Sexy . If you're still up for trading terrain for a model, I'm up to doing it.

Eh sure. I wouldn't mind another trade. However, the game rules are changed.
I want to see terrain done first, not the other way around as it has been like before. XD

Alright mate, what do you need? PM me with the specifics and the constraints - e.g. can I import models, if I can, what is the max size which I can occupy with them.

huh? cool.. lemme check it

EDIT: so.. there's a funky issue when you view the helmet from backwards, it turns dark. also helmet and chest plate are a little bit indistinguishable from the sandy body.. so, maybe you should make the armor pieces not have the flowing animation at all. also for the same reason maybe the body could use a different sandy texture. now the particles are really spammy and i'm sure they can be done just as great with the particle count being under or at 100. color of the particles doesn't match well either.. but i just love the arm bracers and their TC

so.. there's my review

Looks awesome, although I would have liked it better would the upper part of the arms be a little larger.

Cool!!

Misha said:

huh? cool.. lemme check it

EDIT: so.. there's a funky issue when you view the helmet from backwards, it turns dark. also helmet and chest plate are a little bit indistinguishable from the sandy body.. so, maybe you should make the armor pieces not have the flowing animation at all. also for the same reason maybe the body could use a different sandy texture. now the particles are really spammy and i'm sure they can be done just as great with the particle count being under or at 100. color of the particles doesn't match well either.. but i just love the arm bracers and their TC

so.. there's my review

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Fixed the helmet. The chest plate and armor in general is intended to be almost indistinguishable though. As it is a sand elememental, it's armor is sand stone, crafted from the sand elemental itself. ;P
A lot of inspiration was from the genie guy from Aladdin and from the earth and storm elemental from Heroes 3. ;P

Looking pretty cool, although can you add some mesh (I think is the right word) to the bottom of the model.
When it goes higher then the terrain the bottom is shard. It's ugly :\

This is one lovely pile of sand. Good job.

MiniMage said:

Fixed the helmet. The chest plate and armor in general is intended to be almost indistinguishable though. As it is a sand elememental, it's armor is sand stone, crafted from the sand elemental itself. ;P
A lot of inspiration was from the genie guy from Aladdin and from the earth and storm elemental from Heroes 3. ;P

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so.. what about the non-moving texture on the armorz? and particles?

EDIT: add a death sound to him?

Hmm.. what death sound do you give to a sand being though?

MiniMage said:

Hmm.. what death sound do you give to a sand being though?

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hmm.. tough question.. rock golem death sound is kinda okay-ish? but the rock golem 'pissed' sounds are totally what this elemental needs for a death sound..

would be even possible to use 'pissed' sounds? Oo

Went with the obsidian avenger death sound. Btw, there really isn't that much particles used for this model. I am just using a event spawn object and referencing the impale dust. ;P

the perfect blend of creepy and awesome 5/5

good thinking

Looks like a sandy alien!
5/5

Hmm, the spell slam is still showing of a sand cone. Hmm. Need to tweak that asap.
Oh well, will do that tomorrow, hopefully.

This is really cool, but you should slow the texture animation down a bit. Right now it's too fast and just makes it look shiny instead of sandy.

Still, I love it, and the file size is great considering how well it's turned out. It's still good enough for a 5/5 from me.

this is pretty unique

and execution turned out pretty good, except some anim flaws here and there.

Misha said:

would be even possible to use 'pissed' sounds? Oo

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only via triggers.

i myself got 'pissed' at this several times. blizzard didnt think we, modders/modellers, could've wanted to use all sounds available in the mpq in our models.. instead they made a sound database system that doesn't do much, except restricting sound choices.

Once again, a great Elemental enters the fray! I rather like this one, and what I like most of all is that it's unique; no other (good) Sand Elementals like this. Where's the love, guys?

I like the interesting bracers you chose, as well as the cool sandy-helmet & armor and such. The moving texture you got is pretty nifty... But like TLI-Inferno, I rather believe it moves a bit too fast for sand, really; sand to me might be blown quickly (i.e. desert dunes in the wind), but it would sift and sieve rather subtly, IMO. Something to think about.

Also, while this would make a great summon or unit for a race, I have a hard time seeing it as a Hero. Would it be possible to have an alternate version with no Hero Glow? Thing is (especially after hosting the "Hero" Modelling Contest) I've come to realize that a hero really needs something to make them feel "Heroic" as well as "personal"; a face is usually a prerequisite. Take a look at the Firelord or Jigrael's "Tidal Lord". Not only a face, but a personality and armor-&-nurnies that are different colors (i.e. not just all fire/water/sand). Something to consider.

The only other thing I could think of would be some kind of eyes... But that might just be me. I guess the Water Elemental (summon) doesn't have eyes.

Overall, really cool and quite interesting! Keep it up.

