High Elven City Tileset

[Legacy_LadyoftheCats]

               

I would like to use this for Kissmet as it is, and as a seperate hak, and when you do work on it more, then it will be easy for players to just download it, as often as you have it available! This is just looking great and I have been looking for something more along the lines of a "city in the trees"! We have been working on fixing/updating our haks since the beginning of this year and might take another month or two, since there is only a couple of us working on our big update so maybe you'll have the above fix as well as more to this wonderful elven tileset. Thank you for your hard work and diligence!

               
               

               
            

[Legacy_Estelindis]

               

I have nearly finished a new 3x2 building and would like some opinions.  Firstly, apologies for the very low quality pictures.  The machine that I'm currently using for modding simply refuses to take screenshots from inside NWN.  Once I'm finished the set and need to make more loadscreens, I'll use another machine, but for now it's just much more convenient to take pics from this one, even though the pics aren't very good.

 

Here is a look at it from the front and the back.  The sides are the same on the left and right, but I thought there should be some variation at the front and the back.  The front, with the rounded walls and the balcony two floors up, I am sure about.  The back, I am not so sure about.  The glimpse of the trees underneath and the two little balconies above are just one idea (though if I do keep this, I want to add some trees growing up through this gap, supporting the house from underneath with some of their branches).  

 

Front: 

 

Back: 

 

As well as the general appearance of the group, I particularly want to ask you about dormer windows.  I can have none, one row, or two rows.  (Whoops, you can see me experimenting on only one side in the screenshot above, but the finished result will have the same number of windows on both the right and the left.)

 

None:

 

One:

 

Two:

               
               

               
            

[Legacy_rjshae]

               

I think having at least one row of dormer windows helps to break up the monotony of the large roof area. But the double row looks a lot more unique, so I think I prefer that one. '>

 

In Rivendell, from Lord of the Rings, some of the dormer windows were extended quite a bit vertically. That might provide an interesting variant.

 

               
               

               
            

[Legacy_henesua]

               

Great work, Este. The detailing in the textures is very nice. It all blends well together in a coherent style. I like it.

 

As to your question, I think two levels of Dormer windows will look great, but there might be some buildings that have a different kind of window on the second level. Something like several skylights between the joists of the roof which would make for a cathedral like large single room on the upper floor, whereas the lower floor with all the dormers could suggest multiple small private rooms.

               
               

               
            

[Legacy_CaveGnome]

               

Beautiful model Estelindis! I think it has a nice polynesian vibe... To answer your question, for me, one dormer window row works best, and if possible, bringing in line roof windows with the front and rear "standard" wall windows. The 2nd row of windows house does look a little weird if you look at the 2nd floor balcony protruding on the last picture.

               
               

               
            

[Legacy_Estelindis]

               

Thanks for the views expressed so far!  

 

 

In Rivendell, from Lord of the Rings, some of the dormer windows were extended quite a bit vertically. That might provide an interesting variant.

I can't see the picture you posted.  Do you mean this sort of thing?  If I was to take this approach, I could make a dormer structure that would actually cover two storeys, but would have a larger window in the bottom and a small one at the top...

 

 

Great work, Este. The detailing in the textures is very nice. It all blends well together in a coherent style. I like it.

 

As to your question, I think two levels of Dormer windows will look great, but there might be some buildings that have a different kind of window on the second level. Something like several skylights between the joists of the roof which would make for a cathedral like large single room on the upper floor, whereas the lower floor with all the dormers could suggest multiple small private rooms.

That's an interesting idea and certainly work a bit of experimentation.  Thanks!

 

Beautiful model Estelindis! I think it has a nice polynesian vibe... To answer your question, for me, one dormer window row works best, and if possible, bringing in line roof windows with the front and rear "standard" wall windows. The 2nd row of windows house does look a little weird if you look at the 2nd floor balcony protruding on the last picture.

