Manor in the Woods

[frostwhisper]

A manor in the woods. The idea emerged from the inspiration of my old forest terrains and the city of Minas Tirith. At first I wanted to make a gigantic cliff behind the castle but thought this way it would look better. Anyway, I'm open to hear your comments and suggestions. Enjoy.

 

[Belgarath]

It's nice, but there's a certain feeling that's missing, I can't put my finger on WHAT. It might be the autumn sort of trees with the green grass, or the floating trees that grow out of rocks, or maybe even the very interestingly but not very matchingly put together "manor", it's rather a castle.

 

[frostwhisper]

A manor is the entire area ruled by the lord. Not only the manorial house or castle, but the villages, woods and fields around it.

 

[Belgarath]

I guess so, but often a manor is more a manor house.

 

[ragingspeedhorn]

The first 5 screenshots looks okay, I especially like the 4th, that is the best of them all. Rest of the pieces I don't like.

 

[Bob27]

Yep, the 4th screen defiantly is the best. Doesn't really seam to be any fog though. Try adding, or changing if you already have some the fog to the map, and see if you can get a better feeling with it.

However the atmosphere in the 4th screenshot really looks nice, which is why it is my favourite.

 

[frostwhisper]

The fog is dark red (1 to 35000) because most of the screens are from a great distance and a stronger fog would ruin them. If I post a pic with no fog whatsoever you will see the differences.

Anyway I see you like the night versions of the screenies. I will see to it that I add more...

EDIT: Screenshots updated with additional fog effects and a new technique used to create the sky.

 

[Gilles]

4th is still the best. The manor is too colorful! =P

I think the fog is pretty good, I don't think there is much wrong with this. I find your terrains are all very colorful!

 

[frostwhisper]

I find beauty in color. Sometimes I find it in colorless stuff too, but rarely.

 

[Craka_J]

The grass in some pictures are really tall. Too tall actually. Castle7.jpg is a good example of what I mean.

But overall these are amazingly well done. Good job! Reminds me of an old Playstation game I've played once.
~Craka_J

 

[Gilles]

What game Craka?

 

[Craka_J]

I don't remember.
Once I remember I'll post it.
~Craka_J

 

[madman9800]

That looks fantastic, i like the mountains (9th screenshot)

 

[frostwhisper]

Ouch, your right about the grass Craka. The grass tufts are as large as bushes in that pick...

 

[Craka_J]

Almost bigger than those houses lol
~Craka_J

 

[Gilles]

lol, How did I miss that? That looks funny.

 

[frostwhisper]

Well they are small houses with small people inside so... ;P

No seriously, I thought it would look ok, and that I could blame perspective for the grass' size compared to the houses. I guess it didn't work out the way I tried. Still could work for bushes though...

 

[madman9800]

oh and i forgot to mention, the pictures with that awsome night sky looks really cool, dam i love that sky. did you make it or something?

 

[frostwhisper]

The sky came form the Glue Screen model of the Orc expansion campaign (The place where you see Rexxarr and Misha in the Barrens and the night sky behind them is full of stars and shit).
So basically I made a doodad using that model and carefully adjusted it, so that every time I make a screenshot, the "sky plane" synchronized with my current camera.
This doesn't work with in-game screens as far as I know, just the ones taken form WE.

 

[Belgarath]

Interesting technique, I wouldn't ever even consider to use it though.

 

[frostwhisper]

The skies from those glue screens are much better than the ones in-game. Unfortunately, it can be quite hard to angle your camera in such a way that there isn't any hi-rez elf or orc flying in-front of your terrain...

 

[Belgarath]

Yeah, that's true.

 

[frostwhisper]

Updated the screenshots with one last pic I forgot to add last time (again, night).

 

[Gilles]

Looks nice. Still think the manor is too colorful.

 

[frostwhisper]

Can't help it mate... The skins are like this. If I try to tint the houses it will become ugly...

 

[Gilles]

I know. I thought maybe you could group similar buildings? Or use custom models.

 

[frostwhisper]

Many of those models are actually custom. If I limited the castle to use only wc3 doodads it would be awfully plain. As for finding other custom things: I think these were put in the UTM for a reason. They blend best with the wc3 environment and the other doodads.

 

[Belgarath]

And they're painfully colourful.

 

[frostwhisper]

I wouldn't say painfully... the colors simply vary from dark gray and reddish on the roofs...

 

[Gilles]

I think painfully is correct. You can't/don't agree, so we will just get off that topic.

 

[frostwhisper]

Agreed. These posts were senseless since I probably won't update this terrain any more.

 

[Craka_J]

The last uploaded terrain looks nice, but the floating trees and other doodads is definately a major issue. Fix it please!
~Craka_J

 

[frostwhisper]

Like I said, I don't think I have the time/will to fix it right now. I will probably revise my work later, but for now, I'm back to the drawing board in search for ideas. I will take into consideration your comments and crits (fog, trees, and so on and so forth) in my next terrains. Thank you.