Unit creation question

Ive had on my mind an idea to create a mod visually to look more like a simulation or to really play up a more graphic interface (think defcon if anyone's played it) Isnt there any easier way to make units, lets say just with photoshop or illustrator?

 

I would start with a visit to the Graphics Modpack Forum. There is a enormous amount of material there.

 

It is technically possible, but would be very difficult.

If you want to make a static unit, ie not animated, you just need some graphic skill.

But if you want to animate it, then you need something more. Many unit creators here are using poser.

So for instance, if you'd like the make graphics like that, with icons instead of animated units, it's doable.

 

Thats exactly the look i mean, and doing that in something like poser seems like overkill.

If i understand you correctly steph, its easy to just make perhaps a pcx for a unit just so long as i know that it wont be animated.

 

yes, if it's not animated and a simple drawing, you can do it.

You need to create a new storyboard, with only one frame.

You'll need the 8 directions, but you could just copy the same icon in every direction (or make different icon, one for each direction).

And if you really don't want something animated, you can just make a default, and use it for attack, run, etc as well..

But I'm not sure it will look nice in game.

To sum up, it's possible to do that, but I cannot guarantee it's a good idea and it will be fun.

 

Seems like an interesting idea, and to be honest, it might be fun for many of us players who just want to play something fast and simple on the get-go rather than the typical epic game. I'm for it!

As Steph said, it should be quite easy and implementation is exactly as he said. Again, consider his suggestion of making an icon for each direction or not. I can't remember at the moment whether the icons change direction in defcon or not, so it's basically your call. If you can visually get the look of the game, I figure it will be an interesting change of environment (especially for the eyes) compared to standard games. I always love visual revamps, especially when they go in a completely radical and different way from the normal civ games.

 

I agree and have said that "units" do not have to be animated... depending on their purpose and what is wanted.

It can be fast and Fun to make single Images that can be added to the game in many ways... I say get inspired, experiment and Create some new things.

Resources are an example of single still images for the game and they also use shadows and can be fairly realistic.
Cities are another example as well as the entire Map Graphics.

 

Yes, the Map graphics would be the most time intensive part of it all... particulary making sure that the lines get aligned properly. Although, I believe only the coasts would require this, and most other tiles could be blank (or black/dark colored), with perhaps something to simply differentiate the different terrain types.

For a name: perhaps CivCon III.

Tom