Hard Light Productions Forums

FreeSpace Releases => Asset Releases => Topic started by: Nyctaeus on August 16, 2020, 08:22:31 pm

Title: [RELEASE] NTF Reskin Pack
Post by: Nyctaeus on August 16, 2020, 08:22:31 pm: (https://wiki.hard-light.net/images/thumb/e/ea/NTFLogo.png/1200px-NTFLogo.png)
Before you step in, pledge proper homage to Neo-Terra!

***

A random idea popped-up on Discord. A skin pack for NTF warships, to be used in MediaVPs. Although it is not likely to happen, as it would be too radical change compared to vanilla FS2 campaign, a working prototype in form of Deimos reskin emerged from the debate... So I decided to make couple more and release as reskin pack. The main goal was painting large NTF emblem on the ships to put emphasis on proud, secessionist nature of the Neo-Terran Front. Also I recolored them to give NTF their dedicated color scheme. Why blue lights and cables? Stupid question. For Earth! For Neo-Terra! And... Rule of cool.

The pack so far include Fenris, Aeolus, Deimos and Orion.

***

Q: Why no Leviathan?
A: Because current Leviathan was textured by other artists, and I cannot edit it's source files so easily.

Q: Fighters? Bombers?
A: I can make Perseus, Myrmidon and possibly Herc II if I ask Axem about the source files, but the other NTF fighters are awaiting for rework. There is no point in making reskins of outdated assets.

Q: How to use this?
A: Tables are not included, as they are reskins of MediaVPs models. Copy retail tables, add custom stuff from MediaVPs and enjoy the show.
A2: ...or do what Sarn did, and use Texture Replacement option in Fred.
A3: ...or use table-based texture replacement.

Q: Are they going to be included in MediaVPs?
A: I have no idea, but probably no

Q: Why the main folder in the package is named "****"?
A: Because, ehh... It's actually a package from my Knossos test mod. I forgot to rename it, and I'm too lazy to upload 200mb+ package again o__O.

***

DOWNLOAD (http://www.mediafire.com/file/x0pm0f7i3826lsv/NTFReskins.7z/file)

***

Okay... The sceenshots!
(https://i.imgur.com/bAJSqan.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/EaHMbRz.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/OUTAXrs.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/PusMYEU.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/JMlVBZQ.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/TN9TkYl.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/quK0Itr.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/UxhaXTC.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/EDs8tPm.png)

***

All hail Neo-Terra! And pax Neo-Terra!
Title: Re: [RELEASE] NTF Reskin Pack
Post by: Nightmare on August 16, 2020, 09:28:26 pm: I'll claim a copy of the Kill-a-Zod starter pack~
Title: Re: [RELEASE] NTF Reskin Pack
Post by: Su-tehp on August 16, 2020, 10:54:34 pm: Before reading the title of this thread, a dedicated NTF capital ship paint scheme would never have occurred to me. Before reading the content of this thread, I would have scoffed at the idea of a dedicated NTF capital ship paint scheme. Before seeing these screenshots, I would have said that the very idea of a dedicated NTF capital ship paint scheme would be silly and impractical.

I'd very much like to see these skins in action on a replay of the original FS2 campaign; I just might do that someday soon.
Title: Re: [RELEASE] NTF Reskin Pack
Post by: Mobius on August 17, 2020, 04:28:40 am: I followed the discussion on Discord and I really have to admit that those screenshots changed my mind. They look gorgeous and also match what you'd expect from a faction full of pride such as the NTF, with their huge logos painted on warships in order to mark even more the difference between Neo Terrans and the GTVA. A similar color scheme could be applied to spacecraft such as the Hercules, IMO.

I was reluctant at first, but I do believe these reskins should be part of the MVPs and featured in the main FS2 campaign. Many custom made campaigns would benefit from these additions, too.
Title: Re: [RELEASE] NTF Reskin Pack
Post by: 0rph3u5 on August 17, 2020, 04:57:23 am: I've been looking for a way to "subtly" distinguish the three NTF subfactions in The Lost Generation, these will do nicely for command ships of the Supremacist faction (the Initiated probably don't need one, because Iceni, and the Opportunists by design would not paint logos on their ships).
Title: Re: [RELEASE] NTF Reskin Pack
Post by: Iain Baker on August 17, 2020, 08:40:54 am: Love 'em! Excellent work. Putting them in a future MVP update gets my vote :-)

It is such an obviously good idea that it makes me wonder why we didn't think of it before, especially since there is precedent. For example, some mods have HoL reskins / paintjobs. Homeworld Cataclysm / Emergence has paint jobs to distinguish the imperial and republican Tiidan ships. S.T.A.L.K.E.R. has different coloured versions of the same suits to distinguish between factions etc etc. There are probably other examples too.

