Unit requests thread

[A_Hamster]

What about a minstrel with a lute for an Ancient Great Entertainer? Or if the mod is Asian-themed, a geisha with koto (a type of stringed instrument) or masked kabuki actor? There is a geisha in the Downloads DB, but I'm not aware of any minstrels or kabuki actors in the DB.

 

[The Capo]

What about a minstrel with a lute for an Ancient Great Entertainer? Or if the mod is Asian-themed, a geisha with koto (a type of stringed instrument) or masked kabuki actor? There is a geisha in the Downloads DB, but I'm not aware of any minstrels or kabuki actors in the DB.

Knowing the success of other GP requests, I doubt any of this will come to fruition, the problem is the animations. They are pretty specific when it comes to the great artist, on both accounts actually.

EDIT: Although to be somewhat helpful, for the minstrel I'd suggest using the Musketeer's torso (reskinned to whatever you want) and the Ancient Great Merchant's head.

 

[cfkane]

I saw in the download database that someone had made the pig resource into a unit.

Could someone do that for the other animal resources? I've started working on a unit set that could benefit from unit models of a beaver, whale, cow and so on.

 

[mechaerik]

If there's anyplace to find animal units, check strategyonly's Animal Empire.

 

[cfkane]

I did. It's fine for its own sake, but I'm trying to make a set with all real-world animals. strategyonly's set has a lot of fantasy animals that I don't need.

Besides, I'm asking for some specific new units for my own animal empire set. The animal resources in the game could be re-rigged for use as unit models. The pig, deer and elephant have already been done, but I have yet to see units for the cow, crab, fish, beaver (fur), sheep or whale.

 

[Kathy]

In FfH2 is a harlekin like unit, which could work as an ancient great artist.

A harlekin would be good for an ancient entertainer. Now there is just need for a modern artist. I would prefer a painter or a musician, so he is different from the singing entertainer.

 

[A_Hamster]

Knowing the success of other GP requests, I doubt any of this will come to fruition, the problem is the animations. They are pretty specific when it comes to the great artist, on both accounts actually.

EDIT: Although to be somewhat helpful, for the minstrel I'd suggest using the Musketeer's torso (reskinned to whatever you want) and the Ancient Great Merchant's head.

That's okay. It's not a request, just a suggestion. I don't need an Ancient Great Entertainer.

Still, what is the most challenging part of making a new unit? At times, I look at an existing unit and think that it is almost what I want, but the helmet/weapon/uniform is not right. Would a head swap or weapon swap be difficult to learn? Or changing the color of an uniform?

 

[The Capo]

That's okay. It's not a request, just a suggestion. I don't need an Ancient Great Entertainer.

Still, what is the most challenging part of making a new unit? At times, I look at an existing unit and think that it is almost what I want, but the helmet/weapon/uniform is not right. Would a head swap or weapon swap be difficult to learn? Or changing the color of an uniform?

I am not nearly as good at making units as a lot of the other guys around here, and you all know who you are. But moving around heads and stuff is not that difficult at all really, the most difficult thing, I think is working with the bones and animations. Also finding an idea for a unit is pretty difficult too. Although I haven't actually made my own model yet. So I have no idea.

 

[achilleszero]

That's okay. It's not a request, just a suggestion. I don't need an Ancient Great Entertainer.

Still, what is the most challenging part of making a new unit? At times, I look at an existing unit and think that it is almost what I want, but the helmet/weapon/uniform is not right. Would a head swap or weapon swap be difficult to learn? Or changing the color of an uniform?

Depending on what program you use, a head/weapon swap can be as easy ans copy/paste or a click and drag (ie: horribly easy). Then little minor adjustments maybe to make it sit in the exact right position.

Changing the color of the uniform is just about as easy. Actually painting a whole new pattern or detail is where the texturing part gets difficult. But if you can find another texture with what you want, copy paste can apply there as well.

Making entirely new units, whether it be changing the shape or making entirely new parts or making new animation, is a more advanced thing. That will be later in your unit making career.

EDIT: and to echo the Capo, coming up with ideas also sucks (deciding what said unit should look like). That in and of itself is an artform.

