Anyone figure out how to make static (still-picture) Leader Heads yet?

[Kruelgor]

Anyone figure out how to make static (still-picture) Leader Heads yet, automatic for all DX and graphic modes?

If it's not possible then the game devs need to fix this relatively soon.

 

[Garett20]

Someone did, I don't know who or where though.

 

[Justicex]

The still leaderheads should be as simple as adding a DoM pic. I haven't actually tried it myself yet but I think it's mentioned in Kael's guide. He does add a pic of Civ IV's Boudica to his mod.

 

[Garett20]

But if you met her in game she was Elizabeth. For a few weeks after the game came out a bunch of people were working on it.

 

[Justicex]

But he asked about the still-picture ones. Not the animated 3D models.

 

[Garett20]

That's what I'm talking about.

 

[Sonereal]

But he asked about the still-picture ones. Not the animated 3D models.

That's what I'm talking about.

Basically, you see the 2D leaderheads when loading a map but when you contact a custom civilization, you get one of the factory leaderheads.

 

[Pazyryk]

There's a tutorial here.

 

[Kruelgor]

There's a tutorial here.If your mod uses 2D leaderheads, then you are just going to have to tell the mod-user to do this. (Yes, that sucks. But that is the case unless someone tells me that a mod can alter graphic settings.)

Thanks, good work there, but that pretty much answers my question that it's not possible because I don't like the idea of needing to tell the game player he needs to edit certain files and what not. Unbelievable that the game devs didn't make this easily possible.

 

[CaptainBinky]

I think this will be possible. On our thread here, we are extraordinarily close to getting a 3D leader in the game (using a proper mod, not file hacking) and once this is possible, there would be nothing stopping your 3D leader being a 2D image on a plane.

 

[Kruelgor]

I think this will be possible. On our thread here, we are extraordinarily close to getting a 3D leader in the game (using a proper mod, not file hacking) and once this is possible, there would be nothing stopping your 3D leader being a 2D image on a plane.

sweet. I'll keep an eye on that. good work.

 

[Pazyryk]

I think this will be possible. On our thread here, we are extraordinarily close to getting a 3D leader in the game (using a proper mod, not file hacking) and once this is possible, there would be nothing stopping your 3D leader being a 2D image on a plane.

This is a good alternative, but it's really just a different jury rig with different advantages/disadvantages compared to my jury rig. To spell out the ones that I can think of:

1. Running a 2D still picture as a 3D animated object is kind of wasteful of computer resources. If you're going to use 2D images anyway, it is nice to have the instant window transitions that my method allows. (I use it all the time now for base civ5. I've seen all the leader animations now and they don't add a lot to my gameplay experience.)
2. This does allow mixed 2D and 3D leaderheads. That's good for some mods, but unnecessary for others that plan to use exclusively 2D.
3. No need for the mod-user to change a graphic setting (this is a big one, I agree).
4. You will need to make graphic resources (2D still "animations") that will later become obsolete. I'm assuming that #2 and 3 problems above get solved at some point by patch or mod; at that time you will just use a 2D dds image when you want a 2D still leader head (the same file you would use in my method).

Just thought I'd make these points to help folks decide how to proceed for their mods.

 

[CaptainBinky]

Fair points, Pazyryk.

I would argue with #1 since you'd be saving the loading and displaying of a 10,000-odd polygon character by replacing it with two triangles. So it's not that wasteful at all.

Secondly, you could use an image with an alpha channel and take advantage of the pre-existing backdrops.