[CONCEPT ART]

Let me be very up front; this is almost 100% wish fulfillment for me. If there's one thing I love more than Trolls, it's giant elemental manifestations of raw power; specifically & primarily, the Starcraft (Brood War!) Protoss Archon unit. There's no coincidence that it's my avatar everywhere I go on the Internet; I friggin' love that thing & everything about it.

I have wanted to include some form of "troll archon" (created by the ritual sacrifice & combination of two Troll shamans; replacing "psionics" with perhaps voodoo or mojo or whatever) in my custom Jungle Troll faction for years now, but not only lacked the room & the custom assets to do it justice, but the justification beyond "IT COOL". I've also struggled for a while at the lack of an 'animated golem' unit, something else I totally love & wanted to include. However, as aforementioned (the "epiphany"), I have done some serious soul-searching & realized the answer to my problem is: combining the two together. With your expertise, I hope to make that dual-dream a reality.

//EDIT// - @Chucky took a whack at these earlier this year, which (while lost to HDD failure) were really going in the right direction:
-> ->

http://www.hiveworkshop.com/forums/...on-wc3mod-troll-barracks-ujimasa-mspaint-.png

Long ago pen sketches = tons of quality! :< These should be fleshed out by a true artist. The text reads:

Swamp Lodge said:

Trains Basilisk, Potion Doc, Marauder
- Decrepit hut (Yoda from Star Wars!)
- Thick undergrowth/forest
- quagmire/swamp
- mysterious swimming beast during anim
- raptor pen/cage (Jurassic Park)
- flies? critters?
- flowers

Click to expand...

Vale of Shadows said:

Trains Vampire Bat, Hexxer, Bom-bat-ier
- Bat Cave!
- - Cave Entrance? Cliff? Full Cave? Hollowed-out Mine?
- "Mojo Hut" for Hexxer
- Bat roost?
- Spider Webs!!
- Name?
- - "Forgotten Vale"
- - "Dark Cavern"
- - "Twisted/Cursed Woods"

Click to expand...

The original idea is simply "Troll cavalry-caster", i.e. "Mounted Troll Wizard". I just thought it'd be cool to see a cavalry-caster. Upon reflection (& with raptors & bats already taken), I decided upon insects... And what better insect than a creepy jungle spider?

Further reflection revealed the need for an anti-caster (like the Destroyer, Faerie Dragon, Spellbreaker, etc), as well as a generally 'offensive' caster to counterpoint the existing "Potion Doc"s 'supportive' nature (like Sorceress to Priest, Witch Doctor to Shaman, Banshee to Necromancer, etc).

With some luck, I happened upon the "Hexxer" concept; an gnarled, wicked Troll priestess riding a creepy jungle spider, wielding spider-themed spirit-powered anti-magicks. " 'Welcome to my parlor' said the spider to the fly" and all that.

Later, in looking at the Techtree, I realized my distaste for the name "Potion Doc", and with AnemicRoyalty's excellent model being ideal as she is, I realized I could instead switch genders & have the support caster be a girl; a "Hedge Witch" if you will (much better name/concept IMO).

However, since that's the model I was going to use as the spider's mount... I needed a new one. This means the Hexxer became a guy (*sigh*. Kinda like the role-reversal of a non-nurturing woman-caster, but oh well). I eventually decided upon -Grendel's stellar Troll Conjurer model as a fitting mount for the nasty jungle Spider.

~

Hopefully that gives some insight into the process. The important bits are:
- Male Troll (preferably); creepy, wizened, malicious
- Jungle Spider; creepy, jungle-y, big, DIFFERENT FROM REGULAR WC3 SPIDERS somehow... Big head mostly
- Dark Magicks
- Some kinda seat?
- Some kinda mage-weapon?

And really the most important bit is the spider: Like I said, I already (basically) have a good Rider, and the rest is relatively simple. But a good, creepy Jungle Spider that looks/acts different from the in-game ones... Haven't seen that anywhere,

On that note:



Let me know!

