Resource requests?

[The Last Conformist]

If you go to your vanilla art folder, you'll find a file called resource.pcx, which includes various unused resource icons apparently left over from development. Among them is a a chemist's vial with a red liquid in. Would a colour job of that suffice?

Edit: The file in question has some stuff that might be interesting to Ramby too - an alternate horse resource (which MEM used for superior horses), and a chalice with reddish-purplish drink in are what chiefly come to mind.

 

[WildWeazel]

@Weasel: That looks like abstract art.

It's going to be a 1024-pixel icon! Of course it's abstract!

 

[The Last Conformist]

It's going to be a 1024-pixel icon! Of course it's abstract!

Doesn't excuse if for being artistic.

 

[Spacer One]

ok, I cant find the pcx you mentioned, but I looked through Zulus sheet and found the vial I think you mean...it might work as is...I can do a basic recoloring so youve helped me enough...thanx...

 

[The Last Conformist]

You can't find it? Well, conceivably it's only in the Collector's Edition of vanilla. It does contain some useful stuff.

 

[Spacer One]

no, I cant find it cause Im stupid...when I started MODing, I was alien to the concept of "back-up" as I assumed everything was on the disk, so why bother?...Yeah, well now I regret it, but without reinstalling the whole game, Im stuck...so Im both stupid, and lazy...ahahahhaaaa

so things like the Resource pcx, the unit_32.pcx, all the LHs, several units, and the original terrain are gone for me...a few other things too...tnt.pcx etc...little things, like the v instead of O for button...but no back-ups...I even lost my original TXT files...sometimes I even amaze myself...

{edit} the purple vial is to represent a chemical from Stargate...Tretonin...which is administered by injection, and I have no clue what it looks like "naturally" but in the vial, and syringe its purple...Any vial will work, so the one on Zulus sheet is fine( it might even be the one you are talking about)

 

[The Last Conformist]

I'd do that reinstall if I were you. Do make a backup of your scenarios folder first, tho!

 

[Rambuchan]

@ Vuldacon: About that green stone for the Philosopher's stone: Well it strikes me this would look a lot like the standard uranium graphic. So the star sounds good but equally I remembered that I have a "Dictionary of Symbols" back home. There is another symbol for the Philosopher's Stone but I'd have to check the book. Just an idea.

Also:

a) Smithing / Smithers / Skilled Smiths as a resource? With chain mail and plate mail knight units resulting from accessing it. Anyone done anything like this?

b) I mentioned Pagan Spirit before. This has been refined to 'Pagan Magick'. I'm at a loss as to what suggestions for this. A cauldron, pentagon, something not too damn Harry Potter though!

 

[Vuldacon]

Rambuchan...I agree that making the stone the same green as Uranium would simply appear as Uranium...same for a Star or any other shape. Therefore I still believe a Stone is the thing to use but it will have to be colored differently in order to look unique enough to be a philosophers stone.
...I could use the Conquest Resource Palette that has Red in the palette. This palette can be found in C:\Program Files\Infogrames Interactive\Civilization III\Conquests\Conquests\Mesoamerica\Art\resources.pcx
This palette will accommodate the other game resources close enough that only a few minor colors will be changed and because this palette has Red in it, the Philosophers stone could use it.
If the "Normal" CIV III Resource palette is what you want to use, then perhaps I can make the stone a range of colors that will still look unique and not like Uranium. I will experiment and see what may give the Look you would want for this Resource.

 

[Spacer One]

I'd do that reinstall if I were you. Do make a backup of your scenarios folder first, tho!

I might just do that, but I never play the original anyway, only MODs...maybe just to get my hands on all the extra graphics I lost

 

[Rambuchan]

Vuldacon: I have to confess that all the technical palette stuff you mention means absolutely nothing to me. Sorry about that. I just don't have a brain for those matters. It seems to me the green stone runs three main risks: a) It could look like uranium. b) Other greens may blend and lose themselves in the green terrain. c) There seem to be some palette issues (?)

Anyway, a quick google pic search threw this up, which is an interesting alternative.


But I'm still interested in the symbols idea. So here are some suggestions along the symbols line, together with some info.

This is a simple image - an explanation of the 2 basic images is in the Opening to the Grail. In this version the 2 triangles are laid over one another suggesting these two principles are merged or in union, creating the hexagram. Whenever I see a hexagram the first thing that comes to mind is the hermetic axiom "as above so below". Fire - the upright triangle reaches up to the heavens from its earthly cross (tetragram) and the water - the downward triangle falls to earth from its heavenly cross (tetragram), as above so below. This is an alchemic distillation.

http://spirituallife.com.au/Creation-of-the-Philosophers-Stone.htm

Self Explanatory and nothing else to see on that webpage, so no link


Alchemical Symbols.

