[REL] Open Horizons II

[gap]

Originally Posted by Targor Avelany

That is the trick: to figure out what to do with them. If I have too many meshes that are in the file, but my actual object doesn't have that much (something I try to avoid), I either add something to the object or split something off and do separately. Like in case a a balloon, if I had it in one single object (I dunno ofc how you have it), and I had 2 meshes in the file I would split all the cables off into a separate mesh and use it in the second mesh. They always can use the same mats. If I have more objects and not enough meshes, then I work on how can I reduce: subsets, if they can use same mats (can't atm have more than 3 different subsets with 3 different materials, which is painful) and use it to the fullest.

This is just what I plan to do.

I am currently looking for a stock GR2 file with one model and four meshes: one for the balloon, one for the cables and two more for their respective collision models. The two visible meshes will share the same three texture maps (diffuse, AO and normal), but possibly I will use two different material maps (one for each mesh).
Materials and textures shouldn't pose any problem anyway: we can add as many of them as we want, and I am well within the limit of two materials per mesh.
Bone/meshes hierarchy (for the collision models) shouldn't be a problem either: we can change bone parent at our wish.
The main limit is the number of meshes.

Let me know if you find a GR2 object with four of them.

Originally Posted by Targor Avelany

I don't know if my way is right, but to me it seems better not to leave anything just in a "shadow" mod. Don't know why, but I feel it creates more problems

I feel exactly the same way

[Targor Avelany]

Originally Posted by gap

This is just what I plan to do.

I am currently looking for a stock GR2 file with one model and four meshes: one for the balloon, one for the cables and two more for their respective collision models. The two visible meshes will share the same three texture maps (diffuse, AO and normal), but possibly I will use two different material maps (one for each mesh).
Materials and textures shouldn't pose any problem anyway: we can add as many of them as we want, and I am well within the limit of two materials per mesh.
Bone/meshes hierarchy (for the collision models) shouldn't be a problem either: we can change bone parent at our wish.
The main limit is the number of meshes.

Let me know if you find a GR2 object with four of them.



I feel exactly the same way

You can add and remove subsets at a whim, especially with them using the same textures. Unless you want to assign different controllers to them, though I'm guessing here.

[gap]

Originally Posted by Targor Avelany

You can add and remove subsets at a whim, especially with them using the same textures. Unless you want to assign different controllers to them, though I'm guessing here.

Talking about the balloon, I am not especially concerned about subsets. As I told you before one subset per mesh should be enough, but I need for 4 separate meshes. Should I not find them, I will use a 3-mesh GR2 file: two meshes for the visible model, and one mesh for an unified collision model (likewise small stock aircraft)

[Targor Avelany]

heh. That is a tough one
I went through a good chunk of the GR2s and so far haven't seen 4-mesh one.

I'll let you know if I stumble across one.

[gap]

Originally Posted by Targor Avelany

heh. That is a tough one
I went through a good chunk of the GR2s and so far haven't seen 4-mesh one.

Nor I

Originally Posted by Targor Avelany

I'll let you know if I stumble across one.

Thank you Targor.

One last question: do material names matter. Together with descriptive texture/material names, like 'skin', 'prop', 'glass', etc, I have met names like 'Map #7029', 'Material #5298', 'Standard_18' etc. I wonder what this progressive numbering is for

[Targor Avelany]

Originally Posted by gap

Nor I



Thank you Targor.

One last question: do material names matter. Together with descriptive texture/material names, like 'skin', 'prop', 'glass', etc, I have met names like 'Map #7029', 'Material #5298', 'Standard_18' etc. I wonder what this progressive numbering is for

honestly, I don't think they mean a thing. It seems to me that all this naming in materials was only for the purpose of creators of the mesh itself, so it feeds only their preferences and has no actual meaning for the file or the game. At least that is what I think, as I was not able to find any link or consistency. Even to the point where you THINK you have a consistency in naming when all of a sudden it makes no sense at all again.

So I don't believe it matters at all.

[gap]

Originally Posted by Targor Avelany

honestly, I don't think they mean a thing. It seems to me that all this naming in materials was only for the purpose of creators of the mesh itself, so it feeds only their preferences and has no actual meaning for the file or the game. At least that is what I think, as I was not able to find any link or consistency. Even to the point where you THINK you have a consistency in naming when all of a sudden it makes no sense at all again.

So I don't believe it matters at all.

Okay, thank you Targor

with this last peace of information I am almost ready to import the new balloon in a GR2 file.

@ Trevally

the GR2 version of the barrage balloon should be ready within this week. Have you reinstalled SH5 yet? Could you help me testing it in game?