Doh! Oh well, a they say hindsight is 20/20 :lol:
Title: Re: [RELEASE] NTF Reskin Pack
Post by: Nyctaeus on August 17, 2020, 09:09:05 am: The term you're looking for is Visual Identification, and lots of games uses it exactly to distinguish factions and make them less generic and more memorable. I loved how Blizzard handled different Protoss factions in SC2.

I would want to include them in MVPs along with other, possible reskins in the future, but as I said before, it looks like too much ingeration in FS2 vibe in general.
Title: Re: [RELEASE] NTF Reskin Pack
Post by: Colonol Dekker on August 17, 2020, 10:50:46 am: Check my sig.

I approved this years ago.
Title: Re: [RELEASE] NTF Reskin Pack
Post by: Oddgrim on August 17, 2020, 02:41:28 pm: Nifty!
Title: Re: [RELEASE] NTF Reskin Pack
Post by: Trivial Psychic on August 17, 2020, 04:14:07 pm: You forgot the Hecate. True, there are no NTF Hecates seen in the main campaign, but I recall seeing one in a stand-alone multiplayer (I think) mission as ships are entering a node and you have to kill them all.
Title: Re: [RELEASE] NTF Reskin Pack
Post by: Nyctaeus on August 17, 2020, 04:21:08 pm: I can make NTF Hecate if there is a need for it.
Title: Re: [RELEASE] NTF Reskin Pack
Post by: Colonol Dekker on August 18, 2020, 12:21:39 am: Quote from: Trivial Psychic on August 17, 2020, 04:14:07 pm
You forgot the Hecate. True, there are no NTF Hecates seen in the main campaign, but I recall seeing one in a stand-alone multiplayer (I think) mission as ships are entering a node and you have to kill them all.

Rebel Intercept.

Best original co-op Misson.
Title: Re: [RELEASE] NTF Reskin Pack
Post by: Droid803 on August 19, 2020, 06:12:01 pm: Just dropping in to say these are great and I didn't know how much I wanted these until I saw them.
Hope they make it into mediaVPs (or at least some remix of FS2 like FreeSpace Blue). I don't think they're too big a departure, and it's not like there's no IRL/historical precedent for doing stuff like this anyway - either for propaganda purposes, or just for visual identification (friendly fire is bad!). HUD-based IFF is great and all but what if your sensors get shot out or otherwised jammed?
Title: Re: [RELEASE] NTF Reskin Pack
Post by: Galemp on August 21, 2020, 05:00:09 pm: DAMN these are gorgeous! The gold striping and white triangles is truly inspired. Yes, as a member of FSU I absolutely endorse using these in the MediaVPs. After all I did the same with the HoL in FSPort MVPs.
Title: Re: [RELEASE] NTF Reskin Pack
Post by: Mobius on August 21, 2020, 05:33:05 pm: Quote from: Nyctaeus on August 17, 2020, 04:21:08 pm
I can make NTF Hecate if there is a need for it.

Even though the NTD Corsica doesn't show up in the main FS2 campaign, I'd say to do it anyway. :drevil:
Title: Re: [RELEASE] NTF Reskin Pack
Post by: Nightmare on August 21, 2020, 06:14:01 pm: Quote from: Galemp on August 21, 2020, 05:00:09 pm
DAMN these are gorgeous! The gold striping and white triangles is truly inspired. Yes, as a member of FSU I absolutely endorse using these in the MediaVPs. After all I did the same with the HoL in FSPort MVPs.

IIRC the FSU policy was to keep non-canon reskins out of it, that's why for example the HOL skin for the Typhon was removed from it.
Title: Re: [RELEASE] NTF Reskin Pack
Post by: Trivial Psychic on August 21, 2020, 07:19:34 pm: Then perhaps we could petition the BP team to make it part of FS-Blue.
Title: Re: [RELEASE] NTF Reskin Pack
Post by: DefCynodont119 on August 21, 2020, 08:04:40 pm: Yes, I would 100% like to see this in FSBlue. :yes:
Title: Re: [RELEASE] NTF Reskin Pack
Post by: Su-tehp on August 21, 2020, 08:47:45 pm: Quote from: Trivial Psychic on August 21, 2020, 07:19:34 pm
Then perhaps we could petition the BP team to make it part of FS-Blue.

