Garret - so you just need a handful of nif files to put together a mostly barren cityset?

Geomodder - once Garret has a basic nif you can XML it up so Moon colonies don't start as a large, sprawling metropolis?

This was one of my biggest issues with the old version.

Geomodder - once Garret has a basic nif you can XML it up so Moon colonies don't start as a large, sprawling metropolis?

Easily. :)
And as long as we keep the "era" feature in the mod, we could put a lot of structures in a single .nif citysetfile. I only need one or two empty structure slots to create a fairly empty cityplot.

That's what I wanted to hear!

Any suggestions other than the prefab building what should be in the default colonies? I have 10-15 sci-fi buildings and Grave's Area-51 is super as well. hrochland has some nice ones too.

Did you commit all your scifi buildings to the download section, Woodelf?
In any case, a quick look there shows at least 2 distinct styles or coloring. Perhaps we could even have different citysets... :mischief:

I might not have put all of my stuff in the download section for various reasons.

Different citysets could be doable if we have a reason and way to differentiate why they need to be unique. Militaristic, scientific, economic, and religious types?

From top of my head basic surface structures for a beginning moonbase:
- communications mast/tower
- one or two comm dishes.
- landingpad for shuttles/rockets (a simple circle on the surface with markings would do)
- vehicle/personnel airlock structure
- solar panel field?

The style depends on whether or not the first bases are underground or surface structures.
If surface structures are the norm, the following buildings come on top of above:
- 2-3 different types of prefab buildings (you have one atm IIRC)
- 1-2 kind(s) of storage facilities. Globeformed and tankformed is best with struts on the underside to keep it from 'falling over' ;) Actually your reskinned tankfarm would do fine for starters.

I know that underground would be best, but they'd be boring. :p

Maybe we have Dune-type sandworms underground that prevent underground bases? :joke:

I have a Hoth generator that I really like for the power supply of the colonies. I also have a comm type tower that I never textured because the idea lost steam in SMAC. Actually, most of my buildings are leftovers...

I know that underground would be best, but they'd be boring. :p

We could begin underground, and use (habitated) surface structures later on as better radiation shielding is developped.
But take underground with a grain of salt, most likely an upstart mooncolony would put the inhabited structures on the surface but cover them with a meter thick layer of moonrock, so you could perhaps create little "bumps" in a few shapes, textured with the barren rock .dds.

But I'll never come around to checking out what is available or not if you keep on responding here. :p

I know that underground would be best, but they'd be boring. :p

Maybe we have Dune-type sandworms underground that prevent underground bases? :joke:



the current biodomes in the mod give it its distinctive look.

even if it is later decided that roads will be underground (except perhaps in maria if we keep maria as isolation tiles) and even if most of a city is located underground, certain structures will have to above ground.

in the most minimalist case only the above ground structure would be at least a landing pad until the biodome is built. (I am not arguing for the minimalist case, BTW.)

after the biodome is built every subsequently built structure should be visible - that being the point of having a biodome.

Btw, Woodelf, have you figured out how to make a dome transparent yet? (meaning you can see what's inside?)

A quick look in the download section gives a few ones that can be used:
Your hoth reactor fits in nicely. Even if not as a reactor, it could be used as the charging mechanism of a electro-magnetic launchtube. (think a railwayline attached to its side which goes up a bit on the end)
That research hub fits in too, I think, perhaps as a sort of vehicle garage later on. As is of course the prefab house and the spaceport.
I think the launchpad would be perfect as a basic first 'airfield' without the pillars it stands on.
There's more, but I have to call it the day now.

Is matthewv's dome transparent? Mine is too transparent...I can see through it, but not what's inside, but I have yet to try using it as a Biosphere.

Once Garret chimes in I'll throw him some nifs.

prefab building
Area-51 from Grave
comm tower
solar panel field

What would a personnel/vehicle structure look like?

I'll need to finish the tower and the rest are available for d/l already.

Any thoughts on what a Palace should look like?

Is matthewv's dome transparent?
In Matthew's dome we could see the city inside, if that is what you mean.

In Matthew's dome we could see the city inside, if that is what you mean.

That's what I mean. His could use a perpendicular brace and a few less polys...

Let me see what I can do.

Is this a good enough simple comm tower or does it need a dish?

What would a personnel/vehicle structure look like?

I think your "research lab" looks good as a vehicle garage.
But on second thought that would be better a later-build structure, not part of the cityset.

