Vandron Shipset
 

OK as many shipset creators do, I have opened a discussion thread for the Vandron shipset. Obviously the AI isn't done yet but for now any opinions on the ships themselves are needed.

Good or bad it's all welcome here http://www.shrapnelgames.com/ubb/ima...ons/icon12.gif

Re: Vandron Shipset
 

Oops forgot to mention that you can get the fleet over in the mods/races section

Re: Vandron Shipset
 

OK well SJ has just pointed out that i forgot to make the fighters. Don't i feel stupid http://www.shrapnelgames.com/ubb/images/icons/icon9.gif so i'm gonna fix that now.

Re: Vandron Shipset
 

Are you gonna make a Battlemoon too? http://www.shrapnelgames.com/ubb/images/icons/icon7.gif

Re: Vandron Shipset
 

sure why not http://www.shrapnelgames.com/ubb/images/icons/icon7.gif

Should i add on to the starbase or design something new?

Re: Vandron Shipset
 

ok i posted the new (and hopefully now complete) shipset. I added the fighters, and i redid the fleet pic, the troops, and weopon platforms. See whatcha think

Comments requested http://www.shrapnelgames.com/ubb/ima...ons/icon12.gif

Re: Vandron Shipset
 

almost forgot: per the request of SJ i added a baseship. http://www.shrapnelgames.com/ubb/images/icons/icon7.gif

Re: Vandron Shipset
 

A battlemoon is basically a hollowed out moon or large asteroid.

I looked through Mainframe's site (makers of Shadow Raiders, where I got the idea from), but they don't have any good pictures of a battlemoon.

This is the best I could find: Mainframe Battlemoon The planetoid in the background would be the battlemoon, and that circular camoed thing is likely the main cannon http://www.shrapnelgames.com/ubb/ima...ons/icon12.gif. That would be the equivalent of a Core-mount WMG, doing 6-10K damage per shot http://www.shrapnelgames.com/ubb/images/icons/icon7.gif
The viking take on a battlemoon
The default Battlemoon image in P&N, is "SE4\pictures\planets\p0203", on your harddrive http://www.shrapnelgames.com/ubb/ima...ons/icon12.gif

[This message has been edited by suicide_junkie (edited 30 September 2001).]

Re: Vandron Shipset
 

well for the battlemoon i just added on to the starbase i guess i can make it more "moonish" instead. BTW what is the purpose of me making a battlemoon since it wont be used in the game?

Re: Vandron Shipset
 

The battlemoon should look much bigger. than the starbase.

Still missing population pictures (reduced size of race portrait)

Re: Vandron Shipset
 

Oh and I'll add this race to my race directory as soon as possible.

Re: Vandron Shipset
 

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>well for the battlemoon i just added on to the starbase i guess i can make it more "moonish" instead. BTW what is the purpose of me making a battlemoon since it wont be used in the game?<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>Well, I am going to be one of the first to use your shipset, and I play P&N all the time.
Therefore, it will be used in the game. http://www.shrapnelgames.com/ubb/images/icons/icon7.gif

Also: battlemoons are mobile, and equivalent in battle to approximately 15 Dreadnaughts.

[This message has been edited by suicide_junkie (edited 30 September 2001).]

Re: Vandron Shipset
 

ok i redid the battlemoon http://www.shrapnelgames.com/ubb/ima...ons/icon10.gif i think it looks pretty cool but thats just me also i redid the bases.

Andres thanks for the reminder i'll add those i next http://www.shrapnelgames.com/ubb/images/icons/icon7.gif

Re: Vandron Shipset
 

Ok added the mini pop pic. Is it finally done? Probably not depending on the response and feedback i get from everyone else out there http://www.shrapnelgames.com/ubb/ima...ons/icon12.gif

What do YOU think !!

Re: Vandron Shipset
 

i think it looks pretty cool

------------------
"...the green, sticky spawn of the stars"
(with apologies to H.P.L.)

Re: Vandron Shipset
 

I tried using the styletester this time, rather than looking at the pics individually, and there were two things I noticed.

1) Weapons platforms look smaller than troops.
2) Some masking problems on the ships:
- Most noticeable on the Heavy Carrier, and the Light Cruiser. The carrier's launch bays (I think), and stripes down the engine areas of the ships are going transparent, leaving holes in your ships. (see the attached screenshot to see what I mean)

That battlemoon has a nice look. Big and powerful despite being the same size image as everything else http://www.shrapnelgames.com/ubb/images/icons/icon7.gif.

Can't wait for the whole thing to be done.

Re: Vandron Shipset
 

Note that masking works different depening if user system is 24 bits or 16 bits color.
Make internal shadows a very dark grey, for example RGB 10,10,10 and backgroung perfect black.

The pop mini picture is 36x36, and there's no pop portrait picture. Rename it pop portrait and make a new 20x20 pop mini pic.

