Faction Re-textures by Massive_attack (not compatible with V4)

**Massive_attack** · June 12, 2011, 09:05 PM

Thats the impression I got from them, Daraunon. Ceremonial. Dressy. The honour guard. The guys that line some palatial estate and the offices of government. Toy soldiers all wound up but with nowhere to march, full of pomp ceremony and self importance. Guys that just make you go "wow, arent they something" when in reality they are pathetic phantoms of a bygone age, dressed up in the richest armor money can buy, armor that is out now out of style, out of practicality and perhaps somewhat out of reason. A troop of warriors that although perfectly drilled, utterly disciplined, are perhaps a little sad too.

I kind of wanted make a really fancy unit that would just wow players with a really nice unit, but also try to subtly remind them that "while these guys are really neat, they are out-dated."

And thats where i was thinking of going with them

Also, for reasons of time management, laziness, et cetera, theres only going to be one honour guard skin. And its going to be used by the pikes and lancers.

**Jean=A=Luc** · June 12, 2011, 09:20 PM

I'd prefer "boring" looking pikes as well though I've no specific ideas atm. They shouldn't stand out too much compared to line inf. as they're both a part of the same pike & shot unit.

As for the lancers, they should get the cuirsarers' "floral" armour imo. It kinda fits their ceremonial role/status.

@ above: Posted while I was writing.

**Daraunon** · June 12, 2011, 09:46 PM

Since they're supposed to be an elite as well,I understand the Pikes' need to be fancy. I wouldn't make them as fancy as the Lancers,but hey...

**Conchubhair** · June 13, 2011, 08:06 AM

i think they should look like a darker version of this

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_-1firEZFSj...icture+195.jpg

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_-1firEZFSj...icture+235.jpg

I think this sums up my feeling actually

http://www.polycount.com/forum/showthread.php?t=63560

**Daraunon** · June 13, 2011, 08:27 AM

Not bad images at all,but I think M_A will go for the "golden" look with these guys,whereas the black would be more present on the other units in the roster.

**Conchubhair** · June 13, 2011, 08:35 AM

M_A have you done anywork on the Cannon Crews?

Yeah the 3 units i'm looking forward to are Cannon crews obc, Kaisers Lancers and Stormtroopers

I'm Not sure what is heppening with the Stormtroopers though.

I would like to see them in Ornate Plate Armour

Do not click if you dont want inappropiate Adds you have been warned

Link removed : Links showing adds like that will get you infracted on this site (even if posted with a warning), please do not post the like of that again. TFON

**Massive_attack** · June 13, 2011, 12:40 PM

Ive come to the conclusion it would be better if I simply finished the pack, stopped telling you guys about it/sharing info with you, and if you guys dont like it, too bad

(Mainly because this discussion of these details hasnt really yeilded any inspiration to me)

**Jean=A=Luc** · June 13, 2011, 02:32 PM

Originally Posted by Massive_attack

Ive come to the conclusion it would be better if I simply finished the pack, stopped telling you guys about it/sharing info with you, and if you guys dont like it, too bad

Sometimes that's how it has to be. Ask TFON.

**.:Zack Fair:.** · June 15, 2011, 10:32 AM

Originally Posted by Massive_attack

Ive come to the conclusion it would be better if I simply finished the pack, stopped telling you guys about it/sharing info with you, and if you guys dont like it, too bad

Ok now I want the finished pack

**Massive_attack** · June 16, 2011, 06:50 PM

Minor update for today, but no image as per my "no more previews" thing.

Ive finally been able to get the point where i can test the kaisers' pike/kaisers lancer texture ingame. It looks gorgeous.

However i realized that it needed some more "faustian" elements to better link it to the faction. Im talking details. Things the elite household/imperial guard of the Reich should have on them to really make them look the part. I wont give out any specific details of how they look now.. but, well, take a look at the Faust troops i previewed before. Remember how you guys criticized those armoured soldiers for being a bit too gaudy, or whatever ?

Well ramp that up by... alot, and you have what the Faust troops look like now. Its so glorious.

They epitomize this trope: http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/BlingOfWar

Also, for the kaisers pikes specifically, ive devised a new system of upgrades (well, its the same as before, just with my textures... bah whatever ill explain). The default upgrade level will have them keep the current normal non-upgraded kaisers pikemen appearance. Grenadier texture.

Upgrade one uses the texture i already previewed for the Faust. The detailed dark metallic look,

and finally, upgrade 2 brings the real goods. Parade-dress Armoured fancy-pants legions of doom.

But yeah. Need ideas for how to make them look more faustian.

To be specific: Give me ideas for gear, details, and that sort of thing. DONT give me ideas for how the OVERALL look of the unit is. Ive already decided that, and ive already tested it out ingame, and it looks amazing. Im just fine tuning it for awesome at this point.

DISCLAIMER: IF ANYONE SUGGESTS MAKING THEM LOOK BORING, GREY, FACTORY MADE, CLONES, I WILL PERSONALLY LEAD A TROUPE OF GERMAN SOLDIERS, AND FOLLOW YOU AROUND FOR A WEEK SINGING "Kaiserhymne" AT AN ANNOYINGLY HIGH PITCH AT ALL TIMES.

**Agamemnon** · June 16, 2011, 08:14 PM

Make them wear dull factory armor.

Because I wanna see you do it.

Actually, I'd say just load them with medals and patches.

