[W.I.P] Khajiit skooma den + brothel

[Psientist]

I've been sketching on a building (or two actually) on and off on my spare time and now that I'm rather pleased with my measurements I'm about to start on texturizing and then making a quick mock-up model in UDK as a prototype.

Of course there are uncertainties, otherwise I wouldn't have made this thread!

 

What I would appreciate help/discussion with is (At this stage):

Lore:

I'm currently basing my design partially from what I remember from in-game lore books about Khajiit culture and partially improvising with inspiration from old Arabic/North African architecture.

Is the Khajiit written language ever described in style? I know there's a few translated words, but what does their glyphs look like?

Does Khajiit use their written language as decoration on architecture or vases/furniture or would that be unlikely given their (afaik) strong oral tradition?

If you have any ideas concerning Khajiit architecture and design, let me hear.

 

 

In case it needs to be said, it's not going to be some kind of sex-mod or similar. I just want to make an atmospheric, exotic and sensual arabic-style location and shoe-horn it into skyrim.

 

http://i.imgur.com/KVKIf.png

 

Edit:

Here is a ROUGH PROTOTYPE in UDK of the BASIC LAYOUT and light placement for Building 2, floor 1.

Just to give an idea of how the not-cave geometry looks like.

http://imgur.com/a/WUQOI

Edited December 6, 2011 by Psientist

[Adolon]

I've been sketching on a building (or two actually) on and off on my spare time and now that I'm rather pleased with my measurements I'm about to start on texturizing and then making a quick mock-up model in UDK as a prototype.

Of course there are uncertainties, otherwise I wouldn't have made this thread!

 

What I would appreciate help/discussion with is (At this stage):

Lore:

I'm currently basing my design partially from what I remember from in-game lore books about Khajiit culture and partially improvising with inspiration from old Arabic/North African architecture.

Is the Khajiit written language ever described in style? I know there's a few translated words, but what does their glyphs look like?

Does Khajiit use their written language as decoration on architecture or vases/furniture or would that be unlikely given their (afaik) strong oral tradition?

If you have any ideas concerning Khajiit architecture and design, let me hear.

 

 

In case it needs to be said, it's not going to be some kind of sex-mod or similar. I just want to make an atmospheric, exotic and sensual arabic-style location and shoe-horn it into skyrim.

 

 

Right now there'll have to be a lack of screens, hopefully I should have time to show some basic concepts at the end of the weekend. Expect amateur work though.

Why am I posting if I have nothing to show yet? In my experience it spurs me to make sure to meet some kind of deadline instead of procrastinating.

So you're planning on making something with imagined Khajiit architecture in the land of Skyrim? I would find it a lot more believable if they took over a cave or something like the Dark Brotherhood and tried to make it more homey.

 

Concerning Khajiit language, there are two UESP articles: http://www.uesp.net/wiki/Lore:Ehlnofex_Languages and http://www.uesp.net/wiki/Lore:Khajiit_Names

[Psientist]

So you're planning on making something with imagined Khajiit architecture in the land of Skyrim? I would find it a lot more believable if they took over a cave or something like the Dark Brotherhood and tried to make it more homey.

 

Concerning Khajiit language, there are two UESP articles: http://www.uesp.net/wiki/Lore:Ehlnofex_Languages and http://www.uesp.net/wiki/Lore:Khajiit_Names

 

 

Thanks, the Ehlnofex languages page I had missed somehow!

As for the believability... well, I'm not saying it's believable but I plan on excusing the whole thing on an old Khajiit merchant missing his homeland but being unable to return because of plot holes so he decided to import materials and craftsmen to recreate a scene from his childhood, and to make a decent profit and to gain influence among wealthy visitors.

[Adolon]

Thanks, the Ehlnofex languages page I had missed somehow!

As for the believability... well, I'm not saying it's believable but I plan on excusing the whole thing on an old Khajiit merchant missing his homeland but being unable to return because of plot holes so he decided to import materials and craftsmen to recreate a scene from his childhood, and to make a decent profit and to gain influence among wealthy visitors.

Well, that sounds interesting. A sort of "If you can't get to Elsweyr, bring Elsweyr to you" kind of deal?

 

It also looks like there are some Khajiit words on the UESP Khajiit page as well near the bottom.

[LukeSkyrimmer]

Very interesting, I will be watching this.

[Psientist]

So far about 5 hours of work and 4 of those went into the recycle bin :P

http://i.imgur.com/oWHGy.jpg

One of the wall textures that didn't cut it, looks like utter crap up-close.

 

I have a sandstone brick texture that will be used for a couple of pillars that should be presentable, but it still has some 10 hours of work left on it so I paused to see if I could put together a decent wall texture.

Oh well, at least I'm working on it :)

[Psientist]

I need advice/opinions/suggestions from someone that isn't me, preferably from someone who ISN'T a professional graphics designer either!

 

What I want to know is: Could you look at this and think "I'm in some kind of arabic building" or is it too immersion breaking?

If you can, which one would you prefer?

http://i.imgur.com/G6BKi.jpg

Edited December 3, 2011 by Psientist

[wesside0yes]

I need advice/opinions/suggestions from someone that isn't me, preferably from someone who ISN'T a professional graphics designer either!

 

What I want to know is: Could you look at this and think "I'm in some kind of arabic building" or is it too immersion breaking?

If you can, which one would you prefer?

http://i.imgur.com/G6BKi.jpg

 

Although looking really nice and fitting with the floor, I still retain the feeling of lost immersion, especially when you consider they build constructions with these types of materials because it is the most abundant type they have in their homeland. Considering that these materials are then very rare in the land of Skyrim aswell as that it would stand out when placed in the enviroment gives me quite a lose of immersion. Mabye you should go more towards a combination of rock and wood, something that would still fit the same architecture but yet has a much more natural place in the enviroment of Skyrim.

[Matth85]

I must agree. This would look a little too .. off... from Skyrim. It's like walking in the Tundra up in the North, and suddently seing a desert house. Or walking down a volcano and seing a wood house. It doesn't really fit in.

Though I like what've you made. Maybe break up the floor texture slightly, and bump up the normals. Some of the floor would be chipped away after certain time.

[Psientist]

Hehe, I want to save the viking-look stuff to other projects, I've been dying to make something arabic for ages now and nothing is going to stop me, I just want to know if it looks authentic enough or fake