New Mod: Streamers & Standards (Update v3.30)

[zepath]

Presented here is a totally reworked version of my Dominions 2 flags mod. Streamers & Standards v3.0 replaces all the national flags in Dominions 3. Check it out, read the readme file, and please let me know what you like and dislike so I can make this mod even better.

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Edit by llamabeast: A further updated version, with banners for Bogarus, Hinnom, Ashdod and Gath, can be found here (http://www.shrapnelcommunity.com/threads/showflat.php?Cat=&Number=631774&page=0&view=collap sed&sb=5&o=&fpart=1). Hope you don't mind me sticking this here Zepath.

CHANGES FOR v3.30:

-New Early Ages nation Fomoria given a new flag
-New Late Ages nation Pythium Serpent Cult given a new flag
-Includes flags for Tir-na-Nog and Eriu created by Sombre

CHANGES FOR v3.12:

-New Early Ages nation Lanka given a new flag

CHANGES FOR v3.11:

-Late Ages Pangaea given a revised flag with more color and carrion vines

CHANGES FOR v3.1:

-Pangaea's flags revamped with new art thanks to the suggestions of Zen
-Late Ages Ulm given a new icon depicting an armored fist grasping a blood red crescent thanks to an idea Nerfix put forward (I forgot to mention that in the readme...)
-T'ien Ch'i's flags given a darker salmon color (also at Zen's suggestion)
-Serpents on Early and Late Ages C'tis flags given a higher contrast to make them more visible
-Early Ages Abysia given a new icon depicting the flaming fist of the Anointed of Rhaux

[Ballbarian]

Very nice zepath! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

[Gandalf Parker]

ALL of the flags? All 79 of them? I would really like the empty slots to have a unique default flag and a nation name. Im beginning to think I might have to look at modding one of my own (which would be really crappy)

[zepath]

Ok, not 79 of them. I can't even identify these "79 nations". http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/confused.gif The mod only covers the playable nations in all three eras that are available in the v3.00 release of Dom3 -- for a total of 59 flags plus the indie flag. One thing I'm wondering is how to get custom GUIs to work in Dom3. The commands I used for the GUI portion of this mod in Dom2 do not seem to work. Can anyone enlighten me as to what has changed? I'd love to incorporate custom GUIs for each of the nations as well.

[Foodstamp]

Wow, these are really nice. I especially like EA Jutonheim, EA Marverni, EA Tienchi, MA Man, and ofcourse the quote from "The apology of Socrates". That is where the quote is from correct? Right after they sentence him to death?

[zepath]

Right before he quaffs the hemlock I believe. I kept seeing the bearded dude .tga file in my browse window while editing the images for the flags and thought he ought to be saying something while sitting there all disembodied and classically featured. He just looked like a Socrates, y'know?

Anyway, I'm glad you liked 'em! If any of the flags seem too garish or out of place, lemme know. It's always a work-in-progress.

[Gandalf Parker]

Here is a list of all 79 if you want it.
http://www.dom3minions.com/docs/nations.txt

Those blanks at the end are for modders to fill in their nations without having to knock one out of the game but they still show up in my crazy games. The messages look funny when the province has no name and it says something like "the pretender of has been eliminated". I probably will do one of my own so I can have some fun with the names of the fodder-fill slots. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

[Stryke11]

Just wanted to say that I loaded this one up and it is awesome. The banners are so much better! Who'd have thought that such a random upgrade would be so cool?

Thanks for making these!

[zepath]

Thanks for the list Gandalf. I snagged the entire contents of your /docs folder for reference! Again, many thanks.

Stryke11, glad you dig the flags!

[Nerfix]

I also like them. I especially like the progression of the flags over the age. Say, do you take requests? A mod or two I am working on could use a flag...

[Gandalf Parker]

no no. Dont get him on requests yet.
I want him to finish this one. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/frown.gif

[Zen]

I enjoy the mod quite a bit, it looks quite nice.

However, I might suggest a slightly darker coloring for the basic flag for some of the ligher nations. Tien Chi for example might need a slightly darker salmon color, Pangaea/Ctis are also quite close to the same color, perhaps some sort of more visible variance might be good.

[zepath]

Nerfix, the flags are such small .tga files that I'd have no problem whipping a few up for you. Send me a PM and let me know what you have in mind.

