Thanks Guys!

[Kato]

Looking beautiful Andy!

Oh, and you can't really call Bryce "modeling"...although it does take a certain type of skills to be able to use it, and it definitely prepares you for "real" modeling pretty well

-Kato

[boblishman]

this looks AWESOME Andy ... can't wait to get to run around it. You really ARE an inspiration to us all ...

[D'Lanor]

Oh, and you can't really call Bryce "modeling"...although it does take a certain type of skills to be able to use it, and it definitely prepares you for "real" modeling pretty well

-Kato

Yes, you can call it modeling. IMO that is what modeling should be like. Easy and understandable. Not the rocket scientist interface from Blender.

There is nothing wrong with making a an entire tree or avatar in one double-click. We shouldn't have to deal with the underlying principles anymore than we need to know what Word does to make a character bold.

Making fun of programs like Bryce or Poser indicates that you do not understand the philosophy of their creator, the now forgotten genius of the nineties Kai Krause.

And although these programs often make use of pre-made models you can make your own models with them.

[andylegate]

Oh hey! I forgot to mention this!

D'Lanor's and Kato's banter about Bryce made me remember this.

I'd like everyone out there, especially those that are struggling with Age creation as far as trying to make good models, to know that, if you import any of my Ages I make with Blender, PLEASE, PLEASE feel free to use any of the models! Textures are another mater. You can use them if you can extract them, but don't expect me to post the 1.4 GB worth that I have sitting on my computer

Anyway, the reason that I don't mind you using any meshes that I make or that are in my Ages is simple: it promotes learning.

When you were a kid, and you had your box of Legos, sure you had to build stuff from scratch. But you also had Legos that were already shaped for you. You didn't have to go out and make a mold, and pour molten plastic into that mold to make the Legos. Instead, you were able to just grab the shapes you needed and put them together in something you wanted to make.

Same goes for driving. A lot of people have a very hard time learning how to drive a car with a stick shift. Mainly because using a clutch and stick takes some concentration to learn how to do. But you're also having to learn how do everything else. Learning to drive with an automatic transmission is much easier. then once you get the hang of driving, rules of the road, etc. You can go back and learn how to use a stick shift, as you're already at ease with driving period.

My meshes for those tunnels you see took some time to get them like they are. But there is only a few! Many are duplicated, mirrored, or rotated around and "clicked" together to give the illusion that there are much more meshes than there actually is. I made:
A straight tunnel.
A ramp down tunnel.
A tunnel that turns.
One corner for the lava chasm.
One enterance for the lava chasm
One half of a stone bridge.
One wall for the lava chasm.

That's it. So with 7 meshes, I was able to make a long tunnel and the lava chamber you see. Making that was a snap as all I had to do was import my mesh, and tailor it to what I needed. What took long was making each mesh (took me about 3 days of steady work, all day each day).

So while some people here may look down their noses at using "Pre-Fabs" (meshes that are pre-made that you just load up, scale, move around and put where you need it), please don't let that stop you from using any of mine. If it helps you learn how to set things up right to Age creation, or helps you learn how to get things positioned right, textured, etc, etc. Please by all means use them.
Once you get more at ease with moving things around in Blender, texturing, etc, etc. Then maybe go back and make your very own models. Many times even using my meshes you'll want to or will have to make some meshes yourself from scratch, but it can help you get going, or at least look at how I did something (which by the way. How I did something may not be the right way for you. Everyone has a different method of building something).

So again, please feel free to use any of my Meshes.

[greendragoon]

Back in college, I use to be one of those purist that believed that you had to model everything yourself. That was an okay philosophy to have in college because it was about improving your skill. Now that I've been out in the real world for a while, I've found that it's not about the ego of modeling it yourself, it's about producing something good work in an efficient manner.

One word of caution, not necessarily to you vets, but to some of the newer writers, when you do use prefab objects be careful that they are not easily recognizable. Some things on the internet become so common place that almost anyone will recognize it. That's why you shouldn't use the Comic Sans font on a webpage. Everyone and their uncle will recognize it as the Microsoft font that it is. Luckily, 3D objects can be redressed, and as long as it is well integrated into your scene, it can save you a lot of time and energy.

[Nek'rahm]

Pretty Lava

Any way to "not" panic relto and just burn to a crisp? XD

[greendragoon]

Oh, that's the maleWritheInPain animation.

[Nek'rahm]

*heheheh*

[andylegate]

Pretty Lava

Any way to "not" panic relto and just burn to a crisp? XD

hehehehe

You know....I did play with the idea of putting up stanchons and chains to keep people from falling over the edge.....but there's another thing about Age creations that I have learned. Certain Maintainers (coughDotcough, coughAmetistcough) will ALWAYS find a way to jump under, over, onto, through......you name it, to areas where they are not suppose to be!

So I said the heck with it and put in a panic link region.

What I SHOULD do, is make the avie dissapear under the lava with one of those exploding pellet animations and some scripting that pops up a black screen with the burning words "LAVA = HOT, TOO HOT" and then it exits the game........with the save file erased....

More than likely do'able, but I'm not that mean......mostly......sometimes anyway......not that mean or cruel...........Hmmmm, but that DOES give me another idea.....

[Nynaveve]

hehehehe

You know....I did play with the idea of putting up stanchons and chains to keep people from falling over the edge.....but there's another thing about Age creations that I have learned. Certain Maintainers (coughDotcough, coughAmetistcough) will ALWAYS find a way to jump under, over, onto, through......you name it, to areas where they are not suppose to be!

So I said the heck with it and put in a panic link region.

What I SHOULD do, is make the avie dissapear under the lava with one of those exploding pellet animations and some scripting that pops up a black screen with the burning words "LAVA = HOT, TOO HOT" and then it exits the game........with the save file erased....

More than likely do'able, but I'm not that mean......mostly......sometimes anyway......not that mean or cruel...........Hmmmm, but that DOES give me another idea.....

ROFL! Oh, you have to do something evil like that Andy! That's too perfect! I love it! HAHAH! What a way to add some humor into the Age.