Civs and Graphics

[woodelf]

How's this for a Spartan Palace:

 

[Maniac]

Improvement graphics are sometimes hardcoded in the machine. I know it's possible to change the graphic by using the exact name, but it's not possible to use more then two landworked graphics in an era. Though I never tested for different artstyles in an era.

Ah I see the graphic is set in PlotLSystem.xml.

Just replace the folder. The reason I included the cities folder is because I removed both Uni facility graphics in it (GO and HQ). If you keep it as is, you increase the donwload volume.

I can't remove stuff without releasing a new version instead of a mere patch. Anyway, if I understand correctly, no files were edited.

On my end the modern windmill shows in the seas when constructed.

That is suspicious. Poor me!

I was even surprised you managed to let kelp and windmills coesist on the same plot! At least, I assume that was intended? I never heard of anybody who achieved two improvements on the same plot. Unless you have a niffile hidden somewhere with kelp+windmill in it?
One thing though, when highlighting the plot with a kelp or a windmill on it for a seaformer job, it still says "will remove [insert existing improvement] of this plot".

Kelp is a feature. I use some ugly python code to make it work.
That message can only be removed by making some SDK modifications. I'll do it... some day.

OTOH, seabases don't show any city building on the plot itself, only a road.

Indeed. Some pirate graphics would definitely be useful for this reason!

When taking the factions' agenda in account, I wouldn't be afraid of using some kind of "dump" architecture for the lowest class. Perhaps prefab stuff should be kept on this faction at all times?

Lol, would be fitting indeed. GarretSidzaka's cityset already includes one building which fits this definition: the greenhouse.
I've PMed him with a screenie showing the purple buildings in Scene Viewer btw.

The Aerospace Complex shouldn't be more then a square landing field, but with a very good scifi texture, perhaps like the Russian carrier model in the database. With this I can always put a faction city building or two on the field to depict that faction's uniqueness in support buildings if you want. I see this Complex in a 3x3 node, so mosttimes it will appear on the outskirts of bases.

For the record, I noticed a possible Aerospace Complex alternative in woodelf's Spartan cityset!

(I'll edit this post as I reply to the other posts, unless someone replies to this post first)

If the effect can't be given globally by the HQ, then that's that. I'm not against extra graphics in a base, only unnecessary facilities for the sake of facilities. But can't these effects be covered by a trait in some cases instead of a building? It's a start for the lack of traits in the mod at this stage.

It would indeed be useful for all faction effects to be given by traits eventually, so that you can easily view all that makes a faction special by hovering over the faction flag.
But this kinda strikes me as polish work, not a high priority at the moment given all other stuff that needs to be done in the SDK, no? Can't the Governor's Office show up as a tiny building if so desired for the time being, thus not disturbing the cityset?

Talking about facilities. Looking at the stats of the GeneJack Factory it striked me that its stats would be best served in a national 'project'. I mean, it looks to me a bit unbelievable that one base governor would be allowed to force citizens and drones in greater productivity, while in the next base all things stay normal. Oppression plays in my opinion more on the global level of a faction.

The genejack factory represents the infrastructure required to create and put to work genejacks I guess, not the permission to do so. I was thinking Genejack Factories could provide 1 unhappiness under Democracy btw.
Having +2 hammers for citizen specialists for free, would make building new bases too attractive btw.

And, as a project, it saves on another graphic.
Same thing with stuff like the Human Genome Project, the Virtual World and others. As projects they don't need graphics, can't be rushed afaik, and can't be conquered too what makes sense in a way.

But... but... I like conquering secret projects, or bases getting local benefits due to a secret project. Besides, because most SMAC stuff are indeed rather faction/planetwide projects rather than base buildings, there's currently an extreme shortage of world wonders! I need believable excuses to have MORE secret projects as buildings, not less!

 

[Maniac]

I think I have the wallpapers, but any links or pics are always welcome.

If you have the wallpapers, could you please upload them?

