I actually took a look at the comic that is based on, as I had the series lying around.
My problem is that the robots are too alive. They have eyes and things hooked into them and such to see. Their general shape is also overly humanoid and, in terms of how they are build, they feel more like someone made a sculpture out of metal and wires and not an actual, working robot.
Its been some years since the last time I drew anything by hand, but you guys got me motivated. I decided to work on the Scout Drone concept. I like the blueprint idea of an utility bot with a turret on its head and I also liked the idea of a single wheel. My concept uses the original utility bot and makes a few changes to it.
@AtikLYar: Yes, I used the original yellow color, but we can change it to the race's standard color. Brown would "overlap" with Zerg, we have to decide which color we are going to use. What about cammo green? None of the 3 original races use green as a base color.
I wont take the time to create all the details, but I changed it to dark green, and it looks better. This little guy really looks like he can roll around scouting the battlefield. If you find one of these in a thick jungle it will laser your face before you can even think "wtf?" ;-)
Oh man, that looks cool. I can just imagine marching through a thick jungle, chopping away ferns and vines. Suddenly; one guy screams and drops dead from a laser. I draw my weapon, but can't see anything. Another laser and someone else is down; others begin firing at where it seemed to come from. I thought I heard something like a motorcycle, but the gunfire is too loud. Another guy drops, the laser passed inches from my face. Looking around, a stop a log just large enough to take cover in. I dive in, more shots and scream.
And then there is silence. My squad is dead. But I need to know; I must find out what killed us. Slowly, I crawl from the log, glancing around at the bodies. A fern next to me shakes and I raise my gun to it. A light shines through, pushing through the plantlife and towards me. For a moment, I think someone found us. I expect to see a man with a flashlight.
The is a whirring sound, the light pushes through, attachted to a sort of mechanical arm. It comes closer, inspecting me. I let lose a storm of bullets in panic.
Sparking and whirring, the light pulls back in shock. There is a thump. And then silence.
@Cookies12100: I like variation 4, make those arms and claws thicker (just like the SCV's). I like those pipes in the back and the idea of smoke coming out of them while it works. Maybe it shouldn't have a pronouced head, but its just my opinion, since I don't like robots that look too humanoid.
@AtikLYar: It seems you got the same inspiration that struck me.
Like variation 4 although the exhausts might need some alterations, how about some alternative versions based on it (could always make them like the dark templar with several variations).
Thought the race colour theme was metalic grey with patches of rust (think Port Zion).
I worked on AtikLYar's idea of a "Portal gun" SCU, but after I finished coloring it I actually didn't like it, So I've tried a different idea, more like the blueprint idea of a round SCU. I gave both four independent wheels and side turrets that come out when its ready to attack. The round one should have bigger spider-like legs for that body size, but I tthink its good enough to show the way I see it,
Japanese trash can defines the first one perfectly. I think treads don't look good in units that are supposed to be fast, maybe those legs could look better for another body type?
Did you try rounding the bottom of the first one? Make it more egg-like than trashcan?
I honestly wasn't thinking of the SCU as fast... I was more thinking of it like the hydralisk; slower than the stalker or reaper, but able to do more damage.
Japanese trash can defines the first one perfectly.
Litterers will be shot, survivors will be shot again.
I like the second SCU. It's not exactly what I had in mind, but i like it :)
For the worker, #4 is my favourite. Maybe it shouldn't look exactly like that sketch, but I like the general idea. While your pic was loading, I though "Hmmm... Maybe something similar to Wall-E would look good" and saw the post afterwards saying number 4 looks good, and then I actually saw the pic and laughed xD Epic coincidence
Also, no steam/smoke coming out of the worker. Not that it wouldn't look good, but imagine up to 30 particle emitters in your base constantly if you don't have a good comp.Having puffs of smoke during some animations is good I think, like when it's building or something
I'll try and come up with sketches/blueprints for units as well. Gonna try and make the Clanker, brb.
