Hard Light Productions Forums

Community Projects => The FreeSpace Upgrade Project => Topic started by: Galemp on October 12, 2005, 02:04:40 am

Title: Hi-poly Hecate (taking initiative)
Post by: Galemp on October 12, 2005, 02:04:40 am
This is my texture job on Raven's HTL Hecate. I wasn't all that happy with it at first, but apparently all I had to do was put it down for a few hours and come back.
(http://web.njit.edu/~pjo3/heck1.jpg)
(http://web.njit.edu/~pjo3/heck2.jpg)
(http://web.njit.edu/~pjo3/heck3.jpg)
(http://web.njit.edu/~pjo3/heck4.jpg)
(http://web.njit.edu/~pjo3/heck7.jpg)
(http://web.njit.edu/~pjo3/heck5.jpg)
(http://web.njit.edu/~pjo3/heck8.jpg)

Untextured model, showing map distribution.
(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y188/sb38R2/Hecate5.jpg)
(http://web.njit.edu/~pjo3/heck6.jpg)

Comments welcome of course.
Title: Hi-poly Hecate (taking initiative)
Post by: Sandwich on October 12, 2005, 02:32:54 am
You suk.





...in the most incredible, amazingly talented way imaginable, of course!

I think I know what you mean, though. There are some large, smooth surfaces that are just begging for some window greebling. Overall, though, I'd say that's as good as it can get with the model at hand. :)
Title: Hi-poly Hecate (taking initiative)
Post by: Fenrir on October 12, 2005, 02:33:10 am
That. In my game. NOW.

In all seriousness, I really can't think of what needs to be improved. I agree with you that there's just a little something that's off somehow, but I can't quite place it. I think it might be the green-to-tan coloring in some spots, but the original was like that too I'm pretty sure (hard to tell since the thing was only ever outside a Nebula once or so in the main FS2 campaign :nervous: ). Regardless, a pre-you-fixing-the-textures-to-your-liking release would be most welcome.

[Unrelated note] What's with the narrow message input box for this forum?
Title: Hi-poly Hecate (taking initiative)
Post by: Singh on October 12, 2005, 02:42:04 am
Tone of the textures is too green in some areas - especially the front. The green tiles are too 'unbroken', as compared to the original...or are those the original...can't really tell - cant exactly remember :/

Anyways, here is an image of the old one, for comparision's sake.

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/anandraj/Hecate.jpg)
Title: Hi-poly Hecate (taking initiative)
Post by: StratComm on October 12, 2005, 02:52:49 am
Is the map on the top of the nose from the Colossus?  If so, it's slightly the wrong color.  Should be more brown.  The big C's pallate doesn't mesh well with many other capship maps IMHO.  Don't let that stop you from releasing it, but don't be suprised if I re-tint the map and make a minor update.

Otherwise, looks great.  The Hecate is tough to judge without turrets, so maybe that's what's throwing everyone off.  Add in the canon ones and lets see how it looks :nod:
Title: Hi-poly Hecate (taking initiative)
Post by: Galemp on October 12, 2005, 08:13:14 pm
Well there we go. All I needed was a more complete model from Raven with the appropriate greebles, and the turrets. Renders have been updated with the new progress. I've also added a nameplate where it should go.
Title: Hi-poly Hecate (taking initiative)
Post by: StratComm on October 12, 2005, 08:39:15 pm
I knew turrets would make the ship.  Fantastic!
Title: Hi-poly Hecate (taking initiative)
Post by: Admiral Nelson on October 12, 2005, 08:50:55 pm
wow, I can never look at the old model again!!
Title: Hi-poly Hecate (taking initiative)
Post by: Mongoose on October 12, 2005, 09:57:43 pm
Get that thing in the MediaVPs ASAP :D
Title: Hi-poly Hecate (taking initiative)
Post by: Galemp on October 13, 2005, 11:20:37 am
That might take a while.