I'll need to finish the tower and the rest are available for d/l already.

How do you think about creating a pair of satellite dishes next to each other like in that moonbase pic I showed so many times?

Any thoughts on what a Palace should look like?

Do you think we need one? Or else use that dome from your Children's creche and texture a line of windows around it, with the same white color for the walls?
We're a beginning space going species, our structures there are still basic-looking: domes, tubes, geodesics...
I'll try to get some pics tomorrow.

Is this a good enough simple comm tower or does it need a dish?

Sorry, this doesn't fit IMO. Think I set you on the wrong track here.
Space dishes should be like a radio-astronomy setup, or huge satellite dishes.

Perhaps a pylon with antenna here and there strutting out?

Sorry, this doesn't fit IMO. Think I set you on the wrong track here.
Space dishes should be like a radio-astronomy setup, or huge satellite dishes.

Perhaps a pylon with antenna here and there strutting out?

What about hrochland's basic dish setup? Too basic?

Don't be sorry, I think I went the wrong route without help. :)

I think your "research lab" looks good as a vehicle garage.
But on second thought that would be better a later-build structure, not part of the cityset.

It could easily be modified, shrunk, or whatever and used twice. Or reskinned.

How do you think about creating a pair of satellite dishes next to each other like in that moonbase pic I showed so many times?

I'll look at that damned pic tomorrow and attempt something. :p

Do you think we need one? Or else use that dome from your Children's creche and texture a line of windows around it, with the same white color for the walls?
We're a beginning space going species, our structures there are still basic-looking: domes, tubes, geodesics...
I'll try to get some pics tomorrow.

Re-using that Creche model is fine by me. I'll see if Roland wants to reskin again. :)

ok im here.

if you notice, the city reskin i recently made, had a texture overlain on the roof textures to make it look like the roofs are covered in regolith (to help with radiation and meteors)

im here so i would like to see what you have for me. although it make take me a while, as i have a two week deadline right now on something civ-related ;)

I'd like to give you 4-5 nifs and see what you can do for us. :)

Three of them are in the d/l section already. Actually...do you need the finally nifs to do your part or just the correct sizes? I haven't done a good comm tower yet.

i should be able to resize anything i need to. i know this sounds lazy of me, but could link the files here? :)

Yeah I can, but I misworded one of my questions...

If you use a placeholder nif for your magic can it be replaced later on without problem? Not so much resized, but swapped?

Links

Prefab (http://forums.civfanatics.com/downloads.php?do=file&id=4349)
Generator (http://forums.civfanatics.com/downloads.php?do=file&id=2421)
Solar Plant (http://forums.civfanatics.com/downloads.php?do=file&id=319)
Area 51 (http://forums.civfanatics.com/downloads.php?do=file&id=4180)
Radar station (http://forums.civfanatics.com/uploads/89000/lokator.rar)

The radar station needs a new skin, but we can add that later, right?

well, if i make the city set stuff, i will just leave the default (but reskinned) buildings. i plan on replacing the buildings that dont fit right.

Thanks Garret. No rush, but when you get bored of other work this might be fun!

oh, trust me, i am already bored with what im doing. I have to make another 10 leaderheads off of obscure leaders

How are those obscure LHs coming? I'm sick of seeing ancient huts on the Moon!

oh i will fix it, but the deadline is in five days! Priorities!

here check this out (http://forums.civfanatics.com/downloads.php?do=file&id=4590)
http://forums.civfanatics.com/downloads//cityset_O1Y.jpg

That's gorgeous! Looks like a Lunar Las Vegas.

But not a good first era cityset. :p

of course. i have found a hiccup in the process. the cityset .nif file will only access one texture file, no matter what. thats why the buildings i added have mixed up textures, since civ4 wont load separate dds files :(

this is a large obstacle

Nice models, Garret.
About your texture problem, the only way out I see is to have two or more cityset files, link them to the .dds file you want (one for each thus) and when properly xml'd they will show ingame with each cityset in its own textures. :)

Hmm? But which one of the city sets would get used?

You can xml structures from all sets to appear in the same era.
Check my citystyles mod, I did it all the time there. The tricky thing is to let them "follow up" one another nicely with IIRC the iBatchgroup or something. The last parameter of any given structure xml paragraph.

i have never modded this stuff before, but i will take a look and see if i can figure out what you mean...

Garret - if you can do the nif work I think Geo can do the XML, unless you're hell-bent on figuring this out --- which is understandable.

