Let Me Talk to You About Homeworld 2

[Adm_Z]

Hmm well maybe its different for other engines then. I understand what you are saying though. Maybe it just looks metalic to me.

 

[EAS_Intrepid]

I didn't know EAS had done anything like that. I can understand it though - it is certainly an intriguing concept and one that allows almost unlimited creativity what with the ever changing face of politics and whatnot

Indeed I did: Modern Space Combat.
Basically the Federation of Soviet States and a conglomerate of North and Middle American nations as Earth based powers (Which are in a state of a relatively stable peace) and then several colonies as space based parties.
I think some posts are still in the thread dump somewhere...


Interestingly I began playing around with modding Homeworld 2 as well. Just simple stuff like adapting the carrier's launch bay capacity to my tactical needs, removing the battleships for more fierce destroyer combat, giving the Higaran interceptor aditional missile armament etc etc.

I also tried venturing into HW2 shipbuildung. I can export, but I still encounter quite a lot of problems.

Here's a design I made for HW2 explicitly:

Spoiler:

Missile Destroyer, modeled after 20th century SSBNs.



Amateur, if you want, I can support you in your HW2 modding spree. I really like your ideas.

 

[Amateur]

I like it. Has a very nice feel to it, especially with (what I assume) is the launch hatch thingies on the top.

Aye Homeworld can be a fickle platform. I like how easy some of the things are though - I gave my interceptors missiles that are only fired at capital ships; I wouldn't know how to start doing that in Armada.

Exporting still causes a few problems for me as well. Mainly, the mesh smooth groups either go all weird or I have to tweak the glow map to tone it down. Hopefully, practice will limit the chance of things going wrong

As for help, I wanted to do as much as I can by myself to gain experience in all areas (modelling and texturing mainly); but if ever you have any ideas then please feel free to either pm me or post it here

 

[EAS_Intrepid]

I am just curious: Have you found time to further pursue this project?

 

[Dominus_Noctis]

Looking like good progress - reminds me a lot of Earth Force

Aye Homeworld can be a fickle platform. I like how easy some of the things are though - I gave my interceptors missiles that are only fired at capital ships; I wouldn't know how to start doing that in Armada.

Sorry to drift offtopic, but I know that's at least possible in FleetOps (not sure if it is in regular A2) - check out the Shrike's Unstable Plasma Torpedo ability for instance

 

[Adm_Z]

you can do it in stock with the validTargets line I believe. I do it with my weapons in my mod so that you don start shooting baseships with flak.


I am really liking these HW2 mod ideas. I can't wait to get back into that game and play with some new cool ships.

 

[Amateur]

I am just curious: Have you found time to further pursue this project?

Unfortunately not, Uni has started again so my time has been pretty much taken up completely (getting back into the routine now though). I have been thinking about it though; and working out ideas and whatnot.

As for the validTargets and whatnot - you learn something new every day, I'll have to remember that

 

[Adm_Z]

As for the validTargets and whatnot - you learn something new every day, I'll have to remember that

Yeah, you put the line in the weapon odf. not the ordinance, but the first. you can then make it so that


validtargets = 1
"BSG_fighter_raider.odf" 0
"BSG_fighter_raiderA.odf" 0
"BSG_fighter_viper_mk2.odf" 0
"BSG_fighter_viper_mk2A.odf" 0
"BSG_fighter_viper_mk7.odf" 0
"BSG_fighter_viper_mk7A.odf" 0
"BSG_fighter_blackbird.odf" 0
"BSG_fighter_blackbirdA.odf" 0
"BSG_raptor.odf" 0
"BSG_raptorA.odf" 0
"BSG_heavy_raider.odf" 0
"BSG_heavy_raiderA.odf" 0

And all the exceptions with the 0 mean that they are not valid targets. You can do the same so that it can target nothing but one ship, or something. Very useful.

tis sad that the Uni. is taking your time, but I hope, once you get a routine going, you can make time for the mod, because I am definitely looking forward to anything you can produce.

 

[Amateur]

Thanks for the extrapolation

tis sad that the Uni. is taking your time, but I hope, once you get a routine going, you can make time for the mod, because I am definitely looking forward to anything you can produce.

Tell me about it - after a couple of weeks I'll be able to get into the routine I had last year again though.

I forgot how annoying it was to go to three lectures in one day all on different topics. That's what I get for taking joint honours I suppose

 

[Terra_Inc]

I forgot how annoying it was to go to three lectures in one day all on different topics. That's what I get for taking joint honours I suppose

Tell me about it... how about algebra lectures at 8AM?

 

[Adm_Z]

better than 8PM

 

[Terra_Inc]

better than 8PM

*snore* w-what? Transposed matrices? Yes, why not. ... You want me to prove it? Sorry. *snort*

Uh, sorry for the OT. This needed to be said.

 

[Adm_Z]

"What do you mean I keep using "Z-subscript-3" as my primary variable? No sir!, Of course I"m not trying to send a message!"

 

[Amateur]

If it helps, I have Hegelian philosophy at 6.

Algebra I know nothing of - but ot can't be any harder than a round of philosophy, literature and ancient history.

 

[Terra_Inc]

Algebra I know nothing of - but ot can't be any harder than a round of philosophy, literature and ancient history.

Let me tell you, it is genuinely horrifying.

