Art I did for the Phoenicia Campaign

Massalian Elf Mage 2 by ~Atlantean6 on deviantART

This is a Massalian Elf Mage. Quite mean looking too. :)

ORC RACIAL TRAITS

I did this, Work-in-Progress though

+2 Strength, +2 Constitution, –2 Intelligence: Orcs are incredibly tough, but they are more likely to follow their passions instead of reason.
Medium: As Medium creatures, orcs have no special bonuses or penalties due to their size.
Normal Speed: Orc base land speed is 30 feet.
Low-Light Vision: Orcs can normally see two times farther than a human in starlight, moonlight, torchlight and similar conditions of poor illumination. Orcs retain the ability to distinguish color under these conditions.
Battle Rage: Orcs long ago learned how to harness the ferocity that dwells within their fierce hearts. This ability functions exactly as a barbarian’s rage, except for the differences noted below.

The orc may rage only once per day.

If the orc belongs to a class that already allows access to a rage-like ability (such as the barbarian class), the orc’s racial battle rage ability allows him to rage one additional time per day.  Regardless, an orc may rage only once per encounter.

+2 racial bonus on Handle Animal (wolf) and Intimidate checks: Intimidate is a class skill for all orcs.
+1 racial bonus on attacks against humans: Orcs have a longstanding enmity with humans.
Automatic Languages: Common and Orcish.


RACE TRAITS

Only Orcs and Half-orcs may select these traits.

Amazingly Ugly: Your skull is misshapen in a grotesque way. You receive a +1 trait bonus on Intimidate skill checks, and it becomes a class skill.

Beast Rider: You have a knack for breaking animals to your will, though you know little of civilized training methods. You gain a +2 trait bonus on Ride checks, but should you ever be forcibly dismounted in combat, your mount attacks you to the best of its ability.

Big Mouth: You have an innate ability to weave stories about yourself that extol your might and prowess. Yougain a +1 trait bonus on all Bluff, Intimidate, and Perform (oratory) checks made against orcs.

Brute: You are an especially large and hulking individual, and when you strike, you aim to deliver the maximum amount of pain. Whenever you score a critical threat, you add (but not multiply, in the case of a confirmed critical hit) an amount of damage equal to your weapon’s critical modifier.

Deadeye: You have only one working eye, but that eye is especially keen. You receive a +2 trait bonus on all Perception checks involving sight.

Demented Inventor: You adore crafting new and ever more creative weapons, and some of them even work. You gain a +2 trait bonus on Craft (weapons) checks, and it becomes a class skill.

Dirty Fighter: You were raised to fight with every dirty trick in the book. You receive a +3 trait bonus on all attempts to feint in combat using your Bluff skill.

Mindlessly Cruel: You take delight in delivering vicious blows with cruel weapons. Whenever you have a morale bonus on weapon a ttack rolls, you also receive a +1 trait bonus on weapon damage rolls.

Outcast: You are adept at living away from tribes and receive a +1 trait bonus on Survival skill checks. Survival becomes a class skill for you.

Rage of Storms: Summoned creatures can inherit your ferocity. Once per day, a creature you summon creature can have the ferocity ability (Pathfinder RPG Bestiary 300).

Tribal: You are especially devoted to your tribe, and within 60 feet of a tribal standard, you gain a +1 trait bonus on attack rolls and Will saves against fear effects, as if you were the recipient of a bless spell.

Tusked: Huge, sharp tusks bulge from your mouth, and you receive a bite attack (1d4 damage for Medium characters). If used as part of a full attack action, the bite attack is made at your full base attack bonus –5.

Unbreakable Hate: Your ferocity is focused into your spells, and it is harder to break your concentration. You receive a +2 trait bonus on all concentration checks.

---------------------

OGL Section 15:

15. COPYRIGHT NOTICE
Open Game License v 1.0a Copyright 2000, Wizards of the Coast, Inc.
System Reference Document. Copyright 2000. Wizards of the Coast, Inc; Authors: Jonathan Tweet,
Monte Cook, Skip Williams, based on material by E. Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson.
World of Warcraft: The Roleplaying Game Copyright 2005, Blizzard Entertainment

Pathfinder Companion: Orcs of Golarion. Copyright 2010, Paizo Publishing, LLC; Authors: Steve Kenson, Rob McCreary, Richard Pett, Sean K Reynolds, and JD Wiker.