Can we get this hilighted, in the meantime?
Title: Hi-poly Hecate (taking initiative)
Post by: Col. Fishguts on October 13, 2005, 12:00:20 pm
Pretty awesome :yes:

The only thing that could be better, is the windows/lights texture. It's too blurry and random for my tastes.
Could use a little more horizontal definition, as in deck->windows->deck->etc.
Title: Hi-poly Hecate (taking initiative)
Post by: Galemp on October 13, 2005, 01:03:29 pm
It'll look better with the Media VP's hi res maps and glowmaps.
Title: Hi-poly Hecate (taking initiative)
Post by: Jetmech Jr. on October 13, 2005, 09:08:40 pm
It'll look even better on my computer, ingame.

Hint. Hint.

;)
Title: Hi-poly Hecate (taking initiative)
Post by: FireCrack on October 13, 2005, 09:45:50 pm
Oh.. so is that using tiles? When i was mapping it i was going for a skin..
Title: Hi-poly Hecate (taking initiative)
Post by: Sandwich on October 13, 2005, 09:47:10 pm
IMO the main texture on the head is too low-res. Either increase the tiling in a non-horrid way, or increase the detailing on that map.

IMO. :)
Title: Hi-poly Hecate (taking initiative)
Post by: FireCrack on October 13, 2005, 09:54:03 pm
Hmm... can we see how it looks with raven's "modified" wing turrets?
Title: Hi-poly Hecate (taking initiative)
Post by: Vasudan Admiral on October 13, 2005, 11:47:32 pm
Quote
Originally posted by Galemp
Can we get this hilighted, in the meantime?
It's b0rked - as you may have noticed with the huge error there presently. :p
Besides, you should've posted this or a link to this in FS modding. ;)

In regards to the ship, some parts I like, some parts (like the bendy & wiggly plates on the prow and other bits) I'm not too fond of. Metal plating on such a curvey model is always problematic.
Title: Hi-poly Hecate (taking initiative)
Post by: Galemp on October 14, 2005, 12:24:49 am
I'm gonna revise the mapping on the face, around the sides of the head, on the underside of the engines, and on the two towers on the rear. I probably won't get to it for another week, though.
Title: Hi-poly Hecate (taking initiative)
Post by: BlackDove on October 16, 2005, 09:23:44 am
MMMmmmmmmmmmmm hmmmmmmmm

That's it. Awesome :yes:
Title: Hi-poly Hecate (taking initiative)
Post by: Ace on October 16, 2005, 04:50:16 pm
For some reason the box laser turrets are niggling at the back of my mind. All of this detail and yet those are still boxes...

Hrmm... ;)
Title: Hi-poly Hecate (taking initiative)
Post by: FireCrack on October 16, 2005, 06:15:07 pm
^ yeah, be too... woule look nicer as "buds" or somthing, with AAA beams being a traditional "dish" shape...
Title: Hi-poly Hecate (taking initiative)
Post by: IceFire on October 16, 2005, 08:30:27 pm
Looks great!  Good job!
Title: Hi-poly Hecate (taking initiative)
Post by: Galemp on October 17, 2005, 03:47:46 pm
The original model used the same turrets as the Aeolus (the side ones, with the six holes.) Raven seems to like those so I guess I'll reinstate them.
Title: Hi-poly Hecate (taking initiative)
Post by: Raven2001 on October 17, 2005, 03:49:36 pm
THe box turrets are there for now, but tehy will be replaced by the HTL Aeolus turrets, as depicted by the original model :)
Title: Hi-poly Hecate (taking initiative)
Post by: StratComm on October 17, 2005, 04:57:36 pm
I agree about the square turrets, but I am not fond of the huge wing turrets that you put on late.  IMHO, the pure upgrade version of this should do without them, as they change the profile and (more importantly) occupy the same space as the player starts out in during Mystery of the Trinity.
Title: Hi-poly Hecate (taking initiative)
Post by: Ace on October 17, 2005, 04:58:52 pm
Maybe a version of the model with, and a version without the wing turrets?
Title: Hi-poly Hecate (taking initiative)
Post by: Galemp on October 17, 2005, 06:19:24 pm
Raven says he'd like to keep the bottom quad turrets, but yeah, the top ones are definitely going.

