High Elven City Tileset

[Legacy_Rolo Kipp]

               <jumping up and down...>

Estelindis wrote...
Nice pic, Rolo.  '>

Here are some glimpses at the stuff I've been working on, not including stuff that has too close a relationship to the treetop terrain and walkway crosser to be useful for a stony city.  Does any of this seem like it might be up your street, if the textures were changed?

Let's see...
Old concept sketch vs new, fantabulous WIP screenshots...
I win! =)
That is, your model trumps my doodle and that means I (*we*, the community) wins something tres cool =)

Woot!

<...for joy>
               
               

               
            

[Legacy_Pstemarie]

               

Rolo Kipp wrote...

<waggling his eyebrows...>

Frith5 wrote...
...
Also, Rolo, how exactly do you redskin a tileset? Must all the buildings be hollowed from giant potatoes? j/k lol.

I think we'd need to ask Paul for his technique, but I imagine it involves a Mrs. Potato head, something called a Monty (full variety), a pole and some cheeze-whiz to make the spud blush...

<...meaningfully>

lol - that's me king of the typos 

Nice pics Este - high quality work as always.
               
               

               
            

[Legacy_WoC_Builder]

               Estelindis, those are BEAUTIFUL as is!  '>  And yes, with a re-texturing that would eminently suit our needs.  I'm liking the lacy fences I see in the background of the pics as well.

I would be more than happy to be able to blend the stone and more "natural" terrains into one whole, so I would hope it does not have to be "one or the other".  I can see some structures being wood-sided as well as stone, and both would fit the setting very well.  '>  Just as our Elves of that city would have parks and glades within its walls, and not just streets of stone cobbles.

What you have done reminds me of a pic I have used as my background for years.  I hope it does not display too hugely for the website, but wanted to attach it.  Really striking how closely the two conceptions are!  '>


               
               

               

                     Modifié par WoC_Builder, 10 décembre 2013 - 02:11 .
                     
                  

            

[Legacy_WoC_Builder]

               And Rolo?

'>

Are you in the trees?  I'm out in Western Montana, and am a wildland firefighter to boot, so both live and work in the trees.  I just can't seem to get away from them.  lol
               
               

               
            

[Legacy_Estelindis]

               Wow, WoC_Builder - that is a *beautiful* picture.  It does convey very well the atmosphere I think you're going for.

The "lacy" fence is in wood as it is, and could blend as you said above, though, conveniently, there is already a stone version of it in the base game if we want to go stone instead (ttu01_pillar - I intentionally made my wooden one a surface elven version of the drow texture).  

Anyway, as I have a lot of academic work to do, please don't expect this to be released in the next week or anything.  I will keep plugging away.  Please *do* post any other images that inspire you, as they could inspire me too.  '>

Thanks Rolo and PSM for more lovely comments.  '>
               
               

               
            

[Legacy_WoC_Builder]

               Estelindis, I would in NO WAY prod you to greater rates of production, my Lady.  Your time is a gift, and I will accept it gladly when you are ready to give it, and thank you for your hard work in the bargain.  '>  

As for your reference, is that a wall or a fence?  Your wooden fence is lovely as is.  In my first post, I was talking about city walls; like what is rendered by the "raise" terrain.  And lacy is only a descriptive term, and one I think I am overusing.  '>  But my thought is that unlike Dwarven work which projects strength, Elven stone would be "lighter"; no less strong, just seen differently.  I hope I'm not confusing you.  lol

EDIT:
And looking up your file, I see what you mean; a stone texture.  How difficult is it to have two versions of the same fence tile?  1 wood and 1 stone?  That would give the most options.  but I can see it is not so simple as just copying a single tile.  There is also creating two gates, 8 "joinings" to other walls (raised terrain), buildings terrain, etc.
               
               

               

                     Modifié par WoC_Builder, 10 décembre 2013 - 02:59 .
                     
