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The Return of Mara Jade

Page: 1 of 12
 Edward Peretti
06-10-2002, 9:05 PM
#1
It's my favourite version of the Mara Jade character, from the "Mysteries of the Sith" addon pack for Jedi Knight.
http://eperetti.tripod.com/workinprogress.html) - The model version is a little outdated now, but I'll make an update as I begin to map.

If anyone has any further reference of the high rez model seen on the box cover of mots, I'd appreciate a look at it, as well as any other good ref. to Mara's costumes.

I also posted this over at Polycount.
http://dynamic.gamespy.com/~polycount/ubb/Forum2/HTML/004534.html?00015)
 Lime-Light
06-11-2002, 1:02 AM
#2
cool
 Darkhold X
06-11-2002, 1:04 AM
#3
Well I have really been waiting for a model of her, and glad to see one being made. Most the time she has a blaster/holster about like han solos setup.

Will the jacket be a seperate surface? It would make for a lot more usable model for a veriety of skins then. Especialy If people are going for her other looks.

I would probably be happy with it as is, if the holster for the gun was on the leg like it is any other time.
 Artic Blade
06-11-2002, 1:25 AM
#4
the only thing i dont like about it is the hair. i think if you make it pulled back like in some of the reference pics it would be better. but overall looking great

man... there are some great modelers out there, not like avp2, no sir...
 remark 666
06-11-2002, 2:03 AM
#5
wow, looking very good, i'd be glad to play as her


(this one is also cool http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Dimension/1840/marajade/mjade.jpg)

the hair will be very cool if animated...think about it
 Luuke
06-11-2002, 5:53 AM
#6
i have some nice pics of mara jade, unfortunately i'm not allowed to post attachments and have no webspace at the moment.
if you still need them i can send them to you by e-mail. just send me a personal message with your adress
 Edward Peretti
06-11-2002, 7:20 AM
#7
hey all!

Darkhold X: I've only seen images of her (mainly from the comic) with her gun holstered at the back. Her belt is simular to Han's in the sense that a strap loops around the leg. I'd change it if I could find a picture to show it. I could model underneath the jacket, though I'm a little concerned about polycount. I think the limit is 3000.

Artic Blade: If I have enough polys to spare I'll model a ponytail head underneath the hair. Though most of the female characters have ponytails, so I wanted to go for something different.

remark 666: cheers, but the link doesn't work. Is there a way to bone / animate the hair?

Luuke: Thanks, I will.

cool, I'm gonna evaluate the model tonight.
 Prophet
06-11-2002, 8:38 AM
#8
Fantastic model, it's difficult to create a character who doesn't have one specific look, but I think you've done it incredibly well. I like the hair :)
 DarkLord_44
06-11-2002, 10:15 AM
#9
Yep. Very nice job. I have been waiting for this model for a long time.
 Pedro The Hutt
06-11-2002, 10:40 AM
#10
Very nice indeed, besides for the hair.. I prefer her hair pulled back hehe ^_^" (and besides if it's not animated it'll look a bit unrealistic while a tail is less noticed by other players since it's on the back of the player.)
 T-Dogg
06-11-2002, 10:46 AM
#11
Wow... big hair... I'd change the hair, otherwise I love this model. She's got a real ghetto booty too, respect Mr. Peretti!
 Edward Peretti
06-11-2002, 12:21 PM
#12
Hey all!

So most of you don't think the big hair looks sexy? I'll get cracking on a ponytail version tonight and everyone can take a vote on which looks better :)
 Garik Loran
06-11-2002, 12:22 PM
#13
COOOL. The model looks perfect, absolutly like Mara. I have read only the books with her, not the comics, so I have my own image of her, and your model comes very close to it.
One of the few pics that shows Mara how she is described in the books (or how I imagined her) is this:
http://www.swbooklist.com/main/rebirth.jpg)
Has a lot in common with your model, so well done. And I like the hair the way it is.
 Darkhold X
06-11-2002, 12:50 PM
#14
If I would do anything to the hair I would say not quite as fluffy looking. I like how it is one these pics: http://www.starwarssource.net/Characters/Mara_Jade/mara_jade.php)

this one kinda shows the belt, and all, but it dosent look right. General right shape though
http://www.3d-cc.com/thumbs/marajade_thm.jpg)
(I will be going for this look with, or without a jacket, when I get ahold of it.:D )

the only thing I am really concerned about on this model for the look I want is no knee pads.:(
http://images.google.com/images?q=tbn:GcGm3funb7UC:www.sluisvan.com/REM_mara2.jpg)

trying for some more that shows the belt here

http://renella.homestead.com/files/Mara_and_Artoo.gif)

this one has the look you are going for kinda, and the belt the way I said: http://www.theforce.net/multimedia/archive/Images/Expanded_Universe/Characters_Female/Mara_Jade/03_mj-eh.jpg)