I'll gladly do the xml'ing. :)

I'm going to look for some good textures and skin my 9-10 simple buildings today. If anyone has pic, links, ect to a good outdoor, lunar wall feel let me know.

How's this for a textured render shot of a hatch. I'll use this model to attach to other buildings that require a hatch doorway.

Looks good. Will all the first era buildings follow the same colorscheme?
If so, :goodjob:

Yeah, it'll be boring, but I downloaded 4 walls and a door pic. I can c/p them onto most of the buildings.

Will first era buildings have windows or is that a luxury?

I'd make all of the basic era 1 buildings have no windows, but the capitol and other building you build could have them.

Sounds good. That's what I'm planning on now. The buildings seem awfully boring though...

you could put some antennas, pipes, and solar panels on some of the roofs to break it up a bit.

Yeah, but the textures are going to be drab, which is realistic.

Oh, before I forget...AA, can you do a texture so the land that the city gets placed on is more lunar instead of cobblestone? I tried once but it turned out crappy.

How's this for a 2x1 building? If you split the building you'll also see the 1x1 original.

Looks very lunar to me! :goodjob:

Idea: Some of the buildings could have larger hatches that look like they were designed as vehicle airlocks.

A vehicle bay will look nice indeed. Nice.

The tower textured. I can always add an antenna later on if needed.

A quick render shot of 3 buildings grouped together.

In game screenshot of 4 buildings. I think they'll look much better as a cityset though.

I'm (almost) typeless, Woodelf. :drool:

I don't like the one building's texture (on the left) so I'm going to stick with the one theme for at least the first era.

I think I'm going to also go back and re-texture my Hoth generator and other early space buildings for the first cityset.

that looks pretty cool!

Thanks.

Do you want some nifs soon Garret?

yeah, but can you make sure that the nif models all come off the same texture file?

I've never done that before Garret. Is it absolutely necessary?

I honestly am not even sure how I'd do that.

I've never done that before Garret. Is it absolutely necessary?

Unfortunately, it is. And it saves processor power if the textures come from a single .dds file.

I think I have an idea on how to do it now. 512x512 is a good size, right?

256x256 is sufficient, especially for the low-end systems.
512x512 means we expect from you sharper and better textures for the rest of eternity. :D

I started a 512 one, but I can scale it down. :)

Please continue on the 512x512 first! Especially for an early era cityset!
Or if there aren't enough "surfaces" to warrant the space (which could be if you use the same texture surface for a number of buildings), go to a lower one then.
You could check the game's cityset .dds files to see what size they used.

I stuck with 512 and am completely done with 6 buildings, 1 doorway, and 1 cheezy antenna.

I'll PM you and Garret the upload link for the 8 nifs and 1 dds texture.

Received it. On top of the pink airlock I PM'd you back the "cheezy" :mischief: antenna could do with 2 different colors on the top, or perhaps even blinking lights! :cooool:

Maybe Garret can do blinking lights?

The second era will have two colors. :p We need some differentiation.

Try this new building D. I know why it happened at least. :D

Yep, that one fixes it. :goodjob:

Geo, Garret - check your PMs for a new dds as well as 3 sizes of solar collector buildings.

Received, and responded. :)
(don't worry, its not a total loss ;) )

ok will do

here use these files too if you want. i cut them off of other buildings

Thanks. I'll see if I can use the current dds to make them look Lunar.

PMs sent guys. I crammed a tower and dish into that dds file.

Received. :)

Any progress on this Garret? Do you need anything else from me?

Tried to change the worked plot graphic (the little shack) in the mod. No luck sofar. I hope it's not determined from the .exe

I hate that little shack!

Tried to change the worked plot graphic (the little shack) in the mod. No luck sofar. I hope it's not determined from the .exe

there should be an art reference. if not, woodelf could just load the model into Blender and import-edit-export. you might even try just putting a model with the same name there

About a year ago I tried everything I could think of to remove that shack, but never even found where it was stored.

It is stored at C:\Program Files\Firaxis Games\Sid Meier's Civilization 4\Mods\SotMv024\Assets\art\structures\improvements \landworked
and I just modified the files and it appeared in game as the modified version.

The game doesn't appear to check the art definition in Civ4ArtDefines_Improvement though, so we will have to leave it in the same location and file names.

Thanks AA. What did you modify it to?

Also, do you want to modify the tiles that the cities appear on? Cobblestone doesn't work for the moon...

