Hey guys. Wow, it's me again. I haven't been around here in literally years. I kinda gave up on serious gaming and game developing both, and I've been spending more time focusing on my band. But I was playing Zelda: Ocarina of Time randomly the other day and I realized that I had never once finished something that I started in 3D Gamestudio. So I decided to go back and create one simple dungeon, something playable and bug-free, just so I can say that I've finished a project. I'm also doing everything from scratch, textures and all. I know I'm way behind in all the new shaders and amazing textures that people have, but I'm not trying to compete with anyone, I'm just trying to satisfy myself.

That said, I'm working on a castle-like dungeon now and I'm wondering about something. I have always had this problem but never known what to do about it. So here goes:

WHAT do you use as a ceiling texture in a castle?

Bricks are not an option. I've never seen a brick ceiling. And I've made countless castle levels and I've never been able to get around this. Here's a shot of a VERY EARLY development room in the level. I realize it's primitive. Please no critiques on the level design. Please just give me your opinion on what I should create as a ceiling texture. Because I have no idea.



Thanks a ton. God bless.

Alright, I've made it easier. I tried out some plainer ceiling and floor textures. I think they look better than brick, but what do YOU think?

Try making some satalgmites... or are they stalagtites? Which ever ones hang from the cieling...

It should look pretty cool, but I don't know if it will fit with your project or not...


Just an idea

beams on the ceiling, old ceilings always had the joists showing as it was easier to plaster the lath between them.

Hmm. Beams like wooden beams across the ceiling? let me see if I know what you mean.

Soo... how about this? (I know the wood texture is a little too red - I'm trying to fix that):



?

They used beams and boards for floor and ceiling from the shots I recall seeing, old castle movies, tourist castles - but this was way back so not too reliable.

Seems to be some improvement, but still, it seems the beams are 'floating'. I'm not an architectural expert, but you could try to:
*place columns where two or more 'beams' meet
*make 'beams' near brick walls appear to be inset into walls (if possible)
*make smaller ceiling support structures 16 inches apart attached to larger ceiling structures with weight (wall) support for the larger structures

I like xXxGuitar511's idea. A castle partially composed of a series of caves might be more interesting.
(stalagmites might reach the ceiling one day
stalactites cling tightly to the ceiling)

Textures: I know very little about such things, but you could just try to add some slight variants of existing textures with cracks and / or discoloring.

I like testdummy's idea for wooden beams...

Since your castle is brightly lit and seems "fresh", stalactites might not fit too well...

A series of SMALLER wooden beams and supports sounds much better...

you know, xXxGuitar511 brings up an interesting point. I could just take out all the lights and then you won't see the ceiling, so I won't have to worry about how it looks.



but thanks for the suggestions, everyone. I'll think about 'em all and come up with something. I like the idea of the column where 2 or more beams meet. but I'll post another shot when I have another draft done.