Hard Light Productions Forums
Hosted Projects - FS2 Required => Frontlines => Topic started by: Black Wolf on March 24, 2017, 10:04:59 am
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So I've gotten the diffuse map for this one done - and it's a much more straightforward beast than the Jupiter, so I should be able to get it finished without worrying about complicated animation or anything like that. Props, of course, to Axem for the model.
(http://i.imgur.com/67VBWCZ.png)
(http://i.imgur.com/5gk0KUs.png)
The Cleopatra is similar to the Jupiter in that they're both frigates, which in FL basically means "Cruiser which can carry a few fighters", but they're functionally quite different. For one, Vasudan ships use energy weapons exclusively - they're more advanced than the Terrans at this point- so the Cleopatra can operate independently for much longer than a Jupiter.
It's also armed differently. While both frigates are intended to be able to operate independently as patrol ships, they do perform that duty very differently, and their armamanets reflect that. The Cleopatra's turrets are primarily geared for self defence against fighters and area control, whereas the Jupiter is designed to be able to dive on to a larger target with its forward railguns, while its fighters cover it. The difference comes down to limitations in space and terran tech - there's so little physical space on a Jupiter that it can only hold a couple of shuttles and four specially designed, light Leto-Is, and those aren't going to be able to do much to a Vasudan capital ship; that role has to be performed by the Jupiter itself if it runs into larger trouble. By contrast, there's much more space on a Cleopatra (no missiles to carry for one, and while they're of comparable lengths, much of the Jupiter's length is either empty space or uninhabitable), and the Vasudans can equip it with larger, more powerful fighters like the PVF Inpu, or even the PVB Hesat bomber (though they're still limited in terms of numbers of fighters - the Ramses carriers still hold many more fighters than these things do). That, plus the fact that the Vasudans can send subspace equipped fighters to join the fray once combat is joined, means that in battle, the Cleopatra's job is to help its fighters, and defend itself long enough to hold ground until reinforcements arrive.
To simplify that all down, the essential difference between the two ships tactically is that the Cleopatra is designed to support its fighters, while the Jupiter is designed to be supported by its fighters.
In truth, you might not see too much of this detail in game much, but it's fun to come up with it all. :) Anyway, LoDs and debris are on their way, and as usual for Frontlines ships, as soon as it's done, it will be released.
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(http://i.imgur.com/5Oa88me.png)
The Cleopatra is a Vasudan patrol vessel, comparable to our own Jupiter class frigate, apparently designed for long term independent operations. Although roughly the same size as the Neith cruiser, the Cleopatra is considerably smaller in terms of internal volume, and its weapons are optimised for anti fighter defences, resulting in its classification as a Class B threat.
Its small fighterbay is an anomaly among Vasudan vessels – considerably smaller than any other yet encountered. Terran intelligence believes that it could not practically hold more than four fighters at any one time, and field evidence suggests that a more typical complement is half that number, with the sparse remaining space likely reserved for small transports and shuttles.
DOWNLOAD: http://www.mediafire.com/file/9zdsqyn1n6lyapi/Cleopatra.7z
(http://i.imgur.com/aQiyDp1.png)
The concept has changed a little since the earlier post - mainly the fighter complement has dropped way down, which forces the Cleopatra to be more or less self sufficient, and to a large extent it is: without proper combat scripting, it smashes its terran counterpart (though scripting the combat or fighter support changes that equation entirely).
Once again, thanks to Axem for the original model.
This is a pretty significant FL 2322 milestone - I think the Vasudan modpack is now complete. One big Terran ship to go, and a few pieces of kit here and there, then FREDding can start in earnest. I'm planning an update post soon.
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I successfully nagged you into finishing it - Horray! :D
Thank you for the release, I will ge right to arming it for the twenty-three-sixities... (EDIT: which turns out to 1 SVas, 3 Standard Flak and 4 Terran Turret despite being reclassed as a vasudan version of the Hippocrates)
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Is there a more recent version I can get somewhere? - The download provided sadly has a few issues (e.g. table-pof mismatch of subsystems) that come out under a Debug build
ps - Image (https://media.moddb.com/images/members/5/4078/4077319/april-teaser3.png): The PVM Naunet as it appears in Vega must burn
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Why not just fix them?
(I don't have a more recent version)
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Why not just fix them?
(I don't have a more recent version)
Orpheus's priorities:
- fix ECM Hercs in Vega Must Burn, Mission 5c (achieved at 23:28 local time)
- complete Vega Must Burn, Mission 1
... etc ...
- eat
- sleep
- fix all related assets myself
You get what you pay for, Nightmare.
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You get what you pay for, Nightmare.
I paid nothing, so I get nothing? ;)
All meanies that this thing has (file date 18.6.17):
-Engine01a and Engine02a are named Engine01/Engine02 in the table.
-Both docking points are named "Docking Point" in the model.
-Order of LODs is specified wrong- after LOD0 comes LOD2, LOD3 and then LOD1.
-Turrets have no check hull flags.
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Looking at it again, 2 of the barrel turrets have issues with their firing points. Using check hull flags might be troublesome as the firing points of the single turrets is deep inside the turret model, probably resulting in a very small FOV.
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Blister02a and Reactor02a submodels are missing subsystem properties.
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-Order of LODs is specified wrong- after LOD0 comes LOD2, LOD3 and then LOD1.
Do you have version of the .pof with those fixed - I just broke it trying to fix it
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Just remove all LoDs and specify them again. Doing that takes 20sec or so. :)
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https://www.mediafire.com/file/l7tln6ckw2uzkdy/PVC_Cleopatra.7z/file