|
|
Band3d
About Truespace Archives
These pages are a copy of the official truespace forums prior to their removal somewhere around 2011.
They are retained here for archive purposes only.
Band3d // Work in Progress
Post by B_Soldier // Dec 4, 2007, 2:29pm
|
B_Soldier
Total Posts: 58
|
Band3d is a comic created between my brother (http://dantheartist.deviantart.com/) and I.
http://img523.imageshack.us/img523/7324/img138or6.th.jpg (http://img523.imageshack.us/my.php?image=img138or6.jpg)
The main characters from the left (Nicknames only):
- Clockstop
- 2 Tone
- K
- TEK
- G Fawkes
- Rage
There are more but they haven't been drawn yet. For the purposes of simplicity, I'll focus on the main characters. There are 3 model types I'll attempt to make of these characters (all the while keeping each character's uniqueness intact):
- Normal civilian
- School uniform
- B Soldier uniform
Once they're set, I'll use them for an online strip when my brother can't and animations (focus on the later though). /Introduction. Side note: made in TS 5.1.
After a week of work (from 28 April to 06 May 07)I can finally show my first ever character. This is the B Soldier. It's actually a base model for my my brother's (http://dantheartist.deviantart.com/) artwork for the special forces soldier division. After rigging and skinning, I'll adjust the model for the characters K and Clockstop. I think I'll also use it as a base for some other generic characters.
http://img514.imageshack.us/img514/3892/bsoldiervy2.th.jpg (http://img514.imageshack.us/my.php?image=bsoldiervy2.jpg) |
Post by B_Soldier // Dec 4, 2007, 2:32pm
|
B_Soldier
Total Posts: 58
|
After a looonnng while I still couldn't work out the rigging so I moved on to weapons and equipment of the main characters.
Clockstop's Sword: Timepiece
http://img516.imageshack.us/img516/4121/Clockstop__s_Sword__Timepiece_by_Terrarist.th.jpg (http://img516.imageshack.us/my.php?image=Clockstop__s_Sword__Timepiece_by_Terr arist.jpg)
This is Clockstop's sword the Timepiece. The reason the hilt is out on it's own is that the sword is usually stored in that manner. The blade is "released" by Clockstop's will and due to the fact that it's made of nanomachines it self cleans. If you can find it, the little symbol is Chinese and it means "Pointed blade". I'll save the rest for when the videos or story come out ;). For now take it as it is.
K's N-Blades
http://img516.imageshack.us/img516/9873/K__s_N_Blades_2_by_Terrarist.th.jpg (http://img516.imageshack.us/my.php?image=K__s_N_Blades_2_by_Terrarist.jpg)http ://img516.imageshack.us/img516/4816/K__s_N_Blades_by_Terrarist.th.jpg (http://img516.imageshack.us/my.php?image=K__s_N_Blades_by_Terrarist.jpg)
The N-Blades are K's weapon of choice. Twin nanomachine blades that can be called out at will only by K, and as an extra feature, they can be joined into a blade staff B) kekekekekeke! The Chinese symbol on the minimized form (which is used when the blade is stowed) means "Blade".
- Rage's Heckler and Koch - 512
http://img516.imageshack.us/img516/4973/Rage__s_HK_512_by_Terrarist.th.jpg (http://img516.imageshack.us/my.php?image=Rage__s_HK_512_by_Terrarist.jpg)
This rifle is Rage's main weapon. Single shot, and triple shot. With the Shrike modification it becomes a fully automatic machinegun. The weapon is specially set for Rage's nano implants, thus allowing him special abilities like extended sight when zooming and remote control among others. Mainly based on the HK 416. Only extra object is the Holographic Tactical sight. Fully working charging handle, firing pin and bullet ejection slide.
- Rage's Remington 870
http://img516.imageshack.us/img516/6964/Rage__s_Remington_870_by_Terrarist.th.jpg (http://img516.imageshack.us/my.php?image=Rage__s_Remington_870_by_Terrarist.jp g)
This shotgun is Rage's backup weapon. Holographic Tactical sight and Automatic shell downloader (for the download of shotgun shells from digital storage directly into the weapon) are the only extra devices on it. Fully working pump and shell ejection slide. The weapon is also set for Rage's nano implants not dissimilar to the HK-512.
