C.O.W. - #030: Triped

[Fozzybar]

http://www.conceptart.org/forums/images/cow/cow.jpg


Round #030

Topic:
Triped

Deadline:
Tuesday, 29th November 2005




- for any questions or help go here:
http://www.conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php?t=37512

note: The deadline won't be EXACTLY after a week...it can last up to 24 hours more, i am human and have to work also, you know ;)

Post your creature for this week!

[Fozzybar]

It's round 30!!! and so the topic is related to this small jubilee...

I talked with [DAN] about COW in Prag at the workshop and he made an interesting statement...he said "it would be interesting to see a creature design about a creature with only 3 legs...you know there are no creatures with 3 legs..."...i tried to think of a creature with 3 legs, because it was so trivial, but no creature came to my mind and i was really surprised, since i never realized that actually there are no creatures with 3 legs...

Well, now that's the time where [DAN]s idea is going to be our topic!!! :)

[Carnifex]

isn't it tripOd?

[Ardjet2174]

No, it's triped, as in biped (two legged).

[shadoman]

We're going to see a lot of War of the World's designs I bet. Good topic though.

[Fozzybar]

Carnifex, yes my dictionary says tripod also, but i was referring to the latin origin "pes, pedes" as foot...but i will change it if it's wrong though...

[brokk]

For a second I thought it said "tripped", as in high. I thought we were supposed to make a really tripped design, as in really wacky.

[flatliner]

lol, that was my first impression to, Broken. Maybe an idea for a future toppic :). It will be intresting what people will come up. What with tripeds from W.O.W and the Striders of Half-Life 2 being the archetypal three legged creature, i'm intruiged to see how you guys will dodge tha cliche's.

[Fozzybar]

so is it tripod or triped now?

[Eriboss]

cool topic, may have to have a go at this :)
I guess it would be either Tripod or Tri-Ped

Cheers

Eri :evilmustache:

[m@.]

for a creature I'd say triped .. like biped or quadruped... tripod sounds more for an object/vehicle. I'll try to enter that one, nice topic.

[possessed]

what about a triped ipod? I hope I'll be able to enter this week.

[silentkitty]

Triped is correct. ;) -ped means "foot".

Anyway, interesting topic, I'm looking forward to seeing the variations on this one, because for some reason I'm coming up blank, lol.

[redehlert]

Sweet topic. I'll do my best to be on this one.
M@ - I'll be lookin' forward to your entry.
Foz - are you enterin' this time? Been missin' your entries.

Cheers!
D

[unknown_epiphany]

cool idea and yeah you probably will see alot of the WOTW type stuff. but maybe not=)

[redehlert]

and to think....i've already done i triped COW in #17 (hill stomper). can i just resurrect it and put it here? kidding....i know....gotta hit the drawing board!
r2!?! where are you.....
cheers,
d

[silentkitty]

It's a creature with naturally grown three legs? Not the three-legged dog or something...?

I'm assuming it should be something that naturally has three legs. :o It'd be kind of cheap to just draw an animal missing a leg, hehe.

[Zeitwolf]

It's a creature with naturally grown three legs? Not the three-legged dog or something...?

triped - first I had to think of the tripod-mechs in War of the Worlds ^^;

[scumgrinder]

a triped in theory can have whatever number of extremities but it only uses 3 to walk. triped comes from tri=3 and ped=feet

[Fozzybar]

Foz - are you enterin' this time? Been missin' your entries.well, i have more time now, so chances are good :)

i've already done i triped COW in #17 (hill stomper). can i just resurrect it and put it here?hehe, yeah, i think dougbot also made a triped once for cow, don't know where...

I'm assuming it should be something that naturally has three legs. :o It'd be kind of cheap to just draw an animal missing a leg, hehe.rrrrrrrrrright!

[redehlert]

sweet.
sweet.

[Banned_User]

edit: decided not to enter this one ;)

[Fozzybar]

are you kidding? I will take it to the poll, you can bet on...have a nice trip and don't be away too long man...

[Banned_User]

Hey, thanks Foz - I'll try not to but I just found out that I may be booked til Dec. 20th and then after that I have another job lined up that could last a couple weeks :P Things are goin well but that's why I've been participating less around the forums.
Have a nice Thanksgiving everyone

[redehlert]

Later Mike! Nice entry btw.
Give us some concept text relating to the piece, okay? That'd be special.
Congrats on all the work, bro. Your efforts continue to pay off.

Cheers!
D

[Banned_User]

Thanks redehlert
I updated with a description, hopefully I'll find time to spend an entire week on a cow later down the road.

Mike -

[Chuck,mate.]

hello poeple!
first time posting here (COW activity),
hope you all like it.
here`s my entry:
http://images5.theimagehosting.com/3_crab_small.jpg

Triped Crustacean:
the long legged (3 in count) crab-like creature resides in the depths of large
sweet-water ponds and revers.
his diet includes small fish, small frogs and basically anything smaller than itself.
its 3rd leg (located and centerd under his "chin") is used for balance, steering(along with the tail), and catching + killing a prey.
the T.C. is an endangered species, since the habit
of killing its females while mating.
by accident.

[Cique]

All animals have 4 limbs though... well dragons with 4 legs technically cannot have wings... but anyway it would be quite funny to see a creature with 3 legs and 1 arm :P

[redehlert]

NICE Chuck, mate!
I've been waiting for you to dive in here for a looooong time. Welcome aboard!

"OOOOOOOOooooooo who lives on the sand floor and spears tiny fish?"
"Tri-ped Cru-sta-cean!"
"Who's shiny and red and triped you see?"
"Tri-ped Cru-sta-cean!"

Okay.
I'll stop there.
Must. Get. Coffee.
Cheers!
D

ps. Hey Chuck - the text in the upper right isn't doing your piece any justice....

[brokk]

Cique, you're thinking of vertebrates :)
There are animals that don't even have limbs, like sponges, worms. Starfish have five limbs, some have more.

And, not all vertebrates have 4 limbs... snakes have no limbs (they have tiny vestigial bones though) and some marine animals, fishes, have many fins.

[silentkitty]

Here's to hoping wings don't count as legs. :S I don't think they do.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v72/silentkitty/triwip3large.jpg
Land Hawk: This giant bird of prey is actually a land-bound creature, carrying itself about on three leg-like appendages surrounding its mouth, which is located on the bottom of its torso. Its wings are unable to support it in flight, and act as a leverage system, allowing the bird to launch itself into the air for short distances, trapping its prey in a cage of legs and teeth. The beak's main use seems to be for preening the bird's hairlike feathers, and is generally not used for eating unless a small bird or animal happens to come within range of it.

[asoir]

All entries so far are excellent, 'specially yours Chuck and Kitty!

[enigma]

Tripod is a three legged "object" triped is a three legged living being :)

yeeeeh, competition, sounds fun, will try to enter :D <--- i love that face

[Fozzybar]

that's for enigma: :D :D :D :D :D

and that's for you, redehlert: :vodkamachine:


nice entries so far...3 different approaches yet...curious to see the next ones...

[redehlert]

mmmmm.....VODKA!
that sounds good right about now.
thanks voz - next time, send the real deal from Germany. ;)

cheers!
d

[solorpower]

Haven't posted a cow entry in a while, but this one is too fun to pass up. Already have the sketch done, now to digital paint it!

Nice entries so far!:dur:


I want some Vodka.........

[cgfuller64]

sum1 say vodka?!!!!

[brokk]

Might still tweak this up

EDIT: tweaked it up : P

http://usera.imagecave.com/bk7600/cow30fin3.jpg
Odontopod
When the first explorers arrived at the small island, far on the hills they saw the silhouette of what they thought was a three legged animal. As they got closer, they discovered that it was not a third leg, but the creature's teeth that it used to aid in its movement. Because the creatures used three body parts to move, they were nicknamed "tripeds", but the natives simply reffer to them as "big teeth".
Odontopods's teeth, besides being a third walking extremity, are used in digging holes in the dirt, where they prepare a nest for their young. They are also used for cracking open coconuts and shelled crustaceans. For eating, the creature uses its long, sticky toungue, located behing its frontal teeth.

[JakkaS]

Hehe, nice entry Broken. I like your idea, and description is also good.

[brokk]

Thanks JakkaS :)

[yAdam]

Cool stuff so far!

http://img400.imageshack.us/img400/4971/triped5ok.jpg

The animal known as the simian-limus (literally translated as monkey with slime) was recently found on the tropical planet, AN – 04, 17 light years from Earth. None have been captured at this time, although the form and movement studied indicate that it’s similar to three unrelated animals found on this planet. These are the common slug, monkey and spider. Scientists have been unable to approach closer than 10 metres as the creature’s continuous stream of toxic mucus can be flung in any direction as it throws itself through the trees and plants.

Because of its agility within the forests it rarely needs to travel on the ground, but in this position the ‘hairs’ on the back are low enough to brush it. The research suggests that this could be its source of nourishment, by way of suction through the hairs or tubes.

[Zeitwolf]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v320/odinsregen/sketches/chow30w.jpg

[Fozzybar]

after a long break for me, finally i have some time to enter COWs again...so here is my first one after the personal break...go:

EARLY RISER

The so called "Early Riser" is the missing link between the crustaceans and the molluscs...while it's body reminds of mollusks like squids or snails, this creature has legs like crabs...weird enough it also has webs between its legs, this makes this creature a phenomenom of mother nature...

The name "Early Riser" is due to this creatures behaviour of leaving it's actual habitat - the ocean - only when the sun is arising early in the morning and the rising tide is flowing in....Early Risers lay their eggs on land, their offspring grow up on the beach, but live in the ocean when entering adult stage...

Early Risers feed on plankton and they are excellent swimmers due to their webs and fast moving legs, which are also unique in animal kingdom, since Early Risers have 3 (!) legs, which makes them the only being on our planet to be called: TRIPED.

http://www.kidomatix.com/ca/cow/cow_030_triped_fozzybar.jpg

[morbidhumor]

Hi guys. My first C.O.W.:x

http://home.comcast.net/~bcrart/triped.jpg
http://home.comcast.net/~bcrart/tripedcu.jpg

A full grown Dragonwasp is about the size of a small dog. Through the millenia it evolved from it's much smaller, two legged ancestors. It's ancestors were well balanced and lite. As they grew in bulk and thier rear section increased in size to accomidate more toxin they lost thier well-balanced design. They compensated by developing a third limb to balance thier bodies when standing.
\w/

[Zeitwolf]

Argh! Fozz that's great description :D

[possessed]

http://img385.imageshack.us/img385/6352/wipperoonie1cn.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Let's see if it shows up...