 

[Dominus_Noctis]

Yeah, you put the line in the weapon odf. not the ordinance, but the first. you can then make it so that


validtargets = 1
"BSG_fighter_raider.odf" 0
"BSG_fighter_raiderA.odf" 0
"BSG_fighter_viper_mk2.odf" 0
"BSG_fighter_viper_mk2A.odf" 0
"BSG_fighter_viper_mk7.odf" 0
"BSG_fighter_viper_mk7A.odf" 0
"BSG_fighter_blackbird.odf" 0
"BSG_fighter_blackbirdA.odf" 0
"BSG_raptor.odf" 0
"BSG_raptorA.odf" 0
"BSG_heavy_raider.odf" 0
"BSG_heavy_raiderA.odf" 0

And all the exceptions with the 0 mean that they are not valid targets. You can do the same so that it can target nothing but one ship, or something. Very useful.

tis sad that the Uni. is taking your time, but I hope, once you get a routine going, you can make time for the mod, because I am definitely looking forward to anything you can produce.

I think that's still an FO only command mate . At least in the WiP modding guide, it's listed under FO-only commands .

 

[Adm_Z]

I thought it was in certain Special weapons in stock... I will have to check unless some of the veteran modders here have any input?

//Edit: Well I couldn't find it, so maybe it is just a FO specific line

 

[Majestic]

I think that's still an FO only command mate . At least in the WiP modding guide, it's listed under FO-only commands .

Nope it has been in Armada since Armada 1. It's just many mods and modders don't use it, I am not one of them.

However I recommend we all return to topic on this thread.

 

[Amateur]

Hear me one and all for I raise this thread from it's long slumber!

Ahem...

I've got quite a lot more background info. for the Soviet Union done; but I'll need a few solid hours to actual collate it all into one document. Got some revisions for the old one as well - expect a guide before the end of the month

I actually managed to fire up Max today, and after looking at the old fighter I did I wasn't entirely sure I was happy with the design. I liked the retro styling, but I don't think I pulled it off to the degree I wanted...

So I made this. Thoughts?

Spoiler: MIG(S) - 221

It's just shy of 2000 polies, but I haven't gone around to delete the wasted edges and assorted tidying up.

 

[Dominus_Noctis]

Looks very nice - just waiting to see some sign of how the thing will stabilize itself

 

[Atlantis]

Looks very nice - just waiting to see some sign of how the thing will stabilize itself

Through sheer awesomeness.

Doug likes.

 

[EAS_Intrepid]

Looks very nice - just waiting to see some sign of how the thing will stabilize itself

It's a space fighter, it does not really need any vertical fins, ya know?
"Stabilization" is done by RCS thrusters.

I like the design.

Btw, for a different texture pattern than your former MiG-concept, you could use the camouflage pattern that the Soviet forces used on Naval interceptors.

Example (I know, it is a Sukhoi Su-33).

The only suggestion I'd make: Maybe you could design the wings like those of the F-22 by keeping the overall length and width.

 

[Starfox1701]

Nice work man.

 

[Amateur]

Thanks all

Intrepid, do you mean something like this?

Spoiler: Piccy

Lovely idea about the camo' as well - I may give that a whirl in a bit to see how she looks with it.

Looks very nice - just waiting to see some sign of how the thing will stabilize itself

Like Intrepid said, I didn't think that a space fighter would need that sticky-up tail bit (note my knowledge of aircraft terminology ); but I may add one just for looks. I'm thinking one on each engine may look okay...

 

[Dominus_Noctis]

Just was commenting as it was a very 'aerodynamic' fighter - not to mention all rear-mounted engines, or so it seems . However, if realism isn't the aim, then carry on by all means, it looks great!

 

[Amateur]

Just was commenting as it was a very 'aerodynamic' fighter - not to mention all rear-mounted engines, or so it seems . However, if realism isn't the aim, then carry on by all means, it looks great!

I think (well, hope ) that I'll be able to add in some more engine ports by the textures. I'm thinking some on the wingtips and the nose should be enough for it.

Aerodynamics are, at least the way I see it, a remnant of the older fighter production methods. These things are far too light to survive re-entry, and as you said they'll be far from stable in the air. In space however, she's a competent fighter that has served the Soviet Navy for about three years

Keep the comments coming though . In all honesty, I hadn't even considered adding in litle thrusters until you mentioned stability

 

[EAS_Intrepid]

Awesome, Amateur. That fighter looks daunting.

Looking forward to some dog fights between your MiG and my F/A-16

 

[Amateur]

I think your's has greater firepower, but she'll be left behind when those fusion drives kick in .

Thanks again for the camo suggestion - I think she looks good...

Spoiler: Pic

Just gotta' add in the main hull details and then she's done, still got a ton of background stuff to do before I can put her in though...

 

[EAS_Intrepid]

Pure evil

Well, my F/A-16 is a "2nd Generation" space fighter. Not too much advanced, but able to pack a punch.

Have you already figured out how to place the badges that HW2 provides (Actually, I have made some of my own)?

 

[Amateur]

Sort of, though they still don't look right. There need's to be a square made on the mesh taht is kept in a seperate group with different material settings and a unique tag. Only advice I could give is to have a look at the stock ships and try to reverse engineer them.

What I noticed though, is that I always had some weird texture stretching and whatnot - though it wasn't exactly a clean break I made in the mesh.