- Rage's Walther APW (Advanced Personal Weapon)
http://img516.imageshack.us/img516/4735/Rage__s_Walther_APW1_by_Terrarist.th.jpg (http://img516.imageshack.us/my.php?image=Rage__s_Walther_APW1_by_Terrarist.jpg )http://img516.imageshack.us/img516/6371/Rage__s_Walther_APW2_by_Terrarist.th.jpg (http://img516.imageshack.us/my.php?image=Rage__s_Walther_APW2_by_Terrarist.jpg )
The Walther Advanced Personal Weapon is Rage's pistol of choice. It's actually a concept pistol designed to have only two sets of moving parts. The trigger and the firing pin. Everything else is controlled by touch. The touchpads were especially engineered not to accidentally pressed when the pistol was being held. Rage's nanomachines took it a step further and authorized movements when he will so.
I forget what sight type it uses, so when I remember and find it, i'll post.
G-Fawkes M-256 Munitions System
This was a big headache from conception through to finishing. But, it's finished and I'm happy with it.
http://img526.imageshack.us/img526/5791/m256munitionssystemnh8.th.jpg (http://img526.imageshack.us/my.php?image=m256munitionssystemnh8.jpg)
First conceived as a step forward for man-portable Light Anti Vehicle and Indirect fire weaponry, the M-256 was officially scrapped due to inability to contain the charged plasma shot into a cartridge and the inability to carry more than 1 shell for firing. The nano machines and they potential they contain allow G Fawkes to over come these problems and even project the M-256 to levels beyond it's design.
The handles are detachable. There's no sight since G Fawkes uses his nano machines to interface with the device.
Animation of it in action:
- M-256 Munitions System test (Youtube) 320x240 (http://www.youtube.com/v/LsiCJbEtNww)
- M-256 Munitions System test (Photobucket) 640x480 (http://s95.photobucket.com/albums/l158/Terraris7/?action=view¤t=Open.flv) |
Post by B_Soldier // Dec 4, 2007, 2:34pm
|
B_Soldier
Total Posts: 58
|
To wet appetites before the meal, images of the WIPs of the characters:
Subject BII - 1
http://img206.imageshack.us/img206/5377/bii1wipcl4.th.jpg (http://img206.imageshack.us/my.php?image=bii1wipcl4.jpg)
Subject BII - 3 mk1
http://img217.imageshack.us/img217/4305/bii3wip1jf5.th.jpg (http://img217.imageshack.us/my.php?image=bii3wip1jf5.jpg)
Subject BII - 3 mk2
http://img524.imageshack.us/img524/8871/bii3wip2lr9.th.jpg (http://img524.imageshack.us/my.php?image=bii3wip2lr9.jpg)
Subject BIII - 1 mk1
http://img518.imageshack.us/img518/867/biii1wip1sh3.th.jpg (http://img518.imageshack.us/my.php?image=biii1wip1sh3.jpg)
Subject BIII - 1 mk2
http://img216.imageshack.us/img216/2374/biii1wip2az9.th.jpg (http://img216.imageshack.us/my.php?image=biii1wip2az9.jpg)
Subject BIII - 3
http://img146.imageshack.us/img146/8748/biii3wipjg2.th.jpg (http://img146.imageshack.us/my.php?image=biii3wipjg2.jpg)
Finally, the special forces tab they'll all have. I initially wanted to use the American special forces tab but decided against it, since, the Band3d characters aren't part of the US military. So I created my own based on my countrys coat of arms:
http://img216.imageshack.us/img216/7238/specialforcesqz0.th.png (http://img216.imageshack.us/my.php?image=specialforcesqz0.png)
Symbology
The Black Falcons - Swift, efficient, effective.
White Triangle - Triangle's technically the strongest geometric shape. White's to represent total superiority in air, land and sea. 3's a prime number, etc
Gold and Blue Banner - Gold for excellence, blue for peace.