[D.Labruyere]

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d39/haldor1/trifant.jpg

26th november 1597

My lord,

Today I started with my trip through the sand-planes of Arath-arack. I've seen some marvelous things already on my first day, but the most strange thing I've seen is a creature the locals call a trifant. This beast walks on 3 legs and can get hundreds of meter high. Most of the nomads spend there entire life on these creature, building huge villages on them. These creatures are very easy to command around, and I thought that if we could create an alliance with the nomads they would be most usefull to fight on our side during the current war against the troops of Argnoth. I ask you allowance for this alliance so that I can go on with the negotations.

Your humble servant,

Haldor

[redehlert]

WOOHOO! Foz - so good to see you posting again. I dig the creature!
Cheers,
D

[Fozzybar]

redehlert
thanx man...glad to be back :)

Zeitwolf
1. glad you like it
2. your entry....is this a wip? you know it's not at an acceptabel level right now

possessed
any description coming soon?

[solorpower]

Blue-Dart Trisauraped

Native to a planet in the Cassiopeia constellation with alternating dual moons, this creature, like most on its planet, evolved with a triped system of locomotion due to the fluctuating gravity from its 2 moons. The irregularity of the moons orbits around the their planet has altered the evolution of the Blue-Darts from a biped animal to a triped. Indeed, this world is filled with unique and bizarre creatures not found anywhere else in our galaxy. The blue and yellow markings all over its body signify that this animal, like most in the galaxy, has a lethal defense mechanism that consists of needle-like darts on its head, back, and tail. It preys on unsuspecting creatures, small and large, very easily. It begins with its non-menacing, almost docile looks and behavior, and if not for its poison darts, would almost certainly be approachable by most animals, including humans. When its prey, (often other predators), are deceived by its non-threatening presence, they get closer to the Blue-Dart until it’s too late. Blue-Dart then turns to its side and its entire cache of darts bend toward its prey, and swooooosh - they fire! The prey falls dead to the ground instantly with about one thousand small darts inserted like needles in a pincushion. The Blue-Dart then waits for all the internal organs to dissolve into a gooey nutritious soup that it sucks up with its elastic tongue. Not much is known about this lethal "cute-looking" monster except how it hunts its prey, as was witnessed by a human survivor on her first mission to this planet. 9 of her team members were killed by this creature alone.

Note: The name of the planet is classified and the Cassiopeia constellation is a restricted quadrant.


http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b335/solorpower/Triped_Web.jpg

[Zeitwolf]

The Tripedilum Litoris.
http://photobucket.com/albums/v320/odinsregen/sketches/cow30.jpg
The racoon-sized Tripedilum litoris, also known as Beach Tripod, lives on desolate sand shores of planetes of the stedtfeld group.
The basic shape is oblate round consisting of three equal body sections that have one insect-like walking leg and one head each. The heads, equipped just with two nostrils and a teethy long-tongued mouth, can protrude out of the body with a medium-long neck for catching pray.
On the back there are tentacles ending in compound eye bulbs (often mistaken for delicous and bit off by birds, but growing again...).
The whole body (with exception of the pigment containing eyes and harder parts like feet or teeth) is charged with noctilucent enzymes that attract a lot of insects - the principal food of the Tripedilum. Furthermore it munches everything it can reach fast enough with it's sticky tounge and dull teeth (e.g. fish washed ashore or carrion).

[Althael]

Triactarian Wolf

After the crash of the Carrier Empress on Phaenwyb, some decades ago, followed by the explosion of its twin nuclear generator, the planets got recovered of radiation, making it impossible to live on until some weeks ago, after the M.E.T. gave the authorization after a myriad of tests on the planet.
Our first thought was that no creatures, maybe beside the underground ones, would be still alive. Surprisingly, we were wrong. A large parts of the known creatures, although merely recognizable, were still hunting to survive.

Indeed, one of the first appearance was a large white tripedal dog-like mammal. By its attitude, it was clearly evident that this kind ruled the forest of our starting point of re-insertment on the planet. Further research on this new species revealed a strong and very agile predator. Being able to jump around five meters high, its most commonly used attack is to stealth around a target and when it is near enough, it use its 'middle leg' to catch its prey while jumping on it, applying near 300kg.

Being 'mutated' by the radiation, the most visible signs are its eyes and mouth. Teeths have random places and length, sometimes growing outside its mouth. It's eyes possess an horizontal iris which seems to be distortioned. We believe that the creature adapted a different mode of view over the generation in its mutation.
Be careful when on the planet. These tripeds are very hostile and attack on sight, they use strategy and stealth over all and always travels in small groups. We know that the current implanted village are triped-free, but unarmed solitary excursion outside the defense radius is most likely to be fatal. The mere presence of a triped is haunting, do not look directly at one and try to run away as fast as you can. Resent research have showed that it will let you go if you don't stay on its territory, although, the length of his patience is not known.


http://xs56.xs.to/pics/05470/Triped.jpg

[Chuck,mate.]