EDIT: Oh yeah, for scout. Not too detailed, and not large. It's a 1 supply unit, like the marine. I think it should be something that looks good small, possibly between the size of a zergling and a marine. The unicycle idea looks pretty cool, but I think it might look a bit odd if you have a ton of em running around. Maybe there's another unit that design fits more, or we can make another unit? I think the unicycle would be good for a harassment unit, like a sort of hellion or something.
EDIT TWO: No more time today >.> Still have to add an in-motion picture of the clanker and more detailed pictures of the legs. This was sort of hurried so it looks terrible... Guns should be more scary looking (3 barrels maybe?), legs should look less odd and a lot heavier. The legs have spikes at the end to ground the unit (because of the recoil of its weapons), when moving it curls up into a ball and rolls (Which is what the spiky back armor is for)
Sounds like it could look cool, I'll check out the model.
For the scout, what would you think of something like a probe on a single wheel with the gun sticking out above or under the 'eye'?
Maybe the movie Virus would be a good source of inspiration all round for robot appearances.
With the concept of the worker it looks good except it has too much of a humanoid face, robots do not need to smile or have eyebrows.
Contribute to the wiki (Wiki button at top of page) Considered easy altering of the unit textures?
https://www.sc2mapster.com/forums/resources/tutorials/179654-data-actor-events-message-texture-select-by-id
https://media.forgecdn.net/attachments/187/40/Screenshot2011-04-17_09_16_21.jpg
I actually took a look at the comic that is based on, as I had the series lying around.
My problem is that the robots are too alive. They have eyes and things hooked into them and such to see. Their general shape is also overly humanoid and, in terms of how they are build, they feel more like someone made a sculpture out of metal and wires and not an actual, working robot.
Its been some years since the last time I drew anything by hand, but you guys got me motivated. I decided to work on the Scout Drone concept. I like the blueprint idea of an utility bot with a turret on its head and I also liked the idea of a single wheel. My concept uses the original utility bot and makes a few changes to it.
That barrel looks familiar.
Contribute to the wiki (Wiki button at top of page) Considered easy altering of the unit textures?
https://www.sc2mapster.com/forums/resources/tutorials/179654-data-actor-events-message-texture-select-by-id
https://media.forgecdn.net/attachments/187/40/Screenshot2011-04-17_09_16_21.jpg
Not a bad idea. But for a scout, I'm not a fan of the bright yellow color. Something more like dark greys and browns seems more appropriate...
@AtikLYar: Yes, I used the original yellow color, but we can change it to the race's standard color. Brown would "overlap" with Zerg, we have to decide which color we are going to use. What about cammo green? None of the 3 original races use green as a base color.
Green seems good, possibly with black thrown in alongside?
I wont take the time to create all the details, but I changed it to dark green, and it looks better. This little guy really looks like he can roll around scouting the battlefield. If you find one of these in a thick jungle it will laser your face before you can even think "wtf?" ;-)
Okay I tried to do what take into account the feedback that I got and made 4 variations of the worker.
Oh man, that looks cool. I can just imagine marching through a thick jungle, chopping away ferns and vines. Suddenly; one guy screams and drops dead from a laser. I draw my weapon, but can't see anything. Another laser and someone else is down; others begin firing at where it seemed to come from. I thought I heard something like a motorcycle, but the gunfire is too loud. Another guy drops, the laser passed inches from my face. Looking around, a stop a log just large enough to take cover in. I dive in, more shots and scream.
And then there is silence. My squad is dead. But I need to know; I must find out what killed us. Slowly, I crawl from the log, glancing around at the bodies. A fern next to me shakes and I raise my gun to it. A light shines through, pushing through the plantlife and towards me. For a moment, I think someone found us. I expect to see a man with a flashlight.
The is a whirring sound, the light pushes through, attachted to a sort of mechanical arm. It comes closer, inspecting me. I let lose a storm of bullets in panic.