Blue outline - Surrounded by peace.
As a bonus, to motivate me, my bro drew a portrait of Team 3. Enjoy it raw. From the left: G Fawkes, Clockstop and Two-Tone.
http://img230.imageshack.us/img230/8471/teamiiija1.th.jpg (http://img230.imageshack.us/my.php?image=teamiiija1.jpg) |
Post by B_Soldier // Dec 4, 2007, 2:34pm
|
B_Soldier
Total Posts: 58
|
Without too much fanfare, the main Band3d characters.
Team 2
1. Killés Mason AKA "K"
- Leader of Team 2.
- Born 6th March
- Height: 6ft1
- Uses twin 45.5cm nano knives. The twin knives can also be joined to form a double headed blade staff. Pictured above.
- Uses super speed, but in short range bursts.
- Aside the knives he carries in his hands, he can summon blades without handles for throwing and in rare cases, climbing and descent along a line. This is due to the nano machines creating the blades and creating a link for the rope.
- He normally appears calm and in control but that denies the reality which comes out alot anyway (good place to look for this is when he meets his future girl).
http://img207.imageshack.us/img207/4254/bii101dd1.th.jpg (http://img207.imageshack.us/my.php?image=bii101dd1.jpg)http://img530.imageshack.us/img530/2817/band3dii1ktq5.th.jpg (http://img530.imageshack.us/my.php?image=band3dii1ktq5.jpg)http://img503.imageshack.us/img503/8624/kaspectzb5.th.jpg (http://img503.imageshack.us/my.php?image=kaspectzb5.jpg)
2. Terry Philip AKA T.E.K
- Technical expert for Team 2.
- Born 29th September
- Height 6ft
- Uses digital gloves work in conjunction with the nano machines to create portal gates wherever he chooses. This also allows him to digitally store what ever he wants and duplicate it at will, grants him instant fast access to information and grants fast movement of men and materials.
- By extension the portal ability grants him the ability to summon massive amounts of firepower usually reserved for armies.
- Hand to hand fighter using Jeet Kun Do and Tae Kwon Do, however, he also relies heavily on grapples and holds much like a wrestler.
- Like his gloves he never takes his glasses off (actually when the he's EXTREMELY pissed, the glasses go off, and he's deathly calm).
- Loves the ladies and is quite comfortable around them (not always the same for them though).
- "Nut job" of the group.
http://img72.imageshack.us/img72/9619/bii201yj4.th.jpg (http://img72.imageshack.us/my.php?image=bii201yj4.jpg)http://img254.imageshack.us/img254/5752/band3dii2tekah8.th.jpg (http://img254.imageshack.us/my.php?image=band3dii2tekah8.jpg)http://img502.imageshack.us/img502/9872/tekaspectls2.th.jpg (http://img502.imageshack.us/my.php?image=tekaspectls2.jpg)
3. Raymond Avon AKA Rage
- Regular weapons base for Team 2.
- Born
- Height 6ft4
- Proficient in most rifles, submachine guns and pistols, though he prefers the HK-512, Remington 870 and Walther APW.
- Only grenades he uses are for distractions and cover.
- Prone to fights, no, sorry BRAWLS.
- Rabid Manchester United Fan.
http://img503.imageshack.us/img503/7559/bii301jv9.th.jpg (http://img503.imageshack.us/my.php?image=bii301jv9.jpg)http://img520.imageshack.us/img520/524/band3dii3ragevm3.th.jpg (http://img520.imageshack.us/my.php?image=band3dii3ragevm3.jpg)http://img526.imageshack.us/img526/7888/rageaspectjr4.th.jpg (http://img526.imageshack.us/my.php?image=rageaspectjr4.jpg) |
Post by B_Soldier // Dec 4, 2007, 2:35pm
|
B_Soldier
Total Posts: 58
|
Team 3
1. Carn Age AKA Clockstop
- Leader of Team 3
- Born
- Height 6ft2
- Uses a nano blade broadsword.
- Can summon blades in a manner similar to K and if necessary can detach his hilt and reattach it to another, or create another on the spot.
