So.....I am working on a mod for a quest to re-build a pair of dual wield, sheathed crossed on back higher level blades with my friend Hobbs.

I had posted some of the WIP pictures of the model being made in his combined thread of WIP/RELz without a single comment from the community (other than my friends Buddah, and Hobbs himself) on their thoughts on it so I decided I would start a WIP thread to hopefully hear some feedback (good, bad, ideas,opinions or otherwise).

I found the concept art I was going to model from in a picture of a blade by Kit Rae that I really liked the shape of, and figured would make an awesome set of dual wield blades:

http://img23.imageshack.us/img23/839/kr0025.jpg

Being as the picture is only 2D I made the rest per my own vision of how I would like it to be.

http://img12.imageshack.us/img12/4139/mergedswordsrender.jpg

http://img14.imageshack.us/img14/5376/swordrender1.jpg

I then tested it in .nif form for placement in hand, and size.

This is where I need your input:
(Please excuse the placeholder texture on the model in game as I have not UVMapped the model yet)

First a couple of pictures:

http://img12.imageshack.us/img12/1059/screenie1a.jpg

http://img12.imageshack.us/img12/411/screenie2b.jpg

http://img12.imageshack.us/img12/4066/screenie3ca.jpg

http://img6.imageshack.us/img6/2761/screenie4w.jpg

Questions for you:

How is the rotation of the blade in respect to the grip? Need to be more forward facing or further back?
Grip on the handle closer to the blade or alright where it is?
Kit Rae has this as a two handed sword but when used as one handed as I intend to do (dual wield) how is the size of the sword compared to the character currently (in your opinion).

All responses welcome but know that I am happy with the model so will not modify that. I am interested in your opinions on placement in the hand, and size of the blade based on the assumption of them being dual wielded.

Thanks in advance,
Nico



OH! And how about an EPIC name for the pair as well. Think higher level quest reward type of artifacts (one of a kind in all of Tamriel, and perhaps tied into the lore but doesn't need to be as we could write our own for the quest to re-build them).



[EDIT]

Names have been chosen as well as models completed for different versions of the blade for different play styles.

Names are Drow words (closest I could get to Dunmer)
for Defeats = G'jahalle for the attack blades
and Protector = Ih'ara for the defensive blades

Pictures of the final model (in all variations that will be available in the mod) with hand positioning, and final texture below


http://img44.imageshack.us/img44/8013/doyouknow.jpg
http://img197.imageshack.us/img197/5153/40145467.jpg
http://img197.imageshack.us/img197/1828/40924400.jpg
http://img24.imageshack.us/img24/9418/51398624.jpg
http://img197.imageshack.us/img197/4170/60700410.jpg
http://img24.imageshack.us/img24/4658/83163808.jpg
http://img24.imageshack.us/img24/2820/49234822.jpg
http://img24.imageshack.us/img24/3429/55495684.jpg
http://img24.imageshack.us/img24/2738/36584848.jpg

Short video of reflections of the blades in first person since pictures cannot do it justice

http://firingsquad.us/albums/WIP_Mod_Pictures/Oblivion_2009_10_13_10_46_16_40.mp4

Quest giver statue of Almalexia pics below (Will be tweaking size, and probably using a base from in game)

http://img36.imageshack.us/img36/4772/aaal1.jpg
http://img36.imageshack.us/img36/8868/aaal2.jpg
http://img36.imageshack.us/img36/4442/aaal3.jpg
http://img36.imageshack.us/img36/3308/aaal4.jpg

I will update this thread as work continues on the quest mod to which this sword will be the reward.

I gather you are intentionally shrinking the sword since it's switching from two handed to one handed? Size looks okay to me as a medium length sword.

I do think she should be gripping it in the next section toward the blade, though. Balance looks way off as it is.

Thank you Showler. That's exactly the feedback i am looking for, and I agree but needed to make sure. Perhaps in the center of the handle would balance better.

