Dragons are coming!

Andr�s · #1 July 28th, 2001, 10:02 PM

Ok seeing how much you liked Dami�n�s (my brother) Cephalopeian style (especially after adding Deathstalker's AI) and inspired in one of my favorite SE3 shipsets (can�t remember the author) I decided to create this new race style of dragons.
It�s at a preliminary stage, I still have lots of details to add and other things to improve, but first renders look promising. I�ll try to get you some preview pics soon.
I was going to use the name Draconian, like the SE3 shipset, but I there is a shipset in PBW with that name and another called Dragon (both variations of default shipsets)
I have quickly made-up/copied an AI set, but I�d like if an experienced AI modder wants to help me. I believe that if you star now maybe AI and graphics will be ready at the same time.
Also would like suggestions for a speech and dsgname files.

[This message has been edited by Andr�s Lescano (edited 29 July 2001).]

Deathstalker · #2 July 28th, 2001, 10:33 PM

Hey Andres, long time no see. Still love the Cephalopeia, have them in almost every game I start (that and the sw-emp1, the Y'Gath & the Nostro). I have been tweaking the sw-emp1 and the Cephalopeia for a while, they are now working better than b4, will send you a copy some time this week.

As for your dragons, eagerly awaiting! (that and the demon type ships you had on your site b4). If all the 'dragon' names are taken you could always use 'Wyrm', which is just another name for dragon.(hmmm....dragon...draconian...drake...wyrm. ...serpent...can't think of others right now, but there are no doubt more, could use another word for dragon in a different language like spanish or french or german, whatever they would be.).

I love the idea!(other good monster types would be beetles(scarab, egyptian), dragonflies(space bugs rule!), or even organic space slime! (ahhhh! Captain, our ship has been....slimed!!

)

------------------
"The Empress took your name away," said Chance.
Owen smiled coldly. "It wasn't hers to take. I'm a Deathstalker until I die. And we never forget a slight or an enemy." -Owen Deathstalker.

Dragonlord · #3 July 28th, 2001, 11:49 PM

I am the player who made that Dragon shipset on PBW. Basically it's just images from another shipset I liked, with a custom race-portrait. I never intended it to be used as an AI race by players, thus I haven't spent time on the speech files and such, and I'm not good enough at modding to make AI files.

But if can help with the creation of a true Dragon shipset I'd be happy to. Coming up with ship names (Firecloud, TalonGrip, etc) and/or speech files.

Just drop me an email !

Dragonlord

Andr�s · #4 July 29th, 2001, 02:16 AM

Uploaded a little file to my site with some pictures and a temporary AI_General. http://se4kdy.cyberwars.com/temp/Draconian.zip
That ship picture still needs to be improved, maybe also add arms and legs. Note that the race portrait is a close up of its head.

Found a nice dragon page at http://www.draconian.com
Maybe a good place to find speech phrases,

BTW I have that demon shipset installed in my system. I believe it was never finished, no ship size pics are missing I and he haven�t work on it for a long time. Dami�n never considered it finished and I agree it looks like it needs some more work, but I�ll see if he agrees and if I can compile and upload it to my site.

Good idea Deathstalker, I remember seeing some insect 3d models around the web, and a mass of slime shouldn�t be difficult to make.

[This message has been edited by Andr�s Lescano (edited 29 July 2001).]

Baron Munchausen · #5 July 29th, 2001, 02:46 AM

The dinosaur list already posted wouldn't be terribly inappropriate for this race.

Is it meant to be a 'race' in the normal sense or a type of space monster like someone else is working on? The example in the .zip file looks like it's meant to be a creature not a ship. In that case, you ought to research as many actual names of dragons as you can find, from Fafnir (Norse Myth) and Cipactli (Mayan myth) to Smaug (Tolkien) and Gorbash (Yes, this is a Dragon name in "The Dragon and the George" by Gordon R. Dickson... but Tolkien fans will also recognize it as an Orc name from Lord of the Ring!

)

Other options are the 'dramatic and evocative' approach that some others have hinted at here or using som other supernatural theme. I have pretty extensive lists of both Angel and Demon names, for example. And a good list of various mythical/fictional monsters of all sorts.

[This message has been edited by Baron Munchausen (edited 29 July 2001).]

Quikngruvn · #6 July 29th, 2001, 07:47 AM

Another possibility for shipnames would be reptiles-- gecko, Komodo, Gila monster, crocodile, turtle.... (OK, maybe not turtle-- lizards and the like seem more appropriate).

For speech, I think the Dragons should come across as friendly but somewhat contemptuous of the 'lesser' species in the galaxy. And you don't want to tick them off!

"Your pathetic species is woefully unfit to exist in this galaxy. Prepare to feel the wrath of the fires of a thousands Wyrms!"

Or something to that effect.

Quikngruvn

------------------
Ponder this: Scientists already knew that matter is 98% empty space. After they figured out the structure of protons, they determined the remaining 2% is mostly made up of... well, nothing. Who says God doesn't have a sense of humor?

Puke · #7 July 29th, 2001, 08:40 AM

quote:
Originally posted by Andr�s Lescano:
a mass of slime shouldn�t be difficult to make.

I would love to see that as a shipset. more to the point, I would love to use that as a shipset if these creations are open for the mooching.

------------------
"...the green, sticky spawn of the stars"
(with apologies to H.P.L.)

Andr�s · #8 August 5th, 2001, 04:49 PM

Bad news.
My computer crashed while I was saving the scene, so I lest everything I had. I have to get used to backup!
Of course this will delay completion of the shipset, but it�s also a chance to re-make the models correcting some things I would have been to lazy otherwise.

Deathstalker, it would be great if you can start thinking about a variation of Cephalopeian AI for the dragons. I think they should also have organic and psychic racial traits.

Dragonlord, I hope it�s ok with you I name all files for example �dragon_portrait_somesize�.

And to anyone who can contribute with the speech and design name files. Send me an email [email protected]
I�d like to use researched dragon names like Baron Munchausen suggested, but since I don�t think we can find enough names to make it a usable file, we�ll probably need to enlarge it with some �dramatic and evocative� names.

Baron Munchausen · #9 August 5th, 2001, 09:17 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Andr�s Lescano:
Bad news.
My computer crashed while I was saving the scene, so I lest everything I had. I have to get used to backup!
Of course this will delay completion of the shipset, but it�s also a chance to re-make the models correcting some things I would have been to lazy otherwise.

Deathstalker, it would be great if you can start thinking about a variation of Cephalopeian AI for the dragons. I think they should also have organic and psychic racial traits.

Dragonlord, I hope it�s ok with you I name all files for example �dragon_portrait_somesize�.

And to anyone who can contribute with the speech and design name files. Send me an email [email protected]
I�d like to use researched dragon names like Baron Munchausen suggested, but since I don�t think we can find enough names to make it a usable file, we�ll probably need to enlarge it with some �dramatic and evocative� names.

I think you'd be surprised how many dragon names you could find with some effort. Probably could get close to 100. Maybe fill it out with other monster names.

Oh, btw, have you used any other materials in making these dragons? In other words, are they entirely your creation? If you have complete rights, would you consider letting MM use one or more of your images when they want to include Space Monsters as a hard coded feature in the game?

Just a thought. I'm not aware that they are ready to work on those just yet. But having a variety of images to use when they finally get to them would be cool.

[This message has been edited by Baron Munchausen (edited 05 August 2001).]

Baron Munchausen · #10 August 13th, 2001, 11:28 PM

Hey, I found a site that lists dragon names from Anne McCafferey's "Dragon Rider" books. Many would not consider these "true" dragons but the list is more than 200 names! Here it is in case you want to use it. Searching for dragons of "myth and literature" as opposed to current science fiction I've only found 30-some names so far. Lots of dragons in old folk-tale were just "the dragon of X" where X is the location where it lived. <shrug>...

[This message has been edited by Baron Munchausen (edited 13 August 2001).]