In that case, yes, I can see how an economy "fix" would involve changing the fact that the base of the economy would currently rest on players (minimally) interacting with rocks.

Wrong thread to discuss this, Lecter and genka.

Firebow: Have you thought about orthographic projection?

Surb, at least we're discussing something useful. These images, while cute, are utterly useless in the context of VO for reasons already mentioned.

You're discussing it in the wrong topic.

Too bad.

If it's that much of a problem and the devs actually 1)have determined that this is an important waste of time to fondle this topic and 2) determine after the fact that it has no bearing then they can move it. Anyway, I think I might do some orthos for the Super Bear. Otherwise I might do a high-detail of the gunboat.

Cool, can't wait.

Good stuff, Firebow.

Keep drawing and fleshing out the idea. Draw the same ships from different angles. Pick out an area to draw in more detail and do that as well.

However...

The developers won't use your designs, unless something drastic has changed at Guild SW HQ. The developers want to make sure they hold the moral high ground on all copyright and intellectual property issues, so unless they contact you first and ask you to do some drawings for them, you probably won't get "published."

The way I see it, they don't want to have a 16-year old submit a bunch of drawings which they use, or which they draw even 1% of the idea from, come back in 3 years and sue them for royalties or infringement or whatnot. "You used my idea of the gunboat and didn't pay me for my hard work and intellectual property!"

I could be completely wrong here, and would be happy to hear their side of the story directly, but that's the only reason I can think of as to why they don't tap into the VO community's vast graphics capabilities/resources.

inked and redone:
http://img183.imageshack.us/img183/9732/votanigblinesjd1.gif

I can't say it's final, but its a retool and resized gunboat. I figure there's plenty of room for a hangar back there. I might just end up doing alternate angles of this as so much is hidden in this shot.

Anyway, yeah leebs. IP is a very tough issue. Honestly, I'd legally relinquish rights to the drawing if it got implemented Honestly; (in my dreams, I know.)

I'm actually used to the all-out anarchy of Infinity's contributions forum. There's some real titans there and they're making good ground. But Guild has their model and I'm fine with that.

Really, I was more hoping to create some vague impressions about what some faction equivalent mini-caps would look like. As this is just suggestions, my original intent was to stir up the sediments, I suppose.

Also, passing note, I'm older than 16, sorry if I've implied otherwise through my behavior :P

Personally, I see too much of the valk in there. It's still a good concept to continue with, but it really wouldn't make sense for the itani to have a 'gunboat' type ship like that. It looks like someone took the idea of a valk and added a bunch of guns and armor to it. From the itani's peaceful, art-loving aesthetic view, I'd say that just wouldn't fly with them.

I see a valk there.

Nicier valk than in game

Yeah, understandable. I may try dropping the aggressive plating lines. That may help. Other than that, I'm not sure what I can do for the design to make it seem more peaceful, as it is a war vessel.

I have some ideas for higher level ships that would likely be slick and stunning. But here; I'm not sure. Anyway; I'll go along with coloring it as you said.

edit:(didn't mean to sound sarcastic. I'm familiar with bolder designs and I'm sorry I fell short on that mark. Maybe something else will come to me.)

I tried designing ships myself, but I found I was heavily influenced by VO's own design, despite the fact that my original designs (which I did a few years prior to the redesign for VO) were very different from the final one.

I guess it is difficult to shut out external factors and make a truly independent design when you are immersed in many environments like VO, Wing Commander, i-War and what-have-you.

The developers want to make sure they hold the moral high ground on all copyright and intellectual property issues

Copyright release, rather than a license, is really very simple. If all he's doing is giving up any and all IP in the design, GS wouldn't have any trouble (and I offer that in a completly non-dispensing legal advice manner).

Aggressive lines?!
All of your lines look like they were drawn by a drunk who made sure to go extra-slow, so as to emphasize the "shaky and unsure hand" look. The only aggressive thing about your drawing is my reaction!

Here's how far any coloring's gotten. I plan on experimenting with how far I can refine this as it's rough as all crap at the moment.
http://img258.imageshack.us/img258/4299/votanigbcolui5.gif

I might try and get texture and detail in there but I promise nothing :P

Question: What are those valk-like pods for in any case? Engine housing (they look like the engines are attached to them)? Perhaps it would be wise to give them turrets, as well, because they create not a blind spot, but a blind solid angle. Same goes for the bridge of the nose, so to speak, but that's just my opinion.

I primarily left in the blind spots because I intended the design to favor ranged attack, so the hardpoints are concentrated to bring the hurt from the sides mostly. Do you guys think it needs mre turrets in order to make that justified? As this current design is bigger than a Trident.

Being new to VO I have found this thread after it seems to have died. I hope Firebow is still drawing. Its a shame that a person's enthusiasm for VO gets slammed by curmudgeons.

Firebow>> anything new, lately?