Bleeq's WIPs and Concepts

[Bleeq]

Some people have asked me what I'm doing next, so I'll list the models I plan on making, along with other ideas in the 'Maybe' pile.
It should also help me keep track of my To-Do list because I keep losing the pieces of paper I write this stuff on.

I don't want this to turn into a blow-by-blow breakdown of me working through something in particular, which I did for a couple of other models, but if people want to give feedback or suggestions that will be more than welcome.

Spoiler: Kobold Witch Hero

Female Kobold disease caster Hero. Would like to base it somewhat on Squeamlish but with a black witch hat (needs candle?). The face would also conform more to the Kobolds I've already made. For the below purple version, the skin tone would be much lighter. Same hue, but higher brightness

Spoiler: Kobold Geoqueen

A female Kobold geomancer hero. She surfs on a slab of rock that hovers above the ground, and attacks with animated rocks. For my race she will be melee, with a large fist made of smaller stones. But I'll try to include a ranged one. Will hopefully bare some resemblance to МЭЙБИ БЭЙБИ - Maybe Baby (NSFW?).

Spoiler: (Kobold) Giant Golem

A rock golem about the size of an Ancient or Mountain Giant, which 'unpacks' into a Trebuchet-like ranged form. The rock segments are large and flatter with visible layers/strata. I'd like to add grass and a little tree on one shoulder, and perhaps a Squirrel or other animal lives in the tree as a gimmick.
I Did some drawings but they are rubbish. The difficulty is in designing how it looks in mobile-mode versus Treb-mode.

Spoiler: Kobold Gym Rat

Kobold mountain king style hero - don't have a clear idea, but necessary hero archetype. The gimmick is that he starts small and weak but scales very strong each level. Concept comes a bit from DOTA Tiny. I made something based on Diegoit's Kobold Pack, But I'd really rather come up with something unique because he's supposed to be the main character of the Kobold campaign.

Spoiler: Male Bard

3 versions, lightly armoured or unarmoured wielding a Rapier with about 5 instrument options to choose from. Probably Violin, Guitar, Flute, Erhu, Drum + one or two dances. First version would be pretty standard western style with but with dark features (dark/black hair, brown eyes) so he could pass for Spanish or mid eastern or Zorro. Second version would be Eastern style, specifically Chinese. Third version Would be Wyll from BG3, but I'm not going to attempt drawing a black guy facial texture lol. Could add an Eldritch Blast animation for pew pew.

Spoiler: Female Bard

Uses a Rapier and multiple instruments. 3 Varieties based on Kyary Pamyu, Shania Twain and my Tiefling/demon Warlock. Standard portrait animations would emulate Shania. Might have a separate portrait for the demon, with spooky effects. This would be a pretty massive undertaking, though.

Spoiler: Shadowheart - Good

A version for shadowheart rejecting Shar (which is lame imo ). probably use the current portraits, then make new portraits for Evil SH. Most animations will be similar (attacks need to change for a mace style).
Thinking of an outfit like this, except white hair (she gets white hair if she's a goody-goody, doesn't she? I've never gone good with her.)

Spoiler: Dwarf 'Iron Fist' - CazaNova request

@CaZaNoVa asked for a new Dwarf hero a while ago; we didn't totally agree on what it would look like, but I still plan on doing something like this.
He sent me the following source picture, which I'd like to mix with a WH40k Terminator sort of look, or at least a power fist on the free hand.

Spoiler: Other

lots more Kobold buildings
Grubby farseer - started
Happy deathknight
ToD Archmage
Odin caster - Dwarf
Druid of the Hedgehog

~~Probably more I can't remember right now

-Forsaken-
female assassin - might include skins for other character types
Zombie Crossbowman
Pimped-out Bandit lord on horse
Forsaken Ogre Tyrant
Flying battle barge/blimp with broadside cannons.

