Unit Preview: Charlie (Vietnamese Infantry)

Since Korea is going to be in the XP version, I've decided to hold on adding them to my Guerilla Tactics mod and add Vietnam instead. And, because I still need time to think about how I'm going to do the graphics for Brazil's Bandierente unit, I'm making Charlie now (that's just the working title, I'll change the name when I get a better one).

As you can see the only differance is the pointy straw hat.

Nice looking unit, Sween. Looks a bit like a NVA regular. Could you also make the the "famous" [glamorized in Hollywood] Charlie? They wore a black pajamas. And you could take the backpack off since they typically travelled lightly.

BLACK PAJAMAS????

Hmm... take off the backpack.... that would suck cause I just want to get it done and I don't want to have to keep making his back in all of the north positions... i'll try it later once i get the hat on all of the flics.

Shouldn't he also have an AK-47 instead of a bolt action rifle? Otherwise, looks great.

Sween32,
I made a Japanese Imperial Marine unit a while back which basicly kept to the original infantry look, but I removed the backpack, as Japanese infantry were renowned for their ability to travel light, and still hit hard, at least on the offence.

If you'd like, feel free to just edit my unit, and put the straw hat on it-- then you won't have to remove the backpack all over again.

actually, i'm using your japanese imperial marines for the cuban uu, partisan and of course you have full credit on the website and credits

Here's the default from all sides.

I figure if the Charlie from Platoon can have backpacks, so can't this one.

ANYBODY KNOW A "POLITICALLY CORRECT" NAME FOR CHARLIE, HERE?

oops... forgot to attach the image...

(how do i extract it with the gray alpha blend background?)

I don't think you are on the right track at all here, but remember its your unit.

The vietnamese "charlie" type unit and a NVA regular would both look, move and fight alot different than a doughboy infantryman.

You are using the wrong unit as the starting point for this project if you want to get anything other than cartoonish knock off effects.

Why can't you download GMAX and animate a real version of what you want. The software is free and already comes with a tutorial that shows how to build skelton based humanoid models. All the rest is up to you and your screen capture skills. You can even synchronize a real sound track with your units.

Once you build your first humanoid unit model, you can duplicate it to create cool stuff like letting the "charlie" unit actually have more than one character in the animation at a time.

I just hate to see you wasting your time when you obviously have a lot of desire and ability that could be focused on getting the things you really want.

Basically because I've put alot of time into this mod and I want to get it done. After this unit, I have to make a Gaucho and then a Bandierente. Then I have to make the Civilopedia and the PediaIcons for the units and leaders. I just want to be done and enjoy my summer until the XP comes out. Then I'll add eight more civs.

I'd ask somebody else to do it if they want to do it right but nobody will. Or they'll start and never finish. The only unit request I've given that's been finished is the blimp.

Besides, it doesn't look that bad. But then since it's very difficult to get real pictures, I'm taking fingerbiters advice and just going by what i can remember from Platoon. Maybe I should use the Japanese Imperial Marines and add the hat...

But look at him. He looks like a little Vietnamese guy who's been in the trenches and jungle for years. I like it. And he's easy to make.

Anyways, I need a real name for the unit. I don't think Charlie will be very good.

Then I can release a Beta version of my mod with replacements for the flics I don't have.

Oh... I also need a title for Ho Chi Minh. I can't find the title he went by anywhere. Just a leader.

Well, the guerillas in the black pajamas were the Viet Cong and the NVA regulars were infantry of the North Vietnamese Army. So...if you want them to be standard foot soldiers you might call the unit something generic like jungle infantry or jungle soldier. If you want the unit to be guerillas then you could call them Viet Cong and maybe give them the "invisible" flag.

You could give Ho Chi the title "comrade."

I think the unit looks pretty good, but I still think an AK-47 (or other assault rifle) would be a more appropriate weapon for him. I don't how hard it is to take the assault rifle from the Marine unit and give it to Charlie here, but I think if it could be done easily enough it would be worth it and more appropriate.

Originally posted by cracker

Why can't you download GMAX and animate a real version of what you want. The softwhere is free and already comes with a tutorial that shows how to build skelton based humanoid models.

Click to expand...

GMAX is free, eh? where can i get it? I could use it for some of my other units

Ok. Thanks guys. You've been a big help.

I probably won't be able to work on this unit again until Monday because my weekends belong to my girlfriend and tomorrow night I'm trying to release the Guerilla Tactics Beta version, so if anybody wants to try a hand at making this unit right (with the AK-47 and no backpack) then go right ahead.

I'd use TVA22's Imperial Marines but it's too much of a hassle to change the brown suit to dark green or gray. It seems like TVA knows what he's doing so if he wants to take a shot at it, I'd be honored

Pesoloco, and others,

You can download GMAX from:

Discrete products (an Autodesk subsidiary)

The biggest thing you need to do with GMAX is follow the tutorials that are provided so you can cross the threshold into functional 3D design and animation concepts (this really is a lot of fun but it will not be instant gratification that many people will seek) AND then you need to get a handle of progressive frame screen capture so you can export the animations frame by frame to convert them to the CIV3 .flc format.

--------

The results of the chat yesterday only reinforce several things that I have been hinting about for weeks and months:

Firaxis is not going to include a built in unit editor in the patches or upcoming XP. I didn't really expect them to, because this would be way more than the scope of the product. There is nothing wrong with them not releasing a $200 software product built into their expected $30 XP just so people can avoid making the commitment to these software resources and still build new units.

Firaxis also makes it clear that releasing scenarios and Mods for CIV3 that don't just look like crapped up versions of flat units from old games will require alot more effort than people may be expecting from their CIV2 experiences.

The impetus to get up off the bench and learn to use at least one of the 3D modeling programs (Poser, GMAX, Moray, 3dSMAx and others) shouldn't have to be any clearer for those users who still are sitting by the wayside hoping someone else will do the unit development work for you.

Don't expect to get rave review for creating a new leader head by scrippling in a beard on an exitsing head, or airbrushing in a different skin tone. These things look like crap.

The sooner we get to a broader base of people with some functional 3D base models and some functional 3D graphics skills, the better the CIV3 scenarios will be. Until that time, most of the mods will be severely limited to using half-adapted units that really don't fit their roles very well.

Thanks

The imperial marines is my unit.

Sorry TVA. I've been very tired and busy l8ly. I knew it was you, just an honest typing mistake.

Cracker,

Go home! Why do you feel the need to be an a$$? I appreciate you providing the link to GMAX, but other than that your comments are not very helpful. Let people make their creations in peace. If you have something constructive to say that's fine but,

Don't expect to get rave review for creating a new leader head by scrippling in a beard on an exitsing head, or airbrushing in a different skin tone. These things look like crap.

Click to expand...

is not what I call constructive criticism. Now why don't you take your ball and go home. I think we can do without your little tanks if it means not having to listen to your insults and sarcasm. You do not, no matter what you may think, know everything.

Please, this place is supposed to be a friendly atmosphere where we can all share and support each other's work. These people are putting a lot of time and energy into their projects and do not need you to belittle their serious efforts. If you don't like what they have done then don't use it. Let the market determine which units and graphic packs get used. Its certainly not up to you to make those decisions.