Here's some updates on the mapping...
(http://web.njit.edu/~pjo3/htl/newheck1.jpg)
(http://web.njit.edu/~pjo3/htl/newheck2.jpg)
(http://web.njit.edu/~pjo3/htl/newheck3.jpg)
(http://web.njit.edu/~pjo3/htl/newheck4.jpg)
(http://web.njit.edu/~pjo3/htl/newheck5.jpg)

Remapped the big turrets.
Title: Hi-poly Hecate (taking initiative)
Post by: Osiri on October 19, 2005, 11:29:09 pm
HOLY **** THATS AWESOME
Title: Hi-poly Hecate (taking initiative)
Post by: Taristin on October 19, 2005, 11:47:07 pm
Those Turrets scare me.
Title: Hi-poly Hecate (taking initiative)
Post by: starfox on October 20, 2005, 12:03:18 pm
"Holy Hecate, Batman !!!"

As soon as that beauty hits my PC, fps is going to drop faster than my jaw, I bet.

What's the polycount, by the way ?
Title: Hi-poly Hecate (taking initiative)
Post by: WeatherOp on October 21, 2005, 09:59:44 pm
The only thing it needs is a base for the turrets. I'm sure they don't want to hear...SCREEECH, BOOM, ERRR-ScREEEEECH.;)
Title: Hi-poly Hecate (taking initiative)
Post by: Galemp on October 21, 2005, 11:53:22 pm
Quad turrets.
(http://web.njit.edu/~pjo3/htl/newheck6.jpg)
Title: Hi-poly Hecate (taking initiative)
Post by: StratComm on October 22, 2005, 04:31:09 am
I still think they're too big.

But your ability to get the most out of maps amazes me.
Title: Hi-poly Hecate (taking initiative)
Post by: FireCrack on October 22, 2005, 12:31:08 pm
I too would like to see an alterior 4x quad turret version, those things just look too cool to pass up.

And i'm wondering what happened to ravens beam cannons?
Title: Hi-poly Hecate (taking initiative)
Post by: Galemp on October 22, 2005, 02:07:25 pm
Dunno, they weren't in the files he sent me. I think I'll rebuild them anyway, 'cause they're so cool. :D
Title: Hi-poly Hecate (taking initiative)
Post by: Raven2001 on October 22, 2005, 02:52:24 pm
I didn't like those turrets very much, so I dumped the idea...

Oh the mapping job is looking great :)
Title: Hi-poly Hecate (taking initiative)
Post by: Depth_Charge on October 23, 2005, 11:12:14 am
very impressive......love the textures on that beauty.
Title: Hi-poly Hecate (taking initiative)
Post by: WMCoolmon on October 23, 2005, 01:53:25 pm
I kind of like the quad turrets, they remind me of the Millenium Falcon. ;)

Very impressive textures though, are you using the originals or the mediaVP ones, or new ones?
Title: Hi-poly Hecate (taking initiative)
Post by: Cobra on October 23, 2005, 03:19:07 pm
*faints*
Title: Hi-poly Hecate (taking initiative)
Post by: Galemp on October 23, 2005, 03:42:42 pm
I'm using the MediaVP textures, and a modified capital01-06a (the Orion turret map) for the turrets, color-matched with the original Colossus texture.
Title: Hi-poly Hecate (taking initiative)
Post by: StratComm on October 23, 2005, 03:51:44 pm
I assume by that you mean you've color matched the turret map with the Colossus turret map.  Which is fine.  The colossus map you've used though should be color-mapped to the Hecate scheme IMHO, because right now that pale green map looks like the metal plates in that area have molded. :p
Title: Hi-poly Hecate (taking initiative)
Post by: Sandwich on October 24, 2005, 02:49:37 am
I like how everyone is spelling "turret" properly these days. :D
Title: Hi-poly Hecate (taking initiative)
Post by: FireCrack on October 24, 2005, 06:14:19 pm
Make sure all the top turrets are poining forwards and vice-versa when you convert this..
Title: Hi-poly Hecate (taking initiative)
Post by: Col. Fishguts on October 25, 2005, 06:09:30 am
How's about an early WIP ingame shot ?

I'd like too see how that thing looks with glow-/shinemapping applied.
Title: Hi-poly Hecate (taking initiative)
Post by: Sheepy on October 25, 2005, 08:54:53 am
I dunno, there's something about that green texture on the towers that doesnt fit for me, i prefered the original grey you had on the first picks, saying that if you edit the map so its either greyer or browner to fit with tthe rest of the tiles it could fit quite nicely.
Title: Hi-poly Hecate (taking initiative)
Post by: Galemp on October 25, 2005, 09:22:06 am
It actually matches the green bits on the original Hecate map quite well, if you care to look.

As for conversion, well, I think I'm done the mapping for now, though eventually we'll get a full-body UV map. I'll think about it.
Title: Hi-poly Hecate (taking initiative)
Post by: Sheepy on October 25, 2005, 09:25:17 am
Hmmm, its true. But before the whole hi-res texture fest that lightspeed did, i don't actually recall there being any green in it at all. I guess thats whats throwing me off more than anything.

But either way it still looks beautiful :nod:
Title: Re: Hi-poly Hecate (taking initiative)
Post by: Charismatic on November 19, 2005, 07:43:42 pm
 On origional post, ALL the pics are not showing, except the one 'untextured one'. Anyone got a link or something so i can see em?
Title: Re: Hi-poly Hecate (taking initiative)
Post by: StratComm on November 19, 2005, 11:43:51 pm
Definitely not worth the bump.  There are textured pics in a more complete state later in the thread, so you have absolutely no need to look at the earlier ones.  Many of us (especially those of us hosting files off of University web space) have some sort of bandwidth and storage constraints, so we have to trim the pictures we hotlink accordingly.
Title: Re: Hi-poly Hecate (taking initiative)
Post by: Galemp on December 09, 2005, 04:31:51 pm
(http://web.njit.edu/~pjo3/htl/hec83.jpg)
(http://web.njit.edu/~pjo3/htl/hec81.jpg)
(http://web.njit.edu/~pjo3/htl/hec85.jpg)
(http://web.njit.edu/~pjo3/htl/hec86.jpg)

Download. (http://web.njit.edu/~pjo3/htl/htlhecate.rar)
It is, of course, plug-and-play compatible with your existing tables and missions. It has full [glow=yellow]glowpoints[/glow], destructable subsystems, and nameplates. Credit goes to Raven for the original mesh and turrets, StratComm for the glowpoints and conversion, and me for all the textures and hierarchy.
The RAR includes the POF, glowpoint textures, turret texture and three sample nameplates.

I'll be doing an alternate variation with some UV mapping, the quad wing turrets, and some repositioned and renamed turrets as well later on. This one won't be compatible with standard FS2.
Title: Re: Hi-poly Hecate (taking initiative)
Post by: WeatherOp on December 09, 2005, 05:02:43 pm
Very Nice. :yes:
Title: Re: Hi-poly Hecate (taking initiative)
Post by: Fenrir on December 09, 2005, 06:14:30 pm
Sweet! One of my favorite ships finally gets the upgrade it deserves.
Title: Re: Hi-poly Hecate (taking initiative)
Post by: WMCoolmon on December 09, 2005, 06:21:17 pm
Woot woot. :)
Title: Re: Hi-poly Hecate (taking initiative)
Post by: Cobra on December 09, 2005, 06:46:25 pm
wait, how did the nameplate system work again? :nervous:
Title: Re: Hi-poly Hecate (taking initiative)
Post by: Galemp on December 09, 2005, 09:20:52 pm
There's a texture replacement option somewhere in FRED that lets you take a texture on a ship and replace it with another. I'm not too familiar with it so I can't really help you more than that.
The ones I supplied are TGAs with transparency, to make your own you'll need to use Photoshop or another powerful tool like Gimp. Or, you could just give it an appropriate background like you would with an Orion nameplate.
Title: Re: Hi-poly Hecate (taking initiative)
Post by: Cobra on December 09, 2005, 09:50:06 pm
the FRED_Open texture replacement doesn't work atm. goober said he was fixing on it.

