Swidhelm's Armory ::: For Mike 3 ©2007 Darrin C. Smith ________________________________________________________________________________________ All of the content in this package was created by Swidhelm / Darrin C. Smith. Email: Renderosity sitemail ________________________________________________________________________________________ Thank you for purchasing this product! I hope you like the work that was done and find this package useful. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Table of Contents: Part 1: Description Part 2: File list and Folder Layout Part 3: Requirements Part 4: Installation and Setup Part 5: Notes Part 1 ~Description ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The gladius was being replaced, slowly at first by the need for a longer weapon amongst the growing cavalry of the Roman armies. Then, as the Goths and other tribes began Germanizing the legions, their preference for a longer blade brought the spatha among them as well. In time it became the most common sword in Europe, used by peoples ranging from Gauls to Slavs. But ever does the sword evolve, and soon the Teutonic tribes had turned the old roman weapon into something recognizably German. With the sword's stout guard and heavy pommel, thick, often pattern welded blade it became a trademark of the Germans during the migrations; From Vikings to Saxons, to Goths to vandals. But it would change yet again. In time and with the rising of Christianity the guard evolved quillons, and thus the cruciform sword was born. There are but few history based weapons available for the digital world, at least as such as I have found. The ones that exist are quite good, and this package is not so much intended as a replacement but a supplement. I find variety is key to diverse art, as the more items you have to choose from the more likely you will find something that suits the particular look you are going for. As such I hope this pack fills that need for some at least. Though many weapons in this pack are based on real blades, none are carbon copies. Some use more artistic license than others, but even those still cling to common styles of the age they represent. Part 2 ~File List and Folder Layout ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This package includes the following folder and files License.txt SAReadMe.txt Runtime libraries props Swidhelm’s Blades Bastard 2.pp2 Bastard 2.png Bastard 3.pp2 Bastard 3.png Bastard 4.pp2 Bastard 4.png Bastard 5.pp2 Bastard 5.png Broadsword 2.pp2 broadsword 2.png Broadsword 3.pp2 broadsword 3.png Broadsword 4.pp2 broadsword 4.png Broadsword 5.pp2 broadsword 5.png Claymore 1.pp2 Claymore 1.png Claymore 2.pp2 Claymore 2.png Claymore 3.pp2 Claymore 3.png Falchion 1.pp2 Falchion 1.png Falchion 2.pp2 Falchion 2.png Falchion 3.pp2 Falchion 3.png Short 1.pp2 Short 1.png Short 2.pp2 Short 2.png Short 3.pp2 Short 3.png Spatha 1.pp2 Spatha 1.png Spatha 2.pp2 Spatha 2.png Spatha 3.pp2 Spatha 3.png Viking 1.pp2 Viking 1.png Viking 2.pp2 Viking 2.png Viking 3.pp2 Viking 3.png Runtime libraries props Swidhelm's Scabbards Bastard 2.png Bastard 2.pp2 Bastard 3.png Bastard 3.pp2 Bastard 4.png Bastard 4.pp2 Bastard 5.png Bastard 5.pp2 bastard2-scabbard.png Bastard2-scabbard.pp2 bastard3-scabbard.png Bastard3-scabbard.pp2 bastard4-scabbard.png Bastard4-scabbard.pp2 bastard5-scabbard.png Bastard5-scabbard.pp2 Broad2-scabbard.png Broad2-scabbard.pp2 Broad3-scabbard.png Broad3-scabbard.pp2 Broad4-scabbard.png Broad4-scabbard.pp2 Broad5-scabbard.png Broad5-scabbard.pp2 broadsword 2.png Broadsword 2.pp2 broadsword 3.png Broadsword 3.pp2 broadsword 4.png Broadsword 4.pp2 broadsword 5.png Broadsword 5.pp2 Clay1-sling.png Clay1-sling.pp2 Clay2-sling.png Clay2-sling.pp2 Clay3-sling.png Clay3-sling.pp2 Claymore 1.png Claymore 1.pp2 Claymore 2.png Claymore 2.pp2 Claymore 3.png Claymore 3.pp2 Falchion 1.png Falchion 1.pp2 Falchion 2.png Falchion 2.pp2 Falchion 3.png Falchion 3.pp2 Falchion1-scabbard.png Falchion1-scabbard.pp2 Falchion2-scabbard.png Falchion2-scabbard.pp2 Falchion3-scabbard.png Falchion3-scabbard.pp2 Short 