The Meaning of Life, the Universe, and Everything.
Join Date:
10/24/2013
Posts:
52
Location:
USA
Minecraft:
xxStaten
Member Details
I'm currently working on Tinker's Construct and Chisel mod support for my resource pack. If anyone has any suggestions for a mod they want me to add textures for, let me know! I'll see what I can do :).
I'm also working on a heavy remodel with some great new ideas, as well as a completely new resource pack version!
For the most part, I really like how this pack has progressed. It's come a long way from the initial incarnation that I saw so long ago.
Don't worry, I haven't forgotten your request to do a proper wall-o-text critique of this pack. It's just at the bottom of a VERY long list of things that I need to finish first. Sorry about that, but apparently I'm a busy person these days.
For the most part, I really like how this pack has progressed. It's come a long way from the initial incarnation that I saw so long ago.
Don't worry, I haven't forgotten your request to do a proper wall-o-text critique of this pack. It's just at the bottom of a VERY long list of things that I need to finish first. Sorry about that, but apparently I'm a busy person these days.
It's fine :), I know what it's like to be busy and the list of things to do just keeps growing no matter how much it seems you get done hehe.
I've redone the 3D models now that I know how to use the program such much more. I'm trying to stick to very simple and basic 3D models to give those with lower quality PCs, a chance to still use 3D resource packs :).
Now that my resource pack is starting to smooth out and come together pretty well, I've decided to start working on mod support textures. I never play vanilla PC anymore, so my resource pack just looks out of place when playing modpacks. So I'm pretty excited about this myself!
I've started working on so much MC stuff that I've got a website for all my MC projects. I'm about to get into mod making here soon too. http://draglanor.weebly.com/
Thanks for the update, and I look forward to your full review when you get the chance :).
I've been meaning to write a critique of this pack for some time. Just to preface this, I'm writing for the base Medieval version of this pack only.
This is actually one of the first "Flat" or "Smooth" packs that I've seen that lives up to the name without being a bucket fill. Despite having texture everything seems to lack depth. The stone variations all feel very refined and like there's no grit to them, just to give one example. It doesn't go so far as to feel like plastic, but it definitely feels safe. Other than the obvious sharp block corners and edges that are indicative of Minecraft there's nothing to hurt yourself on. I can definitely see the appeal of this style and it carries it well.
The main issue with the pack is that it doesn't really commit to this in all places. Put basically any of the logs right next to the side grass to see what I'm talking about. With the logs, you have detailed shading and highlights. The texture is extremely detailed and has a nice rough feel to it. The side grass... doesn't even have a shadow under the grass. In keeping with the flat feel of Draglanor, it feels almost painted on. This makes the two feel like they come from different packs; the grass being more in line with the rest of the pack while the logs and a few others feel like the outsiders. And then you have the tall grass which is just stripes and doesn't fit in with anything... including the grass block.
There are also some technical artistic issues with the pack as well. Where there is shading, it's often pillow shading. The cobblestone suffers from this horribly, as do the ores which seem to darken the surrounding stone rather than deform it. Similarly the random rotations on the sand remain, even though it's obvious they weren't meant to.
In addition to keeping a mostly consistent and soft feel throughout I will also readily praise about this pack is how complete it is. Yes, granted, there are things that could definitely stand to be redone to better fit with the style of the pack; but it's rare to see a NEW 100% complete pack in this day and age. Very few things seemed to remain default; mainly the water and a few of the new 1.9 things. That's rare and praise-worthy in this day and age, so bravo!
Finally, its more of a "default redux" pack than a genuine "medieval" pack. It's too bright and colorful and lacks any sort of grit to be medieval. Even in places where it would be easy to keep that theme, like the armor and weapons, I never particularly felt like an effort was made to stylistically match medieval Europe in any way. Add to that the inconsistencies in style and some artistic gaffs and, complete or not, this isn't really a pack that I can recommend to most people.
Fans of "smooth but not flat" will probably love the faux-cartoony style, but even then the inconsistencies in style and tone will probably turn a lot of people off to this pack. It's an improvement on previous versions, but there's still a long way to go.
The Meaning of Life, the Universe, and Everything.
Join Date:
10/24/2013
Posts:
52
Location:
USA
Minecraft:
xxStaten
Member Details
Sorry for the late notification or no recent updates. A lot has been going on. Someone dear to me passed away in March which was around the time I was working on my resource pack. I ended up having to move and I currently don't have my computer with all my projects on it. So it'll be a while before I can get back to work, but I plan to still release updates when i get my computer back.
