10-14-2008, 06:57 PM
Official 'Black Marsh' Claim for Settlement Claim: Rockguard
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Rockguard
AVAILABILITY: Completed by Back2Murder
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![[Image: oblivion_2008-10-19_14-12-03-48.jpg]](http://www.majhost.com/gallery/gekkebek/Marshes/Rockguard2/oblivion_2008-10-19_14-12-03-48.jpg)
Please note that these photos may not reflect the final version of Rockguard which has been amended to fit with its surroundings in the Blackwood region. Obviously, it will also have the Blackwood region around it.
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Description & Details
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Rockguard will be one of the first settlements that the traveller is likely to arrive at in Argonia and it is a place where the Empire have stamped their authority. However, there may be a siege mentality amongst the militia stationed here with some Argonians resenting their presence and continued 'occupation'.
Nonetheless, the presence of the military makes for some stability and the inhabitants are likely to benefit from trade and their position in a vibrant (but not yet dense, tropical or dangerous) area. Hence, farming may exist and merchants could be commonplace. Rockguard should represent quite a good solace for anyone under threat as there are effectively two authorities ensuring the peace.
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At-a-glance Details
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Settlement Type: Village
Architecture: Rockguard Mossy Village set
Exterior cell coordinates: approx. -20,01/-19,01 and -20,02/-19,02
Claim Size & Difficulty: Easy. Approximately 4 cells maximum.
Inhabitants: Mainly Imperials and standard or 'Draconian' Argonians.
Mission Connections: None as yet.
Amount of Loot: Low (according to the above).
General Info: Please keep up to date on the 'Rockguard' discussion thread: CLAIM: Rockguard . Check this space for a link to a thread detailing completed claims and future plans.
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Modding Directions
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You'll find the location for the village of Rockguard in the cell area BlackwoodRegionRockguard (-20,01/-19,01 and -20,02/-19,02) of the BlackMarshes worldspace. Use the latest esm here:Latest esm and esp updates and the latest bsa here: Latest bsa .
The first thing you should be looking for is where and how to make the presence of the Imperial forces evident. The area is (and should be) fairly uneven with the opportunity to place some buildings on hills with connecting bridges.
You will find the typical architecture in Static\blackmarsh\architecture\Rockguard and the preferred bridge types in Static\architecture\Bravil . You may also need to use objects from the Imperial tower set.
Clutter and Flora - Please decorate with the following rocks and flora: pitcher plant, Somnalius plant and various fungi.
You will need to use a combination of the regional textures used already in the area (just hold down Ctrl and right-click on the local area whilst in the height mapping mode) and a texture for cobbled stone.
Otherwise, ask if you'd like to use other models. I'm sure you'll make sensible choices but it would be best to check that out by posting screenies or offering a suggestion in this thread.
Please ensure that, despite the lack of walls for a village, it should nonetheless be protected. This is especially true of Rockguard with its strong (relatively) Imperial presence so make sure that creatures are not placed too close and that perhaps there are stakes or fences around the settlement. The entrance, meanwhile, should probably be slightly more grand and 'set up' rather than 'scattered' to reflect an orderliness to the design that will reflect well against the general disorder of some tribes' villages.
Bear in mind the need to create interiors and AI at a later stage so there will need to be room for the NPCs to engage in appropriate activities and to use suitable path-grids. For Rockguard's inhabitants, this probably means trade, farming and patrol routes.
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Further Development
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Once the interiors are completed (you may wish to help with this yourself) then the AI will help to give the place more character. You should then consider the settlement as a permanent claim and assist with such things as pathgrids and house decorations once the AI are included.
You should also ensure that the region surrounding the settlement is fully landscaped, equipped with trees, rocks and flora and vertex shaded. DO NOT CLAIM THE SETTLEMENT AS IS BUT TREAT YOUR CLAIM AS A STOCK SET OF CELLS for which you have responsibility over. The landscaper has the ultimate decision on which textures remain etc but to consider the settlement as a landscape feature as well as a functioning town is part of the task.
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Lighting your settlement
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Besides using torches for the Guards, it may prove appropriate to make use of any lamps that the modelling team create besides Leyawiin and Bravil street lamps.