We are beginning the character sculpting process. 

Based on character designs by @Majikarpette, Sam Proctor and I are sculpting the characters in Nomadsculpt to match it but with polygons. Proportions and chunkyness are super important since this is mostly a top-down game, similar to Disco Elysium or Anno 1800. Here, we are sculpting Haast (ship captain) and Voltairine (Anarchist welder).

Each sculpt requires a lot of adjustments and paintovers.

We mostly use the mobile software NomadSculpt, so that we can sculpt from the couch. Also, the tools in that app are amazing. We can sculpt directly in vertex colors. Kind of like Zbrush polypaint, but in PBR!

While I finish my sculpt of captain Haast (the ship captain with metal legs), Sam proctor is now working on sculpting Camille, (the testing engineer with a skateboard). Tune in next week for more updates on characters. We will also do a deep dive on low-polygon art, the process of creating textures from a high resolution polygonal mesh known as “baking” and retopo. 

All of this is important work to get the game looking good, clear, and narratively engaging. The advisors will make you care about the sucess of various quests and expeditions, and meeting certain production quotas, organization goals, or comfort needs. Each advisor has unique personality and viewpoint on how to do DIY shipbuilding; from anarchic traditions to yoga to stoicisim to nihilistic punk optimism.