                  

            

[Legacy_Estelindis]

               Walls are usually crossers.  How much work is involved in making more than one type of wall generally depends on how many different ways you allow them to be joined to each other.  I remember poor Bannor putting in extraordinary amounts of work to make all the walls in CTP Babylon work with each other in all possible ways!  Not having yet reached his level of generosity, I shall see how I feel about that as time allows.  '>

Regarding the "lacy" texture, I would "hollow out" gaps between the, ah, tendrils(?) of the stony texture in the case of surface elves using stone. '>

I actually haven't made a wall crosser of any kind for this set yet, as the treetops generally function as a decent way of marking off terrain, plus the house crosser can go right to the edge of the platform, working as a wall of sorts.  I also hadn't done any raise/lower, because of the unfortunate layer cake effect I knew it would create on the trees below.  But if we're looking at stone, it would become immediately more appealing.

Anyway, it's fairly late, so I'll sign off for the night.  Thank you for the very pleasant interaction.  '>
               
               

               
            

[Legacy_AndarianTD]

               Those images are fantastic, Estelindis!

Just for the record, I might be able to use something along the lines of what WoC_Builder is looking for as well. Although my modding work's on hold for now while I work on getting my first novel ready to publish, I do want to get back to it at some point.
               
               

               
            

[Legacy_Nevercallmebyname]

               Estelindis, I want your Tileset. Not sure what for yet, probably to tell the backstory of my elf character.
               
               

               
            

[Legacy_WoC_Builder]

               Ahh, I think I am using my terminologies wrong.  I see I need to differentiate between Walls as Crossers and Walls as Raise terrain.  '>  

And if you stay in regular touch with Bannor, let him know that we used the HECK out of CTP Babylon (and his walls '> ) on our world. One of our worlds major Kingdoms is the City-State of Goldhaven, 4 16x16 city areas; a bustling seaport, the splendour of the Ducal Enclosure (the Hanging Gardens and the huge palace are phenomenal!), the dust and noise of the marketplace, and the strength of the City Gates.  We also have a smaller village area, outside the city in a narrow slot canyon or "Wadi", where adventurers generally arrive first.  Not to mention 5 of the 6 huge expanses that make up The Great Jraag Desert; the 6th desert area is CTP Black Desert, so don't feel bad '>.   It was the name that gave me the idea to have the sands of that place "drag" you down (give a movement penalty) if your DEX was low, or you were in anything but cloth/light armor.

I remember I politicked for a year to get that tileset included, working up "proofs" to show exactly what it could do for us.  And now, thanks to the work of people like yourself and Bannor, or desert comes alive.  '>

It was also that tileset that greased the wheels for us to include the other CTP works we use as well; Dwarven Halls, Expanded Elven City, and the aforementioned Black Desert.

Anyway, I digress.  Thank him for me...and thank you, for then and now, Estelindis.  '>
               
               

               

                     Modifié par WoC_Builder, 10 décembre 2013 - 12:51 .
                     
                  

            

[Legacy_Estelindis]

               Great to know that you'd both use it, Andarian and Nevercallmebyna - whoops, barely dodged a bullet there!  '>

In a similar vein, WoC_Builder, I'm delighted that you're using CTP Babylon.  That set was a labour of love for all of us.  Bannor made the Hanging Gardens as a gift for me, and the huge palace cost both of us more hours than I care to remember.  '>  Of course, if no one then uses the tileset, it's a bit of a bummer, so it's always very gratifying to hear when people do use it.  Your particular use of it sounds extensive and very flavourful!
               
               

               
            

[Legacy_Mecheon]

               Count me as another who uses CTP Babylon, though it does remind me I should drag my slightly expanded Black Desert out. Or just release Mech's Modified Tilesets

Loving the work so far on these tiles. Any project in particular they're for?
               
               

               
            

[Legacy_Oseryn]

               Estelindis, that is just beautiful work.
               
               

               
            

[Legacy_DM_Vecna]

               I love the structures that you have created. I could see them easily added to the newly enhanced forrest tileset. As there is already some simillar structures and a forrest canopy.I can post pics of an area I put together if requested.
               
