Question re: Ship Modeling Preferences

[iambecomelife]

The Merchant Fleet Mod is almost finished and I've been wondering (again) about what people on the forums prefer in terms of shipping mods.

Do you guys tend to pay a lot of attention to structural differences in ships? Or are they basically all the same to you? When you're out on patrol, are you generally curious about what type of merchant ship you will meet next, or do you just care about the tonnage?

Also, do you prefer having a large number of different paint schemes or would you rather have a large number of different ship models?

For instance, here are two tankers that were based on the same hull. I am curious as to whether the structural differences between them seem obvious, or if they look pretty much interchangeable to you.

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d54/iambecomelife/Untitled-41.jpg

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d54/iambecomelife/Untitled-42.jpg

[Madox58]

I prefer more models.

And I like the small changes from one to the other.
Just changeing skins is like pasteing a Coors Beer label on
to a Blatz Beer!

It looks like a Coors,
But still tastes like a Blatz!
:lol:

[UberTorpedo]

Even the small structural differences are nice :up: . The skins can be always be done later :D . (Hey, how many ships are we talking about now???)

[Hellraiser]

I voted for BOTH! :lol:

Seriously...more ship models for me. :rock:

[Philipp_Thomsen]

I'm with Privateer on this one.

[VonDos]

I really prefer more models :yep:

[Wreford-Brown]

More models = more targets!

[Alex]

More models for me too, please.

:up:

[G.K.]

Both, various skins together with various models with a little difference, f. e. 2 ships of one ,,type"...

[meduza]

More models. :up:

[bigboywooly]

IMHO a ship should always have at least 5 skins anyway where possible
You will always get multiple instances in a convoy
Voted for more models
Skins can always be added to later in a seperate pack

[Alex]

Voted for more models
Skins can always be added to later in a seperate pack
Very true ! :yep:
:)

[Ktl_KUrtz]

The first ship at the top of the page!
THAT'S what I am looking for!:rock:
KUrtz

[Hanomag]

Need nifty new Exxon Valdeez Class..I mean really... :up:

[coronas]

More models, please. :up:

[Sailor Steve]

I can see some differences in the two pictures, but probably not all of them. I think the 'neutral' skins are cool, and I agree that having the same ship in the same convoy is cooler if they have different paint schemes on them, but in the end I too voted for models over skins.

[Jimbuna]

I think the general consensus is good....more models http://www.psionguild.org/forums/images/smilies/wolfsmilies/thumbsup.gif

[ryoga_77]

I'm definitely in favour of a greater number of models available to stalk and sink,however i'd also like to see more than one skin for each available model.I figure it would not do for a ship to have the same colour scheme for the duration of the war!

[nikbear]

More models please,:up:Skin packs can always be added later as/and when time allow;)

[Graf Paper]

I'm with the consensus on this. More variety in the types if ships is much better because it does give you more of the variety that adds to immersion. :yep:

Several skins to differentiate ships of the same type in a convoy would also be great but I agree that a "skin pack" or even other modders creating skins, as time allows, would be the best way to go if it would unnecessarily delay the release of your mod, IABL.

But, to be honest, I looked real close and I can not honestly see any differences between the two tankers you posted, IABL. I guess I'm either blind or not looking in the right places. :88)

[iambecomelife]

I'm with the consensus on this. More variety in the types if ships is much better because it does give you more of the variety that adds to immersion. :yep:

Several skins to differentiate ships of the same type in a convoy would also be great but I agree that a "skin pack" or even other modders creating skins, as time allows, would be the best way to go if it would unnecessarily delay the release of your mod, IABL.

But, to be honest, I looked real close and I can not honestly see any differences between the two tankers you posted, IABL. I guess I'm either blind or not looking in the right places. :88)

The most obvious difference I suppose is that the Eagle Oil vessel has a large "monkey island" on top of its pilothouse. Its bridge wings are more sloped than the other ship's. The bow also has less rake to it than the Esso tanker's. The middle bridge wing extends along the Eagle Oil ship's side - on the Esso ship it does not. The Esso tanker has a large awning frame on top of the stern deckhouse - on the Eagle Oil ship there is an awning frame on the main deck. The funnels are different, as are the deck crane and ventilator arrangement.:p

[Graf Paper]

Now that you've pointed them out, I do see the differences! :doh:

I never was very good at those "spot the differences" picture puzzles. :oops:

Very subtle and nicely done, IABL! You're certainly a master ship-builder! :up:

[TarJak]

Vive la difference! More models thanks. Skins can be added later if need be.

[thoomsn]

Well, here's my statement to this topic:

More steamers would be great because if you see the same ships in convoys again and again, that's not that great. BTW: How many ships (merchants) are there now in GWX?
Or - maybe as an alternative solution - use multi skinning (if possible; don't know) to get more varations of ship skins.
Anyway; my first vote is: More different 3D-models.

Good hunting!
thoomsn

[evan82]

More ships is important to me.:yep: For me every new ship is very important.
I have a hope some of Your ships will be compatible with stock game file's :p.
I'm always hungry for new ships!:arrgh!:

[Hitman]

I know I'm speaking for myself, but to me the most important characteristic is that I am forced to estimate/calculate the displacement/tonnage/dimensions of the ship, like real Kaleuns did. The addition of many new merchat units is great in that it forces you to stop browsing the ID book in the hope of getting an exact match (There were hundreds if not thousands of merchant ship models around in WW2) and have the risk of a bad estimate and wrong firing solution.

Looking at both merchants you depicted, I would make the following rough guess as Kaleun for my target data:

-Tanker, split superstructure
-Approx 6000-7500 GRT
-Aprox 100 metres long (For a fixed wire speed measurement)
-Aprox mast heigth of 22 metres

And that's one of the nicest part of the game for me, which your mod improves considerably :up: