idea for more distinct spider models

I want to make a neonthread too!

The spidermodels look nice but I find them hard to tell apart, imo they look too much like different variants of the same thing instead of unique units.
Basically they are:
-six legs
-long body

I can not model but I thought of something:
How about using other insects than spiders?
Most look quite robotic anyway.
For example a praying mantis:


With the "claws" it would stand out.

Of course the danger is that they end up looking too much like "normal walkers/bots." But nature has more designs!

Look at these bugs:

http://flickrhivemind.net/Tags/stagbeetle/Interesting

these guys have a cool diamond shape in topdown view:



http://cyberneticzoo.com/?tag=praying-mantis
http://cache.wists.com/thumbnails/d/18/d18e83797f6b0ad41087194bd1acd041-orig


(note the long feelers)

This must be the best Neonthread ever. I wanted the new models to look more unique since I first saw them.

I think Crabe is fine. It is not fragile like the other spiders.

durr, this again :S

Is it a pair of spiders you cant tell apart, like Weaver/Recluse (Ive read this some time ago)? Or is it the whole set in general? I need to know if there is any spider that can be spared from remodeling (preferably Weaver, its my favourite one).

Spiders are fine. Only problem I have is the same as Skasi, that I sometimes queue Tarantulas instead of Recluses, or the other way around.

The feeler idea is cute though, maybe some spider could get these to distinguish itself. Maybe Tarantula?

I think they're all fine.

The Recluse is the wide and short one though...

We can probably do a bit by varying the models stance, leg spacing and animation. It doesn't help that they all have the same animation. For example, nobody mistakes the Warrior and the Glaive because they have different scripts.

There are also adjustments that can be done to the texture to make it read a little bit better at a distance:

(Not much I can do without the source files though).

They don't need to be remade by ANY means. The only thing that really might help is increasing the efficiency of the UV space usage and make the more visible elements use more of the space (Say, the underside of the leg plates uses the same amount of UV space as the top side, even though it's rarely seen).

The models are great.

I like the idea of using different bug models if you ever happen to make any more spiders though.

Hmm, I always thought colors other than white/gray/silver/brown/black were reserved for players. I mean they look nice, but..

Yeah, I couldn't help but cringe when I saw these. I think the existing textures are already distinctive enough, and these ones don't do your models justice. And they create another problem, namely, confusion with teamcolour.
The only suggestion I'll make is that the top of the Weaver could have more hazard stripes on it, just to make it quicker to identify.