Gandalf, you really want me to make another 20 flags? http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

Zen, thanks for the suggestions. I thought Pangaea's flags were probably too bright, but with so many nations that have a green-ish flag color it was tough to find something to set it apart.

[Nerfix]

Thanks zepath, I sent the pm to you. I hope it's not too much.

[PheasantPlucker]

Well it looks nice on the screenshot, but nowhere are there any installation instructions that I can find. Can someone please advise?

[Ballbarian]

Place sns3.dm and the sns3 directory in your Dominions3 "mods" directory. Then enable the mod from within the game prior to creating a new game.

[quantum_mechani]

Zepath, I have been considering the idea of making an added nations-pack mod, and I wondered if you would mind me using some of your flags?

[Zen]

zepath said:
Zen, thanks for the suggestions. I thought Pangaea's flags were probably too bright, but with so many nations that have a green-ish flag color it was tough to find something to set it apart.



I noticed that the nation spread allowed for a little more. Maybe you should consider doing a slight darker coloration of leaves on the EA pan, bronzing fall leaves on the MA, and the dark, blackish green for the LA.

Just like you did with icons for the nation changes by ages, you can do with the flag portion.

[PheasantPlucker]

Thanks Ballbarian.

[zepath]

quantum_mechani, I'm not entirely sure what you mean by a nations-pack mod, but please use the art or mod commands for whatever you wish. Just cite me in the readme or something.

Zen, great idea! I think I may just do that with Pangaea's flags.

[Ighalli]

This is amazing work! Thank you!

[PvK]

Beautiful!

[zepath]

Glad you like it PvK!

As Zen suggested here earlier, I have updated Pangaea's flags with a green leaf, golden leaf, and brown leaf motif for the Early, Middle, and Late Ages repectively and will include those flags in a v1.1 update soon. Any other ideas for improvements or changes?

[HoneyBadger]

Definitely worthy. Does anyone want to take the time to post a shot of Zepath's flags? I can't download on this computer, and my personal computer is flakey at best.

Zepath, the changing leaves motif is a good one, my only thought is that a nation might not feel comfortable or help themselves out by identifying themselves with a living, vital thing growing old and withered and dead, especially one connected so intrinsically to nature. If I might suggest: a green, living leaf for early age, a bright ornate copper leaf for middle, and finally a hard edged, shining, metallic leaf that resembles more the head of a noble's partizan than that of a growing plant. It still captures your point, but in a more subtle way that wouldn't invite apathy.

[zepath]

Since the Pan end up turning to death magic to get revenge at the world in the Late Ages I'm quite comfortable seeing that nation represented by dead leaves. Anyway, you may have misunderstood what my flags look like. We're talking about cloth banners depicted hanging from wooden or metal cross-bars and ornamented with some kind of appropriate icon on top of the cross. As for these new Pangaea flags, which I have not yet released, the cloth portions of the flags have been changed from a simple color and texture (bright green in this case) to what resembles a cloth made of leaves. Anyway, I don't think the Pan really care how we illustrate which provinces they control and won't be offended by the use of dead leaves in their icon. Nor will most players. But if that still "invites apathy" for you, I might suggest drawing different flags and plugging them into the mod as you see fit.

[HoneyBadger]

My appologies. I haven't seen your artwork yet, afterall, so mine was a knee-jerk reation and I misinterpreted the Pan's outrage (my new take) for apathy (my old take).

Ofcourse, the Pans themselves aren't going to care, being little bits of digital information, I was thinking as far as background story and how a nation of living, breathing beings MIGHT feel. My post wasn't meant to criticise afterall, only to consider perspectives. As far as making flags myself: as I mention, yours is a worthy endeavor.

[zepath]

Honeybadger, no big deal bro.

Just an FYI to all, Streamers & Standards has been updated to version 3.1 with a couple new flags and some revisions. Check it out!

[Zen]

Looks good, I really like the early and middle eras of Pan now. However, I think the LA isn't exactly right. Maybe it's just all the grey.

Thought about putting some of the carrion green on either A.) The horns or B.) The siding. Or Black (like the Black Centaur/Pandmoniac/Black Dryad) along the sides.

[zepath]

Carrion vines around the horns/skull would be a great idea. Thanks again, Zen.

[zepath]

FYI, updated again with a revised LA Pangaea flag per Zen's additional suggestion.

[CaptainGimpy]

Are you planning on adding a lanka map for the new patch?