Spoiler: Maybe Pile

Kobold Rock-lobber siege unit
Naga centaur - hesitant because it already exists
Kizilbash (Iranian) infantry - (spear and bow)
Savar AOE2 style cavalry - YOGA WP request
Goblin spec-ops
Calabash Brothers
Tian Long (Chinese dragon).

Spoiler: Yoga WP requests

Yoga WP requests a LOT of stuff, so this is some/(all?) the stuff I'm considering working on.

Forsaken Female type units
Female Pandaren
Female Orc Raiders/Shamans
POTM variations with capes, based on @Ujimasa Hojo variations

Maps and Campaigns

Spoiler: Kobold Custom Race

I'm making Kobold models for my Kobold custom race. The design and concept is mostly finished, and perhaps half the spells, triggering etc. are done.
There's a handful of hero spells I haven't finalised.

Spoiler: Kobold Campaign

Originally just an idea to showcase/introduce the custom race; I've grown more attached to this idea. Enemy factions will be Dwarves and Nerubians by @Maxwell. Set in a cave system, It will be a sort of RTS/RPG hybrid, with branching story. There will be maybe 3 levels, with the later 2 varying depending on choices in the first. It will be possible to ally with either Nerubians or Dwarves against the other, for example.

Spoiler: Battle for Kalimdor

Working title only ;P. A Night Elf civil war, where Naisha escapes the Tomb of Sargeras some time after it collapses and seeks revenge for Cenarius and Maiev, particularly against Tyrande. You arrive back in Kalimdor and attempt to unite as many native denizens (such as Centaur, Furbolgs, Quillboar, Tauren etc.) of Kalimdor against the Night Elf loyalists, Jaina's humans and Thrall's Horde. A secondary theme is uniting against the use of forbidden magic and demons (ruling out Jaina and the demon-tainted orcs). This would be set after TFT but before Vanilla WOW. Plays similar to Rexxar campaign. More RPG style, except choices/failures mostly affect the team compositions in the final showdown.

-Still adding stuff-

 

[Bleeq]

Reserved

 

[Bleeq]

I've started on the Kobold witch. I'm becoming happy with the T-pose shape, but can't decide what to do with the shoulderpad / pauldron.

Spoiler: Booba

I've been stuck with the shoulders coz I want to build them up (Villagerino's volumetricy) similar to the the source image. But wider shoulders than hips reduces the femininity. The waist could get a bit wider though. Too big and they'll start clipping, also.
The mushroom shoulder is cute thematically, but I don't think it would mesh well when finished.
The patterned shawl looks nice but will probably blur out in-game (mipmap/distance). but the black leather is kinda boring.

I might reduce the jugs and try to create more of a hunched back.

Spoiler: Johansen

I'm pretty happy with this face. I think it (accidentally) looks a bit like Scarlet Johanson. Big benefit is I don't need to alter the texture too much .
I still haven't decided on the shoulder, but otherwise I think I can start working on some poses/animations.

Spoiler: As of 25/7

The box is a placeholder but I don't know what to replace it with. I'll animate her then swap it later.

 

[Bleeq]

I started doing some brain storming on the Iron Fist Dwarf dude ages ago, but I wasn't clicking.
The original little bits I came up with are here:

Spoiler: Old King Dorf

But I'm doing some work on it when I procrastinate other things. I find that's a good way to get a few done at once; if you procrastinate on 1 model, then trick yourself into doing something else instead until you start avoiding that and maybe move back to the first one lol.

Spoiler: New Dwarf Idea

He will definitely get a big furry cloak (with TC) once I figure out how to do it. Once that's on him the chest texture wont matter much.
I've tried a couple Axe designs but they looked rubbish.
I might need to make the fist even larger to accentuate it from the in-game view, however I'm already worrying that it will be hard for him to hold an axe with two hands. Maybe just make the handle longer? Could change fingers texture to make them more obvious, too.
The shoulder isn't like the source image anymore but I think it works. With blue glows on the eyes and the glove rune, it should imply an enchanted connection, like a magical battery or w/e.

