[Highborne Version]: Lady Vashj, Handmaiden of the Queen

[Chaosy]

Fancy~
I wonder which reference picture you used though since there is no confirmed visual on Vashj when she was Highborne.

I suggest reading up on how Highborne look by the way.
This is taken from the WoW wiki regarding Quel'dorei's appearance.
And to my understanding the Quel'dorei's appearance would be close to identical to the Highborne as the Quel'dorei are exiled Highborne.

In World of Warcraft, the high elves closely resemble blood elves appearance-wise (they in fact share the same model, although high elves typically have light colored eyes that vary from light grey to blue to green, and occasionally brown,[25] as opposed to the neon-iridescent green eyes of blood elves; high elf models also have less diversity in skin and hair color), but their voices are more mild-mannered like those of night elves (in the game, they use the same voices as night elves, although unsuitable Darnassian lines such as "Elune'adore", "Ishnu'alah" or "Goddess watch over you", are not used). Lore-wise, as high elves and blood elves are the same race (and the latter holds the majority population), it is not uncommon for high elves to be mistaken for blood elves. Taela Everstride at Allerian Stronghold even says, somewhat bemusedly, "No, don't feel bad. I get that a lot... I'm a high elf, not a blood elf. Don't worry, I won't suck the magic out of you." However, other than greeting voices, both high and blood elves appear to share similar voice emotes in-game, particularly during combat. Before World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade, in-game high and blood elves used modified night elf models.

Elves do have several characteristics in common. All three groups have unusually acute senses and are able to see clearly even in low-light conditions. As a general rule, elves are also slim, athletic, and graceful. Furthermore, they all have large pointed ears that tend to be greeted with admiration or mockery by other races.

One similarity between night elves, high elves, and blood elves has only recently come about. The night elves sacrificed their immortality and much of their power at the end of the Third War. Thus, all elves are now mortal and have comparable lifespans that can extend as long as several thousand years.

 

[Mercer]

Fancy~
I wonder which reference picture you used though since there is no confirmed visual on Vashj when she was Highborne.

In fact Highborne does have normal human colored skin and their hair color is very limited as well. Blonde,white, red, orange.

In lore she was described as having dazzling feline eyes so I went off of that and just fit the colours in. She was also described as an Azshara wannabe but I thought personally blue hair would look nicer on the model instead of white. This is the reference pic that I used though not much of it is seen within the skin itself!

http://www.tradecardsonline.com/img...2/08/big/LadyVashj.477709.20131208-155844.jpg

As for the markings, I presume night elf tattoos are permanent so I just copied her Naga tattoo's and morphed them into night elf ones. You can see the small triangle marking beneath her lip for example.

Fancy~
And to my understanding the Quel'dorei's appearance would be close to identical to the Highborne.

Not exactly! Highborne are more night elf than Quel'dorei actually. Dath'remar Sunstrider is the only Highborne to pertain a Quel'dorei appearance for he was their ancestor. Azshara and Vashj as Highborne both had the usual pink/blue hued skin and hair colours.

 

[Sclammerz]

Some parts looks smudgy or blurry (golden parts), also needs more highlights. I like her face though. Nice job.

 

[Chaosy]

@Mercer
Just gonna say that the WoW RPG/TCG is not cannon.

Updated my old post as well.

 

[Mercer]

@Mercer
Just gonna say that the WoW RPG/TCG is not cannon.

I know that, been RPing Kaldorei and Highborne for years.

As you said, there is no real art / description of how she looked like before she was a naga, so I'm going off my imagination and what Highborne actually look like, and they look nothing like the Thalassian Quel'dorei.

http://vignette1.wikia.nocookie.net...Azshara.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20141110145930

Highborne Quel'dorei and Quel'dorei are two very very different things entirely.
Highborne Quel'dorei are those who lived about in Zin'Azshari and the Quel'dorei you see in Quel'thalas were the evolved Highborne that settled after exiled. The powers of the Sunwell changed their hair and skin colour;

"Around this time, they had become completely severed from the life-giving energy of the Well of Eternity. This meant that they were vulnerable to the elements and had not received immortality from Nozdormu and the World Tree. They had shrunk in height and their skin had become a peach hue similar to most dwarves and humans. The high elves soon discovered primitive humans, but associated little with them. The forest trolls ofZul'Aman, under the Amani Empire, posed the greater threat to their society. The elves soon grew to hate the forest trolls and they fought each other whenever they met."


"These exiled Highborne, now known as the high elves,[6] took their punishment in stride, and led by Dath'Remar Sunstrider ("He who walks the day") set sail across the ocean in hopes of finding a new land to call their own. After a long and perilous journey, the Highborne arrived in the land known today as Lordaeron, and there established their kingdom of Quel'Thalas ("high kingdom" or "high home") and crowned Dath'Remar their king. There, they slowly changed in form, diminishing in size and losing their original purple skin to a pinkish hue. They abandoned the worship of the moon, adopting instead the sun, and became the high elves."


Their skin color went from the Highborne purple/blue/pink to peachy and they shrunk, their hair colour changed too.

Some parts looks smudgy or blurry (golden parts), also needs more highlights. I like her face though. Nice job.

Thanks, I need to get better at shading and colouring in general too, the face is my favorite part too.

