Ravenhold (opal project)

[ravnen]

Since i got back, and the new map is coming soon, i'm planning to finally create something worthwile. Ravenhold will be a castle, i'm hoping to find a good location, prefereably a steep mountain of some sort. I will probably build the castle myself, and when that is done, i'll expand the domain and create a town around it, if i get permission to build one. Looking forward to the new map ppl!

[Ace2910]

Lol, name sounds a bit like Ravenholm, but ok, gl.

[wlollpop]

it better be like ravenholm :O

[ravnen]

well of course it sounds like ravenholm, but I cant help that since its my name, right? but im not looking to create a doomed city of the dead, since the blocks only allow for so much. but im open for suggestions on how such a project could be done. The idea of a minecraft version of ravenholm is, I admit, intriguing.

[Maxloader]

Ravnenhold?

[ravnen]

Ravnen, as probably most of you know, means Raven in norwegian. Since were all international here, i've elected to translate the name for the castle/town. it just sounds better, is all.

Edit: Since I can't actually start to build in opal yet, I decided to try my hand at a Google sketchup version of my castle-to-be. First time using the program, but I think it turned out okay. Ravenhold is based on the castle from Fable, just because its awesome.

Obviously this castle is much smaller, because the sheer scale of the Fable one would probably dwarf Botra. I might add more walls and turrets and stuff, but this was what I had time for today. I might update another time.

[ravnen]

did some more sketchup!
I still got a lot of detailing to do, but the overall design is finished.

[Gazoid]

Awesome

Shame its Fable, and not original though

[ravnen]

Yeah, im not nearly creative enough. In my defence, however, theres not much in the castle from the Fable one. I kinda stopped taking inspiration from that one after a while, Especially since the image I was using only showed the front side.

[FallenTuesday]

The plan looks nice and i cant wait to see it actually built but i would like to know what program you used maybe so i can layout my town better

[ravnen]

Heres an update again! done some detailing, battlements and so forth. I think im done for now, ofc, I could add windows, but it may be better to build those when im actually in the game.



Fallen: The program im using is Google sketchup. its not minecraft specific, but its free, and its really easy to use. Downside is that you have to sculpt, since there is no way to quickly build block by block. You should give it a try tho!

[pixiebitch]

I really loved the sketches you made with the google thingy and I thought i'd try how i could manage to build something from bluebrints, here are a few screenies from what i've managed with your sketches, hope they help a little and give ideas when actually executing the ravnenhold castle on the opal map ;D

-pixie

p.s haha lol, i really messed up the raven logo -sry!

[Maxloader]

Wow you guys did some amazing work.

[GeeDave]

Very awesome.

[ravnen]

I gotta say, Im simply awestruck by your work Pixie. A shame we couldnt get the server to work, because I would love to walk around on that one. Also, could you give me a rough estimation of how many resources youve used? It will be good to know how big a quarry I'll need.

Actually, seeing this I realise I want to build a bit for my self as well. youre right; it does give me a better sense of how I want it, and its also a lot easier to see where I need more details, and what details I need to remove. I'll start up a single player creative map right away.

[pixiebitch]

Ok, so. I made some research work, and you're not gonna be happy when you hear the numbers
you would need upto 80k stone for just theu outlinings of the castle, just for the shapes... 5k wood and laods of torches to light up the place, i didnt estimate the expenses of decorating the castle, but the numbers will increase drastically! however, this is just my calculations and they may be a little off- and this scale might not be the excact same as in your sketches...


heres some new fresh screenies of what i've built from the plan you posted


[edit] forgot to add the wool what i used for the roof which goes around 2k of wool

[Ace2910]

64 * 54 = 3456 (1 large chest)
80000 / 3456 = 23.1481481 Large Chests

[ravnen]

actually, thats really great. I wanted this to become sort of a long term project on the new map. The scale youre using might be a tad larger than whats intended tho. I noticed because your turret by the bridge use two more blocks for each side.

Now... How the hell can you work so fast? is there some mega construction mod youre using? Im currently working on the creative single player mode, and the time it takes me just to outline the damn thing is massive! I need some tips plz.

Also, the amount of time and creativity youre putting in this leads me to believe youre a fan of my project. Would you want to help me build the real deal in opal when the time comes?

[pixiebitch]

oh sure! i would love to help you out!

the minute i saw the blueprints it caught my attention, i've always wanted to build something big and beautiful but the little designer in me hasn't really coped with me as much as i would have wanted ;P

my secret to build quickly is the world edit tool, very easy to use and to make massive structures in an instant, im using it on the server so it makes it really easy to build stuff up with your friends and show the results to an audience (im just really annoyed that the server didnt work out as intented today, really need to figure out what's wrong with it...) , WorldEdit combined with the creative mode; you've got a castle built in no time :DD


-pix

[pixiebitch]

Oh yeah and thanks Ace! that really helped out on seeing how much the 80k stone really is, im thinking approx 30-40 large chests of stone would do the trick for the whole castle? maybe even 50 if there is gonna be multiple rooms, floors and other structures, for example in the yards.

[wlollpop]

I can sell you lots of cobblehstone and smoothstone, but I don't have much wool.

[ravnen]

40 chests is doable, given enough time. But i dont think we can buy/ trade, since we will probably need all the materials and resources we can find for the castle, decorating and stuff.

World edit huh? Sounds great! Does it work on single player as well, or do you have to use a server?

[pixiebitch]

i think it also works with singleplayer, although you need to install the singleplayer commands before WorldEdit to work.

also i would like to note that we only get to have 4 chests of stuff on each player so buying the stone now wouldnt be a good thing

[ravnen]

I got it to work. Man, that made things easier. Alas, after I built the main hall (the buiding with the horsesoe ceiling and the barn like structure next to it) I realised how ugly it was, so i'm back in sketchup trying to build a different main hall.

[pixiebitch]

yeah, thought so too, its a bit dull looking, you should add windows, towers, balconies... possibilites are endless!

[ravnen]

Yeah, but not only that. The design in itself is flawed, and rushed from my side I'll post a new screen from sketchup probably later today. Since youre second builder now, I want to hear your opinion. Constructive critic is greatly appreciated.

[ravnen]

Well, that took a long time. I decided to scrap the keep and main hall buidings, and go for something more... detailed. Please let me know what you think. I still got the old files, so I havent deleted anything.

Its not done yet tho, Im gonna mirror the right wing for the other side as well, and probably put up some more towers. I will continue adding to it until it merges with the outer walls of the castle.

[LumpyCustard7]

Wow... that looks amazing.

Off topic: INVALIDATED

[GeeDave]

Very, very cool. I love that you're using Sketchup to flesh things out, that's some mean dedication. Personally... I'd say you're aiming too big too quick. Your initial 3d-doodle is filled with walls of nothingness, it's an epic construction in which the main task lies solely on gathering materials, whereas your last sketchup screeenshot shows a smaller portion, and a more thought-out aesthetic. If you can keep that level of detail throughout the entire fortress as opposed to taking the "big nothingness = better" route.... then you will surely build something epic. Remember, beauty is in the detail.

[ravnen]

I know exactly what you mean. Problem was, when I was building in sketchup, I didnt see how big it was actually becoming. It wasnt until Pixie posted his work that I could see how warped my sense of proportions was. the new castle is still big tho, from sea level and 64 up to the top.