NICE Chuck, mate!
I've been waiting for you to dive in here for a looooong time. Welcome aboard!

"OOOOOOOOooooooo who lives on the sand floor and spears tiny fish?"
"Tri-ped Cru-sta-cean!"
"Who's shiny and red and triped you see?"
"Tri-ped Cru-sta-cean!"

Okay.
I'll stop there.
Must. Get. Coffee.
Cheers!
D

ps. Hey Chuck - the text in the upper right isn't doing your piece any justice....

hey, thanks.
you just made my day.
:teeth:
about the text - well it`s just for the entry.
i don`t think it should
be of any consideration in the judging of the piece.
should it?....
anyways - 10x again mate.

[Chuck,mate.]

All entries so far are excellent, 'specially yours Chuck and Kitty!

thanks dude.
:)

[Chuck,mate.]

yo fozz,
very cool piece.
my fav so far.
:)

[shadoman]

http://www.shawnadomanis.com/images/illustrations/cow30.jpg

Tridevallus

The Tridevallus are a species of fast, tripeds found on the warring planet of Gazellan VII. They are found in the charred, desert wastelands of the distant planet. They are speedy and agile and because of their third leg—that is located directly below the belly of the beast—they can jump in large strides and gallop at speeds of up to 73MPH. They can store large amounts of water and fat in the large hump on their back which gives them the ability to run for days without having to stop for food, water, or rest.

The faction known as Juvanga learned how to catch and tame the Tridevallus. Before going into battle, they brand the abdomen of the creature to show they are Juvangan.

[Ptree3]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v350/ptree303/Triped.jpg

[cgfuller64]

Text to come (blurb)
This 3-nike buying menace from Mymind 6 specializes in afflicting artists with cantcreateathreeleggedcreaturitus, more commonly catagorized a precursor to antiseparation anxiety disorder.
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c188/cgfuller64/Untitled-1copy.jpg

[bumskee]

fozzy, nice entry. sweeet, very convincing and nice concept.

[hurricane]

http://www.rainysaturday.com/Hurricane/Sketches/cow_30.jpg
Velox Fons Rector or Quick freshwater leader

This creature lives in freshwater areas, swims and hunts with great precision.
Velox Fons Rector is known to out-maneuver a dolphin with ease...
A fierce foe under the water

[Eriboss]

http://www.reelfilms.co.uk/images/triped_fin.jpg


"The Baby Walker"
Venus Incubatrix Tripodius

This female Incubatrix is pictured in the middle of giving birth - but this is no normal pregnancy as the mother is in this partial birthing state for 3 years!

For the last 2 of these the cub is in a state of half-birth, with only its leg protruding from the womb out onto the floor... This may sound uncomfortable, but remember the mother is almost double her own body weight with the baby inside and so this "third leg" acts as much needed support for her... and has also been recorded to help the mother with hunting!!

This is the most unusual birthing ritual but studies have shown that if the third leg wasn't there during pregnancy both mother and child simply die.

__________

I went a bit crazy with this one, if its not fitting in any way then juss trash it Foz :)

Cheers

Eri :evilmustache:

[tainted wumpus]

Pet of Kobald: Kobald was a mad inventor who once made toys for the the villagers' children in the area surrounding his fortress. He was a solitary man, but he loved to make the children smile and laugh. Dispite his efforts, the villagers lived in fear of Kobald. Strange noises of screeching metal, and visions of indescribable mechanical monstrosities from within the fortress walls haunted the villagers in there dreams. One day an angry mob stormed Kobalds fortress, beat him, and left him to die. For many years the villagers thought Kobald to be dead, but he silently tinkered on in his fortress. As his wounds slowly healed, Kobalds heart hardened, and his inventions adopted a more sinister nature. Now and then some say that they have seen Kobald wondering about in the darkness with his new pets.

"My toys don't make the children laugh anymore." -Kobald

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v205/zackimo/Zacksconceptartcopy.jpg

[redehlert]

eriboss, that's a total crack up (and very creative!).....!
cheers,
d

[Demiurgic]

Wow! I have to agree, great concept Eriboss.

[adamharris]

http://www.adamharris3d.com/images/DSG/triped.jpg


A poet once wrote a poem about such a creature..
but .. sadly enough.. i can't remember the poem...

so here is an image of the creature...
think what you will of him.

enjoy

crits extremely welcome.

ive been out for 2 months.
its good to be back

PS CS 4 hours

cheers

[VegasMike]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v52/Vegasmike/3v2done.jpg

This bat like creature lurks high in the trees where it waits for a victim below. It uses its 3 legs to position itself over the prey and drops onto the victim. The creature uses the large claws on it's 3 legs to grip and subdue the prey while puncturing a hole into a main artery...after sucking the prey dry it will often eat the meat as well. It can't fly but is capable of gliding long distances between trees.

[shadoman]

VegasMike I think your concept is great. That facial expression is priceless.

[redehlert]

Ding....! I second Shadoman's thought.
Cheers!
D

[redehlert]

Hurricane - that's a sweet entry too! Wish there was a little bit of body color (blue) spilling into the tail (help connect the two parts).

