Wheeeeeee!

I like the wall concept but I am gonna have fun modeling some with it first--because Draakjacht told me to.

And we don't really know what exactly Titans will do yet. 

Yes, my master.  I will.

I have this dream of making a fourth "living ship" race with very minimal ship types.  Literally just three or four total.

I started thinking about this "single unit" species long ago as a replacement for pirates and after thinking about the "Doomsday Weapon" in the old Star Trek (I loved that episode).  Now that they are so entwined with diplomacy, I don't know if that's possible but I still like the concept of "one against the galaxy".

I won't go into all the background and full descriptions of abilities--but they will be starbase sized capital ships and I think I'll make a growth ability that lets them create a mobile  starbase class Hiver.  Basically, Hiver's will have no real homeworlds, won't colonize but will capture asteroids in belts and drain planets and destroyed vessels for resources and repair materials. They also would be able to sometimes capture enemy ships and facilities with abilities. Some of the things I will try for is to have a "spore cloud" ability that lets them create Advent-style homing mines and strike craft.

I have a very detailed list of things for them with the idea being that you can win with a single ship.  lot so things needed and I'm sure Rebellion will throw in all sorts of changes.  But the model and "wall ability" are a good place to start.  I'll call it "dimensional bloom" and it will multiply the size of forward face as a particle effect when the ability is used.

Here's a concept model pic:

Yay!

Cool--It's intentionally a very simple model.  I wanted something organic but not animal--so a virus is the template for it.  I also wanted the poly count down.

Let me wrap it up and send it to you.

It's like a combination of the alien species in the TV show  Threshhold combined with the alien consciousness in Event Horizon.

You're ahead of me if you can convert models.  Never got around to the XSI thing and PF.

How are you doing with the abilities and conversions and all?  Is it working?

I'll talk to someone about setting the model up (I think I can pull that off).  Give me a day or so here to look at the file and go through it.  I just got back from my post the other day (work).

I'll see tomorrow if someone will concert the model for me and then I'll also work over your file.  I have revised the model somewhat and here is the "fractal bloom" that can be done as a particle effect model call:

The Hiver (Virii) is at the center. 

The objects around it are simple poly shapes in a fractal pattern.

The three stages are for each level of the (ultimate) capitalship ability "Fractal (dimensional)  Bloom"--which generates a gravitic field that draws ships and strikecraft towards it and causes damage when they are in close proximity.  The larger the pattern, the greater the effect.  It also multiplies armor and shields for the Virii as well and serves as "the wall" to block ship movement.

You don't have to use such an ability and the bloom is a seperate set of models--so they don't have to be included either.

My concept is sort of the equivalent of a lizard flaring it's collar to scare away predators.  If you see the bloom, it means "danger--ability active--run!".

But you can simply use the core model.

No worries--as it turns out, I am adding some "mechy" looking features to it already.  I wanted more of that mech look too.  I think I can have some pics up tomorrow for you with the changes.

It needs a black hole. 

I am slowly working on two campaign maps but its a bear because of AI limitations, every update changing AI behavior and the need to have past actions affect the future course.

Lot of work.  I have a "story in my head" where the Vasari in times past were able to build "Vault" systems (which other races refer to as "Tombs").

Basically a concentric spiral with the dead asteroids and lesser things at the start and the Vasari prime worlds at the center.  One way wormholes lead in but a phase gate is the only way out.

In my scenario, the Vasari always populate  barren worlds along the way isolated from wormhole exits with slaves to act as attrition units for any advancing armada--they give them all the weapons they want--but not the tech needed to wormhole out.  So when you jump in, you basically enter an overpopulated system with few resources and a tortured and enslaved population armed to the teeth by the Vasari.