New Unit: Micronesian Raft

[pdescobar]

Here's a simple early naval unit created for Clam I Am's Pacific Islands Mod based on an image supplied by Clam I Am. It's my first completed original unit and has some room for improvement, but I'm pretty pleased with the outcome. Some known limitations are the lack of splash effects which I was unsure how to create and the fact that the INI file references sounds from 4 standard units (3 civ3, 1 ptw) instead of having original sounds. Also, as it is my first unit and was a learning experience, I probably included far too many animations for a unit of this type

Download Version 1.0 (292KB)


Preview #1: Default -> Fidget -> Default -> Run -> Run -> Default -> Capture (SW and E views)

Preview #2: Fortify -> AttackA -> Victory -> AttackA -> Death (SW and E views)

And an in-game screenshot showing the size comparison with standard naval units.

Download Version 1.0 (292KB)

 

[pdescobar]

And here's the Readme:

Micronesian Raft, version 1.0, by pdescobar 

An animated early naval unit for Civ3. 

Permission is granted to do pretty much whatever you want with this
unit so long as credit is given to me in the documentation of anything
you distribute.


Changes
-------
version 1.0
 - Initial Release, 06 April 2003


Overview
--------

This is a simple raft unit created at the request of Clam I Am for his
Pacific Islands Mod. It could be a useful "first boat" for early
exploration, perhaps as a flavor alternative to Dark Sheer's Canoe.
See [url]http://www.geocities.com/lungfishpower/pacislands.html[/url] for more on
the mod.

The animations are pretty simple, and more than are probably necessary
are included because this was my first completed unit and I was
experimenting and learning as I went. Splash effects should probably
be added, particularly on the death animation, but that's currently
beyond my ability. Similarly, there are no sound files although the
INI references several standard Civ3 and PTW sounds. If you do not
have PTW, the attack sound entry should be removed.


Contents
--------

This Zipfile contains the following: 
 - File "MicronesianRaft.txt" ; the file you are reading.
 - Folder "Raft" ; the unit folder which contains 9 files:
   -- File "Raft.ini"
   -- File "RaftAttackA.flc"
   -- File "RaftCapture.flc"
   -- File "RaftDeath.flc"
   -- File "RaftDefault.flc"
   -- File "RaftFidget.flc"
   -- File "RaftFortify.flc"
   -- File "RaftRun.flc"
   -- File "RaftVictory.flc"
 - Folder "Extras" which contains 3 files:
   -- File "Raft_Civilopedia_Large.pcx"
   -- File "Raft_Civilopedia_Small.pcx"
   -- File "icon_for_units_32.pcx"


Installation
------------

The "Raft" Folder should be placed in your "Art\Units" folder. This is
the folder where unit animations are stored for your version of
civ3. If you installed Civ3 to the default location, this folder would
be "C:\Program Files\Infogrames Interactive\Civilization III\Art\Units" 
If you have PTW, it can also be installed to the PTW Art\Units folder
if you only intend to use it with PTW or to a subfolder for a scenario
if you only intend to use it with that scenario.

Note that the INI file references sounds from the following standard
units: Galley, Caravel, Rifleman, and Medieval Infantry (PTW). If you
do not have these units you should edit the Raft.ini file and remove
the references to those files which you do not have.

Also, if you do not know the proper procedure for adding the unit to the
game using the editor and the civ3 textfiles, there are some helpful
tutorials on the Civ3 fan websites.

For regular civ3, check Kryten's tutorial at CFC:
  [url]http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=31576[/url]
and for PTW, check Kingpin's tutorial at CDG:
  [url]http://www.cdgroup.org/forums/tbs/civ3/viewtopic.php?t=971[/url]


Notes on Extras
---------------

The Extras folder contains large and small civilopedia icons to be
placed in Art\Civilopedia\Icons\Units as well as a crude but useable
icon for the units_32.pcx file sized and colored for the
Zulu_Mega_Units_32 version of this file (32x32).

 

[Kormus]

It's as long as a sub ?

Besides that, GREAT WORK

 

[pdescobar]

Originally posted by Kormus
It's as long as a sub ?

Yes, it's as long as a sub, but the worker would be too if he laid down Unit sizing is one area where you really must sacrifice realism for gameplay. A larger version was worse; a smaller version really made the little guy rowing too small, so the current size is the best option I could come up with. You could always shrink him further with SBB for your own uses if you like.

Besides that, GREAT WORK

Thanks!

 

[Yoda Power]

Very good pdes! Isn´t this your first unit?

 

[pdescobar]

Originally posted by Yoda Power
Very good pdes! Isn´t this your first unit?

Thanks Yoda Yes, this is my first complete, original unit. I have another, extremely basic, unit in progress (guy in a suit) that was going to be my guinea pig and first unit, but when I started going on this one I put him off to the side. There's also the junk colorization, but all I did there was use the PSP paint bucket 9 million times and then do some palette swapping so I don't count that.

 

[Kindred72]

very cool'!

 

[Kal-el]

really well done. I especially like the rowing animation in that he rows, stops coasts, rows.

 

[pdescobar]

Originally posted by Kal-el
really well done. I especially like the rowing animation in that he rows, stops coasts, rows.

Thanks That rowing action is actually unintentional Unfortunately, it doesn't seem to show as well in the game, but then again I normally play with run anims turned off

 

[Clam I Am]

It definitely looks great. Now I need to get working on that scenario (creating all those civilopedia entries for 24 civs isn't the most entertaining part.)