Unfortunately I only downloaded the Spartan and Gaian wallpapers back when they were available from Firaxis. So those I have on my computer are small low quality jpgs downloaded from the web.

Here they are though.

How's this for a Spartan Palace:

Awesome!
(your Spartan cityset doesn't yet include anything like this btw )

Btw, are you willing to make some modifications to this? Does making modifications to an already existing nif require lots of work??

If you're up for refinements, I think the following might further increase the coolness factor:

1) your model has a large flat top. The SMAC Spartan was different. I was wondering, would it be possible to lower the back of the top to the red line, and make the front follow the sloping green line? And remove the flags on the side? (see first screenie)

2) I assume to know what those bridges lead to, we have to look at the bitmap file. I placed an arrow. (see second picture) Those structures (sloping side, seem to have two levels, top is higher than the bridge) probably look better architecturally.

3) I'm not sure about this one, but on the wallpaper there seems compared to your model to be more space between the ground and the first platform to which the stairs lead. Though this may just be a visual illusion because we're looking at the building from different perspectives. What do you think? Might the look improve if the platform the stairs lead to was higher?


In an unrelated issue, does anyone know how to draw fracking LINES in GIMP?

 

[woodelf]

If you have the wallpapers, could you please upload them?

Unfortunately I only downloaded the Spartan and Gaian wallpapers back when they were available from Firaxis. So those I have on my computer are small low quality jpgs downloaded from the web.

I think they are on my old comp and they might also be linked here by snipperrabbit in some post or another.

Awesome!
(your Spartan cityset doesn't yet include anything like this btw )

Btw, are you willing to make some modifications to this? Does making modifications to an already existing nif require lots of work??

If you're up for refinements, I think the following might further increase the coolness factor:

This isn't a nif yet so it'll be easy to modify.

1) your model has a large flat top. The SMAC Spartan was different. I was wondering, would it be possible to lower the back of the top to the red line, and make the front follow the sloping green line? And remove the flags on the side? (see first screenie)

2) I assume to know what those bridges lead to, we have to look at the bitmap file. I placed an arrow. (see second picture) Those structures (sloping side, seem to have two levels, top is higher than the bridge) probably look better architecturally.

3) I'm not sure about this one, but on the wallpaper there seems compared to your model to be more space between the ground and the first platform to which the stairs lead. Though this may just be a visual illusion because we're looking at the building from different perspectives. What do you think? Might the look improve if the platform the stairs lead to was higher?

I'll take a look at these 3 points later on tonight or tomorrow. Shouldn't be too hard. Also, there is the 2nd HQ to worry about. Any ideas?

 

[GeoModder]

@Woodelf:
If I may make a comment.
Woodelf, I think the texture would fit even better to the Spartan theme if those rectangular windows were replaced by narrow slits like you can see on the screenshot Maniac attached. (the yellow lights shining out)
Also, once done its not necessary to put this HQ building in the Spartan cityset. We need it as a separate graphic.

@Maniac:
As on your thought of using a typical launch installation for an aerospace complex, I think SMAC is a bit more futuristic then that. I'd rather see a sort of linear accelerator build along a hilly ramp to launch craft in orbit. Not a rocket with support tower(s).

 

[Maniac]

Woodelf, I think the texture would fit even better to the Spartan theme if those rectangular windows were replaced by narrow slits like you can see on the screenshot Maniac attached. (the yellow lights shining out)

And of course the texture isn't really the kind of brown as on the wallpaper. But if I understand correctly woodelf isn't really into creating textures, so I shouldn't talk to him about those.
Is that right woodelf??

As on your thought of using a typical launch installation for an aerospace complex, I think SMAC is a bit more futuristic then that. I'd rather see a sort of linear accelerator build along a hilly ramp to launch craft in orbit. Not a rocket with support tower(s).

I agree a Mass Driver would fit best as an aerospace complex. I just thought "what the hell do we know how linear accelerators will look like - perhaps they will be vertical as well??"
Anyway, all fine by me of course as long as a graphic is available.

