Tom's Unit Factory

[Deth McBones]

What about unchecking the unit's ability to fortify? One would have to spacebar it each turn. If set to a barb, they would spacebar it too, right? Also, to remain on topic, I think just the screen and some cars would be sufficient, Tom. The buildings are cool and all but I don't see how they would really add anything.

 

[tom2050]

KingArthur... Yes, that could be arranged if the game terrain used in existing Games will allow for it.

The Other thing that is a bit annoying with these types of units is that they must either be fortified where the Clips are not seen or one must use the spacebar to pass on the turn for the unit every turn to see the Clips when set to play with the Default animation.

What I do, is have no Fortify animation in the INI. When you fortify it, Civ 3 automatically continues to play the default animation. In this case, the Default animation is a portion of the movie, and then you set the Fidget animation to a portion of the movie (with sound). This way it plays all the time if you wish.

I have the Zombie example done, in which default plays Living Dead part of movie, and the Fidget plays another part with sound, and they both fit together nicely.

More testing does show that in some cases the AI will capture the unit then leave it but that is basically when they want to go after something else.

This was the case I have seen in early CoMM3 scenarios. AI captured them, but didn't fortify units on top of them.

Actually, I did not have them Hidden Nationality; I had them setup with:
0 Def and 0 Attack.
Immobile.
Only the Fortify Standard Order checked.
And nothing else selected anywhere (except I had Wheeled checked because the scenario required it).
Available to all civ's; and required 'Unobtainable resource' so all civ's could capture.

As you said, it leaves the movement points remaining 'ball', but worked out pretty well. I don't think the AI 'knows' to fortify other units on top of it since it has no AI strategy. Can't remember if AI fortified them or not (don't think so, since it has no strategy).

AI does go after them, but it works well because player should also. In my case, they provide 'sight' (can give them radar also). Because in my scenarios not alot of cities, so good to see what's going on around the map without having to keep units everywhere.

 

[Vuldacon]

Tom... I did find a way to easily use this type of Unit where it will be seen all of the time playing and cannot be covered by any unit..

I simply set the Unit with 1 move, 0 attack, 0 defense and no hit points, only Skip Turn under Standard Orders, Immobile under Unit Abilities and do Not Flag it for any Civ. I then Pre-place the unit for the Zombies in my case on top of a Tile that is Impassible. I used Marsh Terrain to make a large Pile of Earth and Rocks and called it Developement Site (might change that name) so it appears as though a unit cannot cross it anyway.
This works Very Well. The Default Flc can be used only and if an attack is desired as an Artillery unit, an Attack can be used with Zone of Control.
The Unit cannot be Attacked by any unit, including Air or sea and it cannot be destroyed unless the entire Civ is destroyed.

Edit: I also meant to say that there is No Movement Ball or Health Bar this way
I have a Billboard I want to use for the Game Tom but I would like to see what you put together

 

[tom2050]

Here is what I have for Drive-In. I kept a small front; but it can be chopped off easy enough. Shows Default, Fidget, and Death.

Because the film was not widescreen, this would probably look better not being widescreen (would be a bit clearer).

 

[AnthonyBoscia]

Nuthin. Just thought I'd kick back with some of the boys this weekend, maybe watch some tv.

Spoiler :

 

[Vuldacon]

Tom... yes I believe it probably would be more clear if not wide screen but do you have a front view?

I am using an Electronic Billboard that is smaller to fit the Game and faces South.
...it runs a message across the screen.
Here is a Cropped Screenshot:

 

[T-mun]

Nuthin. Just thought I'd kick back with some of the boys this weekend, maybe watch some tv.

Spoiler :

Hilarious Amazing and very unusual unit once again!

 

[PredatorFett]

Hey tom, with that screen prop you could do something akin to 1984's Big Brother.

 

[Wolfhart]

This was the case I have seen in early CoMM3 scenarios. AI captured them, but didn't fortify units on top of them.

Actually, I did not have them Hidden Nationality; I had them setup with:
0 Def and 0 Attack.
Immobile.
Only the Fortify Standard Order checked.
And nothing else selected anywhere (except I had Wheeled checked because the scenario required it).
Available to all civ's; and required 'Unobtainable resource' so all civ's could capture.

