Hard Light Productions Forums
Modding, Mission Design, and Coding => The Modding Workshop => Topic started by: starbug on December 05, 2021, 04:23:45 pm
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So i have given myself a small project to do. I love Babylon 5 and i love the Babylon Project, fantastic mod. But i want to have a go at doing a mini B5 mod myself. To improve my modelling/texturing and coding skills.
I am going to start of with making only a very small number of ships:
UPDATED ship list as of 7/1/22
UPDATE 23/1/22 Olympus in game and just now working on a release.
EA Starfury - In game and working
EA Hyperion/Midwinter - In game and working
EA Nova - In game and working
EA Orion Station - In game and working
EA Asimov - In game and working
EA Achilles Freighter - In game and working
EA Achilles Medium Freighter - In game and working
EA Achilles Fuel Tanker - In game and working
Raider Zephyr - In game and working
Raider Cruiser - In game and working
Shadow Battlecrab - In game and working
EA Thunderbolt - In game and working
EA Badger - In game and working
EA Omega - In game and working
EA Omega X - In game and working
EA Olympus - In game and working
EA Shuttles - Blueprints Complete
I am focusing on the EA as their ships are pretty easy in terms of modelling i think, and i only need to make one set as the missions i am going to do are set around the EA civil war.
I would be very grateful for any words of wisdom or tips for doing a mini TC
(https://i.ibb.co/cJxvcqv/fs2-open-21-2-0-x64-AVX-2022-01-07-21-49-32-437.jpg)
(https://i.ibb.co/bvj2WxW/fs2-open-21-2-0-x64-AVX-2022-01-07-21-53-34-627.jpg)
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Looking good, but I do suggest that you take your cues from the current model, particularly when it comes to the subsystems and their locations for easy drop-in. You may want to consider more destroyable subsystems though.
Some time ago, I downloaded another higher detail Hyperion and Nova models and configured them to work in-game. It seems though that something was off with the Hyperion, as it would often sit there and spin around insanely fast like a propeller... and no it wasn't related to MOI. The Nova however I'm in the middle of testing out and fortunately it hasn't displayed that same behavior.
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Cool thanks for the tips! I had a look at the TBP model and used if for reference but i don't get why its has so many subobjects. Every subobject seems to 4 levels of detail ie the engines for example have Engine01a to 01d and each one has a destroyed model. I have not seen that on other mods.
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Well i have been working away on the Hyperion/Midwinter and i think i am done with the modelling and texturing. Here the results and time to get them into the game!
[attachment deleted to save space]
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Hello gorgeous!
You gonna include any destroyable subsystems/submodels... or maybe even subsystem debris?
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Yeah ive got 1 or 2 destroyable bits in there. ie the radar dish and the main cannons will leave debris once destroyed.
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I have the Hyperion now working in game, with a Nova going up against some Shivans. Just testing this in BP as TBP is playing silly buggers with me. I'll get the Midwinter pof'ed up today and then its on to doing the blinkies on the ships(not a fan of those lol)
[attachment deleted to save space]
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That's a sexy vessel..
How's it fare against a solaris?
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Haha now thats the question! Now up against Shivans without beams, the shivans don't stand a chance. Need to put them up against the UEF lol
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Ok so wee update, i have to the Midwinter variant now in game. I have started to now work on the EA Orion Station, i have put up several images on the HLP modelling discord. I have taken a small amount of artistic liberty with the orion as there are no clear images of the rear and no to models seem to be the same. So i have done my own variation on it. I have added Solar panels to back, which is the biggest difference.
[attachment deleted to save space]
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The solar pannels are a neat addition. Also makes sense to have them near the zero-g area of the station.
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So i now have the EAS Orion Class station in game and working, even got the debris setup. Just need to work on the blinky lights. I have to say this one turned out far far better than i thought it would! Now i have a station, some cruisers and a dreadnaught, i think i need to start doing some Starfury's and civ ships.
[attachment deleted to save space]
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Given the type of ships you are focusing on, it would appear that from an EA standpoint, you are planning on making an Earth-Minbari War campaign. If that is the case, you may want to consider redoing the Olympus corvette and possibly adding the Cotton class tender. It was intended to be in ITB and the model was even created, but it was not included in the movie. Images of the model are few and far between, but a Google search brings up one still image and another with renders of a 3D model: B5 Tech Manual (https://www.b5tech.org/earthalliance/earthallianceshipsandvessels/earthcapships/cotton/cotton.htm) and Cult 3D (https://cults3d.com/en/3d-model/game/ea-cotten-class-fleet-tender).
