Subdued Animals in C2C discussions

[Toffer90]

I downloaded the modern spotted hyena [note to self - Creator: Zerosvalmont; Base Model: AuroraDesigns]. It's a .z2f file. We need a .nif. So does anyone know what to do next?

Open it with 7z. It's a compressed archive that contains nif, text and animation files..

 

[Dr. Elephant]

Yes, and I was going to write a full tutorial and put it in the first post.

Step 0. Identify why you are adding it and how it interacts with current buildings and religions.

Animal Myth, Story and Stories buildings are needed by default.
Does it fit with any of the Elemental Myths or the Legend Myths?
Is it important to any religion?
Does it fit with an existing set of Cages/Enclosures?
Is it a megafauna animal?
Where on the planet does it spawn?​

Step 1. Create a folder in Assets/Modules/My_Modules with the name of the animal.

1. Copy the Unit and Buildings schema files from the core XML and rename them. IE change C2C to the name of the animal.
   
   Remember no spaces in folder or file names as parts of BUG/BULL wont work with them.
   
   
2. In there create an folders called art/units/animals/<name>
   
   
3. Record who you got it from and where so you can put a note in to credit them.
   
   
4. Create a <name>_CivIVGameText.XML file in the base. I would add a template one here if I have time. Copy one from my experimental folder
   
   
5. Put the name in the correct places. Add the comment about source to the pedia entry.

Step 2. Use 7zip to open the file. Find <name>/entities/units/animals/<name>

Step 3 Copy every thing from 2 to the art folder created in step 1.2

Step 4. Create an <name>_CivIVArtDefines.XML again I would provide a template but just copy and edit one from my folders.

Step 5. Create buttons... Still waiting for TBird to put the stuff for making buttons up or I could make some guide lines for this.

Edit and warning the path for the schema files for art defines and text will be wrong if you copy from my experimental folders. I have a template folder, with files, almost ready in the not loaded folder. I need to do some work on them to clean them up. When I have them working they can be used as the basis for new animals.

When the tutorial will be ready, I gladely help you with my ideas.

On another level, which program do you use for convert ZT2 models?
I'll have some free time soon, so I'll be able to take a look at Staples, to see what they have.

 

[Dr. Elephant]

Open it with 7z. It's a compressed archive that contains nif, text and animation files..

That's all I have to do to get the 3D model, which is in it?

 

[Toffer90]

That's all I have to do to get the 3D model, which is in it?

Yes. WinRar and windows zip might be able to open the archive too, though I have only ever tested 7z for it.

 

[Dr. Elephant]

Yes. WinRar and windows zip might be able to open the archive too, though I have only ever tested 7z for it.

I have something which is called 9 Zip, which was an program I have found on the Microsoft store, but I can't open the file with it. Do I need to install ZT2, for my computer

I will try somethnig else, tomorrow, as I have already used the free-time given by Windows Zip, and they are no ways to install it again to obtain an another 20 days (like in the older versions).

 

[Thunderbrd]

Like these two?

http://zt2downloadlibrary.wikia.com/wiki/Herdwick_Sheep_(Milchman,_Platypus,_RazvanM,_Slice_&_Zoker)
http://zt2downloadlibrary.wikia.com/wiki/European_Rabbit_(Ulquiorra)

Yes. Maybe you can help with some other gaps: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1kRmtbv9MkwwXjvv99XNuiy2oRhDx4yDgN67cSETH2vk/edit#gid=0

7zip is the name of the program you need and it's free to get on sourceforge.

 

[Dancing Hoskuld]

When the tutorial will be ready, I gladely help you with my ideas.

On another level, which program do you use for convert ZT2 models?
I'll have some free time soon, so I'll be able to take a look at Staples, to see what they have.

Skeletons and sounds can't as far as I know. But then I am not a graphics person.

The animal graphic is just copied (see Step 3) and works but is static.

 

[dilophosaur]

About the camels: wild camel-like camelids:
- Thomas' camel (ancestor of the dromedary)
- Bactrian camel (ancestor of the domesticated bactrian camel)
- Camelops (giant camel)
could give subdued verisons of themselves. Subdued camelops should be able to "build" giant camel myth and giant camel herd. Animal riding and Megafauna domestication could lead to giant camel rider (and maybe other giant camel units, such as the giant camel worker) similarly as it is designed for the mammoth and extant elephants.
@Dr. Elephant: you are very welcome. And thanks for your opinion about my ideas.

 

[Dancing Hoskuld]

OK Tutorial, see first post, started please comment so I can improve it. I have only done the start to an animal that will appear in game. At that point it will be missing some graphics, buttons, and will be a bird; but it can be looked at in game.

I have not yet finished fixing up the template files mentioned.

 

[Dr. Elephant]

About the camels: wild camel-like camelids:
- Thomas' camel (ancestor of the dromedary)
- Bactrian camel (ancestor of the domesticated bactrian camel)
- Camelops (giant camel)
could give subdued verisons of themselves. Subdued camelops should be able to "build" giant camel myth and giant camel herd. Animal riding and Megafauna domestication could lead to giant camel rider (and maybe other giant camel units, such as the giant camel worker) similarly as it is designed for the mammoth and extant elephants.
@Dr. Elephant: you are very welcome. And thanks for your opinion about my ideas.

