Anno Domini for Civ IV
- Thread starter Rob (R8XFT)
- Start date
Yes, cranking 'em out is one way of putting it! I know that unique animated leaderheads aren't able to be done yet, but I'd like to experiment (when I have a day off early next week) with different static poses of the same leader - with Civ IV showing the appropriate pose. There might be a workaround for that and I'd be quite happy with that as a compromise for the full animation. In the meantime, here's Ebenanaowei Umukoko of the Isoko's brand new look for Civ IV:woodelf said:
dh_epic
Cold War Veteran
Menelik of Ethiopia probably looked more like a mix of African and Arab, almost like an Egyptian. Plus their customs were probably more like that of the near east, with robes and covering the hair, and so on. You can pick out an Ethiopian from a mile away -- they look distinctly different from West Africans or South Africans.
The tribesman would be a great representative for the Bantu, who were less developed according to historical records. Much more Southern looking.
The tribesman would be a great representative for the Bantu, who were less developed according to historical records. Much more Southern looking.
binhthuy71
Emperor
Wow! Your graphics just nail me to the wall. I'm not much on mods but I am looking forward to AD.
Thanks in advance for all of your hard work.
Thanks in advance for all of your hard work.
Fair enough; can you name any Bantu chiefs from this era? I'd need to call him something, he's angry enough as it isdh_epic said:
.Thank-you for your kind wordsbinhthuy71 said:
. Please feel free to make suggestions as the mod develops.Wouldn't it just! I couldn't agree more.woodelf said:
I'll just clarify one thing behind the intention for Anno Domini. It is meant to play as a normal "epic" game - with random maps etc, the main difference being that it ends in the 11th/12th century. The game will be every bit as long (maybe longer) as there are more ancient techs involved. The various techs may mean different things to different tribes - for example, the Nok (in Africa) are thought to have discovered iron working well before anyone else, but didn't use it in warfare. I aim to have plenty of flavour units and buildings in there. Rather than place in a ton of tribes just because I want to, I want to introduce each tribe into the game with a unique perspective and gameplay. An example of this (which was worked into the Civ III version) was the Illyrians, whose gameplay was favoured towards making sea raids on coastal cities - having a unique ship that didn't show nationality along with a strong attacker with amphibious capabilities. Whilst the game will eventually have a lot of different civilizations to choose from, I want to veer away from adding civs "for the sake of it."
Whilst I've already put up quite a few previews, I might just stick with the ones I've done so far and start investigating how I can extend them - i.e. seeing if the multiple static images would work. Whilst I'm a big fan of animated leaderheads, the different static poses would work well graphically - it'd be all we need really and (knowing my own limits as an artist), I can potentially get more detail into those images. Sometimes with animation, I've had to make compromises as things don't always look as good when they have to move - maybe a shadow gets in the way, or I can't find or make the right beard prop (this is particularly true of Babylonian beards!) - whereas in the static poses, you can paint/draw the detail in. Drawing in detail is ok if you've only half a dozen or so static poses to do, but a nightmare if you're doing it for several animations.
Thinking about the static poses - if the varied poses did work in the game, what would I need? I can think of the following:
1. Greeting pose
2. Happy pose
3. Angry, warlike pose
4. Neutral pose
5. Thinking pose
6. "It's a deal" pose
7. "No way/don't agree/no deal" pose
dh_epic
Cold War Veteran
It's tricky. The Bantu people are almost like a meta-civilization, like saying "The Slavic People", or "The Polynesian People". We'd only be able to study them by looking at their latter day descendants.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/africa/features/storyofafrica/2chapter5.shtml
And without the same writing records, it's hard to pin an exact leader on them. South Africa was largely isolated from the rest of the world until later. That's a key reason they never achieved the same level of development as the West African empires, or the Ethiopians.
One specific empire was one centered on Great Zimbabwe, but again, we don't have much to go on for specifics. The specifics we DO know are after colonization.
I do know a bit aobut the Ethiopians. They're actually, at the furthest history back, a Semitic people. At risk of sounding stereotypical, but you can see a distinct near-eastern influence. The same way that Spaniards have taken on a Moorish influence, or someone from Belarus might have a Turkish influence.
http://www.fettan.com/images/Beyene_Petros.jpg
http://www.lifeinlegacy.com/2005/1223/MandefroAbuna.jpg
http://history.sandiego.edu/gen/USPics41/81922.JPEG
Might help you with your graphics. Imagine it with semetic or even near-eastern clothing, too, like long flowing robes, and covered hair.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/africa/features/storyofafrica/2chapter5.shtml
And without the same writing records, it's hard to pin an exact leader on them. South Africa was largely isolated from the rest of the world until later. That's a key reason they never achieved the same level of development as the West African empires, or the Ethiopians.
One specific empire was one centered on Great Zimbabwe, but again, we don't have much to go on for specifics. The specifics we DO know are after colonization.
I do know a bit aobut the Ethiopians. They're actually, at the furthest history back, a Semitic people. At risk of sounding stereotypical, but you can see a distinct near-eastern influence. The same way that Spaniards have taken on a Moorish influence, or someone from Belarus might have a Turkish influence.
http://www.fettan.com/images/Beyene_Petros.jpg
http://www.lifeinlegacy.com/2005/1223/MandefroAbuna.jpg
http://history.sandiego.edu/gen/USPics41/81922.JPEG
Might help you with your graphics. Imagine it with semetic or even near-eastern clothing, too, like long flowing robes, and covered hair.
catwhowalksbyhi
Chieftain
Being a Freedom Force modder, I know enough about .nifs to say that this is possible with a generic, simple, custom .nif if by no other way and should be relatively easy for someone with knowhow to do. The animations would be replaced by simply moving the proper flat texture to the camera. Should work in theory, though I could be wrong in practice.