http://www.theforce.net/multimedia/archive/Images/Expanded_Universe/Characters_Female/Mara_Jade/m-jade02.jpg)
http://www.theforce.net/multimedia/archive/Images/Expanded_Universe/Characters_Female/Mara_Jade/06_mj-eh.jpg)

http://pluto.spaceports.com/~lms/mj9.JPG)

http://pluto.spaceports.com/~lms/mj23.jpg)

http://pluto.spaceports.com/~lms/mj18.jpg)

this one right off a cover showes the belt good:
http://www.ffurg.com/casting_call/marajade/mara-cover.jpg)
here is the site it came from. lotta refference pics there:
http://www.ffurg.com/casting_call/marajade.htm)


I will be going for something like this since the jacket will probably have to be there.:D : http://www.penny-arcade.com/gabeart/gameart/mara.jpg)
 Steg
06-11-2002, 1:43 PM
#15
yeh less hair would b great
now all we need is a skin
im glad that there is another female model coming out apart from jan and mon mothma which r both useless 4 making other women
nice!

Steg
 Cmdr. Antilles
06-11-2002, 1:46 PM
#16
I like this look: http://www.ffurg.com/casting_call/marajade/mara-mots.jpg)

I think that would be the best...
 WitchBlare
06-11-2002, 4:45 PM
#17
or u can try not poofy strait down hair
 remark 666
06-11-2002, 5:07 PM
#18
E P: sure it's possible, the hair would have to be animated by itself though (if you're not sure then let me know, i'll make a tutorial or something) that would be a great thing for other models aswell, it adds more realism when hair and stuff moves *cough*boobs*cough*

for the pic, just copy and past (or drag the url on the ->Go button)

or here is the same one but colored http://www.ffurg.com/casting_call/marajade/mara-chronicles.jpg)

this would be the best type though, I would love to see this made :) http://www.ffurg.com/casting_call/marajade/mara-dancer.jpg) (thanx Darkhold X for the site)

and this wouldn't be bad either http://www.ffurg.com/casting_call/marajade/mara-decipher.jpg) (thanx DX again)
 Lord -=[FBF]=-
06-11-2002, 5:13 PM
#19
nice! i like the hair how it is tho
 adillon
06-11-2002, 5:34 PM
#20
Originally posted by remark 666
E P: sure it's possible, the hair would have to be animated by itself though (if you're not sure then let me know, i'll make a tutorial or something) that would be a great thing for other models aswell, it adds more realism when hair and stuff moves *cough*boobs*cough*

man, if you could do that i would give you my firstborn. ok, well that's a little extreme, but it would be EXTREMELY helpful to many modelers, as well as myself.

as for ms. jade herself ... i think the image Cmdr. Antilles posted from MotS IS the image many people, well at least me, have of this bad@$$ woman. in others words, i think the hair should be toned down/flattened a bit, and if remark 666 CAN (please oh please) produce a tutorial for moving hair (and "other" things), your model will be heads above the rest (no pun intended - lol).

keep up the great work, and keep us posted on your progress, if you would be so kind.
 Dark_One
06-11-2002, 6:08 PM
#21
The hair looks great. I wouldn't change it if i were you. Looks so *drewl* :eek:
 Akshara
06-11-2002, 8:43 PM
#22
When I first looked at the workinprogress picture, my immediate response was

Finally! A female with a full feminine mane of hair not in a ponytail!

Please don't put it up in a ponytail. The other three female models all have ponytails, and someone will just reskin the new Padme model eventually for another Mara. If you keep yours original like your initial idea, it will stand out.

Unlike most of the female characters in StarWars, Mara Jade from the novels had an overtly powerful sexuality to the character. Kind of like Han Solo had on the male side. And that's what has been really missing from the other skinned Mara attempts.

Just my opinion - Keep The Hair!

Excellent job, Edward. Whatever you decide, don't let the forum community sway your decisions too much - or you'll never finish. Listen to opinions, but don't try to appease every idea. Look what's happening on the other model threads.

Trust your feelings...
 striderx2048
06-11-2002, 9:03 PM
#23
have two different torsos and arms
use surfs to turn off and on whatever surfurces
ie surfoff (left_armjacket,right_armjacket,torso_jacket)
surfon (leftbare_arm, rightbare_arm, bare_torso)

surfaces turn off don't count towards the polycount, someone said in another thread
 morphius_doh
06-11-2002, 9:05 PM
#24
While you're at it, why don't you make a command to make her completely bare. j/k
 Edward Peretti
06-11-2002, 10:29 PM
#25
Ok I made a ponytail head and I must say it's looking pretty good, so good I think I'll use it. My initial idea was to build the mara from "Mysteries of the Sith" so I best stick to her original image as close as possible. As much as I like her "feminine mane" it steers towards the other versions which I probably should avoid.