**Massive_attack** · June 16, 2011, 10:43 PM

Originally Posted by ♔Agamemnon♔

Make them wear dull factory armor.

Because I wanna see you do it.

Here you go

Spoiler Alert, click show to read:

On a more serious note: Thanks, i think i will add medals. Not too many of course, i wouldnt want them looking like generals or something. But yeah... medals. Now to find some flashy ones in nice colours that arent crosses. Hmm !

Ill also probably add at least one sash to the unit. I really like sashes.

One thing that desperately needs work is the boots. Im hoping i can use texturing magic to turn the craptastic leather boots that the troops wear now into some wicked Sabatons or something. Edit: Boot/sabaton mix.

Also, how are you guys feeling with regards to Bronze ? Im hoping to mix up the gold a bit with silver and bronze details and elements. For contrast and visual appeal.

**Lord Golog** · June 17, 2011, 04:23 AM

Any chance we'll see some new unit cards to go with these great new skins?

Btw, I LOVE the new auxilia skins you made. Lightyears better than the old ones.

**Daraunon** · June 17, 2011, 04:47 AM

If you want to use details to get some contrast,I'd go with silver,not bronze,you already have gold for that.

Apart from medals,you already said sashes,and the usual ceremonial dagger/bayonet on the hip or armor or something like that could be nice. And I understand your care for details,but I wouldn't worry too much about the boots...you rarely see them in the first place.

**Massive_attack** · June 17, 2011, 12:25 PM

@Golog: admitedly thats rather unlikely im afraid. Its mostly laziness and the fact ive never done a unit card in my life. I could, given some practice, but im focusing all my creative energy on making the battle-model texture the absolute best I possible can.

@Daraunon: Im currently using a nice mix of all three. It somehow works. Gold still dominates the pieces though.

Ill see what I can do about maybe adding a nice dagger here and there. Its harder for these units than it was for the barka. The models (and texture wraps) are a bit different.

Also, Im currently re-working aspects of the basic pikemen/arquebusier troops, and there upgrade. I think once im happy with the new set of changes ill preview them. In general, to summarize them: MUCH less red, generally a bit less yellow. More gray and feld-grau colours. Browns. A bit more black here and there. Fits better with the faction on a whole.

**Daraunon** · June 17, 2011, 01:54 PM

More black,less red and yellow...that definitely represents the faction. I approve.

**Conchubhair** · June 19, 2011, 12:28 PM

hey M_A, have you made any progress with artillary crews for the fuast?

here are some nice sources - American http://usarmy.vo.llnwd.net/e2/-image...-14-130519.jpg

English - http://www.susanandian.com/3%20Sunda...val%202005.htm

and Sweedish - http://pixdaus.com/single.php?id=63576

for me none of these fit how is see the faustian bombadiers

however it does show my idea on how they should look, formal dress cloth as they need little else.

I think the Faustians would see it as - if the artillary crews are engaged in combat then we have a very bad commander.
As the unit is not meant for grinding close quarter other units are meant to supliment. i think the faustian reich would serve praticality and just give them cerimonial cloths.

**Massive_attack** · June 19, 2011, 01:06 PM

Im not going to bother changing them, at least right now.

Because:
1) the model doesnt suit that kind of appearance (SEE: HEAD)
2) TFON is changing artillery crews in V4, so there is no point
3) All the examples you provide dont really work for the time-frame im placing the faction and myself in; Renaissance Europe.
4) The textures are seen so rarely that it barely registers as a concern to me, frankly. Right now im working on 3 unit textures which make up litterally the entire roster. Im focusing on making those perfect. *If* I consider doing stuff the crews, it will be after i finish the meat of the faction roster. And even then i probably wont change much because of reasons 1-3.

Sorry, man.

**CommisarCain** · June 19, 2011, 06:04 PM

Well, if TFON is working on them I'm sure they'll be excellent. Right now they're..... blegh. They don't LOOK like artillery men. They just look like the general grabbed some nearby peasents and told them to use the cannons.

Also, I LOVE the fancy pants legions of doom. It suits my mental image of the Reich as the nation which conquers all.

AHAHAHAHAHA! YOU CAN'T STOP ZE FAUST!

**Massive_attack** · June 21, 2011, 10:44 PM

I could have written a mini AAR preview around this. But Im bored, and i havent felt like writing in days, and when i tried to write it, it turned out to be crap. (seriously, do you guys know how hard it is to WRITE in a german accent when all the german your exposed to in your life comes out of crap hollywood movies and stupid nazi-killing videogames ? Well... its hard. Although in retrospect it sounded hilarious when i read it again and realized that the charachters were switching between Pseudo-german/"Hollywood Germglish" and english accents. So you know what ? No background story for you. No, not even a little one. Deal with it.

But yeah, preview images of me and my Faustian friends killing Bons Chevaliers on "that map with the river that i preview everything on" (sorry about doing that by the way, i just love the angles of it and the natural lighting. Its great for taking "birds eye view" screenshots or entire army-shots due to how it slopes nicely.

Heavily featuring the very awesome pike-militia unit that TFON will almost certainly remove from the game, Zweihanders as an in-between armor upgrade for Forlorn hope (another change you will never see in your games ! hahahaha !), and a massive rout by the Bons Chevaliers. Not a big surprise. (insert french joke here

)

Edit: Also, you guys can comment to your hearts content about these. But i retain the right to disregard posts and ideas I dont like. Which are legion, for they are many

Pics: