HOME | DD
Shimmering-Sword β Battletech - BattleMaster
#acs #anthony #armor #assault #battle #battlemaster #battletech #canon #cockpit #combat #command #concept #guns #heavy #illustration #laser #launcher #line #lineart #machine #master #mech #mecha #mechwarrior #missile #particle #ppc #scroggins #shimmering #sword #tech #warior #shimmeringsword #s #c #art
Published: 2017-11-20 17:23:13 +0000 UTC; Views: 36264; Favourites: 687; Downloads: 0
Redirect to original
Description
Time for a big ol dump of official Battletech lineart!This "classic" (or "newseen" as the fans call it) set of mechs is intended to refresh the art for some early era mechs.
My goal was to be as faithful as possible to the originals to deliver something recognizable and iconic, yet still come up with something original.
The BattleMaster is the only mech of the set that I didn't design, as it first featured on the cover of Interstellar Operations, Alex Iglesias' handywork. We liked that version enough to stick with it aside from a few edits, rather than me coming up with something else.
The huge bubble cockpit returns!
Related content
Comments: 80
True, MWO somehow doesnΒ΄t have much round stuff, weaponbarrels aside.
All mechs look very blocky, even if both IS and clan version tended to be roundish.
Not that i complain, i like MWO aestetics.
π: 0 β©: 1
They're slowly getting more curves in over time, and I agree I like their aesthetic.
I think at first they simply doubted they could keep nice curved meshes optimized enough.
π: 0 β©: 1
Yes, especiallly the Marauder IIC had a huge jump in roundiness (that word sounds silly, but i didnΒ΄t knew how to phrase it better).
In general, the more "round" you want to make something in a system using triangles, the more triangles you need.
Hence they try to keep it down for the sake of online speed.
π: 0 β©: 0
Oh man, I forgot about this one. It's like Wolverine on steroids x).
π: 0 β©: 1
If a wolverine and Griffin combine
π: 0 β©: 0
wow realy great it got the old style feel very wel.
π: 0 β©: 1
Thank you.
π: 0 β©: 0
Damn dude.
This made one of my favourite βMechs even more amazing.
I would say awesome. But this isnβt an awesome. Itβs a Battlemaster.
π
π: 0 β©: 2
If I recall correctly, the Dougram version of this was that show's equivalent to the Gelgoog, if that makes any sense.
π: 0 β©: 0
Haha, the Awesome comes later
π: 0 β©: 0
Seeing all these lovely bits of Battletech art makes me excited for Harebrained's Game coming out some time early next year.Β Well that is if their last kickstarter update is to believed and they don't have any more major problems ambush them.Β And makes me dislike the, poor, quality of IWM Battletech minis.Β I don't understand why so many people seem to support them.Β They are so last Century its getting pathetic with the every lowering of the price of 3d prints and art programs.Β
Sorry for the rant and thank you for the great looking big stompy mech.
π: 0 β©: 1
3D printing for final use is still far more expensive than buying a cast mini, and most people don't even have reasonable access to a printer, let alone one that comes close to printing at a level of quality that doesn't suck. Meanwhile, IWM actually uses 3D printing for a lot of its minis. They still employ a few traditional sculptors, but more digital artists are growing the team (while the traditional methods are dying out).
The problem you see is that Battletech has way too many mechs, and is constantly adding them. IWM doesn't have time to go back and continually improve their sculpts with new methods when they're racing just to keep up with the new designs coming in. The newer mechs look a lot better than the old ones, but the new ones are largely for new era's, so you either have to not care about era's, or not be obsessed with the succession wars / clan invasion.
IWM is supported because they're the only legitimate supplier, you can buy elsewhere, but you'll be supporting thieves
π: 0 β©: 2
This is all true... plus tbh TT gaming is niche market, unless, apparently you are Games Workshop. Sadly it's made a vicious circle..... the small market base keeps them from being able to afford to revisit and improve previous designs, outside of things liek the recent kick-starter.... but it's also that same dated aesthetic, lack of consistency, scale, and overall QA that keeps them relatively niche, too.Β Β Yes, buying from outsiders is "supporting thieves".Β As an amateur artist, I am cognizant of that.Β
But I also realize this is the end game of the pirate generation.Β If people think it's OK to pirate movies and music.... why should they view miniatures and artwork as any different?Β And for someone who is maybe only casually acquainted with the IP, or getting into it... and they see a bunch of pewter minis of questionable quality, exceedingly poor scaling, etc.... or for the same price on ebay can obtain resin or plastic minis, with better QA and consistent scale... and are much easier to work on?
*shrugs*
I think the thing is.. IWM is at that point where they need to evolve and adapt to "modern market realities", or they will wither more.Β I love the IP.... but even my fanboi nature can't help me not be frustrated when I look at most of the "official" minis.... and how bad they are. And it kills me more when they update moulds (sometimes out of necessity, understandably)... and the sculpt gets WORSE.Β I literally hate the new sculpts of the Enforcer (based off that awkward 3050 upgrade art) of the Enforcer, Hatchetman or Assassin.Β Just as a few examples.Β TBH... I would be inclined to buy a pirate cast of the old sculpt, if the QA was right, because I hate the new sculpt.Β
It really should be black and white.... but it's kind of unfair or disrespectful to the fans of the IP, to keep feeding them low quality product as the only "official" source.Β CGL has made steps with newer TROs, using guys like you and Alex, David White ... and admittedly, I don't know how to fix the stuff from TRO 3055-3058, for instance without simply blowing them up and starting over.... but between slow, outdated rules for our ADHD generation, the Pirate Mentality, and a long history of poor QA throughout the franchise... Battletech is in a hard spot, IMO.Β Β
Which sucks, being my favorite IP.