I just made a quick change to the file to check if it was actually calling the files from the mod. My used plot huts were four times their usual height.

I will look into the cobblestone, i'm not sure where it is stored.

I will look into the cobblestone, i'm not sure where it is stored.

With the cityset files in Art/structures/cities

The game doesn't appear to check the art definition in Civ4ArtDefines_Improvement though, so we will have to leave it in the same location and file names.

Yeah, I noticed that too. That's what must have put me on the wrong track.
Weirdly enough the sea-improvement is checked in its art folder.

Suggestion for replacement of the cobblestone :

http://forums.civfanatics.com/uploads/105110/moonbase2.png

Here's an option for the first era city floor.
Should be evocative of modern road systems.

I think later eras should have more futuristic/fanciful floors, such as that moonbase, that match the building styles. Since we don't have any later era buildings yet I will leave that till later.

Remember, the city buildings will be spread out more, at least in the early era's. I think a simple moonterrain texture will be better for the first 2, perhaps 3 era's until Garret's futuristic and domed cities kick in.

That looks sharp AA. :thumbsup:

That along with the lunar-ish cityset will be awesome.

@snipper!!! - That would be cool for a late era ground.

Mmm... when I rename a .nif file into sm_farm_house.nif and put it in the right spot to replace the worked hut, I have a CTD when I found my first city.

There is two nif to replace. maybe it is your CTD.

there is a building in sm_farm_house.nif AND in sm_farm_house_freeze0001.nif

The modern nif? Shouldn't be, it isn't used in the first era.

And stupid me, I think I found the problem. Testing...

maybe in the shared folder?

there's two dds here to look at :

eu_an_shadow.dds
eu_an_building.dds

Okay, I simply don't find how to do this.
AA, if it worked for you, could you please post the xml code? From the whole landworked paragraph please?
And what model did you use? I tried Woodelf's BSbuilding model. It shows ingame when I try to use it as a building, so it isn't a fault in this test model...

Snipper and Garret, I'm not looking for changing the streets of a cityset, but for the little shack on worked plots. Just in case you're trying to help me. ;)

Okay, I simply don't find how to do this.
AA, if it worked for you, could you please post the xml code? From the whole landworked paragraph please?
And what model did you use? I tried Woodelf's BSbuilding model. It shows ingame when I try to use it as a building, so it isn't a fault in this test model...

I didn't change the xml at all. All I did was modify all the art files and put them in the proper place in the mod folder. The game showed the modification. This showed that the game is calling the mod files as it should.

Have you tryed replacing ALL of the art files (including freeze versions) with your modified building while leaving the xml alone?

Nope. Guess I should try it this way. Thanks for the heads up.
O yes, Alazkan, this weekend I have the opportunity to on a graphic high-end computer. If you still have this crater overlay and transfered to me I could perhaps test if the crater overlay "sways in the wind".

Still crashing. I even crashes when I try this on the SotM-Rebirth mod. (one version earlier) so it definitely can't be anything I tinkered with.
Have you guys included the .kfm -and .dds files?

maybe i can do something for you to try!

That damn little shack isn't worth it Geo! I think I tried everything at one point. Maybe Chamadraeys knows something?

Wait one. If this shack is called up by the .exe, perhaps it searches for the proper files on the disc, and since I'm running civ4 from an image copy... Unfortunately, I only have my civ4 disc back this weekend. Can't test this out now. :(

Woodelf, if the others can call new graphics up, there shouldn't be a reason I can't do the same!

Don't go chasing ghosts Geo. :p

What if I like that? :mischief:

hey try out this new model for the landworked shack. just place the folder exac tly where it should be in the file structure and see if it auto loads.

It worked! :dance:
Well, appearantly it was Woodelf's BSbuilding causing the crash. I noticed its 3-5 times as large in kb size then Garret's models. Perhaps the game can't take too large files for improvements?

Blame woodelf, blame woodelf the moderator....smart move Geo! :p

I'm glad it worked Garret.

Blame woodelf, blame woodelf the moderator....smart move Geo! :p

Stay off my postcount! :mad:
I didn't blame you, but your model. ;)

Cool, with this solved I finally can link graphics to buildings. :mischief:

Awesome. And once Garret gets the cityset to look lunar we can most likely go to v0.25!

It worked! :dance:
Well, appearantly it was Woodelf's BSbuilding causing the crash. I noticed its 3-5 times as large in kb size then Garret's models. Perhaps the game can't take too large files for improvements?

did my new building show up on the map!!??!

