Small Update

So this past month I've worked on the mod quite a bit, especially on the programming side of things. I implemented a pseudo-Mughal civilization into Age of Empires 3, along with tech upgrades for all the infantry and cavalry and started testing it, its strengths and weaknesses, home city shipments and unit performance. Its been quite an interesting experience, and I've been making several tweaks to the function of Mughal units, re-purposing them to fit certain roles in the Empire. My research on Mughals and revision of previously read material goes on. In addition to the Mughals, I have been working on Punjabi units, which I will share more about in the coming months.

Before I became fully focused on the mod, I worked on the textures of the Akalini model a little bit. Here is the work in progress. Again I'll be keeping you guys updated as I put more work into her.

Akalini, now in 3D

Low-poly Dragoon Gun

I've been doing lots of 3D modelling these past several months. Seeing as most of my previous models were rough and unfinished, I decided I wanted to take something to completion. So I began working on Akali and Akalini, and completed this low-poly model today. I am going to now begin texturing (or colouring) the model so that it looks more like the artwork. Alongside, I also completed a super small model of the dragoon gun which one of the Sikh units will wield in the AOE mod. It is textured and is ready to be imported into the game.

Some of the things we want in the mod are not present in the game. There are certain guns, turbans, armours and beards that we cannot extract from other characters so these have to be modelled and imported. Now we are not going to be able to import custom character models like the one you see below with animations but we can certainly import props just like the Dragoon that will add much needed historical accuracy to our mod. Some of you noticed that Nihang's turban is not from the 1800s, that it's too modern for the period. You are correct, and we now have the tools and skills to correct that. But I am probably going to leave his turban alone until we get some of the other units completed first.

Akalini: Warrior Monk

Bhai Baghel Singh

So recently I haven't blogged as much as I wanted to.  It was a mix of not feeling like it, and not wanting to post rough, unfinished sketches of random things. These past few months, I have just been studying, composition mainly but also random things like frogs and trains. I feel like I need to work on my composition more and focus on having interesting, larger shapes in my piece. I also think that I should broaden my mind by studying things I haven't studied before. Don't get me wrong I have studied plenty of frogs when I used to live in India, hopping around in my bedroom floor. And I have studied trains, riding them back and forth, in commutes to my university. :D But to draw them is a different kind of study, and more mandatory as an artist., and that's what I have been doing since November.

But not having blogged, last month I decided to do a speed painting suggested by you guys who follow my work. Most people voted for Bhai Baghel Singh and sikh misls capturing the Red Fort. And so so last week I released the speed painting of this event. Check it out:

Akali: Warrior Monk

I know what you are thinking. WTF Bhagt Siyan?! Where have you been? No updates, not even some random sketch. What happened to your weeklies? What happened to the bond we shared together? you no value bond? Our bond?

Bhagat value bond, our bond.

How do I know you are thinking that? Because you were reading what I wrote and thinking it in your head. The real question is were you aware that you were thinking it in your head?

Anyways, it turns out female Akali are called Akalini. Like gardener is called mali, and a female gardener is called malini. Hence this post is titled Akali, I changed title of the last one to Akalini. This time their turban is even bigger, so are their weapons, and they are enchanted with magical properties, dangerous powers than can be exploited in the battlefield. From turbans to turban towers to turban forts and castles, Akalis are more badass than ever before.

I am trying to practice my concept design. I am gona try and shell out a few more of Akali, big turban theme. And also rework the Snake Charmer design. This one is just way too much like the historical male Akali. I want Snake Charmers to look like ascetics, and tribal-like in appearance, mix of Indian sadhu and vanar. Even those that descend from Akali.

AOE3 Mod - Battle for Hindustan: Mughals

Home City: Dilli
Sardar: Gurkhani Sardar
Officers: Mansabdar

by Zuber Singh, edited by Bhagat Singh

A once glorious empire built on the backs of equally glorious rulers is slowly dying. The great horse armies of the Mughal Empire, which had once ridden the length and breadth of Hindustan, the Indian subcontinent, are slowly fading away in an increasingly modern world. From the creeping decay of their huge citadels, armies ride and march out once more. One final push for survival, it could mean the end of the Mughal world or it could mean the Mughals will soon see their empire rise like a phoenix over all of India, as it had done in the lifetime of their ancestors. Either way, the emperors of this sleeping giant will not let their palaces or grand armies become a mere memory of their magnificent past.