As you said, it leaves the movement points remaining 'ball', but worked out pretty well. I don't think the AI 'knows' to fortify other units on top of it since it has no AI strategy. Can't remember if AI fortified them or not (don't think so, since it has no strategy).

AI does go after them, but it works well because player should also. In my case, they provide 'sight' (can give them radar also). Because in my scenarios not alot of cities, so good to see what's going on around the map without having to keep units everywhere.

I couldn't resist playing around a little with this beautiful Widescreen TV, and I can confirm what tom2050 writes above: if you set the TV with 0 attack and 0 defence, immobile, only Fortify available, buildable by all but requiring dummy resource, the AI does go after them, captures them and then just leaves them alone for next player to capture.

The above is true also if you give the TV a Bombard Str. higher than 0, and the latter has the added advantage that the TV can do Defensive Bombardment if stacked with other unit, or can have a Zone of Control if that box is checked. Both Def. Bomb. and ZOC will cause the Attack1 flic to play.

Edit: No ROF is needed for Def. Bomb. or ZOC, just Bombard Str. higher than 0. If you only want the ZOC you can give it Attack Str. higher than 0 while keeping Defense Str. at 0: the unit is still captureable and the AI will leave it after capture.

Barbarians will ALWAYS destroy the TV, no matter if you make it available to them or not. Barbarians never capture anything, ever. They seem programmed not to use any of the Special Actions in the editor except for Pillage.

 

[Vuldacon]

...or just make it simple and use Impassible Terrain and set what you want with no AI bothering it

 

[Wolfhart]

...or just make it simple and use Impassible Terrain and set what you want with no AI bothering it

True, there is of course that
I just liked the idea of stationary animated objects for everyone to claim, to add a little life to any terrain. Waterfalls, campfires and such right out of tom2050s prop packs. Perhaps a fountain for the nicer parts of Paradise Island?

And I learned something new (at least for me): that no ROF is needed for Defensive Bombardement.

 

[Vuldacon]

Many ways to use Units... depends on what we want.

Yes, the ROF does not matter if set or not because only a hit point is taken away from the enemy regardless

btw... I meant to add that if Immobile units do not have an attack/defense and are on Impassible Terrain, the AI does not tend to fortify them even when Fortify is Flagged.
They do not need to be flagged for any CIV.
Move 1, Immobile, Skip Turn, Fortify (if desired) is all if placed on Impassible Terrain.

The main reasons for these settings is the AI does not have a strategy and does not bother to even fortify them on Impassible Terrain.
We can then have animated signs, TVs, etc... without the AI ever covering them on the map

 

[Blue Monkey]

Kudos to tom2050 for continuing to push the cutting edge of unit creation.

@everybody: There's a lot of good info on using these types of immobile units buried here. How would you all feel about having the relevant posts collected/moved into a new thread on that topic? It can be done in a way that would not disrupt the discussion of tom2050's units.

 

[Wolfhart]

Sounds good to me

 

[Takhisis]

Can posts be duplicated?

 

[Blue Monkey]

I can ask in the staff forum. What did you have in mind?

Edit: I can think of a couple of kludges, but I've posted a question over there.
Best kludge idea so far: quote these posts in the OP of the new thread. & move the few posts that are strictly general - that don't mention tom2050's unit(s).

 

[Gojira54]

I am surprised nobody has mentioned this, but if someone were to create a 1984 scenario, the widescreen unit would indeed have realistic purpose other than eyecandy.

Oops nevermind, PredatorFett beat me to it!

 

[Takhisis]

I can ask in the staff forum. What did you have in mind?

Opening anew discussion with same posts, but without removing it from here.

Edit: I can think of a couple of kludges, but I've posted a question over there.
Best kludge idea so far: quote these posts in the OP of the new thread. & move the few posts that are strictly general - that don't mention tom2050's unit(s).

More or less something like that is what I had in mind.

 

[Blue Monkey]

Found out it can be done - but waiting for an answer about how editing the copy affects the original. Hopefully the answer will be not at all.

 

[tom2050]

@PredatorFett/Gojira54: Yea, I can do that. Just send the link to a video clip from online to me (from YouTube e.g.), and I can just create a list of additional animations on the original TV post. Once I get the Drive-In done, can do the same there.