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Hosted Projects - Standalone => The Babylon Project => Topic started by: Nightstorm on September 03, 2020, 03:04:11 pm

Title: Release - EA Fighters Update
Post by: Nightstorm on September 03, 2020, 03:04:11 pm
I've been working on various things related to the fighters and cockpits and I've decided to just combine everything related to the fighters into one release with the most current features.


The models are from a model pack I downloaded back in 2001 in MAX format.  I still had them on my drive and decided to see if I could get it to work.  After extensive modifications and trial and error, I succeeded.

The original model was created by Conor Clancy back in 2001.  It was released for free use to the public back then but I none the less attempted to contact him at the hotmail address in the readme.  No reply was received.

From that read me:

"This Model is not for sale and should be distributed freely

This model was created for love, not money. So please don't sue me Joe

Babylon 5 and Crusade are copyright © and trademark & trade; 1992-1999, PTN Consortium."

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INSTALLATION:

Everything has been broken down into their respective folders.  Some of the older Aurora maps may be overwritten so it's recommended to have a backup.

Copy each folder's contents into the respective folder under data of your TBP install, maps, models, tables.

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All three fighters have a cockpit model included.  They are unique to each ship in some way.  There is an included tbm file to enable those cockpits.

Static Cockpits:

The default maps are animated cockpits/displays.  If you don't want animated cockpits copy these eff files from the Static Cockpits folder into your maps folder and overwrite the existing ones.  If you want to delete the unused glow maps for the animations just leave the one ending in _0000.

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Thruster points have been set up at the correct angles for all of these fighters in the ships.tbl.  The table file is a full replacement for the default ship.tbl that was included in v3.73 of The Babylon Project.  BACK UP YOUR ORIGINAL PLEASE.

The reason I ended up with a replacment tbl file instead of an add on tbm is that for some perplexing reason, the thruster locations were being read from both the original tbl and the updated tbm file I was testing at the same time.  So that resulted in "ghost" thruster points being created that I couldn't get rid of without commenting them out in the original file.

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Aurora & Badger

Three Aurora verions included, standard, Mk1, PSI Corps.

One Badger version included.

Layered PSD files are included in the options folder.  These share the same texture set.  There is a separate set for the Black Omega PSI Corps version.

The Aurora has been modifed to include two primary weapons as many sources cite that the fighter had a second set of guns above the cockpit and in fact you can see them on the models.  By default however, the second bank is empty leaving only the normal 40mm pair.

A new tbm file has been added that contains a 35mm Pulse cannon for that second bank.  It's based on the 40mm cannon but with reduced stats.

The Badger has two primary banks as before, but they have been separated to the four cannon around the cockpit and the chin turret.  By default the four cannon are bank1 40mm set up in a quad fire mode with the chin turret being the 60mm cannon for use against capital ships.  The banks cannot by linked.

A new secondary weapons system was also implemented in the tbm file based on the dumbfire rockets from Diaspora.  The four tubes on the Badger remind me of rocket pods and I figured they should do something and you can only have two primary weapons.  The role of the Badger is primarily anti-capital ship.  So this new weapon is called the Mk2 Pike dumbfire rocket.  Each tube holds 30 rockets for a payload of 120 and they are fired in a volly of four (one from each tube).  These are effective for taking out sub-systems on capital ships.

The rear turret is operational and is a 40mm cannon by default.  Don't expect miracles from it, but it works.


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Thunderbolt

Four versions included, standard, bomber, PSI Corps, PSI Corps bomber.

A cockpit has been added to the Thunderbolt based on one included in the cockpits mod for stock FS2.

The missile racks on the Thunderbolt have been set up so that the main fighter variants have two banks of six and the bomber variants have three banks of four.  Five different color versions with five different nose art are included in the options folder giving you 25 possible combinations plus the PSI Corps version.

The layered PDN files are included.

Additional screen shots of the variants located here:

https://www.hard-light.net/forums/index.php?topic=96828.msg1901165#msg1901165

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Also included is a script file that will turn off the egnine glow maps on the player's fighter only when glide is engaged or the throttle is at zero.


Enjoy!

-Nightstorm


https://www.dropbox.com/s/nhxddh8e7hrc76c/EA_Fighters_Update.zip?dl=0


Aurora:


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Title: Re: Release - EA Fighters Update
Post by: Nightstorm on September 03, 2020, 03:05:00 pm
Badger:

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Title: Re: Release - EA Fighters Update
Post by: Nightstorm on September 03, 2020, 03:05:37 pm
Thunderbolt:

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Title: Re: Release - EA Fighters Update
Post by: Thaeris on September 03, 2020, 04:38:32 pm
Late question or critique, but...

...is the red a little overdone on the Starfury? It's been WAY too long since I've seen an episode of B5, but the red seems a bit overpowering. Might be nice to keep the tint on the canopy panels while reducing the intensity of it on the cockpit interior.