Jassa, Patron of Adventurers

Jassa by ~Atlantean6 on deviantART

Intermediate Goddess
Jassa, the Patron Goddess of Adventurers, is pictured here.  She is worshiped in Phoenicia by adventurers, explorers, and other folks who like to take risks on their life.  A Chaotic Good goddess, she is the patron of gathering glory and is sometimes as regarded as Zeus and Hera's daughter.  She is associated with both Ares and Apollo.  She flirts with her two brothers like she flirts with danger.  Her temples and shrines are found across the realm.

Domains: Chaos, Glory, Good, Healing, Travel

Desert Elf 2

Desert Elf 2 by ~Atlantean6 on deviantART

A second desert elf render, this time using the Southwest as a backdrop.   If any one objects, just think of it as the country of Jordan in the Middle East. :)  Here, the elf girl is walking around her tribal camp.  It's dusk, so it's a bit cooler for her.

Victoria 5, a report

No doubt some of you downloaded the Victoria 5 preview.  Technically, I didn't have to, since I downloaded the 4th Edition beta of DAZ Studio.  So far, I didn't sign any Non-Disclosure Agreement so I'm not under legal pressure not to talk about Victoria 5 (I saw no digital contract).  Plus, I can't give a report on the DAZ Forums because of my Libertarian views on Copyright.   Still, I won't include screenshots of Victoria 5.

This is a report that I would have typed out on the DAZ Forums.  However, I was kicked out, they told me I could go back but I have to stop talking like a Libertarian.  If I'm not allowed to talk libertarian 'drivel' on a controversial thread about copyright, I ain't going back.  I'm banned forever.  Ahem, back to Victoria 5.

First Look
In a nutshell, Victoria 5 is somewhat an improvement over Victoria 4.  Michael comes in with her, and when you start the Beta, you get an androgynous figure: Victoria's head on Michael's body with some feminine curves.  She/he is a wet dream for those who are attracted to androgynous people (i.e. traps).   However, you can convert V5 into a more male figure by dialing M4 morphs.  Also, you can convert V5 into a more female figure by dialing the Victoria 4 morph.

Posing
Posing Victoria 5 is still like posing Victoria 4.  You still get that plastic doll look.  It's not as pronounced, meaning that they increased the polygons she is composed of.  Victoria 5 will not accept V4 poses, as I did apply a V4 pose to Victoria 5 and the toes were completely distorted.  This means that new pose sets will be created for DAZ Studio and Poser.  Still, it isn't a huge improvement over V4.  The model doesn't have a dynamic musculature.  Meaning that certain poses still doesn't look right.  Like a cancan pose.  So you still can't pose a Rockette dance pose realistically.

Skin
Victoria 5 loads with a realistic skin by default.  That means that there are a lot of blemishes and moles that comes with the skin.  There are no nipple definition, so it isn't perfect.  Still some parents might not want their boys working with V5 and DAZ Studio.  After all, there isn't a painted on bikini.  V5 is nude out of the box.

I'm still looking forward
To working with Victoria 5.  However, since DAZ isn't making huge improvements I am a little disappointed.  One day before downloading the 4th Edition beta, I saw this video:

Also, this video should illustrate what I was looking for or expecting:

So far, I'm not sure if V5 has these expectations.  There appears to be no strong improvements to the figure, but I don't animate, so I don't know.  Still, there are some surprises about V5.  She or he is truly unimesh.

Testing Krew textures by J. Morris

Just a texture test for Hiro 4.

what do you think, so far?  I like it because there are no seams. 

Character Du Jour: Milia Gloriosa

What do you get when you stuff a drama archetype in a little package?

Milia Gloriosa!

Milia Gloriosa is a halfling.  Created by combining A4, S4, and G4 morphs!  Her body is 50% Aiko 4 and 50% the Girl.  Combined with S4 short and petite morphs -- and further reduced to 50% size.  Here she is, compared with one of her soldiers to show her size.

I had the idea when I watched a segment of A Funny Thing Happened On the Way to the Forum were Miles Gloriosus was played by a crooning dwarf (with a schlong that makes women swoon!).



Here are her Pathfinder statistics!

Milia Gloriosa

CR 5

XP 1,600
Female halfling paladin 6
LG small humanoid (halfling)
Init +1; Senses Perception +7

 DEFENSE

AC 22, touch 11, f lat-footed 21 (+8 armor, +1 Dex, +3 shield)
hp 51 (6d10+18)
Fort +7, Ref +3, Will +4

  OFFENSE

Speed 20 ft.
Melee +1 longsword with godslayer blessing +12/+7 (1d8+7/19–20) or dagger +9/+4 (1d4+3/19–20)
Ranged longbow +7/+2 (1d8/×3)
Special Attacks channel positive energy, smite evil 2/day
Spells (Save DC – 14):

1^st – Bless, Protection from Evil

Sample Dialogue: “Stand aside, everyone!  I take large steps!”

  STATISTICS

Str 14, Dex 12, Con 15, Int 12, Wis 14, Cha 16
Base Atk +6; CMB +8; CMD 22
Feats Improved Sunder, Power Attack, Weapon Focus (Longsword)
Skills Diplomacy +12,  Handle Animal (horses) +12, Knowledge (Religion) +10, Ride +4, Sense Motive +4,  Spellcraft +6
Languages Common, Halfling
SQ hafling traits, aura of courage, aura of Good, detect evil, divine bond, divine grace, divine health, lay on hands, mercy
Gear half-plate, heavy steel shield, +1 frost longsword, dagger, 63 gp

To play her while you game, the best thing to do is have your wife sing "Bring me my bride" but change bride to groom at the table when she's introduced.   Oh, and tell her to ham it up. :D

Cover Art for Journey to Terre

The cover art for Journey to Terre is completely rendered, so this pretty much means that I'm on the home stretch of writing the rough draft and seeking playtesters.  If you notice, I'm getting a little better with my lighting schemes since I did the cover art for the Barsoom RPG.


Adventure Cover Image by ~Atlantean6 on deviantART

this practically means that my professional work is getting much better. Soon, I'll be able to render in Maya.  If I can (posed in DAZ, rendered in Maya, that sort of thing).  What do you think?  The lighting is 3Delight using the Uber-Environment 2 light shader.

Guess the D&D Class

Lets play a game. Here is an adventuring party. The task is simple. Guess their classes.  guess their classes right, and you will see a write up for the four of them.

Elton.

DAZ Studio 4 (beta/alpha?)

As some of you know, the DAZ Studio 4 Beta (or is it α) is out. and I managed to do a little something with Aiko 3 and the Sub-d Dragon.

What do you think?

Already, I reported two bugs with the Alpha version.

An Adventures in Terre Preview #2

SATURN, VENUS, AND MARS

AN ADVENTURES IN TERRE PREVIEW

A new preview of the Adventures in Terre module sourcebook for Pathfinder.  The adventures continue in a world that was colonized by Lemurians and Atlanteans.  When the Sky is worshiped, and so called god stars light the night sky.  The pantheon of the Old Gods includes Saturn, Venus, and Mars.  The New Gods, numbering twelve, represent twelve achievements of mankind since the colonization of the Lemurians and Atlanteans on Terre.

Saturn
Greater Deity
Symbol: Circle within a Wheel
Alignment: Neutral Good
Portfolio: Sky, glory, nobility, liberty
Domains: Air, Community, Good, Law, Liberation
Favored Weapon: Scythe
 
Saturn.  The god that ruled over the age of Virtue, the Age of Perfect Harmony.  Called Kronos of the Greeks, and Saturn of the Romans, the Ancient God is a god of peace and wisdom.  Under his protection, the people of Terre was happy and there were no problems or complaints.  Since Saturn isn't seen in the sky, most people participate in a festival that celebrates a time when Saturn will return to the Earth and restore the age of perfect virtue.

 
Venus
Intermediate Deity
Symbol: Star
Alignment: Chaotic Good
Portfolio: Love, beauty, and awe
Domains: Chaos, Charm, Good
Favored Weapon: Dagger

Associated as the mother deity in the Ancient patheon, Venus is a woman to be both loved and feared.  She embodies the ideals of phenomenal beauty, love, and desire.  However, Venus has a dangerous aspect, that of becoming the Dragon (see below).  Venus inspired the Star symbol among Terreans, and her symbol is a five pointed, six pointed, or eight pointed star.