As for actually making animated leaderheads, it should be basically the same process as making the units, pretty much. There's just some specifics with how do it and export things from 3d Max to figure out, just like there were with units, at first.
Thanks for the info, guys. To be honest, the Munhumutapa are a little too late for the mod. Perhaps he could be used as Nok or Yoruba, which fit into the timescales. I almost had the Nok in the Civ III version, using Obatala as the name of the Nok leader. The name in fact belonged to the supreme god of the Yaruba people (who occupied the same area, but later). However, he does look rather fierce and I had the Nok/Yoruba as more passive people, though I guess they must have had their own warrior folk.
In terms of the Ethiopian guys, I'm wondering whether or not the images you've kindly provided are perhaps a little too modern for the period intended. I believe that Menelik was thought to be the son of Solomon and Makeda, which would mean he'd be more eastern-looking, like you said. I suppose he'd be flamboyantly dressed for the era, so let me have a think about that.
In terms of the Ethiopian guys, I'm wondering whether or not the images you've kindly provided are perhaps a little too modern for the period intended. I believe that Menelik was thought to be the son of Solomon and Makeda, which would mean he'd be more eastern-looking, like you said. I suppose he'd be flamboyantly dressed for the era, so let me have a think about that.
Cleopatra, present in the Civ III version comes back with a brand new look for Civ IV:
Red Threat
52ª brigata Garibaldi
Good job, she's very ugly, but maybe more historically accurate.R8XFT said:Cleopatra, present in the Civ III version comes back with a brand new look for Civ IV:
Modern historians think that Cleo wasn't really so cute, but had mastery in the art of seduction.
A suggestion: add the gauls, the iberians (Viriatus) and the germans (Emperor Otto).
Cheers. Not how I would have described her, but everyone's entitled to their own opinionRed Threat said:
.Thanks for the suggestions. The Gauls and Iberians will be in there; I'm planning Germanic civs rather than Germany as a whole - e.g. Saxons, Carolingians et al.Red Threat said:
Corvex
Emperor of Canada
Which religions are you planning to include in this mod? Or will you just use the standard ones?
Thanks for the questionCorvex said:
. It's likely that I'll need to include a range of religions in the mod. I was thinking of working on that element later once the initial version of the mod's up and running. I was thinking though that I'd be limiting the religions somewhat to make it authentic - for example Hinduism, Buddhism and Taoism never really took on in the Norse civilization, so I'd have to ensure they'd never have it in the mod.One question (being a veteran Civ III modder, but new to Civ IV modding) : are unique techs available - i.e. I want to have Danelaw as a tech but only give it to the Norse. I've done this in Civ III, but can it be done in Civ IV?
Actually, going back to religions, I've another question : does a civilization have to have researched the tech leading to a religion to have that religion in its borders - e.g. if Mysticism is required for Buddhism and you've not discovered it, could one of your cities be "converted" by a Buddhist missionary?
dh_epic
Cold War Veteran
Re: Ethiopia,
The images are DEFINITELY pretty modern. One of them was wearing a suit. But definitely in their complexion and facial features, you can see the eastern influence.
As for the southern african representation, what you have planned sounds pretty good. Considering they were pretty undeveloped late into history, it wouldn't be terrible to leave them as barbarians altogether. Use your judgement.
The images are DEFINITELY pretty modern. One of them was wearing a suit. But definitely in their complexion and facial features, you can see the eastern influence.
As for the southern african representation, what you have planned sounds pretty good. Considering they were pretty undeveloped late into history, it wouldn't be terrible to leave them as barbarians altogether. Use your judgement.
Red Threat
52ª brigata Garibaldi
Yes, it's nice, but I'd like a lot to get a German HRE civ with Otto or Henry as leader (that's what I meant).R8XFT said:
I'm open to any suggestions. On the one hand, if I'm having William the Conqueror in there for the Normans, why not have Otto as well? On the other, I'd like to break down the different areas - having a separate civ for Saxons, Carolingians, etc, in the same vein that I'm having different English tribes (again!). We'll see....like I said, I'm open to anything within the mod and will start with a few new civs in the first release and see where that takes us.Red Threat said:
Here's another African chief I've put together; perhaps one for Anno Domini?
Prestidigitator
Prince
Rob, I was once searching the net for some model converting programs, and came accross a program that converts poser files to 3Ds max, oh and BTW it does also convert animations to 3Ds max.
3Ds max supporst Civ4, I think you mentioned earlier that you use poser for your LHs, maybe if you could convert them to 3Ds Max it would be a new step forward .
Oh and unfortunately I don't happen to remember where I found the program, just remember that it was a FREEWARE, with a name like 'Perfect Pose II' or something like that. If I remember it I will PM you.
3Ds max supporst Civ4, I think you mentioned earlier that you use poser for your LHs, maybe if you could convert them to 3Ds Max it would be a new step forward
.Oh and unfortunately I don't happen to remember where I found the program, just remember that it was a FREEWARE, with a name like 'Perfect Pose II' or something like that. If I remember it I will PM you.
