Crius

Aisha nodded, all too knowingly. If there was one thing she'd still not got used to after joining the PPD, it was a Vahzilok crime scene.

"There's another patrol car at the end of that alley. Someone should check it out."

Arching her neck and scanning the rooftop skyline, bathed in a light glow from the moonlight, she looked for signs of life, or disturbance.

"And someone should check up top. I'm gonna check this place."

With the softly spoken words, almost a whisper dancing in the late night air, she stepped up the small stairway to the nearest apartment block, knocking lightly on the rear door before trying the handle.

Aisha, known on her hero license as Alruna, softly placed her feet down near the wrecked vehicle, stumbling and stepping back on to solid ground.

Her brow curled into a grimace as she scanned the carnage, her gloved hand reaching out to the smashed radio as she crouched, sighing and imagining what she was about to walk into.

Standing and streching out the pains in her back from the day's work, she cautiously made her way over towards the alley with the congregating crowd, her eyes and arms giving off the tell-tale glow of Kheldian energy and causing an eerie glow to fall over the dank space.

"What do we have so far?"

Officer Aisha Stone was helping a young, nervous female up into a SWAT Van when she heard her radio buzzing with life. Giving the terrified looking girl a smile, she winked and spoke with a voice as soft as silk.

"You're safe now, sweetie. This lot will get you home."

Slamming the door shut, she knocked three time and the engine rumbled into life, taking the young girl home, away from the horrors she had been subjected to in the Council base Aisha had just cleared, hidden under the buildings of Brickstown.

Hearing the call come in and realising she was close, the PPD Awakened Officer straightened her costume. Her eyes glowed softly and she delicately floated from the floor, before flying off in the direction of The Chasm.

The clothes aren't that bad! It's kinda what we've come to expect from Ni and Annette (maybe not so much Annette, but still).

The look on Ni's face is especially good

Softer shadows would be nicer I think! The fall of the shadows on Ni's shoulders looks a bit sharp, but it is nice!

I'm trying not to complain! Really! But the backgrounds are the only bad thing I can pick out.

Except on that one It does look like a photo shoot, and looks great.

I think Libby deserves better hair, and the costume might look a bit better with a low opacity texture/bump map, but apart from that, fantastic!

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Hmm, I did specifically make sure I narrowed her waist and lengthened her legs this time, which is how the character is built in CoH. It's rather an Image character style, slightly exaggerated. I rather like it, actually, so


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Well, that definitely is personal preference It's just something I couldn't help but noticing, so pointed out anyway!

Eagerly looking forward to more though! The shadows thing I can get. Been fiddling in DAZ myself the past few days, and only managed to get shadows working properly this morning. Though I'm very impressed now!
I would post one or two but one, it'd feel like jumping in on something else and two... I'm not sure I should!

...And it's not to do with the image content as to why not!

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Try this then...

Beyond the City

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Link to Renderosity there

Beyond the City is the one you want!

Ni does look a hell of a lot better than the very first one... but (here we go) there's something on that one I can't pick out.
My eyes keep getting drawn to the boots/her hips/thighs, and for some reason they just look...strange.

I think it might be the exaggerated "Superheroine" frame thing, with the terribly skinny waist and muscular everything else. It gives her a bit of a strange look.


I'm going again with the background too, but this time I have a legitimate criticism! Shocking, I know.

Ni herself is fantastic and I think in this one, it's easy to pick out why the background doesn't come to the same standard: lighting.
The shadows on Ni complete the whole thing, but the stark "fullbright" background makes her look out of place



...I'm really starting to feel awkward being the only one offering some criticism too. I do love them, really!

Looking much better!

The hair is a great improvement for a start, looks much more... "Ni".
The face has changed too? She looks a lot better again.

And the mesh definitely looks better! The more solid bits at the edges really make it look more real and do attract your eyes too, which is probably the intention

A good background (I'll keep saying this. Feel free to punch me) and that's the best piece yet! Top class!

I think you can do more awesome

Ni does look great as usual. The shading on her face is a bit strong, but it does suit the scene and gives it a slightly more menacing twist.

The shading in the background though, I'm not sure about. It looks like different lighting to that is on Ni herself.

It does look good though, can see a definite improvement with each new one It's inspired me to fiddle with Poser and the like again, so thanks.

...I do think the mesh part of her costume could do with being a bit more see-through though. If only to keep in with the game

Now that really made me go "Oooo!"

That really is a huge leap forward, in my eyes at least. The background is good enough now to not distract your eyes from Ni, and with the shadows and lighting cranked up like that, it looks spectacular!
The boots, her rear and, um... side profile especially.

I can still see the difference in texture quality from Ni to her background, but then I'm picky as hell (and "hard to please" ) because I work in the industry. I'm paid to notice this stuff!

That really is great though. Looking forward to more now!

And if you ever want someone to fiddle with touch-ups, or maybe even some texturing and similar, I can be poked and annoyed to do it. After all this moaning, it's the least I could (try) and do.

I am going "Oooo!". But I think I can go "Ooooooooo!" with a bit more
I am evil, I like seeing people get into things I never could. It's intriguing and fun and helps me go "Hmm, perhaps I should try again", so I apologise and say thank you at the same time!

You probably could rectify the background problem with some superimposed/picture backgrounds, but I'm not sure if that's what you have in mind.
And I'm not sure how DAZ really works, so I'm not sure if importing 3D, textured models works or they have to be setup...

Once Ni is placed in a fantastic background, I'm sure I'll go "Oooooooo!" and you can back to enjoying the hobby. Promise!

Ni does indeed look very, very good.

Perhaps a little too good. The detail on her swords, body and boots seems to overshadow the rest, almost making her look superimposed on the background.

To cover my view, I now realise just how expensive all this is after being intrigued enough to take a good look at everything on offer. ($36 for a scene? I was more than a little gobsmacked)
So, not to sound like a complete [censored], I -do- love how Ni looks, but the background seems out of place to me. Or she looks out of place on the background...

Actually superimposing her on a detailed photo scene could be quite interesting!

Well, I look forward to seeing what will happen when you do learn a bit more

All Time High is very nice too, I do love that background!


I'm guessing this is an actual program limitation (and personal taste) but I think she looks too...old?

For a nineteen year old (twenty now? ), her face seems a little too aged. And butch! And the muscles I think are a bit too defined for my tastes...

I'll shush, because it is all fantastic apart from my personal niggles.

It's amazing how much of a difference the boots really make...

It's also quite amazing that you don't really think it until seen like that, but lots of the Female costume pieces in CoX really are that revealing!

I don't know if it's a limit of the program, but I'd love to see Nitoichi set against a more detailed background/floor, but other than that, they look even better!
Looking forward to more, but I guess it takes a lot of time and patience


And the third pic... I couldn't help but smile at such a bad pun.

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Apart from a few, there seems to be a very big fixation on using them to create certain scenes, but it looks like you're straying away from that

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Depends where you go look, but I know exactly the kind of scene you mean. Mind you, even in the places where that kind of scene is common, you can find some beautifully rendered work which has often had a lot of postwork done on it in Photoshop (or similar) to get the look just right. By comparison, this stuff is extremely primitive, being untouched render output.

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Oh, without a doubt there is some. But there's plenty of the other too

Not that that's a bad thing! People can do what they like, and I've fiddled with it myself. I just never have the patience for things like that. Anyone who does, to any kind of standard, I tip my hat too.

There's a person on DeviantArt who does similar things that I've had favourited for a while, because some of the pieces are just astounding. You might like it (or probably already seen it!):
http://fredy3d.deviantart.com/

I think the Action Pose 2 and Original Ni are the two that are top for me. It's hard to choose!

I've never really been a fan of most 3D Modelling like this myself. Apart from a few, there seems to be a very big fixation on using them to create certain scenes, but it looks like you're straying away from that

Ni and Libby definitely don't look right without the boots though. They're part of them now!

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Don't user created missions give zero rewards? I'm sure I read somewhere that you gain no xp, inf or prestige for playing them. I might be wrong though, if someone could clarify it for me.

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While in an Architect mission players WILL get normal kill xp, inf, prestige, and inspirations. After the arc is complete there may also be a different type of merit (not i13 merit, not Rikti merit) called a skeeball ticket (placeholder name maybe?). Skeeball ticket is all the information we really have. No present idea how they will be used/redeemed.

While in an Architect mission, players will NOT get: end mission bonus, salvage, recipies, or enhancements.

http://wiki.cohtitan.com/wiki/Mission_Architect

Personally, I've always imagined them transferring any captured villains to one of the Longbow bases dotted around the Isles (Like in Nerva or Bloody Bay), before transport can be arranged to get them to the Zig.

Though, this does mean that they intend to capture
It's quite possible that, given the threats on the Isles, they'd be permitted to use lethal force if absolutely necessary.

Another great piece!

I thought it was all going too easily for a start...

Loved the reactions to Annette and Ni's comments especially. Surprisingly easy to relate to.

I'm no good at critiquing, so I'll just say I thoroughly enjoyed it

I love some of these in here! Really impressive

I always do my best, and I really hate playing characters with costumes I don't like...so hopefully these look good. Some have had comments in game, which is a great feeling!

They are, in order:
Mach One, MA/SR Super-Speeder
The Canadian Kid, in both outfits
Bassai, my Technology/Armoured hero
Mistress Rad, former model turned Villain

Costumes!

The Canadian Kid stepped through the doors to Galaxy City Hospital.

The layout and decor of the place threw him for a second. He'd only had to visit the Kings Row hospital once before now, and for a while he thought he was right back there. Shrugging it off, he made his way over to the reception.

With a dazzling smile, the Red & White adorned sixteen year old began quizzing the woman behind the counter.


"Evening, miss! I was wondering if you could help me..." he said in confidence unbefitting of a teenage boy.

"Of course, sir. What seems to be the problem?"

"I'd like to know if you've had any recent admissions. Within the last quarter hour or so...we had a disturbance nearby at the Galaxy Girl statue and believe someone may have been sent here."

A few clicks on the computer in front of her and the receptionist slowly shook her head.

"I'm sorry, sir, nothing in our records of any admissions within the last hour. Is there anything else you need?"


The Kid smiled, nodding as he looked down at his patriotic costume.

"Could I trouble a doctor for a quick radiation check? Just to be on the safe side...there were traces at the blast site."

With a nod and a hand gesture, a doctor stepped up to The Kid's side, placed a hand on his shoulder and walked him over to the elevators.

"It's our pleasure, Canadian Kid. Right this way."

I did photoshop a screen a long time ago...in a different way

I used to do it for some Matrix Online screenshots too, to try and make them look better. In this case, I did it to show Joey Stahl, a character of mine, in the aftermath of his beating by a group of Skulls

In the story it was raining, which obviously doesn't happen in game, so I added that. As well as lighting changes, some smoothing of edges, adding some blood...little things.

Original

Photoshopped

For some reason, everytime I think of this question, I immediately think "Mako needs more love".

I love him. Ever since Villains was announced I thought he'd be great, and I really do think he could be.
The description of him taking down the Ghost of Scrapyard (y'know...before he was a ghost) is completely vicious and actually makes him seem like a villain...which I think is lacking.
The "born a mutant and cast out" is extremely cliche, but after that his story is (personally) fantastic! Becoming a pirate, being drawn to Sharkhead thanks to the name, the way Recluse finds him, his search for "something", teaming up with Barracuda...

So yeah, my best is definitely Mako

Worst, I can't really think. I don't hate any of them, really.

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Annette/Nitoichi is one of the most interesting characters I've played recently. She can't level skyscrapers (she can't even leap over them, though I guess given some explosives...), she has poor alcohol tolerance, she gets worried over trivia and acts like a human because she is one rather than because she wants to. If anything, she's actually an exploration of becoming less human through the effects of her lifestyle. She could end up being less human than the godly types.

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I just have to quote this, because it's an excellent point.

Personally, I frown upon "godly" characters because they bore me. Why play a character that can do everything?

I also think this is why I make so many "Mutant" characters. A character coming to terms with a new power, adapting, learning to live in Paragon as a Hero and staying alive ultimately seems infinitely more interesting than a creature from another dimension, or an Immortal from 700 BC.

I always end up tying it back to existing Marvel/DC/Comic characters, but the alcohol comment made me think: This is why I love Iron Man so much.
His period of alcohol abuse, the consequences and what happened after interested me a lot more than most other stories.

On the other hand, there's Doctor Manhattan from Watchmen. A character who has control over everything, but is done so incredibly well you can't help but feel for his predicament. If someone managed to pull a character like that off in CoH, then fair play to them.


I have no idea what point I'm trying to make, but if someone finds one...well done!

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I want to get a 7AT hero concept fully IC immersive roleplay team going, sticking as close to canon as possible. But herding two other players can be bad enough, so instead my personal challenge is to try and write it as fiction instead.

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I've already said before I'd love to be a part of that!

Personally:
- More badges! 102 is the highest I've ever got...it's time for more.
- A level 50 Villain. I'm slowly getting there with an IC team, so it should happen!
- A level 50 PB/Arachnos Epic. PB is at 22, Arachnos needs unlocking, so getting there also.
- IC Mothership Raid, which also should be happening!
- Starting a decent, small RP SG, mainly for a big base suitable for RP venues.