I've done a boat load of sketches, but I've hit a lot of mechanics/movement issues that just don't fly in my book. I think I'm just gonna sit this one out and enjoy all the great entries!
Cheers!
D

[masque]

http://home.metrocast.net/~chipartist/ImagePost/TripedCOWentry.jpg

The Crested Leaper of Lesser Jilandin is the planet's only known example of a fully successful triped predator. Standing an average of one meter in height, the Leaper subsists almost exclusively on the Blue Craboids that share its harsh habitat, the copper-tainted wastes known as the Azure Basin.

The Leaper's hunting technique consists of a rapid loping pursuit of the fast-scuttling Craboids, closing steadily until near enough to launch a prodigious final jump. While airborn the Leaper rears back its head on powerful neck muscles, and upon descending, bashes the prey's shell open with a hammer-like blow of its pointed and edged beak. It then rapidly consumes the moist innards of the Craboid, before the furnace-like desert heat can dessicate the meal.

Leapers have evolved a unique method of coping with the extreme heat and the cupric poisons that permeate its environs. They excrete no liquids, and the moisture content of their scat is minimal, thus optimally conserving bodily fluids. A veinous network paralleling its circulatory system extracts the toxic copper compounds from its blood and carries them to a special gland in the Leaper's head. This system accounts for the majority of the Leaper's coloration. The gland filters out the toxic components of the circulating fluid and deposits them in nodules that ring the back of the leaper's head, the so-called "Leaper Headpearls." Once the nodules reach a certain size they detach, and a new nodule begins to grow in its place.

Ironically, this extremely efficient survival strategy nearly caused the extinction of the Leapers: For a time, Leaper Headpearls were extremely fashionable, leading to wholesale slaughter of the species when the supply of "detached" Headpearls was exhausted. Primarily due to lobbying efforts of the Trans-Galaxy Wildlife Federation, the Leaper is now protected by interstellar treaty, and possession of Headpearls is punishable by fine and imprisonment. In the past decade, the species has made a dramatic comeback. However, black-market pressures still encourage poaching, and the T-GWF maintains a constant satellite vigil on the Leaper's habitat.

[solorpower]

Holy Cow!!! (No pun....) (OK, maybe it was.....)

There are some really creative C.o.w. entries in this round! Really impresive stuff! :blah:

[waronmars]

Posting for some dude in irc who couldn't register CAUSE I'M THAT NICE

infinite_monkey
http://www.diablorama.com/upload/inf/dj-tripedalegg-final.jpg
Western Mediterranean Intrusion Species 144
Classification: Precursor
UNIZCIO rating: Low Threat/Low Priority (Revised - see Food Chain Impact)
Range: Western Mediterranean Intrusion Radius (Southern France/Eastern Spain)
As with many Intrusion precursor species, 144s are based almost entirely on native Earth fauna, in this case the humble chicken egg. It's unclear how this species reproduces (if at all), as the chickens display no sign of DNA manipulation associated with Intrusion species. No specimen of 144 has been observed eating, so it is believed they subsist on the host yolk.
Initially thought to pose a threat to the poultry industry and perhaps all avian reproduction, by year 3 it was discovered that 144s cannot maintain cohesion beyond the Radius. 144s seem to communicate with shell-to-shell vibration, and a Morse code- or binary-like system of bobbing when not in contact. They are capable of surprising speed (making use of tripedal locomotion's penchant for a bounding gait) and have been observered surviving falls of up to 3 metres.
Notable comments: "Ceci n'est pas un ouef!"

[romance]

http://www.artofromance.ca/ca/projects/COW/nidorhide_800x600.jpg


The Nidorhide is another one of Nature's jokes. Along side the Platypus, the Giraffe and the Hillbilly.

The Nidorhide is the World's only known triped. It uses its two front legs for movement, while the third leg is used as balance. The Nidorhide's rear leg is 'double' kneed, which enables the Nidorhide to manouver quickly.

A typical diet for a Nidorhide consists of grubs, roots, and nightshade. The Nidorhide is one of the few animals that can safely consume this highly toxic plant. Nidorhide's will often consume nightshade, not only for its nutritional content, but for the poisonous fecal matter that the Nidorhide can spray for protection. The 'substance' can not only blind an attacker, but can induce instantaneous vomiting with its odor. An excellent defense for such a docile herbavore.

Strangely enough, the smell of the Nidorhide in itself could make a man vomit, let alone it's crap.

[JakkaS]

Fozzy....great one, I like your description.
VegasMike....Hehehe, I will have bad dreams...
Romance.....I think this round is yours, excellent idea and painting. I Love it.

[redehlert]

um....that's seriously romancing the stone....er....star.
holy crap.
d

ps. and i dig the egg creature for some unknown reason!

[Chuck,mate.]

romance -
beautiful piece.
damn.

[Banned_User]

Masque & Fozzy & Shadowman in my opinion were some of the only images that actually nailed a workable tripod creature.
I'm not saying all but Most of the designs people submitted look as if they were a 4 legged creature who's left or right front or back legs were just removed to meet the requirements of 3 legs.
There are some nice detailed images but the designs just don't cut the whole 3 leg idea, at least not in a believable sense that this creature should be capable of actually maneuvering.

[max1975]

http://elseworld.com/max/sketchbook/longjohn.jpg

[nightfend]

http://home.comcast.net/~mikecwagner/images/cow/dimensionwalker_triped01-2.jpg

Dimension Walker -
These strange triped creatures are not native to this dimension and resemble no other living creatures on the planet. Crystal miners on the desert world of Takras III began seeing them soon after they landed and began excavating the deep mineral deposits of the planet. The creatures began appearing just outside the mining encampments, fading into view from nothingness and then dissapearing again if a miner approaches them. They are completely silent and appear to be observing the miners and nothing more. What reason they have for appearing around the camps, scientists do not yet know. But some believe there is a link between the mining of the crystals and the appearence of these Dimensional Walkers.

[brokk]

I refuse to comment until the voting round :x

[masque]

MikeCorriero -- thanks for recognizing that some thought went into the designs you mention. It seemed a critical part of the brief that the critter could at least appear functional (though when you get into the details you quickly realize why tripedals never made it if they ever evolved at all), rather than just disfigured or mutated.

Nonetheless there's some fine work shown in this COW:

Chuck,Mate -- good color use and an appealing "character" but I'm not sure the catfishlike/mammalian mouth suits an arthropod unless you're looking for a cartoonish effect

silentkitty - very dynamic composition, and a nasty-looking beasty, but too chimeric -- i'm not really seeing it all as one creature

bRØk3n_sPiRiT-- love the whimsy and the iridescent finish

fozzy -- sweet! color, lighting, spatial rendering, a variety of surfaces (great transluceny on the webbing), and even functionally plausible. only gripe is the lens flares (how an optical defect has become associated with "realism" i don't know). they seem distracting here.

morbidhumor -- very stylish technique, quite appealing, would like to see color! I don't think the third leg only as a stabilizer quite fits the brief , however.

solopower -- the goofiness of this'un makes me grin, reminds me of an old National Lampoon article about dinosaurs that never made it. such a serious concept blurb, though

shadoman -- a well-rendered and well-thought-out concept, the pose says a lot about its functionality, though to me its bulk contradicts the speed capability and perhaps presents a few weight-distribution issues (assuming you were going for a truly plausible tripedal beast). cool whiskers!

Ptree3 -- quite a bit of charm in the style but cloning a leg into the BG weakens the design mightily -- it doesn't even seem to be attached anywhere. maybe it's WIP?

cgfuller64 -- colors and surfaces are striking, but I don't perceive the critter as a whole unit -- its components seem somehow detached from one another

hurricane -- your usual highly distinctive, confident, and quite honestly enviable rendering style, but the creature is too chimeric, like parts of recognizable animals stiched together. it doesn't look at all to me like the aquatic or amphibious beast the text seems to describe.

Eriboss -- charmingly bizarre, elegantly twisted concept, props for outré!

VegasMike -- Batty on steroids, amphetamines and 'dust! Love the wickedly ravenous glare. Very well-rendered, but the third leg seems an afterthought.

romance -- really strong and lush rendering, but the pseudoanatomy looks out of kilter and the musculature too ... lumpish, i guess, just too many highly-defined muscles. to me it weakens the overall form.

nightfend --wow! love it. classic BEM, beautifully painted. believably tripedal, though with all that weight on those thin leg-tips, looks like it needs something more wear resistant like a nail, chitinous sheath, something to keep the skin from quickly wearing away. my fave so far.

[JakkaS]

Trenoga (I have found this in Russian dictionary - this means tripod)
This time something not completed - no time for more :wip:

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a314/JakkaS/Triped_JakkaS.jpg


The Great Animal Encyclopedia of Planet Gobb
Volume 6, Chapter 56: "Birds"

"Trenoga"
...Those creatures existed mostly in legends. Why? Just because no one believed they exist. But ZOO in Boratis lives a specimen of this species. Few years ago a group of scientists have successfully cloned creature. The most interesting thing in this bird is that there are three organisms combined into one. I mean three hearts, lungs, heads and legs... But the worst thing is... it has also three minds and personalities. And that was the reason of become extinct. Try to imagine simple situation of feeding. Two "heads" start eating but the third one, want to go sleep or just walk. What if two "Heads" want to incubate, but one doesn't want? Someone could ask: How did they survive in natural environment? Answer is very simple. They have three personalities but they also have common need to remain alive. In a situation of great danger they work together for everyone's good. Obviously in many years existence of this species, the number of living specimens, has dwindled and finally they left deserts - their natural environment - just vanished into the air...

[redehlert]

look out folks...nightfend has arrived!
gonna be some fun voting!
cheers!
d

[vigostar]

great entries this round guys.. good to all..

[Carnifex]

romance-i recognize a strong similarity to neville page's "fantasy wildebeast" design (gnomon dvd). did you happen to watch it before doing that pic?

[redehlert]

Hey Jakkas!
(just love saying that....)
At any rate, totally diggin' your piece, but I am having some trouble with the bird 'ears' on the bottom one (eating the snake/worm). The trouble is a blending of the bird legs and these ears. Perhaps you can do some saturation changes to help them become more distinguishable?
Love your colors and textures!
Cheers,
D

[Carnifex]

just a greyscale from me this time...
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b363/siansaar/bug3.jpg
the varcaar
a carnivorous bug,unique in its movement because it only has three legs.if any teeth are hit out (during ram attack) they will re-grow within minutes.

