Is there room for a sand monster in PlaneShift?

[Rabalder]

I got this idea when I was on my way to the Fire Camp in Eagle Bronze Doors.  ..there is some great sandy areas there, and I was thinking; ..What if some kind of subterranean sand-monster, suddenly popped up in this peaceful landscape and attacked me?  ..would i jump in my chair?
I really love to get scared now and then, so that would absolutely be a cool twist in the game for me.

In between server restarts I have made some sketches and, and have started making a 3D model.

I want to make a creature that has Mantis-arms, (Like; 1, 2, 3. Not my pictures, just found them trough a picture search).  ...which I have pretty much finished already.

I have not added or made any texture yet, so the pictures isn't exactly great. (Here is a small collection of some 3D models I have made, just to make a small picture of my experience and what I'm capable of).

Before I do anything further, I would like to her the opinion of some of the developers behind the game.
Could a submerged sand creature be interesting to have in PlaneShift?

[pKrime]

Such a monster would be great!

To tell the truth, monsters in Planeshift are currently not that fun: you know where they are and how much they're strong, you stay there camping just to get experience... they're more like the money  chairs in secondlife than a menace. But this would be different: you're happily  going to Bronze Doors when suddenly this crappy mantis comes out of the sand and starts hitting and cutting and slaughtering, and more and more  ...  ah ah ah... I want it!

[Jeraphon]

I must admit, it's an interesting idea - making just an arm that leaves the rest of the monster to the imagination.

[rast]

Yeah, seems like a pretty awesome idea

[Entevir]

Maybe the monster shouldnt even bother to come out fully.Just hit you as you pass it with its arm and then go back underground.That would be a cool twist to something like those worm monsters in dune.

[Karyuu]

I'd love to see what you come up with. I presume you're going to be making it low-poly so there's a chance for it to be used in the game, right? ;) If that's the case, aim for no more than 1500 triangles (tris, not quads).

I'll be watching this thread closely :)

[Rabalder]

Wow.. No reply, and suddenly "kapow!" .. He, he.. That's fun.

About it.
I just finished the head.. No details yet.. So yes the plan for it is to have a full body.

This is what it looks like in front, when it's fully submerged in the sand:

The tales says: "..at the top of it's head it has antennas that locks like a small flower decoration, this is it's bait.
Most mammals is attracted to it some how. This "flower" is also seen to be the greatest wedding gift from a hero to his wife to come."

More about it later...

I'm not an expert in texturing and animating the character, and I'm not using a common 3D program, so I would like to know if someone could be interested in helping me with that part later.

I'm trying to make as low-poly count as possible, and try to count them later.

*edit*

Started making the back part of the body.
Only finished the shells protecting the back, the shovel-tale and the legs:


"..The creature digs it self backward into the sand, by digging with the shovel-shaped tale rapidly as it simultaneously uses its small legs to push the sand forward.
The creature likes to make a hole that it uses over and over, but can also dig it selves down very fast in sand even if it doesn't have a preprepared hole.
The plating on its back is a pretty powerful protection against attacks."


Mesh:

As you van se from the mesh, keeping a low poly-count is going to be a problem to solve later. ..another problem with as low poly-count as possible, things start looking very mechanical.
That's something we have to try to solve with a good texture later.

[ No double-posting please. --Kary ]

[Karyuu]

A good texture will help a low-poly mesh, but it doesn't always save it. You can't leave everything to the 2D artist. Also, if you can apply smoothing to your faces, definitely do so. It will prevent them from looking so polygonal and broken up.

Which 3D application are you using?

[Rabalder]

A good texture will help a low-poly mesh, but it doesn't always save it. You can't leave everything to the 2D artist. Also, if you can apply smoothing to your faces, definitely do so. It will prevent them from looking so polygonal and broken up.

Which 3D application are you using?

I'm as always using eovia Amapi 3D, v6.2 (Last version before someone else bought it, and totally destroyed it).
I have tried out 10-15 different 3D software, but I allways end up with Amapi when I need good results fast. I want to learn to use blender, but it's not fast enough for me. ..probably just because I'm not used to it. ..

I shut off smoothing all the time, because its not giving a realistic in-game preview of the objects. Does the CS-3D engine have a smoothing thing? ..Hm?

I do 2d too. But i would prefer some help with the texturing, and animating the creature, even thou I have a pretty clear picture of how I want every detail to be.

- What do you think about the flower idea?  .. I got that idea from the angler-fish.

Thanks for feedback. 

[Karyuu]

You need to smooth your meshes before they are exported to CS. CS doesn't do automatic smoothing

[Rabalder]

You need to smooth your meshes before they are exported to CS. CS doesn't do automatic smoothing

Good to know. It sound more logical too.

As i filled up the gaps between the protective shells on the back, I'm starting to realize the fact that I already got about 2 times the meshes needed, if I get a good texture.

(If somebody believe they could do this faster, then i have to tell you that I'm only 3D-modeling now and then, as the PlaneShift server restarts. )

[Dahoma]

I really enjoy this idea actually...I mean how often do you get the crap scared out of you by a monster in most games? I mean, unless, of course you're talking about Quake. 

What's the story of this creature? What's it's name?

[Irick]

i love it, and look forward it being used in game, and subsequently used by GMs for april fools day pranks. ^^ keep up the good work

[Sahra]

I concure with Irick! It would be cool like the Loch Ness monster sightings: not everybody would see it and others would think it's only a rumor. Heh. We could name it too. XD

 PS (Trust me when I say this) If Irick okays it there's a good chance the ideas' gonna be a surewin. ^^

[Rabalder]

Sorry for the slowness.
I have some RL issues, that's maybe going to take some time.
The house I live in is going to be sold, so I'm packing my stuff lately.. Maybe In a month or so, I'm going to be in a new house, and hopefully I'm back on line with a new Internet connection.
When it comes to my artistic inspiration and continuance, I have actually for some time been working on ideas of my own MMORPG. This was the main reason I discovered PlaneShift in the first place, as I was interested in seeing the Crystal Space 3D-engine in action and other MMORPGs in general.
So let's hope I have the inspiration to finish the monster when i come back.
(If someone is interested in continuing the work on the sand monster right now, we can probably come to some sort of agreement. )

Later folks.