Because he's a king, do I need to add a crown?

Spoiler: As of 23/6

Perhaps the blade could be smaller.

Looks like @johnwar released something similar: Vanndar Stormpike
Seeing his dude, I think I'd like to work on the cape a bit more, especially the fur part. But maybe I'll wait and see how this guy looks with some animations first. How puffy I want the fur to be.

 

[SerenityInFire]

Wow, that looks fantastic. Are you using in-game textures?

 

[Bleeq]

I try to use only existing textures to keep stuff compatible and a small size, or offer standard texture options for the kobolds.

edit aside: I'm thinking with the Kobold witch maybe she should have a larger caboos, that would flare her out a bit, add some more weight to the model..
Either that or she still needs something on the back. It just looks too front-loaded and unbalanced, in a non-literal sense. Not enough symmetry or something.
If the arse was larger it would give more for the back ornament to sit on, too. Hmm. I like the rest of her so don't want to mess with it.

 

[MasterHaosis]

Nice ideas man! Keep up good work!

 

[Bleeq]

I have a newer idea for some siege engines:

Kobold Rock-lobber - similar to catapult but uses a large slightshot with forked Y frame. The frame lowers back to reload then returns to 'armed' position.

Atlas Golem - T3 golem unit for Kobolds. Has a 1050 range siege mode. Originally I wanted it to become a trebuchet, but I think it would be too hard to make it transform into that shape, and not look lame. Especially as Trebs are symmetrical, and if the free arm moves between the 'legs' like a standard trebuchet, it will look phallic lol :/.
The new plan is something like this: Horde Blade Thrower or skeet shooting machine, like an Olympic discus thrower.

For a treb, maybe I can do an Ogre version. Scuffed looking like Kobolds, with a big fat base like an ogre's gut, that swings back and forth to sling the rocks.
Caveman Trebuchet

--
It needs some more set dressing put on it, but I think the idea is solid:

Blizz had a much better idea what they were doing than I:

 

[Kyrbi0]

Dang, how did I miss this thread? Saving this for later...

 

[Bleeq]

I'm 95% happy with the rock-lobber, just testing in game and fixing the tedious BS like normals, attachments, geosets, minimizing vertices etc.

Spoiler

ed: I discovered something; if the origin or overhead attachment points have a parent bone, they don't seem to work anymore (e.g. roar buff wasn't being attached above the rock-lobber).
Or maybe not? Overhead seems to work on 1 or 2 other models where I made this mistake. Anyway, worth making sure your attachments work as expected.

Slingshot Siege Weapon

Do you, like, my car? The Rock Lobber is a preferred weapon of Kobolds but could be good for other crude or brutal races like Centaur, Quilboar, Tauren, Troggs etc. It's ironic that this style of slingshot seems to actually be very modern, after the introduction of rubber, where as gears and...

www.hiveworkshop.com

 

[Bleeq]

I'm working on a traditional Vampire for Yoga and @MasterHaosis monster competition. This one is a bit lower effort because I can't be bothered making entirely new model and animations.
Anyway here's a bit of it so far:

Spoiler: vampire

I just now realised what he reminds me of... Illagers! Damn, I haven't played minecraft in AGES. The genreal idea is looking good. If I use the deathknight face, I can get creative to remove the blue eyes.

Also, as that gif shows, I've started trying to incorporate leading or guiding lines into the newer mesh shapes:

Spoiler: Leading lines

I don't know if it helps aesthetically exactly, but it suppresses my analysis paralysis a bit, at least.

 

[MasterHaosis]

That is very good man! I like it, keep up good work! We need more vampires in Hive definitively!

 

[Bleeq]

Getting some life into Iron Fist:

Spoiler

Still getting a feel for him. But have to bite the bullet and get something on the canvas. How different does a model have to be before you can skip getting permission? Technically this file started derived from someone else's model, however most (all?) of the geometry got replaced, and cleared the keyframes.
I stole the skeleton, but from what I can tell it was just Rifleman's nodes to begin with.

ed: The original author hasn't logged in since corona, so I'm thinking When I upload I'll say 'some elements are derived from XYZ by whatshisname' with a link to the original. How does that sound?

