I apologize for not having an update for a while. However, the lack of updates is mostly good news in this case, because I’ve been busy getting things done! Here, have a list of the status of things:
1) The Kinzart Dire Wolf is finished!
My area was scripts -- I focused on the AO and HUD, and making sure the standard mesh alpha hiding of various faces interacted properly with Kat’s existing tools for alpha and glow properties.
However, Kat has very much outdone himself on the models, textures, and animations. I learned a thing or two from them about how to manage vertex normals, and organizing the model and faces in a way that makes them blissfully simple to manage in script form.
The avatar comes with 12 textures, changed via HUD, tintable eyes and mouth and pawpads. The AO can switch between quadruped and biped on command, and so much more.
I recommend everyone go out and buy one in Second Life at the following link. Not just because that’s how I get paid for my work on the avatar, but because it’s a fantastic avatar.
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Okarthel/129/155/56
There are a couple issues, because this is Kat’s first major production on this level, and he had to get it out before he had an appointment out of town, but once Kat gets back in town, he’s going to handle them all and make the avatar even better.
2) The Smolbeast Anthro Eastern is basically done!
In a case of bad timing, the Kinzart Dire Wolf went into crunch mode just as I was getting ready to package up the Anthro Eastern. There’s a little bit of work left, but it’s mostly the vendor and associated sale content. I actually got him into the database and tested the auto-updater to make sure it all worked.
Maneframe did the original concept art and 3D model. I retopologized it into a model that can work with SL, rigged it, gave it some clawed feet, unwrapped it, then did the scripts and animations. Another friend textured, since Maneframe became unavailable.
This avatar is not my usual fare. Dragons, gryphons, wyverns, a sergal, a werewolf. Monsters. Roarbeast. This little guy is best described as “cute.” I have been really hesitant about this project, but positive feedback from people seeing it in world has heartened me. I hope that others will also find the avatar appealing.
Being a Smolbeast, he’s light on the feature list. But he comes with a 15 textures changed via HUD, tintable eyes, a few pupil shapes, and basic repository of quality animations.
He will go up for sale soon.
3) The Smolbeast Feral Eastern has a starter model.
The feral eastern is a project that I know many have been waiting for. To get him into your hands quickly, we’re working on him with the Smolbeast mentality. That is, make a quality product with a limited feature set. Release more avatars faster.
Some of you may remember the small dinosaur product back when the Roarbeast mesh dragon was in full swing. Smolbeast has essentially taken the place of those products and enabling us to learn, grow, and make some money in the short term. I guarantee that the mesh dragon, which everyone including us is waiting for, will be significantly better as a result.
The next task on the feral eastern is retopology. That will begin once the Anthro Eastern is up for sale.
4) Water Horse secret project
I haven’t talked about it in a while, because there hasn’t been any news. We had a deadline, and it unfortunately didn’t happen before Tyrian’s personal life took priority. In her absence, I’ve managed to resolve all of the problems on my end.
Now Tyrian’s back in action, and I’m looking forward to the conclusion of this project. I don’t anticipate this project to take a large amount of my time, but I will need to support Tyrian’s efforts and answer questions.
5) All of the other things!
I don’t want to show pictures until I’ve properly confirmed I’m starting on these projects.
Smolbeast projects with other avatar makers. I know YoungSoon and Kanowyn have models just waiting for some work on my end. Callak Skytower has also expressed interest in working on something together under the Smolbeast name. The goal of Smolbeast was to work with a large number of people on bringing things to life quickly and effectively. It’s been a bit of a warmup, but I think I’m finally getting where I want to be.
I’ve also been approached by others who want a thing rigged here, or a HUD built there. I enjoy helping people, and these small projects, especially those using scripts that I’ve basically already written, are welcome.
Last, and perhaps most important, is my mental health. The dearth of activity with Roarbeast in the past has been a direct result of depression. The depression which sapped me of my self confidence.
Also I was always really bad at forecasting how long things take, and I’d just started getting a handle at that before that whole dark period happened and threw off all my new time skills I’d been developing. Trying to get those back, too, because being honest and reliable is very important to me.
Thank you everyone for reading! This has been a large post, and it’s easy to save things up and post it all at once than it is to make a lot of small posts that interrupt my schedule.
If you like smaller, incremental updates, the Roarbeast Discord could be a good place for you! It’s much easier to just paste something there and make a comment than it is to do it elsewhere. Please join us!
https://discord.gg/NfUCCjj