Re: Vandron Shipset
 

http://se4kdy.cyberwars.com/files/viewer22.zip

Re: Vandron Shipset
 

Andres thanks for the viewer i fixed the pop pictures now http://www.shrapnelgames.com/ubb/images/icons/icon7.gif

SJ i'll redo the platforms to make them look bigger but I can't really make the battlemoon any bigger unless I make the picture bigger than 128X128, and yeah the masking is a bit off i guess i'll fix that too. Thanks for the feedback keep it comin http://www.shrapnelgames.com/ubb/ima...ons/icon12.gif

Re: Vandron Shipset
 

Ok the weapon platforms have been redone (and looking quite deadly http://www.shrapnelgames.com/ubb/ima...ons/icon12.gif as well as the light cruiser and the heavy carrier (is it too big now?) http://www.shrapnelgames.com/ubb/ima...s/confused.gif

Also, i got bored and decided to show the fleet in action. Take a look at this cool pic I made. SJ you should especially like it http://www.shrapnelgames.com/ubb/ima...ons/icon12.gif

Re: Vandron Shipset
 

&lt;evil&gt;Bwa Ha HA ha. The universe shall tremble before me!&lt;/evil&gt;
That is amazing http://www.shrapnelgames.com/ubb/images/icons/icon7.gif

HX and LC are much better now.

Remaining masking issues:
-Frigate has holes in its center/engine area
-Dreadnaught has holes in the shadows of its weapon mounts.
-destroyer's engine area to cockpit has long masking holes
-same with cruiser (engines and cockpit mount)
-Battleship engines sliced by masking, some holes in the center & forward hull.
-Battlecruiser has slices in engines and center hull.

Re: Vandron Shipset
 

Ok i rerendered all the ships from the escort all the way to the dreadnought !! as well as the carrier. Masking should not be a problem anymore.

And if you liked that pic wait till ya see the next one coming "The Fleet Attacks" (insert SJ's maniacal laughter)

Re: Vandron Shipset
 

Andres just for the sake of your race directory it is officially the Vandron Imperium http://www.shrapnelgames.com/ubb/images/icons/icon7.gif and since Alpha Kodiak is helping me with the AI you should make him a cocreator http://www.shrapnelgames.com/ubb/ima...ons/icon12.gif Thanks !!

Re: Vandron Shipset
 

As of now, I've taken a copy of your pictures, and renamed them to Norak_xyz, so my games-in-progress will use the set.

Its too bad that the Battlemoons take so long to research an build http://www.shrapnelgames.com/ubb/images/icons/icon7.gif

Re: Vandron Shipset
 

Mind if I ask what program you use?

Re: Vandron Shipset
 

OK here's the next 3D pic in the Vandron series. The enemy ships are some that I made for a possible future race http://www.shrapnelgames.com/ubb/ima...ons/icon10.gif. Although they can't be made out very well. Overall I think this pic came out better. My only criticism is that I couldn't make the explosions better. I guess they can be interpreted as shield impacts or something.

What do you think?

Re: Vandron Shipset
 

Zero I use a program called DOGA-L2 I saw it on the "how to make a shipset thread" and now use it for everything you see http://www.shrapnelgames.com/ubb/images/icons/icon7.gif

Re: Vandron Shipset
 

FYI, I'm something of a DoGA expert. So, if ya'll have questions about DoGA ( http://www.doga.co.jp/english/ ), feel free to drop me a line and I'll do my best to help.
--
TAZ

Re: Vandron Shipset
 

The forecast calls for high winds and temperatures as high as 250 degrees for cities all along the east coast of what appears to be south america. http://www.shrapnelgames.com/ubb/images/icons/icon7.gif

Re: Vandron Shipset
 

Well i couldn't take it anymore and redid the explosions as well as the shield impacts in this pic. Looks much better now http://www.shrapnelgames.com/ubb/images/icons/icon7.gif

SJ where do you see South America ? http://www.shrapnelgames.com/ubb/ima...s/confused.gif

As for the shipset itself, anyone have anymore suggestions or fixes?

Re: Vandron Shipset
 

Just a bit to the left of the water where the BattleMoon beam is hitting. SA was just the impression I got through all those clouds.

Re: Vandron Shipset
 

Oh ok i see it now http://www.shrapnelgames.com/ubb/images/icons/icon7.gif.......check out the updated pic it's much more realistic now http://www.shrapnelgames.com/ubb/ima...ons/icon12.gif

Re: Vandron Shipset
 

Next question: What should the design names for this race be? They are religous and lean more toward the aggressive side. Any suggestions?

