Nice starting image. I agree with Bladestorm about the "metal". Try setting it to quite a pale grey with white highlights and turning the highlight slider up to around 90%. Also try using one of the metallic reflection maps on the blade. Try converting the texture-map for the wooden part of the shield into a bump-map. The poses are excellent, although the guy with the spear seems slightly off-balance (IMHO). It might have something to do with the positioning of his feet - one foot in the air and right on toe-tips for the other foot. A bumpmap for the carpet will provide you with some creases. Do you plan on rendering this in Bryce? (Because that will get rid of your problems with the metal). Paul