[gap]

yesterday I have been absorbed for a couple of hours by a little texturing excercise:

before:


after:


pretty good, don't you agree?

While we wait for Trevally to hopefully update the next version of OH with this new texture, if you like it you can get it from the following link:

Open Horizons II - The Flipper Update

JSGME ready; enable it after OHII

[volodya61]

Originally Posted by gap

..pretty good, don't you agree?

While we wait for Trevally to hopefully update the next version of OH with this new texture, if you like it you can get it from the following link:

Open Horizons II - The Flipper Update

JSGME ready; enable it after OHII

Thank you Gap

That's really very nice Flippers now

PS: spam hunter??

[tonschk]

Originally Posted by gap

While we wait for Trevally to hopefully update the next version of OH with this new texture, if you like it you can get it from the following link:

Open Horizons II - The Flipper UpdateJSGME ready; enable it after OHII

Nice, thank you Gap

[chun]

Gap
I'm sorry your download does not contain anything, you can upload it again please?

[volodya61]

Originally Posted by chun

Gap
I'm sorry your download does not contain anything, you can upload it again please?

oops .. I downloaded and didn't even look into the archive ..

Thanks Chun

[Trevally.]

Originally Posted by gap

@ Trevally

the GR2 version of the barrage balloon should be ready within this week. Have you reinstalled SH5 yet? Could you help me testing it in game?

Hi Gap - sorry for the delay in my reply. I am switching my broadband to another and am having some issues

Yes - I now have SH5 updated with OHII and am ready to mod
I will gladly help with the ballons
I have however just purchased Total War Rome II and am finding myself getting lost in your neck of the woods

Originally Posted by gap

yesterday I have been absorbed for a couple of hours by a little texturing excercise:

before:


after:


pretty good, don't you agree?

While we wait for Trevally to hopefully update the next version of OH with this new texture, if you like it you can get it from the following link:

Open Horizons II - The Flipper Update

JSGME ready; enable it after OHII

For sure

I will add this and sobers updates etc to the new version that your ballons will make

[gap]

Originally Posted by volodya61

PS: spam hunter??

yep, from now on the acronym SH means to me a totally new game and new challenges: Spam Hunter - Battle of the Web

Originally Posted by chun

Gap
I'm sorry your download does not contain anything, you can upload it again please?

Originally Posted by volodya61

oops .. I downloaded and didn't even look into the archive ..

Thanks Chun

ops... my bad. Link at page #3749 fixed.

Originally Posted by Trevally.

Hi Gap - sorry for the delay in my reply. I am switching my broadband to another and am having some issues

No problem

Originally Posted by Trevally.

Yes - I now have SH5 updated with OHII and am ready to mod
I will gladly help with the ballons

Originally Posted by Trevally.

I have however just purchased Total War Rome II and am finding myself getting lost in your neck of the woods

If you are playing Caesar, make sure to get rid of those annoying Britons

Originally Posted by Trevally.

For sure

I will add this and sobers updates etc to the new version that your ballons will make

I got several other ideas for improving various graphical features of OH:

- converting mines, buoys, etc. to GR2 objects;
- various improvement of the Whale;
- porting some stock armaments to the dat format for use with the imported ships;
- giving a go to the conversion of the imported units to the GR2 format.

This, plus some new features I have in mind (a few new ships and airplanes, new bombs, British fire ballons, etc.). But let's do things step by step, I am focusing on the barrage balloon right now.

[Targor Avelany]

Originally Posted by gap

yep, from now on the acronym SH means to me a totally new game and new challenges: Spam Hunter - Battle of the Web





ops... my bad. Link at page #3749 fixed.



No problem







If you are playing Caesar, make sure to get rid of those annoying Britons



I got several other ideas for improving various graphical features of OH:

- converting mines, buoys, etc. to GR2 objects;
- various improvement of the Whale;
- porting some stock armaments to the dat format for use with the imported ships;
- giving a go to the conversion of the imported units to the GR2 format.

This, plus some new features I have in mind (a few new ships and airplanes, new bombs, British fire ballons, etc.). But let's do things step by step, I am focusing on the barrage balloon right now.

Importing various small stuff and ships into GR2 will be moderately easy.
Anything with animation - a very different story.

I have tried something once and so far it didn't work very well:
I took tube doors + animation gr2 from 7b and tried replacing one of the tube doors. There is something with the symmetry of the gr2. Whether I was exporting obj files off, using some weird settings - but so far all my attempts resulted in very bizare results: the objects comes out like an inside-out glove

I'm still trying, but it is something to keep in mind.