Looking for a mentor to help me start off with 3D modelling

[Smaug]

Now for few months I've been playing with the idea of starting to contribute for the progress of TATW with more than just giving ideas in the forums. I think my natural inclination would be towards 3D modelling of units. I know there are some good tutorials and even university courses out there in the forums, but I'm here to look for a personal mentor. Anybody who would be willing to help me to start off, answer questions, review my work and give feedback. I'm a fast learner and committed to what I do. During the first month now, I will have slightly less time due to the upcoming university entrance exams, but nevertheless I could work an hour or so per day.

Depending on what's the demand in the modding community I would also be willing to start with something else than 3D modelling.

I would appreciate if someone posted some specific tutorial threads/uni courses that were useful for them when they started modelling.

-Smaug

[koultouras]

GENERAL HELP - TUTORIAL AND GUIDES
http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?t=92488

u most certainly need this as well
1)MTW2: .texture to .dds converter:
or
Texture to DDS Converter:
++++ Pshop CS4 or perhaps newer version
^ for texture editing
2)Mesh 2 ms3d beta 0.18
^ This to extract mesh files into ms3d files (and vice versa)
3)http://chumbalum.swissquake.ch/ms3d/download.html
^this to work on the units in ms3d format
4)Unit Makers Tome of Knowledge:
^and this is one of the best tutorial that covers allmost any aspect of modeling

[SinerAthin]

I have a question(s):

How hard is it to make a single unit, like a normal infantryman of TA quality?

What about a special unit, like a Balrog?

How much time does each of these projects usually consume(pure aesthetically speaking)

[cedric37]

Good luck with this Smaug

[koultouras]

I have a question(s):

How hard is it to make a single unit, like a normal infantryman of TA quality?

What about a special unit, like a Balrog?

How much time does each of these projects usually consume(pure aesthetically speaking)

hmm..... it depends.....
Modeling :
i was slow at the begining but never had
to spend more than 2 days on a unit......usually this was my
maximum
Skinning:
the skins take longer though ....no matter what u do editing or making a new one....

There is not a certain answer on that one i am afraid
frome for example took 4 months of preparation , but there was a very pasty progress

[SinerAthin]

hmm..... it depends.....
Modeling :
i was slow at the begining but never had
to spend more than 2 days on a unit......usually this was my
maximum
Skinning:
the skins take longer though ....no matter what u do editing or making a new one....

There is not a certain answer on that one i am afraid
frome for example took 4 months of preparation , but there was a very pasty progress

Preparation or actual work?

If it was preparation, then what kind of preparation was it that was necessary?

[Louis Lux]

Do you mean hasty? Or pasty as you didn't create a lot of things from scratch?

[koultouras]

LL I speak in general when saying 4 months
for modeling additions /reskinning /coding/editing//scripting/implementing and sometimes creating new
stuff (weapons -helmets and perhaps some skins)in a 4 months timeframe this can be called quite pasty
.....(most of time was placed upon build-up though)

[koultouras]

Both i am afraid
Preparation
1) U need a clear view of what u need to create
2) Assign duties to members (if any)
3) Rosters concept & faction concept

Work
1) Models creation/editing
2) Skins creation/editing
3) Coding /scripting (longest part)
4) general build-up
5) 2d art
6) Test and text writting

[Louis Lux]

past·y
adj.
1. Resembling paste in consistency.
2. Having a pale lifeless appearance

Are you sure you are using that word correctly?

[koultouras]

lol i dunno isnt pasty = quick?
if not then hasty....is my word !

edit : ROFL just goggled that and found that pasty is
that

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

[Louis Lux]

lol i dunno isnt pasty = quick?
if not then hasty....is my word !

edit : ROFL just goggled that and found that pasty is
that

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

See Smaug soon modding will start to affect your brain.

[Wolfsblut]

I was trying this first at mount&blade, then again a year ago with medieval 2, but unfortunatly i am too
much a pc-dumbshit for beeing able to work with anything else than community-tools (mostly m&b).
I wish you best of luck smaug, it will be tons of work but i am sure it will also be tons of fun to create something on yourself.