(Medieval Modded):
I'm currently working on Tinker's Construct and Chisel mod support for my resource pack. If anyone has any suggestions for a mod they want me to add textures for, let me know! I'll see what I can do :).
I'm also working on a heavy remodel with some great new ideas, as well as a completely new resource pack version!
For the most part, I really like how this pack has progressed. It's come a long way from the initial incarnation that I saw so long ago.
Don't worry, I haven't forgotten your request to do a proper wall-o-text critique of this pack. It's just at the bottom of a VERY long list of things that I need to finish first. Sorry about that, but apparently I'm a busy person these days.
It's fine :), I know what it's like to be busy and the list of things to do just keeps growing no matter how much it seems you get done hehe.
I've redone the 3D models now that I know how to use the program such much more. I'm trying to stick to very simple and basic 3D models to give those with lower quality PCs, a chance to still use 3D resource packs :).
Now that my resource pack is starting to smooth out and come together pretty well, I've decided to start working on mod support textures. I never play vanilla PC anymore, so my resource pack just looks out of place when playing modpacks. So I'm pretty excited about this myself!
I've started working on so much MC stuff that I've got a website for all my MC projects. I'm about to get into mod making here soon too. http://draglanor.weebly.com/
Thanks for the update, and I look forward to your full review when you get the chance :).
Insane update, as well as a new version to the resource pack. So let me know what ya'll think. I need all the feedback I can get!
I've been meaning to write a critique of this pack for some time. Just to preface this, I'm writing for the base Medieval version of this pack only.
This is actually one of the first "Flat" or "Smooth" packs that I've seen that lives up to the name without being a bucket fill. Despite having texture everything seems to lack depth. The stone variations all feel very refined and like there's no grit to them, just to give one example. It doesn't go so far as to feel like plastic, but it definitely feels safe. Other than the obvious sharp block corners and edges that are indicative of Minecraft there's nothing to hurt yourself on. I can definitely see the appeal of this style and it carries it well.
The main issue with the pack is that it doesn't really commit to this in all places. Put basically any of the logs right next to the side grass to see what I'm talking about. With the logs, you have detailed shading and highlights. The texture is extremely detailed and has a nice rough feel to it. The side grass... doesn't even have a shadow under the grass. In keeping with the flat feel of Draglanor, it feels almost painted on. This makes the two feel like they come from different packs; the grass being more in line with the rest of the pack while the logs and a few others feel like the outsiders. And then you have the tall grass which is just stripes and doesn't fit in with anything... including the grass block.
There are also some technical artistic issues with the pack as well. Where there is shading, it's often pillow shading. The cobblestone suffers from this horribly, as do the ores which seem to darken the surrounding stone rather than deform it. Similarly the random rotations on the sand remain, even though it's obvious they weren't meant to.
In addition to keeping a mostly consistent and soft feel throughout I will also readily praise about this pack is how complete it is. Yes, granted, there are things that could definitely stand to be redone to better fit with the style of the pack; but it's rare to see a NEW 100% complete pack in this day and age. Very few things seemed to remain default; mainly the water and a few of the new 1.9 things. That's rare and praise-worthy in this day and age, so bravo!
Finally, its more of a "default redux" pack than a genuine "medieval" pack. It's too bright and colorful and lacks any sort of grit to be medieval. Even in places where it would be easy to keep that theme, like the armor and weapons, I never particularly felt like an effort was made to stylistically match medieval Europe in any way. Add to that the inconsistencies in style and some artistic gaffs and, complete or not, this isn't really a pack that I can recommend to most people.
Fans of "smooth but not flat" will probably love the faux-cartoony style, but even then the inconsistencies in style and tone will probably turn a lot of people off to this pack. It's an improvement on previous versions, but there's still a long way to go.
/ 5
Thanks Alvoria for the feedback. As soon as I get back to working on another update, I'll reread this and start working on what needs to be done :).
Another massive update coming soon. Feedback of current versions is highly requested.
Sorry for the late notification or no recent updates. A lot has been going on. Someone dear to me passed away in March which was around the time I was working on my resource pack. I ended up having to move and I currently don't have my computer with all my projects on it. So it'll be a while before I can get back to work, but I plan to still release updates when i get my computer back.