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Custom Monster Design
Posted: Wed Feb 20, 2008 12:07 am
by zoom
This section is intended for requests, scetches and scribbles of
Monsters (and probably other stuff). These can once they are
fleshed out or whatever, be converted into the various formats
needed for the different engines around (RTC, dmjava, csbwin, dsb)
These finished pieces should then get posted again into the custom
dungeons section of let`s say RTC.
I put this into the creative endeavours section, mainly because
I have the feeling that we need a base where to operate from.
Simply creating a monster for e.g. dsb, would make it unlikely
to get put into RTC. Some people never play some engines, so they
simply won`t know that such monster exists.
So I hope it works, and certainly it can get spoiler heavy,
but I guess you always have a drawback. And if the designer
does not want to give too much away, there are still ?discrete? ways.
If you see a "generic type of monster" here, it will certainly look
different in the different engines!
For csbwin, the graphics need to be simpler than for the other engines;
this should also be considered in the monster's design.
Is it big like a dragon, small like a giggler or large as a hellhound?
........................................................................................................
Imagine you have an idea of a new monster. Describe the monster.
Post a sketch here, (in a reasonable size.) or -ideal case- 4 sides/one attack image.
What critters would you like to encounter?? Poll at some time?
Ultimately, we discuss the look and whether it`s pleasant to look at (or not).
The way is free to "take care" what is needed for each engine .
What resolution, how many colours and so forth..
This would then be in the according engine area here on the forum.
what do you think about all this?
....................................................................................................
Well, I would start with a Lizar Skel
clad in plate mail, some parts missing, red bones. big sword, size as
big as knights.
have made general look of it in all sides, and some attacking frames,
but I am not pleased with the look. I just don`t know how they should
attack, i.e. which way to swing its sword around. I envision how they
move, but again, I am not sure about the attack. Little things matter,
like which foot is put in front and so on..
[post will be soon, have to scan the pictures, upload..]
Posted: Sun Apr 06, 2008 3:33 pm
by Trantor
I hope I'm right with my request in this thread...
I'd like to use some of the monster graphics from Eye of the Beholder in RTC, namely the Zombie and the Giant Spider graphics. I vaguely seem to remember that somebody either used EOB monsters in his/her dungeon or put the graphics up already, but I've found nothing in the forum or on the web. So, does someone have the monster graphics from EOB sleeping on his/her hard drive or know where I could find them on the web? Thanks a lot!
Posted: Sun Apr 06, 2008 5:28 pm
by Gambit37
I have them and will post them when I find them soon. I'm battling with a rather nasty virus on my computer at the moment, and have been for the last 16 hours! It keeps coming back...
Posted: Sun Apr 06, 2008 5:46 pm
by Trantor
Thank you Gambit! Hope you can twat that virus!
Posted: Sun Apr 06, 2008 7:17 pm
by ian_scho
Someone recreated EOB I and II for dmjava.... The link is now dead. (
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/david.hall48/ )
PM me if Gambit doesn't get back to you fast enough.
Posted: Sun Apr 06, 2008 7:18 pm
by Gambit37
I've have lots of custom monsters that have come from a rather clever source (not my own), but I won't be posting them here as they are for my custom dungeon and it would spoil the surprise.
Posted: Sun Apr 06, 2008 7:20 pm
by Gambit37
EOB stuff is on the way, give me a few mins...
EDIT: EOB 1,2+3 + Dungeon hack graphics are here (note that these archives do not include walls, I was never able to successfully extract those)
http://dmweb.free.fr/Stuff/files/gfx-eob+dhack.zip
Posted: Sun Apr 06, 2008 8:09 pm
by Gambit37
Did you get them OK Trantor? As I edited the post, you wouldn't have seen an update noted for the thread.
Posted: Sun Apr 06, 2008 8:21 pm
by Trantor
Wheee! Thanks Gambit! 2901 files.
About the wallsets, maybe this link here can help:
http://www.tgeweb.com/ironworks/dungeon ... ets2.shtml
Posted: Sun Apr 06, 2008 8:34 pm
by Trantor
For some reason, I can't find the Zombie in the package you uploaded Gambit. Any chance you missed it?
Posted: Sun Apr 06, 2008 8:45 pm
by Zyx
Hey, didn't Paul Stevens work on DungeonCraft?
Posted: Sun Apr 06, 2008 8:55 pm
by Gambit37
Trantor wrote:For some reason, I can't find the Zombie in the package you uploaded Gambit. Any chance you missed it?
Hmm, weird, it's not in my folder! I must have deleted it! Sorry, it'll be a while before I can go back and extract that again, the games are on a backup somewhere.
Posted: Sun Apr 06, 2008 9:35 pm
by Trantor
Oh, that's a pity. No worries though, I'll manage without the Zombie. I just imported the Spider into my dungeon (finding out some curousity about Paint that I shamelessly abused as a feature) and have to say it looks splendid!

Posted: Mon Apr 07, 2008 12:20 am
by linflas
i have the kenku, kobold and skeleton samurai in RTC format (used in Sukumvit), tell me if you need them.
Posted: Mon Apr 07, 2008 10:33 am
by Black Eagle
wow thanks Gambit!!!

tons and tons of graphics!! are these free to use in custom DM dungeons?
Posted: Mon Apr 07, 2008 12:17 pm
by Gambit37
Well, technically, they are still under the copyright of the original developers (Strategic Simulations, now belonging to Ubisoft). However, as these games are no longer being sold, I can't see the harm in using the assets from them for hobby, not-for-profit projects, but if you were ever asked by an official to "cease and desist", then you should certainly do as they ask......
Posted: Mon Apr 07, 2008 12:21 pm
by Black Eagle
yeah i understand that Gambit. awesome!
Posted: Tue Apr 22, 2008 11:24 am
by THOM
Found this thread while looking for graphics of a bear. Sadly there is none.
Has anyone any Ideas where I could get one?
(BTW: Even if these graphics of EOB are very good I think they have not the typical DM-style. Could be odd to use them in an Dungeon with traditional DM-bitmaps...)
Posted: Sun Jun 08, 2008 10:23 pm
by takis76gr
I have all wallsets for Eye of the Beholder 1 and 2 if you are interested.
But I don't have a host to upload.
I am interesting about wallsets from Lands of Lore 1
but I have start to create some of them , I grab from the screen and then I clear all garbage around.
Posted: Sun Jun 08, 2008 10:33 pm
by takis76gr
Dungeon craft's wall sets are not good , because has fault size and the dimensions are for small viewport area not for eye of the beholder remake and Dungeon master remake with this size.
Lands of Lore 1 , dungeon hack and Eob series are compatible with viewport of a generic Dungeon crawler engine.
Dungeon Master is little bigger.
Does it posible to create some wallset creator for Eye of the Beholder style games , like
linflas wallset maker.
The Idea of
linflas was great and I will try to create one wallmaker in DarkBasic Pro.
Look my Eye of the beholder IV if you like.
Full source code and graphics , in DarkBasic Pro.
my intro is here:
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=76PgLGGlkPY
Download is here:
http://forum.thegamecreators.com/?m=for ... 130539&b=8
Screenshots are here:
As you see in screenshots , some wallsets was recreated , for example the backdrop is from Lands of Lore , Gladstone keep.
The walls are a mix of Eye of the Beholder 2 , my own creations , and Lands of lore , fire dungeons under Scotia's Castle.
Other are from original eob and and many are completely new from me. For example , the blade trap and the door does not exist in Eye of the Beholder and Lands of lore.
I have a lots of scary background music and spells and sound effects if you are interested.
And the interfaces , reminds something from Lands of Lore , dungeon hack and ruin stone spell system is Idea from dungeon master.
This game is a grand mix of Dungeon hack - Eye of the Beholder and Lands of lore all together.
I will post Eye of the Beholder wall graphics but I don't have host to upload.
I download the graphics from Dungeon hack , but has wrong color palette some walls.
But thank you very much , thats good , from nothing.
I have make some hacking with map files from Lands of Lore and I have neat walls and you need only to erase the background.
And you can make Lands of Lore wallset. But they need some painting work.
I edit the map , I remove some walls , I capture from screen and them edit.
The example shows one loosing wall and you need to remove background to create one wall from White Tower.
See the example...