[JakkaS]

Thx redehlert, I try to fix it. Just wanted to post, before Fozzy colse it.

[Teal]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v633/spellit/triped.jpg

hope it's not too humanoid :[

[romance]

JakkaS, Redehlert, Chuck,Mate - I'm happy you like it. Thanks.

Carnifex - Your totally right. I do own Neville's DVD's, but I haven't watched them in quite a while. My intention wasn't for it to be similar, but some how it ended up being so. When I had finished it, I realized it looked like Neville's Wildebeest, I almost scrapped it and started over, but I didn''t have enough time to do another one. I guess it's something to watch out for in the future.

Masque - Thanks for the critique. I completely agree with you. Again, something that has to be taken into consideration during the next COW.

MikeCorriero - I agree with your design comment. There were only a few entries that could be plausible tripeds. Many just aren't wprking, including my own.

I believe nature omitted the triped design for a good reason, it's just too clumsy and doesn't work. Balance and movement is a huge issue with three legs. (Ever enter a three-legged race?). Positioning of the legs is very important, as well a coordination.
Having two legs in front and one in the rear (or one in front and two in rear) will just not work in most cases, unless the body is balanced perfectly. Even then, a slight shift in weight would probably result in the creature toppling over. A creature with one leg in front may also have trouble eating, depending on the leg design.
Creatures with three legs equally distributed around their bodies, with no distinguishable front or rear would also have trouble with balance, even more so then animals with fronts and backs. From the entries posted, it is visible that these types of creatures carry more weight on each leg, making it almost impossible to walk if one leg is raised to move forward.
The only design I feel works well is Shadoman's. It's not perfect, but works better then any other entry. Keeping all three legs in a row allow for the creature to stay balanced, provided that it had a stong enough muscle system to support the weight carried in the front and back. It also allows the creature to safely distribute weight on either outer leg without falling over. This design allows grace in both movement and stationary positions. Well thought out.

I wish I had thought about this stuff before I dove into my entry.

I'll be commenting on specific entries at the poll. :)

-Rob

[redehlert]

Hey Teal,
Put that thing away, silly.

[asoir]

My eye's are going through one helluva massage here...wow.

[brokk]

romance, interesting.

I had thought the same thing, that a triped body design would be clumsy, but I think thats due in large part to try and place three legs onto a creature with a spinal chord, or better yet, a creature whose overall body design is bilaterally symmetrical.

There are other animal body plans besides the bylaterally symmetrical, there are radially symmetrical animals like jellyfish.

Maybe on land it might not be a good body plan, but perhaps underwater, where movement is different, an animal with three extremities could adapt well. Starfishes are radially symmetrical and have five extremities, a radially symmetrical animal with three extremities that lives underwater wouldnt be that far fetched. On land it would be a different subject :^^;:

Or, if the creature was very light, or had a design similar to arthropods... which makes me think of Fozzybar's entry, it looks quite plausible.

[brainstorm]

3-legged brain (Intellitriped)

Genetically engineered in the latter 21st century, Intellitripeds are designed to interface with supercomputers, adding a creative dimension to problem-solving otherwise inaccessible via artificial intelligence. These brains function at a much higher level than the human brain, and any signs of personality that may surface have much in common with that of a severely autistic human. To handle life-support functions, geneticists chose to employ those of the Medusa Jellyfish, noted for its efficiency (all of the major organ systems are very simply represented). Five times within a 24 hour period the intellitripeds are submerged within a nutrient bath to stay fed and hydrated. Contiguous with the jellyfish, a gel matrix covers the brain and so that the nutrients diffuse from the jellyfish. The intellitripeds directly interface with the computer systems via cables containing thousands of neuralnanoconnectors (NNCs).
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v43/brainstorm/triped02.jpg

I wanted to get this a lot more polished but I ran out of time. I'm participating to learn, so I welcome any and all critiques.

[Phaethon]

Sneaking one in at the last minute, and a first time CoW no less...

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a44/Phaethon/Triped.jpg

One notable page from a recently discovered cache of 17th-century documents by an unknown hand. They have been dubbed "The Unnatural Papers" for their content, which documents wildlife supposedly from a region in central Africa, as a crude map on the second page suggests. The creatures, however, have never existed on earth. This sketch of a triped ape creature's phisiology matches no known palentological finds, but the author claims to have seen it on his journeys. The text is written backwards, and is written in a heretofore unseen and barely dechyperable language that appears to be a Latinized form of Hindi. The author has this to say about the creature "This beast, which I have [unintelligable] wild plains of Mahini, [unintelligable] primarily vegetable matter, but can also consume flesh if it desires. The middle limb acts as both a hand and a leg, as it [unintelligable] loping gate, bringing the middle foot forward, then the two outer feet to walk. [unintelligable] climb trees occaisionally, which gives the savages of this region great fright [unintelligable] could attack a village if they needed nourishment [unintelligable] as yet have not showed any violence towards my hosts. [unintelligable] proliferate the jungles to the south to an incredible degree."

