The Gathering Version 2

doc069 · Post by **doc069** » Wed Jan 23, 2008 9:37 pm

Edit, now to Version 2. I took the many suggestions and sat down and rebuilt this beast. I would say that it has change by about 80% from the original.

This continues the story of Basmentonia; where the Emperor has gathered the various minor leaders in order to form alliances and beat the evil Baron Dratsab (whose armies are close to tripling in size)

MOCpages has the backstory:
http://www.mocpages.com/moc.php/49296

If you rather just pics:
http://www.brickshelf.com/cgi-bin/gallery.cgi?f=302982

Thanks for all the advice. And sorry for my absence. It has been a busy month with interviewing medical students and bouncing around to different towns that are trying to recruit me as my residency comes screaming closer and closer to an end.

Regards,

Lee.

Lord Felix · Post by **Lord Felix** » Wed Jan 23, 2008 9:59 pm

The landscaping is fine; although I don't like the river, and some of it (with the green trees too) yells too much green to me. But that's ok. The brickbuilt trees are well done; as well as the brown bank. I'm disappointed in the figure placement. The ideas presented are good (man being attacked by scorpion, for example), but the figures need more "action" to them. They seem like they were placed there standing. One trick I found is to physically pivot the figure so that the legs are turned slightly; it should make the figure not standing perfectly in line with the studs. That helps big time. Move one leg up, and so they're standing only one one leg. It can show movement, but it also opens up diagonals, which look better then all parallel with the studs.
Other then that, I love the brown bank. Very nice. The tables are fine, and that's lots of nice food there

Norro · Post by **Norro** » Wed Jan 23, 2008 11:48 pm

A great start to a landscaping career! I particularly like the brown bank showing through the grass!

Thanks for sharing and God Bless,

Nathan

Blueandwhite · Post by **Blueandwhite** » Thu Jan 24, 2008 3:21 am

Right now, everything looks good. Still, if I had to make one criticism, I would say that the whole seen is just too... organized. Too many figures are simply standing around filling up space. Try to incorporate some situational elements into your scene. I would also suggest making your landscape a bit less uniform. It definitely has the right feel, but it needs a little more chaos to really feel 'natural'.

A great effort that simply needs a bit of refinement. Good work.

doc069 · Post by **doc069** » Thu Jan 24, 2008 4:32 am

Blueandwhite wrote:...I would say that the whole seen is just too... organized. ...but it needs a little more chaos to really feel 'natural'.

You are right, it is too organized. Building in randomness is something I am going to have to work at. I thought by letting my daughter place the trees, that I might get away from this, but it appears she 'organizes' as well.

Buildings and vehicles just seem so much easier to build, but maybe that is because they are organized. I knew I should have listened to that crazy English prof who was talking about chaos theory and Tolkien.

Not that this means I am going to stop trying to build these darn nature scenes, but maybe I should stop procrastinating and get building what I really want to build.

Thanks for the advise,

Lee

DARKspawn · Post by **DARKspawn** » Thu Jan 24, 2008 10:38 pm

Hey Lee

Great first attempt at landscaping. I think the river is ok, I like the overall iregularity of the river banks especially. However I think it would be better if it were recessed a little & would benefit from a border of tan or dark grey, The hill itself is quite nice, I like the green/brown combination. Presonally I would have created some irregularity in the the overall "lay of the land," maybe just a height variation of 2-3 plates across the whole.

I am not a big fan of the one piece LEGO trees either, they do have their uses, but they don't make good forests, not even a decent copse if you ask me

Best going with brick built trees.

At least that would have been how I would have approached it

LEGO-las · Post by **LEGO-las** » Fri Jan 25, 2008 2:57 am

DARKspawn wrote:Hey Lee

Great first attempt at landscaping. I think the river is ok, I like the overall iregularity of the river banks especially. However I think it would be better if it were recessed a little & would benefit from a border of tan or dark grey, The hill itself is quite nice, I like the green/brown combination. Presonally I would have created some irregularity in the the overall "lay of the land," maybe just a height variation of 2-3 plates across the whole.

I am not a big fan of the one piece LEGO trees either, they do have their uses, but they don't make good forests, not even a decent copse if you ask me Best going with brick built trees.

At least that would have been how I would have approached it

Pretty much exactly what I would have said.

doc069 · Post by **doc069** » Sun Feb 24, 2008 6:18 am

Edit, now to Version 2. I took the many suggestions and sat down and rebuilt this beast. I would say that it has change by about 80% from the original.

This continues the story of Basmentonia; where the Emperor has gathered the various minor leaders in order to form alliances and beat the evil Baron Dratsab (whose armies are close to tripling in size)

MOCpages has the backstory:
http://www.mocpages.com/moc.php/49296

If you rather just pics:
http://www.brickshelf.com/cgi-bin/gallery.cgi?f=302982

Thanks for all the advice. And sorry for my absence. It has been a busy month with interviewing medical students and bouncing around to different towns that are trying to recruit me as my residency comes screaming closer and closer to an end.

Regards,

Lee.