Accignite Vos on 30/7/2013 at 14:37
Fact: I am a fan of
Thief. I have been so for many years.
Also a fact: I've wanted to get into Dromed, but I neither have a computer capable running of TMA/TDP, only T3. Plus, I've lost my CDs. Plus, I suck at coding.
Solution: Make pretty textures instead for people to use in their fan missions or put into the vanilla game.
So far, all I have are two skyboxes, and a banner/wall people could use. Credits go to Mayang Textures, Open Clipart, Pixabay and The Riddler (with his Thief font) for providing stock resources for me to use; if you use these in an FM, please mention these websites in the readme file and/or credits of the mission. I'd also appreciate a nod of credit, but it's more important designers know that these sites have stuff they can use to make new textures with.
Here is what I have so far:
Red/White/Black Stag Wall/Banner: (
http://i.imgur.com/stQLWIf.png) (Inspired by the Baratheons from
GoT)
Stag Wall/Banner Alternate: (
http://i.imgur.com/iRziKe4.png) (Added some shadowing around the edges to make it pop, or at least tried to; could also function as a carpet)
Maw of Chaos Mountains Distant Art: (
http://i.imgur.com/FQ1eIA6.png) (This reminds me of the "Dream Gate" dark secret/adventure hook from that Thief RPG someone put up on here; I wasn't sure where I was going with this when I started)
Foggy Moon & Mountains Distant Art: (
http://i.imgur.com/UJVBaHr.png) (A moon and mountains skybox with a copious amount of fog effect; might be good for any missions that take place at high altitude, or maybe something horror- or mystic-themed)
***
Edit 1: Finished a couple more custom textures. They're a couple of tapestries of women, actually really old paintings of Nimue and Morgan Le Fay from Arthurian mythology. I've tried my best to make them look like ornately-dyed tapestries with a Mayang texture, but in case they don't, I've added a frame from Pixabay as a variant, to make it look like a giant painting. They might be good for a plot involving a powerful noblewoman or someone's "Lost Lenore".
Tapestry One, Nimue (Framed): (
http://i.imgur.com/jWqVoTd.png) (alternate with less shadow at (
http://i.imgur.com/4oXXVBM.png))
Tapestry Two, Morgan (Framed): (
http://i.imgur.com/weyd348.png)
Tapestry Three, Nimue (Unframed): (
http://i.imgur.com/ZnzfSL1.png)
Tapestry Four, Morgan (Unframed): (
http://i.imgur.com/eI8drpz.png)
***
Edit 2: Was taught the differences between a skybox and distant art. Worked on a proper skybox, got this, crit is welcome:
Heavenly Tapestry: (
http://i.imgur.com/SBORpBH.png)
sNeaksieGarrett on 31/7/2013 at 15:42
Sorry to go off topic but wanted to address what you said about not being able to play the old thief games.
That makes no sense. Thief 3 is newer than tma/tdp so if that works id say running thief 2 or tdp is entirely possible. Now, that's not to say you won't have issues getting it to work on modern hardware but we're here to help.
I think you should give it another shot by using tafferpatcher and or tfix. Now, I realize you said you lost your discs, but you can easily get the games nowadays through Gog.com, steam, etc.
Now on-topic:
Cool, I bet people will have a use for these in their FMs, especially the paintings. Can't go wrong with more paintings. ;)
Accignite Vos on 31/7/2013 at 16:10
sNeaksieGarrett, some very kindly people have pointed out Tafferpatcher and how to install it, so if I can find my CDs I will try that. Strange as it might sound, I need to save every penny I can right now, so buying stuff from GOG will have to wait until I have more time for the fun stuff.
As for the paintings, do you have any other suggestions on paintings or painting-like textures that the community might find helpful? I may redo that Nimue one, something about the shading of the framing is throwing me off....
Edit: Here's the Nimue painting with less shadow around the frame: (
http://i.imgur.com/4oXXVBM.png)
LarryG on 31/7/2013 at 17:15
You do know that celestial objects and clouds should be separate from the wraparound Distant Art?
NewSky provides for 3 celestial objects, 1 cloud deck, 1 sky coloring specification (separate colors at the pole, 45 degree, 70 degree, horizon, and horizon dip, which blend between) , and 1 stars specification.
Celestial objects can be a sun, a moon, or any other celestial object which appears fixed in location in the sky. A cloud deck, on the other hand has an associated "wind speed" allowing it to show movement during the game. I believe that some have also used it for flocks of birds circling in the sky. [Edit: and fogging is an option on all of those ....]
Your skyboxes, which look to me more like distant art, would be more useful without the sky color and the celestials. Ref. (
http://www.ttlg.com/forums/showthread.php?t=118907&page=183&p=2154670&viewfull=1#post2154670)
Edit: FYI
Quote Posted by jermi
Distant art consist of two bitmaps. This is what you use if you have a cylindrical map.
A skybox consists of the 6 sides of a cube. This is what you use if you have a cube map.
Typical cubemapped skybox:
[ATTACH=CONFIG]1749[/ATTACH]
Oh, and if you want a great source for paintings, try (
http://www.abcgallery.com/) Olga's Gallery.
sNeaksieGarrett on 31/7/2013 at 17:46
Quote:
As for the paintings, do you have any other suggestions on paintings or painting-like textures that the community might find helpful? I may redo that Nimue one, something about the shading of the framing is throwing me off....
I don't really know to be honest, but I suspect some more variety would be good. You could look at what's in the game already and get some ideas from that. You know, scenes, more people, what have you.
Also, Larry to the rescue!:p
sNeaksieGarrett on 1/8/2013 at 00:31
My bad. I knew that site looked familiar, but couldn't remember how I found it.:o
Accignite Vos on 1/8/2013 at 02:06
I finished an attempt at a skybox that simulated a Milky Way-like sky, good for missions that take place in a deserted countryside.
(
http://i.imgur.com/SBORpBH.png)
Any input is welcome. I'm still practising getting the textures right, so critique is welcome.