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The olympus is on my maybe to do list. The actual time frame i was looking at was around 2259, sound around the early part of season 2. I has planned for it to be about raiders/mercs attempting to acquire alien tech for their own use. Just a very short like 5 mission type set
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If you are looking to add a bit of variety to your fighter line-up, might I suggest this unproducted design:
https://www.b5scrolls.com/#Screen3_02_18
While it is billed as a fighter-bomber it could easily serve the role as an AEW Starfury or other utility craft
EDIT: forgot to mention it, but why I was thinking "Starfury-frame AWACs" is that it would fit rather well into your scenario (sniffing out raiders and smugglers) but also keeps the gameplay in the fighter-scale (where more interesting gameplay happens)
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Ah Cool! thanks Orph! much appreciated!
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There's some pretty nice models on that page, but that's only half of that site's appeal. The Original Site (http://babylon5.infinispace.net/) (which now lacks any models) and a few of the ones on the new page have some pretty hilarious tech descriptions. The new site also has some planet and sector names and descriptions as part of the ships pages, but some of them are also jokes if you look hard enough.
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Ive been working on the Starfury model. Body done just to do the detailing. Man getting the wings right has been a right pain in the rear end, but i am happy with the result.
[attachment deleted to save space]
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So i have been working on the Starfury model and texture today. I have also complete Debris for the model and despite having the mother of all hangovers!(got to love a xmas work night out!) I am surprised how well its come out!
[attachment deleted to save space]
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You know, the current model has an actual modeled cockpit. :p
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Yeah i know, i had a look at it, but it doesn't quiet fit my model, its either the way ive modelled it or the schematics i used are of different proportions.
The Starfury is now in game and working. I made a quick test mission using every ship i have made so far and frames are holding steady between 90 to 115.
[attachment deleted to save space]
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Radier Zephyr is now in game, Started modeling it this morning and got it finished and working in game about 8 pm.
(https://i.ibb.co/0hpYDyV/fs2-open-21-2-0-x64-AVX-2021-12-21-22-22-07-160.jpg)
(https://i.ibb.co/27H3z7d/fs2-open-21-2-0-x64-AVX-2021-12-21-22-22-36-902.jpg)
(https://i.ibb.co/g3sxXjM/fs2-open-21-2-0-x64-AVX-2021-12-21-22-22-27-915.jpg)
(https://i.ibb.co/d0nqRh1/fs2-open-21-2-0-x64-AVX-2021-12-21-22-22-50-316.jpg)
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Looking good!
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Well i hope everyone had a nice Xmas. I have been working away on 3 more ships. The EA Asimov transport, i have also created a variant of it. The Raider Cruiser, which is a Asimov but with gun emplacements added and a bit of extra armor. i kind of thought it made sense as most Raider capital ships are repurposed freighters. I have also done the dreaded Shadow battle crab!
(https://i.ibb.co/xS8yXWJ/fs2-open-21-2-0-x64-AVX-2021-12-27-21-42-58-924.jpg)
(https://i.ibb.co/5685Qyy/fs2-open-21-2-0-x64-AVX-2021-12-27-21-42-41-746.jpg)
(https://i.ibb.co/yg3CfRf/fs2-open-21-2-0-x64-AVX-2021-12-27-21-44-10-681.jpg)
(https://i.ibb.co/2n9Q7H6/fs2-open-21-2-0-x64-AVX-2021-12-27-21-45-05-095.jpg)
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You ought to create a separate paint-job for the Pirate Asimov. Give it a skull & crossed-bones.
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Hello! So i hope everyone has had a good new year! I have been busy with getting the ships done and in game, I now have a small fleet. I have added several civilian EA ships to the game. Retextured to Raider cruiser to make it look more Raider.
I am now at a point where i can start doing test missions. I also have to the hard bit for me anyway. Playing around with the table files to make it more Babylon 5 and removing the Freespace elements.
Now on for the screenies!
(https://i.ibb.co/cJxvcqv/fs2-open-21-2-0-x64-AVX-2022-01-07-21-49-32-437.jpg)
(https://i.ibb.co/bvj2WxW/fs2-open-21-2-0-x64-AVX-2022-01-07-21-53-34-627.jpg)
(https://i.ibb.co/Q8vh7rW/fs2-open-21-2-0-x64-AVX-2022-01-07-21-53-49-253.jpg)
(https://i.ibb.co/rc3mGYk/fs2-open-21-2-0-x64-AVX-2022-01-07-21-53-57-160.jpg)
(https://i.ibb.co/Jp7544y/fs2-open-21-2-0-x64-AVX-2022-01-07-21-54-03-227.jpg)
(https://i.ibb.co/N2WGD4N/fs2-open-21-2-0-x64-AVX-2022-01-07-21-54-26-905.jpg)
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Those are some really long barrels on the Nova guns. Are you considering using separate cargo modules for the freighters, or integrated as they currently are for TBP?
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Yeah i do have a version with detachable doing points, I just need to add all the docking points in PCS.
Also just need to get the olympus corvette and the badger done now.
