Very nice creation!!!!!!BRAVO

Why M3, when there are many lower-res models that could do just as well in such a crowd scene. Zygote made an ready made M2 Hoplite complete with armor, and there are even some P3 figures that could work as well. I could understand M3 for the close up, but for landscape purposes, I just think that you are loading useless polygons and haveing to sacrifice your quality as a consequent. At this distance, P4DukeM3 would like just as good, if not better at a higher quality render as M3 does at this lower one. Good render, BTW, surely captures the spirit of the story. Next, show us your vision of the walls of Troy, and the face that launched a thousand ships, and toppled the lofty towers of Ilium! DPH

Actually the amount of polygons does not matter very much since i decrease it quite a bit, i dont remember exactly but i believe that i reduced the m3's to about 1/10 of the original polygon count. The only thing i did not reduce in the scene was the birds since they where so small already. And thanks for the comments, appreciate any and all critique.

great scene, did you hear that blender is good for big scenes? check it out its free. One small critis that the people all look a bit samey, maybe its better to have some rest at a campfire have some running and one eating his nose for example.

I think you've done an excellent job for such a large scene - captured the essence, and that's what you want, right. The only thing I find distracting is the reflection of the ships out in the water. They're a tad too well done. I find they distract fro the actual ships, too much of a mirror. I would suggest toning them down quite a bit. Other than that, excellent work! Can't wait to see more!

Why don't you use a variety of different figures as DPH suggested? What happens to the lower poly figures when used? And what application are you using?

Very impressive.

i'm going to go out on a limb and say that while this sounds and looks like a great technical achievement, i find the scene lacks the impact it could have. the landscape is beautiful and incredibly realistic, and i don't notice the quality issues on land. the sky looks appropriately hot and clear. the landed ships look fantastic. but the composition doesn't follow through on the drama. basically, you've got two competing elements. one is a very static composition. the soldiers make parallel horizontal lines, the most prominent aspect of the land makes another parallel horizontal line, and the fleet of ships and the horizon make fifth and sixth horizontal parallel lines. the join of land and sea is basically a slight and weak diagonal that leads the eye up and away from the action (because the strongest diagonal seems to start the bottom of the picture and go up). and all the figures in the scene are standing straight up, and not running forward or anything dynamic. and on top of all that, everything that isn't the environment but the ships is at a similar scale of small multiples. so what you have is a very static composition, with the main contrast being between empty space and lots of small multiples statically arranged. now all of this would be great in a depiction of something peaceful and idyllic. but you're depicting war and an armada of ships. so the martial content is at great odds with the composition. while the content implies drama, the actual composition doesn't deliver any. technically, i think this is great work. nice lighting, great landscape, cool use of ships... i even like the sky, despite what i'm sure you had to do in order to be able to render so much so quickly. technically, the only thing i'd say is that the ships are maybe reflecting too perfecly in the sea. i think you should be terribly proud of yourself for getting your computer to make this. i just think the composition undercuts the drama and impact of what you're trying to depict.

Deleted previous comment as I examined the image more closely, and there they were, the shadows! Heh. Teach me to LOOK better. I do, however, agree with cobaltdream's points. A great achievement just the same.

Since you did ask for a critique I'll throw in my two cents.... I've done a lot of multi-figure renders. Here is my opinion, hope it helps. I wouldn't use M3 for all your figures. I use M3 and V3 for foreground figures and background figures can be M2, V1/2. This saves on a ton of polys and file size. You just are not going to see the detail in the background whether you use M3 or even the Dork P4. Also you are showing a lot of beach head...for a greater impact you could pan right a little and show more men getting off the boats. Maybe show one boat with the men actually jumping off the boats, jumping into the water, sort of mix things up a bit. Think about all the men and the various "stages" of debarking perhaps two soldiers are leaning on their spears talking to each other. Maybe a few soldiers are sitting down.. I'd mix poses and make sure not all soldiers were in the same pose. Cut and paste doesn't always do it justice. The boats in background just doesn't seem to work for me. The reflection of the boats is TO clear. The sea looks like it has some "chop" to it yet the boat reflections are mirror like. If the sea was like glass there probably wouldn't be any wind to fill those sails. It would be nice to see a few boats between the background boats and the shore. On shore again more men would be cool to see. You could try composition in photoshop to get more figures. Maybe photoshop in some foots steps in the sand. Again you asked for a critique...so I hope that helps. Otherwise, great image I love the concept!

Well i think everything is said about the image. Love the concept a lot. Great work.

A very impressive scene in terms of scale and troops ^^

In spite of the scale of the scene and the large numbers of people and objects, it didnt really have an impact on me. I think the reason is that it isnt clear what the intended 'message' is. Is it about a cunning battle plan? none is visible, they just land on an empty beach. About bravery? no enemy in sight. About the horrors of war - it is too orderly and clean. There needs to be some point you are trying to convey and than the technical and artistic issues may be solved accordingly. Otherwise this reads with as much interest as a goverment census.

Technically this is quite an achievement, but ,like Artpearl, I find it emotionally un-involving. As much as anything, to me it looks like a set of figures on a wargaming table. This could make a backdrop for a scene, but I would want to see more detailed figures in the foreground to carry the story/message.

The lighting is too harsh. The beach has lost it's detail. Maybe it's due to poor textures.