Armour & weapon designs (part V).

[nipsen]

Hm. That screenshot looks really good.

 

..am I getting hyped about the game now?

[Lord Gorchnik]

Hm. That screenshot looks really good.

 

..am I getting hyped about the game now?

 

All in your head.  In truth you want to loathe it that much more so when it does release and blows your mind it makes it that much better.

[Mor]

It's been mentioned that we'll be able to dye selected areas of the worn armours in the vein of IE games. It'd be really cool if we'd also be able to display heraldry of our choosing (it could be on surcoats, on shields or perhaps even cloaks).

 

Imagine having your party donning stylish unified heraldry while roaming the lands of PE. Would be particularly nifty for the Adventure Hall made groups. As an added bonus, you'd be able to tell members of your party in a particularly big brawl at a glance.

 

Here's an example of just how much it can add visually:

 

 

Indeed it looks amazing in this image, that something that I'd expect to see in First/third person, in Mount & Blade you could use custom coa, in witcher armor looked spectacular and some of the newer AAA medieval themed games took it further, but I doubt that this will be one of PE features..

[quest1on]

It's been mentioned that we'll be able to dye selected areas of the worn armours in the vein of IE games. It'd be really cool if we'd also be able to display heraldry of our choosing (it could be on surcoats, on shields or perhaps even cloaks).

 

Imagine having your party donning stylish unified heraldry while roaming the lands of PE. Would be particularly nifty for the Adventure Hall made groups. As an added bonus, you'd be able to tell members of your party in a particularly big brawl at a glance.

 

Here's an example of just how much it can add visually:

 

This kinds of pictures make me wonder if halberds and bills are really the best weapons to carry while climbing walls and ramparts. I mean, you kind of need hands to climb ladders, and while maybe later on, when earthworks became more popular the polearm could be used as a walking staff to support you, it still isn't as comfortable as side-arm. Not to mention movie version of Helm Deep's siege with Uruks using pikes.

[Suburban-Fox]

Yeah, for climbing ladders and fighting in close quarters or cramped conditions, you'd probably want a sidearm (this is something many RPGs have failed to take into account, making it possible to navigate a 10 foot wide corridor while wielding a 16 foot long pike! :D ). Also rRemember that in the film of The Two Towers, the uruk hai who actually climbed the ladders didn't use their pikes.

 

As a side note, however, I'm loving the helmets in that picture! Sallets (both visored and open), barbutes, armets...this is how I picture fantasy RPGs, only with magic and monsters (i.e. how it used to look before the influences of WoW and anime).

[Karranthain]

It's likely. We know, from this thread:

 

http://forums.obsidian.net/topic/66165-the-world-realms-places-coats-of-arms/

 

that heraldry will feature in the game.

 

Thanks for the link. There it is indeed:

 

Unlike Euro heraldry, Eastern Reach heraldry is attached to the family name.  Individual family members use their own distinguishing devices as a badge overlaid on a shield, hung on their armor, or worn on a cloak.

 

Though it isn't a confirmation per se, it seems that it might be possible (i.e. applying heraldry to the armour worn by the party members).

 

Indeed it looks amazing in this image, that something that I'd expect to see in First/third person, in Mount & Blade you could use custom coa, in witcher armor looked spectacular and some of the newer AAA medieval themed games took it further, but I doubt that this will be one of PE features..

 

I reckon that the characters are definitely sufficiently detailed (see the screenshot on the previous page) for that feature to be included in the game. It wouldn't be exactly essential, but it could bring a lot of colour into play, here's another fine example:

 

 

As a side note, however, I'm loving the helmets in that picture! Sallets (both visored and open), barbutes, armets...this is how I picture fantasy RPGs, only with magic and monsters (i.e. how it used to look before the influences of WoW and anime).

 

That's why I love the Warhammer Fantasy aesthetic!

 

 

 

[Mor]

I reckon that the characters are definitely sufficiently detailed (see the screenshot on the previous page) for that feature to be included in the game. It wouldn't be exactly essential, but it could bring a lot of colour into play,

That exactly it, looking at any of the screenshots, I doubt that in any variant (except cloaks) we will see any details beyond some color smudges... Maybe the devs add some specific livery, but the ability to add your own as you suggested is something I'd be really surprised to see.

 

For example ~here is how it was done in mount & blade. You could pick (and mod) them:

 

 

but again its not a top down rpg and I am personally not familiar with any top down game with similar unit scale that done it to great effect.

Edited May 13, 2014 by Mor

[Karranthain]

 

I reckon that the characters are definitely sufficiently detailed (see the screenshot on the previous page) for that feature to be included in the game. It wouldn't be exactly essential, but it could bring a lot of colour into play,

 

That exactly it, looking at any of the screenshots, I doubt that in any variant (except cloaks) we will see any details beyond some color smudges... Maybe the devs add some specific livery, but the ability to add your own as you suggested is something I'd be really surprised to see.

 

For example ~here is how it was done in mount & blade. You could pick (and mod) them:

but again its not a top down rpg and I am personally not familiar with any top down game with similar unit scale that done it to great effect.

 

 

You're probably right. Still, one can hope!

 

In other assorted news:

 

 

Hell yeah!