That's actually not a bad idea at all. I'm on board with yet another reason to replay FS Blue. :D
Title: Re: [RELEASE] NTF Reskin Pack
Post by: Iain Baker on August 22, 2020, 05:03:01 pm: Could this be an optional feature in the media VPs? Then people who don't like them can simply opt out by not checking the box? Or would this cause problems?
Title: Re: [RELEASE] NTF Reskin Pack
Post by: Nyctaeus on August 22, 2020, 05:07:23 pm: Quote from: Iain Baker on August 22, 2020, 05:03:01 pm
Could this be an optional feature in the media VPs? Then people who don't like them can simply opt out by not checking the box? Or would this cause problems?
It would require alternate mission set, so it's very troublesome solution.
Title: Re: [RELEASE] NTF Reskin Pack
Post by: Nightmare on August 22, 2020, 05:35:50 pm: To make use of them in the MVP missions yes, apart from that not.
Title: Re: [RELEASE] NTF Reskin Pack
Post by: Nightmare on October 08, 2020, 05:26:44 pm: Little note - the AO and Normal maps are identical to the regular versions in the MVPs, so if you're using FRED-based texture replacement (and probably table based; not sure) where you replace, say "AeolusUV-reflect" with "NTFAeMain-Reflect" you only need to include the base map, reflect and glow maps while keeping the other maps as they are. This will keep modpack sizes over 250 MBs smaller.
Title: Re: [RELEASE] NTF Reskin Pack
Post by: Iain Baker on October 09, 2020, 02:39:43 pm: Going to sound dumb, but if I were to download this, where would I need to put it and would I need to do anything else with it over than pasting the file/s in the right place/s?
Title: Re: [RELEASE] NTF Reskin Pack
Post by: Nyctaeus on October 09, 2020, 03:04:16 pm: There are many ways.

You can use texture-replacement in FRED to replace maps of Orions, Fenrises etc. with those. Or you can make new tables to use POFs included, and add them as separete ship instances to a mod. Also others, mentioned in the OP
Title: Re: [RELEASE] NTF Reskin Pack
Post by: Droid803 on October 20, 2020, 12:39:12 pm: Quote from: Nyctaeus on August 22, 2020, 05:07:23 pm
Quote from: Iain Baker on August 22, 2020, 05:03:01 pm
Could this be an optional feature in the media VPs? Then people who don't like them can simply opt out by not checking the box? Or would this cause problems?
It would require alternate mission set, so it's very troublesome solution.
Is it really that troublesome? I think I could probably whip up that mission set given an hour or two just copy and pasting stuff in notepad, if it's just retail missions with texture replace slotted in assuming having both this pack and the mediavps.
I'm half tempted to actually just try this one day, if I'm bored enough. :P

Kinda want a Levi skin first though, it'd be odd having that be un-skinned when everything else the NTF uses would be.
Title: Re: [RELEASE] NTF Reskin Pack
Post by: Nyctaeus on October 20, 2020, 01:26:43 pm: Not sure if troublesome, but certainly require some effort. I guess notepad would come in handy at editing missions. Even lazier solution is table-based texture replacement.

Dunno. I just prepared reskins. I think there are individuals here who can figure out better ways to use them then I can.
Title: Re: [RELEASE] NTF Reskin Pack
Post by: The_Force on October 20, 2020, 01:35:10 pm: For those that want it here is the main FreeSpace campaign with NTF reskins. Just drop the contents and the NTF pack into the mediavps data folder.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1FfLX8uvhJIsAJ5h5kf5N7URWcoTBv2jl/view?usp=sharing (https://drive.google.com/file/d/1FfLX8uvhJIsAJ5h5kf5N7URWcoTBv2jl/view?usp=sharing)
Title: Re: [RELEASE] NTF Reskin Pack
Post by: Colonol Dekker on October 21, 2020, 04:08:37 pm: Not all heroes wear capes.