Mercury is a good one and a prime material in alchemy, one of the 8 metals.
http://www.chemsoc.org/viselements/pages/alchemist/alchemy.html

I have to say that on a personal level I think the top symbol on the third pic appeals the most.

 

[The Last Conformist]

I don't think the first one would work at civ scale. Symbols can be tried, certainly.

 

[The Last Conformist]

Is this something like what you imagined?

 

[Vuldacon]

Rambuchan...The true Philosophers stone is a 6 pointed Star with a dot outside the top right point. One Problem with a dot and also small rocks is that at small resolutions, they vanish or lose detail. As for the Greens, well, I did not plan of using and combination of colors that would "blend in" with the grass terrain or look like Uranium. Again, I will experiment around with a Stone and the palette colors to create something that will serve as a Good Philosophers stone. Due to the 6 pointed Star shape looking rather artificial and "generic", some sort of colored or multicolored stone will probably look best. Have to use a little "creative licence" for the Philosophers stone as a resource in order to have something acceptable.

The following quote is by Kris Weber Sherwood

The Philosopher’s Stone is an ancient symbol that originates in the roots of Hermetic philosophy and the alchemical arts. It is a metaphorical symbol of ultimate accomplishment. It represents the reward to the quest for a ‘higher purpose’; an allegorical concept of refinement of an element to its perfection. And as such, to the medieval alchemist it was the catalyst in the long sought after magical process that could transmute lead into gold, and its resultant reward: The Philosopher’s Stone.

In a spiritual sense, attaining The Philosopher’s Stone is a metaphor for ones’ personal evolution toward perfection of the soul. It is the prize for achieving spiritual enlightenment. It’s the ‘coming forth as gold’; the ’pearl of great price’; being one with Cosmic Consciousness; having undeniable personal experience of God.

A graphic image found in alchemical manuscripts of the Philosopher’s Stone is that of a six-pointed star which has a ‘small dot above the upper right point’ (Fig.2a). The ‘small dot’ representing the ‘presence of God and guidance of the Divine Spirit

.

 

[Vuldacon]

Spacer One...see if this will work for you as a Tretonin resource.
I made the Liquid Purple and as bright as the Resource palette would allow and tested all in the game. I believe you wanted it to show well on Mountains so the Preview has it on a Mountain. Due to the size, a "cork" did not look good so I hope the Stopper or cap will suffice.

Included files in the Zip:
TretoninResource.pcx
TretoninShadow.pcx
Civilopedia Icons: tretoninlarge.pcx and tretoninsmall.pcx
Read Me file
I will post the preview next post

here is the zip:

 

[Vuldacon]

Tretonin Strategic Resource Preview:

 

[Spacer One]

Wow...you didnt look it up did you?...except the vials they use are faceted, its exact...this will work great...Very many thanx...
and no, for some reason, in ALL the icons in the Icons PCX Zulu made, that isnt in there...so Im gonna reinstall...<sigh>

 

[Vuldacon]

Spacer One...no I didn't look it up, I just used the Bright Purples in the Resource Palette to make the Liquid. As for the Vial, well I did not know you wanted a perticular shape. Hey, maybe this vial is the newest batch that they now place in this "special" shaped container

Rambuchan... do you want that Posted Stone as the Resource for the Philosophers Stone? The letters will not show at the necessary resolution. I also reversed the image for correct light direction.
Here is a Preview of the actual sizes for two different type stones so you can decide if you want either of them or something else:
The First example is from the stone you Posted. The Second example is a sort of a Crystalline Reddish Stone that is as close to Red as the Resource palette will allow.

 

[Spacer One]

I wasnt complaining, I was commending...its perfect...the shape is great...the color is exact...I was wondering if you looked it up, cause it is nearly(giving room for artistic licence) Exactly what they really look like...nothing negative to say...thanx again

[edit] IMO the first stone looks better, and if you make it, I will prolly use it too

 

[Rambuchan]

@ TLC & Vuldacon: Thanks a lot for your work. They really are all good. And I'm glad to hear Spacer would use one also. These are definitely of use.

More specifically for the needs of this scenario, here's a comparison.

Thing is I have a religious resource for a Missionary unit. That resource is 'Converts', shown here, albeit a bit blurred. So I think the yellow symbol is too similar but how about the symbol in the black square?

I agree that the purple rock is excellent. I think having the purple rock and the symbol gives good options. Because there will also be a 'magick' resource for some Pagan units.

Can I ask Vuldacon, when you did the Charts/Globe resource, what use did you have in mind? I am going to use it for a Cartographer (Explorer type, no idea what the unit will look like) and Surveyor (explorer ship name tbc). But I'm curious.