Tavern Scene - Wizard Staff and Dagger

I wanted to finish off the different weapons for the scene so I looked at creating the Wizard staff and the daggers for the rogue/thief character.

With the wizard staff I wanted to add some extra flair to it to show the wizard as taking pride in adorning their magical apparatus, as this is what they use to channel their spells with and could amplify their magic. So besides the large crescent moon shape that would be the main casting focus I added in a smaller gemstone brooch attached to it, as well as a metal spiral that wraps around just below the rope that is binding the crescent shape to the shaft of the staff itself. 

Another reason I was doing this is I had finally learned how to properly wrap materials using curves in Maya and then applying a shrink wrap modifier to attach the curve to the surface. Then doubling up on the curve and lofting the two creates faces between them which gives that leather wrap effect. So I wanted to try out how I could use this technique in other places and I utilised it in the rope, the spiral shape and the strap the broach is attached to that wraps vertically around the shape.

Next I moved onto the dagger.

Again utilising the wrapping method I have just mentioned I wanted to add a wrap to this handle but I wanted it to resemble a braided cord wrap, so I achieved this by using a curve and shrink wrapping this to the handle then I used the sweep mesh feature in maya to create the faces and volume of the shape. Altering some settings in the sweep mesh function allowed me to twist multiple meshes together that add the effect I was hoping to achieve. 

The dagger itself is very simple as a in my mind a rogue would want a weapon that has functionality to it as well as being a bit more inconspicuous. The handle is designed from a Karambit knife which has a hole in the end for the person's thumb to sit into, they can maneuverer the knife around by using the thumb as a pivot point and swinging the blade into different positions, this allows a quick switch in fighting styles or techniques that a fast paced attacker may need to switch into. The curved blade allows for deep slices and cuts but a long blade allows it to penetrate deep if used for stabbing or piercing. This blade suits a combatant that typically wants to inflict a devastating blow in one strike, which is a thief's traditional way of fighting, either sneak up and take someone out in one strike or if in combat then to finish it quickly so they can get away.