HM3: I saw the sign (and it opened up my eyes)

We have insignia! One hundred of them, to be exact, by far the largest number of items in any set in HeroMachine history. And to think just a few days ago I was wondering what in the world I'd put in the Insignia slot that I hadn't already done! Many, many thanks to the fantastic response in that last thread, you all had some great ideas that really helped flesh out the set. I couldn't get every suggestion in, but an awful lot of them are there. Everything from the Tech set is also present, as is almost all of the 2.x stuff. Take a look and let me know what you think.

Here are a couple of previews to give you a taste of what's now available:

insignia-1

(Some of your old favorites, plus variations on them -- like multiple lightning bolts and birds -- and some totally new stuff to boot.)

insignia-2

(Lots of suggestions from the comments are in the new set as well, including the crosshairs, the swastika, the bomb, the scales, the caduceus, and many more.)

I'm probably going to take a bit of a breather for the rest of the day, gather feedback, and then put out at least one more sub-set of Insignia if not more. I really liked Hakoon's idea of labeling the runes Kalkin suggested in the actual preview box with the name of the rune. That's pretty cool. So I'll be knocking those out, and then probably doing at least one set of letters. If anyone has a super-cool font you want to point me at as a guide, I'll take a look.

I want to also point out how flexible these insignia items are with all of your transformation tools and the use of multiples. For instance, the last two items are a Union Jack and the US Stars and Bars. The careful observer will note that each of those flags has three colors -- red, white, and blue -- and yet HeroMachine only allows for two colors. If you want to have an authentic-looking flag, therefore, you're going to have to use multiples.

First, choose the square insignia, and make all three colors white. Scale it into a rectangle, longer than it is tall, like a flag. Make sure the "Multiples" selection is on and pick one of the flags, and make the first color red (or blue, I can't remember which is which), and vice versa for the other color. Size it so it fits onto your white square, allowing the white bits to show through the stripes and stars I left transparent, and you've got yourself a flag.

As just one more example, in HM2.5 I had an Insignia that consisted of an archer on top of a circle. You'll notice that in this new 3.0 set the shooter is alone, with no circle. That's because you can choose the circle Insignia, set multiples to on, then choose the archer and layer him on top. This allows you to recreate the same logo with up to four different colors, while still giving you the flexibility to have a square shape behind him instead, or a triangle, or whatever you like.

Finally, whenever I get to the ItemRight/Left-Shield set, you'll be able to use any of these Insignia as the boss on a shield. Or to decorate a tabard, or a piece of chest armor. The possibilities are endless.

I hope you like the new options and artwork, let me know if there's something missing (besides what I mentioned above -- runes and letters) that you just have to have and I'll see what I can do. Oh, I also want to do a "Flags" set to include the Confederate stars and bars, that was a good idea that I just couldn't fit in. The file started acting really funny at 97 items, I couldn't actually click on them any more and had to finagle my way around, so this is pretty much the cap on the total number of items I can have.

22 Responses to HM3: I saw the sign (and it opened up my eyes)

  1. paul says:

    Jeff,

    Just checking and saw you did a great job on the insigna’s

    One problem the anchor insigna does not show up when you click on it. It puts the bullet hole on instead.

  2. paul says:

    Jeff,

    would youa lso be able to add a double bladed axe symbol?

  3. Kaldath says:

    There is only one item I see missing from HM2, I only used the missing insignia once on a character who’s new design doesn’t have any insignia on it now ( and I think may stay that way – Britannica ) But I did not see the Rampant Lion Insignia ,, I saw the Rampant Griffin and Dragon but not the Lion

  4. Solander says:

    Jeff, how about some jewel shaped insignias or gemstones? Like round brilliant, square brilliant shapes, heart shapes and so on? Example: http://www.moissanite.com/pdf/shapes_and_sizes.pdf

    I’m a big fan of jewels and gemstones, and would really like the possibility to decorate my Heromachine creations with them.

  5. collex says:

    paul: just take a double-axe item and size it to the correct size and voila, you have a double axe insigna.

