Fishes Fishes Nice to Eat

Psyborg · Post by **Psyborg** » Wed Aug 18, 2004 2:44 am

I'm baaaack... bet you were all worried, me not being able to log on for a whole HALF A DAY. I don't know how you guys held out.

Anyway, so the perty little idea popped into my head between my snacks of various salt-based munchables: Morrowind only has three types of swimming creatures, and that's if you count clams.

Anyway, since there's going to be a lot more water in TR than Vvardenfell (what with it not being an ash-ridden wasteland and all), we need more water-treading-beasties. I drew two to get the bucket rolling.

This one I call the Eyie, and those things poking out of it's face are eyes. Yeah.

Psyborg · Post by **Psyborg** » Wed Aug 18, 2004 2:46 am

And this is the squid-like Yallar.

Earl · Post by **Earl** » Wed Aug 18, 2004 4:28 am

Psyborg wrote:And this is the squid-like Yallar.

I can't be the only one.
Raise your hand if you thought "That looks sorta like a... penis"

Garinator · Post by **Garinator** » Wed Aug 18, 2004 4:30 am

*raises hand*

Zalzidrax · Post by **Zalzidrax** » Wed Aug 18, 2004 4:31 am

Uhh... no?

Veet · Post by **Veet** » Wed Aug 18, 2004 4:35 am

How about we cut the Freudian critique and just give honest apraisals of the creatures?

Anonymous · Post by **Anonymous** » Wed Aug 18, 2004 4:50 am

I like the top fish (it kicks ass), but I have to go with Earl about the "squid" thing.

Veet · Post by **Veet** » Wed Aug 18, 2004 4:57 am

for the squid I would say that its mouth is in an akward position for something of that shape...it's tentacles (presumably for catching prey) would have a hard time reaching it. Also the eyes I would say either move them out to the side or give it more than two to give it a larger arc of vision.

Eyeball88 · Post by **Eyeball88** » Wed Aug 18, 2004 5:10 am

Okay now I have to ask this to get it off of my chest... are we allowed to have fish/sea life that exists in the real world? Because the seas of Morrowind were dreadfully, drearily barren. One or two different seaweeds, one fish (big and small) and some dreugh. When I heard how much water there was in Morrowind, I had huge, huge hopes for some beautiful underwater landscapes. I even made a small pack of things (seashells, seastars, etc) for my own personal use to spice things up.

But I still think Morrowind needed more. I have high hopes for all of the 'pond life' things, but more more more! So what's the verdict?

Also, because I have to now...

With a rebel yell, she cried more, more more!

Veet · Post by **Veet** » Wed Aug 18, 2004 5:17 am

I would say since there are other creatures from real life in areas where they could normaly thrive the sea should be no diferent.

and on that note..

http://veet_vojagig.tripod.com/creature.jpg

Earl · Post by **Earl** » Wed Aug 18, 2004 5:49 am

I like the fish because it has a very distinct look. You're not going to confuse it with a slaughterfish. That's a good thing.

The squid, I'm not digging, and not just for the Freudian thing. The positioning of the gills -- although I think something unconventioanl like that could be interesting -- makes it look like a pig. I know it'd look different on an actual model... but the whole thing looks too much like a face.

Although a face with tentacles is a decent concept, and I could see myself liking a different sketch of the same general idea, This one seems kind of... bland.

Eyeball88 · Post by **Eyeball88** » Wed Aug 18, 2004 6:11 am

To tell the truth, when I saw that squid, I thought that with a bit of work it could be like, a Dreugh cub, or whatever young Dreugh's are.

Anyways, I love sea life, and once we finish the Morrowind essentials, I'd love to do work on creating just sea life.. seaweeds, fish, crabs, shellfish, etc. I had a personal mod that made tons of tidal pools in Morrowind, and it really made the coasts feel alive. Then we just need seagulls and the game is perfect.

Stalker · Post by **Stalker** » Wed Aug 18, 2004 10:35 am

*raises the hand*
Maybe we should add Dreughs in their "come to surface" phase ? And groum ?

Psyborg · Post by **Psyborg** » Wed Aug 18, 2004 1:29 pm

Ummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm...

