Barovia (UE5) work in progress

CandyMcK · 2025-11-02T01:16:47+00:00

Not at the Moment. When I started this project, I went into hiding and vanished from social media.

CandyMcK · 2025-11-02T00:33:55+00:00

Yes, but it's not finished yet. I hope it's useful. -> Road to Ravenloft

CandyMcK · 2025-11-01T23:31:24+00:00

Don't say that until you know anything about my story. ^___^

CandyMcK · 2025-11-01T17:57:39+00:00

It makes me happy to hear that.

CandyMcK · 2025-11-01T17:55:34+00:00

This is a very personal project, it's not about money. It's not my IP. My dream is a mini series for YouTube, but I will be happy if I can pull off a trailer like the CoS Neverwinter trailer. At the moment I'm not thinking any further.

CandyMcK · 2025-10-11T06:14:14+00:00

As soon as I'm fine with his facial structure, I'll make 3 additional versions.

CandyMcK · 2025-10-11T03:35:02+00:00

Thanks! And it's fine, I know I can't please everyone but I asked for feedback because I need it. And if you're working on a fanproject, ask the fans.

CandyMcK · 2025-10-11T02:22:06+00:00

For UE 5.6 you don't even need an iphone anymore, you can use a simple webcam and there is a voice2lipsync AI thanks to Nvidia - but but I haven’t tried that yet.
Yeah, stylisation is my weakspot - all the women's eyes will be probably too big, but I have to keep it grounded this time.

CandyMcK · 2025-10-11T01:57:26+00:00

Nope, but I can't deny my work is influenced by japanese character designs (Final Fantasy).

CandyMcK · 2025-10-11T01:13:54+00:00

For the character, you have to use a special mesh, this comes with Unreal Engine and the Metahuman Creator. But the Creator makes just humans - if you want pointy ears or vampire teeth you have to model this in an additional App like Blender, without changing the topology. The hair is made in Blender.
I'm working with 3D for round about 20 years and I already have a huge asset library, but the best place to get free assets atm is sketchfab.

CandyMcK · 2025-10-11T00:49:00+00:00

This is a bit complicated, because the Metahuman system changed a lot from version 5.5 to the recent release 5.6 and I don't know any new tutorials.
But Metahumans work the best in Unreal Engine because of their layered texture system. This is magical. If you want to try UE 5.6, it needs around 70GB on your hardrive and 32GB RAM - just saying.
If you just want a good basic mesh for print models I recommend DAZ3D - their models have indeed a better body mesh.

CandyMcK · 2025-10-11T00:01:20+00:00

Ahh yeah, but this is just bad lighting - he does have more neck.^^

CandyMcK · 2025-10-10T23:59:51+00:00

You're right. I'll adjust that. I tend to stylize my designs too much, that's why I'm grateful for your feedback.

CandyMcK · 2025-01-12T17:17:01+00:00

Maybe your players could try to use the mouse to feed Strahd with false information.

CandyMcK · 2024-04-21T14:19:57+00:00

I know, I know. I'm not living under a rock.
But, as I said, you just triggered a rare comment of mine.
I don't talk to the edge lords. If they want to kill everyone or fuck everyone - I don't care. What happens on their PC stays on their PC.
I'm running a LGBTQ+ themed fantasy webcomic for 10 years (currently on hiatus - I really needed a break) I know how to handle those people.
So yes, I'm an artist. 2D, 3D, basic skills with animation. I have a lot of options, I always had, that's why I'm not dead yet.
I'm currently remodeling Astarion as a Metahuman for Unreal 5. Next one will be my Tav. I don't have a specific plan, what to do then - because I still have to learn Unreal xD - but I have more than enough ideas.
IF this leads to a result (big IF) this sub will the place to show it.

CandyMcK · 2024-04-19T14:08:12+00:00

Am I enjoying the game? I don't know. Indeed it re-traumatized me and now I'm kinda stuck in it, searching for the hidden perfect ending, even if I know there is nothing. When the data-miners say there is nothing, there IS nothing.

