Newbs hopeless attempts at a harbour

[Bedsdriver]

I wanted to learn how to build a harbour. I knew it wouldn't be easy but I as it wouldn't be entirely from scratch I hoped it was within my limited abilities.

My first task was to create a new file based on an existing file that I could play with whilst I learned what i was doing.

I changed the location of Bergen to somewhere near Greece using a modified locations.cfg file and tested that my sub was within site of the new location of the harbour. I loaded the game and sure enough Bergen harbour was now floating off the coast of Greece.

I opened the Bergen.dat file using the excellent program Silent 3ditor, remapped the ids and then saved it as Stevenage.dat I then altered the locations.cfg file to use the new stevenage file in the same location but it did not appear in the game.

Any clues as to why?

Whilst I have your attention and using Bergen as an example. Silent 3ditor shows several TGA files (embeded?) within the Bergen.dat file. CIV_A.TGA is listed five times, FCN_FACT.TGA three times, DEP_A.TGA twice etc etc etc. Why are these TGA files embeded/listed more than once?

[Bedsdriver]

I decided to simply copy the Bergen harbour and rename it Stevenage to see what happens.

When I started the game the "new" harbour Stevenage appeared (just off of Greece so at least the weather is better now). Even though the DAT file contains the same ids as the Bergen file.

I had thought that two files should not contain the same Ids but maybe that is just for cloned ships.

So either Bergen and Stevenage are so far away the identical ids are not a problem or it was never a problem in the first place.


Edit: I have a suspicion that harbours are merely blueprints rather than actual objects and that maybe by remapping the ids what i actually did was wipe out the markers pointing the way to the actual objects which are in the harborkit file.

[UberTorpedo]

Bedsdriver,

BigBoyWooly has some instructions on adding ports and navies ==> http://files.filefront.com/How+to+ad.../fileinfo.html
or the pdf download itself ==> http://files.filefront.com/How+to+ad.../fileinfo.html

Cheers,
UberTorpedo

[Bedsdriver]

That is a good guide if you want to move/copy an existing harbour to a new location to make a new harbour.

But just imagine putting in an extra crane or adding another bank of sub pens for a multiplayer map for eight subs.

I am trying to modify the files so that I can do what some other players have done and create brand new harbours.

I am getting there slowly but it's annoying to get CTD's and not know the reasons for them.

Try PM Nautilus\Trainer
He has made locks and St Naz harbour so should be help you

[skwasjer]

Originally Posted by Bedsdriver

I opened the Bergen.dat file using the excellent program Silent 3ditor, remapped the ids and then saved it as Stevenage.dat I then altered the locations.cfg file to use the new stevenage file in the same location but it did not appear in the game.

Any clues as to why?

Remap also affects the id in the 'Object to place' panel (in the placement chunk) which is really an error on my part. Remap should only affect the ID of the chunk itself. Therefor, remapping a location-DAT will give you an unusable DAT-file because you now end up with object ID's that don't exist. I can only advise to use 'Assign new random ID' on each node/placement chunk manually, but this obviously is quite tedious. Expect this fixed though in the next release.

Originally Posted by Bedsdriver

Whilst I have your attention and using Bergen as an example. Silent 3ditor shows several TGA files (embeded?) within the Bergen.dat file. CIV_A.TGA is listed five times, FCN_FACT.TGA three times, DEP_A.TGA twice etc etc etc. Why are these TGA files embeded/listed more than once?

When materials use the same texture, usually the material parameters are different (indicating a different type of surface), like how bright it is, how shiny it is, etc. For instance, steel reflects more light, while wood should look dull.

Originally Posted by Bedsdriver

I had thought that two files should not contain the same Ids but maybe that is just for cloned ships.

So either Bergen and Stevenage are so far away the identical ids are not a problem or it was never a problem in the first place.

You thought right, id's should be unique, except for a handfull cases (not this). You may just be lucky that you didn't get a crash. However, as stated above, remap won't do you any good either.

Originally Posted by Bedsdriver

Edit: I have a suspicion that harbours are merely blueprints rather than actual objects and that maybe by remapping the ids what i actually did was wipe out the markers pointing the way to the actual objects which are in the harborkit file.

Yes, the panel 'Object to place' contains a field with an ID that in most cases points to an object in Harbor_Kit.dat. This DAT contains the actual object that should be placed/rendered.


In short, new location-DAT's must contain all new ID's for chunk id/parent id fields, except for the 'Object to place' id's, which should point to ID's in the Harbor_kit.dat. To add objects to harbors add more/new placement chunks.

A visual representation of harbors is unfortunately not possibly right now with S3D.

Hope this helps.