How do you make nice looking creations?

[Down with Orrix]

as someone who mostly makes horrific block monstrosities, how do you make your ships and other creations, especially if they are aesthetically pleasing

[Fruitinator]

Well what i do is that i first start with a plan. "what is it that i want it to do?".
After that i start building the core with the core components.
Then, when all the core functions are working i start building the aesthetics.

The problem i think that you are suffering from is inspiration, look on the internet for cool ships and then make your own versions of them.

And last but not least.... Time... It takes time to make something beutiful or cool. I remember in Space Engineers I could spend 40-50 hours on one ship.

The longer you spend on building the better it will become :)

Good Luck with you ships :)

*Flies away

[ZANZIBAR]

Choose a theme to run with. I once tried (admittedly for like just half an hour) to make age of sail themed ships but I quickly found out that I didn't work too well with them, but American Civil War era Ironclads however that's the theme I found that works, and in a scale of 2.2:1 is where they work at.

In the end, how good something looks is in the eye of the beholder, someone out there might find your block monstrosities appealing.

[Chris]

Pictures do help.

[[NL] Imetysaw]

There's a few things that worked for me: First off, most of my early design were made in the campaign, so pretty much all focus was on functionality instead of aesthetics. In reality these often can go quite hand in hand. For one, the hull of a ship should not be underestimated. I often just provided a simple platform that floats, but now I put a lot more time in it, so it provides a tougher platform that does not capsize easily and still looks good. Not using blocky design can also improve your armor as using sloped edges increases the angle at which projectiles hit your ship.

Another thing is indeed sort of a theme to go with; Where to use sharp corners, where rounded, what sort of color goes where etc.

Lastly take inspiration from other creations; I've checked many workshop designs, pictures of real life examples and creations already in the game.

If you want, here are some of the things I have been working on lately, in order of older to newer design (most of these are not finished but pretty much fully combat functional):
First attempt with larger hull
Somewhat of a theme to it, but still rather randomly build and the hull was extremelly unstable, would capsize very quickly (you can see the massive keel I have added to somewhat counteract it)
This one was slightly more stable and offered greater firepower and protection, but I quickly noticed points that I missed out on so stopped building on it rather soon
The ship I am currently working on. It is largelly finished, only still needs some work at the back, has a very stable hull that does not even need any stabalizers or keel, and still has the firepower to take on even scarlet dawn units, angry chickens and the like of that. It feel like quit of an improvement over to rest to me. I've taken quite some inspiration from the Steel Strider's Excalibur.
Here's another picture of it with some of the shields turned off.

Tell me if there are any problems with getting these images to load, hope this helped you.

[Lilith]

I`m the opposite of a blocky builder. I find I have to make everything smooth no blocky bits. However I find too many curves ruins the design. try and find a balance. :D

[el Boydo]

i like replicas as they give me small detail points to use in my own designs.

[Fruitinator]

-ACHTUNG- funny how you mention the Ironclads because those are the ship design im using in my campaign xD

[flichtshooter]

Originally posted by A Interesting Ficus Plant:

I`m the opposite of a blocky builder. I find I have to make everything smooth no blocky bits. However I find too many curves ruins the design. try and find a balance. :D

same here i try to always smoothen things but that ended up ruining the nose and rear of my attemt at a replica but i left it like that cause i tought it still looked quite neat :P

[Down with Orrix]

thanks for the replies so far! it was really cool seeing your designs evolve imetysaw, i really liked those pictures

[Rotiart]

From a Space Engineers player, I usually start off with an engine room, and then make a Crew's Quarters, a Mess Hall, a couple of Gyroscope pockets* and the bridge, and then I make blocky interior armor surrounding it, and then coat that in some exterior armor, and then I add pretty Geometry

*If you had all your Gyros in one room, and that got shot, you're pretty much helpless.

[Masterofgaming22]

imo blocky ships can look nice

[Weinerslinky]

practice really. I dont have that many hours but i feel i've come a long way (maybe not so much in creativity)
I spent some time watching youtube videos of people building and getting ideas. once i got more familiar with different block and how i could use them i tried to make more interesting ships.

I've only made 3.

I made this one within my first 3 hours of gameplay. Its ugly, but suprisingly enough worked through the first bit of the campaign.
http://images.akamai.steamusercontent.com/ugc/693906006109918228/61758BE529950F4F464676FAC61F898E8029C833/

My second ship i though, okay i need a small ship thats affordable and can take out flying ships aswell.. and i made this. Also ugly as poo... But it did what i wanted it to.
http://images.akamai.steamusercontent.com/ugc/693906006109918693/3797DD71CCC9C6213BD7F940EE31989E4FEF3E6E/

Now my 3rd ship im much more proud of. I took the idea of early 20th century battleships and historical models and tried my best. this damn thing actually took my like 8 hours to make, full with 2 stories complete with ammo rooms, fuel rooms, engine room, repair room, torpedo room, AI room, and a gun that goes well bellow deck. Big bastard and still floats at a comfortable 7 kn. Ive already seen people post much much much more beautiful ships than this. But i look at it like, hey I cant draw a stick figure but i pulled this out my but and im proud haha.

http://images.akamai.steamusercontent.com/ugc/693906006109918807/DD143E85715177CAE7057B1E986C9C8EB05A5DDE/

and a rear angle

http://images.akamai.steamusercontent.com/ugc/693906006109918892/44D3BC7F884A299BD62C089EA3766D220096F25A/

[Rotiart]

Wait, did you say Ammo Room!?
Is that thing made out of wood?

[Weinerslinky]

yes, I like to live dangerously. XD Crazy as it sounds it actually does suprisingly well. i've almost single handedly beat the first part of the campaign with this ship. the ammo room is wayyyy under water

[Rotiart]

Originally posted by Taylor:

yes, I like to live dangerously. XD Crazy as it sounds it actually does suprisingly well. i've almost single handedly beat the first part of the campaign with this ship. the ammo room is wayyyy under water

If that were a multiplayer ship, all it would take is some jackass to board you ship and find the ammo room, and then you got a case of the BF:2142 Titans.