1.png Short 1.pp2 Short 2.png Short 2.pp2 Short 3.png Short 3.pp2 Short1-scabbard.png Short1-scabbard.pp2 Short2-scabbard.png Short2-scabbard.pp2 Short3-scabbard.png Short3-scabbard.pp2 Spatha 1.png Spatha 1.pp2 Spatha 2.png Spatha 2.pp2 Spatha 3.png Spatha 3.pp2 spatha1-scabbard.png Spatha1-scabbard.pp2 spatha2-scabbard.png Spatha2-scabbard.pp2 spatha3-scabbard.png Spatha3-scabbard.pp2 Viking 1.png Viking 1.pp2 Viking 2.png Viking 2.pp2 Viking 3.png Viking 3.pp2 viking1-scabbard.png Viking1-scabbard.pp2 viking2-scabbard.png Viking2-scabbard.pp2 viking3-scabbard.png Viking3-scabbard.pp2 Runtime textures Swidhelm's Blades textures bastard2.jpg bastard2-b.jpg bastard3.jpg bastard3-b.jpg bastard4.jpg bastard4-b.jpg bastard5.jpg bastard5-b.jpg broadsword2.pp2 broadsword2-b.jpg broadsword3.jpg broadsword3-b.jpg broadsword4.jpg broadsword4-b.jpg broadsword5.jpg broadsword5-b.jpg claymore1.jpg claymore1-b.jpg claymore2.jpg claymore2-b.jpg claymore3.jpg claymore3-b.jpg falchion1.jpg falchion1-b.jpg falchion2.jpg falchion2-b.jpg falchion3.jpg falchion3-b.jpg short1.jpg short1-b.jpg short2.jpg short2-b.jpg short3.jpg short3-b.jpg spatha1.jpg spatha1-b.jpg spatha2.jpg spatha2-b.jpg spatha3.jpg spatha3-b.jpg viking1.jpg viking1-b.jpg viking2.jpg viking2-b.jpg viking3.jpg viking3-b.jpg Runtime textures Swidhelm's Blades textures Scabbards bastard2-scabbard.jpg bastard2-scabbard-b.jpg bastard3-scabbard.jpg bastard3-scabbard-b.jpg bastard4-scabbard.jpg bastard4-scabbard-b.jpg bastard5-scabbard.jpg bastard5-scabbard-b.jpg broadsword2-scabbard.pp2 broadsword2-scabbard-b.jpg broadsword3-scabbard.jpg broadsword3-scabbard-b.jpg broadsword4-scabbard.jpg broadsword4-scabbard-b.jpg broadsword5-scabbard.jpg broadsword5-scabbard-b.jpg claymore1-sling.jpg claymore1-sling-b.jpg claymore2-sling.jpg claymore2-sling-b.jpg claymore3-sling.jpg claymore3-sling-b.jpg falchion1-scabbard.jpg falchion1-scabbard-b.jpg falchion2-scabbard.jpg falchion2-scabbard-b.jpg falchion3-scabbard.jpg falchion3-scabbard-b.jpg short1-scabbard.jpg short1-scabbard-b.jpg short2-scabbard.jpg short2-scabbard-b.jpg short3-scabbard.jpg short3-scabbard-b.jpg spatha1-scabbard.jpg spatha1-scabbard-b.jpg spatha2-scabbard.jpg spatha2-scabbard-b.jpg spatha3-scabbard.jpg spatha3-scabbard-b.jpg viking1-scabbard.jpg viking1-scabbard-b.jpg viking2-scabbard.jpg viking2-scabbard-b.jpg viking3-scabbard.jpg viking3-scabbard-b.jpg Part 3 ~Requirements ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This package requires: Poser 6 (works with Poser 4 Pro Pack) Michael 3 from Daz This package should run in any poser version. With Poser 4 it may need to have the bump images (there are no .bum files in this package, only bump images in jpeg format) manually loaded in the materials setup, which will convert them to .bum files. Pro Pack an on can use just the jpgs. Note: Having been largely built in Poser 6, but tested in Poser 4 pro pack as well, when a sword or scabbard is loaded it will come up with a warning saying that the file is newer than expected. Just click okay, as it poses no problem to load the object. To do this: ~Run Poser 4 and place your figure as you normally would. ~Load your sword of choice, or scabbard. ~In the task bar along the top click on Render ==> Materials (or on the keyboard type Ctrl+U) ~Make sure the sword or scabbard is selected in the Object box. ~In the Bump Map box, click the LOAD button and navigate to Runtime>textures>Swidhelm's Blades>textures (scabbards are one more folder in) ~load the appropriate file to the weapon or scabbard used. ~Poser will tell you the file needs to be converted to .bum. Click ok ~done (yes I added this as a step :P) There are no objs just PP2s, but they can certainly be exported from poser to obj format and be used in any rendering app. Though they were set up for Mike 3, it would take little effort to reposition and parent for any other figure. Part 4 ~Installation and Setup ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Installation: Unzip the archive(s) into your poser directory, and let the archive overwrite the existing Runtime folder. It will place the files where they need to be automatically. If this fails extract the files to anywhere you can isolate them. Then cut and paste as per file list in part 2 into your Poser folder. Overwrite if prompted. If not prompted you may not have copied them to the right folder. Setup: There is not much to setting up as they are smart props and can be loaded by themselves without a figure. However to use with Mike 3, load Michael first, then load either sword of scabbard as desired, and it will automatically be parented to him. Note: The scabbards and the swords for the scabbards are parented to Michael's hip. I chose this method simply because they are easy to line up, and you can use the sword or the scabbard without the other. To use with another figure, load whom you wish, and the blade or scabbard of your choice. Then reposition it using the dials. (They should not have to be moved far as they should appear in the same position they would if Mike 3 was in the scene at his default pose.) Once repositioned, simply parent to the new figure. ~From the task bar across the top select Object ==> Change Parent ~Then from the list provided select the figure's body part you wish to parent to. (i.e. righthand) ~Done (important step :P) Part 5 ~Notes ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- So you may be wondering why there are scabbards and slings, yet no sword belts or baldrics. Well as much as I would have liked to make some and include them, I cannot anticipate how a given character may be dressed. Meaning I cannot take into account the shape or depth of clothing to make a belt or baldric that would fit appropriately, which would lead to straps that mysteriously vanish into clothing, or are nearly invisible. I left them all capable of being used with any belt or baldric you desire and may already own--that and all the additional pp2s and textures would have meant a separate sale item anyway, and would have complicated things. I hope that this makes sense. This is the first of what I hope will be further packages that include many more ancient and medieval weapons and arms. I'd like to do not just European stuff, but middle Easter, and eastern stuff as well--including armor, such as tribe specific styles of helms and things like that. But who knows. That is probably a long way off. Engravings: You'll notice in some of the textures there are either latin inscriptions, or runic inscriptions. They are not found on all the weapons, just a few. The runic is actually old norse, not english in runes, as I wanted a bit more authenticity. Viking 1: HadulaikaR--Battle dancer Viking 2: Hilt : Eric Sigurdson Blade: Angrvadill--Rushing Harm Broad 5: Semper Paratus—always ready Short 2 : Via Crucis—the way of the cross Spatha 2: Vae Victis--woe to the conquered Tips: Okay I know some are Poser Gurus, and can do fantastic renders with ease in that app, but I find I prefer Bryce myself (as I don't have the coinage for those high end apps like Maya) and I know there are some out there like me. If so, and you are taking these swords into Bryce, I'd like to say it doesn't take long to make them look spiffy! What I generally do after importing them is changing the smooth rate to about 45% or so. Then with the obj selected in full, load the image maps for the whole thing. Then I select all the metal parts, which is more or less everything without the grip selected, and use a preset metallic material made with Bryce’s deep texture editor. This way all the properties I want in the surface material are applied to each part of the weapon. I then switch from dte back to image again, retaining all the metallic properties, from the subtle azure or purple radiosity and even slight, ever so slight reflection. Well that's how I do it anyways. I'm sure you have your own methods. If you have any questions or need help with anything feel free to email me with Renderosity sitemail. Again thank you for purchasing this product! I hope you are happy with your choice, and that it serves your needs well. Cheers Swidhelm (Darrin)