The basic shape of my part is a block, so I started there. There were a few sections that were blocky extensions with bevels, so I made those next. Now I need to make a more complex rib profile and I'm completely baffled.

In a parametric program I would create a sketch on the face of my part, define the contour, make that construction geometry, do a symmetric offset, and extrude the resulting profile.

I think I can get close by insetting the face, then duplicating the resulting loop and scaling down the duplicate slightly. But I need to add an arc to one section, or the faceted equivalent, so I would do that after insetting but before duplicating and scaling, but, like, how... I think I would start by creating adding a square extension of the loop and then beveling it to round, but I have no idea how to do that.

I'm also very confused about how to maintain good topology, or what that really means, I just understand that it's important.

Would anyone be willing to do a Discord / Zoom call and help get me moving along?

I'm about as far as I can get on modeling without outside guidance. Working on figuring out UV unwrapping and image mapping instead.

I was working on a modular dungeon for my game and I made a couple crates, a couple barrels and I was working on my second pillar piece and blender crashed one me and I reopened it and completely forgot to save even once 😑😑. I have learned my lesson to save. That is all if you have similar stories please share 😅

https://youtu.be/tl2c2HROf4A

Animation, Modeling, Lighting just to name a few “niches,” what all is there?

I’m not looking for a complete list of like 100+ items, but I am curious as to what are like the most popular top 20.

[Most people don’t know what they want to do in life because they only ever know like 1% of the jobs that exist. Finding the 1 things you are extremely good at is hard when you don’t know all the options.]

Can anyone suggest any sources for written tutorials, either printed or online? I find following along with videos difficult and prefer to move at my own pace. Thanks.

I want to try my hand with blender, however, I have zero art knowledge, zero knowledge with the software plus I don’t use my laptop all that much.

Regardless I strongly believe I can learn and master this software in the next few years, but from a complete beginners standpoint, how much can I realistically learn in 2 months? I’ll probably aim to put in 1-3 hours a day with it scaling as I get more into it.

I play games, I understand strategy very well and I love data and information. I’d like to think I’m a fast learner.

If you need more info I can supply it, but for now, based on what you know, what do you think?

For the first time, Blender crashed on me. I dragged a slider too far in geometry nodes and everything froze solid. At least I didn't loose anything important.

No doubt the first of many.