The latest update can be found on the same page
http://eperetti.tripod.com/workinprogress.html)

I don't think I'll seperate the jacket or attempt to do any underlayers of any kind as it will prove difficult with the LOD's and also the skinning. One thing I'm starting to realise is that making a character for Jedi Knight Outcast isn't an easy task! (easy as in standard Quake 3 style)

remark 666: That tutorial would be a great help. I was thinking of animating the ponytail.
 remark 666
06-11-2002, 10:52 PM
#26
i'll do the tutorial...as long as you keep the "unliked" hair type ;) (maybe give the pony tail to the CTF version) and yes, a lot different then standard Q3 editing.

don't have much free time but i'll try to do what I can, give me a list of programs you use to edit/create stuff with (preferably Milkshape and 3ds max, those are easy to say how to do).
 remark 666
06-11-2002, 11:07 PM
#27
if I don't have the time to finish the tutorial then I'll give it to my friend rio and he'll finish it up ;)
 The Librarian
06-12-2002, 12:37 AM
#28
Stick with the pony tail in my opinion ... just my opinion .. or do both .. even better ...

Just one thing ;) .... perhaps make her face a little sharper .. Its just that in the books, they describe her as having a sharp face blah blah ... it just looks a little .. wide .. perhaps its just the angle ..

And perhaps make the clothing a little less defined on the buttocks ... she's meant to have clothing over that no? ;) It looks like shes got a severe wedge ...

No criticisms .. I like your work .. just a few suggestions
 Darkhold X
06-12-2002, 3:06 AM
#29
everythign is prefect on it. I just want the gun on the hip like 90% of stuff I have ever seen.:D
 Akshara
06-12-2002, 3:14 AM
#30
Since you suggested earlier people voting after you did the ponytail...

Looking at both, I must say I still prefer the full head of hair over the ponytail. It looks great and I can tell you spent alot of time doing it, but it seems a little too kempt for a Mara Jade character.

Your first version actually makes me think of Mara Jade from pictures I'd seen and from my mind's eye - the new version doesn't have the same effect, and could be another female character easily. She appears a little softer and prettier.

If you stick with the ponytail version, please consider allowing a few strands to fall loosely, as if she has been exerting herself and doesn't care how "pretty" she looks. That could be added to your current model without having to completely start over again, which I know isn't fun.

Or consider the braided look from the "Vision of the Future" novel cover.

I guess my wish is that a true Mara Jade model have that raw sexual power which none of the other female characters have. Mara would definitely be the most "masculine" female of the Star Wars universe.

I don't mean "butch", and I don't mean "sexy". I'm referring to a quality of female, like a lioness or a tigeress. That first link which Darkhold posted has that quality...
http://www.starwarssource.net/Characters/Mara_Jade/mara_jade.php)

Just suggestions... I usually don't comment to model threads, but Mara Jade is one of my favorite characters from this universe. My wife has commented on the lack of support for female characters in this game, so I've been working on a rewrite of the normal SP adventure with a female lead - including audio replacements for Kyle and editing out Kyle's name from other dialogue. A good Mara Jade model would be my first choice as a lead. She's the only female character in the Star Wars universe who would go on a solo mission without another guy or a wookie around. Probably one of the reasons Luke fell for her. ggrrOOwwlll...

Great work so far. Thank you for giving your time to this.
:)
 BradFu
06-12-2002, 3:28 AM
#31
I vote for the un-tied hair. Like in your first shot, except about half as puffy. I DO like that ponytail head, too, but not necessarily as Mara. I think you should do another model later using that head, maybe a female Prequel-era Jedi, that would be awesome!

BradFu!
 Nanodagiardino
06-12-2002, 3:36 AM
#32
If you can, you could do the hair has alternate surfaces. So for example you have the pony tail in the blue version, the normal hair(revised in the back) in the default version and some unkept loose hair in the red version. :) so everyone is going to be happy. I personaly like all of them and are both in Mara Jade stile.
 Cmdr. Antilles
06-12-2002, 3:56 AM
#33
I like the idea of the pony tail with some strands of hair fallen down around her face... Sounds cool. :)
 Luuke
06-12-2002, 10:34 AM
#34
i like both, with open hair or with pony tail! maybe you can include two versions? anyway, i know that would be a lot of extra work, so no problem if you just decide for one.
just great work!!!
 Droidekas
06-12-2002, 10:40 AM
#35
I vote for the multiple version! :) Next time you will think twice before posting such a good model with variant! Very good job, she is very pretty.
 Dark_One
06-12-2002, 10:41 AM
#36
If you want i do both. One with the tail and one with the first hair. Like the Lday Brenna model she has lots of skins and models.
 Edward Peretti
06-12-2002, 10:44 AM
#37
okey dokey, I've read over this thread and there is alot of contreversy towards the hair, so this is my proposition:

This is the version I will model for the time being
http://www.ffurg.com/casting_call/marajade/mara-mots.jpg)

In my eyes she isn't connected with the Mara Jade from the books. She's just a character who bears her name. I've always wanted to model her because I was a big fan of JK and MotS. So she kinda carries a sentiment for me from playing her long ago.
As for the more well known Mara (who married Luke Skywalker etc) she doesn't really appeal to me as the one in the game does. Infact I wish they made her into an original character for the game instead because I always felt that the game version never tied in with the book version.

