Bridge Commander Universe

captain_obvious · **Posted**: 06-24-2005 07:15 PM

that deflector makes the ship look like it's gonna kiss you!!! sickening......... HELL YEAH!!! Laughing

the ship overally is great, but that deflector. why dont you put up a few different versions of this ship with different deflectors? (like one with a connie refit deflector, one with a galaxy part, etc.) and see which looks best, and if needed suggest changes.

**Nebula** · **Posted**: 06-24-2005 07:18 PM

LOL not a bad idea

**Raven Night** · **Posted**: 06-24-2005 09:11 PM

Ok, it seems the biggest complaint is the engineering width, followed by the deflector shape and position, and finally the length of the ship. If I were to correct all of these items, save the shape of the deflector, it would look almost identical to the Intrepid, which would make the entire exercise fruitless....I know, I tried it.

However, I did save an intermediary step....I want this ship to be acceptable to as many as possible of course. Though I cannot please everyone, I think I can find some kind of balance.

So, I started with the engineering section....I made it wider, and I increased the width of the deflector dish. The dish itself is already protected by the armor piece in it's center, but it is still open to suggestions. First things first.

Let me know if the width at present works better. Any wider and it starts looking too much like the Intrepid.

Creative Inc · **Posted**: 06-24-2005 09:23 PM

Yes, much better. It didn't take as much as I thought to make the deflector look better. Big improvement in my book.

**Raven Night** · **Posted**: 06-24-2005 09:35 PM

Just a quick comparison...........comparing the two shows me what you guys meant. I think the problem was there was no balance between engineering and the saucer. Now it looks more balanced...before it was top heavy I think.

Creative Inc · **Posted**: 06-24-2005 09:40 PM

Yeah, I know. I used windows preview to go back and fourth between the images and as I said it didn't take much but it did make a huge difference. The entire armor idea is great to. Just a quick question though, what's the poly count now?

**Raven Night** · **Posted**: 06-24-2005 09:42 PM

One sec and Ill check.

Ok, right now, before cleaning it up it is at 3481 polys. I box model, and this is just a concept mesh, so it is poly heavy as usual. I could probably get it down to about 2800 when i am finished.

Creative Inc · **Posted**: 06-24-2005 09:48 PM

Holy crap. Below 4k as it is now? Wow. I though for sure the armor and whatnot would add to it. Boy was I wrong. So if this is a concept mesh, you plan on making a CG one and making this one for BC?

**Raven Night** · **Posted**: 06-24-2005 09:51 PM

This probably wont be a CG, although I might get inspired to detail it further. I want to try to avoid the whole "brel MaveQ" thing I did, as that would slow down the entire concept mesh process.

I am close to the ability of creating a reasonable...note I said reasonable, not competant....CG quality mesh. I will pick out specific ships to practice on, ones that could use extra detail. This could be a candidate.

Creative Inc · **Posted**: 06-24-2005 09:55 PM

I think it has great potiential. Are you going to add more detail via physiclly modeling it onto the ship or via texturing it? I'd love to see her with textures.

**Nebula** · **Posted**: 06-24-2005 10:02 PM

yep it looks much better, as you said it was top heavy.
Now all you have to do is change the deflector shape back to what it was in the First concept and you got a winner.

**Raven Night** · **Posted**: 06-24-2005 10:06 PM

Well, I know how to apply textures, but I am not very good at making them yet. Right now I mostly picrape for my textures, so I am concentrating on modeling in detail.

Mainly the details I make are to guide the modeler toward my desired end result.

Creative Inc · **Posted**: 06-24-2005 10:16 PM

Well, whatever your choice, I'm sure I'll enjoy it. And picrape? I would have never thought of a word like that. Funny.

Phaser · **Posted**: 06-24-2005 11:12 PM

"Picrape!" I love it!

Anyway, maybe you should go with a Sovereign-style deflector--small, but not too small, and set into the secondary hull a bit. I'd also recommend adjusting the hull accordingly, so it wraps around the deflector in a manner similar to how it does on the Sovereign.

The only real problem I have with the deflector is that its shape almost gives the ship a crazy-looking smile. I just don't think the deflector is currently giving it a 'warship' feel.

**Raven Night** · **Posted**: 06-25-2005 07:12 AM

Ok, here is an example of the saucer armor. What do you think.

Creative Inc · **Posted**: 06-25-2005 09:15 AM

I'n not a big fan of the way the saucer armor is currently. Perhaps try creating it it larger divisions and try to make it more like a plate feel by having them lined up?

Gareth · **Posted**: 06-25-2005 06:19 PM

How can you have something that's 'top heavy' in space, where there's no gravity for it to topple over? Wink

- unless you mean when it lands Razz

Adm_Ross · **Posted**: 06-25-2005 11:21 PM

Phaser · **Posted**: 06-26-2005 12:16 AM

If this ship is supposed to use a lot of the technology Voyager brought back from the Delta Quadrant, why have permanent armor on the hull, like on the Defiant? Instead, give it armor like what was seen in the final episode of Star Trek Voyager, and have it deploy via the MVAM mod. It wouldn't have the cool transition seen in the show, but the desired result would be the same. Besides, that much armor covering the hull doesn't make much sense. If most of the hull was going to be covered by armor, the designers could simply make the hull out of the armor material itself.

Also, I liked how the ship looked before you added the armor! Grin

**Raven Night** · **Posted**: 06-26-2005 03:10 AM

Ok, too much switching around though. This ship needs ablative armor...and the purpose of ablative armor is to sit on top of regular armor and reduce the effectiveness of torpedoes....it has no effect on phasers.

I will put up pics of my latest armor try, and I am willing to trash the idea of armor all together if I have to.

Adm_Ross · **Posted**: 06-26-2005 03:22 AM

Sean · **Posted**: 06-26-2005 04:02 AM

what id say about the armour is that it doesn't need to stick out like a sore thumb, the defiants armour could bearly(sp?) be seen if at all.... but to be honest i think its starting to look really good... even with the current armour plating

**Nebula** · **Posted**: 06-26-2005 05:42 AM

I agree

**Raven Night** · **Posted**: 06-26-2005 07:40 AM

Right now the armor is about .06 thickness, it is easy enough to reduce. Also, the color contrast is high to make it stand out now, but that will probably be less prevalent in the final version...finally, the armor could end up being texture based only.

At any rate, I made a modification to the spine armor to match the saucer armor. Your call on whether or not it is an improvement. I think overall it matches better.

JamesTiberiusKirk · **Posted**: 06-26-2005 10:53 AM

well i like the hole ship + armor, only the bussards could be a little bigger, i mean only the red bits

**gamesfunk** · **Posted**: 06-26-2005 11:34 AM

I think that the bussards are large enough if you compare it with the nacelles and the ship. But I do think that the flat 'extension' of the bussards can be removed, like this...:

G.

Phaser · **Posted**: 06-26-2005 07:04 PM

I see you guys are having fun with MSpaint! Razz

Anyway, I the new armor pattern is a definite improvement.

JamesTiberiusKirk · **Posted**: 06-26-2005 07:06 PM

**gamesfunk** · **Posted**: 06-26-2005 07:23 PM

Nah, not MS Paint, just Paint Shop Pro 7 Razz

.

G.

lost_jedi · **Posted**: 06-26-2005 07:38 PM

I really love it as it is, however i do think that the buzzards should be made bigger. Well done Smile