This is a little bit of my own creation, mostly disregarding filthy WoW lore. However, it's not entirely different, so check out the Basilisk and the Crocolisk. Who doesn't love a giant nasty jungle lizard stomping around, breaking things!


So. I already have a model as a stand-in / base for this one; it's the "Dinosaur" from OH, which is simply the Green Dragonspawn with it's entire upper torso removed and the leftover head grafted onto the chest. Yeah, not pretty. It doesn't have Team-Color (a must), and is pretty bland, and the head looks silly if you zoom in. (This model (texture-path: "Textures\Dino.blp") is provided as a Base to work from, if you so desire, attached to this post. Straight from Ominous Horizons; go check it out!)


Let me know!

//EDIT// After consideration, I have realized that Cavman's excellent Crocodile model would be a great base. It's almost identical to the "Dinosaur" I have linked below, but the mesh-merging is done better and the animations are kept for the mouth. All that would change is that unsightly-long mouth be shrunk back to 'normal'. Not sure what color, to be honest, though I learn towards regular-ol Green.

//EDIT// So far, one of the best versions of this comes from Kaizer; however he lost this.

Quick Request - Creating a Projectile

Hello, all!

Normally I avoid making Requests, but this seemed so simple... And unfortunately, Zyne & Retera's Simple Model Workshop is on hiatus... So here I am!

I am looking for a quickie, to start with (we'll see how well this goes ): I would like a simple Projectile Model made from the shrunken head in the left-arm of this model, the Jungle Troll Headshrinker (by Tijil, AnemicRoyalty AR, and finally jigrael Tarrasque).



In terms of permission... Well, I'm the guy who got the base from the author, requested the texture, and requested the anims, soooo... I'm pretty sure I've got that covered.

~~~

TL;DR

• Take the shrunken elf-head
• Make it a Projectile (with basic animations):
  • Birth (pops into existence)
  • Stand (spins, semi-slowly, lopsided if you can)
  • Death (hits the ground, bounces, then rolls/bobs around for a sec before disappearing)
• Give it a splashy green SFX around it while it's spinning (i.e. as if it's been dunked in greenish magick goop (see Headshrinker Spell Animation), maybe a little Trailer of SFX as well (same color).
• ???
• 4) Profit!!

Thanks again!

As the notes on the sketch explain, this is the Jungle Troll's mechanical 'engine of war'; instead of being Siege, though, this is a T2 Ranged Support (fires a wall of darts at multiple nearby enemies). See progression of sketches. (1st: small notebook -> 2nd: full sheet)


(Ignore the big fan. Probably. I don't see wind-power moving this thing, exactly).



This is entirely my own creation. I love Jungle Trolls & ancient Mesoamerican (Maya/Inca/Aztec/etc) cultures. Thus the idea of blow-guns & poison darts was planted. Then, when looking for creative/unique Unit ideas, I happened upon an "Anti-Unit Mech" (as opposed to the ever-popular "Anti-Building (Siege) Mech"). This seemed like the perfect fit.

Basically, take a "wall of dart-shooting blowguns" (ever popular trap in those classic 'Indiana Jones' movies), 'wrap it' onto a tower, then squish & place that tower onto a mobile skiff-like mech for easy transit in Swampy, Jungle-y terrain.

Trolls need a Mech, and this is the best I've come up with (beat out "Voodoo Barge" for sure ). I'm open to suggestions, however.


So that's a good explanation of what it is, what it does. Model-wise, here are some of my thoughts:


Let me know!

~~~

The 'ring thingies'... Hmm, really have to find a better way to explain that. Basically, the idea kinda came from one of my old favorite childhood games, Banjo-Tooie. One of the first bosses was Targitzan, basically a giant living totem pole that spun & shot darts at you (image here, video here) The video is probably most helpful, as it describes the kind of motion & actions I am hoping for in the Dart Skiff; the "top section" should be a series of rings or platforms or discs that spin & shoot darts.