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So been working on the EA Badger class bomber and the textures for the Thunderbolt. Badger is Uv'd and ready for texturing. ThunderBolt i just now need to get in game
[attachment deleted to save space]
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Does your TBolt support extending wings? I like that you're going with the "Actual" Badger rather than the design we've been accepting as one.
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For the Thunderbolt, probably not, as i dont know how to do that.
No the unused badger is a really interesting design, As well as a fighter/bomber it does look like some kind of long range recon vessel.
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:yes: Looking good
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So i have spent all day working on the textures for the EA Badger and i have to say i am really happy with how its come out. One of my favourites
(https://i.ibb.co/mHrmtg1/badgertex01.jpg)
(https://i.ibb.co/bQgdtQ0/badgertex02.jpg)
(https://i.ibb.co/tDtZ47X/badgertex03.jpg)
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Magnificent!
Are those brown things under the aft hull bombs, or fuel tanks?
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On my one they are bombs, but when you look at images of the ships some have them as bombs others have them as tanks, or something else entirely. I went for bombs as this is going to be the Bomber in the shop roster
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Well the Badger class Bomber starfury is now in game and flys like a brick!
(https://i.ibb.co/bdYyssh/fs2-open-21-2-0-x64-AVX-2022-01-12-11-32-10-491.jpg)
(https://i.ibb.co/NZnxFB5/fs2-open-21-2-0-x64-AVX-2022-01-12-11-31-22-435.jpg)
(https://i.ibb.co/7bLXc1P/fs2-open-21-2-0-x64-AVX-2022-01-12-11-32-23-438.jpg)
On another note, i started this Project in December and i now have a 13 ships all in game and working fine, with debris etc. i don't think thats bad going for just over a month and a half.
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Looking good!
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Well thats the Thunderbolt in game and is joy to fly!
(https://i.ibb.co/kGksnXL/fs2-open-21-2-0-x64-AVX-2022-01-13-13-06-03-202.jpg)
(https://i.ibb.co/XZTBwpx/fs2-open-21-2-0-x64-AVX-2022-01-13-13-06-09-047.jpg)
(https://i.ibb.co/CbTKLRv/fs2-open-21-2-0-x64-AVX-2022-01-13-13-05-37-099.jpg)
Also work on the Omega has started, using my Nova as the base! can i do one of my favourite human designed ships in Sci fi justice? I am also going to give it the 2 forward massive short range Plasma cannons it was meant to have in show, but sadly was never shown off.
(https://i.ibb.co/km4dRQM/Oemga.jpg)
(https://i.ibb.co/jkmtW2J/Oemga2.jpg)
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What are the two vertical holes under the hangar? I always wondered.
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They are the 2 Plasma cannon's. They were meant to be the main weapon of the ship. Like the red hatches along the side are not escape pods, they are missile tubes. sadly when the model was completed the animator's where un aware they were weapons, so they where never used in the show. The Weapons it uses on screen are actually its secondary weapons.
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EFNI (http://www.efni.org/) calls those two vertically-elongated tube weapons "plasma mortars".
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They look like they could be the same weapons as refitted babylon 5's main cannon.
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I have been busy this morning work on the Refit of the Nova into the Omega! I am really, really, really happy with how she is turning out. This is the one ship along with the BC304 from Stargate, that i thought i would never be able to model and do it justice. But i think i can say i have. The proof will all be in the texturing. It current holds in at 21500 polys, which i think isnt that bad.
(https://i.ibb.co/mJXrjbh/Omega02.jpg)
(https://i.ibb.co/rf7jmFx/Omega03.jpg)
(https://i.ibb.co/0XQt1rm/Omega01.jpg)
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You gonna make an Omega-X next? ;7
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I could do, wouldn't be that hard, just add some shadow spikes here and there and just whack on the shadow texture........
Yeah i don't see why not.
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You could make the spikes destroyable subobjects.
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So i have been working hard on the Omega destroyer texture. I think it is nearly there and i am really happy with it. I also want to get it right and do it justice as the Omega is one of the most recognizable ships in B5 and sci fi.
(https://i.ibb.co/XLBZQL2/Omegat01.jpg)
(https://i.ibb.co/Jz9rKB9/Omegat02.jpg)
(https://i.ibb.co/LgWQy9C/Omegat03.jpg)
(https://i.ibb.co/9HxBFVT/Omegat04.jpg)
(https://i.ibb.co/mTkmH8y/Omegat05.jpg)
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She's a real beauty!
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Well thats the Omega and Omega X destroyers now in the game, and i must say i am sooooooooooooooooo happy with how they have turned out. The Omega i think is one my personal best models i have done. Also before Trival has a chance to ask. All the spikey bits on the Omega X are destroyable! Was a bloody pain to table though!
