Urbs Romana - The Roman City

[SimHoTToDDy 2,939]

Just a little texture tweaking and I think these will look perfect.

Shifted yellow plaster and stone blocks to red slightly. Reduced saturation all around. Added subtle gradient to roof. Darkened plaster slightly and added a little more contrast (edit: I would probably go darker, now that I look at it). Basically trying to fight the overblown white spots. Given that your textures are all the same on these (or just about) you should be able to modify the appearance of all the models at once

Overall the project is very nice. You have put a lot of effort into this, it is quite impressive. Just perfect your textures and you should have a wonderful collection of BATs.

P.S. Welcome to page 2!

  Edited April 19, 2011 by SimHoTToDDy  

[lucky7 73]

@ SimHoTToDDy Thank you very, very much for your input, this is highly appreciated! I've tweaked the textures

the result is awesome... Although, I've made not the plaster too dark, because I'd like to

have it appear in the game like whitish stucco it is looking great.

You know, texturing seems to be a bit challenging as I have a certain picture in mind- and going

away from that is hard- however, today's lesson is to 'make the textures 2-3 times darker,

de-saturate and contrast more'. I'll post some pictures later.

Thanks a lot, again, this has been really helpful

@ Harishna Well, I keep thinking about modelling offset-tiles, meaning off-angle. Probably 2x4 and 2x6 tiles

in order to allow for better game-play (off-grid). As for the sections: I guess they will remain

as they are now, so yes, the orthogonal 1x1 pieces will have to be plopped piece by piece.

Maybe there will be 1x3 pieces in an add-on, we'll see.

So, working on the diagonal sections the second of which is about to be completed.

Pictures later,

take care,

lucky7

[Gn_leugim 858]

Todd already said what I thought about the textures, as I as going trough the 1st page. all arround it is looking very good. just the textures need lil more work, as Todd said

[9988 428]

You should upload them all on ST! I will be very happy, because I will have fine addition of buildings to my ancient roman CJ.

[lucky7 73]

REPLIES

GN_leugim Thank you, here's the outcome...

9988 lol, yes, I can imagine Just a little more patience, but something for during the wait...

These items are already completed:

7 different atrium pieces, 1x1, for the middles of the street

fronts:

6 different atrium pieces, 1x1, for the corners:

Ok, the different atrium pieces need to be finished (details), then

it's about time to work on the gardens - 30!!! puzzle-pieces.

Stay tuned for more,

thanks for your comments / suggestions and

take care,

lucky7

EDITED by lucky7:

I've just realized that the atrium pieces pics are cut... well..

Here are some details, though:

lucky7

  Edited April 26, 2011 by lucky7  

[lucky7 73]

Mhm, no comments or suggestions? Well,...

this could mean you like it- or you dislike it, and I don't hope the second

option is true... :/

The next phase of the house-puzzle-pieces: detailing

A shop for potteries:

Political slogans in form of graffitis on the wall next to the entrance:

Preview:

More houses, soon,

lucky7

[glazert 89]

Your attention to detail is impressive, but I wonder how much of that is likely to show up in game?

[harishna 847]

hehe no comments mean I like it, I think it is an impressive set you are creating, I am more curious about the open atrium the roofs drain to the inside, do you know if it was intended to collect rain water or just to allow more light?

  Edited April 28, 2011 by harishna  

[tonyr 926]

Great update!

[lucky7 73]

REPLIES:

Glazert Thank you very much.Yes, I know- the makority of the details won't show up in

the game. Ironically- or personally- it is very important to me to have them

right in place. I know, this sounds weird, but... well, yes...

Harishna My godness, a reply which explains a lot! Thank you. You know, I honestly kept

asking myself if this thread would be obsolete or just a niche- niches, however,

should become popular, too As for the information concerning the 'atrium' per

se, see below.

Tonyr Thanks a lot.

Well, I guess the time is right to share some information about Roman architecture- as we

are currently dealing with the 'atria-series' (atrium-- atria) there's something for you:

The atrium was normally covered by a roof which sloped inwards. The rain water ran down

towards the center, to a large rectangular hole (compluvium, literally translated as

'where it rins together, com). Then it passed through spouts (in the shape of animals)

and fell into a large rectangular bassin (impluvium) set into the floor of the atrium

as a distinct room of the house. The water drained into a shaft which carried it down to

a cistern.

There's a wide range of different atrium-styles; some were also supported by 4 columns

on the edges (Tetrastyle atrium, 'tetra' means 4), also more were possible (Corinthian atrium).

Originally, before Romans had assimilated Greek culture, the atrium had no hole at all

(and it had been originally named like a tortoise due to its shape ).

It developed through the centuries and through the cultural assimilations of the Roman

Empire.

Only later, a mixed-housing type was developed: a fusion of the 'Italic' type (Roman)

and the hellenistic house (Greek) containing a garden surrounded by columns- the

outcome is visible in the house-puzzle-pices-series.

Just to let you know, if I haven't stated it earlier: all puzzle-pieces are highly

influenced by the ancient city of POMPEII, as it covers all Roman (and even earlier)

building styles and is a masterpiece of daily Roman life back then.

If you ever get the chance to go there- do it!

Here we go with some pics:

So, I keep working on the rest of these before I am proceeding

to the gardens...

Take care,

lucky7

[gutterclub 2,729]

These are looking great, like your attention to detail with this unique project. I will possibly add a bit more gradient to the roofs and desaturate them a little, and possibly a little smaller UW map??...those red tiled roofs for me are the hardest things to make look great ingame.

