Easter Break 2024
Another update so soon?! I know right? Big shocker! As I said in the previous blog, I will only post these entries when major progress on something has been made, and there have been a lot of big changes and plenty of progress to boot.
To start things off, we’ll cover a topic from our last blog, first:
The Jinimaru Base Mesh
Last month I created a brand new base mesh for my Jinimaru/Feles characters. We covered why the changes were made, and I posted pictures of the shader features they used. If you missed that blog entry, it’s here: http://www.zuperbuu.com/uncategorized/areworkandremake/
Posting pictures is good, but with things that are supposed to be used in motion, a video conveys the same message better. In the below video, I show off one “character” mesh in action as a VRM avatar and show some of the new rigging, shaders, and model variants. I also compared the old model of the character and the new one, which uses the new Base Mesh.
This character was first in the pipeline for an update to their old model, as they are on the front cover of the books, which we’ll get to in a bit.
Whilst recording this video I realised one flaw in the new base mesh; it’s high-poly, too high for use on NPCs or background crowds as I had originally intended. For the rest of this month, I plan on reducing the polycount and creating a few more variants (three are made and shown in the video, but there are a total of sixteen, so I have thirteen to make).
Once I am happy with the variants of the Base Mesh, I can then recreate the other character models which are still viewable on the site here: http://www.zuperbuu.com/2756-2/
This page is getting an overhaul of its own once I have the new models made. And although I said the Base mesh was high-poly, it’s actually lower poly than the models already on the site; when the replacements are ready, they should load up much faster on the page, and look better.
The colour scheme remains the same as the old covers, and the Hardback editions of the books are not being changed. These new ones are for the Paperback and EPUB editions. Also, I decided to pose Gakidou the same way he was on the old cover of “Book One”, only I turned him around so his back was showing instead of his front. If you want to see how the front looked, here it is.
I chose the back variant because, unlike the front, Gakidou’s mane from the back makes him look younger without me having to make a brand-new model.
Also, yes, you saw the final entries cover, and we’re moving onto that topic next!
Heart of the Feles is out May 13th
After being in editing hell for nearly six months; Heart of the Feles is finally edited and ready for me to hit that publish button.
This completion of the series has been both a wash of relief and also a sad time for me; these stories have been stuck in my head for over twenty years now, and to put them out for anyone to delve into was an exhausting task, especially-so doing it all on your own with mental health issues.
I am relieved the journey is finally over, but sad to see it end. I want to write more about these characters and places, but when I do, they will be part of something new and won’t be under the “Specimen G-13” name. Those who finish Heart of the Feles will understand why this is the case.
You can preorder the EPUB of the book, but the Paperback and Hardback editions will only go live on May 13th. Why that date? I’d have been foolish not to launch it on the 13th; the number is in the series title!
Preorder the EPUB in the UK here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0D1GRGGNP
It’s also available in all other Amazon Marketplaces for preorder.
So, is that it for the Specimen G-13 series for now? In terms of writing, yes; Heart of the Feles is the end of the novel trilogy, but it’s just one part of the Jinimaru Project. So, what’s next for it? Why, the steady adaptation into the world of gaming, that’s what!
A Dungeons and Dragon Module
With the Edris Compendium complete, and now the huge writing task of the Specimen G-13 trilogy over, I can finally delve into making visual media for the Jinimaru Project. However, delving into the realm of video games is a daunting and difficult task, so rather than jumping straight in, I am making a Module for Dungeons and Dragons to learn a bit about “Game Balance”. This Module will be made into a printed book that I hope to sell at Comic-Cons and will feature new artwork that I have made using the 3D model assets I have been doing of all my creatures. Should anyone want a copy elsewhere, who cannot attend one of these events, you will be able to buy a copy online once I decide on a distributor.
The Module itself isn’t a one-to-one adaptation of the trilogy of books but is centred around Part Two (Wrath of the Lancer). A few changes to the story have to be made to allow players to stop the Lancer’s assassinations and free the world of Edris, from the tyrannical rule of the Feles Union.
As of writing this blog entry, I have completed the Creature Appendix and created some new Races for NPCs (and Player use, if they want). You can see an example below of a creature that will be a common encounter in the Module, though its stats are subject to change while I continue to learn about game balancing.
Nuhk’nuhk (Nook-nook)
A small lavender-coloured creature, often called “cute chinchilla-like critters” by inexperienced Edris visitors until they open their mouths.