But I do like the hair on the first image too. So I'm gonna model the book version (where she is wearing all black) some time after this one.

The pony tail head is looking good. I added strands last night after I posted that picture and they certainly make all the difference. One question I have is that the poly count has gone over 3000 (about 3400). Does anyone know if this is ok, or will I get a "too many vertices" error message when I try to get her into the game?
 C]-[33S3/\/\@N
06-12-2002, 10:48 AM
#38
I'd just like to say, man, you certainly know how to model a female with a bootylicious rack.

All i can say is that i cant wait to use this model, and what a GREAT ASS!

:D
 Dark_One
06-12-2002, 10:52 AM
#39
Messa thinks that 2 days after the release of this model the forum will be flooded with naked Mara Jade's :p
 T-Dogg
06-12-2002, 10:53 AM
#40
I like the ponytail look. Those loose strands of hair would look cool too, something like this, a la Lara Croft:

http://www.tombraider.com/gallery/screenshots/10.jpg)

It doesn't have to be exactly like that, that's just for reference.
 Droidekas
06-12-2002, 11:22 AM
#41
Depending on the program you are using, you could have bones and tags in your polycount.

No chance of seeing all three version in one pack then?
 Cmdr. Antilles
06-12-2002, 11:25 AM
#42
Whoohoo! That's the kind of Mara Jade I like to see. :)
 adillon
06-12-2002, 11:30 AM
#43
mara jade doesn't really seem to me to be the kind of girl who's really into her looks. she's gonna wake up in the morning, pull her hair back from her face, and get down to business. even though tavion and jan both have their hair pulled back, adding those loose strands of hair (a slightly disheveled look) makes ms. jade look like the down-and-dirty, no frills character she is. tavion and jan have hair that reminds me of a librarian ... pulled back really tight giving them a perpetual headache ... mara's too "relaxed" to worry about that.

the exar kun model (by sithlord-II, i think) has a couple of "loose" strands of hair hanging in his face, and i think it works. maybe they could move (with "other" things) a la the tutorial by remark 666 ... if he EVER makes it. ;) j/k

Edward, i've used a 3d max tutorial for low-polyogn human characters, and it CLAIMS that "later in the exercise techniques are introduced to reduce the number of polygons." don't know if it's true or not, but check it out just in case:

http://www.3dlinks.com/tutorials/max/max_tutorials.cfm?tutorial=lpindex)

hope the tut helps you. keep up the great work!
 DarkLord_44
06-12-2002, 10:16 PM
#44
Are you skinning the model or is someone else? I like it so far. I think several versions is best.
 Akshara
06-13-2002, 2:25 AM
#45
Edward

So according to what you said in your last post you're not really doing a Mara Jade model - you're doing a remodel from a character in the older Jedi Knight/MOTS game series. That's cool... it's your model - have fun.

But then this thread shouldn't be titled "The Return of Mara Jade" - it should be called the "The Return of Mara Mots."

Mara Jade - the Emperor's Hand - is Luke Skywalker's arch-enemy, lover, and wife. At least in the Star Wars universe...
:rolleyes:
 Vesentac
06-13-2002, 3:28 AM
#46
Originally posted by Akshara
Edward

So according to what you said in your last post you're not really doing a Mara Jade model - you're doing a remodel from a character in the older Jedi Knight/MOTS game series. That's cool... it's your model - have fun.

But then this thread shouldn't be titled "The Return of Mara Jade" - it should be called the "The Return of Mara Mots."

Mara Jade - the Emperor's Hand - is Luke Skywalker's arch-enemy, lover, and wife. At least in the Star Wars universe...



That really doesnt make sense. That's mara jade and she was in MOTS. Since he's not "converting" the model, it's made from scratch. So it is her "return".
 Pedantic
06-13-2002, 4:05 AM
#47
Great job! I can't wait to see this model released! :)
 DarkLord_44
06-14-2002, 10:27 AM
#48
bump
 Edward Peretti
06-14-2002, 11:26 AM
#49
hey everyone!

Don't worry, I haven't abandoned this thread. I'm planning to start mapping the model on monday. So expect some updates next week.

In the mean time please feel free to add any design or technical ideas you'd like to point out.

see ya'll later!
 DarkLord_44
06-15-2002, 11:34 AM
#50
Luke would want this to be bumped.
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