[Mod] Yesteryears Updates

[Starfox1701]

Intresting; she reminds me of that one from the book covers. I think her name was USS Chalenger? Anyway another niffty light ship

 

[Terra_Inc]

Ah, the Pallada. Good to see.

 

[Majestic]

Glad you all like the Pallada refit, easier to say and type than Snegurochka isn't it?

Well I have completed another ship today and half-way through a new freighter model.

The Lexington class, is a top line cruiser that is a hybrid of Constitution and Excelsior technology. First introduced in the 2280's after the failure of the Great Experiment into Transwarp. She was a prototype to see what could be salvaged from the Excelsior project and to see how compatable the new technology was with the older tested and proven tech. It wasn't until the class went into mass production that the flaws in the Excelsior were ironed out and the Excelsior class herself was produced as a heavy explorer and combat vessel.

Never the less production on the Lexington continued unfortunately the class was expensive and thus never fully replaced the Constitution, that was a job for the Excelsior 30 some years later.

 

[Styer_Crisis]

That is a nice ship. Can't wait to se it textured

 

[Starfox1701]

That has got to be one of my favorite versions of Lexington

 

[thunderfoot]

Ya know, you could just about do a Jane's History of Starfleet Vessels with the stuff you've shown us for YY. Great work! Keep it up!

 

[Majestic]

Thank you all, I only have two or three combat ships left, the constructor, finish off the freighter and then onto the stations. After all that comes the hard part, the texturing. Thankfully TMP texturing is like ENT texturing, not as long as say TNG texturing. Still I'll be at it for about a month at least just texturing.

Thankfully I got news a week or so ago that Syf will be returning soon, which means he can asist in getting the modelling done on the other factions as I work on finishing up the Federation. I am thinking of once I get the Federation up and running releasing a beta trailer for members whom have access to my download area. I have also got plans of a pre-release of the older models that were made when YY was on stock A2 for those members who have been waiting a long time for the mod and who may not be playing the FO version.

 

[CptBenSisko]

I love the Lexington Class...great work!

 

[Majestic]

Thanks.

After many hours of fiddling around and re-doing things (mainly that engineering hull and cargo extensions), the freighter is complete. Heavily infulenced by a design created by Madkiofish at Sci-Fi Meshes.

I plan to (when I do a single player) give this ship the ability to change from mining to cargo, much like the FO Dominion ship can between two differrnt types of freighter. However I won't be having trading in multiplayer (no point really) so this won't be included.

 

[Amateur]

I have to say that I really, really like the models so far Majestic; and am eager to see them textured

Truly beautiful work across the board. Glad the Constellation hasn't got those weird things underneath the saucer as well

 

[Majestic]

Thank you Amateur, here is another, one of the last combat ships that I will need to do, apart from the warp-ins and one more destroyer.

This is the Akyazi class destroyer, one of the avatar unique ships. She comes in at roughly 2000 poly's.

 

[Starfox1701]

Nice

 

[Knight]

I like those, great work Maj!

 

[K_merse]

I always had some sentimental feelings for the Akyazi Class - for an unknown reason so far I'm glad she finally arrived to Armada II.

 

[Styer_Crisis]

Thanks.

After many hours of fiddling around and re-doing things (mainly that engineering hull and cargo extensions), the freighter is complete. Heavily infulenced by a design created by Madkiofish at Sci-Fi Meshes.

I plan to (when I do a single player) give this ship the ability to change from mining to cargo, much like the FO Dominion ship can between two differrnt types of freighter. However I won't be having trading in multiplayer (no point really) so this won't be included.

Wow, ok idea attack, would you be able to detach the engenering hull and the two bottom Nacels, and turn this into a cruiser? even a mini carrier?

 

[Majestic]

Thanks all, I have started on the stations the last couple of days having completed a research station (Syf designed) and the Starbase, which I plan to make into a regula type as well.

I have also decided to do away with turrets, except for the campaign, which will come with the last release for the mod. Reason for the turret removal, turret spammers. Pain in the but. Yes looking at you Crisis with the game where we played both as Federation.

As for the freighter, I was thinking of the drop pod idea like the Klingon Freighters in FO but am thinking against it, I feel that is more a Klingon idea, starfleet couldn't necessary have that function in them. However I plan to keep it for the Klingons, but use D5 ships that were in Enterprise for that function.

Pretty much I am originally basing each species, except for two off a FO stock series then I will make modification to balance accordingly.

• Federation = Federation
• Gorn = Dominion
• Klingon = Klingon
• Romulan = Romulan

The Kzinti and Classified factions will be built up from basically scratch. Thankfully these two are in the last release anlong with the campaign.

I have also decided to do the Tholians as a map faction, probably available in the first or second release and available on some maps just to hound the enemy.

 

[Dominus_Noctis]

awesome

You know, if you don't want to totally do away with turrets, you could always make them available from special units/abilities

 

[Majestic]

awesome

You know, if you don't want to totally do away with turrets, you could always make them available from special units/abilities

I still think I will have them campaign only, but there is an idea for a campaign unit, a turret fabricator. It's like the Nebula class warp-in that can create turrets, except this one wouldn't be a combat ship. Thanks for the idea.

 

[Majestic]

"All crew to Stations!"

Yes that's right, I have done stations. Over the past 3 days I have done all but 3 stations. Basically I have a grand total of like 5 models left for the Federation.

Starbase
This model is based off the FO Starbase, a totally new model however, I just used the afore mentioned model for reference and scale porportions as I did some searching and it's the accurate model around.



