Vandron Shipset

[zircher]

To use 'SE4 logic' for a sec... If you're parked over a wormhole and an enemy comes through, your fleets are mixed and at short range from the start of battle. Call the appearance of the warp point during the battle as artistic license. :-)

Just a technical note, burning hulks are hard to do since most 3D models are not built to be deformed due to battle damage. You'd have to build a second model and replace the damaged parts with new objects/meshes to simulate the damage. In DoGA L2 it's pretty hard to do, retexturing some parts will do. But, the modelling might have to resort to dozens of smaller models and parts to create fragments from a bLast.
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TAZ

[Suicide Junkie]

Could you not use some sort of carve tool, subtracting a bLast shape from the ship mesh, and then retexture the exposed faces?

You'd have a bunch of meshes, but they wouldn't be too hard to create.

[zircher]

There are programs that allow for CSG (constructive solid geometry) where you can do that Moray/POV Ray or Spazz3D are examples.

The DoGA CGA series is based on a parts metaphor. Easy to use, but you have to build custom parts by creating them from small bits. The latest Version (L3) allow for the importing of DXF files so you could build a damaged part externally and bring it. You can get clever with certain textures and create transparent sections and then build an interior. This is a lot easier with L3 since you can build a damaged section or create a transparency mask to mimic battle damage.
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TAZ

As an example... http://zircher.iwarp.com/fots_3d/contest03/drifter.htm

[chewy027]

After the Vandron counterattack had completely wiped out one of the enemies planets. The Vandron pull the bulk of their "purging" forces back into their own space leaving only a few cloaked ships behind for reconaissance. Meanwhile, they begin to lay a dense minefield in front of the worm hole where they were first ambushed by the enemy.

So goes the story with the latest pic. Not much action here but it moves the story along...

[zircher]

Pardon my nitpicking, bad habit...

The default sphere is too blocky, try loading ball3.suf from the L3 sample directory, It's twenty times smoother than the basic sphere. I can see one planet in view, but not two. Space is too big for that to happen. Perhaps a planet and a moon... Similarly, I love the coloration of the suns, but they are too large. Figure one should be thumbnail sized and the other one a bit smaller. It's interesting that the warp point blocks part of the sun. Perhaps using a transparency mask would make for a more warp-like effect where the two overlap.

This is just more of a random thought thing. Would mines 'tumble' out or would they be launched more like depth charges in a V pattern? The idea of tumbling autonomous anti-matter bombs out the hatch sounds a little frightning. :-)
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TAZ

[chewy027]

ok i'll try to use the smoother sphere next time. And the ransparant wormhole is a good idea. As for the size and spacing i was just trying to spruce up a somewhat bland pic. And the mines are being "placed" outside the ships with a wide arc tractor beam. At least thats what i thought that beam was anyway

[zircher]

Fair enough. :-) As to sprucing up scenes, try using NASA stock photos of nebuli and other such space 'terrain'. You can also download programs like Universe and Starbits to make your own space back drops.
Both are shareware: Universe ( http://www.diardsoftware.com/ ) has more features, but is more expensive. I happen to like Starbits because it's cheaper (only $10) and the demo is fully functional. I used Starbits to make the vortex in this image...
http://zircher.iwarp.com/fots_3d/images/emergence.htm
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TAZ

I got problems connecting to EMM's home page so try this link for Starbits... http://www.softpile.com/Multimedia/I...867_index.html