1) Tac map doesn't appear as usual, and I forgot how to convert to tga and all that stuff to make the tac map work again.
You will need some program like phtoshop ar similar that can open mission_name.burnin.jpg and save it as (convert) to mission_name.tga
2) Did 424 add vehicle support? Otherwise I'm limited to once again only mechs.
What do you mean?
3) How do I make new variants? I the best way to do it, as if I did it I would encounter the same armor issues. iirc something with commas, but could be wrong.
Open mech.CSV file with notepad. Dont use other programs like excel or even mech creator tool (whatever its name).
1.
MasterComponentID,Load#,MechBay X,MechBay Y,CompBas#,Name,Range,Heat,Weight,1Hit Damage,Dam/10Sec,BR,C-Bills,Comment,,,
Item0MasterId,91,-1,-1,1,Fusion Engine,NA,NA,0.00,NA,NA,0,0,ALWAYS a Fusion Engine. DO NOT CHANGE. ALWAYS 1,,,
Item1MasterId,92,-1,-1,22,Gyroscope II,NA,NA,0.00,NA,NA,0,0,ALWAYS a Gyroscope. DO NOT CHANGE. ALWAYS 22,,,
Item2MasterId,86,-1,-1,4,Arm Actuator,NA,NA,0.00,NA,NA,0,0,ALWAYS an ArmActuator. DO NOT CHANGE. ALWAYS 4,,,
Numbers must be in order from Ite0 to Item71. You cant add more lines, just replace existing and replacing lines must have correct ItemX number.
2.
BaseInternalStructure,3,5,5,7,7,10,7,7,,,,,,,,
BaseArmorPoints,9,10,10,11,11,13,11,11,3,3,4,,,,,
must much this for every variant
CurrentInternalStructure,3,5,5,7,7,10,7,7,,,
CurrentArmorPoints,9,10,10,11,11,13,11,11,3,3,4
Copy entire variant (last variant from CSV file from
VariantInfo,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
Identification,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
VariantID,0001,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
VariantName,Anubis ABS-32,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
til the end of file:
Slot12,,29,37,49,61,71,,,,,
CurrentInternalStructure,3,5,5,7,7,10,7,7,,,
CurrentArmorPoints,9,10,10,11,11,13,11,11,3,3,4
,,,,,,,,,,,
Including the lats line of commas ",,,,,,,,,,,".
DONT USE ANYTHING ELSE BUT NOTEPAD.
4) What is the best way to make a height map or a fresh texture? Right now I'm just playing around with previous missions in a separate installation but I can't just retake mission tacmap/textures.
Height map is the gray scale image. White is the highest and black the lowest terrain, shades of gray are between.
You can export height map from the existing map from the editor "File" menu.
You can also assign height map to existing map from the editor "File" menu.
There are template and some example height maps under data/terrain folder.
You can retake any texture from any existing mission just have to convert mission_name.burnin.jpg to mission_name.tga.
Hope this helps.