Mining Refinery
A new model based off the original Syf did for YY. Higher poly that Syf's and slightly changed, this is the mining station for the new Yesteryears.



Sensor Relay Station
A sensor station, pretty straight forward. I am unsure if I am going to keep the panels yet or not. Oh and something noteable to mention, there is a strong possibility that sensor stations will be manned in Yesteryears, this after all is a earlier time and technology isn't as advanced. This also allows for new strategies in both single and multiplayer games.



Research Station
Another Syf design, this one still needs a little bit of work, however it's one of two research stations available to the Federation.



Starfleet Command
YY version of the SFC building, however it will have a different name but the purpose of the station is the same. Again not totally sure about this feature, but for the first release it will be in the mod.

 

[Chiletrek]

Hello:
Those models look very good, are they high-poly? (maybe mid-poly at about 3000?). I also like how they all follow the same theme, close to canon like the Regula station and the much later starbase in the DS9 serie, so we can see how the Federation is fond of that design.

I am looking forward to see them textured and ready for action.

Keep it up!

 

[Dominus_Noctis]

Nice looking stations

If they are manned, you could have some of them even towable (well, doesn't affected being manned or not, but might be cool )

 

[Majestic]

Hello:
Those models look very good, are they high-poly? (maybe mid-poly at about 3000?). I also like how they all follow the same theme, close to canon like the Regula station and the much later starbase in the DS9 serie, so we can see how the Federation is fond of that design.

I am looking forward to see them textured and ready for action.

Keep it up!

They vary from the 2000-3500 mark. I wasn't too worried about the research and SFC stations, due to being one off stations for each faction.

I tried to follow the Regula lineage when it came to stations. I really wanted a feel for the era and Regula (which was a modified re-use of the orbital complex in The Motion Picture) was the only stations (other than the spacedock and shipyard) to be seen in the era. However the spacedock is too big to be feasable. I may make one for a under the grid background feature at some point however.

Nice looking stations

If they are manned, you could have some of them even towable (well, doesn't affected being manned or not, but might be cool )

A really nice idea I may look into that actually. Maybe have it a Federation (or other race) unique feature or something.

 

[Chiletrek]

Hello:
All sounds like a good idea, towable stations can be a nice touch for the Federation, at least for the sensor platforms and maybe armed turrets too.

Have you made shipyards yet Majestic? or will you fully finish these stations first?

 

[Majestic]

Hello:
All sounds like a good idea, towable stations can be a nice touch for the Federation, at least for the sensor platforms and maybe armed turrets too.

Have you made shipyards yet Majestic? or will you fully finish these stations first?

Turrets won't be in the multiplayer version of the mod. Only in the campaign which will probably be released in the final release.

No I haven't done the shipyards yet, however I have the designs figured out. They, the construction ship and the last research station are next on my list. To be honest them and a destroyer is all that is left to model then the Federation modelling is complete. Which is where the hard part starts, texturing.

 

[Chiletrek]

Hello:
I know what you mean about texturing, but since the big stations are all similar in design, maybe you can use similar templates for their textured, maybe some models could even share the same texture file... if you see that can be done.

Keep it up!

 

[Majestic]

Hello:
I know what you mean about texturing, but since the big stations are all similar in design, maybe you can use similar templates for their textured, maybe some models could even share the same texture file... if you see that can be done.

Keep it up!

I plan to minimise work as much as possible due to the kitbash nature of many station parts. However each model in-game will only have one 1024x1024 texture file. I will also probably do texture lods, of 512x512 and 256x256 for performance reasons.

 

[Chiletrek]

Hello:
That sounds good, maybe with some creativity, you could squeeze all of the station in just one texture file, and make others to even share the same file.

Well, I'll leave that to your criteria .

Looking forward to see your progress .

 

[Majestic]

Using the same texture for all stations probably wouldn't happen but I could see two or three stations possibly using the same texture file. A nice example would be the starbase, sensor station and sfc station. Or the two shipyards, as they will be similar in design.

Thanks for giving me the idea too, it hadn't occured to me till you suggested it. I guess we will have to see how I go huh?

 

[Chiletrek]

Hello:
I am glad that I can be of some help and, if it works, you'll get the same performance while saving some space in the HDD, which is a good thing too .

Keep it up!

 

[Majestic]

Harddrive space isn't really a problem for me, but I know it is for many. That's another good thing about the mod support that is coming in a upcoming patch. One only needs to include the changes in files and use the include command. Will save on a lot of space in terms of coding.

Glad you all like.

I have re-done the avatar images this morning, thought something a bit more detailed was in order.

Captain David Galloway
Specialises in: Combat
Unique Units: Abbe (D) and Phobos (C)

Captain Jennifer Ala
Specialises in: Scientific
Unique Units: Akyazi (D) and Constellation (C)

Captain Thelin th'Valrass
Specialises in: Engineering
Unique Units: Ares (D) and Laevatein (C)

D = Destroyer and C= Cruiser

I have done some changes to the avatars quoted above in terms of features:

Captain David Galloway
Specialises in: Combat
Unique Units: Abbe (D) and Laevatein (C)
Bonuses: Has access to the Soyuz class upgrade for the Miranda class and the Soyuz's researchable cloak.

Captain Jennifer Ala
Specialises in: Scientific
Unique Units: Akyazi (D) and Constellation (C)
Bonuses: Has access to the Oberth class scout, which has extended sensor range and highter sub-system compared to the Okinawa

Captain Thelin th'Valrass
Specialises in: Engineering
Unique Units: Ares (D) and Centaur (C)
Bonuses: Access to the Excelsior II researchable upgrade and all system upgrades are cheaper.