 

[All_Time_Pro]

Saving A Reply So I can stay in notified with upcoming models.

(very excited for any bards to be released )

 

[stein123]

Getting some life into Iron Fist:

Spoiler

View attachment 541409View attachment 541410

Still getting a feel for him. But have to bite the bullet and get something on the canvas. How different does a model have to be before you can skip getting permission? Technically this file started derived from someone else's model, however most (all?) of the geometry got replaced, and cleared the keyframes.
I stole the skeleton, but from what I can tell it was just Rifleman's nodes to begin with.

that's an interesting question, you can just link the original base/"inspiration" and mention the author in the description? it's nothing bad, like, look at the last villagerino's model, it uses an existing mesh from other author, but the result is something great and unique

 

[MogulKahn]

Getting some life into Iron Fist:

Spoiler

View attachment 541409View attachment 541410

Still getting a feel for him. But have to bite the bullet and get something on the canvas. How different does a model have to be before you can skip getting permission? Technically this file started derived from someone else's model, however most (all?) of the geometry got replaced, and cleared the keyframes.
I stole the skeleton, but from what I can tell it was just Rifleman's nodes to begin with.

Really liking that shoulderpad! And power fist idea is really unique and fitting. Great job!

 

[Bleeq]

Saving A Reply So I can stay in notified with upcoming models.

(very excited for any bards to be released )

The bards are likely a long way off, sadly.

that's an interesting question, you can just link the original base/"inspiration" and mention the author in the description? it's nothing bad, like, look at the last villagerino's model, it uses an existing mesh from other author, but the result is something great and unique

Talking about the gnome? Yes that is truly a beautiful thing. It seems to me Villagerino doesn't do as many custom animations, at least in the stuff he's uploaded, but it's hard to fault that model. He added a lot of personal touches to it, anyway.

Really liking that shoulderpad! And power fist idea is really unique and fitting. Great job!

Thanks! It might take longer now that the requester and I have detoured in another direction, but I want to finish that Iron Fist still. I get attached to stuff lol.

 

[Bleeq]

I've started exploring the Geoqueen. I think I'll try to get the proportions sorted before I obsess over the textures.

Can I finally turn the sorc into a convincing kobold? Will it be nightmare fuel?

Spoiler

Spoiler: Scare Chord

Here's a comparison of Blizz' waifus incase anyone is interested.

 

[Bleeq]

Sometimes you just find something more motivating than other stuff, so I've cooked up something for Good/Selune Shadowheart.
Not ready for upload because I haven't wrestled with the death animation. I don't even know if I want to be lazy and just trim the existing one, remove the ghost and shadows and call it a day.

I don't think it will be to everyone's liking, the textures are kinda like Classic WOW clown costume gear, but they are supposed to be reminiscent of actual late-game gear in BG3:

The attack model is more recent. I just couldn't be bothered re-recording the other rubbish

The adamantite shield could be done very differently, but I really liked the fake glow effect from this.

 

[Bleeq]

Due to @CaZaNoVa 's request for the Dwarf king being particular, I've forked between my ironfist idea and now doing ANOTHER thing that is thematically similar. I have to admit it has been hard to maintain motivation on this. He asked me about this request a LONG time ago lol, and time seems to fly. So sorry about that Cazanova.

Related:
Post 1
Post 2

Anyway, The new Cazanova King is shaping up as a customised mesh from @johnwar 's Vanndar Stormpike with Norinrad's* Battle Priest skeleton/animations. Then we stole the axe from some other dwarf model by Johnwar, lol. Obviously if it ever got uploaded I'd track down the exact attributions.

