[WIP] Azura's Coast

These look really good! And what do you think about this kind of stuff being around the edges?

Smitehammer---------

I think one thing Azuras coast could use to distinguish it from other coasts is abundant vibrant sea life, like tide pools on the Washington coast.

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http://tahoelight.com/blog/2014/01/aliner-trailer-camping-al...

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I really liked your work. Keep up the good work!

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It looks very good :)

Very good job, I can finally give karma again, well deserved.

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AAAAAAHHH! This is so totez amazin'!

May be simple limestone bluff will be look better.
Basalt can be interesting feature if it will be rare.
 

Loving the great stuff, Squally! 

Comment about menhirs - make sure to level the ''dip'' in the stone formation with the water levels as it is what is causing the erosion of the rock formations. Right now the menhirs are a little inconsistent with that fact, and each other as well. The basalt formations are looking sublime - and nice touch with that waterfall. I absolutely cannot wait to see more of Azura's Coast :D

Omg that's gorgeous!

While it looks very good, I'd recommend lessening the intensity of the basalt everywhere, it's starting to get crazy

wow dude thats looking so epic 0.0

ESO can SUCK IT! x)

in all seriousness it looks great, very natural and no weird rock formations so it can only get better from here on out :D

That was fast, though there is on things I'm hesitant on, how does basalt form irl? because in a lot of places, yours sit with nothing beneath them on the overhangs and such, and I'm not use if they could actually do that. (Again, I'm not certain, because I don't know much about basalt)

Btw, what area of the coast is that? I want to compare it to the old one, and see just how much it has been improved

Damn Squally you're a machine!

I remember when you came to the project as a fresh faced kid, and handed in your first couple of days worth of work on Molag Amur. I remember running around for about an hour going WTF! How the hell do you do all this in a couple of days!?!

Can you change the end part of your videos to say TESRenewal.com rather than Morroblivion.com?

Saivryn

how does basalt form irl? because in a lot of places, yours sit with nothing beneath them on the overhangs and such, and I'm not use if they could actually do that. (Again, I'm not certain, because I don't know much about basalt)

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I already have nightmares of creating LOD for this :)

Maybe create some bigger basalt formation meshes for several places, even if they would be used only once or twice. I'm not talking about remeshing with a new UV, just combining NiStrips inside a single nif to reduce number of meshes and references in cells. Eham might know more about this.

Squally, I love the look of the hexagonal basalt for Azura's coast. But those menhir type formations just don't fit. I can't find a single instance where you'd find them both side by side like that, and the erosion patterns of that type of basalt don't lead to structures like the menhirs. Those objects would, I think, best be relegated to Sheogorad, where they will look like this... https://m.flickr.com/#/photos/chrisschoenbohm/5285962046/ And for Sheogorad, maybe only put a tiny tiny bit of the hexagonal basalt just on the fragment nearest Solstheim.

The defining characteristic of Azura's Coast are the hexagonal basalt formations, and the defining characteristic of Sheogorad are the sharp jagged tooth formations, and never the two should meet.

That being said, I think we should still try for some tall island formations as was in the concept art for Azura's coast.  But they should fit in with the rest of the rock, even if we need new objects modeled for them.

Instead of menhirs, they should look like this...

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I always thought we were going overboard with the huge explosion of basalt screens being uploaded a few months ago but this is really looking sublime.

Wow! Just like the concept art! Can't wait to get weathers in there :)

Holamayan looks absolutely gorgeous! 

I agree that these formations should be rare. I think they will add a nice variety but too much will have me thinking minecraft in skywind.  Some of these screens look great and the textures are amazing, some of them have me a little concerned however.  I understand they are modeled off real rock formations but in large areas the edges of those models are way too jarring.  Making them more weathered (smooth), with smaller areas of some sharper forms would go a long way to improving this. I hope to not see these covering large areas.

