mccoyed

Really like the interior and overall shape of the build. My favorite thing about it is the "tier" structure where you've got stuff going on at different points, giving the build a lot of verticality. My two critiques are: 1) the "peak" of the roof, which reflects a problem I often have where two parts of an element wind up conflicting. So you've got this nice tile effect I've never seen before and is one of the more interesting parts of this build, but then you probably needed to design a fairly clunky "peak" element to hold it in place. That kind of thing happens to me ALL the time and winds up diluting the effect somewhat. 2) the plates around the house's walls are a bit too patchy and Minecrafty-y looking to me. The mix of greens and browns just can't sell the effect you're going for with that little of space. I think the groundwork below the house, on the road, is much better.

I think the details are pretty great here, but I do partially agree that there's probably too much going on for so small a scene. That base is overkill, as great as it is, for a scene of this size and type. I definitely could see that base kicking up the presentation of some future builds, though. My main critique is the text on the overview, first image. That's also overkill. The font is ugly, especially with that flat color, and there's just way too much of it. Dial down the text on the next build, both by reducing how much there is as well as the sizing. I think the color, if not the font, would work better at a more reasonable size anyway. I'm glad you left that off the other pictures. The tendency to throw up huge titles and signatures with oversized, over-elaborate text is a GoH/MOCer habit that needs to die. :P

Great entry. I don't know if you intended this, but I think including some visible studs in the top layers is a clever touch. It helps sell that "under construction" feel.

I agree with Basiliscus about the photography here. Take it from me, I had my phase of using sheets for backdrops too. I eventually learned to use GIMP for brightness correction and now I use photoshop to get rid of my ugly off-white background paper and its seams. There's no rush getting to that stage, but it's worth thinking about so that your presentation matches your building skills, which look pretty good here.

The photography isn't amazing, but it's more than adequate. I didn't feel like there was much detail loss here, but then there's always room for improvement as the others have said. The standout here is all the little details you thought to include to make this look like a genuine construction project. I also dig the variety of foliage. It makes this seem like a few different builds when you switch angles, which is a pretty cool effect.

There we go, that's the Gunman I know. Love the interiors you've added here. My favorite part is the rooftop garden.

Love the little details in here. The rathole, the studs above the jail bars, etc. All good stuff. It's unusual to see a large printed piece like that wall piece you have. Most AFOLs swear that stuff off, but I think they can work in the right build.

This is great. Love that we're seeing some "Wastelands" stuff finally. If I had one criticism it would just be that a few splashes of color here and there would probably improve the build and add some interest. The earthy tones are appropriate but make the build a little drab for something that should be kinda hopeful and exciting.

As weird as it is having Grecian places/names in Mitgardia, I always love a good Gunman build. :P This one is actually pretty straightforward in terms of parts use, Gun.

Lots of details fit into a very compact build. I think the windmill itself could use some finishing touches. The "vane" part seems very weakly attached to the tower, which I know is supposed to resemble reality, but still comes off flimsy here. I can also see some studs popping up off the base of the building that would probably be better off covered with a tile or something. The animals, birds, and plants are vibrant and lifelike and add a lot to the scene overall.

This is one of the all time great interiors. Lots of details, but it's the overall effect that catches the most attention. Love the furniture and little touches like the statue in the alcove and the firewood stack.

Thanks for going so easy on me, Henj. Haha. I always dread/look forward to your feedback because you are so thorough and articulate in your critiques. Good advice about slopes, as well. I see what you mean when I look at that example and thanks for providing an example. I think I kinda panicked on the plants because I hate that drab sandy tan wall and needed to give some depth or something there. Stuff like that is why I'm not happy with this build but I want to move on and try something a bit bigger again. True. It does feel a little too modern, huh? Thanks Narbilu. About the only thing I like is the entrance. :P Thanks Windusky! Stay tuned! That's the best kinda praise, Gabe. I'm glad you like the story. I think my Koro stuff for Andromeda's Gates was in a similar vein, but with fewer characters and kinda more episodic for the most part. Not everyone on GoH would have seen that stuff so I'm glad I can do it here, especially as I'm a bit stumped on the next part of my Yureishima series. Thanks for mentioning your scaling methods. I'm glad to see that kind of info because I have never really developed a set pattern for doing things but have long suspected that the best builders have rules like that because it usually leads to awesome results and provides a great baseline for further exploration. And ugh, I definitely wanted to do a dome on that roof! I tried four versions but lacked the right kind of pieces. I also wasn't sure if I was going to do anything with that flat roof besides putting Garm up there. Ultimately, I forgot about it. :P

