Fractal Softworks Forum

Starsector => Mods => Topic started by: mattfrank7 on January 22, 2012, 11:25:04 AM

Title: Trojans mod 0.1! (In development)
Post by: mattfrank7 on January 22, 2012, 11:25:04 AM

Matthew's Trojans mod thread!

(http://img862.imageshack.us/img862/6761/trojans.png)

This is going to be the thread for my mod, named the Trojans Mod! :D

Before you begin reading this, I want you to know that this mod is still in heavy development, and will not be finished for a while :)

Info on the mod!

Well, this mod is all about adding a group of ships and a few missions to the game for you guys to play, currently it adds two ships and one mission for you to play them on, the ships aren't perfected yet so you may feel that they need improvement/center]

The story

The Trojans are a band of highly trained space warriors that are very powerful with energy weapons, who spend their days doing as the please; sometimes they engage a group of ships that they pass, whether they are friendly or not, and sometimes they help others and form alliances.. That they usually end up breaking less than a week after forming them. Play as this group of space warriors and watch as they destroy all those who try to intimidate them.

DOWNLOAD HERE! (http://www.mediafire.com/?aj3lse6ouxb9mp7)

Ships

Here is a list of ships that the mod is planned to add :D


Trojan Supercharger - Medium frigate - The first sprite that I have made and it is currently being made:
(http://img205.imageshack.us/img205/198/trojanstrojansupercharg.png)


Trojan Megafighter - large frigate - Sprite just finished:
(http://img534.imageshack.us/img534/4666/trojanstrojanmegafighte.png)

More on the way.

Please give constructive criticism!

Title: Re: Trojans mod 0.1! (In development)
Post by: mattfrank7 on January 26, 2012, 10:20:14 AM

just a small bump

EDIT
Bumping so that the download can be noticed now that it is out

there you go Alex :D

Title: Re: Trojans mod 0.1! (In development)
Post by: Alex on January 26, 2012, 10:26:07 AM

Quote from: mattfrank7 on January 26, 2012, 10:20:14 AM

just a small bump

Please don't bump just for the sake of bumping. Of course, if there's a new version out, or something else noteworthy, that's absolutely fine to post about. Maybe that's what you were doing here? If so, my apologies - but it wouldn't hurt to make that clear in your post, so people can see *why* you posted, and what exactly is new.

Title: Re: Trojans mod 0.1! (In development)
Post by: Alex on January 26, 2012, 10:32:02 AM

Looks like it's shaping up nicely, btw - congrats on getting things working.

One problem though - you have

"background":"D:/Starfarer/starfarer-core/graphics/backgrounds/background1.jpg"

in your descriptor.json, which isn't going to work on other people's computers.

Change it to:

"background":"graphics/backgrounds/background1.jpg"

to make it work.

Title: Re: Trojans mod 0.1! (In development)
Post by: mattfrank7 on January 26, 2012, 02:46:42 PM

Quote from: Alex on January 26, 2012, 10:32:02 AM

Looks like it's shaping up nicely, btw - congrats on getting things working.

One problem though - you have

"background":"D:/Starfarer/starfarer-core/graphics/backgrounds/background1.jpg"

in your descriptor.json, which isn't going to work on other people's computers.

Change it to:

"background":"graphics/backgrounds/background1.jpg"

to make it work.

Fixed!
I make too many mistakes, but I feel the need to say I am very clumsy seeing as I am only 13 and don't notice things like the rest of you guys do xD

Title: Re: Trojans mod 0.1! (In development)
Post by: icepick37 on January 26, 2012, 03:28:39 PM

Ah, but you will learn. It just takes time.

Title: Re: Trojans mod 0.1! (In development)
Post by: Upgradecap on April 21, 2012, 04:38:25 PM

(http://api.ning.com/files/G51I7ZLRvQ7-xdj4*kIlVXPK1xOTlHIx7okF9cU8HJEtOsNFn51qajNM5LTonEMSqQRH7-a-stngZ1y8SP0I81Xe1g7sm0q8/Thread_Necromancy_3038.jpg)

This thread needs to continue development. Please keep it alive :)

Title: Re: Trojans mod 0.1! (In development)
Post by: CrashToDesktop on April 21, 2012, 05:44:54 PM