- No nonsense, straight forward.
- Combat thirsty; once he's provoked, he won't stop.
http://img530.imageshack.us/img530/7306/biii101au1.th.jpg (http://img530.imageshack.us/my.php?image=biii101au1.jpg)http://img526.imageshack.us/img526/9035/band3diii1clockstopuw4.th.jpg (http://img526.imageshack.us/my.php?image=band3diii1clockstopuw4.jpg)http://img296.imageshack.us/img296/2323/clockstopaspectvx3.th.jpg (http://img296.imageshack.us/my.php?image=clockstopaspectvx3.jpg)
2. Mike Uziel AKA 2 Tone
- Intelligence specialist for Team 3
- Born
- Height 6ft1
- Alongside standard nano implants given to all Band3d team members, 2 Tone has a black ring looping from behind one ear to the next. In combination with his eyes, this enables him to have a 360 degree view with zoom abilities to boot.
- Hand to hand combat specialist. Uses a combination of Jeet Kun Do and modified Jyuuken.
- Nano enhancements have given him incredible speed making him the fastest of all the Band3d members.
- Due to this speed, his attacks force multiply. He's also rumored to be able to stand/move on air as a result of this speed.
http://img186.imageshack.us/img186/2346/biii201nr1.th.jpg (http://img186.imageshack.us/my.php?image=biii201nr1.jpg)http://img512.imageshack.us/img512/5677/band3diii22tonelm6.th.jpg (http://img512.imageshack.us/my.php?image=band3diii22tonelm6.jpg)http://img405.imageshack.us/img405/816/2toneaspectlg5.th.jpg (http://img405.imageshack.us/my.php?image=2toneaspectlg5.jpg)
3. Peter Capp AKA G Fawkes
- Demolitions expert for Team 3
- Born
- Height 6ft3
- Carries a capped tube that carries his stuff.
- The tube can be opened up to become the M-256 Munitions System.
- Chemistry and physics expert.
- Uses his nano machines to control and deploy his explosives in whatever manner he chooses. Thus for him the choice between lethal and non-lethal is made right up to the point of detonation.
- Rabid Liverpool fan.
- Moped user.
http://img254.imageshack.us/img254/1963/biii301ki5.th.jpg (http://img254.imageshack.us/my.php?image=biii301ki5.jpg)http://img442.imageshack.us/img442/3055/band3diii3gfawkesyx3.th.jpg (http://img442.imageshack.us/my.php?image=band3diii3gfawkesyx3.jpg)http://img339.imageshack.us/img339/5056/gfawkesaspectcm0.th.jpg (http://img339.imageshack.us/my.php?image=gfawkesaspectcm0.jpg) |
Post by B_Soldier // Dec 4, 2007, 2:45pm
|
B_Soldier
Total Posts: 58
|
Couple of notes:
- Band3d has been a WIP since mid December 2006. I go and come back to it, but I still love it.
- Current main problem is animating the characters. The whole project is one of several self training sessions and one of my main peeves is creating and animating characters.
What I'm looking to do with these is find an easy character rigging system that controls the rigged character like how Poser does it.
- Motionstudio's close but I can't export or import skeletons or animations of my/other's movements.
- Motionbuilder's not easily compatible with TS 5.1
- Don't even know about endorphin.
- Currently I'm teaching myself motionstudio with Frank's help, but the fact that I can't share skeletons or movements easily (with say someone using maya) worries me constantly.
- About 75% of my personal projects are hinged on animating characters. I've cracked modeling and texturing them, thanx to the Band3d experience.
- So the long and short of it is, this is a call for help. |
Post by TomG // Dec 5, 2007, 2:31am
|
TomG
Total Posts: 3397
|
If you are using tS5, then one answer for the rigging is to move to tS7.5. The character animation is COMPLETELY overhauled and is a million times better in tS7.5, much easier to set up and use.
You won't find poser like sliders (unless you want to create them for your characters, which would likely be possible given how tS has a customisable interface). You will however find IK handles and locks that go beyond what you can do in Poser - rather than just forward kinematics to adjust using a slider, you can use a handle with a combination of locks so that you can have not just a "move the index finger" handle, but a "crouch the character" handle (which is a combination of various body parts moving).