This bongs on knossos/fs blue.
Title: Re: [RELEASE] NTF Reskin Pack
Post by: Mobius on October 21, 2020, 04:24:27 pm: I said it before, but repetita iuvant, just in case: these skins truly deserve to be added to the next MVPs package. :nod:
Title: Re: [RELEASE] NTF Reskin Pack
Post by: Nightmare on October 21, 2020, 04:37:36 pm: AFAIK the MVPs have a adapted a policy of "no reskins", for example when FSPort assets were integrated the Reskins were intentionally excluded (with the HOL Typhon maps actually being removed later on), also a number of Elysium-variants weren't put in.
Title: Re: [RELEASE] NTF Reskin Pack
Post by: Galemp on October 22, 2020, 11:32:44 am: A policy which I wholly disagree with. Faction paint jobs are, IMO, a logical extension of squadron insignia.
Title: Re: [RELEASE] NTF Reskin Pack
Post by: Nyctaeus on October 22, 2020, 12:27:09 pm: I don't think it's actually anykind of pre-discussed and established policy. Actually nobody from FSU expressed anykind of open resistance. Before my reskins emerged, nobody ever proposed anything like that for real. HoL reskins for Operation Templar could be a thing, but lets say it straightforward: FSU doesn't care about Templar at all.

Also, note that FSU allowed custom reskins to happen in form of Leviathan and Lilith thus allowing certain dimorphism to exist, and actually completely altering key visuals of mentioned ships. Also, in the past FSU recolored some Shivan ships to be more homogeneous and consistent as a species.

In fact, I stated that we should keep all reskins away as an "objective standpoint of FSU team member", as I feel obliged to keep some of my personal preferences away, for the sake of goal of FSU.

...but the very existence of this pack confirms, that personally I also disagree with such policy :} .

Huh, let's create a poll in FSU board or something. Very many voices favours the integration of this reskin pack into FSU, as well as making more.
Title: Re: [RELEASE] NTF Reskin Pack
Post by: Nightmare on October 22, 2020, 12:30:24 pm: Making a poll sounds good to me :)
Title: Re: [RELEASE] NTF Reskin Pack
Post by: Galemp on October 26, 2020, 04:25:10 pm: Poll is up. (https://www.hard-light.net/forums/index.php?topic=97047.msg1903744;topicseen#msg1903744)
Title: Re: [RELEASE] NTF Reskin Pack
Post by: Nightmare on October 26, 2020, 05:28:11 pm: On which board did you post that?
Title: Re: [RELEASE] NTF Reskin Pack
Post by: Colonol Dekker on October 27, 2020, 06:59:54 am: Yah, can't see it 😭😭
Title: Re: [RELEASE] NTF Reskin Pack
Post by: Galemp on October 27, 2020, 12:51:39 pm: Quote from: Nightmare on October 26, 2020, 05:28:11 pm
On which board did you post that?

FSU internal. Maybe I should move it? :|
Title: Re: [RELEASE] NTF Reskin Pack
Post by: Nightmare on October 27, 2020, 09:47:52 pm: Well I thought it was supposed to be that way, but I dunno.
Title: Re: [RELEASE] NTF Reskin Pack
Post by: Vidmaster on November 20, 2020, 03:35:38 pm: This is honestly great work.
Title: Re: [RELEASE] NTF Reskin Pack
Post by: Admiral Nelson on September 29, 2021, 07:56:02 am: This pack is now available on Knossos, including maps for the new Leviathan!

This release allows a modder to use these skins by adding the NTF ship textutes mod as a dependency,

INSTALL USING KNOSSOS (https://fsnebula.org/mod/NTF_Ship_Textures)

Sample using Pandora's Box:
Title: Re: [RELEASE] NTF Reskin Pack
Post by: manwiththemachinegun on September 30, 2021, 12:03:04 am: I don't feel like this is a terribly radical change to lore, and making it optional would be a nice for those who want standard. It's only paint after all.
Title: Re: [RELEASE] NTF Reskin Pack
Post by: Colonol Dekker on September 30, 2021, 03:29:28 am: Only paint???

Paint wins wars!!

what campaign was it where you escorted paint for the colossus?
:lol:
Title: Re: [RELEASE] NTF Reskin Pack
Post by: Iain Baker on October 01, 2021, 04:08:41 pm: Quote from: Colonol Dekker on September 30, 2021, 03:29:28 am
Only paint???

Paint wins wars!!

what campaign was it where you escorted paint for the colossus?
:lol:

Just Another Day :lol: