Haven’t figured out a good title yet but here we go…
This is a surreal piece that started out as a simple texturing (and sculpting) excercise. But as I kept working on it got more and more interesting so I added water and a skydome. Anyway, this is where I am at the moment. Working on two more details to make it more complete.
Any thoughs?
[UPDATE IN LAST POST]
Needs something to give it a sense of scale. As is, it could be a mountain, it could be a pebble. If it’s simply hanging above the water, there should be some sort of difference between the top, where birds hang out, dust and dirt collects and plants grow, the sides, which might collect a nice crop of lichen, and the bottom, where bits fall off into the water from time to time. It has a nice, science-fictiony look to it.
Also, your AA hates you. Change it from gaussian to at least ‘cubic’, though mitch and cat-romm are really nice and sharp.
Yeah, assuming it’s huge, I would have a titanic-sized ship down in the water (that appears a couple centimeters long.
And maybe a flock of seagulls. And of couse what Orinoco and BlackBoe said.
Not bad so far though.
I think a ship would ruin it. It has sort of a nice Myst feel to it, a bit like Amateria.
Amateria was friggin’ sweet.
I think you have a nice mysterious floating theme going. If you can come up with something good to go with it, then this could be really good. 
I agree, Amateria was absolutely amazing. Was I the only one who felt like a hamster in a ball at the end of that level?
Thanks for the replies. I’m not sure about the size yet, but it’s at least the size of a house. I am thinking about making it somekind of house. It will probably end up being more fantasy that surreal.
Thanks for the Myst reference :). That is pretty much what I’m going for.
Added four anchors and switched skydome, the other one didn’t fit in. Also, AA switched to mitch. Never though about that.
[EDIT]
New image, with a hatch on top. Also worked up the lighting so that the bottom is more properly lit.
[UPDATE]
Removed hatch as it didn’t fit in. Added a doorway and a lantern instead. Thinking about naming it “Stone Prison”.
What do you think?
It has a shadow now that wasn’t in the first, personally I like it better without. Also, you might want to think about adding land off in the far far distance, but maybe that isn’t the mood you’re going for.
If you name it stone prison, it should be apx. 5.774 times darker than it is now 
Nice work so far, keep it up!
Very cool look to this!
Suggestions:
If you’re going for a slightly fantasy feel, I would suggest some “antique” touches and more natural touches.
For example, a wrought-iron chain-link anchor chain or a rope one. An older lantern style instead of an electric globe shade - maybe Chinese lantern style?
Also, think about the environment further. You’ve got a (virtually) cloudless sky, slightly rippled water… but where is it? Near the land? should be land visible somewhere then, or implied by something. maybe see a sandy or rocky bottom through the water, birds, etc as suggested. Middle of the ocean? There should be big swells then. Hmm… and bigger cables, with the anchors much further out. As it is, the close placement and small sticks require a shallow water basin, as does the nearly flat water. But any water body that big should not be so calm.
Also, are the anchors to keep the normally unmoving (stable but floating) rock from getting away somehow, or are they to keep it from floating away in the wind? Water, sky and rock should be blown by any wind. The rock would be pulling against a couple of the chains and the others would have more slack.
57r1k3r: If I choose that name it will be a night scene, don’t worry
dgebel: Thanks for the extensive post. Chain instead of cables is a good idea but I’m keeping the lightglobe for the Myst look. Will fix the “house” before moving on to the environment but I will keep that post in mind.
Also, in Myst, a lot of the Ages were isolated in fields of water, so that the writers didn’t have to exert themselves making massive tomes for the entire world. Also, a lot of the water was calm, except in some of the more active ages like Stoneship, and at the end, when Myst was scarred and decaying after years of being abandoned.
(Start of Myst lore chunk)
Actually it wasn’t because of the required size of the description book. It was because a larger description was more liable to contain contradictions and/or errors that would make the age unstable. And you do NOT want to enter an unstable age.
(End of Myst lore chunk)
Good point
Well, that’s what I meant by exerting themselves. Cause it isn’t like it wouldn’t be possible, it’d just take tons and tons of painstaking time to create something that actually worked.
I reckon a layer of moss or some sort of hardy grass on the top would add an authentic touch. Also, I agree with the idea for chains, though adding some twisted cable strands may look nicer if you keep it with cables (reasonable easy to make btw).
Other thoughts,
Posts look a little plain (maybe add some gargoyles (guardians) to the top of each one?
Its a shame the door is a little dark.
What about some reflected caustics on the bottom of the rock?
Finally I only feel the need to comment because I think its a cool concept, love the work you have done so far, and I think it could be taken so far.
Goosey absolutely right on all points. Except maybe the gargoyles.
It needs reflected light. Didn’t notice that before. A bit more illumination spread by the door light or caustics playing over the door would also help that.
Given the somewhat modern style, not sure about the gargoyles. Although, it seems that a building near me has some, and it can’t be terribly old… I think.
Neat… you really got the rocky feeling in it, like solid granite.
Have you ever played Elder Scrolls III - Morrowind (that’s the one before Oblivion)? It has also a big floating, hollowed rock that is used as a prison.
Now I know what that thing reminded me of 
Thanks for interest, now I know I’m on to something. (Either that or you have entered a secret conspiracy whose goal is to encourage me to make something that looks stupid :eek:)
[quote=“S-T-S,post:17,topic:388680"”]
Have you ever played Elder Scrolls III - Morrowind (that’s the one before Oblivion)? It has also a big floating, hollowed rock that is used as a prison.
[/quote]
No, I was thinking about the Spire age of Myst.
Anyway, UPDATE!
The scene is rapidly gaining complexity (now up to about 250k faces). Some waves added, workes pretty well with the scene. Also added some detail to the anchor poles, ignoring the lines for the moment. Some fake caustics added, together with two signs on the door. And after a bit of inspiration a nice “staircase” to the top of the house, it seemed odd to have a door leading out to nothing.
CURSES!!! You’ve caught on to our little scheme!
Seriously, tho, i like the spiral stairs, but now you really need something on top 
The water’s looking better, too. Aside from that i echo dgebel and goosey’s previous posts.
