Capsa- A Small Experiment in Source

[Kanine01]

I added a pool to my map just for more shits and giggles.



Still have to add trim and some steps and ladders though.

I used a custom texture with a func_illusionary entity for the lighting effects.

[Jordash]

I'd love to see the pool interact with the shipping containers more, you've set up this great pattern and feel for the entire project, then kinda just given the pool an arbitrary shape and set it at the back of everything else. Before you finish it off, think about the possibilities, you could give it the same dimensions as the shipping containers and stick it in a courtyard area within the rest of the structure, maybe even have one of the second storey containers canterlever or bridge over part of it.

I know you've been going for a modern look, and most pools are a lot more minimal and rectilinear than the standard suburban catalogue pool you've chosen. A lot of them are only accessible from one point too, the other parts can hit right up against a building's wall, and if there is a window there it can make an interesting view from inside. It also makes it easy to fit snugly against the building you've already made. You probably don't need a ladder either, I don't know about where you come from, but where I live there are only pool ladders on public swimming pools, you can have it if it is essential to your design, but this isn't something you have to have to make it realistic, it's up to you.

I get that you probably came up with the everything else before you thought about putting a pool in, so it might be hard to fit in now, but putting it to the side does make it seem like exactly that, you designed each separately and it is a little jarring.

While I'm cirtiquing I might as well add something about the shape of your windows, they have interesting stuff going on inside the frames with those shapes, but their overall form is just a rectangle, which looks (correct me if I'm wrong) the same size in every one. I understand that if you just copied them around to begin with, but if you plan on changing them you should do that before moving on to your pool. To me it seems like you're stuck in the mind set of designing the likeness of what you've see all the time, which is probably very boring and cheap design unless you live in an awesome city, and are replicating that design in a way, which I can tell you I get stuck in all the time, you just need to take a step back and think why something is the way it is. Like with your pool shape, your windows can be any shape they want, you could have tetris shaped windows, small, large, at the top of the wall, at the bottom. They don't have to be all the same, so long as they share a common concept behind them they should look right. You've half got a concept, you just have to further your thinking.

I've gone on a long rant I see, I can see you've got a great idea, it just seems like there are a few bits which you've decided to put into action before planning them out fully. I love the caustics btw

[Naticus]

I'd like to know more about the func_illusionary you used for the caustic effects.
Did you use a water shader texture for the water? If yes, where exactly is the func_illusionary brushes for the caustic effect? Are they a 1 unit size layer on all sides of the pool? Please elaborate...

[LiamFarley1998]

Using an overlay can be more effective, and right off the bat you should use func_brush with never solid.

[Kanine01]

I apologize I haven't been able to release an update until now. I've been very busy what with Skyrim being released and all.

[Gary]

The pool should be an above ground shipping container without the roof.

[LordDz]

I like rounded edges more.

[Kanine01]

It was suggested and I honestly feel that more rectangular shapes work better with the shipping container idea and a rounded pool would only clash with that aesthetic.