3D print your characters

Raudgrani · November 2017

The other day, when I was at the character selection, I had this idea that it would be pretty cool if you could like order your characters as 3D printed models.

It should be really easy for Zenimax/Bethesda (or whoever), to make some kind of agreement with some of the larger "3D-print-on-demand" companies, much like https://www.shapeways.com/ for example. I've ordered some of my own creations there, and it works great and the quality is nice.
Of course this would demand some kind of "printing wizard" feature, to make sure your model are indeed printable. I am quite sure some characters would have a little problems with brittle parts (these feathers on the heads of Argonians, long Khajiit tails etc.), but way more complicated problems have been solved in this world. I mean, the 3D models are already there, so to say. Perhaps not the best poly/texture resolution around, but people loving their toons would sure look past that, just as all (or most) parents love their children - no matter how ugly they are. ;-)

And yeah, I wouldn't mind some kind of reward for giving you this great idea! ^^

Huyen · November 2017

Blizzard already has several npc's printed in 3D, and I think there was a company that could print your character too...but ZoS seems behind on so many things.

LordGavus · November 2017

I want this.

Saturnana · November 2017

Friends of mine use https://www.heroforge.com/ to create figurines of their D&D characters.

The way it's currently set up does not support all Tamriel races, but the non-bestial folk will be able to use it. It would be very (!) cool if ZOS or some affiliated company were to do the same for TES characters, or if Hero Forge added Argonians and Khajiit to the mix.

Edit: I just noticed they have antro-feline and half-dragon options, which look very similar to Khajiit and Argonians.

Sixty5 · November 2017

I know that other games have done just that through Shapeways, the only problem I can see is that there wouldn't really be high enough demand to warrant the service, which is sad given how cool it could be.

Hell, it could actually be a pretty cool prize for a competition.

Woeler · November 2017

I'd just like to have the model, have my own printer.

Saturnana · November 2017

Woeler wrote: »

I'd just like to have the model, have my own printer.

I think Hero Forge lets you purchase the file for digital download so you can print it yourself as many times as you'd like.

Of course, you'd still have to create the character yourself with the sometimes limited options they've given you. And those options may or may not be sufficient to create your specific TES character. DL 'Only' costs 10,- though, instead of some of the much more expensive materials they can create it in for you. (I have no clue whether or not printing the figurine yourself on top of DL costs would be economic in comparison to just having them print & ship it)

Ilithyania · November 2017

Fun idea. Hope you get a cool reward.

Raudgrani · November 2017

Sixty5 wrote: »

I know that other games have done just that through Shapeways, the only problem I can see is that there wouldn't really be high enough demand to warrant the service, which is sad given how cool it could be.

Hell, it could actually be a pretty cool prize for a competition.

Well, as it's a print-on-demand service, the demand can be one single piece. You might mean like for setting up that service, I take it. But it really shouldn't take that much effort. The biggest problem would perhaps be to get past this problem with small details that might break easily.

And I really think that quite some people actually would order at least some of their toons. I'd buy at least one of them, as I made it look so much like myself - that people I know actually "recognize" me hahaha... So, for the fun of it.

FloppyTouch · November 2017

I want a full size 3D model of the AD queen, for reasons...

Shawn_PT · November 2017

How would they go around floating epaulets and weapons? It would definitely take more effort than grabbing the 3D model and feeding it to the printer.

Ilsabet · November 2017

For what it's worth, I've gotten 3 minis of my D&D characters from HeroForge, and they're quite impressive. It would be hard to recreate ESO characters using HeroForge's options, but if you're content with "close enough" and can find options that fit your character, the posing and overall quality are very good.

Raudgrani · November 2017

Shawn_PT wrote: »

How would they go around floating epaulets and weapons? It would definitely take more effort than grabbing the 3D model and feeding it to the printer.

I guess that's the part that would be missing, and as I mentioned myself - feathers on the heads of Argonians and so forth. But I kind of suppose it wouldn't be too difficult to have a standard "fill"/"connect" kind of feature for separated objects etc. I haven't done too much 3D design, especially not "pre-print" work for 3D printing. Much like when you deal with vector graphics and close open paths etc.

Alchemical · November 2017

This sounds really cool. I wanted to tave my druid done back in the day, but I never got around to it (largely because the tauren models looks bad compared to all the other). I'd pay some good money a mini argonian army, but they'd have to be sturdy and high quality for me. I'm far too clumsy for cheap plastic.