  6. GreenBat says:

    Jeff,
    Awesome job on the insignia’s. Just need a Scorpion.
    Need the snake tattoo and the Flying dragon tattoo from HM 2.x Leave them just as they are. Please don’t redraw them. They’re rough and they need to be. Thx.

    GreenBat

  7. LoneWolf6155 says:

    Jeff, I was wondering how the save feature is going to work, considering how much more data is involved with the transformation tools and multiple moveable objects.

    I was also wondering if you could add these items from 2.5:

    Coat:ModernCasual,tac,202020,202020,100,100,30,

    RightGlove:Expansion1,nofingers,313131,181818,100,100,15,

    LeftGlove:Expansion1,nofingers,313131,181818,100,100,30,

    Coat:Expansion1,trenchopen,313131,181818,100,100,21, I don’t know why it’s named trenchopen.

  8. Jeff Hebert says:

    I don’t know which you’re talking about GreenBat.

    LoneWolf, I don’t know how the saving’s going to work. I suspect it’s not going to be a save string like before, but something put locally on your hard drive. I think what you’re going to see will probably be a list of saved file names, and you just pick what you want.

  9. bgh2 says:

    the anchor on the 7th page is not working.

  10. The Icedaemon says:

    Confirmed what bgh2 states. Would also suggest that eventually doing a ‘heraldry’ set of insignias might be a good idea.

    Lower-body garments broken up into individual trouser legs, possibly even four pieces in an eventual update might also be nice, though obviously the joints will be somewhat difficult.

  11. The Imp says:

    Jeff, damn awesome job, man. Just… wow.

    UGO could make a mint if they release HM3 as a downloadable/purchasable software item.

  12. Jeff Hebert says:

    Thanks Imp, it’s always good to hear an encouraging word!

    I’ve uploaded a file that fixes the broken anchor, and adds the heraldic lion.

    A separate “Heraldry” set is a good idea, that’s definitely something I need to do.

  13. violodion says:

    Cool, cool beans!

    “I’m probably going to take a bit of a breather for the rest of the day” . . . hehe.

    Possible adjustments:
    * Hourglass (pg4, row1, item 4): HM2 version actually looks more distinct
    * Keep the Club-Spades-Diamond-Heart card suite on the same “page”
    * HM2 Insignia > Std > Castle; overlooked or add to “Heraldry”
    * HM2 Insignia > Std > Stag; (as above)
    * HM2 Insignia > Std > Unicorn; (as above)

    Seems Heraldic & Gemstones are good, popular ideas. Maybe gemstones renamed into “accents” sub-set to better identify what they are to meant to be used?

    Imagine the specific tattoo sub-set comes later, you know, after the “breather”. 🙂

  14. violodion says:

    Give people, like Hakoon1, a little Hair and Insignias and look what they do:

    http://forums.ugo.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=57450&d=1240686151

    🙂

    .
    .
    .
    He does have other good takes on using items:
    http://forums.ugo.com/showthread.php?t=37003

  15. Brad says:

    Jeff-

    Will there be a coat slot for HM3 or will that be integrated in to the tops?

  16. Jeff Hebert says:

    @Brad: It’s integrated into Tops.

  17. GreenBat says:

    Jeff, These are what I’m talking about with the snake tattoo and Flying dragon tattoo from HM 2.x.

    [IMG]http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q202/UNTBat/snake.png[/IMG]
    On the scorpion, any generic scorpion will do. I just like Scorpion’s, especially as tattoos.

  18. Kaldath says:

    A scorpion insignia would be really nice, but with a little work you can make your own http://forums.ugo.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=57380&d=1240457190

    Granted its not perfect but I will be working on refining

    ( Change the – ‘s to . ‘s in the url until Jeff gets around to fixing it 😀 )

  19. Jeff Hebert says:

    I almost posted that one Kaldath!

  20. Fabien says:

    I suggest still my animals and vegetals or perhaps a nature set mixing the two. We want paws, insects and arachnids, more stylised animal heads, flowers, trees, leaves.
    And i maintain my idea of an ancien set with antic civilisations symbols.

    I haven’t see cogwheels or gears and snowflakes.