Grrr Need some advice ShipSet Blues

[Loser]

Try what the ILM boys do: pick a common object (outboard motor) and then distort and elaborate on it (B-Wing Fighter).

street light head
PS/2-to-9-pin-D (serial) connector
ergonomic mouse or trackball
toilet (would be difficult to make it unrecognizable enough to be a nice ship set)
egg beater
mixer
sun glasses
head phones
maple leaf
sea shell (may ne difficult to loose the 'organic' look)
feline shoulder blade (nicely unsymetrical)
bird pelvis
PCI card
hand soap pump dispenser
shrimp fork
men's belt buckel
revolver
wall sconce
mezo-american anthropomorphic pottery
cooling fan
bottle opener
unindetifiable women's jewlery
WWII tanks
mushroom cloud
Full Winsor knot
octothorpe
slice of pie

I think the most promising of that heap is the shoulder blade.

[Chronon]

Rojero, I had the same problem with the Verdurans (I almost quit several times) and the only thing that kept me going was random experimentation. I used vegetables as my inspiration, but I ran out of ideas after the destroyer. So, I just started adding shapes (especially spheres and cylinders) to my basic hull and by accident created something I liked. They didn't really turn out the way I expected, but in the end I do like them.

PS. Don't feel obliged to make them look feline (unless you really want to). Human ships don't look remotely human, and I don't imagine aliens would make self-portrait style ships either.

PPS. Try not to feel discouraged about all the great ship sets out there - most of their creators have many years of experience. It's impossible to be perfect the first time (and you can always make a newer Version later).

[Arkcon]

Rojero, same here. I have zero artistic ability, but I still want a shipset of my own. I've started, then aborted one, I may revisit it soon.

Some more suggestions ...

Select an intermediate hull size, for example, light cruiser or battle cruiser, and decide how it should look.

Have smaller ships be the same basic size, but smaller, and simpler. Have larger ships not only be larger, but have more "things" on them.

Look to any sci fi tv show or movie to see what "dodads" your ships should have. I saw once how the nacelles on a shuttlecraft for ST:Next Gen were actually painted disposable razor handles -- so inspiration can really come from anywhere.

I really liked the missile picture from the terran shipset and wanted to slightly modify it. I tried to do this a pixel at a time. I've abandoned that plan (try not to be too shocked guys). I'll go with the symetrical sphere so many shipsets seem to use. The point here is don't be afraid to abandon something that turns out to be too difficult and approach the problem a different way.

Not every shipset has to have every image in it be a work of art.

[Rojero]

ok i have done a few ships
now how can i upload it so you guys can give me your opinions?
its not colored or anything
but you can give me some thoughts?
(still trying to figure out the computer lingo)

[Fyron]

Upload files in the appropriate thread (SE4 Shipsets/Races or whatever it is called) in the Shrapnel Scenarios/Mods Upload forum, the first one on the main Intel Forums page.

[narf poit chez BOOM]

go to the mod forum, got to post new, on the left side of the post thing there should be a small 'upload' link. click that, follow the instructions, copy the link, come back here and paste it.

and you could always do what i did - get confused by the instructions and have to ask 'what?' about twice.

[Rojero]

Ok here is my first attempt at shipset making, since my race is figther based i started with the fighters tell me what you guys think? There is no color of course, just basic ship design, but i think i want to go the way of a slick route? Something really smooth and cunning looking there are two fighter types a large and medium
http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/newup...1057697527.jpg
http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/newuploads/1057697631.jpg

[ July 08, 2003, 22:24: Message edited by: Rojero ]

[Rojero]

Ok did a few ships and its actually coming out pretty good Now I have a question for all who use DOGAL3, what pain program should I used to color the ships? or should I use the color program that comes with it? It seems ok but I have not delved with it yet.

[dogscoff]

That's a good start.

As for colouring, Doga's own colouring/ texturing system works pretty well. I haven't got the hang of it completely yet, but even so you can get pretty good results. I still like to smooth them out a little in paintshop pro though=-) (click my banner below and look at the KanesS to see my Doga-ings)

[narf poit chez BOOM]

ok, first of, that's a good job and better than i can do.

but: they look skinny and my logical mind doesn't like the wings.

what, i have a logical mind? of course i do.