Now that you've pointed out the oddity of the dormer windows not being on quite the same level as the regular ones, I can't unsee it.  Can't believe I didn't see it before!  I was just aiming to get them at a point that would work with the slightly curved slope of the roof, but there has to be a way to get everything looking pleasing...

               
               

               
            

[Legacy_kalbaern]

               

My only regrets so far is that there isn't an equally nice and -elfy- interior set to match your work.

               
               

               
            

[Legacy_3RavensMore]

               

Can't add much beyond that I love how this is progressing.

               
               

               
            

[Legacy_3RavensMore]

               

My only regrets so far is that there isn't an equally nice and -elfy- interior set to match your work.

 

You just read my mind.

               
               

               
            

[Legacy_Estelindis]

               

My only regrets so far is that there isn't an equally nice and -elfy- interior set to match your work.

It's been in the back of my mind pretty much since I started this that I'd like to make a matching interior set once this is done, but I make no promises, mainly because I don't know when this set will be finished.  I've always liked to make interiors match exteriors as well as possible.

               
               

               
            

[Legacy_rjshae]

               

There is a Wooden Elven Interior tileset on the new Vault--not sure whether that is quite what you want. Judging by the screenies, it could use a few more tree trunk pass-through openings. But it looks fairly decent.

               
               

               
            

[Legacy_Estelindis]

               

I experimented a bit with the dormer windows.  First, I fixed the regular ones to line them up better with each storey of the building.  Here you can see this in two versions,

 

One row:

 

 

Two rows:

 

 

 

Then I tried a different type, with the structure of a single dormer extending over two storeys and incorporating a window at each level:

 

 

Finally, I added some skylights at the top.  These skylights could just as easily be added above one or two layers of dormer windows.  If added above one layer, then they'd obviously be positioned one storey further down.

 

Please let me know which approach you think is best.   '>  Of course, I could always make a second variation of this building, with a different dormer style, and maybe with a plainer architectural style at the back of the building, where the platform gap is...

               
               

               
            

[Legacy_henesua]

               

Those tall dormers look really great. Definitely use those!

 

For the skylights I was thinking really long strips would look cool. Not feeling the smaller ones with those tall dormers. I think the tall dormers look best on their own.

               
               

               
            

[Legacy_rjshae]

               

They all look pretty nice. The taller dormer windows might fit the style a little better if the peak flared up a bit to match the main roof. Another variant would be a tall dormer window surrounded by a shorter dormer window on either side--that could provide artistic balance, I think. (Not sure though, it might look a little rude too.) A cupola tower on one side may look nice as well.

 

Mmm... I can't say I'm that fond of the sky lights; at present they look a little bit like prison windows. Maybe if they were circular or oval? *shrug*

               
               

               
            

[Legacy_Estelindis]

               

Those tall dormers look really great. Definitely use those!

 

For the skylights I was thinking really long strips would look cool. Not feeling the smaller ones with those tall dormers. I think the tall dormers look best on their own.

Thank you!  I'm glad you like the tall ones.  I do too.  '>  If I add skylights to anything, I'll experiment a bit more with shapes...  The thing is, I really didn't know what other shapes to use.  Where I live, skylights kinda have a universal, boring shape, like what I made here.  '>  Do you have any pictures you could show me to illustrate what you mean by long strips of skylights?  Thanks.

 

They all look pretty nice. The taller dormer windows might fit the style a little better if the peak flared up a bit to match the main roof. Another variant would be a tall dormer window surrounded by a shorter dormer window on either side--that could provide artistic balance, I think. (Not sure though, it might look a little rude too.) A cupola tower on one side may look nice as well.

 

Mmm... I can't say I'm that fond of the sky lights; at present they look a little bit like prison windows. Maybe if they were circular or oval? *shrug*

Hah, I'm really not fond of the skylights either.  I just thought I should try what Henesua was suggesting - but it turned out that I didn't understand her.  '>  As for the tall dormers, I'll see what I can do to make their shape match the rest of the building a bit better.  Not sure about a cupola tower.  This building is already tall enough that adding extra height might be a waste.