Unit Request(s) (from me) and help.....

[andy_p]

To be brief, i really would like to know what programs i need for animating and creating units, i guess i need flicster but im not sure what other software i need and id like some advice on the best programmes i need to begin unit creation (and maybe where i can but them, not e-bay as i never give out credit numbers on net).
As for unit creations the first one isnt really a major one and can be a copy and paste effort. Ive just finished reading "the guns of the south" by harry turtledove where a group of South Africans go back in time from the modern world to 1864 and give the confederate armies AK-47s and the unions battle plans for the year, so obviously the confederacy wins. What id like is the standard rifleman to be given an AK-47 (copied from the guerilla) and presumably with the same amount of flcs. Generally i thought itd be a nice alternative history unit in the game.
The second unit would basically be a modern British soldier as ive been using Kinboats modern infantry but id like to see a truly modern british soldier, i thought perhaps balous parachutist but with darker green camo and an SA80 rifle, also a version with a helmet and one with the beret (already on the parachutist) would be grand.
If anyone would do this i would be ever so greatful and i thank you in advance.
Andrew

 

[muffins]

You dont need to buy anything

This is how I do it ...

I use OpenFX Designer to create the models and insert the skeleton

OpenFX Animator to animate and render to small bitmaps

A bulk rename utility (called BRU) to rename the hundreds of frames so that they're all numbered correctly for use with Steph's SBB (Story Board Builder)

I then create a custom palette from an old civ-unit palette with Paint Shop Pro 7 and then add the EXACT colours to it from the frames with a palette editor called PEdit

I then use Steph's SBB to create bitmap storyboards from the frames.

Then I create blank storyboards with FLICster in pcx format

I then open one of the blank pcx storyboards in Paint Shop Pro and load the new palette, remembering to maintain indexes (colour order in the palette). Any graphics prog that lets you open, save and edit palettes will do though.

Then I open up a bitmap storyboard that Steph's SBB generated and also load the new palette, this time using nearest colour diffusion

It's then a simple copy and paste job of the bitmap storyboard into the pcx storyboard.

I then save the pcx storyboard and then open it with FLICster and check the anti-aliasing, shadows and civ-colour are all ok. I then set the animation speed and export a civ-flic from FLICster

Once all the storyboards are exported to civ-flics I just stick them in a folder and zip them up, ready to upload to civfanatics.

You can find all the above mentioned programs via Google. Paint Shop Pro also comes as a free trial version

 

[andy_p]

wow, cheers man, i am now looking forward to seeing a dastardly confederate with a Kalashnikov . Anyways i now have hundreds of unit ideas for CIV3 and im looking forward to possibly becoming a good unit creator (just having finished my exams and have ALL summer to tinker with units, except of course when i have to go to work )
Andrew