               

               
            

[Legacy_WoC_Builder]

               

Estelindis wrote...

Please *do* post any other images that inspire you, as they could inspire me too.  '>

I spent some time today trying to decide what it is about a High Elven cityscape that distinguishes it from its cousin the Wood Elf city, and more importantly, how I can describe my vision to you.  Now, please...take that for what it is worth; my vision.  At the end of the day you are creating because of YOUR vision, so do not let my interest in your project sway your judgment overmuch, or push you so that a labor of love becomes...well, just labor.  '>  As well, knowing nothing of modeling, I can only speak of what my mind sees, but have no concept of the work involved to bring that to fruition.  So if I say "This would be nice", do not take it amiss, or think that I am asking you for the moon, if that generates the obvious (to you) comment in your mind and you say "Yes, but one tile would take me 18 hours to construct, and there would need to be 24 tiles to cover all the possibilities".  '>

So...onward.  '>  I know originally I spoke of Gondolin and Tirion-upon-Tuna.  Yet the imagery that I found there turned out to be too much city, if you understand my meaning; certainly more than what the Elves of our world would use, or want.

I think, for me, what best represents a High-Elven cityscape is that they embrace the use of stone (over that of wood, yet not exclusively), but only as far as it blends within the natural surroundings.  They achieve this by using graceful, sweeping lines, and curves more than straight edges; slender towers, delicate-seeming archways, pale stone whose color complemented (if not matched) the surroundings, graceful rounded domes capping structures; shapes found in nature.  They also seem to place their structures in harmony with the natural setting, using the natural elements of the world to accent or highlight their own, and not vice-versa.  It is in the blending that the true beauty of their cities is achieved

In most of the pictures I was able to find, the High-Elven world of Tolkien seemed to give the best representation.  That is not to say however it provided the only imagery.  Also, some of the best imagery of the Tolkien High-Elven world was found in Rivendell.  However, I don't want it to seem that High Elves only built in the cliffs.  '>  I just saw some of the best examples of the architecture there.  '>  I would think though that Raised terrain would be an important part of it, and the ability to build right up to it, as well as upon it, so that the visual would be one of layers upon layers, flowing both up and down, rolling like a hill, but not so much "stepped".  Water also plays a very large part in their cities, especially flowing water.

I am going to give some picture examples, and small descriptions of what I am talking about.  You did ask for some if I found any (and must admit, immediately sent me searching '> ), and as they say..."A picture is worth a thousand words".  This should convey the common design elements of what I am envisioning.

DISCLAIMER: Please...TAKE THIS FOR WHAT IT IS WORTH!  IT IS NOT WHAT I AM EXPECTING YOU TO PRODUCE!!  o.0

Rivendell

An excellent representation of pale stone, and the domed structure in the foreground (too elegant to call it a gazebo, but that is what my mind dredges up) is a perfect example of "lacy" or "delicate".  The arches in the background where the stream exits is a good representation as well.

Elven Walls

While the setting is not what I am trying to show (heavily forested), the construction of the walls most certainly is.  This is about the best example that I saw of walls (those that were not just blocks of stone, smooth and featureless).  Especially interesting is how the artist used both straight and curved elements.

Mithlond

A good view of layering, and the combination of natural and constructed elements.


The Grey Havens

Another good distance shot, but this conveying mostly stone.  However, it fit the setting portrayed.  As well, it shows good use of towers, spires, and arches.


Elven City Exterior

This was a pic that showed some good close up detail of Elven City structures.


Elven Dome

A beautiful rendering, had to include.


Elven Watermill

A scene showing a watermill; wonderful use of texture and architecture.


Elven Inn End

Yet another great shot of Elven architecture; this a close-up of one end of an Elven Inn.  This (and the watermill, and glass-topped dome) reminded me very much of Zwerkule's work.  '>
               
               

               

                     Modifié par WoC_Builder, 10 décembre 2013 - 07:48 .