Re: Vandron Shipset
 

Visit dictionary.com, click thesaurus, and punch in somthing like "holy"; you'll be swamped with good design names http://www.shrapnelgames.com/ubb/images/icons/icon7.gif

Re: Vandron Shipset
 

Looking at that battle pic now. http://www.shrapnelgames.com/ubb/images/icons/icon7.gif

IMO, the enemy shields look very similar to a fireball + debris, and the Vandron shield flares stop too suddenly. Perhaps if you nested a number of those shield effects, you could get a "wrap and fade" look.

Re: Vandron Shipset
 

Well SJ your right about the enemy shields cause there nor shields at all, they are explosions http://www.shrapnelgames.com/ubb/ima...ons/icon10.gif If i would have included a description i would have said that the Vandron were using phased weapons and they went right through the enemy shields.

About the Vandron shields, do you mean stacking them or what? I don't understrand what you mean by nesting

Re: Vandron Shipset
 

Layering the shield flares like an onion in order to get variable levels of transparency. If we can get L3 up and running, there is a gradient texture effect that is just great for shields.
--
TAZ

Re: Vandron Shipset
 

Hard to describe properly, I suppose.

Take the picture I've attached, and imagine each arc as a mostly-transparent 3D dome. Place them all facing the impact point, and you should get a nice glow that fades out gradually.

Since the enemy ships are so far away, its hard to tell the difference between a shield-effect dome and a spherical bLast.
Would it be difficult to make an irregular, directed bLast?

EDIT:
I don't know if there is anything similar you can do with the program you're using, but in 3DStudio, I made a texture that only reflected non-diffuse light, and was transparent otherwise.
A sphere of that stuff around a ship, plus some spotlights made for some really quick and easy shield effects.

[This message has been edited by suicide_junkie (edited 01 October 2001).]

Re: Vandron Shipset
 

ok i see what you mean about the shields. The explosions are harder to render irregularly but i'll work on it. http://www.shrapnelgames.com/ubb/images/icons/icon7.gif

Re: Vandron Shipset
 

did you make the race portrait yourself?

Re: Vandron Shipset
 

no i didn't make it from scratch. Found it on the web then modified to make it look better. Don't know who did it originally.

Re: Vandron Shipset
 

Any more ideas for design names? How bout ideas for the next pic?

Re: Vandron Shipset
 

How about a planetary assault?

Capital ships bLasting platforms from above while Heavy transports deploy troops to attack.

Or, If you've got some cool effects available, ships exiting a warppoint, or flying past a black hole, or laying mines near a star.

You could have a spacedock scene, with some ships being repaired after battle, and a new one under construction.

Maybe a domed colony, busy expanding the domes and constructing facilities.

Re: Vandron Shipset
 

Yeah a planetery assault sounds cool. I think i'll try that. The others will take a little bit more time and development http://www.shrapnelgames.com/ubb/images/icons/icon7.gif Thanks SJ http://www.shrapnelgames.com/ubb/ima...ons/icon12.gif

Re: Vandron Shipset
 

Here is the final Version of the fleet attacks pic. I couldn't really fix the shields, but maybe i can do better in future pics. I am coming along with the invasion pic it looks pretty good so far. Hopefully, i can smooth out all the little kinks.

In regards to the Vandron AI. Alpha Kodiak has compiled a prelim AI and i'm about halfway through the speech file. Geeze that things long http://www.shrapnelgames.com/ubb/ima...ons/icon12.gif

Re: Vandron Shipset
 

Thanks alpha i'll start play testing them now, and i'll look at the descriptions too http://www.shrapnelgames.com/ubb/ima...ons/icon12.gif

Re: Vandron Shipset
 

ok here is the next pic. The Vandron invasion. Tried to incorporate the fighters as well as the troops from a distance. See what ya think.

Re: Vandron Shipset
 

Another good battle scene. Just to be helpful, I notice at least one of the explosions had a bLast ring around it. You might want to try changing the ring to a 2D disk or the ring object flattened down to .01 on the Z axis (I think.) You can then apply a bomb texture with fake shadow or frosted glass as the material to make it semi-transparent. That will work with L2 or L3.

Duh moment. Remember how I mentioned off list that you could only use 'frame 1' of an animated texture? I forgot to mention that in the DoGACGA\common\atr\l3\ directory are all the individual frames for each animation. So, you can add say shockwave1\sw1027 to your custom texture scratch pad (those arrow icon thingys at the bottom of the texture manager) and then use them as transparency masks to make effects like the attached image. L3 file also included.
--
TAZ

Re: Vandron Shipset
 

Duh moment number two. The L3 file uses an external high resolution sphere to make the bLast look nicer. You can import external SUF files from the part menu in L3. You can either fish the ball/sphere out of the L3 sample directories or do what I do and create a parts directory to hold all your external parts.
--
TAZ

Re: Vandron Shipset
 

thanks zircher i'll have to try those http://www.shrapnelgames.com/ubb/images/icons/icon7.gif