Sumskilz's Unit Creation Blog

[sumskilz]

It may be longer than I thought before the next proper unit preview. So in the mean time, I plan to post a few bits and pieces here for those of you who feel you must have more. Check back for semi-regular updates, but don't expect me to know what percentage of the mod is done.

Here's a start - faces for Arabic units:

[Achilla]

Great!

I was wondering though, could it be given some indirect variation?

Like, different hair colour between individual faces but kept in similar frame (e.g. from black to light brown).

[sumskilz]

Great!

I was wondering though, could it be given some indirect variation?

Like, different hair colour between individual faces but kept in similar frame (e.g. from black to light brown).

Yeah, that can be done. Though I know it is hard to see with the lighting in this picture, there actually is some variation in hair color on these guys. From left to right, one and three have some gray in their hair and five has hair that is more brown rather than the almost black colored hair of two and four.

I hope to create unique head sets for different regional/ethnic groups. All the faces will be based on actual individuals from those regions. This is true of these Arabic faces as well, and though I’m aware that some Arabic people have lighter hair, it’s uncommon and so it’s not surprising that none of the guys I based these faces on have lighter hair.

[alien_t]

Great work mate +rep

[sumskilz]

Great work mate +rep

Thanks!

I'm not sure too many people are paying attention to this thread, which is cool since it'll mean some of this stuff will still be a surprise when we do a big preview. For our hardcore fans though, here is a shot that'll give you an idea of what our early Muslim units will look like.



EDIT: Just so you guys know, these images are straight out of Milkshape so they have neither normal maps nor alpha channels represented. In the game they will have more three dimensional detail and shiny metal parts where appropriate.

Also, I used a few texture bits and model pieces from the Rusichi mod.

[pacco]

It would be better if you move this thread in main DotS forum.

[Walkman810i]

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Fantastic

It would be better if you move this thread in main DotS forum.

It would surely get a lot more attention I think.

[Meister Röhrich]

God, they look so awesome, along with BC's muslim units yours are clearly the best for M2TW ever seen! Magnificient work, wish I could give you some rep for it...

[sumskilz]

It would be better if you move this thread in main DotS forum.

If somebody wants to move it that's cool, but I don't mind if it stays back here. I will eventually make nicer looking previews of all this stuff.

God, they look so awesome, along with BC's muslim units yours are clearly the best for M2TW ever seen! Magnificient work, wish I could give you some rep for it...

Thanks!

[Horsa]

Awesome work!

[Starlightman]

excellent work Sean!

[VINC.XXIII]

This of the left,a french actor from Maghreb have exactly this face^^

[Hengest]

So Sean, am I also right in thinking these are not only new units but new bases for units that can be re-used as composites to make dozens of new units?
In fact, isn't Milwaukee an Indian name?

[sumskilz]

This of the left,a french actor from Maghreb have exactly this face^^

Ha, what's his name?

So Sean, am I also right in thinking these are not only new units but new bases for units that can be re-used as composites to make dozens of new units?

Yeah, for example it's relatively easy to change clothing and textile designs so once I've created a particular piece of clothing, I can reuse it for other units of the same culture and time period. Same goes for weapons and armor; I actually created four complete mail hauberk variations for these guys even though only portions are showing. I saved all the textures on separate layers in Photoshop so I can easily grab just the pieces I need for the next unit.

In fact, isn't Milwaukee an Indian name?

Yes Hross, it is. Actually it's pronounced "me-lee-wah-kay" which is Algonquin for "the good land." I think one of the most interesting aspects of Milwaukee is the fact that it's the only major American city to have ever elected three socialist mayors.

[Beorn]

Great Muslims, Sumskilz!

[gustave]

Great work here, mate. These muslims are among the best I've ever seen ! The faces and clothes look just excellent, and I know they are always difficult to skin.

[Hengest]

Ah Sean you know your stuff, but can you name the British band that the mentioned Pete joined after leaving Alice Cooper's band?

The Frenchman Eric Cantona? (Although not from Magreb). He was originally a footballer for Man Utd

[sumskilz]

Ah Sean you know your stuff, but can you name the British band that the mentioned Pete joined after leaving Alice Cooper's band?

The Almighty, but that was not as difficult as one might suspect since there are only a couple degrees of separation between us. Pete Friesen also played on a Sack Trick record that was produced by a guy who’s Fender Twin I have frequently rested my beverage upon.

Great work here, mate. These muslims are among the best I've ever seen ! The faces and clothes look just excellent, and I know they are always difficult to skin.

Thanks man, I'm a fan of your work as well. I'm always checking the EBII sub-forum hoping to see a new preview.

[Hengest]

Doh! You got me. Not a lot of people know that the girl who used to present Headbanger's Ball for MTV was Ricky Warwick's (Almighty) wife. I used to like them a lot even though they were e. Anyway, sorry I am detracting from your glory

[sumskilz]

Some faces that I created for our ethnically Persian units:

I’d like our units to be as diverse as possible when it comes to faces. So my approach will be to create a number of regional/ethnic face sets rather than having the typical generic European or Middle Eastern faces.

Here is a WIP of a Fatimid “captain” that I may or may not end up using:

The point of posting him is just to show what can be accomplished by combing pieces from previous units and then doing some light retexturing. In this case, he is made by combining pieces from the Haras al Sudani and the Arab cavalry unit posted further up the page.