Yes ! A screenshot please !

did my new building show up on the map!!??!

It did. And the modern version too when I put all techs on my civ in the editor.
I only took a screenshot from the modern version.
One thing is weird: this tower is the same as the tower.nif you included in the zip too, but is smaller in kb size. And this tower.nif file crashes the game too when I try to use it to replace the shack. Did you link texture and/or animation files to the tower you used?

Nice screenie. :goodjob:

Now I only need to hear from Garret what he did to that tower model so it doesn't crash the game. ;)
Personally, I would prefer your BSbuilding as a moonshack. It looks perfect for it.

I'd bet for texture size or something like that.

im not sure whats going on :p

1. Are you saying that my building i sent you is crashing?

2. If not, are you saying that your buildings are crashing when put there?

3. What specific things would you like to know about the creation of those buildings?>

I get lost daily Garret. :D

And I don't know exactly what they're talking about either.

does he mean that the game crashes with my building? coz i'd like to know, coz i did not test it before i uploaded it. I would like to make it a weekly download, but only if it works.

Geo tried to reproduce what Garret did and it crashed ; i think he want to know how you did it. I want to know if my wild guess is right or wrong.

what was your guess/question?

what was your guess/question?

I think his guess was:

I'd bet for texture size or something like that.

you know, i just did a graft of the tower and the dish onto the NiNode for the shack. i did not screw with the texture reference (i rarely ever do that). basically treat it as though you are "re-equipping" a unit, then delete the old mesh after. you can even leave the shadows!

the tower i used blender to cut from the airport, so it naturally uses the airport texture (which i modified), and the dish i cut from the bunker and is already texture referenced as well.

does he mean that the game crashes with my building? coz i'd like to know, coz i did not test it before i uploaded it. I would like to make it a weekly download, but only if it works.

Okay, to make things clear:

I put the folder you gave use in the correct spot, and it worked like a charm without me changing a thing. The tower alone in the early era's, and the tower+dish from one of the later era's onwards show ingame without a glitch.

Now, what I tried was to rename the "tower.nif" file you also included in the package to the "sm_farm_house.nif", and that one crashed the game. The only difference between those two towers are the filesizes and the fact that the good tower is looked upon from a bit further in the nifviewer.

Hope that clarifies things.


If you're willing, could you do the same for Woodelfs the BSbuilding model?

um, you know that the tower file is kinda like a production leftover. you should be able to delete it and the shack should work fine. i should start deleting them :P

Garret, I know that. The only reason I tried it with this tower.nif is that it is basically the same structure you used as a shack.

Can you do graft of Woodelfs BSbuilding onto the NiNode for the shack please?

yeah, post the files :/

I don't even remember which building of my mine that is. :confused:

Found it (http://forums.civfanatics.com/downloads.php?do=file&id=4349) Garret.

The He³ exchange, air recycler, lunar command (palace), military station, and data core are xml'd in the mod. The scale isn't entirely perfect yet, but that will come once we know how big we want the base to look.

Paste the assets download in your mod folder, and 't is ready to roll.

Nice. Do you need more buildings Geo? I have many, many more now.

Why, yes of course. And if the nif is more or less named for the purpose, I can look up which type of building to link to the model.

Sofar, only the BSbuilding model with a dish on top and those 3 models with the round circles on them are left, and the latter 3 aren't that obvious, nor entirely appropriate.
Sofar, I kept away from the structures meant for the cityset.

here ya go:
http://forums.civfanatics.com/downloads.php?do=file&id=4668
http://forums.civfanatics.com/downloads//llw_6o2.jpg

You're top notch, Garret. :thumbsup:

thanks bro!

Ooohh, super work Garret. Is that the Land Worked?

Lovely. :goodjob:

How's the main early cityset coming bro?

Why, yes of course. And if the nif is more or less named for the purpose, I can look up which type of building to link to the model.

Sofar, only the BSbuilding model with a dish on top and those 3 models with the round circles on them are left, and the latter 3 aren't that obvious, nor entirely appropriate.
Sofar, I kept away from the structures meant for the cityset.

Let me see what I have in my folder. I was waiting until I had an entire dds filled up since I'm tying multiple nifs to 1 dds now.

Yeah, I noticed. If I may do a suggestion, change the green color in your first one to the yellow windowgrid you used for the BSbuilding. It looks better on the shacks meant for city buildings, and yellow lights aren't too bad for nav beacons on the tower.
Oh, and no rush. Got plenty of stuff to do inbetween.