[Yarrum]

Here are some fantastic texturing tutorials from The Third Age.

Texturing the Golasgil Household Knights
Thick-grain Cloth Tutorial
Scale Mail Tutorial
Leather Skinning Tutorial
Texturing a Gondorian Shield

[Smaug]

Hey, where are not talking about pastes here...

Thanks for the links Koultoras and Yarrum. I will look into them.

[pericles_plato]

Modding sounds like fun. Don't think my computer can handle it. My brother comes on my computer a lot if you can get what i'm saying. He has downloaded some files. With all this on their is it still possible to mod? My brother caused a huge virus just last year. Spent all my money on it to fix it.

Would my computer be able to handle it or is this just another question that's as stupid as putting Texaspeat on hot wings.

[TheArtfulDodger]

http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showt...49#post6980549

[alreadyded]

I would just start with something simple, like modifying existing units or even just making things out of different shapes, before trying anything remotely difficult. It takes awhile to get a good idea of what the software can do, and your first few models probably won't be that good anyway, so don't get ahead of yourself or you will just end up frustrated. You just have to get a feel for it, and look up any questions that you run in to. Also know when to move on from working on a certain area, it doesn't have to be perfect to look good (wabi sabi) and you can always come back to it later when you have had time to learn from your mistakes. If you spend too much time doing the same thing you will get burned out on it for sure.

Just work on one half of the model and then duplicate and mirror. Scaling your model up a lot so that it fills the screen when you are zoomed fully out makes it easier to work on models, especially more detailed models. Then just scale it down when you are done and it looks like it was done by a pro. Slowing down your mouse speed can help in precision work a lot too. Its always good to think before you act too, kind of like measuring twice before you cut wood. It helps you create good thinking habits which will save you a lot of time in the future, which is very valuable.

[Smaug]

I would just start with something simple, like modifying existing units or even just making things out of different shapes, before trying anything remotely difficult. It takes awhile to get a good idea of what the software can do, and your first few models probably won't be that good anyway, so don't get ahead of yourself or you will just end up frustrated. You just have to get a feel for it, and look up any questions that you run in to. Also know when to move on from working on a certain area, it doesn't have to be perfect to look good (wabi sabi) and you can always come back to it later when you have had time to learn from your mistakes. If you spend too much time doing the same thing you will get burned out on it for sure.

Just work on one half of the model and then duplicate and mirror. Scaling your model up a lot so that it fills the screen when you are zoomed fully out makes it easier to work on models, especially more detailed models. Then just scale it down when you are done and it looks like it was done by a pro. Slowing down your mouse speed can help in precision work a lot too. Its always good to think before you act too, kind of like measuring twice before you cut wood. It helps you create good thinking habits which will save you a lot of time in the future, which is very valuable.

Thanks . Already downloaded Alletun's guide and read the part about milkshape. What else besides milkshape do I need in order to start modifying existing units?

[izual]

Now for few months I've been playing with the idea of starting to contribute for the progress of TATW with more than just giving ideas in the forums. I think my natural inclination would be towards 3D modelling of units. I know there are some good tutorials and even university courses out there in the forums, but I'm here to look for a personal mentor. Anybody who would be willing to help me to start off, answer questions, review my work and give feedback. I'm a fast learner and committed to what I do. During the first month now, I will have slightly less time due to the upcoming university entrance exams, but nevertheless I could work an hour or so per day.

Depending on what's the demand in the modding community I would also be willing to start with something else than 3D modelling.

I would appreciate if someone posted some specific tutorial threads/uni courses that were useful for them when they started modelling.

-Smaug

I share your oponion with you. I wanted too to learn how to start with 3D modelling but a never foud any of mentioned programs or tutorials in my native Slovak languaqe coss in english there s so many unique words an formulation for those my english isnt enough
so pls someone of you guys who posted here those links of tutorials did you never see it on web in slovak laguage??
i m begging you...