(raises hand)

Crap. Well, anyhoo, it's really a SQUIDLIKE THING. A 'yallar'. Make it green if you don't want the similarity to be seen in game. Maybe, maybe, maybe we could like switch around the teeth for that stuff that whales have in their mouth to catch krell or shrimp or whatever thems eat. And the mouth for other fishes could be on the bottom, like real squids. And give it seven rows of ridges instead of two, or whatever I put now.

Actually, I think I'll redrawl it.

Hermit · Post by **Hermit** » Fri Aug 20, 2004 1:31 pm

TR has more swimming creatures already:

- Vorrheis' Tully Shark and Calf - a wormlike creature loosely based on a fossil from the Cambrian age
- Vorrheis' river crab
- three variations of Barabus' edible fish (all animated by Vorrheis)

in the works are another Cambrian age fossil (if he ever finishes it) and the Telvanni Squid, the creature used to make the Telvanni Squid helmet (as well as Telvanni Squid stew). Also, Vorr was considering making more Dreugh variants; a Dreugh Chieftain, a Dreugh worker, and a Dreugh female.

To add to this, there are N'Dib's shells which are being used by TR (I think) and Cait's water creatures, whcih include two rays ans three sharks, as well as numerous normal fsh (they would mainly be used in other provinces).

So, we already have some more variety. Not to put your ideas down, Psyborg; I really like the first fish, and it should be made (Always had a thing for Hammerheads, they just look so weird). Just ... the second ... I dunno. I don't like animals with human faces. It's a bit ... too ... I dunno. I judt do think they look not animal and weird enough.

Just keep the concepts coming, though. It's always good to get new ideas, even if some may never be made.

Eyeball, please submit your underwater statics! I completely agree with you, we need pretty underwater landscapes. Badly. I would even think we should make something offshore of the Firemoth archipelago; that undead army must have come from somewhere (can you say Sload Necromancers?). Oh, and a number of sunken ships would also be nice. Especially sunken Longboats (there's no appropriate wreck yet, I think). And new Kelp and stuff. Vorr had made some statics, but never finished texturing them. In case anyone wants to finish them off, PM me and I'll send them to you.

Asylum · Post by **Asylum** » Fri Aug 20, 2004 2:32 pm

something fishlike i drew up a long time ago
not the best quality but i suck at drawing...

Psyborg · Post by **Psyborg** » Fri Aug 20, 2004 2:45 pm

Well, hermit, I said I was redrawing Sir Yallar. I just haven't gotten around to it as of yet (my cousins are over for the week). In my brain, they have like six eyes; two big ones on the side of their head and four little ones. There's also a better skin texture, so it doesn't look so bland. But hey, when I finish draw...l...ing it, I'll post it. I already drew a cool sandcrab-type-thing, but I haven't been able to scan it. So, till' next time...

PSYBORG! WOOOOOO!

Spider · Post by **Spider** » Fri Aug 20, 2004 3:39 pm

Right now I'm actually working on a mod that involves cait's fish models. I've got three retextures going right now in order to create some nice koi fish. Once I'm finished I'm sure TR can find a use for koi somewhere.

The_Writing_Wraith · Post by **The_Writing_Wraith** » Fri Aug 20, 2004 5:11 pm

Asylum wrote:something fishlike i drew up a long time ago
not the best quality but i suck at drawing...

Um, I wouldn't suggest using that one unless you make significant changes to it. As it is it's identical to the Early Devonian Drepanaspis.

Maybe convert the the edge 'fins' and tail to actual ray fins, while adding a true dorsal fin.

Hermit · Post by **Hermit** » Fri Aug 20, 2004 5:31 pm

What's wrong with using devonic fossils and creatures? TR already uses three. Morrowind itself uses a lot of real-world flora and some real-wprld fauna. So what?

Devonic fishes look extraordinary and twisted - perfect for Morrowind.

The_Writing_Wraith · Post by **The_Writing_Wraith** » Fri Aug 20, 2004 5:42 pm

The problem is it wouldn't fit. The other creatures based on fossils have been only loosely based on fossils not exactly identical. There's also an ecological reason it wouldn't work, but that might be avoidible.

Hermit · Post by **Hermit** » Fri Aug 20, 2004 5:54 pm

Why wouldn't it fit? Really, I see little reason for that. Fitting in a creature is more about it not contradicting lore and similar textures than biological correctness. As for ecologiy, meh, Morrowind has no ecology to speak of. Or why do we never see any predator animal prey on anything but the Player Character and NPCs?