i remember how to do it now, but i'm too tired to explain it.
Title: Re: Hi-poly Hecate (taking initiative)
Post by: Admiral Nelson on December 09, 2005, 10:17:19 pm
Absolutely astounding stuff guys. Thanks for all the hard work it must have taken to produce this beauty....
Title: Re: Hi-poly Hecate (taking initiative)
Post by: karajorma on December 10, 2005, 05:28:04 am
the FRED_Open texture replacement doesn't work atm. goober said he was fixing on it.

It half works. Admiral Nelson just posted a thread with the whole FS2 campaign containing nameplated ships so if you check that out you can see how it's done.
Title: Re: Hi-poly Hecate (taking initiative)
Post by: Unknown_Enemy on December 11, 2005, 04:34:43 pm
clap-clap-clap-aplauds  :yes:

Pretty beast... Congrats to the father.
Title: Re: Hi-poly Hecate (taking initiative)
Post by: Col. Fishguts on December 12, 2005, 08:00:52 am
Holy Frack, I completely missed the release.

This is pure awesomeness turned into polies :yes:

EDIT: Slight glitch: There's a little piece of glowing debris visible in the lower left main engine.
Title: Re: Hi-poly Hecate (taking initiative)
Post by: Lt.Cannonfodder on December 12, 2005, 01:30:47 pm
Excellent  :yes:
Title: Re: Hi-poly Hecate (taking initiative)
Post by: Galemp on December 12, 2005, 05:42:05 pm
EDIT: Slight glitch: There's a little piece of glowing debris visible in the lower left main engine.

I noticed. :( Pain in the neck, that poly will have to have its texture reassigned if I ever reconvert.
Good news is that most of the time it's not noticeable under the engine glows, but it's kinda irritating in the tech room.

I'd like to clarify something for any FREDders out there: if the ship is disabled and gets repaired, you'll probably only want to repair engines 1 and 2, as the exhausts for 3 and 4 get destroyed and their glows just float in space.
Title: Re: Hi-poly Hecate (taking initiative)
Post by: Pnakotus on December 12, 2005, 11:52:08 pm
I've noticed much more severe geometry 'popup' in nebula missions with the new Hecate.  At a given distance, rotating your view has parts of the ship suddenly appearing and disappearing as they near the edge of the view area, rather than emerging from the mist.  The geometry isn't being obscured by mist, it appears to totally disappear - but I haven't noticed it on non-nebula missions.  The bow shields, aft towers and ventral engines are the most common areas that have this problem.
Title: Re: Hi-poly Hecate (taking initiative)
Post by: Galemp on December 13, 2005, 12:10:30 am
That's odd, I haven't seen any nasty nebula popups recently. Try using the 'Poofs don't intersect hull' flag in the launcher.
Title: Re: Hi-poly Hecate (taking initiative)
Post by: Pnakotus on December 13, 2005, 04:15:42 am
I'm already using it!  :)

I don't know jack about how the nebulas or models work, but I haven't seen this with any other models for some time.  In vanilla FS2 it was pretty bad, as whole ships would go from 'invisible in the mist' to 'not misted at all', but on the 'Mystery of the Trinity' mission, whole geometry sections leap out of the mist as you move around the ship.  Again, I don't know anything about how this works, and it's hardly major, but it's jarring none the less.