Siege Banduqchi

The Mughal war machine is mix of old and new, with a deadly effectiveness in the field. The Mughals are descended from the Khans of the Mongol Empire, and it clearly shows in their armies. Their expert horsemen wield the bow, lance and other weapons with dangerous skill. The Mughals brought with them not only a new era to India, but also gunpowder. Their Atish-baz, or fire-playing arsenal includes musketeers of fierce reputation, cannons of legendary size and rockets that rain down death, to name a few. The Mughals while being outsiders are ethnically and culturally as diverse as the lands they have come to rule: as such, the Mughal army comprises and has access to warriors not only from the familiar Indian Subcontinent but also to exotic mercenaries from far flung lands.

Siege Banduqchi, are musketeers equipped
 with siege technology - mantle, pickaxes,
 large amounts of gunpowder and muskets.
These are available to the Mughals
in later ages when siege becomes necessary.

Bhumi

Still, the Mughals are rulers of India and have come to define Indian culture itself; as such their armies are distinctively Indian. Their huge walking towers of lumbering terror complement their swift riders. The war elephants of the Mughals can quickly turn the battefield around when used correctly. Their brave but rustic Hindu militiamen (Bhumi) are ready to die for honor and the nobler and courageous Hindu vassals are more than willing to populate the city like Mughal war camps. The Mughals are an aggressive civilization and excel at siege, but do not underestimate their ability to defend. The strength of their fort-cities are stuff of legend.

Bhumi, Veteran Bhumi and Honored Bhumi
Armed with a khanda, the Bhumi force is no less than the  Mughal cavalry.
Do not underestimate these native Hindu warriors.

Tabinan Archer, Veteran Tabinan Archer and Honored Tabinan Archer
Descendents of the Mongol nomadic cavalry archers, the Tabinan Archers
combined with Tabinan Lancers are the backbone of the Mughal force.

Note from Zuber and I:

Even as a two man team we are making great progression on this mod, and hope to release it in the near future. However as a two man team our ambitions for the mod are severely limited and we are progressing at a rate much slower than we would have liked. This is why we are looking for interns who will be interested in joining our team in this venture, who would be interested and committed in this mod. Experience doesn’t matter as we believe that will come eventually but hard work is definitely what we are looking for.

Age of Empires III: Battle for Hindustan (work in progress)

Written by: Zuber Singh
Edited by: Bhagat Singh

Hindustan, the Indian Subcontinent, its riches were once the envy of all the nations of the world, its rulers the most powerful men of their time, the sheer size of its armies were innumerable. By the turn of the 18th century, Hindustan was also to become a battleground, witness the fall of mighty empires and the birth of new ones as a bitter power struggle erupts: from petty diplomacy to total war. Bhagat Singh Bedi and Zuber Singh Ahluwalia proudly present “Age of Empires III: The Battle for Hindustan”. Take control of four brand new civilizations as they battle for control of the wealthiest land of the world: Hindustan, claim what is rightfully yours or take what isn’t, change history!

The Mod offers four civilizations that replace the existing Indian civ (which, with all due respect to the game developers, was not accurate at all in presenting the complex cultures and armies of India. It under presented the horse armies and had too many elephants compared to other cavalry). These new civilizations, namely the Hindustani Civilizations: Mughals, Marathas, Afghans and Sikhs are each starkly different from each other and other civilizations as well. For one, the Hindustani civilizations do not have an explorer but instead have access to the Sardar to lead their colony; each civilization has its own Sardar who has various benefits but the same basic functionalities as the explorer. However, all Sardars are mounted. In addition to this, the Hindustani civilizations have access to Landowners and Officers. These act like the daimyo of the Japanese civilization in that they are powerful cavalry units who are able to train units and receive shipments. The Hindustani civilization does not have to build wonders to age up and instead ages up manually choosing from a list of personalities. Furthermore, each civilization has access to powerful religious powers that can act as great boosters to any field of progress, be it economy or military. So, without further ado, we present to you, the Hindustani Civilizations!

First up, the Mughals. Look out for them in the next post.

Weekly Sketch #12: Patialvi Baba

I was going through older work and was inspired by a few images I had published, Khalistani Warrior and this random dude. Remember that guy? From 2009

So in the same spirit and theme I present this week's sketch. It started off as a simple line drawing. I went back and shaded it in and was satisfied. It was a great addition to my sketchbook. Something that was both familiar and novel. But my whole sketchbook was all black and white pencil drawings. I decided to pull out my watercolours and coloured him in. Hesistant as first, I put down a few shades on his left leg (the other left). I figured if I mess up it will look less bad. But it turned out well overall. I am happy with it.

Click on the image to check out the full thing at Deviantart.