2013 Calendar Submission - Missing Man

This year we, as a Traveller community, lost Andrew Boulton, one of the most influential CGI artists involved with Traveller.  He helped me along with advice more than once, and even though I didn't know him personally, his loss was still quite a blow to me.  This is for Andrew, and all the others that we've lost over the years.

Hot Spots 1: Drifters Dock released!

Starships aren't built in a studio; they're forged in the Ironworks.

Welcome to Hot Spots, the latest release from DSL Ironworks. Hot Spots are designed to be quick locations used in your Traveller games. Need a bar for a shady meeting in a hurry? Perhaps a desert outpost, a landing bay, starport concourse, or an ancient ruin? Hot Spots are designed to fill that need, featuring full color interior and exterior renders, scalable maps, notable NPcs, and adventure hooks to give the busy GM everything he or she needs to drop that location into their campaign.

Hot Spots are compatible with all Traveller products, but setting neutral so that they can be dropped into any campaign. Background details are left vague enough so that each GM can fill them in with information that fits their game.

Drifters Dock, Hot Spot 1 is available exclusively through DriveThruRPG.com

Video Test, 10 Ton ATV

YouTube Channel

A quick video test of the 10-ton ATV for Technical Manual 2, mostly to check for lighting, etc.

RPGnet review of the TM1: Reprieve-class Escape Pod

RPGnet has published a review of the first Technical Manual, the Reprieve-class Escape Pod.  They gave it 5 stars!  Thanks for the excellent review!

Experimentation

I've spent most of my free time the last week or two working on several new texturing techniques, mostly using the compositing functions of Max.  Here are a couple of test shots of a new model that will be featured in another Technical Manual in the future.  The bright spot is that, if the numbers hold true as I perfect the technique, I should be able to texture a model in about 20% of the time it has been taking me, with similar if not better results, and much more flexibility.  Yes, it's dirty and beat up, but that's how I tend to like my ships.  The lighting is just a quickie rig, tho.  Wish I had more time tonight to set up a better one, but I must get to bed.  Cheers, all!

Christmas in July

Don't forget, it's Christmas in July over at DriveThruRPG, and DSL Ironworks is participating! Get 25% off our entire product line! This special sale ends next Sunday, so if you've been itching to pick up Quick Decks or our first Technical Manual, now is the time!

http://rpg.drivethrustuff.com/rpg_xmas_in_july.php?manufacturers_id=4058&filters=0_0_0_0_0_31815#selectpub

I'm back, and it's CONTEST TIME!

Greetings and salutations from the Ironworks. To celebrate the crazy hot weather lately, we here at DSL Ironworks have decided to have a little fun, occupy some time while sitting around the A/C, and give away some prizes. So, it's contest time - a deckplan contest, to be precise, with a twist. We've put together a relatively simple base 3d model, complete with templates for the deckplan, BUMP map, and texture map. Download the files, stat out the ship, draw up the deckplans, and then give it your very own paintjob! Submit your design files (stats, deckplan, and texture files) to DSLIronworks at Gmail.com to enter. The number of winners will be determined by the number of entries, with a minimum of 5 winners.

1st Place - Digital versions of DSL Ironworks complete line, plus a print copy of TM1 - Reprieve-class Escape Pod. 2nd Place - Digital and print versions of TM1 - Repreive-class Escape Pod. 3rd Place - Digital versions of the Quick Decks line of products. 4th Place - Digital versions of any two Quick Decks products. 5th Place - Digital version of any one Quick Decks products. Now, these are just the basic prizes, and some additional swag may be added. All entries will also be collected into a free PDF to share with the Traveller community at large, with stats, deckplans, and rendered images of your paint job.

The rules are simple - the ship design must be 150 dtons, use the provided deckplan layout, and use the Mongoose rules. Why 150 dtons? It's something different, and creates some interesting design choices. As for what type of ship...well, that's entirely up to you - escort, yacht, trader, whatever you decide to design. And it doesn't need to be a full starship either - it could be a system defense boat, heavy shuttle, interplanetary shuttle, or something else entirely. It's all up to you.

 One last thing - final submission date for entries is August 20th, and the winners will be announced August 31st. You can get the file package from the DSL Ironworks Facebook group (https://www.facebook.com/groups/389798864400967/) or the DSL Ironworks Blog (http://dsl-ironworks.blogspot.com/).

Get the File Package here!