MasterSpatula · November 2017

I spent 2+ years anxiously awaiting ZOS to implement Appearance Change so I could make a few tiny tweaks to each of my characters, mistakes I made because we couldn't zoom in during character creation in the first couple of weeks. Then ZOS implemented Appearance Change in very nearly the worst way imaginable, not just radically overpriced but also with a flat fee. That meant making my character smile just a bit more or changing eye color would cost just as much as a complete overhaul. I was flabbergasted. I literally couldn't believe even one single person on the face of the entire planet would think implementing it this way was a good idea, not one--to say nothing of how many people at ZOS have to have agreed that doing it in such a spectacularly dumb way was a good idea. They took guaranteed money I was waiting to spend and as much as said, "Nah, don't want you money, pal." So I saved my cash, and all my characters look just a bit off.

It may be obvious, but I'm still a little miffed about this.

However, if I could 3D print my characters, well, that might actually be enough incentive for me to pay ZOS's ludicrous overpriced rate to finally perfect my characters.

D0PAMINE · November 2017

I would love this. Scissorz is my toon and we've been through everything since launch.

Valve · November 2017

Woeler wrote: »

I'd just like to have the model, have my own printer.

@Woeler
It's actually possible to get the models from the game!

Ackwalan · November 2017

FloppyTouch wrote: »

I want a full size 3D model of the AD queen, for reasons...

Just wrong, so so wrong. Even your name is wrong, so so wrong.

kyle.wilson · November 2017

Don't 3d print with plastic.

https://youtu.be/zTfCJo3FYI0

Its pretty cool when you can see them up close. I saw the setup at the AMTS show a few weeks ago.

Its only about $150,000 USD startup costs

ArchMikem · November 2017

I remember The Mighty Jingles on Youtube went through a 3rd party company to 3D print a figurine of his WoW Character. It would be effing awesome if I could have a statue of my Kitties....okay no we have to notify the Devs of this idea.

@ZOS_GinaBruno GINA! Please relay to ZOS that we'd like to give you thick wads of Cash for Statues of our Characters!

Raudgrani · November 2017

kyle.wilson wrote: »

Don't 3d print with plastic.
https://youtu.be/zTfCJo3FYI0

Its pretty cool when you can see them up close. I saw the setup at the AMTS show a few weeks ago.
Its only about $150,000 USD startup costs

Yeah that's the thing. You can print in a wide variety of materials as well. Basically, you could make them out of solid steel these days.
And if you'd want just a typical board game sized character (an inch?), or like one foot tall - it shouldn't be a problem. I'd like the later. It would require some kind of function to make your toons print ready, but that's about it. I have a feeling that those costs would be covered quite fast, and ZOS could earn some extra money without trying to sell the same wolf mounts (etc.) with a slightly different skin over and over again.

kivaann · November 2017

This is an awesome idea, though might be difficult to implement due to differences in the ways a character is modeled for game and 3d printing. In effect, I suspect eso would need to do a complete overhaul to fix errors that would cause troubles when printing, but not when using in game for all characters and items. They can limit the choices, of course, in order to reduce the work, but that would still be significant investment of time. I'd love to have a figure of my char too, but I don't see this in the near future.

Mettaricana · November 2017

Zos just refuses to use ideas proven better by dozens of others

riberion · November 2017

Valve wrote: »

It's actually possible to get the models from the game!

What program is this?

nimander99 · November 2017

I 100% support this idea. I've had this thought myself on occasion actually.

Enemy-of-Coldharbour · November 2017

I would love to have 3D printed figures of my characters, but, at $400+ (based on a few websites) each I really can't afford it.

ArchMikem · November 2017

Enemy-of-Coldharbour wrote: »

I would love to have 3D printed figures of my characters, but, at $400+ (based on a few websites) each I really can't afford it.

I have a bishoujo statue of Tali Zorah which didnt nearly cost that much, and the replica is gorgeous.

Resfeber · November 2017

Enemy-of-Coldharbour wrote: »

I would love to have 3D printed figures of my characters, but, at $400+ (based on a few websites) each I really can't afford it.

Yeah at $400 I would consider just getting a commission from someone for art for my wall or plush. A plush won't be as realistic but I could deal with it.

I think I have the artskills to make a decent sculpture but I don't have the time on my hands to immortalize a character. At least not to the level of detail I would want. I'd rather pay someone to do it in the time I wouldn't have to spend.

Soleya · November 2017

riberion wrote: »

Valve wrote: »

It's actually possible to get the models from the game!

What program is this?

Blender

Stania · November 2017

Enemy-of-Coldharbour wrote: »

I would love to have 3D printed figures of my characters, but, at $400+ (based on a few websites) each I really can't afford it.

With that money, I'd rather pay for sculpting lessons to create a one-of-a-kind statue of my character (opening the opportunity to create more stuff later). Or maybe pay an skillful artist to do it.

Axoinus · November 2017

if a third party company printed these for you and Bethesda found out, they could literally sue the printing company. I'm sure that Bethesda has stipulation that they own any and all possible character models that are designable within their game.

The only way this happens is if Bethesda establishes the agreement.

Seeing as how much they charge for virtual items, I can only imagine how many crowns a physical item will be.