[zepath]

FYI, Streamers & Standards has been updated to include a new flag for Lanka!

[Daynarr]

Great work Zepath!
I love this mod and you do great work with your nations as well.

Keep it up. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

[Foodstamp]

Bumping this great mod incase anyone missed it. Also, wanted to show Zepath what I have done with a few of his flags...

http://www.shrapnelcommunity.com/threads/uploads/487232-zepflagsredone.jpg

[Starshine_Monarch]

So, not to be a nag, but when can we expect new Tir na Nog and Eriu banners? (BTW, I absolutely love these flags and I use them all the time. Thank you so much, Zepath.)

[Gandalf Parker]

I would also appreciate something in the "empty" slots, and a much more subtle independent flag. Maybe the old indept flag (the big white template flag) could be put in the empty nations slots, and something like the original banner put back for the indepts.

[Sombre]

That would be very easy for you to do yourself Gandalf.

I wouldn't hold your breath for a new version either - Zepath appears to have left the building.

[Gandalf Parker]

Well my interest wasnt so much in making something just for my own use. More for offering it on my server for really large games. Id like to see the "official" version updated. Thats even easier than doing it myself.
My position has always been more spur than creator. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

[Foodstamp]

Zepath is in the military, so it is not surprising that he may vanish from the boards for periods of time without warning.

[BandarLover]

Yes, he's been gone a long time as is and told me it would be a long while before he could get back into modding before he left.

His mods are awesome and I'm with Starshine, I use this mod all the time now too.

[Sombre]

Due to popular demand and Velusions flag request for the mod game, I have made two new flags, for Tirnanog (left) and Eriu (right).

http://www.shrapnelcommunity.com/threads/uploads/548471-Newflags%20preview.png

My style is slightly different from Zepath's, I hope you don't mind. I will upload an updated version of SandS containing these two in a little bit (just finding the right nation numbers).

[Sombre]

Attached is the updated Streamers and Standards containing the two new flags for Eriu and Tirnanog.

[Gandalf Parker]

They look excellent. Thank you filling in.

[zepath]

I'm downloading 3.08 at the moment and immediately realized this mod would need a little work to be brought up to date... Seems I've managed to get back on here just two days after you wrote me off for dead and did the new flags yourselves! Great looking working Foodstamp and Sombre. With so many green flags already in the game, the celtic knots are exactly what those flags needed.

Good call on the reason for my absence, btw.

They haven't happened to implement GUI-modding in my absence, have they? I always wanted to convert the national GUIs from Dom2 Streamers & Standards.

[Morkilus]

I've enjoyed your mods, zepath! I'm playing Sylvania in a mod multiplayer game now. By the way, here's a GUI mod. I'm sure there are others.

http://www.shrapnelcommunity.com/threads/showflat.php?Cat=&Number=498384

[zepath]

Morkilus, thanks for the link to the GUI mod. From the looks of it, I still can't do what I had hoped. Dom2 let you load specific GUIs based on the nation you were playing. Seems the best we can do in Dom3 (still) is overwrite the image files for the single, universal GUI. Alas.

Also, that's awesome you've got Sylvania going in MP. I'd love to read the AAR from that game. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif Great to hear you like those old mods!

[Sombre]

Great to see you back Zepath!

[Gandalf Parker]

zepath said:
Morkilus, thanks for the link to the GUI mod. From the looks of it, I still can't do what I had hoped. Dom2 let you load specific GUIs based on the nation you were playing. Seems the best we can do in Dom3 (still) is overwrite the image files for the single, universal GUI. Alas.



In Windows?
You can kindof. You can create a different desktop icon for different playings. Such as, I like Pangaea. I can create a shortcut using the modders library image of Lord of the Wild as an icon. That shortcut can run a bat file. The batfile can swap in a nice green gui set. Then it can call Dom3 with my favorite settings for playing Pangaea such as run in a window, no fades, no music, no credits screen, renaming on, large hall of heroes, strong indepts, maximum magic sites, high supplies and low resources for better AI play. Also auto-save backups on the games. Oh and put me directly into the game I was playing like other games that have a "resume game" option.

In Linux its even easier. In Mac Im sure its there but I dont know the particulars.

[Gandalf Parker]

Great Mod.
Any thoughts on getting ahead of things with Streamers and Standards by adding Formosa and Graxx and any others in the works?

[Foodstamp]

Zepath welcome back. Glad to have you back as part of the Dom3 mod community again.