MiniMage said:

Eh sure. I wouldn't mind another trade. However, the game rules are changed.
I want to see terrain done first, not the other way around as it has been like before. XD

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O Really? Hmm... I have seen that this might have been fulfilled already, but if you're still looking for a bit of terrain here or there, I wouldn't mind taking a whack at it if thats the prize...

Kyrbi0 said:

The moving texture you got is pretty nifty... But like TLI-Inferno, I rather believe it moves a bit too fast for sand, really; sand to me might be blown quickly (i.e. desert dunes in the wind), but it would sift and sieve rather subtly, IMO. Something to think about.

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Eh, I guess. My idea was for the sand to quickly flow up and around, forming the sandstone armor and keeping its form intact. The clash with the sandstone handprotectors causing sand at that speed to fly out and rain down below.

Kyrbi0 said:

Also, while this would make a great summon or unit for a race, I have a hard time seeing it as a Hero.

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I originally created the model as a unit. I was told to create a "Cool sand elemental". So having been heavily inspired by Heroes 3 and Alladin, you know the blue guy who does a lot of funny impressions? I came across the idea when searching for arabian culture sand elementals. Because we seriously have little to no sand up here and as such an elemental influenced by western traditions is boring.

Kyrbi0 said:

The only other thing I could think of would be some kind of eyes... But that might just be me. I guess the Water Elemental (summon) doesn't have eyes.

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Yeah, not really. A send elemental with eyes is just.. I donno, It's a magical creature, so why should it need eyes. Technically it would be cooler if it sensed vibrations and pressure in the sand rather than seeing its enemies. Something akin to magical sonar across sand connected to itself. This however is impossible to demonstrate with WC3, I think?

Kyrbi0 said:

O Really? Hmm... I have seen that this might have been fulfilled already, but if you're still looking for a bit of terrain here or there, I wouldn't mind taking a whack at it if thats the prize...

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If you have the skill, I don't really mind. ;P

MiniMage said:

Eh, I guess. My idea was for the sand to quickly flow up and around, forming the sandstone armor and keeping its form intact. The clash with the sandstone handprotectors causing sand at that speed to fly out and rain down below.

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Yeah, I wrote this up when I didn't even have access to the War3Viewer. I do like your sandy SFX.

MiniMage said:

I was told to create a "Cool sand elemental". So having been heavily inspired by Heroes 3 and Alladin, you know the blue guy who does a lot of funny impressions? I came across the idea when searching for arabian culture sand elementals. Because we seriously have little to no sand up here and as such an elemental influenced by western traditions is boring.

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You mean the Genie (from Aladdin)? Yeah, he's pretty good (voiced by comedian and actor Robin Williams). I can't remember where there was a "sand elemental" in that movie (except the Cave of Wonders).

And yeah, Arabia is a pretty good place to go for inspiration for a model like this.

MiniMage said:

Technically it would be cooler if it sensed vibrations and pressure in the sand rather than seeing its enemies. Something akin to magical sonar across sand connected to itself. This however is impossible to demonstrate with WC3, I think?

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Not so! Actually that'd be pretty baller; using the vibrations in the earth to see & defend (similar to Toph, a blind Earthbender using Earthbending to "see" (from Avatar: the Last Airbender)). Could be done in the form of an ability that lets him locate enemies through the Fog of War, or notice troop movements across the map... Visually represented by some subtle rings (like the Command aura or War Drums aura).

MiniMage said:

If you have the skill, I don't really mind. ;P

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I don't know about "skill", but it would give me something to practice on, and if you like it, I get a model out of it. I warn you, my life & schedule is pretty touch-and-go as it is with modding, but send me a PM with some things you're looking for. Who knows?

Kyrbi0 said:

I don't know about "skill", but it would give me something to practice on, and if you like it, I get a model out of it. I warn you, my life & schedule is pretty touch-and-go as it is with modding, but send me a PM with some things you're looking for. Who knows?

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PM/link me some examples of your previous terrain. That would allow me to gauge your skill level and thus assign areas for you to work on accordingly.

MiniMage said:

PM/link me some examples of your previous terrain. That would allow me to gauge your skill level and thus assign areas for you to work on accordingly.

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Lol ok...

There we go, my terraining exploits... Yeah, alright, I jest. I really haven't done anything 'official' by any means, but I suppose I have a few terrains made for my test maps & such I could share. Let me get a hold of them, and then get a hold of you.

That model is waaayyy to good Those animated textures are used properly. Great job.

Can I modify it a little(Add Hero Aura & Dissipate animation) only for my map so that it could look like a hero?

xylign said:

Can I modify it a little(Add Hero Aura & Dissipate animation) only for my map so that it could look like a hero?

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It already has a hero aura and a dissipate animation, as it ultimately was based on the firelord. You have no need to edit it.

At first glance I thought it was dwemer sphere from elder scrolls.

''They don't understand the desert'' Really dude awesome model 5/5.

Great one! Approve to be very usefull, and exactly what I need to! 5/5

Very cool.

A unique model! Great work!