(https://i.ibb.co/HXP7Fcd/fs2-open-21-2-0-x64-AVX-2022-01-18-13-26-39-797.jpg)
(https://i.ibb.co/23QDz9R/fs2-open-21-2-0-x64-AVX-2022-01-18-13-27-22-630.jpg)
(https://i.ibb.co/F3YkRHD/fs2-open-21-2-0-x64-AVX-2022-01-18-13-27-40-654.jpg)
(https://i.ibb.co/Q9gSMRJ/fs2-open-21-2-0-x64-AVX-2022-01-18-13-24-38-626.jpg)
(https://i.ibb.co/C2wsr4c/fs2-open-21-2-0-x64-AVX-2022-01-18-13-24-52-143.jpg)
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Raider battle wagon with docked fighters next?
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You didn't include submodel debris for the spines, did you? ;7
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Colonol Dekker, the next ship i am working on is the Olympus corvette to complete the EA fleet for that time frame in the show. Then i will release the EA fleet pack. Then i will go to the Battlewagon.
I didn't trivial though i did included destroyed models so when they blow up they leave stumps. I just need to see if there is a way i can set it so there is like a blood explosion for when they are destroyed and not a standard explosion
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EFNI (http://www.efni.org/) calls those two vertically-elongated tube weapons "plasma mortars".
That site is bloody fantastic. Lots of ideas on there that could be pinched for use in other franchises and universes too 😎
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I like how they tied the Shadows in with the Dilgar (something many have suspected), but then on to the changes in Earth Gov afterwards, the set-up for the Minbari War, the Centauri attack and peace talk disruption, and all of it. I make a total read-through of that site every few months.
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And i have the flying brick....... errr the Olympus Class corvette in game and working. Totally chuffed with this model. Unlike the TBP version i have added fighter docking ports to the bottom of the ship so a wing of starfury's can be dropped of by it or a shuttle.
Now i have had some issue's with NaN blank screen errors but i think i have them sorted now. I will continue to test but all being well i will release the EA ship pack within the next few days.
Now for the pics!
(https://i.ibb.co/51BPHyk/fs2-open-21-2-0-x64-AVX-2022-01-23-21-56-30-375.jpg)
(https://i.ibb.co/z8h5vVC/fs2-open-21-2-0-x64-AVX-2022-01-24-07-58-54-706.jpg)
(https://i.ibb.co/zhBSncx/fs2-open-21-2-0-x64-AVX-2022-01-24-07-59-18-423.jpg)
(https://i.ibb.co/SnYNGLW/fs2-open-21-2-0-x64-AVX-2022-01-23-21-55-38-399.jpg)
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So i have added 2 more ships, the T-160 "white star" class transport and the Raider Gunship which is a retool of the T-160. I am trying to expand the Raider ship set while trying to keep it B5 lore friendly. basically the Raiders are getting what ships they can and are bolting on guns.
The T-160
(https://i.ibb.co/syz0vRm/fs2-open-21-2-0-x64-AVX-2022-01-31-08-41-32-766.jpg)
(https://i.ibb.co/xmTZkLQ/fs2-open-21-2-0-x64-AVX-2022-01-31-08-41-46-274.jpg)
The Raider Gunship
(https://i.ibb.co/d4ZCDyL/fs2-open-21-2-0-x64-AVX-2022-01-31-08-35-28-192.jpg)
(https://i.ibb.co/wRCJ7hG/fs2-open-21-2-0-x64-AVX-2022-01-31-08-35-39-839.jpg)
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I had an idea for a modified Skylark turned gunship, with two stacked engines on either side, maneuvering thrusters, folding wings a-la Thunderbolt that would like flat against the inner hull when retracted, dorsal and ventral turret pairs mounting anti-cap and anti-fighter weapons, a light beam-cannon in the nose, pulse cannons on either side, flanked by side-mounted anti-fighter turrets.
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Work is still going on with this mod, sadly due to no longer being allowed to work from home, time avaliable has reduced to a couple of hour or so an night, but i have also been testing it on a alerted version of Darius Solaris as i love some of the mechanics of that. But i will show off what i have been working on!
(https://i.ibb.co/m9jcHkx/crew-shuttle.jpg)
(https://i.ibb.co/g6PDxLX/Brakri.jpg)
(https://i.ibb.co/gmjhR5R/Gquan.jpg)
Also the Raider Carrier is now in game and working :) so the Raider fleet is growing.
(https://i.ibb.co/z42MH7Z/bandicam-2022-02-07-20-28-05-217.jpg)
(https://i.ibb.co/gRZzjQL/bandicam-2022-02-07-20-28-18-172.jpg)
(https://i.ibb.co/CsL6XpV/bandicam-2022-02-07-20-27-50-665.jpg)
(https://i.ibb.co/wMyWZZ9/bandicam-2022-02-07-20-27-57-788.jpg)
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Props on that carrier. :yes: