Hard Light Productions Forums

Modding, Mission Design, and Coding => The Modding Workshop => Topic started by: TrashMan on September 26, 2005, 04:03:37 pm

Title: Mining Drone
Post by: TrashMan on September 26, 2005, 04:03:37 pm
Basic Concept:
(http://img229.imageshack.us/img229/313/minerdrone1an.th.jpg) (http://img229.imageshack.us/my.php?image=minerdrone1an.jpg)

Is it to your liking Shadowolf?
Title: Mining Drone
Post by: Wanderer on September 26, 2005, 10:29:13 pm
That's quite good.

Only few things, if it is a mining drone should IMHO it rather be bulkier and  less streamlined. Like a true utility design. Main hull could be perhaps quite close to the Elysium's lines.

Otherwise: :yes: :yes: :yes:
Title: Mining Drone
Post by: Mefustae on September 26, 2005, 10:32:04 pm
True, we're talking about a Mining ship here, it's really got to be a strict, ugly, and above all utalitarian design, not sleek and aesthetically pleasing...

...Take the Zephyrus for example; it's a boring, ugly, utalitarian design that the tech brief says pilots hate to fly. The vessel you've designed, while very good, is just a bit too cool for backwater mining opeations...
Title: Mining Drone
Post by: ShadowWolf_IH on September 26, 2005, 10:57:03 pm
yes it is....i have a question on the "mnother ship" though...can it be used in retail?
Title: Mining Drone
Post by: TrashMan on September 27, 2005, 03:19:09 am
yep.

About the drone - it has a mining beam below the bridge section with which it attacks an asteroid. After the asteroid is destroyed you spawn a few smaller chunks with dockpoint and the "drone" grabs it and takes it to the mining vessel.

That said, it's bigger than it looks - the cockpit part is for 3-4 people.
Title: Mining Drone
Post by: Prophet on September 27, 2005, 10:53:22 am
If the drone grabs asteroids... Then isn't the cocpit a bit dangerous? Look at Triton and its shivan couterpart (agh! cant remember its name!), they dont have aerodynamic cocpits between their "arms"...
If that thing approaches its target too fast, the first thinkg to be crushed is the cocpit.
Title: Mining Drone
Post by: TrashMan on September 27, 2005, 11:30:57 am
Then you best don't approach it too fast:D

Maby I'll make hte arms a bit longer..

anyway, I like both the Terrna and Vasudan gas miners... their designs are realyl cool nad could work well even for bigger ships - in fact, I think they would be perfect.
Title: Mining Drone
Post by: Unknown Target on September 27, 2005, 01:59:56 pm
It looks pretty cool, I like it :) So it's manned though, not robotic?
Title: Mining Drone
Post by: ShadowWolf_IH on September 27, 2005, 03:26:55 pm
don't change it trashman, i think it rocks...and prophet your whole arguement lacks something.....oh yeah.....the Apollo, which by the way i have wresked head on many times and not been killed for it.  

Also....why does it HAVE to be ugly?  I'll admit that the H2 is ugly as sin, and looks utilitarian, but the Hummer looks utilitarian and absolutely rocks.  

I think it's ****ing bad ass.

 one last thing...no one says that you guys who don't like it HAVE to use it.
Title: Mining Drone
Post by: TrashMan on September 27, 2005, 04:43:26 pm
I'll start texturing it a bit later...cracking my head open trying to highpolygonize the Orion Mk2 (and adding many changes) right now.

b.t.w. - any thoughts on how hte texturing should look?

Dark, metallic panels like or something more ...brighter?
Title: Mining Drone
Post by: ShadowWolf_IH on September 27, 2005, 07:13:27 pm
considering the fact that this is an industrial machine, i would say bright.  Industrial equipment...especially in space should deserve high visibility for safety reasons.
Title: Mining Drone
Post by: Trivial Psychic on September 27, 2005, 07:35:18 pm
I just had a modeling thought.  Make the graple arms sub-objects, then using Bob's object animation code, make it so they can open and close.
Title: Mining Drone
Post by: ShadowWolf_IH on September 27, 2005, 09:25:57 pm
that's a great idea.  it'll be safe to use in retail...but can be enhanced in scp....coolness.
Title: Mining Drone
Post by: Black Wolf on September 27, 2005, 10:43:45 pm
Quote
Originally posted by ShadowWolf_IH
one last thing...no one says that you guys who don't like it HAVE to use it.


Nor does anything say those of us who don't like it have to sit around saying nothing/gushing with praise to avoid hurting his precious feelings.

Don't get so defensive.
Title: Mining Drone
Post by: TrashMan on September 28, 2005, 06:22:15 am
I?ll prolly use the matalic panel txture like those on the Triton..
Title: Mining Drone
Post by: StratComm on September 28, 2005, 08:39:39 am
Go yellow.  Yellow is the universal color of heavy equipment :p
Title: Mining Drone
Post by: TrashMan on September 28, 2005, 08:43:02 am
Quote
Originally posted by Trivial Psychic
I just had a modeling thought.  Make the graple arms sub-objects, then using Bob's object animation code, make it so they can open and close.


I?ll do that..

@Stratt - yellow..hmm...maby I can tweak the Triton texture to give it more yellowish hue..
Title: Mining Drone
Post by: Vasudan Admiral on September 28, 2005, 08:58:25 am
UV map it and build&draw the texture - it's the perfect shape and size for it - just don't use the 'orrible, 'orrible triton texture. I guarantee it'll kill the ship completely. (Case in point, I built the HTL Triton texture..... Plate. By. Plate. - Just to make it fit the ship and not look like a really poor wrapping paper job. :p )

Oh, and while I'm here, make the arms longer, more chunky and 'clamp-like' (with hinges) - trying to grab an asteroid as is would be practically impossible without embedding the cockpit in the rock itself - just look at the side profile. ;)

Edit: Well, it *could* try and spear the rock I suppose, but I don't think that's quite what you're aiming for right? ;)
Title: Mining Drone
Post by: TrashMan on September 29, 2005, 03:43:47 pm
*currently nothing... give me some time..got other ship to do as well as several missions*
Title: Mining Drone
Post by: Roanoke on September 29, 2005, 03:52:01 pm
Quote
Originally posted by TrashMan


I?ll do that..

@Stratt - yellow..hmm...maby I can tweak the Triton texture to give it more yellowish hue..



Yellow & black, like a JCB or Tonka Toy. And have generic warning signs near the cutting beam :yes: