CLAIM: Visual Design (Settlement & Shop Signs)

[Ibsen's Ghost]

Official 'Black Marsh' General Task Claim for Settlement & Shop Sign Designs

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Settlement & Shop Sign Designs
AVAILABILITY: Open

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Although DoZeNt recently did some work on the Settlement signs, it was decided that we needed a little more diversity in the designs and perhaps a more marshy look to them, perhaps even some kind of Argonian (slightly South American) iconography. I made these resources available earlier but please be careful not to over-use them as some of them have already appeared elsewhere: Argonian Cultural Artworks & Icons .

These signs cannot be particularly hi-res so intricate details are probably not the best, except possibly for very significant locations in BM. In which case, they could be extra cool! =)

At the moment, settlements in the Everglades/Jungle Regions and Parchlands/Darkmoor Regions may be best separated with slightly different backgrounds.

Likewise, Inns, Blacksmiths, Armour/Weaponry Shops, Book shops and so on would all have a similar sign except, of course, for the very significant interiors which may have something quite unique. As for the icons on the signs, these can use the vanilla icons but it's best to find something unique if you feel it's really going to fit in with the atmosphere and lore of Black Marsh.

Here are some links to some excellent resources to help you on your way:

Blank Shop Sign - http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=5468
Sign Symbols (includes PSD file) - http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=23984
Weathered Direction Signs - http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=4165
Funky Mages Guild Sign - http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=25122
Basic Shop Signs - http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=22301
Real Wood Road Signs - http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=25429 together with their original sources - http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=25438
Unique Shop Signs (expert stuff) - http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=25314

You may work best by referring to the city maps that are posted up on this thread: CLAIM: City Planning and AI .

Top marks to anyone who produces a customised model or a texture that suits our aims perfectly and can be used as a template for all future signage. Get Photoshopping, people! :goodjob:

[InsanitySorrow]

How much should these differ from vanilla signs?, I mean do they use the same mesh, if so would it be ok to use a similar texture but with added details like moss and a different text font?

Also, is it possible to use the icons on the signs from vanilla OB?

[Ibsen's Ghost]

Originally posted by InsanitySorrow
How much should these differ from vanilla signs?, I mean do they use the same mesh, if so would it be ok to use a similar texture but with added details like moss and a different text font?

Also, is it possible to use the icons on the signs from vanilla OB?

I guess the answers to these question lie, to some degree, in the distinction of whether the settlement in question is Imperial-influenced or 'ethnic Argonian'. That's certainly true of the last question but for other major settlements like Go-Ja Morgoa, you would probably use something distinctly different.

Personally, I'm happy going with the same mesh. It's preferable to make good use of some of the better sign meshes though, such as the ones from SI. That will then provide a good basis. And yes, a similar texture but with added details would be nice. You may have your own interpretation of the ideal font but I would go for a kind of 'messy' medieval style (although that's probably not an adequate definition).

'Ethnic Argonian' icons would probably assume the forms of these icons: Argonian Cultural Artworks & Icons . It needs to be kept quite simple for signs though. Simple but bold.

[InsanitySorrow]

Originally posted by Ibsen's Ghost
I guess the answers to these question lie, to some degree, in the distinction of whether the settlement in question is Imperial-influenced or 'ethnic Argonian'. That's certainly true of the last question but for other major settlements like Go-Ja Morgoa, you would probably use something distinctly different.

Personally, I'm happy going with the same mesh. It's preferable to make good use of some of the better sign meshes though, such as the ones from SI. That will then provide a good basis. And yes, a similar texture but with added details would be nice. You may have your own interpretation of the ideal font but I would go for a kind of 'messy' medieval style (although that's probably not an adequate definition).

'Ethnic Argonian' icons would probably assume the forms of these icons: Argonian Cultural Artworks & Icons . It needs to be kept quite simple for signs though. Simple but bold.

Ok, well I am happy working with SI stuff, just gotta make a sign texture template to help speed such a process, I will take a look at those icons and see what can be used and how I could use it. Font wise, messy medieval style, hmmm none come to mind but I will play around with some.

Since I have been messing with some stuff I will see if I can throw together a few trial runs for these and see what happens from there

[Ibsen's Ghost]

Excellent! =) I'll mark this claim down as 'claimed' then. If you run out of steam or something, then maybe DoZeNt or another texture bod can take over.

[InsanitySorrow]

Originally posted by Ibsen's Ghost
Excellent! =) I'll mark this claim down as 'claimed' then. If you run out of steam or something, then maybe DoZeNt or another texture bod can take over.

Sounds good, I will see what I can whip up for ya :yes:

[InsanitySorrow]

Ok so I went ahead and made a new sign, its an Imperial sign , its based on a stock OB sign but I changed the wood background and adjusted some other things.

The argonian one is going to be hard becuase it will need a weathered effect on it and some sort of moss etc.

Anyway I have .PSD files incase someone wants to make there own signs

Edit: Made the first draft of the Argonian style, since I think its best to work out two styles first that can be used all round, but then we can adjust them for special shops.

Edit2: Made some adjustments to the argonian sign, I think it looks much better , the text is not final btw.

[Lady Nerevar]

definitely slap some sort of blending (or copy part of the wood texture over it at multiply or something) on it so that it looks like its actually on the wood.

[InsanitySorrow]

Originally posted by Lady Nerevar
definitely slap some sort of blending (or copy part of the wood texture over it at multiply or something) on it so that it looks like its actually on the wood.

Could you be a bit more specific as to which texture and what part

Edit: Ok so I took Lady N's notes and applied some new touches to the texture, becuase I was unsure what part she was on about I changed both the text and the aditional frame piece at the top of the sign. I think it looks better

[Ibsen's Ghost]

I love the new font style and the way that it looks 'scratched in' :goodjob:. I was thinking that it would be best to embolden the text though so it stands out in-game. This may mean that you'll have to put one word on each 'line'. Looks superb all-round btw...