Now, the problem is (see "v1" concept art at top of page) that a giant totem pole/tower on a mech looks silly; too top-heavy, like it would fall over.
So I just decided to "squish" it down onto the mech, making it look more streamlined. "segments of a turtle shell" isn't actually a bad way to go... But don't just stick a Dragon Turtle-shell on the back of this thing. That'd look a little more... Naga, I think.

I've also re-scanned my Concept Art page; my wife did a few drawings for me in the corner (also check the idea of "Log pontoons").

Does that make more sense?

Simply the classic, and requisite, "Jungle Troll riding a Raptor" unit. This is popular enough to have been made before, but I'll be honest; I'm not very impressed. Stretchy UV wraps, skewed animations and bones, boring Trollish riders... Bleh. Cavman's Raptor is probably the best attempt so far (though the skin is weird, and he looks more like a dog than a raptor).

Basically, this is the Trollish Cavalry unit. More like the Orcish Raider than the Human Knight, this guy attacks fast and moves fast. Not as high damage as the Trollish Ravager, nor as sturdy as the Trollish Basilisk, the Marauder instead excels at hit-and-run, guerrilla warfare. Meshes well with an accompanying Warbringer (hero-version of Marauder).

I'm sorta vague on the details, but he should basically be a feisty Troll with a "need-for-speed", mounted on a ravenous Raptor with a "need-for-feed"; feeding on the flesh of his enemies, that is! The Marauder has one ability, a passive called "Laceration"; every X% of attacks, the Raptor will lash out with his razor-sharp claws, tearing holes in the enemy which bleed over time (-HP Regen, -Armor) (good 'Attack Slam').

View attachment 137030

This guy has been floating around for a long time; a necessary unit-type in my mind, but one that has never really been nailed down well until just recently. However, one major problem remains.


Basically, I have the model for this (attached to post), and I've already made a few of the (easy) edits that I could (removing Hero Glow, renaming Animation). However, since this model needs to be used for a UNIT, the biggest problem is that it was made as a HERO; it's shiny, has lots of glows, and is overall just too epic.

So my Request: Turn this Hero into a Unit. "How," you might ask?


Let me know!

[REQUEST] - Model Edit: Troll Batrider Remake

Alright, I think I can finally break down and ask.

I've been working on something for a while (see sig), and I have "made do" with the in-game "Troll Batrider" model forever. I have long had thoughts about what to do with it, but A: didn't want to change everything around, and B: didn't want to need a custom model.

The other problem is, the in-game Troll Batrider model is extremely specialized (in form) for what it does & can do; i.e. unlike the Huntress (who can throw her glaive (ranged) or slash with it (melee), or other models (whose animations can be renamed or shuffled around to produce various effects), the Batrider kinda can only be light, quick recon & air-to-ground (& siege/fire, with his weapon). Incredibly specific.

My quest is to make a unit very similar to the in-game Batrider (i.e. a Jungle Troll, riding a bat), but that should be able to be differentiated from him in-game (visually & how it is used). I was long convinced there was no hope without extensive animation re-working (which I know is out of your field), but I had the thought to just "take a look" at how the model appears with a few minor adjustments. *ahem*.

If are willing, I would like to see as much as possible of the following:

• Weapon (most important; simplest)
• ANYTHING but a fiery flask. I just need to know if the model can support any other kind of attack without tweaking anims. Specifically if he can handle air-to-air, or long-ranged air-to-ground (since the normal Batrider throws nearly under himself)
• Ideas include a blade (wicked curved scimitar), a spear (classic; long for ranged throwing, short & bladed for melee swiping), a bag of projectiles (rocks? shrunken heads? etc), and "something" that could be doused in flame (i.e. multipurpose siege/normal damage, based on the target; think the Demolisher or the Huntress).
• Armor (less important)
• Some kind of armor, fitting for an aerial warrior. This unit is meant to be bigger & stronger than the normal Batrider (but still not as armored as, say, a Dwarf; too heavy to fly after all ).
• Perhaps a thick, spiked shoulder-pad with an attached Bandolier? A series of overlapping shoulder-pauldrons that run down the arm? A medium Buckler attached to the non-weapon arm? A leather helmet on the bat/rider? Etc.