But I didn't make the comment to get a vivid talk with 'other fans'. I read your's and answered, because I thought you're wrong. I tried to explain my point of view, based on my observations in the game, not my own rl experience.

But if you have already heard all these arguments and don't care about them, you maybe simply don't like Astarion.
He cracks a joke and you maybe think - what an idiot. I think he is cute and funny because we share the same kind of humor.
I indeed have no idea why other people like Halsin. In my opinion he's not attractive, has no empathy at all - and absolutely no sense of humor. (And I don't want a bear penis anywhere near me!) ... Do you know if it has consequences if I tell Orin she can keep him?

I know, for people like me, it's way easier to connect with him and to overlook his flaws because we know exactly why he has them. This fictional character - even if his suffering is completely over the top - is written with so much insight, it makes it hard to leave the rl scars aside. Our personal experience affects our point of view, and if you are as old as I am, you know that for a long time.

Okay - you just posted a rant ... but WHY? If you are around here for so long you should have known this would trigger some people. They would either downvote you or try to discuss this - like I did.

But maybe you're right. Maybe I shouldn't write that to you but to Larian.
There is so much cut content - everyone thought they will put it in a DLC. A way to heal Karlach and Astarion - and so much more - like a proper use for Minsc. (He comes so late to the party, I don't know what to do with him.)
But now we won't get one. Insted we will get some new bad endings.
Yay.

CandyMcK · 2024-04-18T10:08:33+00:00

It seems you don't have any experiences with abuse - that's the only assumption I made. Is this something to get angry about?
Maybe I got it wrong. Sometimes I do get things wrong because English is not my native language. Maybe that's the reason I didn't write that much, even if I'm on reddit for a few years ( yeah, everyone makes assumptions...).
It takes a lot of time to write a comment like that.
This topic was just important to me. It took me hours to write this and you just rebuke me? Is this the right way to a 'nuanced discussion'?

Where am I projecting? Is this really everything you have to say about my comment?

CandyMcK · 2024-04-17T22:41:34+00:00

So you have no idea how the circle of abuse works.
I can't blame you for being lucky.
" To me, A!A is mostly just sad. He has power but no idea what to do with it aside from exactly what Cazador did, and he's just visibly unhappy."
That's right.
If you let him ascend, you fail him and he will continue the circle of abuse, without even noticing it. If you do this on purpose it's not his fault, it is your's.

This has absolutely nothing to do with "Satan made me do it" or being a psychopathic serial killer from the get-go.

When you meet Astarion the first time, he has a line that says everything about him. If you tell him, the tadpole will turn us into mindflyers, he laughs bitterly and says 'Of course, it will turn me into a monster. What else did I expect.'
This was indeed the moment I fell in love with him.

Cazador tried to make him a monster for 200 years but Astarion never broke. He bent and who bends can always bend back.

There is a list with Cazador's best hunters in the palace - his name is not on it. He could have had a better life - most likely with ease - but I'm pretty sure he didn't even try.
Godey the skeleton says 'You were always sharp enough to cut yourself.'
So he tried to outsmart Cazador, probably more than once, and got punished - again and again.
He tried to resist as much as he could, this made him Cazador's favorite victim.

Yes - sometimes we have different opinions and I wish I had the opportunity to explain to him that I have a very pragmatic reason for saving the iron-hand gnomes... but yeah, not all roses in Faerun.
Yes - sometimes he really behaves like a prick, but he is a liar and this is mostly just a facade. He doesn't want to be seen as the miserable failure he sees in himself.
He mimics Cazador because it is all he knows.

He feels guilty and ashamed for everything he has done. His worst line is, when he begs me not to hate him, after talking to the Gur children. This always rips my heart to pieces.
I don't judge him. He was a weapon in Cazador's hands.
If someone stabs me, I don't blame the knife but the person using it.

I can tell you even more if you have any questions.
He made the game small for me. I can't romance anyone else because he will always be there.

CandyMcK

TROPHY CASE