Excelsior Entertainment Forums

Talaminiatures => General Discussions => Topic started by: Glenn M on October 14, 2008, 02:29:17 PM

Title: Space Mats - My own creations
Post by: Glenn M on October 14, 2008, 02:29:17 PM
After the local con got done, I was once again itching to play Silent Death, happens every year.  Last year I bought the rules and ordered some of the plastics.  Now I am painting them, and working on getting a Mat, but I haven't seen any that really get me wanting them.  So following a few online tutorials, I managed to work out these, note, these are just test pieces to play with.

(http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g213/Biokanan/Starfield.png)
(http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g213/Biokanan/GlennsMap1.png)
(http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g213/Biokanan/StarfieldC.png)

Anyways, if I manage to make some that are high enough res and look great, you'll be able to order them on Cafe Press, it'll be around $20 for a 23"x35" mat, with or without a grid.  You can see the basic background on these are all the same, but that is because I have been too lazy to generate a new one so far, I am experimenting with other pieces on it.
Title: Re: Space Mats - My own creations
Post by: dmcgee1 on October 14, 2008, 02:31:35 PM
Both jjdodger and I are fans of Silent Death.  I like Colos and Hibernia, while Dodge is partial to ASP.
Title: Re: Space Mats - My own creations
Post by: Glenn M on October 14, 2008, 02:36:12 PM
I know very little of the world detail, the guys I'll be playing with are pretty lenient, so I'll be playing with the standard ships, and maybe a few others, I want to pick up some of the Geonosian fighters from Starship Battles and some other things as well.  My brother wants Battle Star fighters.  So yeah.

EDIT:  I should also note, I am not very familiar with the ships yet, I know I like the look of the Talon and Lance Electra, but otherwise, I am floating blind.
Title: Re: Space Mats - My own creations
Post by: Brother Jim on October 14, 2008, 08:07:28 PM
Those look pretty good !!!!

Keep us posted please?!?!
Title: Re: Space Mats - My own creations
Post by: Glenn M on October 15, 2008, 11:57:11 AM
Walmart can print a 20x30 for something like $15.  SO I am totally going that route.  Anyways, I am going to generate a few more, and try mixing and matching mats to see what works out.  I want all my mats to be made in such a way to allow you to get more than 1 together and still make a coherent map.

Oh, I had a few other ideas, Planets, Wormholes and Blackholes should be printed on Transparencies, then they can be added or removed from gaming mats on an as needed basis. 
Title: Re: Space Mats - My own creations
Post by: luckyone on October 15, 2008, 12:05:05 PM
3D planets are the best, all other items listed above should be 2D (meteorites should be 3D also IMHO)
Title: Re: Space Mats - My own creations
Post by: joshuaslater on October 15, 2008, 12:06:03 PM
McGee and his cronies are Silent Death addicts.  Don't let him fool you.

By the way, Glen, excellent work!
Title: Re: Space Mats - My own creations
Post by: Petru5 on October 15, 2008, 12:18:06 PM
There are also the Star Wars Starship minis maps you can use.  Fantasy Flight Games also made Twilight Imperium: Armada: Stellar Matter, which featured discs of various sizes, featuring wormholes, nebulae, planets, space stations, space mines (as in the kind that go boom...not to be mined) and asteroids.
Title: Re: Space Mats - My own creations
Post by: Glenn M on October 15, 2008, 12:25:45 PM
I am not having good luck making wormholes, I am still working on it though, hopefully, I'll be able to pull something compelling together though.  Nebula aren't too hard though.

I plan to make my mines, asteroids, etc. in 3d. 

And Josh, it is Glenn, not Glen, G L E N N.
Title: Re: Space Mats - My own creations
Post by: Topkick on October 15, 2008, 12:31:40 PM
If you can find any pics of the wormhole from the opening credits of Deep Space 9 you might wnat to use it. I think it is a beautiful shot.
Title: Re: Space Mats - My own creations
Post by: joshuaslater on October 15, 2008, 12:33:11 PM
D'oh, I should be paying better attention Glenn with two n's!!  It's four to the floor at the office today and my forum-fu ain't too savvy.  I'll remember it.
Title: Re: Space Mats - My own creations
Post by: Glenn M on October 15, 2008, 01:22:22 PM
Alright, here is my attempt to make a wormhole, note the normal file has a transparent background.  This allows you to print it out on a transparency or attach it to an image.

(http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g213/Biokanan/Wormhole.png)
Title: Re: Space Mats - My own creations
Post by: Glenn M on October 15, 2008, 02:42:45 PM
Some work on Planets, using a fractal generator to make a cool texture, then by lensing it, creating an atmosphere and such, you can create a very nice planet quite easily.  Anyways, here is the same planet, took me around 10 minutes to design this one.  One has a shadow, the other doesn't, I can easily add the shadow after I add it to the mat though.

(http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g213/Biokanan/magmaworlda.png)

(http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g213/Biokanan/magmaworldshadow.png)

This is actually really fun, I may make a Wallpaper with this stuff.
Title: Re: Space Mats - My own creations
Post by: dmcgee1 on October 15, 2008, 08:35:45 PM
I know very little of the world detail, the guys I'll be playing with are pretty lenient, so I'll be playing with the standard ships, and maybe a few others, I want to pick up some of the Geonosian fighters from Starship Battles and some other things as well.  My brother wants Battle Star fighters.  So yeah.

EDIT:  I should also note, I am not very familiar with the ships yet, I know I like the look of the Talon and Lance Electra, but otherwise, I am floating blind.

Anytime you wanna talk Silent Death, start a thread.  Dodger and I will, gladly, lend you any advice that we can.