Mars
Intermediate Deity
Symbol: Scarred Soldier
Alignment: Lawful Good 
Portfolio: War, protection, agriculture
Domains: Law, Plant, Protection, War
Favored Weapon: Halfspear
 
The god of War and Protection, the Warrior God.  Mars is the eye of God, and the one that fought Chaos and fought the dragon. While farmers pray to him, Warriors sought to learn his weapon arts.  And they sought his protection in war through the armor they wore.  The leather kilt, the crested helmet, and so forth were all seen as ways of getting protection from the war god.






------
OGL Section 15
15. COPYRIGHT NOTICE
Open Game License v 1.0a Copyright 2000, Wizards of the Coast, Inc.
System Reference Document. Copyright 2000, Wizards of the Coast, Inc.; Authors Jonathan Tweet, Monte Cook, Skip Williams, based on material by E. Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson.
Pathfinder RPG Core Rulebook. Copyright 2010, Paizo Publishing, LLC; Author: Jason Bulmahn, based on material by Jonathan Tweet, Monte Cook, and Skip Williams.

Adventures in Terre preview ♡2011 by Elton Robb; Author: Elton Robb. Copying Art is an act of love. Please copy and share.
Based on original content from our Myths and Legends.

Nott Lady of the Night

Nott, Drow Goddess by ~Atlantean6 on deviantART

An

Adventures in Terre Preview:

NOTT

LADY OF THE NIGHT 

MOTHER OF THE DROW

A new mother goddess for your Drow without the Insanity of being counted as Wizards of the Coast's intellectual property.  This is Nott, the Lady of the Night, and the Mother of the Drow.  Appearing in a series of Campaign Adventures I'm writing for Pathfinder, Nott can be used for your Dungeons and Dragons 4th Edition games as well as your Pathfinder games.

Nott is from Norse Mythology, brought to life by Tony Puryear.  She is the goddess of the Night, and in Tony's Stories, she tempts Tyr -- the God of War.  In Adventures of Terre, to the Drow she is the Mother Goddess.  The Mother of their kind, much like Lolth is in the Dungeons and Dragons world.

D&D 4th Edition Statistics:
Unaligned
Area of Influence: Night, Civilization, Beauty, Arcane Magic (drow)


Pathfinder Statistics:
Chaotic Neutral
Portfolio: Night, Beauty, Civilization, Arcane Magic
Cleric Alignments: CE, CG, CN, N
Domains: Chaos (Protean), Charm (Love), Community (Family), Magic (Arcane), Void (Dark Tapestry)

Use Nott in your next Pathfinder or D&D 4e game.

-----------------

OGL Section 15:
15. COPYRIGHT NOTICE
Open Game License v 1.0a Copyright 2000, Wizards of the Coast, Inc.
System Reference Document. Copyright 2000, Wizards of the Coast, Inc.; Authors Jonathan Tweet, Monte Cook, Skip Williams, based on material by E. Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson.
Pathfinder RPG Core Rulebook. Copyright 2010, Paizo Publishing, LLC; Author: Jason Bulmahn, based onmaterial by Jonathan Tweet, Monte Cook, and Skip Williams.
The Book of Experimental Might. Copyright 2008, Monte J. Cook. All rights reserved.
Tome of Horrors. Copyright 2002, Necromancer Games, Inc.; Authors: Scott Greene, with Clark Peterson, Erica Balsley, Kevin Baase, Casey Christofferson, Lance Hawvermale, Travis Hawvermale, Patrick Lawinger, and Bill Webb;
Advanced Player's Guide. Copyright 2010, Paizo Publishing, LLC; Author: Jason Bulmahn.
Paizo Blog. Copyright 2011, Paizo Publishing, LCC; Author: James Jacobs.
Nott: An Adventures in Terre Preview. ♡2011 by Elton Robb; Author: Elton Robb. Copying Art is an act of love. Love is not subject to law.
Based on original content from TSR.