On the Thunderbolt, I did see several show screenshots, and it indeed looks like they kept it fairly transparent in the renderings. However, it did not seem quite as transparent as what you've got here. Perhaps you should give the panels a bit more of a "smokey" or tinted complexion? Perhaps it's something to do with specular maps, or what have you?
Title: Re: Release - EA Fighters Update
Post by: emark4 on September 03, 2020, 04:53:55 pm
What do you mean that the Thunderbolt cockpit is based on one included in the cockpits mod for stock FS2? Is this the Blue Planet cockpit from the last thunderbolt mod?
Title: Re: Release - EA Fighters Update
Post by: Nightstorm on September 03, 2020, 05:42:37 pm
What do you mean that the Thunderbolt cockpit is based on one included in the cockpits mod for stock FS2? Is this the Blue Planet cockpit from the last thunderbolt mod?


There was a model in this mod by fightermedic:  https://www.hard-light.net/forums/index.php?topic=84459.msg1687116#msg1687116

It was just called "fighter01" and it didn't include all the textures but the resemblance to to the thunderbolt was obvious.  The cockpit used in the external model is from there.  I modified the Thunderbolt model to accommodate the cockpit and then lowered the transparency of the glass texture.  The transparency of the texture which is "EAM_ThBolt_09" controls how dark the windows appear to be.

I have it set at something like 80% right now.  The internal cockpit model is the same as before.

As far as the red on the cockpit interior, that's the glow maps and they could be dimmed down if needed.
Title: Re: Release - EA Fighters Update
Post by: Nightstorm on September 04, 2020, 10:22:38 am
I've made a couple of changes based on feedback here, and I agree that the results look better to me.  I've reduced the brightness of the console illumination by 50% and increased the opacity of the glass on the Thunderbolt so that it appears much darker but you can still see through it.

I've also decided to make a PSI Corps version of the Badger.  I figured why not?  They already have a Thunderbolt and Bomber in game, and it won't require anything except another model file and table entries.  So I copied the existing Badger in the table and edited its information to be a PSI Badger.  It will have to be added to the team loadout in missions to be used and won't affect any existing missions.  It also uses the same Badger cockpit.

I also updated the HUD mod for the Badger and decided to include it in the package in a separate folder.  It's use is completely optional as with all of this.  It's only two files and only affects the EA fighters.  It does require a widescreen monitor or greater, minimum 1600x900 resolution.

The download archive was updated in the first post and here are some screenshots:

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Title: Re: Release - EA Fighters Update
Post by: Nightstorm on September 04, 2020, 10:23:14 am
PSI Badger

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Title: Re: Release - EA Fighters Update
Post by: wesp5 on September 08, 2020, 05:35:05 am
So will anybody add this to the Knossos release now? With the exception of the HUD, as it is not compatible to lower resoltions...
Title: Re: Release - EA Fighters Update
Post by: Nightstorm on September 22, 2020, 03:40:14 pm
It would appear that the recent site issues killed the screen shots and I can't seem to upload new ones.

In any case, I've updated the EA Fighters update to include two new versions of the Thunderbolt that have the atmosphere wings deployed.  A standard and PSI Corps version.  They use the same textures.  Since these are two new fighters in TBP I've included them in a TBM file.  They are simply copies of the original TBolts I had modified with thrusters pointing at new POF files.

The cockpit TBM was updated for these and the HUD mod TBM was as well.  Aside from the different model file with the wings moved they are identical to the other TBolts and use the same cockpit.
Title: Re: Release - EA Fighters Update
Post by: Nightstorm on September 23, 2020, 01:25:29 pm
I updated it again today to include two bomber versions with the wings deployed as well.  In case anyone wants to bomb the Mars colony.  All tables updated.  No changes between bomber version and wings deployed bomber version.  So that makes eight versions in total, four regular military and four PSI Crops.
Title: Re: Release - EA Fighters Update
Post by: Nightstorm on September 23, 2020, 06:19:50 pm
I just finished making some changes.  I think I'm done. :)


I added some grebblies to the back of the TBolt fuselage.  It seemed too plain to me.  I did some research looking for pictures of the back and even the PTN schematic / profile picture doesn't show anything but black.  So....I decided to use details similar to that on the back of the Aurora.  After all, makes sense to me.  So all eight versions have been updated with those details.

Also, I did a separate cockpit for the Bomber and PSI Corps versions so that if you look out the windows you actually see the correct colored engine nacelles and wing to go along with the default versions of those craft.

The main download has been updated.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/nhxddh8e7hrc76c/EA_Fighters_Update.zip?dl=0
Title: Re: Release - EA Fighters Update
Post by: Nightstorm on October 01, 2020, 12:24:02 pm
Minor tweaks to a couple of the nose art skins to add a wrap around effect on the nose and I added a new nose art skin called Thunderbolt with some lighting bolt style graphics.  I improved the blue version of the textures for the Bomber and black version of the textures.

I've also added colored versions of the mid-engine texture to match whatever color Tbolt you choose to use.  The default one still has no color so to see the new version you'd have to copy it from it's corresponding folder or use the new alternate Thunderbolt models that are included in the options folder.  The only difference in these models is using the new texture that's included in the maps folder.  There are corresponding cockpit models as well.

The original PTN schematics I've seen don't have that section colored but I've seen some art work and posters that do.  Personally I like it, and I made it the default for my install.

The main download has been updated.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/nhxddh8e7hrc76c/EA_Fighters_Update.zip?dl=0
Title: Re: Release - EA Fighters Update
Post by: OverDhill on December 22, 2020, 04:43:22 pm
Nightstorm I am trying to reach you. Either here or on Discord.