Previously... D'Gatto Family Estate, Illyrian Kass decided to tag along and entertain Fel's group of unlikely companions. Not for the first or last time, it didn't occur to anyone to look up and spy the spy that watched them from the very rooftop of the D'Gatto family house in Illyrian. "So I know it's not much to look at but you try being D'Gattos in Eastern Varlyrio and we'll see where you wind up living." "Fah! No thanks." "Let's just go inside, Kass. I can practically feel mother's eyes on me." "It's... sort of roomy inside?" "Well it was originally built for gnomes..." "She's not a gnome!" "Well, I could be a gnome." "A human child? What's Fel doing carting a human child around Illyrian?" "If she didn't tell you, I'm sure you'll understand if we keep our business to ourselves." "Sure, sure. Anyway, I'll show you around. The D'Gattos deal in antiques. Well, some of us do. Here are some." "Oooh. What are they?" "I don't know what they are." "Can I pick up the statue thing?" "Sure, why not?" Meanwhile, Fel was face to face with Abelia D'Gatto, her mother. An imposing, infuriating woman. "Felissa." "Mother." "Did you really think you could slip through Illyrian without me knowing?" "You know, for a minute there, I kind of did." "Have you learned nothing? Your father and I always know where you are." "Don't bring him into this, I know he doesn't approve of you tracking your own children." "Be that as it may, he understands what this family needs and right now it needs you to stop these foolish games and return home." "Mother, we've been over this before. You have your interests and I have mine." "I swear, when I was your age my mother would have slapped my bottom and married me off for such insubordination." "Mother!" "Sigh. Very well, Felissa. If you won't listen to me, then at the very least you need to be able to protect yourself while robbing the dead or whatever it is you're doing. Follow me." Abelia led her daughter to an adjacent gallery. Armor and weapons were displayed there, equipment that Fel had not seen in years... "This is... great-grandmother's." "I had the tunic and armor resized for you, dear." "But... I can't take this." "Oh don't give me that. Your grandmother taught you how to use these weapons very much against my wishes. You may as well shake the dust off them." "Mother... this is..." "Don't lose your composure, Felissa. Stand straight now. You're a D'Gatto and I'll have you comport yourself as one." "... sniff..." ... ... ...sometime later... "I don't know, Abelia. Goldhorn is paying me a lot of money." "But Goldhorn is not Varlyrian, much as he wishes to be. If you wish to stop scuttling along the rooftops and walk out in plain sight, you know who you should really be serving." "Not that I care, but you'd really do this to your own daughter?" "She must learn her place, Garm. You wouldn't understand the duties of a mother." "Heh. You're a cold woman, Abelia." "Do as I ask you and you'll find me a lot warmer in the future." ... ... Builder's Notes:

These are looking pretty good. I particularly like the jail. Nicely composed angle for the pic there, shows everything and looks cinematic.

Great micro. The best part of this is the sense of scale. A lot of micro builds are so full of stuff (buildings usually) but this one really exemplifies a less is more approach.

Love the base as always. I like the head, but Kai may be on to something about the neck. Those slopes look a little "machined". My only complaint about this one is that the main photo obscures the rider! I love your riders (maybe I should say so more often)!

Believe it or not, that's in-game graphics. You should probably play Skyrim. :P

Great build. Really dig the architecture and the centering of the action in the "middle" of the structure.

Agree with everyone about the colors here. I also think that's a really inspired technique with the fallen leaves. And hey, those wedges as cut logs for firewood? Good stuff too.

Nice to see Nocturnus again!

That's what I'm talking about. Great stuff!

Seems like Conrad is headed to some adventures. He may miss his parents the first time he sees a drow!

Really enjoying this expansion of the family. Some really fun characters and dynamics in here already!

Good ideas on just directly measuring them. Believe it or not, I didn't think of that. Unfortunately, deraven, that version of the image does not print out at the correct scale and I'm not sure why. EDIT: Figure it out. It's the word processor I was printing the image through. Ugh. Printing it directly seems to be the correct sizes! Thanks, this is a great start!

Love that this opens up. Seems like a quintessential dwarven house to me. Would like to see some angled shots of the interiors to get a look at the furnishings!