Sea Dragon Palace, Kaidan

[Gamerprinter]

@ Jykke - yeah, some of the objects were created in 3D and I didn't have a consistent angle on all the 3D objects, I tried to get them the same, but there are slight differences. Whereas all the other objects have hand-pulled drop shadows instead, so I didn't quite match all the shadow angles. I might fix that.

@ Coyotemax - don't leave me in suspense, if you have a critique, please tell, unlike popular belief, I am not "all knowing!"

@ MSA - I am to please!

GP

[Coyotemax]

Ok, fair!

Looking at the areas that are poking out of the water, i think they
would look really nice with waves lapping up against the shore.

That's all

[Gamerprinter]

Ok, fair!

Looking at the areas that are poking out of the water, i think they
would look really nice with waves lapping up against the shore.

That's all

Yeah, the thought occurred to me too. I was thinking of creating a 3D fringe of surf, maybe use the turbulent sea foam image I have as a texture, then make it transparent at the center and invisible at the edges. Doing it so the coral near the surface isn't covered up is my primary issue in doing that, but I may just do something like that. Good suggestion!

GP

PS: I already adjusted the transparent "layers to blue up" the canyon layer and lighten up the one beneath that. I'll post an update this evening.

[Gamerprinter]

OK, moving right along, I'd say, I'm about four fifths done with this map. I need to fill in the bottom center area on the main city level, also want to create some large structures going from the bottom cliff shelf up to main city level, and fill in the rest of the bottom level.

Pretty much all the buildings were done in 3D as well, for one I wanted varying shadows and tall/long shadows on that spiral set of buildings. Thought using a spiral seemed rather "undersea" in thinking.

For Coyotemax, I placed some ripple waves on the part sticking above the water in top left corner, for scale, I even placed a large sailing ship (though perhaps its too close to the shore.) also notice its drop shadow on the coral far beneath the ship (40' down?)

Almost done, I'm very happy with the way its turning out. Oh and lightening the transparent layers really helped it visually.

GP

PS: now that I look at it, the rock formation on the bottom right of the map looks like a Grouper's (ocean fish) head with the crevasse being its mouth and the large stone structure with the blue light looks like its eye. Though that wasn't intentional it seems appropriate as well, so I'm not changing that!

[Gandwarf]

The ship's too much I think. Or it's too close to shore, like you already said. Otherwise, very nice.

[Coyotemax]

wow, that just keeps looking better and better!

You're right about the grouper shaped layout, I had thought that to be intentional
Maybe it was just a subconscious thing while you were creating?

the ship is a neat addition, right now it does look like it's overlapping the shore - but that's ok, maybe it's grounded It actually does help in that it gives a good reference point for scale. That having been said, the urns underwater seem rather gargantuan, or are those some odd shaped coral formations?

[Gamerprinter]

There supposed to be a crinoid shell for some kind of sea worm race - yeah, I know they look like urns or bottles or something.

GP

[Gamerprinter]

Finally finished this map!

GP

[Steel General]

Very nice GP! I especially like the gateway/tunnel thingie.

One little thing that seemed 'off', near the ship there is a vertical line (I'm assuming it's some kind of depth change indicator), it just looks weird because it is so strait. Not a big deal really, just thought I'd point it out.

[Go0gleplex]

looks awesome.