Keep it up : )

[Jasoncw 11,949]

I really like the Roman courtyard house. One of my architecture history books talks about them and they're really neat.

Your project is going well so far. I think you're not getting very many comments because not many people plan on building Roman cities. But part of that is because there's not enough buildings to do so, and once you're finished and people see that they can play Roman cities, I think there will be a lot more interest.

[harishna 847]

Thanks for the info, I am with Jasoncw, I believe your work it is quite good and interesting but very specific, I mean most people build contemporary cities this doesn't mean you will not have an audience once your bats are released...keep it up!

  Edited May 2, 2011 by harishna  

[lucky7 73]

REPLIES:

Gutterclub Thank you; well ,about the textures: I am still experimenting

trying to follow Todds' advice as this was very helpful. And the

rooftiles are really a p.... - very difficult to get them right.

Glad you like my work, here's more.

Jasoncw Thanks, Jason, the real life counterparts (all decorated and painted

all over) must have looked more than impressive )

Yes, I guess it is definitely the niche-thingy; maybe, people / users

will later benefit from my future uploads. This had also been the reason

why I was calling for a BAT Team in my first post...

The thread would have become more popular and I am pretty sure with enough

effort this whole topic still could get the same status as SimMars- which, yes,

is also a niche...

Moreover, I have something else in my mind... we'll see

René

Harishna Thanks a lot, see the reply to Jason. I know. More now.

Well, another atrium puzzle-tile nearly finished- anybody in need of

bronze ware? :)

See the lanterns, btw?

2 corner left with details, 7 w2w tiles waiting to receive eyecandy.

Gardens up next, finally.

Concerning the future UPLOADS: just let me know if I shall upload the

atria_vol.1_pack (consisting of 13 different ones) simultaneously with

the gardens_vol1.pack (about 30 pieces) or release them independently?

The walls, however, are coming as a single pack, prior to the other

ones.

Thanks in advance for comments / suggestions,

lucky7

  Edited May 2, 2011 by lucky7  

[harishna 847]

superb details, they starting to look alive!

I think your bats can also be use to recreate archeological or historic sites in more modern cities....

[lucky7 73]

REPLIES:

Harishna Yes, the details bring add so much more to the scenery

Concerning your idea to also use the BATs for recreating an archaeological site:

well, I had this in mind, too

Here are more details... thank you very much.

Simultaneously to the different types of atria, I've also started to work on the gardens.

Thus, todays update is also featuring small w2w gardens (1x1 tiles) surrounded by rooms

and named xysti (Sing.: xystus). These were adapted from Greek architecture to compete

with the exaggerated Roman need and desire for gardens and used to be very small, mostly

surrounded by only one or two rows of columns, sometimes none at all.

First, however, another atrium showing a small tavern- IMHO the building looks very nice

due to its layout:

The xysti:

The next one is very special, because parts of the upper floor are made

of opus craticium: timber framework filled with rubble, stones and

brick.

Alright, that's it for today, I am continuing work on the different

tiles.

If you have any questions, comments or suggestions - oh, a rhyme -

you will be very welcome

Take care everyone,

lucky7

  Edited May 7, 2011 by lucky7  

[Ceafus 88 1,887]

Looks amazing so far!!!

[lucky7 73]

REPLIES:

Frex_Ceafus Thank you, here's more.

So, back with a lot of details concerning the gardens and a preview of a

huge suburban villa. This, btw, is modelled out after its real life counterpart

outside the ancient city of Pompeii, the Villa of Diomedes.

Here we go with the details of the garden puzzle pieces:

My favourite garden so far, btw

And finally the aforementioned Villa of Diomedes (a wrong owner was

assigned to this villa during the excavations, but it is know under

that name, though)which is really huge- and THIS is only the garden:

Comments and suggestions are very welcome stay tuned for more and the

first upload next week

lucky7

[Schulmanator 5,810]

Very nice! I am going to need to build a special region for all of this Roman awesomeness.

[harishna 847]

wow you are progressing really fast, you got a group of monkeys modelling in your basement?

[Evillions 552]

I love this new set you're making! Hopefully I get to use them someday.

[sumwonyuno 42]

Wow! I'm certainly impressed with both the detail and variety of your work!

[harishna 847]

how you model the vines in gmax?

[tonyr 926]

Outstanding detail once more again!

[Ceafus 88 1,887]

Amazing Detail, Keep Up The Superb Work.

[Chptrk 86]

Totally amazing, I can't wait for you to release all of these!!

[Sgt Pepper 864]

I never noticed this before...now how can that be?!

Rene, your attention to detail is superb. You have dramatically improved since the last I saw your BATs in your NYBT Thread(which was still impressive:D). These creations, as beautiful as they must be in real life are wonderously recreated.

Texturing wise it is looking fantastic, I say you've got the UVW mapping far better than I have had.

Keep up the good work!

[Delecto 941]

Superb project!

[lucky7 73]

Hello again, here we go with a quick update on the villa seen in the last one.

As I've mentioned in my last post the villa is modelled after the original one,

therefore it is very accurate speaking of size and measuring.

Nevertheless, a lot of details are based on my knowledge about Roman villae

architecture as the majority of these have gone during the centuries- or, in this

case, due to the eruption of Vesuvius 79 AD.

However, enjoy, REPLIES TOMORROW and a new villa

First, some details not clearly visible on the final BAT:

Finally, the preview:

Well, stay tuned for the replies- thank you very much, btw- and

the layout for the next villa which 'touches the sea' .

Thank you and take care everyone,

lucky7

  Edited May 27, 2011 by lucky7  

[Schulmanator 5,810]

Ooooh! (emits squeal) VERY nice!