Smoke Stack MOD ?

CaptainCox · 07-08-07, 07:22 AM

Is there a mod that has a blacker smoke (visible on the horizon) for the Merchant Ships?.
I know there is a few for SH3, but not sure if it has been incorporated in any mods yet for SH4. I saw this thread over at the SH3 Workshop.
http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=117748
I guess its only a matter of porting the SH3 Tweakfile and try...or?

Bando · 07-08-07, 07:41 AM

I wish there was a mod like that. I have read some of the war reports of the submarines. Mostly their first detection of an enemy was smoke over the horizon. It's a bit strange it is not implemented ingame.
If this is to be done properly, your own diesels generate also smoke albeit a lot less compared to the steam engines and heavy oil engines of merchants, but nonetheless.

Anyway, here I am moaning, don't have a clue about graphic files and am certainly not capable of making such a mod.........

My 2 cents I guess

Bando

CaptainCox · 07-08-07, 12:40 PM

Ok had a stab at this.
In the SH3 "#funnel_smoke" tweak file there is 3 "DropDownName=black_smoke#"
But I can only find 2 in SH4. I also checked the overall "black_smoke" instances compared to SH3. In SH3 there are 16 but in SH4 only 11.

Anyway I used the settings from "Racerboy" over at the SH3 forum and this is what it looks like in SH4

Not to bad...BUT!

A bit hefty hey!

The smoke also sort a pulses out, like slowly and then suddenly POFF, like in the pic above.

Needs more tweaking that's for sure.

If someone wants to play with the settings please do.
Here is the Ported Tweakfile
Credits to TIMETRAVELER for all the original work on this Tweakfile
I only ported it.
Also credits to Racerboy for the settings (witch needs to be tweaked for SH4, but never the less)

DOWNLOAD LINK TO FUNNEL SMOKE TWEAK FILE [WIP]
http://files.filefront.com/funnel+smoke+SH4rar/;7995810;;/fileinfo.html

tater · 07-08-07, 12:47 PM

Is there any distinction between ships for smoke? Coal fired ships looked like that last pic (minus the puff) but it varied a lot depanding on the engines (bunker burning, coal, dielsel, etc).

CaptainCox · 07-08-07, 12:54 PM

As far as i have seen it don't look like that in the particle dat. only Smoke Funnel. The puffing might be controlled else where. Trying some "lighter" settings here...lets see what it does...

Anvart · 07-08-07, 12:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CaptainCox

Is there a mod that has a blacker smoke (visible on the horizon) for the Merchant Ships?.
I know there is a few for SH3, but not sure if it has been incorporated in any mods yet for SH4. I saw this thread over at the SH3 Workshop.
http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=117748
I guess its only a matter of porting the SH3 Tweakfile and try...or?

It is necessary to make the same, that has been made in my mod for SH3:
Ship_Smoke.rar

CaptainCox · 07-08-07, 12:58 PM

Ahhhhh. Cheers Anvart!, will have a look. Do you mind or?

EDIT: I see you have changed a lot of stuff there

Would it be possible for you to have a look at this one for SH4, as you know what you did in SH3 allready?

Jace11 · 07-08-07, 01:25 PM

Observer posted a particles.dat several months ago..

It had been through a hefty workover, with many hex changes, and whole segments of smoke data had been moved and re-done. But the smoke was darker and still kept some transparancy.

It intrigued more and more and not just cause of the darker smoke he achieved... maybe I am just nosy but...

The header in the file was different from SH3 and SH4 particles.dat's so I suspected that he had a copy of Kashmir...
(the signature at the header of the file was something like BOB/HOME instead of one of the normal dev names...)

In the thread I asked him how and why the files were so different in size etc, in response he said, and I quote...

"I'm not trying to be coy, but I'm afraid that's not possible. This effect was not achieved through normal hex editing, which also accounts for the differences in file size. I am unable and unwilling to say anything else beyond that."

When I aired my suspicions, he made no more comments...

If he did have it for whatever reason - beta-testing etc, I guess he would be under an NDA etc and unable / unwilling to comment..

The speedyshare file that he posted is now unavailable, but maybe I have it somewhere, or someone else does...

Found the thread, contains a post or two from you Coxy..

http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/show...ighlight=Smoke

I could be wrong of course, but it is slightly annoying if certain members may use Kashmir to make mods, while the rest of have to do it the LONG HARD WAY...

CaptainCox · 07-08-07, 02:01 PM

Ahhhh, yea i remember this tread. I was to involved in the stuff from Privater (exhaust mod) to really look at the rest :p. But will have a closer look at it now.

CaptainCox · 07-08-07, 02:53 PM

Was playing around with this a bit more.
Managed to get a pretty "high" smoke stack. But the problem is that its not vissible over long distances due to LOD maybe...

As you can see the farthest ships smoke is not vissible.

Hitman · 07-08-07, 02:59 PM

Yes the stock smoke also isn't visible fromfar away easily when raising the horizon distance (And LOD did not help for me). :hmm: Sadly I have not yet found a way to get the "hull down" effect correctly when placing the horizon far away, so even if the smoke can be seen at that distance -which would be already a great thing- I'm afraid further work will be needed to have it be the only thing visible above the horizon.

Anvart · 07-08-07, 03:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CaptainCox

Ahhhhh. Cheers Anvart!, will have a look. Do you mind or?

EDIT: I see you have changed a lot of stuff there

Would it be possible for you to have a look at this one for SH4, as you know what you did in SH3 allready?

Readme (partially):
"In stock game we have one type of a smoke for all ships (big and small).
This mod adds other two types of a smoke for small and big smoke funnels of the ships.
This mod is intended (basically) for advanced moders.
The main content:
1) particles.dat - the basic file a mod
...
3) files for work with SH3 Mini Tweaker:
#funnel_smokeBig.txt
#funnel_smokeSm.txt.
...
5) help pictures
Application.
For application of this or that type of a smoke it is necessary to write down corresponding
the identifier in *.sim file of the ship (look pictures):
6DD778C0004D3491 - a usual smoke (stock)
6DD97AC2004D3691 - a small smoke
6DD879C1004D3591 - the big smoke.
If someone will want to change a kind new smoke objects it is possible to use the program
SH3 Mini Tweaker with files #funnel_smokeBig.txt and #funnel_smokeSm.txt.
..."

CaptainCox · 07-08-07, 03:50 PM

Cool stuff Anvart, cheers!
As its getting late here I will have to call it a day, but seems like a good project for the coming week

Would you have an idea on how to make the smoke to be visible further away (seeing the smoke stack over the horizon)

Thanks!

EDIT! had another look at your file. BRILLIANT! man

EDITII

those tweak files are HUGE! MAN!

what a job that must have been doing that

Anvart · 07-09-07, 03:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CaptainCox

Cool stuff Anvart, cheers!
As its getting late here I will have to call it a day, but seems like a good project for the coming week

Would you have an idea on how to make the smoke to be visible further away (seeing the smoke stack over the horizon)

Thanks!

EDIT! had another look at your file. BRILLIANT! man

EDITII

those tweak files are HUGE! MAN!

what a job that must have been doing that

1) Unfortunately new SH4 graphic features do this job not easy ...
2) This files are for full adjustment ...

kv29 · 07-17-07, 07:08 PM

Cox & Anvart, have you achieved a more real funnel smoke? If so, would you be kind enough to share some numbers to tweak?

07-08-07, 07:22 AM	#1
CaptainCox Sea Lord Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: A Swede in Frankfurt am Main Posts: 1,897 Downloads: 4 Uploads: 0	Smoke Stack MOD ? Is there a mod that has a blacker smoke (visible on the horizon) for the Merchant Ships?. I know there is a few for SH3, but not sure if it has been incorporated in any mods yet for SH4. I saw this thread over at the SH3 Workshop. http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=117748 I guess its only a matter of porting the SH3 Tweakfile and try...or? __________________ DOWNLOAD MY MODS HERE

07-08-07, 12:40 PM	#3
CaptainCox Sea Lord Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: A Swede in Frankfurt am Main Posts: 1,897 Downloads: 4 Uploads: 0	Ok had a stab at this. In the SH3 "#funnel_smoke" tweak file there is 3 "DropDownName=black_smoke#" But I can only find 2 in SH4. I also checked the overall "black_smoke" instances compared to SH3. In SH3 there are 16 but in SH4 only 11. Anyway I used the settings from "Racerboy" over at the SH3 forum and this is what it looks like in SH4 Not to bad...BUT! A bit hefty hey! The smoke also sort a pulses out, like slowly and then suddenly POFF, like in the pic above. Needs more tweaking that's for sure. If someone wants to play with the settings please do. Here is the Ported Tweakfile Credits to TIMETRAVELER for all the original work on this Tweakfile I only ported it. Also credits to Racerboy for the settings (witch needs to be tweaked for SH4, but never the less) DOWNLOAD LINK TO FUNNEL SMOKE TWEAK FILE [WIP] http://files.filefront.com/funnel+smoke+SH4rar/;7995810;;/fileinfo.html __________________ DOWNLOAD MY MODS HERE

07-08-07, 12:54 PM	#5
CaptainCox Sea Lord Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: A Swede in Frankfurt am Main Posts: 1,897 Downloads: 4 Uploads: 0	As far as i have seen it don't look like that in the particle dat. only Smoke Funnel. The puffing might be controlled else where. Trying some "lighter" settings here...lets see what it does... __________________ DOWNLOAD MY MODS HERE

