Research:
Project Description:
The parameters of this assignment are to model out an environment inspired by a scene within a novel or other written work. I have chosen to create the headquarters of the Order of the Grey Griffins from the Grey Griffin series authored by Derek Benz and J.S. Lewis. The below sections are pulled from the first book in the series The Revenge of the Shadow King.
Adding to the Requirements:
In addition to the minimum requirements, I would like to utilize this project as an opportunity to familiarize myself with Substance Painter. I have no previous experience with said program. Through experimentation I hope to develop my skills with this tool and use it in conjunction with Photoshop to paint illustrative textures for my scene. I also plan to learn the basics of particle controls in Unity, in order to add to my environment's atmosphere via candlelight.
Environment Narrative/Book Research:
The Grey Griffins Headquarters is a three-room treehouse found in the forest alongside the protagonists' hometown.
"It was a fortress ... three towers on three separate trees, all connected by hanging bridges." The entrance is accessed via a "spiral staircase circling up the center tree" which leads to "a trapdoor with a large white sign nailed to it that read KEEP OUT." Due to the time constraints of this project I will be focusing on the main tower.
Main Tower: While the organization of this room is not specific, there are quite a few items listed to be present-
The parameters of this assignment are to model out an environment inspired by a scene within a novel or other written work. I have chosen to create the headquarters of the Order of the Grey Griffins from the Grey Griffin series authored by Derek Benz and J.S. Lewis. The below sections are pulled from the first book in the series The Revenge of the Shadow King.
Adding to the Requirements:
In addition to the minimum requirements, I would like to utilize this project as an opportunity to familiarize myself with Substance Painter. I have no previous experience with said program. Through experimentation I hope to develop my skills with this tool and use it in conjunction with Photoshop to paint illustrative textures for my scene. I also plan to learn the basics of particle controls in Unity, in order to add to my environment's atmosphere via candlelight.
Environment Narrative/Book Research:
The Grey Griffins Headquarters is a three-room treehouse found in the forest alongside the protagonists' hometown.
"It was a fortress ... three towers on three separate trees, all connected by hanging bridges." The entrance is accessed via a "spiral staircase circling up the center tree" which leads to "a trapdoor with a large white sign nailed to it that read KEEP OUT." Due to the time constraints of this project I will be focusing on the main tower.
Main Tower: While the organization of this room is not specific, there are quite a few items listed to be present-
- old books & magazines
- homemade maps
- fishing poles
- movie posters
- a dog skull
- lots of candles-some scented
- boxes and boxes of comic books and Round Table cards with game boards and bags of assorted knucklebones (dice specific to the Round Table game)
- a table
- a shuttered window
- sleeping bags
- blankets and assorted winter clothing
- garbage ("candy wrappers, half-eaten corn chips, and empty soda cans")
References
General: Structural and Basic Interior Design
Originally I intended for the room to be rectangular. However, after searching through treehouse references I am now favouring a hexagonal shape set around the tree. I am planning to place windows on two or three of the walls.
Originally I intended for the room to be rectangular. However, after searching through treehouse references I am now favouring a hexagonal shape set around the tree. I am planning to place windows on two or three of the walls.
Interior Items
Round Table: A card game played by the Grey Griffins similar in design to Magic: The Gathering and D&D.
- "Larger than a deck of traditional playing cards, in both scale and number, the cards were painted with all sorts of fascinating traps and spells as well as knights and monsters. The objective was to defeat your opponents' armies through strategy, strength of arms, and the luck of a pair of ten-sided dice called knucklebones."
- "Round Table was played on an elaborate board that resembled an ancient, yellowed map that could hold up to four players, but could be expanded to accommodate six when two boards were attached."
Colour Palette
The Grey Griffin kids spend a good amount of time within their headquarters- whether they are meeting for official purposes or having a sleepover. So I wanted to design this room to have a cozy, inviting atmosphere which relates back to the nature surrounding it. Many of my treehouse reference photos have a heavy leaning toward reds and oranges and have a very comforting feel. So my primary palette is mainly warm colours- very rich shades of red, orange, and yellow- along with a singular shade of green. My secondary palette brings in some contrasting colours for the decor within the room. I wanted to utilize violet tones here to harken back to the wealth which built this treehouse.
Primary
Primary
Secondary
Sketches
Thumbnail Sketches
I utilized these thumbnail sketches to test out the different forms of structure, furniture, and decor I wanted to incorporate.
I utilized these thumbnail sketches to test out the different forms of structure, furniture, and decor I wanted to incorporate.
- Structure: My main decision points here were the overall shape of the treehouse and the paneling of the walls. I decided to use a hexagonal shape because I feel it is more visually striking- not very many structures use a hexagonal shape. And I am leaning toward a brick-like pattern for the wood panels because it seems more structurally sound.
- Furniture: I originally planned to have a regular bookshelf connected to the wall, but while building my graybox I noticed how crowded they made the room feel. So I switched to the separate, wall-mounted shelves. Additionally, I originally only planned to have a single shelf connected to the tree, but these thumbnails helped me generate the ideas of cubbies cut into the tree.
- Misc/Organization: Testing out different ways of organizing the items within the room and what items I may include.
- Decor: Planning how the decor items may be placed or designed. I brainstormed adding "forest treasures" like rocks, leaves, and other bones.
- Round Table: Preliminary base designs for the Round Table game.
Rough Sketches
Using my updated graybox as a template, some further sketches on how the room is decorated and organized.
