Full speed ahead! That's what it feels like with a lot more new animation assets coming out for the helping hands around the Abbey and some vocabulary enrichment coming from the architectural design endeavors we've been exploring this past week. Trust us, we didn't know either...
On with the news!
-- The Abbey's Cupolas
This week has also been quite the architectural lesson. After changing the entire aesthetic to the roof, and looking to add more details to adorn it, we are now exploring the idea of Cupolas. Cupolas, are those little citadel-looking parts of a wall or building that always look so distinct yet fitting. This was us trying to mix and match a few assets from various stages of development.
Although these look very diverse - from goofy to passable - we did reach a final take that we sure liked a lot more.
Quite a leap and a very fitting addition to the Abbey's aesthetics. We will most probably be removing the flag as it makes it look more like a turret (military/castle-related that had both a military and observation function) rather than a cupola (which was ornamental and had a somewhat more generalist architectural role). The more you know, right?! We should be coming up with a close-to-final version of this by the end of next week, so stay tuned ;)
-- Animating the helping hands!
Quite a lot of barrels of ale and sacks of barley been taken places in the Abbey this week. All of them having to be animated... A small detail we might not have stressed enough is that all animations must also take into account going up and down stairs as well as their normal side-to-side trajectory. Here are two new animations to show these different directions.
And a few examples of this week's focus on the Cook; making her actions feel more natural and immersive when it comes to her work in the Refectory.
-- The Cook worketh!
Having spent quite a few hours on the Cook, we recorded a little clip to showcase life in the Abbey's Refectory. There is not a lot of activity going on, but it is a place of respite anyway, so...
In case you missed them, we're giving you a quick peek at some firsts in this video.... like the uplifting BGM piece that adorns it (called Faerie's Dance) and the slight changes in the light as time goes by... Of course, more to come!
-- Naval ale enjoyment history time!
In maritime history, the practice of providing sailors with a daily ration of beer (or other alcoholic beverages) was a common and very welcome tradition.
This practice had - of course - practical reasons. One major issue was the potable water during long sea voyages. Freshwater sources on the ship were limited, and the stored water could easily become contaminated. So, sailors often relied on beer as a safer alternative; the hops and the fermentation process helped kill off harmful microorganisms.
Apart from that, life at sea could be challenging and monotonous, and the provision of a regular alcoholic beverage was thought to provide a small comfort to the sailors. It also served as a form of compensation for the demanding and often perilous nature of their work. The daily ration of alcohol was also seen as a means of boosting morale and maintaining discipline among the crew who would think twice before risking their hard-earned ale.
Although this tradition persisted for a significant period, by the 19th century, concerns about discipline and health led to modifications in naval policies, and the practice of daily alcohol rations unfortunately diminished in many navies. The prominence of the drunken sailor type was not coincidental...
Oh, to be a brewer and a pirate!
Enjoy your weekend responsibly, and join us next week for more Ale Abbey news!
-- Hammer & Ravens
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