They sound good, but subdued camelops should be able to made camelops myths, since Giant camel (the one in ZT2) was an another camel who lived around this time:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Titanotylopus
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camelops

I am agree that Giant camel could add megafauna units, (in the way of bigger camels), but for the Camelops, regular camel riders look like an good option too.

 

[Dr. Elephant]

Yes. Maybe you can help with some other gaps: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1kRmtbv9MkwwXjvv99XNuiy2oRhDx4yDgN67cSETH2vk/edit#gid=0

7zip is the name of the program you need and it's free to get on sourceforge.

Thanks for the info, I will give it an eye later today.
For the gaps you mentioned, I have found something for the Guinea Pigs:
http://zt2downloadlibrary.wikia.com...ara_Henson)?li_source=LI&li_medium=wikia-rail (at my knowledge at least, it was the only model who exist actually)

And for the kangaroos, what kind of model (for the tamed version) do you look for exactly?

 

[Dr. Elephant]

Skeletons and sounds can't as far as I know. But then I am not a graphics person.

The animal graphic is just copied (see Step 3) and works but is static.

Perfect, thanks.

With the coding I have always thinked that it was an complex thing. But I still wondering why the Civ4 engine is so good at incorporating a file format that comes from another totally different game.


On the animation level,I will add my grain of salt:
If static animals, mean more animals, I'm ready to see them all in static mode. Animations are good, but they shall not become an obligation.

 

[Thunderbrd]

Thanks for the info, I will give it an eye later today.
For the gaps you mentioned, I have found something for the Guinea Pigs:
http://zt2downloadlibrary.wikia.com...ara_Henson)?li_source=LI&li_medium=wikia-rail (at my knowledge at least, it was the only model who exist actually)

And for the kangaroos, what kind of model (for the tamed version) do you look for exactly?

Awesome about the G-pigs! We have the kangas in the game model wise - just need the tamed type I think.

If static animals, mean more animals, I'm ready to see them all in static mode. Animations are good, but they shall not become an obligation.

I agree completely. We've always done this and later someone comes in with an animated version or something so its more important to get them into the game than it is to worry about the anims at first imo.

My own personal issue is not having time myself to dedicate to this project but man I would so desperately appreciate those willing to help and get it done! There's so much more beyond animals we could do here too so just getting this experience and welcoming one or more new team members developing out this tough skill set is VERY valuable IMO. There's a lot of gaps in the unit tree and knowing this will be a big hurdle to overcome is one reason it hasn't gotten all the priority that deserves.

So please, y'all don't hesitate to help if you're inclined! I will be very happy to work you onto the team. IF that is your intent, please PM me directly to say that so I can begin really paying attention to your efforts and as soon as the team feels even slightly comfortable with your work, we'll get you on the team list so you can do this stuff directly. I would also be very happy to help with guidance and more on the stats xml if needbe. It's not all that hard to work out actually.

 

[Dancing Hoskuld]

But I still wondering why the Civ4 engine is so good at incorporating a file format that comes from another totally different game.

Probably because they all started out using the same underlying engine. Heck even Skyrim did .

 

[Gadzooks02]

How do I open the .nif?

 

[Toffer90]

How do I open the .nif?

nifscope

 

[dilophosaur]

They sound good, but subdued camelops should be able to made camelops myths, since Giant camel (the one in ZT2) was an another camel who lived around this time:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Titanotylopus
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camelops

I am agree that Giant camel could add megafauna units, (in the way of bigger camels), but for the Camelops, regular camel riders look like an good option too.

Yeah, you are right. Camelops should work as a contemporary camel + megafauna myths/stories, Titanotylopus - additional bigger camel units + appropriate stories/myths.

 

[Gadzooks02]

nifscope

Thanks

 

[Dr. Elephant]

Awesome about the G-pigs! We have the kangas in the game model wise - just need the tamed type I think.

I agree completely. We've always done this and later someone comes in with an animated version or something so its more important to get them into the game than it is to worry about the anims at first imo.

My own personal issue is not having time myself to dedicate to this project but man I would so desperately appreciate those willing to help and get it done! There's so much more beyond animals we could do here too so just getting this experience and welcoming one or more new team members developing out this tough skill set is VERY valuable IMO. There's a lot of gaps in the unit tree and knowing this will be a big hurdle to overcome is one reason it hasn't gotten all the priority that deserves.

So please, y'all don't hesitate to help if you're inclined! I will be very happy to work you onto the team. IF that is your intent, please PM me directly to say that so I can begin really paying attention to your efforts and as soon as the team feels even slightly comfortable with your work, we'll get you on the team list so you can do this stuff directly. I would also be very happy to help with guidance and more on the stats xml if needbe. It's not all that hard to work out actually.

I have some free times to try 7zip, so I will try to be useful.
On the 7zip subject: Do the version from Windows Store, was useful too, on only the one on sourceforge?

 

[Thunderbrd]

I have some free times to try 7zip, so I will try to be useful.
On the 7zip subject: Do the version from Windows Store, was useful too, on only the one on sourceforge?

It's probably the same thing basically.