I haven't got around to doing the portraits, which is probably the main thing missing at this stage. Beard sway needs some work too.
I added in the lazy Attack Slam for MK Bash, which I thought looked good enough in RMS, but in-game I don't find it looks different enough from the other attacks. It's just the spell effect which differentiates it. On MK it feels more obvious when he bashes.
And yeah, the last animations are for him sitting on a throne


*And Jigrael? That credit was mentioned somewhere, I've got it in my notes ;P

 

[CaZaNoVa]

Due to @CaZaNoVa 's request for the Dwarf king being particular, I've forked between my ironfist idea and now doing ANOTHER thing that is thematically similar. I have to admit it has been hard to maintain motivation on this. He asked me about this request a LONG time ago lol, and time seems to fly. So sorry about that Cazanova. Related: Post 1 Post 2 Anyway, The new Cazanova King is shaping up as a customised mesh from @johnwar 's Vanndar Stormpike with Norinrad's* Battle Priest skeleton/animations. Then we stole the axe from some other dwarf model by Johnwar, lol. Obviously if it ever got uploaded I'd track down the exact attributions. View attachment 548293 I haven't got around to doing the portraits, which is probably the main thing missing at this stage. Beard sway needs some work too. I added in the lazy Attack Slam for MK Bash, which I thought looked good enough in RMS, but in-game I don't find it looks different enough from the other attacks. It's just the spell effect which differentiates it. On MK it feels more obvious when he bashes. And yeah, the last animations are for him sitting on a throne *And Jigrael? That credit was mentioned somewhere, I've got it in my notes ;P

I understand that sometimes we all don't have enough time, and you can't do everything, but I'm glad you're helping me. Thank you!
What I see is amazing! You're truly a master of your craft. However, I'd like to discuss some additional details and changes that I'd like to make.

 

[Kyrbi0]

Due to @CaZaNoVa 's request for the Dwarf king being particular, I've forked between my ironfist idea and now doing ANOTHER thing that is thematically similar. I have to admit it has been hard to maintain motivation on this. He asked me about this request a LONG time ago lol, and time seems to fly. So sorry about that Cazanova.

Related:
Post 1
Post 2

Anyway, The new Cazanova King is shaping up as a customised mesh from @johnwar 's Vanndar Stormpike with Norinrad's* Battle Priest skeleton/animations. Then we stole the axe from some other dwarf model by Johnwar, lol. Obviously if it ever got uploaded I'd track down the exact attributions.

View attachment 548293

I haven't got around to doing the portraits, which is probably the main thing missing at this stage. Beard sway needs some work too.
I added in the lazy Attack Slam for MK Bash, which I thought looked good enough in RMS, but in-game I don't find it looks different enough from the other attacks. It's just the spell effect which differentiates it. On MK it feels more obvious when he bashes.
And yeah, the last animations are for him sitting on a throne


*And Jigrael? That credit was mentioned somewhere, I've got it in my notes ;P

This looks really lovely & is coming together nicely. I do miss the earlier version's "giant runic gauntlet" thing, though...

 

[Bleeq]

This looks really lovely & is coming together nicely. I do miss the earlier version's "giant runic gauntlet" thing, though...

I wanted to do both by the end. Gauntlet guy could be a knight equiv, Throne dude a hero.
Biggest challenge with gauntlet is literally the size of that thing, it's hard for him to hold the axe convincingly or do anything else without the fist clipping into shit. It might be an example of "flawed at the concept stage".

 

[Kyrbi0]

I wanted to do both by the end. Gauntlet guy could be a knight equiv, Throne dude a hero.
Biggest challenge with gauntlet is literally the size of that thing, it's hard for him to hold the axe convincingly or do anything else without the fist clipping into shit. It might be an example of "flawed at the concept stage".

Ah, gotcha. That's sick.

For the gauntlet guy, your earlier WIPs feature the axe in his non-gauntleted hand anyway, right? That's totally the correct decision (weapon in the off-hand, main-hand RUNIC SMASH). I wouldn't worry about it clipping the axe in that case (or did you mean it was clipping into other stuff?)