Imperial Settlement Tilesets
Posted: Fri May 06, 2016 10:23 am
My thoughts on the different tilesets for cities and settlements: which ones we have, where they can be used, and what we will need.
Sets we have right now:
Common (basic)
This is the tileset as it occurs in Morrowind. it is probably easiest to think of it as "Imperial Colonial Style": the kind of quick, inexpensive construction used when setting up towns in the provinces. We will most likely have little use for it in Cyrodiil, except as "default" architecture in the rare situations where none of the regional styles would fit. This kind of architecture is explicitly Colovian, built by soldiers and colonists who hail from that region.
Stirk Urban
The tileset used for the city of Stirk. Having a unique tileset for one single location is a waste of effort, unless if it is a place of special significance (like the Imperial City or Sancre Tor). Ideally, the entire Gold Coast (Stirk, Anvil, Brina Cross, etc.) should have used the same tilesets. In the future, we should avoid these kinds of design choices.
Anvil Urban
The tileset used for the city of Anvil, the upper quarter of Sutch, and all Colo-Nordic Manors in the Gold Coast and Gilded Hills regions.
Gold Coast Rural
Technically, this should probably be considered two different sets: a rural shack type for the poorest villagers, and a brickwork type in the common/vanilla style. Used for Gold Coast settlements, farms, fishing huts, etc. Brina Cross, Thresvy, and the lower parts of Sutch all feature this set.
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Future tilesets:
Colovian Highlands Rural
Similar to the Gold Coast rural set, both the brickwork common set and the lower-class shacks. We would be able to use this style for the entire Highlands: upper Kvatch, Chorrol, and the Barrowlands. The set would mostly consist of rough stone, perhaps with slate roofs instead of wood or thatch.
Colovian Highlands Urban
This set would be used for the major cities of the Highlands, Kvatch, Mohrlagrad, and Chorrol. The typical Colo-Nordic cliff-forts will also be made of this set, and might even deserve a couple of unique assets (towers, walls).
Colovian Lowlands Rural
The popular style found in the Massiquerran Forests, the Chorrol lowlands, and the West Weald around Skingrad. Sort of a Mediterranean farm look, uses mostly wood. Since the environmental factors of these regions are mostly similar, I think it would make sense to use the same style for the Chorrol and Skingrad rural areas, despite them having different urban styles.
Colovian Weald Urban
The style of lowland cities such as Skingrad, Sarchal, and Dethagrad. Strongly Mediterranean, with influences from places like Mont-St.-Michel.
Jerall Rural
Farmhouse style for the Jerall mountains. Mostly wood, strong Nordic influence.
Jerall Urban
The style of Bruma and Artemon. Also very Nordic. These mountain styles could perhaps also be used for the eastern Valus mountains.
Niben Ricefarm Rural
The style of the rice farms and lesser villages of the Heartlands and the Niben river. Since the Nibenay is much more urbanized that Colovia, I think it makes sense to use a single rural style and focus on variations in the urban styles.
Niben Deepwood
Pole-village style of isolated Nibenese tribes in the inner jungles.
Heartlands Urban/Imperial City
Used for major cities along Lake Rumare, as well as the City itself. Considering the importance of the IC, it would make sense to have tileset variations for poor houses, middle-class houses, upper-class manors, and the Emperor's Palace.
Niben Upper Urban Style
The Cheydinhal urban set, drawing inspiration from Dunmeri examples.
Niben Central Urban Style
The style of Bravil and the Valley of Altars cities. Dense, urbanized, mostly made of wood.
Niben Southern Urban Style
The style of Leyawiin, Topal bay, and the Molaquin Ren. Strong influences of Khajiiti architecture.
Sets we have right now:
Common (basic)
This is the tileset as it occurs in Morrowind. it is probably easiest to think of it as "Imperial Colonial Style": the kind of quick, inexpensive construction used when setting up towns in the provinces. We will most likely have little use for it in Cyrodiil, except as "default" architecture in the rare situations where none of the regional styles would fit. This kind of architecture is explicitly Colovian, built by soldiers and colonists who hail from that region.
Stirk Urban
The tileset used for the city of Stirk. Having a unique tileset for one single location is a waste of effort, unless if it is a place of special significance (like the Imperial City or Sancre Tor). Ideally, the entire Gold Coast (Stirk, Anvil, Brina Cross, etc.) should have used the same tilesets. In the future, we should avoid these kinds of design choices.
Anvil Urban
The tileset used for the city of Anvil, the upper quarter of Sutch, and all Colo-Nordic Manors in the Gold Coast and Gilded Hills regions.
Gold Coast Rural
Technically, this should probably be considered two different sets: a rural shack type for the poorest villagers, and a brickwork type in the common/vanilla style. Used for Gold Coast settlements, farms, fishing huts, etc. Brina Cross, Thresvy, and the lower parts of Sutch all feature this set.
---
Future tilesets:
Colovian Highlands Rural
Similar to the Gold Coast rural set, both the brickwork common set and the lower-class shacks. We would be able to use this style for the entire Highlands: upper Kvatch, Chorrol, and the Barrowlands. The set would mostly consist of rough stone, perhaps with slate roofs instead of wood or thatch.
Colovian Highlands Urban
This set would be used for the major cities of the Highlands, Kvatch, Mohrlagrad, and Chorrol. The typical Colo-Nordic cliff-forts will also be made of this set, and might even deserve a couple of unique assets (towers, walls).
Colovian Lowlands Rural
The popular style found in the Massiquerran Forests, the Chorrol lowlands, and the West Weald around Skingrad. Sort of a Mediterranean farm look, uses mostly wood. Since the environmental factors of these regions are mostly similar, I think it would make sense to use the same style for the Chorrol and Skingrad rural areas, despite them having different urban styles.
Colovian Weald Urban
The style of lowland cities such as Skingrad, Sarchal, and Dethagrad. Strongly Mediterranean, with influences from places like Mont-St.-Michel.
Jerall Rural
Farmhouse style for the Jerall mountains. Mostly wood, strong Nordic influence.
Jerall Urban
The style of Bruma and Artemon. Also very Nordic. These mountain styles could perhaps also be used for the eastern Valus mountains.
Niben Ricefarm Rural
The style of the rice farms and lesser villages of the Heartlands and the Niben river. Since the Nibenay is much more urbanized that Colovia, I think it makes sense to use a single rural style and focus on variations in the urban styles.
Niben Deepwood
Pole-village style of isolated Nibenese tribes in the inner jungles.
Heartlands Urban/Imperial City
Used for major cities along Lake Rumare, as well as the City itself. Considering the importance of the IC, it would make sense to have tileset variations for poor houses, middle-class houses, upper-class manors, and the Emperor's Palace.
Niben Upper Urban Style
The Cheydinhal urban set, drawing inspiration from Dunmeri examples.
Niben Central Urban Style
The style of Bravil and the Valley of Altars cities. Dense, urbanized, mostly made of wood.
Niben Southern Urban Style
The style of Leyawiin, Topal bay, and the Molaquin Ren. Strong influences of Khajiiti architecture.