[masque]

romance & 'sPiRit: good points on the futility of actual tripedalism in larger vertebrates, much what I was thinking, though the biggest counter-survival issue I feel would be the inability to maneuver effectively while all the weight is on one leg. As long as motion is pretty much continuous and along one vector the balance on a single forward leg would be fairly easy to maintain, ala pole vaulters and pogo-stickers :), but don't try to change direction on a pogo stick while it's grounded! that limitation would make tripeds pretty vulnerable to any predators, which = evolutionary dead-end

[redehlert]

i agree, masque....these were problems i was encountering as i was trying my damndest to build a creature that didn't look as though i was a) stickin' a limb somewhere or b) didn't look like i was taking a short cut and just showing a limb on one side of the body (eg 3-legged dog). i posted all of my concepts in my sketch book thread - see Redrum! Redrum! in signature and go to the last page of the thread. this one kicked my ass, but hot damn if some of ya didn't spank it good.
cheers,
d

[brokk]

One thing that no one considered is spiraling movement. I think its safe to say that all of the desings here would move in a straight direction, some with the ability to instantly shift direction yes, but none move in a spiral maner. Maybe that would be a more reasonable movement for a triped, if all the legs are the same, and if they are placed at even spaces from each other. It would be like a row-boat, but all legs pushing towards a single side, and a bit forward at the same time, therefore moving forward in a spiral manner.


Now, why didnt I think of this before!? :frustrated:

heh :P

[masque]

an interesting exercise would be to build 3D models of a few of these critters, then rig & animate them to see if something convincing could be done with the movement.

[Phaethon]

Not that I really know a thing about it, but it seems to me that a triped working on the "single forward leg" concept would essentially become a biped when it was involved in anything but the forward motion masque describes. I myself was working on the idea of a four- legged animal that has the back two legs fused together, more or less. The animal would have a running motion similar to, for example, a cat running. The front set of legs go as a unit, then the back follow. As for turning, this set-up means the animal must be able to balance all its weight on the single leg, pushing off and to one side, or lean to the side its turning towards, balance on the outside leg on the inward side of the turn, and use the center leg as a pivot, or use a single outside leg as a balance and pivot. It sounds stupid, but try putting your hands or your feet together and using them as a single unit, while your other limbs are independent of each other, and "walk" around. This might simulate a vertebrate triped. I can't help but think of dolphins and seals, whose back legs have, for all intensive purposes, fused into a single limb. Admittedly, it offers them a better "base", as bilateral symmetry is maintained, and they don't have to deal with land in the same way as most of our tripeds.

[sephone]

Okay it's been a while, but I made the deadline.And I have to say the competition is getting tougher. Awesome work guys!!!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v651/seph001/tripod_web.jpg

The Triglobics: This little creature was discovered a few years after the colonisation of Mars back in 2134. The odd little creature which stood about 2 feet in height, was found to have a neverending appetite along with a taste for almost anything that would be placed in front of it's mouth. (caution: KEEP SMALL CHILDREN AND PETS AWAY FROM IT'S MOUTH)He was soon found useful in the kitchens of the colonists there, where he was used as a living garbage disposal and a natural quick producer of fertilizer. His waste made up 70% of the total fertilizer used for the colonists crops. His digestive sytem worked so fast that anything he ate would literally go through his sytem within a matter of 4 hours. Hence his constant appetite.

[brokk]

Good points masque and redhelert, I would love to see these things modelled :)

Phaethon, really interesting and good points, hehe, I just tried moving around using 2 arms and "one" leg and then two legs and "one" arm. Its not all that far fetched actually! You can manouver around pretty well. Good point on the dolphins.
I still think an earth triped would need to have the limbs placed somewhat at equal distances, they should be a bit strong, and spiraling movement might work...

EDIT: Man, if someone suddenly walked in on me and saw me moving around on the floor with two arms and "one" leg balancing the other leg on top, moving in circles spiraling, they must think I'm on crack or something : P

[masque]

Man, if someone suddenly walked in on me and saw me moving around on the floor with two arms and "one" leg balancing the other leg on top, moving in circles spiraling, they must think I'm on crack or something : P ah, the sacrifices we make to placate our Muse...
:bow:

[redehlert]

Great entry Sephone!
Cheers!
D

[redehlert]

ah hell...here's my crap-filled funtry.
http://www.cognitionstudio.com/conceptart/redlrt_cow30.jpg

November 29, 2005 - log:
It's hard to believe my findings. How can such a creature exist on this ice-covered half pipe, but there it is. I, Professor Helmudt, have scientifically named this creature as "SK8RDI", following conventional naming protocols. I'm impressed with how it is able to propel its body over the ice with its powerful arms and slender midleg. That midleg has a well adapted 'nail' allowing it to glide across the surface. The driving arms can both dig into the ice and glide on top as well. I think I love it and I want one as a pet. I think I will name it Tré-Tré.

(As you can tell, my idea bank is rather dry on this one).

[Zergaloth]

My vote to Teal with his hilarious design. Still laughing.

[Fozzybar]

I am fighting with a heavy tonsillitis since sunday including fever and all that shit, so i close this thread as the deadline has come and will set up the poll a few days later when i feel strong and healthy enough to sit 2 hours in front of the screen...sorry...

[Fozzybar]

vote:
http://www.conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php?t=57274