Posted: Sun Jun 08, 2008 10:52 pm
by linflas
Sorry tikas67rg but i cannot see the screenshots, registration is needed...
Posted: Sun Jun 08, 2008 11:04 pm
by takis76gr
Yes , I forgot
You need to login in the Game creators
Create one account is free
http://www.thegamecreators.com/?m=registration
Sorry
Posted: Sun Jun 08, 2008 11:07 pm
by takis76gr
I don't have host and I put them in other place.
Can you download the game?
How to make images appeared?
I put [img]and[/img] tag and does not working.
Posted: Sun Jun 08, 2008 11:12 pm
by takis76gr
Sorry about the anagram , I made typographic error
Linflas I correct my error.

Posted: Sun Jun 08, 2008 11:14 pm
by takis76gr
Sorry tikas67rg...
Hehe...

Re: Custom Monster Design
Posted: Sun Feb 06, 2011 9:20 am
by Trego
I've been working on this Hydra for some time, I've got most of the side, back, front, attack images. It is kind of basic put together of an EOB (i think) snake.
Do you think it needs a stump? That is when one head dies you see 2 heads and a stump, or is just 2 heads fine?
Once finished I'll post them on the wiki. Of course the single headed snake is already available.
I was thinking it would have a weakness to fire or if you chop off a head it will regenerate type thing. At the moment 3 heads have been the maximum.
Has anyone else got/done anything similar?
Re: Custom Monster Design
Posted: Sun Feb 06, 2011 11:25 am
by Jan
Oh, wow, very cool!
Trego wrote:Do you think it needs a stump? That is when one head dies you see 2 heads and a stump, or is just 2 heads fine?
Perhaps I might have misunderstood it. So is it actually one monster or three monsters? I mean does it behave like a group (well, except splitting)?
Re: Custom Monster Design
Posted: Sun Feb 06, 2011 12:03 pm
by beowuuf
I assume you have a single momster (three heads) and when you kill it it's a less powerful monster with two heads.
Hmm, maybe a blemish where the head was? And ensure no dithering so the cut head doens't flip side to side

Re: Custom Monster Design
Posted: Sun Feb 06, 2011 1:13 pm
by Trego
Just to explain a little further:
I was hopping for, 1 strong monster, lets say starts with 2 heads, when it dies (in RTC) create new object on death 1 head +stump/blemish, and activated relay with delay swap global fast 1 head and stump to 3 heads...stronger monster... Although in RTC fire preventing regrowth may be a bit difficult. I'm not sure how other engines/editors will do it, but I'm sure it can be done.
otherwise 3 heads going to 2 heads works too.
Re: Custom Monster Design
Posted: Sun Feb 06, 2011 1:23 pm
by Ameena
Yeah, I think it'd look better if it had some kind of visible bloody stump when you chopped a head off, and also if the decapitated head dropped to the ground...this reminds me a bit of Tentacle Things from Stonekeep - they resembled a blob with a toothy mouth in the middle (no eyes or anything), and three suckered tentacles sticking up from the main body much like the three heads on your hydra. When you did enough damage (it was sensitive to fire, I think), one tentacle dropped off and was left on the ground (couldn't pick it up or otherwise interact with it though) while the rest of the creature had one bloody (well, more slimy) stump - this happened with the other two tentacles too, till you just had the blob-with-teeth, and when you finally did enough damage to
that, the creature was fully dead. Yeah, they were nasty fookers

.
I think, being a hydra, it'd make sense for the critter to regrow heads if left too long - obviously it'd be somewhat impractical to try and do it as a "proper" hydra (ie when you chop off
one head,
two grow back from the stump)

. Maybe you could take a little more inspiration from the orignal myth of Hercules, who figured out that if he cauterised the stump with fire (I think he probably stuck a torch in it or something), the heads wouldn't keep regrowing. So maybe your hydra will regrow heads if left too long, unless you do fire damage to it soon after chopping one off, in which case this will stop the "regrow timer" for that particular head. Maybe the bloody stump could change to being a blackened stump instead. Of course, all that might possibly be rather too complicated to actually put together, but it'd be cool, wouldn't it?

Oh and btw, that pic is really cool - forgot to say

.