I actually think it looks fine as is (not that my opinion matters, as I'm generally a 99% lurker). I like the basalt-oriented overhaul that Azura's Coast is receiving; the mire pools are great as well. There was a post on 3/30/14 that mentioned corals or other aquatic flora -- this is a great idea if the team has the resources available, either now or in the future. I know that Skywind is looking for original assets, but Vurt had made some coral segments for Morrowind a while back; if nothing else let it stand as inspiration.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xAf-3k6KWvo

To add to my topography comments, I don't think most people playing the game will be paying attention (or concerned) about the orientation of the basalt columns... after all, this is a fantasy world and a 100% adherence to real-world topography isn't a must. Solstheim in Dragonborn is a prime example; the basalt columns and rock formations on the southeastern end of Solstheim were definitely not real-world applicable, and never once did it take the immersion out of the game, nor did I see it and even think twice about it.

Keep up the good work, Squally! I've been loving the regional variance you've been providing (and showcasing on YouTube).

I'm thinking the exact opposite myself; I find the basalt structures absolutely striking when spread over a large area. You really get the sense that they are the result of a period of constant volcanic activity on Vvardenfell, which may have happened millions of years ago, as opposed to a sporadic landscape quirk spread inconsistently around the region. As I understand it as well, basalt formations are not typically found in small patches - they spread over a significant mass of land.

Moreover the larger screenshots that Squally has offered really gave a sense of majesty and greatness to Azura's Coast, an effect that wouldn't exist were it not for the imposing basalt formations he's added.

In this particular case, I absolutely feel that more is more.  

I would imagine that the highest concentration of basalt would be in the southeastern-most point of AC, around Molag Amur as there is the most volcanic activity there. The formations would gradually vanish the more north we are along the coast to blend in with the Grazelands and probably start reassembling Sheogorad a little bit near Tel Mora/Tel Vos. 

Hmmm I myself fined the basalt a little much as well. I think less is more in this sense but thats only my opinion. I think it's best to make regions have a little more diversity instead of a continue constant of the same style. Then when someone goes to a basalt area there like "wow that was awesome" instead of the filling of the same old thing.

uh, if I may bump in here... I've done Tel Mora, and so far it's like Tajnarasha said. More like Sheogorad. Merge it maybe?

Taj - from an artistic point of view you want to keep basalts rare for exactly that reason. They are way too imposing to spread across the whole shore. One hit of their geometric appearance will be evoke a big feeling, but it will blend fade afterwards, and if we encounter those too much it will become annoying and tedious, tired in look. In arts generally you want to have a non-imposing, tasteful but subtle background, and a strong accent that stands out. It's the very same for basalts, and they're way too uncommon shape to be a common sight.

As for the Azura's Coast mire, I'd really like Zafirbel Bay to feel like its own thing. Not sure to what degree it's done, but I'd say less basalts and more spike - rocks (I've seen assets done for those), and of course whole forests of mushrooms, murky salty bogs with algae and other aquatic flora and fauna all around there. A bit like Whizafriz' concept, but even more overgrown. Colorful and stinky, just like the Telvanni.

And lots of crayfish inspired mud-mounds, for molecrabs.  Silty and murky for Zafirbel, yeah.

That is obvious of course and I don't expect you to conjure stuff out of void. Just saying what would be best to aim for with assets you have, and also perhaps it could influence the asset producing depts. I think Alysander has done quite a few interesting marine plants that could be used in AC's mires.

@SquallyDaBeanz

Really cool. I know this is WIP but will be there wider variety of flora like in example second image. Just asking. Shrubs, ferns etc.

Looking absolutely awesome, now we just need LOD and unique weather/imagsespaces for the region and it will be done :D

More different land textures would look nice.

ohh myy ohh myyy

Its awesome. Standing on a cliff and looking around is going to be 50% of my time spent in Skywind. Even with problematic LOD at the moment I still love the distant pictures, like number 7. I wish I could create things like this, and I can imagine how cool it will be for you personally to walk around in the area's you've made when they are fully done. 
 

Wow the basalt looks great could not be any better 

Should have a different types of basalt like different colors