After getting a good idea of Viking style, I began to consider different styles and outfits for my 3D character. I planned to do a warrior of some kind but there were a lot of options to weigh up. First, what sort of warrior?
An Infantryman would be rough and ready, worn clothes and equipment, carrying a large round shield as standard. Wearing cloth, leather and some chainmail with some modest decoration and jewellery, a regular warrior would use mostly battered, old gear that may have been passed down through generations or scavenged.
Perhaps a Berserker, wearing little more than a bear-hide cloak (their title coming from the words 'bear shirt') and using heavy axes and swords with little thought to self-protection. These warriors were often covered in scars, tattoos and/or warpaint and were usually the biggest, strongest and maddest of all the Norsemen.
Vikings women were unusually well-respected in Norse society and Shield-Maidens were welcomed on the front line with the men. These warrior-women fought on an even standing with their male counterparts and would be similarly geared and equally fierce in battle!
The Jarls (noblemen/lords) and kings of the Vikings were best equipped of all, wearing elaborate helmets that often covered most of the face and the finest quality chain-mail, scale mail and furs. Their weapons and armor were jewelled and carved with runes, characters and patterns. Their well-kept appearance should not detract from the fact that most of the nobility were warrior heroes that had seen their fair share of combat.
An Infantryman would be rough and ready, worn clothes and equipment, carrying a large round shield as standard. Wearing cloth, leather and some chainmail with some modest decoration and jewellery, a regular warrior would use mostly battered, old gear that may have been passed down through generations or scavenged.
Perhaps a Berserker, wearing little more than a bear-hide cloak (their title coming from the words 'bear shirt') and using heavy axes and swords with little thought to self-protection. These warriors were often covered in scars, tattoos and/or warpaint and were usually the biggest, strongest and maddest of all the Norsemen.
Vikings women were unusually well-respected in Norse society and Shield-Maidens were welcomed on the front line with the men. These warrior-women fought on an even standing with their male counterparts and would be similarly geared and equally fierce in battle!
The Jarls (noblemen/lords) and kings of the Vikings were best equipped of all, wearing elaborate helmets that often covered most of the face and the finest quality chain-mail, scale mail and furs. Their weapons and armor were jewelled and carved with runes, characters and patterns. Their well-kept appearance should not detract from the fact that most of the nobility were warrior heroes that had seen their fair share of combat.
I began the final 3D model using Mudbox and a combination of mouse, keyboard and graphics tablet. I found that the graphics tablet was great for carefully sculpting the curves of the muscles and the mouse was handy for harder edges and consistent shapes like on the helmet. I sculpted the rough shape of the beard and then began the difficult task of adding the shield to his back.
The shield began as an ugly growth on his back which i grabbed and pinched into a larger and larger disc. I flattened the shield as i went, struggling to reach and manipulate the shield back as i maneuvered the viewpoint around his back and arms. Adding the shield separately would have been a lot easier!
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Sculpting the beard was quite simple and fun as i imagined it growing in super-speed from his chin! I enlarged the top of the head next using bulge and then began sculpting the banding around the edge and across the top.
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Adding detail to the face largely comprised of chipping away with the sculpt tool in it's opposite function and then smoothing the rough shape. The beard and hair was detailed using the sculpt tool on small with lots of little strokes to make it look more wild and rugged. After looking at the progress, I decided that the ears were too far back so i used a large grab tool to adjust it.
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