Last Torch Maps: A Golem in the Sand

[Meshon]

Another map for a someday-to-be-release Last Torch adventure called Golem in the Sand. A rather ill-starred archaeologist and treasure hunter is attempting to assemble a golem to smash open the doors of an ancient vault. What could possibly go wrong?

This map has been pretty slow to progress. I'm doing a lot of the work in Photoshop (as opposed to my usual Illustrator), and using it in a way I haven't before. However I figured before I went too much further I'd put it up here and keep posting away as I get more things done.

A couple quick explanations, since a lot of this is just blocked in right now. The only area that is actually more or less done is the platform itself, and even there the pillar bases aren't complete and neither are the bits of rubble. Everything in the sand area is unfinished and has loads of work still to come. The dark brown areas near the ruined walls are intended to be stone slab floors, partially buried under the sand.



cheers,
Meshon

[Meshon]

A little progress on the ruined walls and scattered stones. I still need to figure out a good way to make the flagstone areas (dark brown geometries) look like sand has blown over them.

Oops, I see I forgot to hide my colour swatches before saving.

I don't know of any particular feedback I'm looking for at the moment, though if anyone has ideas on how to blow sand in over those floors, I'm all ears. Also if you spot something particularly nastybad, let me know.

cheers
Meshon

Edit: I just realized that I need to use a higher quality compression. Next time I upload I'll do it without the icky artifacts.

[Chick]

... though if anyone has ideas on how to blow sand in over those floors, I'm all ears...

Something like this?

[Meshon]

Something like this?

Yep, something like that! Although it needs to be on the bits around the edges, the parts I called flagstone but don't actually have any flagstone texture on them so they really are not the flagstone part of the map. Whups, sorry.

Is that cloning you did there? I think it will be fun to work on this part. I like putting dirt all over my maps…

cheers,
Meshon

[Chick]

Oh? Are you asking how I did that? Silly me, I just poured sand there and blew some of it away


I copied a big rectangle of your sand from the top center, pasted it on top of the stone area, then used a large eraser brush with hardness 0, opacity 40%, flow 20% to blow some away, er, that is, erase some of it.

Have fun getting dirty!

[Meshon]

Oh? Are you asking how I did that? Silly me, I just poured sand there and blew some of it away

Like.

I'd use a like button, for when rep is still on cooldown

[Chick]

I just happened to stumble across a picture showing a lot of sand blown over ruins, thought it might help a bit: http://www.avalook.com/trip2004/wa15/imgp4871.jpg

[Meshon]

Thanks chick, like again! I was doing some research into models for figuring out how snow drifts around buildings which will help. I also see now that I should make some spots look like people have walked over them. Thanks for the picture!

[Meshon]

Continuing to plug away, mostly working on the ridge this time. Next up I'll need to make the sand look more like sand… contours and such. That will probably be a whole lot of experimentation!

Any feedback is welcome! Although I'm very aware that I'm really only making micro-sized progress

cheers,
Meshon

[jpstod]

I like simple maps