 

[Zaljinzoo]

As someone who is an absolute and total nerd to Warcraft lore, I throw my lot in with Mercer on this arguement. The Highborne Night Elves were just that: Night Elves. As the excerpt quoted above states, the Highborne became High ELVES gradually over time, sort of "devolving" from their original Highborne selves. A bit of an odd concept, I know, but keep in mind that Night Elves originally came from trolls, too, so this line of races apparently is prone to rapid evolution due to magical or even environmental influences. XD

On-topic: The skin itself looks pretty good! I unfortunately am starting to build a base level of indifference to skins of this model as there are just so darn many of them nowadays, but even with that in mind this is a pretty interesting take on it. I like how you managed to keep a semblance of the facial pattern Vashj was shown to have in wow through classic night elf markings. Really clever idea there. All in all I think this works splendidly as Vashj or any other Highborne or even Nightborne archer. ^^

 

[Heinvers]

Pretty good texture. I'll leave it Pending for awhile until you've managed to amass more feedback and improved it a bit.

About the arrow, I will have to ask you to remove that part since you'd need permission from 67chrome to add that.
You would be better off without it and actually making it yourself.

The internet is full of reference images, I'm sure that you'll find some inspiration for that.

 

[Mercer]

On-topic: The skin itself looks pretty good! I unfortunately am starting to build a base level of indifference to skins of this model as there are just so darn many of them nowadays, but even with that in mind this is a pretty interesting take on it. I like how you managed to keep a semblance of the facial pattern Vashj was shown to have in wow through classic night elf markings. Really clever idea there. All in all I think this works splendidly as Vashj or any other Highborne or even Nightborne archer. ^^

Thank you!

Pretty good texture. I'll leave it Pending for awhile until you've managed to amass more feedback and improved it a bit.

About the arrow, I will have to ask you to remove that part since you'd need permission from 67chrome to add that.
You would be better off without it and actually making it yourself.

The internet is full of reference images, I'm sure that you'll find some inspiration for that.

I may plan to make a bow too, the arrow for now was just for settlement, I will upload the updated skin now.

EDIT: Updated.

 

[r.ace613]

Impressive!

 

[Mercer]

Impressive!

Thank you!

 

[Heinvers]

Now, what keeps this from being approved is the lack of a proper bow texture. I can understand if you wish to keep this one without the bow but please do try texturing the bow as well and upload it.

I would make the highlights slightly stronger, make the metallic/trimming parts better put out, with discernible highlights, shadow transition and more texture on the cape color.

Don't forget to redo the lips, a more clear shape would help and also texture that black spot under her chin.

Will comment more on it once you choose to do so.

 

[Mercer]

Now, what keeps this from being approved is the lack of a proper bow texture. I can understand if you wish to keep this one without the bow but please do try texturing the bow as well and upload it.

I would make the highlights slightly stronger, make the metallic/trimming parts better put out, with discernible highlights, shadow transition and more texture on the cape color.

Don't forget to redo the lips, a more clear shape would help and also texture that black spot under her chin.

Will comment more on it once you choose to do so.

Highlight added, lips fixed, midriff and waist shortened.

Uploading now, still no bow for now.

 

[Heinvers]

Highlight added, lips fixed, midriff and waist shortened.

Uploading now, still no bow for now.

Great, now there are a few things remaining besides the addition of the bow(which I might add can be added as a second bundle to this one).

Black spot under chin, both on portrait and main model.

Plus some trimming and armor parts that need to be more clear in shape and color.

If you do those, then you have an Approval seal.

 

[Mercer]

Great, now there are a few things remaining besides the addition of the bow(which I might add can be added as a second bundle to this one).

Black spot under chin, both on portrait and main model.

View attachment 245447

Plus some trimming and armor parts that need to be more clear in shape and color.

View attachment 245448

If you do those, then you have an Approval seal.

Thank you for your feedback, sorry for the long response! I tidied up the skin now and decided to for now use the original bow with a slight recolour.
How did you make the skin appear on the model in the editor if I may, it looks super helpful to see the mistakes I will make when making a skin?

Updated!

 

[Heinvers]

I have changed the texture paths of the model using MDXPather and viewed it in Magos Model Editor. It provides a fast way of viewing various textures with ease. After that, I asses the texture in WE and in-game to ponder on a decision of moderation.

Anywho, to moderation now.


Moderator comment:

This is a pretty darn good approach to a Vashj back when she was a Highborne. Texture work is well done and looked out for.
Face and dress plus trimming parts are nice. Embroidery is rather simple but the color choice gives it some attention 'loving the tattoo on her face.

Though I'm not so fond of the default bow texture, it will do for now. I'd make a new one if I were you when time permits it.
All in all, this skin could've been crispier and contrasted.

Approved!

 

[Mercer]

I have changed the texture paths of the model using MDXPather and viewed it in Magos Model Editor. It provides a fast way of viewing various textures with ease. After that, I asses the texture in WE and in-game to ponder on a decision of moderation.

Anywho, to moderation now.


Moderator comment:

This is a pretty darn good approach to a Vashj back when she was a Highborne. Texture work is well done and looked out for.
Face and dress plus trimming parts are nice. Embroidery is rather simple but the color choice gives it some attention 'loving the tattoo on her face.

Though I'm not so fond of the default bow texture, it will do for now. I'd make a new one if I were you when time permits it.
All in all, this skin could've been crispier and contrasted.

Approved!

Thank you! Will take the criticisms into note and improve on them if and when I make another skin.

 

[TheKaldorei]

Vashj reference for you xoxo