Unit Flags

[Loupgarou]

Anyone know of a Guide to make custom Unit Flags, and Flags on Strat View. Also anyone know a good GIMP guide? I've started to be limited by my lack of knowledge of dds making and implementing so any help would be appreciated!

 

[Bonyduck Campersang]

Making custom Unit Flags (what are 'Flags on Strat View'? aren't they the same as the default view flags) is very easy on GIMP, what questions do you have?

 

[Bonyduck Campersang]

for Unit Flags you don't need to compress when exporting as DDS (usually in GIMP compression is auto-enabled, you have to disable it yourself in Advanced Options)

the Unit Flag DDS should be 32x32 pixels, but since the unit flag is circular, your element needs to fit inside a 22x22 invisible circle

 

[jarcast2]

Unit strategic view icons are 128x128 and unit flag icons are 32x32.
The ratio symbol/picture is the same of that for 256p icons that is 173 pixels but proportionally scaled down.
For 128 it's 86.5 --> 87.
For 32 pixel it's 21.6 -> 22.

 

[Loupgarou]

I've downloaded and looked a various flags from other creators to see if I could see what they did, and some just look totally incomprehensible blurs, but are fine in game. Would that be a compression issue? And the Strat Flags are different for whatever reason, and are seemingly tied to the model art define. Also, it doesn't seem like they need to be colored, I assume the Civ color defines fill those in magically? I have no idea how to use gimp atm, but I am looking into that. I suppose I guess am looking for what would be needed for Unit Making.

Ultimately I want to be able to make a civ start to finish on my own, which I can handle all the coding aspects well enough. but for now I have a few units with reused Unit Flags, both in SV and Standard that I would like to correct.

So the sizes I should make the icons are 128x128 and 32x32, and leave space on the edges for the circle?

 

[Bonyduck Campersang]

I've downloaded and looked a various flags from other creators to see if I could see what they did, and some just look totally incomprehensible blurs, but are fine in game.

yes that's what they're supposed to look like, it's not a compression issue it's a zoom issue, if you zoomed into the in-game flags at the same scale they'd look like incomprehensible blurs too

 

[Bonyduck Campersang]

And the Strat Flags are different for whatever reason, and are seemingly tied to the model art define.

Now I never use Strategic View, but I just checked and you're right, my Lancer replacement defaults to the original Lancer flag when I switch to the Strategic View

Also, it doesn't seem like they need to be colored, I assume the Civ color defines fill those in magically?

your element just needs to be white on a transparent blackground

 

[Loupgarou]

I only know of the Strat View issue cuz someone I know only plays in it and a Longsword UU was a Swordsmen in SV. Seems kinda backwards but considering some other stuff... yeah. Thanks for the sizes and the coloring info, If I run into a different issue I will be back!

 

[Putmalk]

Hi! I might be able to help. If you need anything more than what I've posted here, please post a follow-up question and I'll provide more examples of getting this working.

To update the strategic view, make sure in your mod you check "Reload Strategic View" system, and your art definition file needs to reference the new image. Here's an example:

INSERT INTO ArtDefine_UnitInfos(Type, DamageStates, Formation)
  VALUES ('ART_DEF_UNIT_HEBREW_SLINGER', 1, 'Archer');
INSERT INTO ArtDefine_UnitInfoMemberInfos(UnitInfoType, UnitMemberInfoType, NumMembers)
  VALUES ('ART_DEF_UNIT_HEBREW_SLINGER', 'ART_DEF_UNIT_MEMBER_HEBREW_SLINGER', 12);
INSERT INTO ArtDefine_UnitMemberInfos(Type, Scale, Model, MaterialTypeTag, MaterialTypeSoundOverrideTag)
  VALUES ('ART_DEF_UNIT_MEMBER_HEBREW_SLINGER', 0.140000000596046, 'hebrew_slinger.fxsxml', 'CLOTH', 'FLESH');
INSERT INTO ArtDefine_UnitMemberCombats(UnitMemberType, EnableActions, ShortMoveRadius, ShortMoveRate, TargetHeight, HasShortRangedAttack, HasLongRangedAttack, HasRefaceAfterCombat, ReformBeforeCombat)
  VALUES ('ART_DEF_UNIT_MEMBER_HEBREW_SLINGER', 'Idle Attack RunCharge AttackCity Bombard Death BombardDefend Run Fortify CombatReady Walk AttackCharge', 12.0, 0.349999994039536, 8.0, 1, 1, 1, 1);
INSERT INTO ArtDefine_UnitMemberCombatWeapons(UnitMemberType, "Index", SubIndex, WeaponTypeTag, WeaponTypeSoundOverrideTag, MissTargetSlopRadius)
  VALUES ('ART_DEF_UNIT_MEMBER_HEBREW_SLINGER', 0, 0, 'ARROW', 'BOULDER', 10.0);
INSERT INTO ArtDefine_UnitMemberCombatWeapons(UnitMemberType, "Index", SubIndex, VisKillStrengthMin, VisKillStrengthMax, WeaponTypeTag, MissTargetSlopRadius)
  VALUES ('ART_DEF_UNIT_MEMBER_HEBREW_SLINGER', 1, 0, 10.0, 20.0, 'FLAMING_ARROW', 10.0);
INSERT INTO ArtDefine_StrategicView(StrategicViewType, TileType, Asset)
  VALUES ('ART_DEF_UNIT_HEBREW_SLINGER', 'Unit', 'sv_aw_slinger.dds');

Notice the ArtDefine_StrategicView entry.

And the reference on the Unit:

<Row>
            <Class>UNITCLASS_SLINGER</Class>
            <Type>UNIT_SLINGER</Type>
            <Combat>2</Combat>
            <RangedCombat>5</RangedCombat>
            <Cost>25</Cost>
            <FaithCost>50</FaithCost>
            <RequiresFaithPurchaseEnabled>true</RequiresFaithPurchaseEnabled>
            <Moves>2</Moves>
            <Range>1</Range>
            <CombatClass>UNITCOMBAT_ARCHER</CombatClass>
            <Domain>DOMAIN_LAND</Domain>
            <DefaultUnitAI>UNITAI_RANGED</DefaultUnitAI>
            <Description>TXT_KEY_UNIT_SLINGER</Description>
            <Civilopedia>TXT_KEY_CIV5_ANTIQUITY_SLINGER_TEXT</Civilopedia>
            <Strategy>TXT_KEY_UNIT_SLINGER_STRATEGY</Strategy>
            <Help>TXT_KEY_UNIT_HELP_SLINGER</Help>
            <MilitarySupport>true</MilitarySupport>
            <MilitaryProduction>true</MilitaryProduction>
            <Pillage>true</Pillage>
            <ObsoleteTech>TECH_ARCHERY</ObsoleteTech>
            <GoodyHutUpgradeUnitClass>UNITCLASS_ARCHER</GoodyHutUpgradeUnitClass>
            <AdvancedStartCost>15</AdvancedStartCost>
            <XPValueAttack>3</XPValueAttack>
            <XPValueDefense>3</XPValueDefense>
            <UnitArtInfo>ART_DEF_UNIT_HEBREW_SLINGER</UnitArtInfo>
            <UnitFlagAtlas>ANCIENT_WORLD_UNIT_FLAG_ATLAS</UnitFlagAtlas>
            <UnitFlagIconOffset>4</UnitFlagIconOffset>
            <IconAtlas>ANCIENT_WORLD_UNIT_ATLAS</IconAtlas>
            <PortraitIndex>4</PortraitIndex>
        </Row>

 

[Putmalk]

In terms of actually making them in GIMP, it should be straight-forward, here's an example to set you on the right way of how I set it up:

What really helps to easily update the colors is to check the "Lock alpha channel" option (in the bottom-right above the layers). That way, you can just fill color on the whole image and it will just update what's visible seamlessly. Works great!

 

[Putmalk]

And the unit flags are pretty straightforward, just take that 128x128 image and scale it to 32x32 plane. Use the same technique of locking the alpha channel to color it white.