Okay, surprisingly I managed to create a cityset without a general cityset .nif file. Though there are some (minor) problems putting different .nif files in one cityplot.

First the solar plant (red-circled): as you see the texture comes from the wrong file. This is where asio/garret warned us for that a single .dds file must be used. So 't would be good if the panel textures could be put on the right spot in the general .dds file from the other city buildings.
The former airport tower (green-circled): for some reason I don't understand its airlock is gone. This is not a problem IMO, just felt like mentioning it. So no need to repair this.
Then the single dish model (dark-blue circled): it doesn't look good to me just standing there in the middle of a city, so I suggest creating a new 2x1-sized building on which 2 of those dishes are placed + perhaps that round tower antenna to finish it. Let the two dishes point to other directions, give them a different scale (one big, one small) and please, please, do put it on a 2x1 orientation. We've got one 1x2 oriented structure already so this would make a good change of view.

This was whipped up fast, so is the distribution of city buildings wide enough for you guys? Or do I need to try to make it even wider?

That looks super Geo. I don't think it needs to be widened at all.

I can add the solar panel stuff to the city 512 dds file so that will eliminate that red circle issue. And creating a 2x1 with a radar dish shouldn't be a problem either.

I'm watching Chelsea-Liverpool when I get home from work, but will work on fixing whatever graphical issues you have after that.

While you're at it, could you change that green color in the .dds file (the color you can see on the air-recyclers' chimneys) with a raster structure of sorts? I think there's already a nice one in the present moon2.dds file. I know this color is used for the green lights of the antenna, but as you can see on the pic the green lights don't show anyway.

No rush, I'm likely done for tonight modding, and tomorrow will be a busy day.

Before you head to bed Geo can you remind me of what file set this came from? I've uploaded quite a few recently. :confused:

I'll make some texture changes.

Here's an option for the first era city floor.
Should be evocative of modern road systems.

I think later eras should have more futuristic/fanciful floors, such as that moonbase, that match the building styles. Since we don't have any later era buildings yet I will leave that till later.

AA - did you ever upload this or work on it further?

The more I look at this cityset Geo the more I realize you used the wrong files. :lol: You took the models for other buildings and not the era1 nif set. Actually, you might have combined the two sets of models.

It's confusing since I used the same dds for both sets, but everything with MoonA-G with the Ant and Hatch is for the cityset. The folder with building names is for real buildings.

Not a big deal. Make a list of what you want to be in the cityset and I'll modify the nifs and dds accordingly.

Do you guys know if they is any way to add light emiting elements to objects that will actually light up the surroundings? If so I think it would look really cool to give this mod an evening/night time look with lit up cities on a dark terrain. Especially since the terrain is all grey, this will make cities and buildings stand out and thus make the moon look alot less drab and boring.

Rabbit White mastered that technique to attach fx to objects. Now there's a few more that can do that. I'm sure Garret and Chuggi can do that, not sure about others.

Yeah, if anyone can do that I'd be thrilled! Maybe even some improvements as well?

Rabbit White mastered that technique to attach fx to objects. Now there's a few more that can do that. I'm sure Garret and Chuggi can do that, not sure about others.

Right on:cool: , Now all we need to figure out is how to do it.

Maybe Rabbit, White will be kind enough to tell us;) .

i think c.roland can do it and it involves a hex editor. i think i did it before for BtS but it is really hard to remember how i did it :(

Well, we can work on subcontracting this out when the time comes.

i think i did it before for BtS but it is really hard to remember how i did it :(

You did something for BtS? :eek:

Geo - did you read post 144?

Just did. Woodelf, I took that screenshot from a mooncity with some buildings constructed (air recycler, mil.station,...) so hence your assumption

I used the MoonA-G series, the MoonTower, the SolarPlant and the MoonDish for the cityset. The rest are there as facilities. The MoonDish falls already out, with the new 2x1 model I requested, and I was thinking of letting the moontower appear in a later era.
Hope that answers your question. :)

Right on:cool: , Now all we need to figure out is how to do it.

Maybe Rabbit, White will be kind enough to tell us;) .

Okay, I figured out how to add lights to objects. The only problem is they seem to only light the object itself and not the terrain around it.

Okay, I figured out how to add lights to objects. The only problem is they seem to only light the object itself and not the terrain around it.

