Need Suggestions

[Deadeye2007]

Below are two images of a map on which I am currently working. These images depict what are supposed to be oil tanks on an offshore oil rig. While they do look like real life oil tanks, they are fairly boring. Also, the catwalk area look quite simply atrocious! (Keep in mind this is early stage development).

Does anyone have any suggestions to dress up the tank, or create a better looking catwalk?

Thanks in advance for any help you can give.

 

[ZargonX]

Well, for the catwalk, you could add some framing, some supports, and probably some railings in some sections if it fits with the flow you want. Break it up into sections to give it a more natural look.

 

[Deadeye2007]

Yep, Support and railing are forthcoming. I was mostly wanting suggestions for the shape. I'm not too thrilled at the "squareness" of the arch brushes.

 

[Voztron]

Why is there a need to have cat walks around the side? Almost all oil tanks have cat walks running across the tops, with a spiral stairs running around the outside. A bit like these:
http://www.nmk.lk/Images/02.jpg
http://www.nmk.lk/Images/Tankfarm01.jpg

Maybe instead of a spiral stairs use pipework to allow access to these cat walks?

 

[Intraman]

Don't use arc brushes to make them. Use cylinders that have been clipped. It takes longer but I find it gives you more control over what you're trying to do.
Either way to give it a more round look, just use more sides. You also may want use a different texture. One with the little see through areas.

 

[Squirrelly]

It always helps to find references for things to give u ideas and options.

Just try to make your tanks unique and stand it so people know what it is.

Instead of a generic looking tank with maybe 1 sign on it.

Maybe don't make them totally cylindrical but maybe have them bubble out at the bottom or middle, also put some unique textures or markings on it, (overlays).

Railings are pretty boring, so make sure u make good detail on them, like use different textures for the sides than u do for the top/bottom, as well as railing models, support under it, maybe lights under them, etc...

good luck on the map!

 

[Deadeye2007]

The catwalks need to be around the sides like that because this map is based upon another map from an FPS - Hint: was released on Playstation 2 in about 2001 - one of the best FPS's PS2 has ever seen.

I think I may try to clip cylinders for the catwalk. I cannot stand that squared off look the arch brushes are giving me. Thanks for the suggestion there.

I had a couple unique ideas I was going to implement with the tanks. Since it is Blu side, I was thinking of making the catwalks in the shape of a wrench (they are pretty close already), and make the tank tops a screw head! lol. I think I will pass on that one, though.

 

[PandaN]

In fact, you can find most of the .mdl's for pipes and beams related to a tank in the SDK. First obvious addition is overlays on the tanks, perhaps of blue co or red bread etc.

Then of course going handrails etc. The other thing you need to think of is what keeps the catwalk from hitting the ground? Pillar structures from below? Wires from above? There are a few options straight away to make something like that.

If you go with wires from above (or even beams from above etc) you can then start thinking of whether there will be lighting above or from the catwalks themselves. Will the catwalks have a roof? Are there any .mdl's you can put on the catwalk as "details"

You could also have the catwalks supported by beams coming off of the tank structures themselves - then you start to see the tanks as a more prominent feature and can build off of that to make them into something special.

Time of day is key as well. If it's a daytime map lighting will be pretty much from the sun, so you can afford to add in much more detail. However, if it's night time the lighting you create will become a feature, and can afford to put less "detail" into the map. Ground lights @ night time are awesome if done well