While I am a 3D artist, I have never been good at character animation - until tS7, that lets even me easily rig a character, and easily pose and animate it, getting exactly the movements and results I visualise in my head. I always say that if even I can do it, it must be good :)
General feedback from folks has been that tS7.5 is even easier and more powerful / flexible than Motion Studio.
Thanks to the way the tools work in tS, you can easily move skeletons and even limbs from one character to another (or one skeleton to another).
On the subject of moving skeletons from one 3D application to another, this is generally not possible anyway, or very limited if you can. Skeletons are usually the most unique when it comes to 3D data, and handled differently in each application - while representing a point in 3D space is such a basic piece of data that however you represent it, it's easy to convert it to another representation (that is, it's easy to move geometry between packages), how skeletons are handled, how their movements are solved, how the set up locks or constraints, how they affect the vertices of a model, etc, is way more complex with a lot of different ways of approaching it and representing it, meaning it would be very painful and difficult to write a convertor (and so no-one does).
So I wouldn't worry too much about that. While people usually move models between one app and another, moving skeletons is not that common - you'd usually create the skeleton in one app and use that, and then at best you'd export some non-skeleton version of the animation to another package if required (usually though that doesnt happen, the character animation would be done in the final package, and be sent to the renderer from there, as far as I am aware).
It is growing more possible to do so with new formats such as COLLADA, which tS can currently import, giving a "third party" format to read and write to (thus eliminating the fact that skeletons are always changing when the application goes up a version in Maya, or Max, etc, which makes it a moving target!). We'll be continuing to look at formats in tS over time of course, COLLADA import is not the end of our work on that front (but again, that sort of work is only going to be happening in tS7).
HTH!
Tom
EDIT - as a PS if you are making a comic, then you'd find instant renders from the real-time engine potentially useful in tS7.5 too, and very fast animation rendering using it, which could be ideal for a comic strip graphics or comic look animations. |
Post by 3dfrog // Dec 5, 2007, 4:25am
|
3dfrog
Total Posts: 1225
|
This project is looking very cool. Looking forward to seeing where it goes. I agree with Tom that 7.5 bones are extremely easy to use. I really love them and I have rigged in other apps, 7.5 bones are probably the easiest to set up. They are still new and there are a few bugs to be worked out but there are workarounds for most of them. I recommend looking into it though. |
Post by Jack Edwards // Dec 5, 2007, 10:29am
|
Jack Edwards
Total Posts: 4062
|
Tom, are you sure? I thought Collada *import* wasn't implemented in 7.51... :confused: |
Post by jamesmc // Dec 5, 2007, 11:22am
|
jamesmc
Total Posts: 2566
|
I just tried Collada import. It doesn't work from AutoDesk converter (collada) or from an application that exports collada.
I can't get it to work.
Nice project by the way. Wish I had your organizational skills setting everything up like you did.
Can't wait to see the progression. :) |
Post by B_Soldier // Dec 5, 2007, 11:39pm
|
B_Soldier
Total Posts: 58
|
Thanx for the positive feedback. It's reinforcing (is that a good word? YEa!)
So basically the long and short of it is if I want to do all the stuff I mentioned before then my best bet is to go 7.5? Well that won't happen till I win myself a copy, so with 5.2 what's my best way to animate these bad boys? Back to motionstudio? Or should I give Puppeteer-tSX a shot? |
Post by 3dfrog // Dec 6, 2007, 2:39am
|
3dfrog
Total Posts: 1225
|
I never tried puppeteer but used to use motion studio a long time ago and it worked out very well. I really like motion studio, and it's free now. |
Post by TomG // Dec 6, 2007, 5:56am
|
TomG
Total Posts: 3397
|
Yes, I should have said COLLADA export is not the end of our work :)
And without moving to tS7.5, Motion Studio would be the second choice, esp given it is free so doesnt take away from saving up for the prime choice to solve your issues, tS7.5 ;)
HTH!
Tom |
|