Quote from: Upgradecap on April 21, 2012, 04:38:25 PM

(http://api.ning.com/files/G51I7ZLRvQ7-xdj4*kIlVXPK1xOTlHIx7okF9cU8HJEtOsNFn51qajNM5LTonEMSqQRH7-a-stngZ1y8SP0I81Xe1g7sm0q8/Thread_Necromancy_3038.jpg)

This thread needs to continue development. Please keep it alive :)

Arg!  You did it again!  We must stop the TimCorp's development into resurrection...
Anyway, the mod looks good so far.  I like the supercharger's sprite - just enough roundness and just enough straight. :D

Title: Re: Trojans mod 0.1! (In development)
Post by: mattfrank7 on June 30, 2012, 05:07:36 AM

Quote from: Upgradecap on April 21, 2012, 04:38:25 PM

(http://api.ning.com/files/G51I7ZLRvQ7-xdj4*kIlVXPK1xOTlHIx7okF9cU8HJEtOsNFn51qajNM5LTonEMSqQRH7-a-stngZ1y8SP0I81Xe1g7sm0q8/Thread_Necromancy_3038.jpg)

This thread needs to continue development. Please keep it alive :)

Hmm.. I should start development again

It's just that the campaign update came out and I basically gave up as I didn't want to spend time to learn how to mod the campaign version of the game. But I guess at some point around this month I will kick start development again. NEVER FEAR. TROJANS MOD IS HERE! :D

Title: Re: Trojans mod 0.1! (In development)
Post by: mattfrank7 on June 30, 2012, 05:25:27 AM

I'm not a very good spriter.. I just don't get how my designs look so simple compared to others, take Megal00t's newest ship for example.
http://imageshack.us/f/826/carriern.png/

What makes his look so much more realistic than mine? I understand attention to detail is a big one, but its just, the colours on that ship look very realistic and it just looks all round actually 3 dimensional, whereas my designs seem to look so flat.. I really am puzzled.

Any assistance/tips from spriters would help get this mod back on track :D

Title: Re: Trojans mod 0.1! (In development)
Post by: Upgradecap on June 30, 2012, 05:53:27 AM

You did know that megaloot never sprites anything on that ship from scratch, but instead just used a 3D render from Homeworld 2? :D

Title: Re: Trojans mod 0.1! (In development)
Post by: mattfrank7 on June 30, 2012, 07:09:16 AM

Quote from: Upgradecap on June 30, 2012, 05:53:27 AM

You did know that megaloot never sprites anything on that ship from scratch, but instead just used a 3D render from Homeworld 2? :D

Uh... Yeah.. I.. Totally knew that...

But still, even the sprites native to the game look so much more 3 dimensional and realistic than mine.. D:
I badly need to learn how make sprites well

Title: Re: Trojans mod 0.1! (In development)
Post by: Erick Doe on June 30, 2012, 08:55:35 AM

Looking at your sprites, they appear to be handdrawn in a basic graphics program like MS Paint. Correct?

Great! That is ideal for drawing up a ship, giving it color and even giving it some depth and detail.

From there you could add further detail, color, shading and depth in an advanced graphics program such as Photoshop, Corel Draw or (completely free) Gimp.


How do you add depth in a simple program such as MS Paint, so that it doesn't look as flat, you ask? Simple. Pick a color, create a simple pallete for it, ranging from very dark to very light. Then add the darkest shade of the color on the outer edges of your ship, and then work inward, making it lighter and ligher. Eventually, your ship will appear to have some depth.

This can then be improved upon and augmented in an advanced graphics program, allowing you to add differences in lighting, shading, etc.


Here you can see an example from one of my Antediluvian sprites:
(http://i1022.photobucket.com/albums/af343/erick_doe/Sprite_Example.png)

1.) The lower part has already received some detail and depth in paint, the top half hasn't. As a result it looks very flat. Right next to the ship you can see two simple color palettes. Copying the colors and adding them around the edges of the ship will result in giving it a less flat, more 3D look.

2.) The ship has received detail and depth in MS Paint.

3.) The colors have received some augmentation in an advanced graphics program. The contrast has been improved.

4.) The ship has received darker shadows around the outer edges and brighter lighting on the center, resulting in more depth and an overall more interesting look.

Title: Re: Trojans mod 0.1! (In development)
Post by: Erick Doe on June 30, 2012, 09:01:14 AM

Building your own "kitbashing" palette can also greatly help you in creating new ships. You won't have to hand paint every part. Instead you can just assemble a ship from pre-made parts. Then finish the sprite in stages. You can also keep adding to your palette, after you discover nice combinations in the ships you have assembled.