[llamabeast]

Good to see you back Zepath!

[zepath]

Gandalf: It ought to be a quick thing to put together flags for other upcoming nations. As of this moment I did not know there were yet others coming down the line. Any place to get a look at Formosa or Graxx? A forum search didn't yield very much info.

Sombre, Foodstamp & llama: Thanks! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

[Morkilus]

I'm guessing Formosa won't actually be ant people. I miss the Klackons! Maybe it's time to make my own mod.

[Foodstamp]

Formosa will be based off the Fomorians from Celtic mythology I am guessing. They were evil giants that fought the Tuatha.

[Gandalf Parker]

That should have been Fomorian (early age) and Gath (all 3 ages). Fomoria is nation 14, Gath is 20,45,65. There is also Special Monsters (24 and 25).

Most of the fomoran units can be seen in the game files. The ALL_Units game shows them. A bunch of Milesians, Fir Bolgs, Fomorians, Nemedians, Partholonians. Im not sure if they all are fomorian. There is alot of text about them all tied in with the Tuatha and Eriu with some ancient wars.

And Im not sure what is in the works for Gath. The only thing I can glean on Gath is "Time of the Nephilim".

Here is the descript on Fomoria so far...


The bountiful land of Fomoria was claimed by the Fomorian Giants. They were once guardians of the dark and stormy ocean realm of the drowned dead. But with death ever near their loyalties changed and their malice grew. With the ascendancy of a previous Pantokrator they were punished and banished from their dark home. The full effects of the curse became evident when the Fomorians settled in a fertile land. Their offspring were short and cursed with monstrous appearences. The few surviving Fomorian Giants saw their once proud race degenerate and die. Then came the Patholonians. They defeated the Fomorians with their magic, but they were struck by a dark plague and all but one of them died. The Fomorians rebuilt their kingdom, but then came the Nemedians, descendants of the Partholonians. They conquered much of the Fomorian lands, but then the dark plague struck them and the Fomorians were once again able to rebuild their kingdom. A third wave of invaders, the Fir Bolg arrived. They accepted Fomorian rule and now compose much of the Fomorian population. Fomoria is now a kingdom of malformed giants and Fir Bolg servants.

[zepath]

Ah, interesting stuff! Thanks for the info Foodstamp and Gandalf. I was mulling a new national mod that would serve as an evil counterpoint to the Tuatha, but it seems that may be precisely what they're planning with Fomoria. I'll get my hands on the ALL_Units game (the game I have for unit viewing is probably well out of date now) and check 'em out.

[Gandalf Parker]

This is an updated version. It goes up to 1809 (and one higher). Looking at the .map file (which is plain ascii text) should make it really easy to see how to update it for a few units if thats all that is needed for the next patch. If many are added then I will auto-generate a new .map and update the zip
http://www.dom3minions.com/docs/AllUnits.zip

[zepath]

Thanks again Gandalf. The Fomorians appear to have goats heads, but its tough to figure out the character of the larger giants that come just after them. From the sprites, their faces look almost ape-like to me.

[zepath]

FYI, Streamers and Standards has been updated to include flags for the new nations found in the Dom3 v3.10 patch. Enjoy!

[WraithLord]

Thank you Zepath.

I'm currently writing a python client program to check on the status of TCP hosted games. Would it be possible for it to use your flags for showing the status of nations?

[zepath]

WraithLord, feel free to use any of my work however you wish, including the flags. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

[WraithLord]

Thanks!!!

[Falkor]

Hi,

I like this mod and would like to use it in multiplayer (pbem). As it is pure graphical change I thought I could use it even if the other players don't. Will it work, or will I spoil the game?
Has someone used the mod in mp independently to game settings?

[llamabeast]

Hi Falkor,

All players in a PBEM have to use the same mods, even if it's something like this which makes no difference. You don't even get an opportunity in the interface to choose mods for MP games - it just automatically uses the same ones as the host.

[Falkor]

Thanks again Ilamabeast,

I saw your answer to my question in the game thread short after I asked here.
Everything is clear now for me.

Btw, the community here is extremely newbie friendly. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/smile.gif

[Sombre]

The only person you have to watch out for here is some dude people call KO, apparently he's a real bastard.

[llamabeast]

http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif Ignore Sombre, he's a mischievous soul. KO's one of the devs.

Yeah, it is a really nice community I think.