 

[woodelf]

I'm trying to get better at textures, but they aren't my thing yet. If you have a 256x256 or any size texture that would look good I can incorporate it into the main dds. Same with any jpg or bmp piece you find.

Also, once done its not necessary to put this HQ building in the Spartan cityset. We need it as a separate graphic

Yeah, I know.

 

[woodelf]

And for the record part of that aerospace complex is from hrochland. I just imported his launchpad nif into my cityset since I thought it went well with the Spartans. The dish thing is mine.

 

[woodelf]

As on your thought of using a typical launch installation for an aerospace complex, I think SMAC is a bit more futuristic then that. I'd rather see a sort of linear accelerator build along a hilly ramp to launch craft in orbit. Not a rocket with support tower(s)

Geo - Did I ever finish that particle accelerator for SotM? Would that have worked for something here?

 

[GeoModder]

Geo - Did I ever finish that particle accelerator for SotM? Would that have worked for something here?

Nope, you never showed me anything on that.
But I'll try to get a picture of one. Either from a comic I have, or from something I find online.

Btw, can I interest you in recreating the SMAC landing pod as a HQ building for an early-era cityset?

 

[woodelf]

Nope, you never showed me anything on that.
But I'll try to get a picture of one. Either from a comic I have, or from something I find online.

I found it in a SotM thread, but haven't found the model I made yet... Pics are cool though.

Btw, can I interest you in recreating the SMAC landing pod as a HQ building for an early-era cityset?

Yeah, if you remind me what that is. I'm drawing a blank.

 

[woodelf]

Obviously this is untextured, but is the shape better on the Spartan Palace?

 

[GeoModder]

@Woodelf:

Yes, it is.

@Maniac:

Could you post a screenshot of the factional landing pod I refer to? It's the ingame picture whichs pops up when a new base is founded. The large white cilinder with a former underneath it.

 

[Maniac]

Obviously this is untextured, but is the shape better on the Spartan Palace?

Man that's just awesome!

Can I make one last minor nitpick?
I think it would probably look better if the flags started hanging from a little higher. What do you think? If you agree, how about letting the green bits go up until the upper red line. And perhaps only let the green bits start protuding from the yellow main building starting from the lower red line.

After that I'd say it's perfect.

pic in spoiler:

Spoiler :

Could you post a screenshot of the factional landing pod I refer to? It's the ingame picture whichs pops up when a new base is founded. The large white cilinder with a former underneath it.

Pcx doesn't attach and show as a pic on this forum I think, so I attached a zip.
The monolith screen has a bigger version of the pic I believe you're referring to. monbig0.pcx
I also attached monbig4.pcx which has the same building in its finished state, though unfortunately there's a big former driving in front of it.

I also included monbig5.pcx for a good pic for a secret project model.

Last I included monbig3.pcx. Could such a "garage"/building graphic be used for the early Command Center or Maintenance Bay for all factions, and part of the general Spartan cityset??

 

[woodelf]

About the flags, that's my fault. I raised that front part, but didn't bring the flags up with it. No problem fixing it.

And if either of you do find a nice jpg or bmp that looks like spartan texture let me know. I'm going to redo the dds this weekend with the arrow slits and other changes.

 

[Maniac]

For anyone interested, Illuminatus uploaded all faction wallpapers.

I figure they could be used as the era screen when going from the common early era to the faction-specific era. Seems like a beautiful way to show these off in the game.

 

[woodelf]

Thanks. I'm interested.

 

[GeoModder]

I figure they could be used as the era screen when going from the common early era to the faction-specific era. Seems like a beautiful way to show these off in the game.

... or you could run a movie. It's perfectly possible to run a movie instead of having a still screen in front of you.

 

[GeoModder]

Btw, here's that pic from the comic. It's not as good as I thought it was.

 

[woodelf]

Thanks Geo. I think my few pics are a bit better.