Using my updated graybox as a template, some further sketches on how the room is decorated and organized.
Computer Roughs
Graybox
Original: At first I planned to model all three rooms of the treehouse, but I decided to decrease the scale of my project based on my own capabilities and time frame.
Original: At first I planned to model all three rooms of the treehouse, but I decided to decrease the scale of my project based on my own capabilities and time frame.
Updated: A more detailed arrangement of the main room of the treehouse, with the new hexagonal shape.
1st Modular Asset
Knucklebones: The ten-sided dice used in Round Table. Like in D&D these dice come in a variety of colours and material designs. The books only describe them as being ten-sided die, so I took the liberty of taking characteristics from actual knucklebones- four sided die shaped like bones- to give these Knucklebones a more unique look.
Knucklebones: The ten-sided dice used in Round Table. Like in D&D these dice come in a variety of colours and material designs. The books only describe them as being ten-sided die, so I took the liberty of taking characteristics from actual knucklebones- four sided die shaped like bones- to give these Knucklebones a more unique look.
Ambient Animation Asset
Window Shutters: I decided to animate my window shutters because they would serve to draw the player's attention to them and the table they are above. And upon this table is a currently-ongoing session of the all-important game; Round Table.
Window Shutters: I decided to animate my window shutters because they would serve to draw the player's attention to them and the table they are above. And upon this table is a currently-ongoing session of the all-important game; Round Table.
I Hero Pieces
Tree Trunk
The tree which provides the base of the treehouse. I loosely based the bark pattern on the Northern Red Oak, a tree native to the characters' homestate of Minnesota. I carved the initials of each Grey Griffin into the bark.
Tree Trunk
The tree which provides the base of the treehouse. I loosely based the bark pattern on the Northern Red Oak, a tree native to the characters' homestate of Minnesota. I carved the initials of each Grey Griffin into the bark.
Dog Skull
This was a very challenging piece for me. I created a basic silhouette within Maya, then exported it for Zbrush. Once I figured out which brush was best for my purpose, sculpting became easier. Though the teeth were difficult, both in placing them and having them look correct.
This was a very challenging piece for me. I created a basic silhouette within Maya, then exported it for Zbrush. Once I figured out which brush was best for my purpose, sculpting became easier. Though the teeth were difficult, both in placing them and having them look correct.
Final Passes
Warning: itch.io builds may take extended time to load.
Particle Effects
Rain Tutorials: I referenced these two tutorials to create my rain effect.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=za6PsM9LciU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cDHJuRV5Ays&t=373s
Fire Tutorial:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qShjsxopbfQ
Rain Tutorials: I referenced these two tutorials to create my rain effect.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=za6PsM9LciU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cDHJuRV5Ays&t=373s
Fire Tutorial:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qShjsxopbfQ
Computer Finals
Colour Pass
I added the basic colour maps for all objects. Next step is to add the normal maps.
I added the basic colour maps for all objects. Next step is to add the normal maps.
Normals Pass
Added normal maps. Next, I will add objects to support the functionality of my environment. To do so, I must ask myself: "How is this room affected by those who inhabit it?"
Added normal maps. Next, I will add objects to support the functionality of my environment. To do so, I must ask myself: "How is this room affected by those who inhabit it?"
Functionality Details
In order to boost the functionality of my environment, I contemplated how the four 12-year olds would populate their personal space. I added posters and maps "handmade" by the characters. I designed the details for the Round Table cards, guidebook, and gameboard. Finally, I put in stones and fossils which might be found in the surrounding woods and may catch the eyes of these adventurous children.
In order to boost the functionality of my environment, I contemplated how the four 12-year olds would populate their personal space. I added posters and maps "handmade" by the characters. I designed the details for the Round Table cards, guidebook, and gameboard. Finally, I put in stones and fossils which might be found in the surrounding woods and may catch the eyes of these adventurous children.
Details and Lights
This pass focused on smaller details of the environment and further connecting its elements. Tape was added to connect the posters to the walls. I placed tacks on the map of the characters' hometown- indicating the presence of grand mystery they are attempting to solve. A few branches now help the man-made supports prop up the table set around the tree trunk. I also changed a few textures and added in the final fire particle effect and the accompanying lights.
This pass focused on smaller details of the environment and further connecting its elements. Tape was added to connect the posters to the walls. I placed tacks on the map of the characters' hometown- indicating the presence of grand mystery they are attempting to solve. A few branches now help the man-made supports prop up the table set around the tree trunk. I also changed a few textures and added in the final fire particle effect and the accompanying lights.
Final Build
I envisioned my environment to be a peek into these children's safe place. A rainy night enclosed within their sturdy HQ. To this end, I redid all of my specular maps so they have a greater effect. I added a few small details such as a bit of trash, more blankets, and trim along the bottom of the wall. Using a simple skybox I made, I adjusted the ambient lighting within Unity to match that stormy feeling.
And Beyond...
My Advanced 3D class may be over, but that does not spell the end to the improvements I could make upon this environment. Future work pertaining to this project would likely focus on small items I did not include within my initial passes. The reference passage from Revenge of the Shadow King mentions fishing equipment and later chapters mention the presence of binoculars. In my thumbnail sketches I included small items like acorns, leaves, and flowers. These small detail items would serve to fuel the functionality of my environment. I could also branch out and create the surrounding forest, including the two other towers of the Grey Griffin Headquarters.