Here are a few pictures from my Excalibur. Not the final version though:
The Sculpted Prim version (4 Sculpties, 5 textures, PE=4)
The Mesh Version (5 small Meshes, 6 textures, PE=7 (not optimized)
Mesh Version close up
Excalibur (work in progress)
Nice model Gaia. However I would find something better than a black edge for the cross guard. For me I feel it makes that part look ‘cell shaded’, while the rest is not.
Cube
The transition to the mesh, will surely be a revolution. Allows you to have more detailed avatars and objects. The only thing to determine is when it happens … and above all, the mesh will increase significantly the number of polygons and the level of detail. But the key question is the influence of details on the gameplay of SL.
Gaia,
I appreciate your efforts to educate the community and you are definitely on the right path when showing how to choose between meshes and sculpties… something a lot of creators might overlook (me included) just for the convenience a mesh provides.
Recently LL made a few changes that have lowered the PE count. A build of mine which was 40PE is now about ~30PE which makes it physical/drivable now. I was considering making sculpties but with this change I’m all good with a mesh. I would advise you have a disclaimer for every mesh vs. sculpty tutorial that mentions mesh/PE calculations are still changing and vary depending on LL devs.
To prove something, you need photos taken with the same angle, the same zoom and the same lighting. Your example is not at all convincing.
I did not want to proove anything with these pictures. They are just the beginning of the next Quest 😉
So keep patient, the tutorial is on its way. There you will see, how to make a sword with Sculpty, how to make it with mesh, what the differences are, and what the challenges. And you will see if it makes sense to do the work in mesh, or better keep with sculpted prims.
I am not sure though if i will publish that tutorial entirely for free any longer, because preparing this stuff starts making a LOT of work.