 

[mechaerik]

I am not nearly as good at making units as a lot of the other guys around here, and you all know who you are. But moving around heads and stuff is not that difficult at all really, the most difficult thing, I think is working with the bones and animations. Also finding an idea for a unit is pretty difficult too. Although I haven't actually made my own model yet. So I have no idea.

What are you talking about Capo? You're a damn fine unit maker.

Thinking of an idea can be hard sometimes, though.

 

[A_Hamster]

Depending on what program you use, a head/weapon swap can be as easy ans copy/paste or a click and drag (ie: horribly easy). Then little minor adjustments maybe to make it sit in the exact right position.

What program would you recommend? Or are different programs used at different times since some do a given editing function better than others?

achilleszero & The Capo: Thank you for your answers. I'll look up the tutorials: I've already downloaded the Medieval unit packs that someone uploaded some time ago with a variety of "parts" for kitbashing units.

 

[The Capo]

Not a problem, you should start out with some easy stuff though, which is the point I'm still at, before moving on to doing your own models. There are a lot of different heads, bodies, weapons, and parts out there that you could make a bunch of units that still look good but don't require that much experience.

 

[achilleszero]

What program would you recommend? Or are different programs used at different times since some do a given editing function better than others?

Nifskope or sceneviewer are what you would start with for messing with nifs. Most people use nifskope because it can do so much more than scene viewer. The only advantage of sceneviewer really would be its viewport. Which shows the unit exactly as it will appear in game (correct position, and any shader/gloss that it has). You only really need one of these for simple head or weapon swaps, and I would suggest Nifskope. Most of the time I use both, sometimes just one or the other, or simultaneaously, for various reasons. But for a beginner just using nifskope should be enough.

For painting its skin I would suggest GIMP. But any paint program that can handle DDS or TGA will suffice.

 

[mechaerik]

Skinning can go a long way though. Like this unit i'm working on:

Modern marine. So far, all this is only skinning the regular vietnam-type marine. No nifswapping, no model editing, nothing but a good old DDS editor.

 

[Flying Pig]

I'm all for simple modifications - I don't think I've yet touched Blender

 

[A_Hamster]

Thanks for the replies.

Nifskope or sceneviewer are what you would start with for messing with nifs. Most people use nifskope because it can do so much more than scene viewer. The only advantage of sceneviewer really would be its viewport. Which shows the unit exactly as it will appear in game (correct position, and any shader/gloss that it has). You only really need one of these for simple head or weapon swaps, and I would suggest Nifskope. Most of the time I use both, sometimes just one or the other, or simultaneaously, for various reasons. But for a beginner just using nifskope should be enough.

For painting its skin I would suggest GIMP. But any paint program that can handle DDS or TGA will suffice.

Okay, thanks. As it happens, I've GIMP already, so only Nifskope needs to be downloaded.

And yes, I'll be keeping things simple at first: walk, then run. There's lots of units I want, but many are ambitious, and would not be a good first (or even third) project.

 

[Healz]

Is he meant to be a US Marine? If so you would be better off taking the gun out and putting in an M-16. An Ak-47 would really only suit Soviet Marines. Unless this is intended to be a modern Soviet Marine...

 

[mechaerik]

Its just a reskin, but I did include two nifs, one with an M16 and another with a G36. I assume you were talking to me.

I made the thread for it here:
http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?t=339984

 

[Healz]

Yes, I was. That's good because the gun in the illustration looks so like an AK-47. I think though it could be good if you tried to reskin the Modern Marine to suit different nationalities such as Russian, Asian, maybe a British SAS soldier reskin... You could call it an invasion of marines...

 

[Chryso]

Hi, Im making a fantasy mod atm. and I have been flipping through the available elephants without finding anything really nice. The european one was decent, but the elephant had no armor what-so-ever.

The elephant should be heavily armored, almost so that it looks like a knight's horse in barding. It could even have fantasy'ish big shoulder paddings or spikes sticking out - it should just look fairly realistic though (not extremely oversized WoW armors!).

The elephant rider (or several riders??) should be pretty heavily armored as well. What weapon he has, is up to you.


I hope someone is up for this task

Thanx in advance!

(the unit is for BtS).