As for the size I have only seen one picture with someone holding it (two handed by Kit Rae), and it isn't much bigger than the model I have in game now. I tried smaller but it didn't look right.

Very nice model, the texture looks a bit off IMHO, but I'm not a big fan of non-silver sword blades(makes them look fake to me)

It looks a bit small and a bit off balance. The hand should be placed right next to the guard on the hilt, and the bladeshould be a tiny bit longer for it to be better balanced.

I collect and train with swords in real life, so thats were this is coming from, not from modeling experience.

ROFLMAO!



Thanks, I will move the hand further forward on the handle although probably not all the way to the hilt as the blade might interfere (clip through the hand) during animations.

1) Rotation is fine in my opinion. No need to change that. However, if I have to be nitpicky, I think it should be a little further back. Not much, though, if any at all.
2) I think the grip should be closer to the blade, but given the style of the sword itself, it shouldn't be TOO close. It would seem a bit too unrealistic to curve the handle like that, but then keep the hand close to the blade.
3) I thought the blade should be bigger when I looked at the standing shot, but the hip shot made it seem fine, so I remain undecided in that regard. I think you should extend the blade a little, however. I generally don't think swords used in the dominant hand should be short like that. It would be perfect offhand, though.

Hope my small amount of input helps. ^^

I'm surprised the two handed version isn't bigger. Especially for a fantasy game, but I suppose the material it's made from could just be heavy enough to make the smaller size necessary.

For hand placement, my best explanation is this: It looks like she was holding it two-handed, but let go with the wrong hand causing a loss of control.

Agreed on the grip:

http://img7.imageshack.us/img7/1982/aaoption11.jpg
http://img7.imageshack.us/img7/2038/aaoption1.jpg

Meh....Covers up the center piece, and still looks off-balance to me.


http://img7.imageshack.us/img7/835/aoption22.jpg
http://img7.imageshack.us/img7/5058/aoption2.jpg

Now that's more balanced but does the handle look too long to you now?
[edit] the more I look at it the better I like this option, and with the handle that length it does appear to balance out the blade nicely.
BTW I jacked the model size from .93 to 1.0 also.

http://www.gungfu.com/pics-general/pics-swords/swords-other-swords-fantasy-m-kit-rae-mithrodin-with-art-print.jpg

Oops, I missed that, sorry. I blame multitasking.

Possible Names:

Aglaeca (fighter)+ Alden (defender)

Acwellen (kills) + Arian (spares)

Hitori (alone) + Isshoni (together) [rough translation]

Miramamolin (commander of the faithful) + Meynada (armed followers)

Solus (single) + Colligo (collect, gather together)

The Boanerges (sons of thunder or sons of tumult)

Other possible names:

Annis (unity)

Govannon (God of the Forge)

Scead (shade)

Werian (defends)

Okay...

I like the second option as well. Kind of makes it look like a hand and a half sword with the option of going two handed if necessary. What you need now is a good animation of her backhanding someone with the end of the grip

The image you linked of the guy two handing it looks odd. His hands are so far apart and the blade so short that it kinda makes it look like a weird sword/axe hybrid.

WOW! Awesome names! Thanks! Of course credit will be given if any are used in the final mod.



I thought the handle looked odd also.......so I shortened it, and moved the hand a tad while upping the size a slight bit:

http://img36.imageshack.us/img36/5696/option3z.jpg
http://img36.imageshack.us/img36/5171/option33.jpg

Ooooooooooo. I am liking this.

These both look like a balanced, realistic grip on the sword.

Thanks Fluffy Knight,

I agree also but will probably shrink the handle some (every direction) as I think it looks slightly fat for the hand currently.

Thanks all, and good night. One more day of mundane work tomorrow. I will post more pictures when I have the blade UVMapped, and a texture for it.