--- Published under the GSL ---

Daz and Poser artists are Real Artists

People who use DAZ Studio and Poser are Artists in every sense of the word. Well, if you look at them from the point of view of Photographers instead of people who painstakingly build their own 3D models using metablobs and primitives (and rig them).

don't get me wrong! The artists over at the CG Society are extremely good at what they do! Lighting, Texturing, bump maps, normal maps, Displacements, shaders, all of it! However, DAZ Studio and Poser are low cost 3D programs that allow the common person to work with 3D and express himself.

Both DAZ Studio and Poser shine best when they are treated as photography studios instead of the full package like Vue and Cinema 4D. A DAZ Studio Artist is like a Photographer. We use lighting and camera position as our main weapons of choice in which to express ourselves (I, myself, may be getting Cinema 4D one of these days -- Mental Ray sounds like a good plugin).

The idea of putting down a DAZ or Poser Artist because we make "Poser Plates" is not a good thing to do, since the versatility of both programs allows us to make art faster and cheeper. We can make one page of a 3D comic in the better part of a day using props and actors made by other people. While the people at the CG Society feel that they have to build all of it themselves -- a process that can take weeks or months.

Spending the time to build the actors yourself is not very efficient. In fine art, it's all well and good. However when you have a deadline to meet on a 3D comic, sometimes you need to sacrifice fine 3D Art and go with ready made models. In this case, it's best to just concentrate on using lighting, Z-depth layers, and camera positions.

A Man and his Dragon

Hardly for the season.  It is the season to celebrate the Saturnalia, actually.  Looking forward to the second coming of the Son of Man is what we all should do.  But I rendered this up to try out a new pose set.

This is from the Michael, Master of Dragons pose set.  I used the Default MilDragon2 skin for this one, so it could be a Copper Dragon for all I know. :)

Lizardians

They are no dragonborn, but RawArt does have a wonderful imagination.  With this pose, I had to inject a little S4 into V4 to make it work.  The pose as originally intended works best for mermen and mermaids.

Hands up if you like Stephanie 4. :)

Unexpected Allies

Unexpected Allies by ~Atlantean6 on deviantART

The Terran-Illithid War rages on in the Galaxy! On an industrial planet under British Control, two people make a stand against invading Mind Flayers. They are a human female and a BKEO2K10. Unlikely allies, as the BKEO2K10 series are living androids and the humans that encountered them didn't accept them; they are thrown together for a common cause. Defeat of the Mind Flayer Empire in the Milky Way Galaxy!

Drow Priestess

Not very safe for work, you know. :)



Drow Priestess by ~Atlantean6 on deviantART

Just a Drow Priestess of Eilistraee. :D

The Terran Illithid War!

This is technically the third render during the Terran Illithid War, but this image isn't ready yet.  I know you are curious about how I'm documenting the war.  It's not easy. :)  This is a Work in progress. I still have to add more figures to this.

This is a launch bay on the Starcarrier Enterprise.  Humanity has been fighting the dreaded Illithid Empire for forty years, and recent victories have allowed Earth to extend it's influence out 50 light years.  Here, the Enterprise is patrolling the American Controlled Liberty Region.  The year is 1982 A.D.

I'm planning on creating some uniforms using the body suits for M4 and V4.

I know you are dying to comment. :)

Encounter with Saturn

Encounter with Saturn by ~Atlantean6 on deviantART

Sometimes, Exploration can be as dangerous as encountering a space monster or an evil race in space.  But the rewards can be great after the trials.  This was rendered using a doctored picture of Saturn blissfully taken from the NASA website and the Cassini expedition.  The pair are flying in a Vanguard, a large class of shuttle.  Up ahead is Saturn.

I had to resize the Saturn picture to fit a certain range, and then use it as a backdrop.  The light from Saturn blocks the stars, unfortunately, so no Solar Nebula.  I would have used Saturn with a starry backdrop, but the photo editing would have been murder. :)

Sometimes, you need science fiction too.  That's why I'm doing more science fiction renders from now on. :D

American Wolfman

American Wolfman by ~Atlantean6 on deviantART

There is a beast in Wisconsin that is stalking the Bray Road and places like Canada, Michigan, Ohio, and Northeastern Utah.  The beast can only be described as a Wolfman.