For example, a few legion ship sprites:

1.)
The palette:
(http://i1022.photobucket.com/albums/af343/erick_doe/Starfarer/Legion/Template_02.png)

2.)
Pieced together ship #1:
(http://i1022.photobucket.com/albums/af343/erick_doe/Starfarer/Legion/AF_Pugio_Tanker_Template.png)

Pieced together ship #2:
(http://i1022.photobucket.com/albums/af343/erick_doe/Starfarer/Legion/DDE_Cetratus_Template.png)

3.)
Colored ship #1:
(http://i1022.photobucket.com/albums/af343/erick_doe/Starfarer/Legion/AF_Pugio_Tanker_Final.png)

Colored ship #2:
(http://i1022.photobucket.com/albums/af343/erick_doe/Starfarer/Legion/DDE_Cetratus_Final.png)

4.)
Ship #1 after shading:
(http://i1022.photobucket.com/albums/af343/erick_doe/Starfarer/Legion/AF_Pugio_Tanker_Lighting.png)

Ship #2 after shading:
(http://i1022.photobucket.com/albums/af343/erick_doe/Starfarer/Legion/DDE_Cetratus_Lighting.png)

Title: Re: Trojans mod 0.1! (In development)
Post by: mattfrank7 on July 01, 2012, 03:13:47 AM

Woah, that helps alot man! thanks.

Just a sidenote, I was using Paint.NET with AA turned off xD but it's basically the same only I can save images with transparency in the program

Title: Re: Trojans mod 0.1! (In development)
Post by: mattfrank7 on July 08, 2012, 04:00:39 AM

Good news everyone! (Not...)

I found out that when I was cleaning out my laptop to try and regain some space, I deleted all of the mod files.. Which means I get to start the WHOLE DAMN THING AGAIN. D:

But don't worry, I am not the kind of person to give up after a slap in the face by my stupidity.

I have made some new ship designs and you guys can name them :D
 
(http://img35.imageshack.us/img35/3965/trojanunnamed01.png) (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/35/trojanunnamed01.png/)

There's that which will be a medium frigate



And here's a fighter I made :D

(http://img404.imageshack.us/img404/1563/trojanfighter.png) (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/404/trojanfighter.png/)

There you go guys, the fighter sprite will be improved but you guys get to name them both, the names I like the most will be the one chosen :D

Title: Re: Trojans mod 0.1! (In development)
Post by: mattfrank7 on July 08, 2012, 04:01:42 AM

Also, if anybody has the mod downloaded from the last working release, is it possible for you to upload it somewhere for me to download so that atleast I have the original mod back?

Title: Re: Trojans mod 0.1! (In development)
Post by: Erick Doe on July 08, 2012, 04:14:56 AM

Quote from: mattfrank7 on July 08, 2012, 04:01:42 AM

Also, if anybody has the mod downloaded from the last working release, is it possible for you to upload it somewhere for me to download so that atleast I have the original mod back?

There's still a download link up on your OP. Can't you download it yourself?

As for the ship names.

Talon for the frigate. Because it sort of looks like a bird's claw.

Bolt for the fighter. Because it is small and sleek like a bolt.


Good job on the new ships. They look less flat. :)

Title: Re: Trojans mod 0.1! (In development)
Post by: mattfrank7 on July 08, 2012, 04:18:45 AM

Quote from: Erick Doe on July 08, 2012, 04:14:56 AM

Quote from: mattfrank7 on July 08, 2012, 04:01:42 AM

Also, if anybody has the mod downloaded from the last working release, is it possible for you to upload it somewhere for me to download so that atleast I have the original mod back?

There's still a download link up on your OP. Can't you download it yourself?

As for the ship names.

Talon for the frigate. Because it sort of looks like a bird's claw.

Bolt for the fighter. Because it is small and sleek like a bolt.

Nope, the download link is broken for some reason D: DAMN MEDIAFIRE.


That's funny, I was thinking something like Falcon because it looks like a claw too, but isn't Talon already in the game? Talon Fighter Wing?

Title: Re: Trojans mod 0.1! (In development)
Post by: WKOB on July 08, 2012, 06:33:15 AM

...and the Bolt is a fighter for the Interstellar Federation, you could still use it of course.