I agree. Possibly keep the offhand weapon that size but enlarge the main hand version slightly?

the last 1 is perfect for me i cant wait for the release
and quality work as always nico

I have given this some thought, and feel that both should be (pretty close to anyway) the same size for looking correct when crossed on the back (sheathed).
I may make a slight variance in size but it will be slight if at all.
On the option 3 model above I have actually enlarged the entire sword from the original in the first post, and feel that the blade is about the correct size (in option 3 pictures) but the handle still needs to be shrunk some (too fat IMHO).

I have some time so will be working on that handle (easy peasy 5 min job tops), and creating the UVMap for the blade. Then it's on to the textures!

Lengthened Blade, and narrowed handle.

http://img36.imageshack.us/img36/4901/aalengthenedbladenarrow.jpg

Created custom collision for the model also:

http://img36.imageshack.us/img36/7411/customcollisionmesh1.jpg

Having fun with DMC Stylish animations:

http://img36.imageshack.us/img36/3010/aafunshot.jpg

The model looks much more balanced in the grip as well as the correct ratio of blade to handle for that model when used as a single handed blade.

More pictures to come...............

Placement is looking much better now !! Looks pretty good as is (once you make the texture for it !) - the only thing you might want to try is shortening the butt end a bit - since you are not using it as a 2 hander you really do not need all of that space where the second hand would have been placed ( It looks good as is but I believe the animations may clip a bit with the length of the hilt as is.

Nicely done. I might download this, if the sword is added to the game in the right way.

On the length of the hilt: The extra long hilt is a slightly uncommonly used method of balancing a blade. You see, if a blade is off balanced, it can't be used with grace. In sort of elegant or discreet sword would need to be well balanced. Some sorts add in a longer hilt not only for balance, but for grip on the sword. If you stab a short sword into something and quickly yank it out, if there is no guard on the end, your hand may slide right off the hilt - extra long hilts help prevent that.

One of my favorite swords in my (real life) collection has a hilt half as long as the blade. In dueal blades, they would be used for shifting the wait of the sword easily - something that would normally be hard to do in duel blades.

Swords are much more complicated then most people think. :lmao:

Been using DMC Stylish animations in my game, and watching closely for clipping issues but haven't seen any with the handle as of yet being that length. I did already shorten it as well as make it more narrow (both x, and y axis). Will play with it some more to double check on any clipping issues but will probably leave it the length it is now for a more balanced look on the blade to handle ratio. I fear if I shorten it any more it will again look off-balanced like the first pictures in the OP where the hand is at the bottom of the handle (worried more about this since I lengthened the blade also).



Well, I can tell you that it will be no easy feat to obtain it (them). I am doing a fully voice acted quest mod with my friend Hobbs to find the pieces of a pair of shattered legendary blades, and someone skilled enough to re-forge (and perhaps even enchant) them much like the Tribunal quest to rebuild Trueflame.

Download if you like it, and don't if it's not your thing. Makes no difference to me either way. To me what's important is I am happy with it, and it's something that I personally want in my own game. I gave up modding for others long ago. It's impossible to please everyone so the trick I believe to continuing to enjoy a hobby (and game) I love is to mod for myself first.
I share because I'm just a nice guy like that

UVMap is created, and texturing commences.........

Very True - the Balance does look right as is just wasn't sure how tight to the body that end stays in combat but you'd have a better idea since you have the model !



Sounds good ! - and look forward to playing through the mod once it is finished up !

I sure like the whole look of the blade. The last variant is very nice. What I would suggest is (although it is a bit off the original concept) to curve the end of the handle a bit. Like this it seems a bit strange that the blade curves, but the hilt does not. And maybe you could concider making the pommel a bit bigger. Just a bit to give it more ballance.

But that is just nitpicking. The blade looks awsome as is.

I totally agree; I'd much rather play something you yourself enjoy immensely than something you threw together to please the masses. And the sword is coming along very niely

I actually reduced the size of the pommel slightly as I thought it looked a bit out of place as large as it was at the end of the handle. probably not the best for balance but better IMHO for looks.

Thank you
I am liking how it's coming along also.