This is the first in a series of Dev Diaries, through which we aim to give you a closer look at the development of Veil of Ashes.
This post focuses on the design, modelling and texturing process behind the Lohenreich faction’s transporter, which drops off requested units in the landing zone within the game. Although it does not take part directly in the fighting, it valiantly delivers Lohenreich’s men-at-arms and heavy Lanzierers to the front line from the start to the end of the battle.
Community involvement
The concept started with a poll on our community server on Discord. We wanted to know what sort of transport vehicle the Lohenreich community would like to see.
The options were: A) VTOL aircraft, B) airship, C) helicopter (or similar), and D) something else.
We already suspected at that point that B) Airship would probably win, as the community had repeatedly expressed a desire for an airship. So it came as no surprise that option B ultimately won.
A while after the first poll, as the work on the airship drew nearer, a second poll was opened. This time, the question was what sort of airship people wanted.
The options were A) Rigid airship / Zeppelin (a more realistic approach), B) Full-metal style like Ghibli airships (a less realistic approach) and C) A mix of both.
We again expected B) to win, but to our surprise, an overwhelming majority chose C) a mix of both. The problem, however, was that whilst there were plenty of references for A and B, we’d phrased option C far too vaguely. As a result, it was initially unclear exactly what the community was now expecting.
3D Modelling
Feeling somewhat unsure about the many possibilities offered by Option C, we began the concept and blockout phases. The design of our 3D models for units and similar assets is often based on rough sketches, which are then turned into initial blockouts relatively quickly.
The requirements that the model had to meet were important, including: it could not be larger than the Sacrum Imperium faction’s transporter, as the landing zones on the maps were designed with that in mind, and, despite the fictional setting, it had to be designed in such a way that it at least appeared capable of flying and carrying heavy loads.
Once the blockout had led to a satisfactory result, the actual modelling began. This phase went surprisingly smoothly, but naturally took some time, as there were many details – including the Rabbit Hole of "which steam-powered engines are actually suitable for use in aviation".
The model was created using a low-poly/high-poly workflow.
The design is very much focused on the fact that this is a transporter, whilst all other elements – such as the bridge – are kept relatively small. To make the airship look at least somewhat capable of carrying the load, we’ve fitted two large engines on each side.
Texturing
When it came to texturing, we initially tried using colours more typical of a zeppelin, but after discussing it, we quickly realised that this wouldn’t work. Consequently, we worked extensively with the Lohenreich colours of black and gold. A particular highlight, which involved a great deal of effort and thought, is the Quaternion Eagle featuring all the coats of arms of the seventeen imperial lands. As the airship is mainly viewed from above, it adds a great deal of detail to the transporter.
Implementation and Animation
We recently implemented the airship into the game. This means the Lohenreich faction now finally has its own transporter, and the Men-at-arms and Lanzierers no longer have to disembark in shame from a Seraph transport of the Sacrum Imperium!
At the moment, the airship still uses the same flight animation as the Sacrum Imperium’s transporter, which looks rather adventurous for an airship, particularly during rapid take-off and landing.
A brief digression on the lore
The lore of Veil of Ashes was also slightly altered – but ultimately strengthened – by the decision to include an airship after all, something we’d long been reluctant to do. This makes it increasingly clear in the lore that, whilst the Lohenreich is a leader in tank manufacturing, it lags far behind the Sacrum Imperium when it comes to aviation; the Sacrum Imperium possesses a true marvel of engineering in the form of its VTOL transporter. This will, accordingly, be reflected in the design of the respective attack aircraft used for the tactical airstrikes.
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