Topic: Can a tholian starship be created High-Poly?

[Atolm-Rising]

Out of curiosity I have an easy tos tholian scout ship/patrol vessel (like a cutter), but i cannot see how o make the ship render worthy (with another High poly), as it is a tholian ship?
 Here is the vessel in question:

 

[Klingon Fanatic]

Certainly looks like a Tholian. Enterprise series concept art perhaps? I have no doubt it can be done by one of the remaining non-Federation modle makers still around.

Always nice to see a non-Federation ship.

Thanks for sharing this with us.

[pepperman]

Other than modelling in the vents on the forward section of the ship, there doesn't seem to be many place to add modeling details.  You could model in some plating similar to the way the Tholian Webslinger was done and give it a good weather texturing job.

http://www.shipschematics.net/startrek/images/tholian/tholian_webslinger.jpg

[manitoba1073]

you could do some greebles, but it would be better off with hi-res textures. That is just my opinion ofcourse.

[Atolm-Rising]

See I think Mani hit it right...you can only do a really high res texture with it.
the reason I'm asking, is that I have a friend who has a great hipoly Suyra class and he's looking for a tholian to match... so I drew up the tholian, and actually have a basic mesh of the ship's shape already built, but I can only do so much for hi poly and hi res textures.
Thanks for the feedback mates.

[Norsehound]

I think Tholian ships are better using just simple shapes anyway.

The basic webspinner from Tholian web is still my favorite Tholian out of everything outside of Klingon Academy. Even over the newfangled replacements.

[Atolm-Rising]

I think Tholian ships are better using just simple shapes anyway.

The basic webspinner from Tholian web is still my favorite Tholian out of everything outside of Klingon Academy. Even over the newfangled replacements.

exactly, but if you had to do a render or even a fan movie, you need something to make it comparable to the Connie in terms of presence... such a simple shape, is fine, but then you need something, otherwise the ship is like 14 polies, while a Connie an be over easily 100k.

[GotAFarmYet?]

Well you could make it semi hi-poly you still will not get as many as the Connie because you have allot of flat areas were the Connie is round
You could make the Tholian more cone shaped and then extend the protrusions from there. smooth and round the sharp edges will also increase the count. Add cuts and inlays in the flats as well and you can detail it up pretty well. Mapping will be a pain though if you do that

[markyd]

Hey Atolm,

  Do you mind if I have a crack at making it high poly..

Made the lower poly mesh..

But I think I can make a high poly one of these tonight, I'll upload the mesh here when done, it will have a low poly cage so mapping will be easier and it will be able to be backward compatable for use in games.

Such as SFC 

[markyd]

I think in answer to your orginal question... Yes it can...

this basic model sits at 17k polies, the advantage being the massive reduction in HARD edges, as no edge is 100% sharp, a lower poly mesh would show that on a quality reder.. anyway it not finished, but it proves the point i think.

I may continue with it, not sure. (I like the design mate)

[Bernard Guignard]

Looking real good

[Atolm-Rising]

Wow that looks mint!

[markyd]

Thanks, ill start adding in some detail and see how it looks, how much detail were you thinking? Ent type of tholian or tos type?

[Terradyhne]

Thanks, ill start adding in some detail and see how it looks, how much detail were you thinking? Ent type of tholian or tos type?

Markyd, nice start

i tryed to make one to but got only to 1076 polys with the detail i'm willing to add






i could model in the squares for the warpgrills but i'm to lazy for such things 

[Atolm-Rising]

Thanks, ill start adding in some detail and see how it looks, how much detail were you thinking? Ent type of tholian or tos type?

TOS mate... As she has to stand up to scrutiny in a scene with a high-poly Surya-Class, to simulate an actual show scene.

[Atolm-Rising]

Thanks, ill start adding in some detail and see how it looks, how much detail were you thinking? Ent type of tholian or tos type?

Markyd, nice start

i tryed to make one to but got only to 1076 polys with the detail i'm willing to add






i could model in the squares for the warpgrills but i'm to lazy for such things 

Terra, you too are amazing. 

[markyd]

Thanks, ill start adding in some detail and see how it looks, how much detail were you thinking? Ent type of tholian or tos type?

Markyd, nice start

i tryed to make one to but got only to 1076 polys with the detail i'm willing to add






i could model in the squares for the warpgrills but i'm to lazy for such things 

Nicely done mate, hope you decide to texture it too :-)

Thanks, ill start adding in some detail and see how it looks, how much detail were you thinking? Ent type of tholian or tos type?

TOS mate... As she has to stand up to scrutiny in a scene with a high-poly Surya-Class, to simulate an actual show scene.

Ok cool, Ill keep details to a minimum then.

[markyd]

Rebuilt the model today, prefer the new mesh, its cleaner and i learnt some things in the process. Took a bit more time with it. So will start detailing tonight.

No more detail than the sketch is that correct?

[markyd]

More progress, poly count 153K 

So I am unsure as to how to detail as the only ref image for a TOS Tholian is the generic one, that looks like one shape, with a couple of grooves and some lighting to make it look interesting.

Are you thinking that this ship should look constructed? Pieces and elements... or more stone and natural like?

Thanks 

[manitoba1073]

Tholians are beings of crystals. Maybe the grow there ships in the way crystals are formed. Something along that line of thought, though I think that could be more of a texture styled set-up more than a poly.