Wanted. New Unit Librarian

Lab Monkey · Jun 8, 2003

Basically I havn't been here for months now, and with my other commitments I really can't afford the time to regularly update the unit library. Especially since my connection speed is so low that it takes literally hours to actually get anything done.

I also havn't actually played Civ3 for ages, and to be honest I've lost interest in the game as it is. Also, the library's so big now that it's got impossible to easilly find anything in it.

My suggestion would be for newbies to use the search function to find the thread that they are after, and if there is a library, keep it as just a list of existing units that they can search for.

However, if it can be fixed for another user to take over the existing library thread, then that's fine for me.

Sorry to be leaving you all like this, but it's really not worth me doing this if I'm not able to put in the time.

Cheers.

Dom Pedro II · Jun 8, 2003

I'd be interested in taking over... I check the website daily and I have more than enough free time and certainly the bandwidth.

Kryten · Jun 8, 2003

That is sad news Lab Monkey....but I do understand all the time and effort required to maintain it.

I would like to take this opportunity on the behalf of the whole civ community to thank you for all your endervours regarding the Unit Library. :goodjob:

And I'm sure that we can find someone to take on the role for this highly important feature....as indeed Dom Pedro II has indicated.

Thanks again, and all the best in the future.

Kentonio · Jun 8, 2003

Thanks for all the time you have spent LabMonkey dude and good luck with whatever you do in future. Hope to see you back around for Civ 4.

Risbinroch · Jun 8, 2003

A new unit library should perhaps be sorted by what kind of units: foot, mounted, armor, ship, plane etc... And could just be a picture and a link to the thread to the unit itself...

And thanks for the effort in keeping the library running so far, LabMonkey - great work!

mrtn · Jun 8, 2003

Risbinroch- Yes, a link to the thread would be good, as the units are sometimes updated with sound and stuff.
Labmonkey- Thank you. :love:

Dom Pedro II · Jun 8, 2003

So what exactly needs to be done to have a new unit librarian?

Does there have to be some sort of transition of power?

Louis XXIV · Jun 8, 2003

I was thinking you ware asking for a librarian unit :lol:

Thanks for your work with the unit library, and good luck with the future

Dom Pedro II · Jun 9, 2003

So what's going on with this?

Drift · Jun 9, 2003

Originally posted by Dom Pedro II
So what's going on with this?

Go ahead if you feel up to it.

If you take the role, maybe you should try out some possible configurations of the library in this thread before going through the whole ordeal only to find that there could've been a better way of doing it. I really appreciate Lab Monkey's effort but I had always some trouble with a) library being spread over 35 pages b) links going straight to download, not the thread itself.

My suggestion would be to use the same classification Lab monkey used (ancient foot, ancient mounted...) with creator name and a link to the thread. No preview is needed in my opinion.

For example: (links don't work)

Ancient - foot

Phalanx - by JimmyH
Wutvamini Maidens - by Dog
Prophet - by MazterJo

Basically this would be just a link portal. I was really amazed when I opened Lab monkey's library the first time and just scrolled all these fabulous units, but now I would like just the links to the unit threads compiled into one place.

Naturally, if you feel like it, you could make a Lab Monkey style library in addition to the basic link collection.

GIDustin · Jun 9, 2003

Thanks Lab Monkey for all your help. I frequently checked my site with the library to see if I got em all (I thought things were going slow for awhile, guess I have to do some more updating)

Good luck to whoever takes your place. It isnt as easy as one would think.

GIDustin

Dom Pedro II · Jun 9, 2003

Ok, so I'm going to go ahead and do it if no one has any objections.

sween32 · Jun 9, 2003

Thanks for all your hard work, lab monkey! :goodjob:

and good luck, dom! :thumbsup:

Padma · Jun 9, 2003

You'll get no objection from me. :mischief:

Hunter · Jun 9, 2003

Well lab its sad to see you go but I understand and hope to see you around when they make Civ 4

As for your hard work it will be missed. Thank you for everything. :cry:

GEChallenger · Jun 9, 2003

I agree with Drift, there should be a link to the thread rather than a download link. I would suggest that you do offer a preview, but the pictures be small. Something like this, maybe:

Modern Foot

1. Modern Infantry by Balou (1.67 mb)
Download
2. Modern Soldier by Kinboat (678 kb)
Download
3. Parachutiste by Balou (2.87 mb)
Download

Of course, this would take a lot of time. It would, however, allow a preview, unit list, and the ability for an immediate download to be available on the same page. The previews would also all be uniform and not take forever to load for those of us with slow connections.

Just my two cents. This is probably waaay too much effort, but it might be worth it. Good luck, Dom!

mrtn · Jun 9, 2003

Originally posted by GEChallenger
...The previews would also all be uniform and not take forever to load for those of us with slow connections...

Yes, a small not animated pic would probably be best for you poor folks.

And if you just link to the thread and don't offer an immediate download you increase the chance that someone takes time to actually thank the unit creator. :eek:

Hunter · Jun 9, 2003

Most if not all units already have a sample image could you not just use that? Then a link to the units thread.

GEChallenger · Jun 9, 2003

Originally posted by mrtn
And if you just link to the thread and don't offer an immediate download you increase the chance that someone takes time to actually thank the unit creator.

True. I didn't even think about that. I guess just a link would be better.

Originally posted by Hunter
Most if not all units already have a sample image could you not just use that? Then a link to the units thread.

I guess. The problem is that many of these are animated or very, very big, and take forever to load. A single image with every unit of its type in it would load faster, and look a bit more organized.

It just occurred to me, though, that making such images would probably be incredibly time consuming. It would involve someone downloading every unit, extrating the storyboards, selecting the frame, cropping it, and then filling in the pink with gray. For cut-n-paste units it goes pretty fast, all you do is fill in the pink with light gray and the shadow with dark gray. However, custom made units often have a weird sort of distortion around the edges that must be filled in pixle-by-pixle. When making unit previews for my civ3K unit list I got it down to about 2-5 minutes per this type of unit. There's about 500 such units in the library, so you'd be looking at 25+ hours of editing, not including the download times.

It would probably be much too time consuming for a single person to do.

Louis XXIV · Jun 9, 2003

Maybe you ask the person who wants the unit in the library to offer a small, non-animated picture of the unit.

They could post the animated version and the link in a thread, which you link to.

One tip would be to not have more than a row of units together, because it makes it easier to look at (The picture up their is fine, that block of units is not)

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