njm1983, 09 January 2016 - 05:17 AM.

[MattTheLegoman]

I really like this idea. Did the Dwarves even have banners in the movies?

Edit: I had a look for banner bearers on Games Workshop and found none UN the Hobbit range, although there are two sets with banners in the LotR range.
http://www.games-wor...warf-Commanders

http://www.games-wor...King-s-Champion

The idea that I'm liking at the moment is a captain replacing the banner.

Edited by MattTheLegoman, 09 January 2016 - 10:43 AM.

[Bashkuga]

Iron Hills banners:

http://abload.de/ima...-01033jhxtc.jpg

http://media.moddb.c...65af6710b38.jpg

Erebor banners can be seen hanging from the gateway in the prologue.

[MattTheLegoman]

Thanks Bashkuga. =D

 

A Gundabad banner is also visible.

[Nazgûl]

@NJM: That is is a very cool idea, but indeed they had banners in the movie. They also had captains though, for sure. Those are the ones carrying small markers on the side of the helmet, like Dain has. The props, pre-digital, also shows captains with feather crests and golden details. But, if I can't find a fitting BC SKL for them, perhaps we should scrap BCs and go for that idea instead, still having them function as BC though.

 

@Bashkuga. Thanks, great shots!

 

@MTL: We could, it's just that I'm not that fond of the Guardians anims =/

 

EDIT: Made some descisions...

 

 

 

- Banner Carriers. Don't really like the vanilla ones with flag on back. Any suggestions?

> TBD

 

- Pikemen. Must use shields and be able to do shield wall. There is only one such anim set, in BFME1.
> Towerguard SKL. Preferably BFME1 & BFME2 versions combined for more variety.
 

- Swordsmen with shields and aggressive motions.
> Eomer SKL.
 

- Crossbowmen:
> Uruk Crossbow SKL
 

- Goat Cavalry:

> Warg Rider SKL

 

- Axe Throwers (Battle Wagon crew only)

- Battle Wagon

- Catapult

- Demolisher

 

Last four are with unchanged SKL obviously.

 

Edited by Nazgûl, 17 January 2016 - 02:38 PM.

[MattTheLegoman]

I can confirm, their armour is very purple! I am reading through WETA The Art of War.

[MattTheLegoman]

I regret not saving your renders to the SEE ModDB page. All the Postimg images are dead.

[Nazgûl]

Yeah those likns were bad. Servers open and close off and on. I should have used better providers. I still have all those images though...

[MattTheLegoman]

Well, you can feel free to upload anything to ModDB.

[Nazgûl]

I just wish I had someone to rig them dwarves    The zBrush images are a bit stiff 

Edited by Nazgûl, 18 November 2018 - 05:18 PM.