 

 

[Lephys]

I think "color smudges" might be a bit of an exaggeration. This is the age of like... quadruple the resolution of the old IE games, and even in those you could see details on the peeps. Just because it's more macro details (general "oh, that's chain" textures, and general shapes of armor pieces, coloring of filigree, etc.) doesn't mean it's all just tiny little blurry smudges. This isn't Starcraft, afterall. Our characters aren't going to be that tiny.

[Suburban-Fox]

Question: does anybody know it the frog helm was ever actually used in combat, or was it just for jousting? Seems to me like it'd severely restrict peripheral vision, and the protection isn't likely to be that much improved over a sallet or an armet...making it ideal for jousting but less so for actual field use.

 

Just an aside. I don't mind it being in the game either way.

[Karranthain]

I think "color smudges" might be a bit of an exaggeration. This is the age of like... quadruple the resolution of the old IE games, and even in those you could see details on the peeps. Just because it's more macro details (general "oh, that's chain" textures, and general shapes of armor pieces, coloring of filigree, etc.) doesn't mean it's all just tiny little blurry smudges. This isn't Starcraft, afterall. Our characters aren't going to be that tiny.

 

Indeed. Here's a very early screenshot:

 

 

That's a fair amount of detail I reckon. Heraldry would definitely be visible, even when zoomed out a fair bit. Whether it'll be included, though, is anybody's guess at this point.

 

 

Question: does anybody know it the frog helm was ever actually used in combat, or was it just for jousting? Seems to me like it'd severely restrict peripheral vision, and the protection isn't likely to be that much improved over a sallet or an armet...making it ideal for jousting but less so for actual field use.

 

Just an aside. I don't mind it being in the game either way.

 

It was primarily a tournament helm, aye. Whether it was actually used in combat...probably not. But I might be wrong about that.

 

But if you look at the more ornamented examples, such as this:

 

 

It seems rather unlikely. Though to be honest, its inclusion in PE doesn't bother me in the slightest either.

 

By the way, is it just me or did anyone else picture that lil' fella from Lephys' avatar on top of that helm too?

Edited May 14, 2014 by Karranthain

[Mor]

You're probably right. Still, one can hope!

hey, I was cheering for you guys to find some example where something like this worked, after all there are some pretty hardcore gamers out here

 

Indeed. Here's a very early screenshot:

 

 

That's a fair amount of detail I reckon. Heraldry would definitely be visible, even when zoomed out a fair bit. Whether it'll be included, though, is anybody's guess at this point.phys' avatar on top of that helm too?

Sorry, but I think that that screenshot is little bit out of scale, just like this model from the recent art update:

 

 

 

 

This is the in-game size that is far more likely that most of us will encounter:

 

 

 

 

I am, going by this screenshot as point of reference, on screen model sizes:

 

 

 

 

 

Do you think that anyone can draw a dragon\falcon\tree or anything but the most blunt color patterns on those armors, without obscuring their function? Which is why I speculated that cloaks are the only way to make it work, or maybe thin tabard's:

 

 

 

 

Edited May 14, 2014 by Mor

[Karranthain]

 

I'm assuming this will possibly the defauly zoom level - I've mentioned surcoats, shields and cloaks in my previous post, here are some nice examples:

 

 

 

 

Ultimately we'll just have to wait and see.

 

On that note, we need more plumes!

 

 

Both suits of armour look absolutely amazing. Maximilian armour, I feel, would fit PE's aesthetic particularly well!

[Greensleeve]

Maximillian armour certainly fits in with the time period that PoE is taking its inspiration from. 

[Mor]

 

I really like this one, it can work (depending on how many unique armor sets they plan to have) still IMO at this size color pattern will be the most identifiable feature.

 

[Nonek]

Reminds me of Mr Heston's El Cid.

[Karranthain]

I really like this one, it can work (depending on how many unique armor sets they plan to have) still IMO at this size color pattern will be the most identifiable feature.

 

 

Would definitely fit the paladin orders we've learned about in the latest update, here's another example:

 

 

Reminds me of Mr Heston's El Cid.

 

Indeed!

 

[Woldan]

Dual wielding knights: 

 

[Sensuki]

Regarding the zoom level, you can zoom in this close IIRC (click the picture).

 

Edited May 26, 2014 by Sensuki

[Karranthain]

Thanks for the heads up, Sensuki. Here's a shot from the trailer, with a similar zoom level:

 

 

I assume this is the default level then?

 

[Karranthain]

Looks like we've got a sneak peek at a new armour design:

 

 

Looks pretty nice! It reminds me of these guys:

 

[OldRPG'sAreGood]

I'll just throw a few simpler (than plate or similar) armor design out here, since not everyone can be wearing armor:

 

Light horseman armors

 

Footmen armor and half helms!

 

Some gladiator-ish armor (just ignore that ducks wear them)

[Karranthain]

King of the Dragon Pass! I love this game

 

 

 

 

[Suburban-Fox]

Thanks for the heads up, Sensuki. Here's a shot from the trailer, with a similar zoom level:

 

 

 

What's interesting about this picture is that the guy in the harness looks like he's left handed (he's holding the shield in his right hand and what looks like a mace/hammer/pick in his left). Compare that with the other picture of characters facing the same direction who are clearly right-handed...does this mean that there could be left-handed characters in the game?

[Woldan]

I love this particular kind of dagger, the rondel dagger. The true rogues choice. Also good against leather and chain mail.    
 

 

 

Historical picture of people having loads of fun with rondel daggers.

 

Edited June 1, 2014 by Woldan