Hopefully that doesn't sound like too much. First and foremost I'm concerned about the weaponry & making it make sense; what is possible will heavily determine what Role this unit ends up filling (i.e. if he can be anything other than "light aerial Siege").

Thanks again, and if you have any questions, let me know!

~~~

@Retera:
3) Off the top of your head, if I were going to implement a sort of "Swooping Dive"* animation for a spell or attack, is there anything in-game that that can be ripped from? Similar question for a "Bat-Bite" and a "Rider Sword-Slash" animation (don't necessarily throw them on there, more asking if you as a modeller know of existing animations you can grab those from)

//EDIT
*Perhaps stealing the Naga "Submerge" for a "swooping dive"... (then again, dealing with all those snake-like lower-body bones might be problematic...)[/quote]
To that, I might clarify: leave the weapon on the normal Batrider as it is, since I cannot yet decide. However, him &/or the bat in such a way as to differentiate them from the "normal" (in-game) Troll Batrider.

Biggest & most important avenue for that: Armor for the rider (and/or the Bat).

Second might be different kind of Bat or Rider (TeamColor stripes on wing or fur? Legs? Pointier head? Um?)

~~~

Biggest thing is that this is a different kind of request; not exactly a "do this" kinda of thing, but I'm looking for your input in creation, here. There may not be a "right" answer, necessarily. Use your creativity, give me some alternatives if you please.

[REQUEST] - Model Edit: (Troll) Vampire Bat

Well while Retera is so kindly working on one thing, I think I have another, much simpler request, to throw out to Zyne if he's still up for it:


Basically looking for a solid, basic Bat unit, just the Bat snipped from underneath the Troll in the Trollish Batrider unit.

Now, one might say, But Kyrbi0, what about this model" Well, I've used that, and it's nice... But for two major issues:

1) It has no Team Color (very important for melee-compatibility), and
2) It has an empty, blocky backside (Blizzard didn't put anything there, as it's hidden by the Troll rider).

So what I would like to ask is rather simple (hopefully):

• We kill the Bat-man xD
• Take the Troll Batrider
• Remove the Troll
• ???
• PROFIT!

(feel free to either modify the aforementioned "BatTroll" model by GreyArchon (since he gave implicit permission), or start from scratch; whatever's easiest)

However, to then address the two issues above (and add a little flavor & utility):

• Remove the Troll BUT KEEP THE PACK (the leather sack full of fiery flasks)! Leaving the pack not only covers up the blank backside, but gives them a reason to live (i.e. little Bats used as messengers for Troll commanders; carrying messages in a sack like pigeons), and is already animated to boot!
• Remove the 'fiery flasks' from the rucksack, and possibly replace them with some rolled Scrolls (I believe the Orc Gul'dan model has some).
• Find someplace for Team Color. Perhaps a streak on the pack, perhaps bands/stripes of TC on the fur/wings/etc, perhaps a band on the scrolls... A great option would be making a sort of "bandanna" that goes across the back/backpack from the Troll Berserker's mohawk (TeamColor strip with cool gold markings).
• And of course, remove the "Death Spell" exploding animation. He just needs to fly, attack (bite), and die.

~~~

I know you've got a lot on your plate, so just let me know if you get bored & decide to start working on it. I picked something intentionally simple to give you a break from all the crazy-hard stuff you've gotten so far. This would be greatly appreciated; let me know!

Service Depots,

Siege Workshops,

Repair Bays,

Traveling Town Halls (folds up into a big zeppelin),

Zeppelin Hangars,

Chemical Laboratories