Vandron Shipset

Alpha Kodiak · #1 October 10th, 2001, 04:26 PM

AI Update:

I hope to be able to post an improved set of AI files tonight or tomorrow morning. They're not finished yet, but I think that they are much improved.

zircher · #2 October 10th, 2001, 09:49 PM

C27: ok so how do i import backgrounds that i make with these programs?

It depends on which Version of DoGA CGA you're using. I have an essay on hacking backgrounds in L2. For L3, it's as easy or as hard as you want to make it. :-)

Clicking Display > Rendering Properties will bring up the Renedering Properties dialog box. The frame on the right controls the background, the four choices are none, select a solid color, select a spherical background, or select a custom image to use as a back drop. Drops are fixed and 3D backgrounds pan with camera motion/placement. [This is also why some backgrounds show a planet, but you don't see it because the camera is facing the wrong direction.]

Using a back drop is pretty easy. Create a background or pull one off the web and save the image to disk. Fire up L3 and go to the Render Properties dialog. Click on option four and browse from there to where the image is located. Render as normal. For stills, this is 99% of what you need to know for custom backgrounds.

If you want to make spherical backgrounds, you'll to learn how to merge six images into a single panoramic picture and proper distort it. Fortunately, there's a tool to do that for you. Of course, it's in Japanese so you may want my Version which includes an English cheat sheet. To use a panoramic picture in L3. Load it as you would a back drop, but check the "Map to BG sphere" check box.
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TAZ

chewy027 · #3 October 10th, 2001, 11:41 PM

thanks zircher i'll have to try that

Alpha Kodiak · #4 October 11th, 2001, 02:02 PM

Here is the latest AI. It is much closer to releaseable. Give it a shot and see what you think.

chewy027 · #5 October 12th, 2001, 01:38 AM

great job alpha. I have all the big boys in and guess whos in first after 60 turns

Alpha Kodiak · #6 October 12th, 2001, 09:45 AM

Cool. I'm still working a few bugs out, and I haven't seen how they research all the way up to the big ships yet, but I think we are getting there.

Any progress on a design name file? I have a few ideas that I can start putting together, but any names you can come up with would be great.

chewy027 · #7 October 12th, 2001, 05:11 PM

what kind of names were you thinking? SJ suggested that we do a dictionary search for "HOLY" and use that.