Sparking and whirring, the light pulls back in shock. There is a thump. And then silence.
Sorry, just had to write that down...
And I like variation 4 of the worker.
@Cookies12100: I like variation 4, make those arms and claws thicker (just like the SCV's). I like those pipes in the back and the idea of smoke coming out of them while it works. Maybe it shouldn't have a pronouced head, but its just my opinion, since I don't like robots that look too humanoid.
@AtikLYar: It seems you got the same inspiration that struck me.
I agree with the idea of avoiding humanoid looks, with the exception of tier 3 possibly.
We also need a name for the race... as 'robots' is kind of lame...
@Cookies12100: Go
Like variation 4 although the exhausts might need some alterations, how about some alternative versions based on it (could always make them like the dark templar with several variations).
Thought the race colour theme was metalic grey with patches of rust (think Port Zion).
Contribute to the wiki (Wiki button at top of page) Considered easy altering of the unit textures?
https://www.sc2mapster.com/forums/resources/tutorials/179654-data-actor-events-message-texture-select-by-id
https://media.forgecdn.net/attachments/187/40/Screenshot2011-04-17_09_16_21.jpg
I worked on AtikLYar's idea of a "Portal gun" SCU, but after I finished coloring it I actually didn't like it, So I've tried a different idea, more like the blueprint idea of a round SCU. I gave both four independent wheels and side turrets that come out when its ready to attack. The round one should have bigger spider-like legs for that body size, but I tthink its good enough to show the way I see it,
The first design looks like a trashcan you would find in japan.
Like the legs of the second one but the body needs work.
Contribute to the wiki (Wiki button at top of page) Considered easy altering of the unit textures?
https://www.sc2mapster.com/forums/resources/tutorials/179654-data-actor-events-message-texture-select-by-id
https://media.forgecdn.net/attachments/187/40/Screenshot2011-04-17_09_16_21.jpg
I honestly prefer treads for something so rounded. The wheels just made it look really cartoony...
Japanese trash can defines the first one perfectly. I think treads don't look good in units that are supposed to be fast, maybe those legs could look better for another body type?
Did you try rounding the bottom of the first one? Make it more egg-like than trashcan?
I honestly wasn't thinking of the SCU as fast... I was more thinking of it like the hydralisk; slower than the stalker or reaper, but able to do more damage.
Litterers will be shot, survivors will be shot again.
I like the second SCU. It's not exactly what I had in mind, but i like it :)
For the worker, #4 is my favourite. Maybe it shouldn't look exactly like that sketch, but I like the general idea. While your pic was loading, I though "Hmmm... Maybe something similar to Wall-E would look good" and saw the post afterwards saying number 4 looks good, and then I actually saw the pic and laughed xD Epic coincidence
Also, no steam/smoke coming out of the worker. Not that it wouldn't look good, but imagine up to 30 particle emitters in your base constantly if you don't have a good comp.Having puffs of smoke during some animations is good I think, like when it's building or something
I'll try and come up with sketches/blueprints for units as well. Gonna try and make the Clanker, brb.
EDIT: Oh yeah, for scout. Not too detailed, and not large. It's a 1 supply unit, like the marine. I think it should be something that looks good small, possibly between the size of a zergling and a marine. The unicycle idea looks pretty cool, but I think it might look a bit odd if you have a ton of em running around. Maybe there's another unit that design fits more, or we can make another unit? I think the unicycle would be good for a harassment unit, like a sort of hellion or something.
EDIT TWO: No more time today >.> Still have to add an in-motion picture of the clanker and more detailed pictures of the legs. This was sort of hurried so it looks terrible... Guns should be more scary looking (3 barrels maybe?), legs should look less odd and a lot heavier. The legs have spikes at the end to ground the unit (because of the recoil of its weapons), when moving it curls up into a ball and rolls (Which is what the spiky back armor is for)