Mossy Tree Model Pics - by Koniption

[DoZeNt]

I'll try to find it, It was inside a mod I played, even before I started modding...

[Koniption]

Originally posted by Ibsen's Ghost
I was referring to the Spanish moss. For the overhang, I can't believe how hard it is to find a picture of what I'm referring to X( but it's basically a halfway house between the first two pics here. The idea is for it to be more of a straight trunk (I would go for the bent trunk of pic1 but I'm guessing it's impossible to do that with, at least with a speed tree. Then the overhang spreads out on a virtually straight horizontal from the top and stretches a good way out in one or more directions.

Ah, I think I see what you're wanting, between those two pics. But I'll wait to see if DoZeNT can find his link first...but it may be that even if he does find the link, that the model's author won't want to share it. We'll see how it goes.

The mossy trees won't be speedtrees, but are modeled in a regular 3D application. That means I can make bent trunks if I want to. It also means any leaves on the trees, won't sway in the wind. But these trees will be so deep in the jungle anyway, wind probably won't be a factor (but the other speedtrees in same area most likely will have moving leaves, which kind of leaves my initial reasoning off a little).

Koniption

[Ibsen's Ghost]

That should be okay. Dense jungle trees probably won't have much 'give' as they'll be sodden and heavy. Besides which, we don't really have a very leafy model here anyway. I'd love to have some curving trunks though. I've wanted to have overhanging trees off the edges of cliffs for a long time... =)

[zaneeba_slave]

Since Koniption may be gone for this entire week, I could make a cliff trees for you, IG. I might have a problem with texturing, though...

[Ibsen's Ghost]

Sure. I wonder if KP can help out with the texturing. I can texture but I'm utter crap with UV mapping which fries my poor brain...here's a few links that may help to inspire: http://www.pbase.com/evers/image/85402729 , http://outdoors.webshots.com/photo/11598...4309xSthJs & http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3533/3242...e1be_o.jpg but you should be able to just Google 'cliff tree' and get just the same results. However, I like the first one because it has the right sort of canopy shape that I like.

[zaneeba_slave]

Just a question before I get too far along: is there some special way to add leaves? I know Oblivion uses Speedtree, but I just wanted to know if it added leaves or if I have to add them in manually.

[Ibsen's Ghost]

Hoo-wheee! Modelling question....sorry, I haven't a clue. ?( Senten knows how to deal with speedtrees but you're best off speaking to Koniption. Maybe if you send her a PM then she'll find time during her busy period. As far as I understand it, Speedtree ain't bad but there are several drawbacks. One is that you can't do the curved trunks properly and another is that for some of our trees there's a weird, unexplainable error whereby the leaves disappear at a certain distance away and then reappear again when you get close up. It's probably something to do with some distance settings or something.

Anyway, Speedtree manages leaves very well normally (and animates them, of course) but I haven't a clue how Koniption managed to get leaves on normal .nif files. I imagine it's very painstaking work but you might be able to do it by clumping the foliage for the canopy together as one fused piece. Then you may be able to add an appropriate texture that creates the illusion of many leaves. I'm afraid that's all I can offer... hrug:

[Koniption]

Originally posted by zaneeba_slave
Just a question before I get too far along: is there some special way to add leaves? I know Oblivion uses Speedtree, but I just wanted to know if it added leaves or if I have to add them in manually.

I answered your PM, and also this question, in my reply to you. Good luck! I have a feeling this is gonna be one organic tree, zaneeba-style!

Koniption

PS - I made this Tillandsia Bulbosa plant a couple days ago:

http://img22.imageshack.us/gal.php?g=screenshot13vk.jpg

It's a plant that grows on tree bark and rocks, preferably mossy ones. So this can be used to decorate trees and rocks in the jungle, and good for putting on the mossy trees we're making. It's "roots" aren't real roots, but rather are just tendrils for anchoring it to the tree/rock. It's a type of plant that gets it nutrients through its leaves by absorbing rainwater, and not the soil, therefore it can grow pretty much anywhere there is rainwater. These type of plants are also known as "airplants". There are many other different types of Tillandsias, with different shapes and flowers. I used to have a bunch; they were pretty neat.

[zaneeba_slave]

I have finished the cliff-hanging tree:


It took a while to make, but I'm happy with it. There are things on the tree that no one will probably ever notice- like the knots, the broken limbs, the twisted limbs and tiny twigs- but it adds to the realism, even if it is mildly pixelated.

I've provided a picture that I drew on to show how the leaves are going to go:
(Bird not included, unless wanted)

The base of the tree and the weird root that protrudes out the back were made so that they can be placed into the side of a rocky cliff, but they can be changed just in case you want roots that dangle around. I think we should somehow swampify this particular tree, seeing's though most hanging trees are conifers and dont live in swampy areas. Maybe add some swamp tree leaves and dangling things? I dont know, I'm not as clever as Koniption. :yes:

[Koniption]

Hot dang! That was quick! And it looks really good, too!

Thanks for making it for Blackmarsh, and for taking a good deal of the load of modeling the second mossy tree off my back.

You can go ahead and send it to me, if you like. I'll work on texturing and adding leaves to it either before or after Thanksgiving, depending on the time I have.

I don't think we need a bird model, btw. At least not right now.

Koniption

PS - You're a clever dude as well!