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Post by Kage2020 on Jun 12, 2004 3:15:56 GMT -5
I'm in the midst of creating a 'thing' elsewhere, and once again returned to the concept of what a craftworld was 'like'? I'm not talking about the external shape or even the size, but the internal structure and how it relates to not only function as stated in the 'fluff', but also the far more interesting fan assignment of function (which tends to make more sense since it is not inherently focussed on the image at the expense of verisimilitude). So what would I like? Well, discussion about the internal form and layout of a craftworld. How do people imagine it? Do you have any example artwork, either official or otherwise, that you find particularly inspiring? Regardless of that, how do you describe the internal portions of a craftworld? Consider, for example, that GW tends to concentrate on the concept of the 'dome' which may or may not communicate (i.e. open out onto space in terms of a 'window' of crystal or force). Now, I personally extend this to suggest that craftworlds have - now, at least - an inherently honeycomb structure. The nature of each unit is debateable, though I tend towards octahedrons (maybe not) or dodecahedrons of varying size. The average unit size of a 'dome' increases as one approaches the centre of the craftworld, an area more traditionally associated with the vast 'lungs' of a craftworld (the biodomes, or what I refer to as seorsa'men). Towards the edges, of course, the 'domes' begin to get smaller as increased compartmentalisation is required, more specifically because these are the nominal 'industrial areas'. Of course, this works only in general. Small 'domes' would surround the larger domes at the centre so as to prevent rapid decompression/evacuation of the air in terms of massive breach... Larger domes would be present towards the outside, even 'open domes' to allow landing of ships, etc. Obviously the 'domes' don't sit flush to each other, but are rather separated by interstitial volumes that act as the 'vascular' system (to perpetuate a standard GW image), etc. This includes the 'transit tunnels' (automated), walkways, etc. One obvious implication is that you're going to have a 3d structure where you walk up the 'side' of one dome, 'underneath' another, etc. With eldar gravitic technology it would even be possible to have a 'dome' where 'down' is actually at your feet regardless of whether you're at the 'top' or the 'bottom' of the dome... Personally speaking, the important 'biodomes' tend to communicate with the external environment. They are designed to be reminscent of homeworlds, after all. (Indeed, different pressures are maintained in these such that one can get 'natural breezes', as an example of their interconnectivity...) Other domes, however, do not communicate with the exterior. Rather they are entirely interior with the use of holographic (or the technomantic equivalent!) skies, etc. So, suggestions on the refinement and inappropriateness of this concept are welcome. (And, just in case, yes I do know about the origin of craftworlds. But like bone remodels itself, so to has the overall form of the craftworld been changed from their origins...) With that said, does anyone out there have specific 'locale' descriptions for their craftworlds? This is the 'colour text' that I'm after for subsequent work on another project, and I'm looking for inspiration... Kage
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Post by Destecado on Jun 12, 2004 3:58:10 GMT -5
From what I have seen in the modeling of eldar vehicles, there has been a drastic change in their philosophy of design. Some of the older epic scale vehicles were asymmetric. The gun or engines were offset from the center to one side. The new trend seems to strive for symmetry (case inpoint the falcon grav tank). Is it you opinion that a craft world would be laid out symmetrically or would it perhaps have an asymmetrical character to it, growing randomly as need arose or purposefuly laid out?
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Post by Kage2020 on Jun 12, 2004 4:12:17 GMT -5
I would say that the nature of growth indicates that it would necessarily occur symmetrically though, in the long term, the symmetry would be an ultimate goal. Kage
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Post by CELS on Jun 16, 2004 23:15:41 GMT -5
Colour texts describing the interior of craftworlds
'Kelmon' by Bill King (page 68 of Codex Imperialis)
I disagree that Eldar constructions would neccessarily be symmetrical. mostly because I think their style works very well asymmetrically. Looking at BFG artwork and models however, their ships are very much symmetrical.
The way I see craftworlds, these are pretty much small Eldar worlds in space. Huge domes with complete ecosystems and climates (plants would be watered by artificial rain rather than gigantic sprinklers, and birds would feed on insects rather than artificial nutrients). From Eldar artwork, it doesn't seem like these are independent from the rest of the ship. Rather than being 'lungs', the Eldar seem to live in harmony with the plants and animals in these domes, much like the Elves of fantasy. In other words, the living quarters of the Eldar might very well be found within these 'nature domes'.
I love the idea of natural breezes running through the ship. The more we can turn craftworlds into quasi-organic constructions, the better!
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Post by malika on Jun 16, 2004 23:24:29 GMT -5
I agree with CELS on this, inside the craftworld would be this big paradise like landscape, and then some buildings as living quarters. That would all be inside domes of course. But where would the docks be repairbays for the ships be? how would they look like?
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Post by Farseer Kythil on Jun 17, 2004 5:34:09 GMT -5
I like the imagery of the Eldar’s harmonic lifestyle with the biodomes. How about ‘combining’ the respective imageries? The Eldar live in harmony with nature and in turn, the cities and settlements are housed within the substantial construct of the biodomes. This means that the rest of the craftworld could house the Eldar’s ‘industries’ and other constructs (Infinity circuit, navigation controls, etc).
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Post by Kage2020 on Jun 17, 2004 11:36:51 GMT -5
Hmmn... thus far what has been posted is not in disagreement with the initial premise other than the question of symmetry, which seems more an ephemeral concept anyway. (See above.)
Do we have some more solid thoughts on this matter? The relationship of eldar with their 'domes' is not really in question at this juncture...
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Post by Pudding on Oct 31, 2004 5:59:33 GMT -5
a little late perhaps, but i definately don't see the craftworlds as being symmetrical. we humans build our cars and airplanes to be symetrical for aesthetic appeal and practicality, but our cites are built out of practicality. the craftworld would be the same way; can you imagine having to construct an extra dome with no purpose just because you had to build one on the other side to accomodate another hydroponics garden? if you've got a 2nd Ed Codex Eldar, page six has what i think is the definitive pictuer of a craftworld (even though it's surrounded by Space Fleet era ships).
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Post by Kage2020 on Oct 31, 2004 7:55:20 GMT -5
Unfortunately my copy of C:E is corrupt... perhaps you could scan and post the image in question?
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Post by Pudding on Oct 31, 2004 8:58:46 GMT -5
i have no scanner, sadly, but i will endeavor to find some way to get this pic onto the net.
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Post by malika on Oct 31, 2004 16:38:28 GMT -5
You probably have seen the stuff on Eldaronline, but I'll post it here anyway, for those who havent seen it: These building (picture above) kinda seem as if the rooms are built inside a tree or something like that, reminding me somewhat of the Ewoks from Star Wars: Return of the Jedi.
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Post by Pudding on Oct 31, 2004 21:30:56 GMT -5
that pic isn't actually the one i was talking about; there's a tiny copy of the original in the back of the Craftworld Codex, on the left side of the 'Living Craft' section.
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Post by malika on Nov 1, 2004 4:42:17 GMT -5
Well...I wasnt talking about your picture either , Im very curious though because I dont have the Craftworld Codex EDIT: some more old skool (relatively speaking) stuff, it kinda gives the Craftworld this really organic look, as if its an organism in a way, a constructed organism: freespace.virgin.net/m.p.firth/pics/large/dire.gifOk this picture kinda gives an image on how their towers would look like, it kind of reminds me of the stuff from the High Elves from WFB: freespace.virgin.net/m.p.firth/pics/large/exarch.gif
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