The_Writing_Wraith · Post by **The_Writing_Wraith** » Fri Aug 20, 2004 6:09 pm

Alright, fine. Let's just take the easy way out and use everything from Earth's prehistory to add creatures to Tamriel. As I said, ecology could probably be avoided. But I still want to know how a scavenger that specialized in sifting through and being partially burried in mud would be a resonable addition.

Hermit · Post by **Hermit** » Fri Aug 20, 2004 6:33 pm

Yeah, it would compete with the mudcrab, after all, which already fills that niche.

Let's just say it takes the small ray/flounder niche? Those fish also partrially bury in sand, are scavengers as well as predators on small crustaceans and worms and the like, and ate generally flat, too.

Also, we might need some smaller critters to serve as a basis for food (small fish/crabs). Additionally, maybe some stationary animals, like animated pipe worms that withdraw if they detect the player or anemones, would be good ... they could even be activators rather than actual creatures.

The_Writing_Wraith · Post by **The_Writing_Wraith** » Fri Aug 20, 2004 6:42 pm

Still hope, that it will be changed a bit by Asylum. But anyway, I agree that there definitly needs to be small fish/crabs and stationary animals scattered around the sea floor. I'd love to see a few plate and bubble corals (large solitary corals) scattered around too.

And if we want to be really nasty we can always add an anemone big enough to try to eat the player.

Spider · Post by **Spider** » Fri Aug 20, 2004 6:59 pm

Ooh, I really like the idea od pipe worms hermit. They would look quite at home off the coastof Morrowind.

Psyborg · Post by **Psyborg** » Fri Aug 20, 2004 10:24 pm

Maybe we could have some coral statics that you could swim through... like a big web of coral... and you can swim through the holes in- never mind.

Spider · Post by **Spider** » Sat Aug 21, 2004 4:10 am

Koi Fish...

[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v149/JTI_77/Koi.jpg[/img]

Gooblecakes · Post by **Gooblecakes** » Sat Aug 21, 2004 4:31 am

hmm... im watching 'iron chef' right now, and the special ingrediant looks a whole hell of a lot like that penis-squid, but i completely agree that we need a whole lot more stuff in the seas. i think fish like the ceolocanth would be perfect for morrowind. rough scales, chunky, big and archaic looking.

and oh, spider... that is DAMN COOL

Psyborg · Post by **Psyborg** » Sat Aug 21, 2004 2:50 pm

Yaaay! Dun dun dunalundun dun dun dun dun- here's those things I promised. The new Yallar looks more like a squid-like-thing.

Psyborg · Post by **Psyborg** » Sat Aug 21, 2004 2:51 pm

Um... and here's something that looks like you took a mudcrab and smashed it with a hammer. (Well, technically, YOU didn't. I did)

Gooblecakes · Post by **Gooblecakes** » Sat Aug 21, 2004 8:08 pm

good, good... i like the new yallar, and the mudcrab-smashed-with-hammer looks pretty good too, i just dont think it would be a swimming critter

AlphaFemale · Post by **AlphaFemale** » Sat Aug 21, 2004 8:19 pm

I think we should be careful with sea creatures. The seas of Morrowind, at least on the northern coast, would be pretty inhospitable. This is due to the immense abount of ash that blows into the sea, making it very hard for fish to breathe.
On another note, we should also extend Morrowind's insectoid/crustaceon theme into the water. We should focus on shellfish, such as "Morrowindized" crabs and lobsters. I also think that eels would fit in perfectly. We should leave the big fish, such as sharks, to other areas. Personally, I see Skyrim as having a bunch of sharks, whales, and squid.

Hermit · Post by **Hermit** » Sun Aug 22, 2004 12:23 pm

Exactly. Though I'd think squid could work, as well as some twisted fish - Morrowind's Ash isn't the problem normal Fauna has, it is the corrupting presence of Lorkhan's heart, combined with the Ash's poisons. The primary theme of Morrowind's seas, particularily the Inner Sea, should be Insect and Crustacean. Maybe someting like small, ground-dwelling trilobites, as well as some swimmming crabs (I made a concept for a giant squid whale once when I was really bored in class, I could post it if you want).

But other things, like the Yallar (which looks sufficiently twisted) should also be possible, though. But mainly crabs and insects. If nothing else, cause they're cool, and everyone has sharks and turtles.