π: 0 β©: 1
One problem that you might not see, but you do feel as in the resculpts you don't like, is that often when IWM DOES have the capacity to resculpt something, they don't get any direct support from CGL in the form of funding or well refined art. They simply throw the job at a sculptor, rarely with an assisting artist, and run with it. And often these jobs don't go to IWM's best sculptors either. Alex Immerzeel and I (we always work together) haven't been given any of these assignments.
This new box set is the first time in a long time that CGL/IWM has set out to make old designs modern and apply elevated quality control to the project. Hopefullly the process proves itself well enough that they will want to continue using it, as barring a scaling messup, my methods almost guarantee something good.
And yeah, Warhansa, Alex Clarke, the Polls, and Insane Kangaroo are following a logical opportunity. I'm almost more mad at PGI over it actually, as they're the ones enabling it. I don't mind garage kitters going about business, filling product holes where needed, but only when they're doing it nicely. Unfortunately PGI has given up so many inches as to reveal they'll readily allow wide open piracy of their IP, which leads to unashamed outfits like Warhansa, and even Clarke being fucking balsy to downright scummy (can't say "fuck him" enough lol).
π: 0 β©: 1
Sadly true in a lot of areas.Β Also it appears that at least one, I believe Insane Kangaroo, gets "protected status" from PGI over it.Β At least so go the rumors.Β I know there is one they let do whatever.Β Heck, one might even paint me in a similar light, though I don't actuall get any revenues from the production of minis, I'm simply a hired gun doing the concept art, because others do see the opportunity, that the whole mess between CGL, IWM, PGI, et al, leaves available.
The part that pisses me off, as a 30 year supporter of the game, is to be honest how badly we the players and fans have been shafted by sub par "official" product for so long.Β I get it that CGL basically runs out of a Garage, and IWM doesn't have the financial strength of the old Ral Partha days, etc.... but seriously... when it comes to wanting to play my favorite game, of my favorite IP, then I see the official min for the mech I want to use and it's raw ass.
I do talk to a couple of the guys over at IWM, and Ray over at CGL.Β And I don't want to crap on them.. but CGL and IWM need to work hand in hand and let the artists ride QA on the sculpts.Β And in this day and age, a lack of consistent scale is simply inexcusable.Β it was over at PGi (which I rode Russ about until they did a full rescale), and it is now. Add into it the gift that keep son giving (HG) and the mess that Jordan has left for us all these decades, and it's pretty frustrating.Β Β
π: 0 β©: 1
Haha, us artists actually do run QA for IWM, the problem is we aren't all sculptors, or the most proficient in general. Also I believe I'm the only QA artist being paid to do so.
No other group or pairing does sculpting like Alex Immerzeel and I do, which is him doing good modeling work while I ride his ass hard to do better, all while providing him accurate reference for every angle he needs.
Sadly even that can't stop the prototype printers or IWM from letting a scale mishap through.
π: 0 β©: 1
relationship between artist and sculptor is pretty crucial.Β I'd have to say that a lot of the other artists and or sculptors don't seem to be as invested as you and Alex Immerzeel.Β Of course for some artists, it's just a paycheck.. once the art is done, what do they care?
π: 0 β©: 1
Very true. When working on the mapscale dropships, I made sure to ask Mr. Loose many a question.
π: 0 β©: 0
I haven't looked in to the newer sculpts for IWM in a while so I guess I am out of date in the current quality.Β And the fact that I am completely spoiled with mainly using GW kits that have ever improving kits with parts to make just about anything for them.Β Yes I know GW is basically the Behemoth of the gaming industry with money to spend on great Plastic kits which are every expensive.Β And to get that level of customization for a kit to make it with strong connection points might mean they could increase the size a bit.Β Which would be nice to have a bigger, more imposing models.Β I just want cool looking legal models for Battletech.Β That Russian company that makes the knockoffs from MWO just soo much better then IWM.Β I always wondered why IWM never made kits that had the more or less base chassis with just all the options with it.Β Even if its can only do two or three variants, would it not make things easier for them?Β
I guess I just grumble about things I only know a bit about and just wait.
π: 0 β©: 0
It's fairly durable, so long as its ammo dosen't explode
π: 0 β©: 1
That's what CASE is for!
π: 0 β©: 1
Well more "That's what an AC20 round in the 12s is for!"
π: 0 β©: 0
Coming to a box set near you, soon
π: 0 β©: 0
"Time for a big ol dump of official Battletech lineart!"
Happy day!
π: 0 β©: 1
Well, a roughly "one per day" dump
π: 0 β©: 0
<= Prev |