Title: Re: Trojans mod 0.1! (In development)
Post by: Erick Doe on July 08, 2012, 06:35:57 AM

Alright then:

Claw

Dart (in case you don't want to use names similar to those in other mods)

Title: Re: Trojans mod 0.1! (In development)
Post by: WKOB on July 08, 2012, 06:55:04 AM

Allow me to pass on some advice I got from Uomoz early on, look at vanilla ships.

Two main things.

Vanilla ships darken at the edges, giving an effect of deepening. Apparently I usually makes the edges too dark so experiment with that drawing an outline of the ship on a new layer and blurring that outline.

Blue windows, it's more of a stylistic choice than a realistic one. There's nothing to reflect that's blue, they should really be the colour of the light from the inside of the ship. I tend to give them a yellow glow, as do the vanilla ships.

A bit of contrast and noise (used responsibly) goes a long way.

Title: Re: Trojans mod 0.1! (In development)
Post by: mattfrank7 on July 08, 2012, 08:39:29 AM

Quote from: Austupaio on July 08, 2012, 06:55:04 AM

Allow me to pass on some advice I got from Uomoz early on, look at vanilla ships.

Two main things.

Vanilla ships darken at the edges, giving an effect of deepening. Apparently I usually makes the edges too dark so experiment with that drawing an outline of the ship on a new layer and blurring that outline.

Blue windows, it's more of a stylistic choice than a realistic one. There's nothing to reflect that's blue, they should really be the colour of the light from the inside of the ship. I tend to give them a yellow glow, as do the vanilla ships.

A bit of contrast and noise (used responsibly) goes a long way.

Yeah the blue is a stylistic choice, after all, the Trojans are a very stylish faction that wish to destroy their enemies with class and while looking good :D

Let's just say the windows are blue tinted for their targeting systems or something.

Also, what message are you actually trying to get across with the advice? Like what should I actually do? I know what you mean about making a new layer and blurring the outline, but the ships already get dark at the edges?


Thanks for the advice though :D

Title: Re: Trojans mod 0.1! (In development)
Post by: mattfrank7 on July 08, 2012, 08:57:42 AM

Quote from: Austupaio on July 08, 2012, 06:55:04 AM

Allow me to pass on some advice I got from Uomoz early on, look at vanilla ships.

Two main things.

Vanilla ships darken at the edges, giving an effect of deepening. Apparently I usually makes the edges too dark so experiment with that drawing an outline of the ship on a new layer and blurring that outline.

Blue windows, it's more of a stylistic choice than a realistic one. There's nothing to reflect that's blue, they should really be the colour of the light from the inside of the ship. I tend to give them a yellow glow, as do the vanilla ships.

A bit of contrast and noise (used responsibly) goes a long way.

I tried your suggestions and here is the result..

(http://img543.imageshack.us/img543/5794/trojanunnamed01test.png) (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/543/trojanunnamed01test.png/)

Title: Re: Trojans mod 0.1! (In development)
Post by: WKOB on July 08, 2012, 09:00:39 AM

Aye, basically, although I'd say a bit more tweaking is necessary, as well as deleting the overflow on to the transparent area.

Title: Re: Trojans mod 0.1! (In development)
Post by: mattfrank7 on July 08, 2012, 09:01:46 AM

Quote

I tried your suggestions and here is the result..

(http://img543.imageshack.us/img543/5794/trojanunnamed01test.png) (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/543/trojanunnamed01test.png/)

Hmm.. Looks a bit too dark around the edges.. Here is a slighly dumbed down version:
(http://img233.imageshack.us/img233/5794/trojanunnamed01test.png) (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/233/trojanunnamed01test.png/)

Title: Re: Trojans mod 0.1! (In development)
Post by: mattfrank7 on July 08, 2012, 09:17:29 AM

Quote from: Austupaio on July 08, 2012, 09:00:39 AM

Aye, basically, although I'd say a bit more tweaking is necessary, as well as deleting the overflow on to the transparent area.

So you're saying I need to keep the blurred parts on the ship, but delete the parts overflowing into the transparent area?

Title: Re: Trojans mod 0.1! (In development)
Post by: WKOB on July 08, 2012, 10:28:11 AM

Aye. You don't necessarily need to, the dark backgrounds of Starfarer mean that it won't really make a difference, but it'd be a lot cleaner easier to edit in the future.