They can be found in all temperate and tropical biomes providing there are trees for them to sit in. When in the Nuhk’nuhk territory, you can hear them blabbing to one another in odd barks and yaps, and they are only ever silent if their natural predator, the Kon’ko, is nearby.
Should a player look directly at a Nuhk’nuhk that is also looking at the player, the creature will inflate its body. If the player does not subdue the creature by this point, it will unleash a scream that can be heard up to 2d6 x20 ft away. If the Nuhk’nuhk is in a troop the range increases. Add 2d6 x10ft for additional Nuhk’nuhk in the troop when there is more than one.
Nuhk’nuhk will not enter combat unless another creature hears their call and comes to their location. All beasts but the Kon’ko are viable Summons for the Nuhk’nuhk. If a Kon’ko is within range of the Summon, it will attempt to eat the Nuhk’nuhk instead.
Players can attempt to subdue the Nuhk’nuhk by throwing projectiles at them if they are in the trees, or by kicking them like a football should they be on the ground.
Their name translates to “Pest”.
| Nuhk’nuhk Small Beast, Neutral Armor Class 10 Hit Points 13 (3d6) +3 Speed 30 ft. Climb Speed 20 ft. STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA 8 (-1) 10 (+0) 13 (+1) 3 (-4) 12 (+1) 10 (+0) |
| Damage Vulnerabilities Bludgeoning Damage Resistances — Damage Immunities — Condition Immunities Deafened Senses Passive Perception 11 Languages — Challenge 1/8 Proficiency Bonus — |
| Keen Eyes. The Nuhk’nuhk has advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on sight. Summoned Muscle. Each Nuhk’nuhk in the Troop gain additions to their armour class based on what creatures answer the summon. Small creatures earn +1, medium earn +2, large earn +3, and any bigger earn +4. The whole Nuhk’nuhk troop can only obtain this benefit once, from a single creature, and lose the benefit if that creature is defeated. Synchronised Screaming. For every Nuhk’nuhk in the Troop, the Screech summon ability is multiplied by x10ft with a maximum range of x50ft. Creatures who are within range of a x50ft Screech are 0eafened until they complete a Long Rest. |
| ACTIONS Inflate. The Nuhk’nuhk inhales deeply, inflating their body like a balloon. Should the inflated Nuhk’nuhk be hit with a successful attack before their next turn, they deflate and cannot perform Screech. Screech. Can only be performed after a successful turn of Inflate being undisturbed.The Nuhk’nuhk makes an ear-piercing shriek. Creatures within 5ft are Deafened until the end of their next turn. If no Summoned creature is already present, a new one within audible range (2d6 x20ft) will answer the summon. Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +2 to hit, reach 5ft, one target. Hit: 2 (1d4) piercing damage. |
This Module isn’t expected to take long to create, as all the chunky information has been dealt with while I wrote the Edris Compendium. When the Module is finished, I will then move to finish some things on Subject 218 for a while, before I attempt any video game development on the Jinimaru Project.
All Meshed Up
I have spent this month doing my own projects, finishing up a few and making progress on others, and took a break from making 3D models for others’ uses.
Presently, I have only two “new” models planned for Free releases this year; a Smaug Dragon for the end of the year, and a Metal Sonic that I started last year but never finished. I have one planned Premium model left to do this year, and one Rework of Shenron.
Once this list is completed, I will return to sporadic uploads of models and not reveal my planned list of things to make, because I prefer working that way.
Also, as I do need some form of income to help me hire a programmer, there will be fewer Free models released after this year; more models that would have initially been Free will find their way into the Printables store, or Patreon Shop.
Don’t forget that if you subscribe to ANY of the Paid tiers on Patreon, you get access to 3/4 of the Premium Library for no additional cost. Yes, this includes the folks who pay only £1 a month. Those on the £10 a month tier gain unrestricted access to the whole library. https://www.patreon.com/thomastedwards
That wraps up this blog entry. I don’t expect to make a huge amount of progress in May as I am going to be having one of my eyes checked out, as it’s getting pretty bad even with glasses, and I could end up in surgery for it. I’ll do as much as I can before then, but please be aware that I need my eyes to do any of this work, and the surgery may require me to rest them if it comes to that.
Until the next blog entry, see ya!