:hmm:

What if you put them near the ground? Still nothing lit on the terrain?

What if you put them near the ground? Still nothing lit on the terrain?

Nope, It appears to be that the terrain etc. are drawn separately with different lighting sources for terrain, units, etc. I found the nif files for the lighting of terrain etc. and I can make the terrain really dark and the units really light if I wanted to.

This is depressing. I have run into so many brick walls of things it is impossible to do lately its crazy.:mad: :mad: :mad: Grrr I so wish we had access to the graphics code. I was so excited this morning, but now I am so depressed I'm going to give up for tonight.

I may still play around with the lighting but with all the limitations it will be impossible to get the desired effect I want.

Edit: on a brighter note I figured out how to turn of the clouds, Ice at the poles, and various other things.

I know all about :wallbash: when it comes to modding this game. I normally wake up ready to try again.

The only problem is they seem to only light the object itself and not the terrain around it.
What about adding a specular map to the terrain ?

What about adding a specular map to the terrain ?

Any ideas how I might do that?

First question is rather :

Is this possible ?

and my answer is :

Sorry, I don't know. It's just an hypothesis.

First question is rather :

Is this possible ?

and my answer is :

Sorry, I don't know. It's just an hypothesis.

I don't think so. All we have for terrain is .dds files. (no .nif files to add different mappings too.) I highly doubt it would work anyway since its not a matter of the light reflecting of the terrain but the fact that the light does not reach the terrain at all since when it is drawn, light sources from nearby object arent considered.

The light sources that light the terrain, units, etc. are in the .nif files in the lights folder. We can easily play around with these lights but i don't think we can add any new ones as we would need access to the graphics code to do so.

Matthewv plays with lights:
152500

ooohhh, that has serious potential. Whatever you're messing with...keep it up!

* Geo just decided a new computer with waaaaay better graphics card is required.:drool:

Matthewv plays with lights:
152500

oooooh pretty!

Are you still burnt out Garret?

Geo was dabbling with citysets, but I don't think he actually used the nifviewer to make one.

Geo, try out the nif viewer and see what happens

I just quit smoking today, and i might feel like making a unit tomarow to help get my mind off it :P

I just quit smoking today

I wish you success with that !

I second what snipper said Garret. Good luck with your quitting!

Geo, try out the nif viewer and see what happens

Nothing much. :p

Woodelf, did I ever sent you the xml-file for the new mooncity/buildings graphics?
Tryin' to assemble what I tinkered with in an alternative version so I could sent it over in one time.

If you did Geo I don't recall. Best to send it again, but no hurry. After tonight I'm on a mini-vacation until Saturday.

After tonight I'm on a mini-vacation until Saturday.

Sorry, You can't go. You didn't give two weeks notice.:p

Damn. I'll let my wife ask nicely. ;)

Your :whipped: ? :scared:

no he's married, there's a difference ;)

Damn. I'll let my wife ask nicely.
I suppose if she asks nicely you can go.:rolleyes:

Geo - The citysets work wonderfully in v24C, but they appear white until you build the He3 building. :confused: After that the textures all appear in game.

Any building might have the effect, but I always build that first. Any ideas?

It's not game breaking by any means.

Geo - The citysets work wonderfully in v24C, but they appear white until you build the He3 building. :confused: After that the textures all appear in game.

It's because the solar plant textures aren't in the .dds from the other buildings.
I suppose it reverses back to the ones intended once a primary texture is linked to with this base facility (He³ model).

ok. Not a big deal for me. If we lower the cost of He-3 building we'd have the white city for only a turn. :p

I'll have to look and see if I have room to put that art in the dds file.

And while you're at it, don't forget to change those green blobs to a grille-like texture for the air-recycling model :deal:

Bugger. I need a secretary....

What do you have a wife for? :p

Not for her secretarial skills...

Good response! :lol:

She might surf these forums from work! I need to be smart. :p

She might surf these forums from work! I need to be smart. :p

Let's create a private forum for the BtS and move the subject there... ;)

hey woodelf, ask jesse smith if he will let us have a spot at franky for the BtS side stuff.

Woodelf has tabs on Jesse from Firaxis? Get out of here! ;)

I don't think I have that kind of pull.

We can most likely get a private forum here when the need arises.

Hell, only 5 people post here so it's sort of private. :(

With at least one other following this rather closely :D

And 1 lurker... ;)

you arent acusing me of lurking are you ;)

Not yet... :trouble:

;)