07-08-07, 12:58 PM	#7
CaptainCox Sea Lord Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: A Swede in Frankfurt am Main Posts: 1,897 Downloads: 4 Uploads: 0	Ahhhhh. Cheers Anvart!, will have a look. Do you mind or? EDIT: I see you have changed a lot of stuff there Would it be possible for you to have a look at this one for SH4, as you know what you did in SH3 allready? __________________ DOWNLOAD MY MODS HERE

07-08-07, 01:25 PM	#8
Jace11 Seasoned Skipper Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: UK Posts: 683 Downloads: 104 Uploads: 1	Observer posted a particles.dat several months ago.. It had been through a hefty workover, with many hex changes, and whole segments of smoke data had been moved and re-done. But the smoke was darker and still kept some transparancy. It intrigued more and more and not just cause of the darker smoke he achieved... maybe I am just nosy but... The header in the file was different from SH3 and SH4 particles.dat's so I suspected that he had a copy of Kashmir... (the signature at the header of the file was something like BOB/HOME instead of one of the normal dev names...) In the thread I asked him how and why the files were so different in size etc, in response he said, and I quote... "I'm not trying to be coy, but I'm afraid that's not possible. This effect was not achieved through normal hex editing, which also accounts for the differences in file size. I am unable and unwilling to say anything else beyond that." When I aired my suspicions, he made no more comments... If he did have it for whatever reason - beta-testing etc, I guess he would be under an NDA etc and unable / unwilling to comment.. The speedyshare file that he posted is now unavailable, but maybe I have it somewhere, or someone else does... Found the thread, contains a post or two from you Coxy.. http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/show...ighlight=Smoke I could be wrong of course, but it is slightly annoying if certain members may use Kashmir to make mods, while the rest of have to do it the LONG HARD WAY... Last edited by Jace11; 07-08-07 at 01:47 PM.

07-08-07, 07:41 AM	#2
Bando Commodore Join Date: May 2007 Location: Where you don't see me Posts: 607 Downloads: 23 Uploads: 0	I wish there was a mod like that. I have read some of the war reports of the submarines. Mostly their first detection of an enemy was smoke over the horizon. It's a bit strange it is not implemented ingame. If this is to be done properly, your own diesels generate also smoke albeit a lot less compared to the steam engines and heavy oil engines of merchants, but nonetheless. Anyway, here I am moaning, don't have a clue about graphic files and am certainly not capable of making such a mod......... My 2 cents I guess Bando

07-08-07, 12:47 PM	#4
tater Navy Seal Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: New Mexico, USA Posts: 9,023 Downloads: 8 Uploads: 2	Is there any distinction between ships for smoke? Coal fired ships looked like that last pic (minus the puff) but it varied a lot depanding on the engines (bunker burning, coal, dielsel, etc).

07-08-07, 02:01 PM	#9
CaptainCox Sea Lord Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: A Swede in Frankfurt am Main Posts: 1,897 Downloads: 4 Uploads: 0	Ahhhh, yea i remember this tread. I was to involved in the stuff from Privater (exhaust mod) to really look at the rest :p. But will have a closer look at it now. __________________ DOWNLOAD MY MODS HERE

07-08-07, 02:53 PM	#10
CaptainCox Sea Lord Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: A Swede in Frankfurt am Main Posts: 1,897 Downloads: 4 Uploads: 0	Was playing around with this a bit more. Managed to get a pretty "high" smoke stack. But the problem is that its not vissible over long distances due to LOD maybe... As you can see the farthest ships smoke is not vissible. __________________ DOWNLOAD MY MODS HERE

07-08-07, 02:59 PM	#11
Hitman Pacific Aces Dev Team Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Spain Posts: 6,109 Downloads: 109 Uploads: 2	Yes the stock smoke also isn't visible fromfar away easily when raising the horizon distance (And LOD did not help for me). :hmm: Sadly I have not yet found a way to get the "hull down" effect correctly when placing the horizon far away, so even if the smoke can be seen at that distance -which would be already a great thing- I'm afraid further work will be needed to have it be the only thing visible above the horizon. __________________ One day I will return to sea ...

07-08-07, 03:50 PM	#13
CaptainCox Sea Lord Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: A Swede in Frankfurt am Main Posts: 1,897 Downloads: 4 Uploads: 0	Cool stuff Anvart, cheers! As its getting late here I will have to call it a day, but seems like a good project for the coming week Would you have an idea on how to make the smoke to be visible further away (seeing the smoke stack over the horizon) Thanks! EDIT! had another look at your file. BRILLIANT! man EDITII those tweak files are HUGE! MAN! what a job that must have been doing that __________________ DOWNLOAD MY MODS HERE Last edited by CaptainCox; 07-08-07 at 04:09 PM.

07-17-07, 07:08 PM	#15
kv29 Watch Officer Join Date: May 2007 Location: Buenos Aires Posts: 342 Downloads: 2 Uploads: 0	Cox & Anvart, have you achieved a more real funnel smoke? If so, would you be kind enough to share some numbers to tweak?