Hard Light Productions Forums

Modding, Mission Design, and Coding => The Modding Workshop => Topic started by: Scooby_Doo on April 04, 2006, 05:52:31 am

Title: The cat's Bloodfang is back.
Post by: Scooby_Doo on April 04, 2006, 05:52:31 am
Derived from Wing commander 2's Bloodfang pic.  Somehow the original looked a bit too cartoonish, although a lot of it could be with the texturing.
(http://www.wcnews.com/newershots/full/bloodfang.jpg)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v356/Shodan_AI/bloodfang-2.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v356/Shodan_AI/bloodfang-1.jpg)
It still needs some touching up here and there.
Edit: BTW, this was a scratch-built, I know of no meshes existing of this ship.

Anyone got a Kilrathi model I can borrow?
Title: Re: The cat's Bloodfang is back.
Post by: GT-Keravnos on April 04, 2006, 08:41:14 am
Oh! MY! GOD!

This is the first bloodfang model I have seen, EVER! So many things could be done with it. I hope the WC SAGA guys will notice and take advantage of both the model and your modelling prowess.

Good jog!
Title: Re: The cat's Bloodfang is back.
Post by: gevatter Lars on April 04, 2006, 09:15:36 am
An interesting interpretation of the original bloodfang model.
I would change some little things like adding the "missile tubes" on the side, making the wings thinner and give it a more kilrathi like cockpit. This one looks very human in design but then I am very Wing Commander 3 oriantated that had a quite different style then WC2 where this Bloodfang comes from.
The WC3 Bloodfang for example looks like this
(http://tactics.solsector.net/joans/pictures/bloodfang.JPG)

For models...well I think their is somewhere something close to the original that was used for the renders in WC2 but I don't have it. Also I mostly dislike the WC2 style. To me it dosn't fit to the rest of the games.
Still your models looks very nice on its own


Oh and a little note...Confed and Kilrathi Logo on the same ship? ^_^

Title: Re: The cat's Bloodfang is back.
Post by: Starman01 on April 04, 2006, 12:09:45 pm
Man, this is awesome  :eek2:

I really never like any of the WC2-Models from the original games, but this fighter is simply awesome !!! Though a little teardrop, it doesn't scream "kilrathi-like" to me (I guess because of the round cockpit and structures), but who cares, this is a damn fine ship !

Edit : It carries both conded and kilrathi-signs, you might wanna change that though :)
Second edit : Never Mind, Lars already mentioned it :)
Title: Re: The cat's Bloodfang is back.
Post by: Scooby_Doo on April 04, 2006, 03:27:25 pm
Well as I said earlier, I aim most of my ships to be post-Prophecy era. Built by the Kilrathi High Counsol, but under the command of Confed.  It's not exactly the original (WC2) Bloodfang, just one that looks and flys like the original.  :D  (Besides, it keeps the canon zealots at bay :lol:) Similar to the Goran I released earlier, has an cockpit that can accommidate both cat and human. I suppose since it's on the market for sale, it could carry any logo, confed, kil, border worders...etc, even pirate. Although it's primary intention is to protect against pirates and Nepihim.

As for the rounded structures verses sharp pointy ones,  I dunno, I like them both :) They both have their attributes, and theres several ships from WC1/2/Armada I've never seen models of :blah:
Title: Re: The cat's Bloodfang is back.
Post by: gevatter Lars on April 04, 2006, 03:46:24 pm
Do you mean the 3D models that where used to generate the maps you see ingame and some of the cutscenes? Most people haven't seen these since they where never released. Some WC2 models are their but I don't know if these are original or just fanmade.
Title: Re: The cat's Bloodfang is back.
Post by: Scooby_Doo on April 04, 2006, 03:55:45 pm
Ya 3d Models... I should have said meshes.  I was skimming over at CIC looking for the original bloodfang pic, and read that they used some Amiga program to produce the WC1 models and DOS MAX 1 :eek2: to produce WC2 models. Now thats old.
Title: Re: The cat's Bloodfang is back.
Post by: gevatter Lars on April 04, 2006, 04:13:02 pm
Yes they are old as the games they where made for.
I would still like to get some of them and rework them.
I have worked on my own version of the Bengal strike carrier but didn't found the time to finish it.
Maybe you have seen it at the CIC...if not here is a pic
Perspective view (http://www.scifi-3d.de/wcsaga/Lars/Bengal/top4.jpg)
Not finished bridge (http://www.scifi-3d.de/wcsaga/Lars/Bengal/bridge.jpg)

But back to topic...are you planing on doing your own post WCP game or is it just for the fun of it?
Title: Re: The cat's Bloodfang is back.
Post by: Scooby_Doo on April 04, 2006, 05:20:17 pm
 :eek2: Now thats one sweet carrier...


A year ago I was planning on doing a mod, but I'm a terrible FRED designer.  I'm now just doing them for fun.
Heres my need-a-massive-update-and-repaint Tiger Claw class carrier: http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v356/Shodan_AI/tiger.jpg
It might be my next capship on the list of reworks

OMG BRAINSTORM here.... can you have 2 sides polygons?? After seeing your antenna work, I wonder if you could do antennas using a two-sided polygon with transparent/masked textures. You could create complex antennas using only 4 polys.
Title: Re: The cat's Bloodfang is back.
Post by: DaBrain on April 04, 2006, 05:27:41 pm
Which disapear when you look at them from certain angles? No, it's sad to say this, but that won't work. You'll also probably run into collision problems.
Title: Re: The cat's Bloodfang is back.
Post by: Scooby_Doo on April 04, 2006, 05:40:17 pm
Drats... hmmm i suppose you could use a rectangle.  Now can subobjects be collision disabled? I know they can be untargetable, that feature was just added before got distracted from FS last year.
Title: Re: The cat's Bloodfang is back.
Post by: FireCrack on April 04, 2006, 05:45:04 pm
or a tetrahedron.
Title: Re: The cat's Bloodfang is back.
Post by: gevatter Lars on April 04, 2006, 06:26:15 pm
We have antennas on most of our ships but they are different from the tiny things I put on my model. Ok on the other hand my model isn't for ingame use. Just something I work on from time to time....sadly their hasn't been any progress for weeks.

Still I don't think that antennas in FS should be that small/thin. From far away you won't notice them and even if you are close it wouldn't add that much detail...at least not of they are to small.

About your model... the fin on the underside is quite big and compact/short. Do you have the Claw Marks as referance? If not I could scan them for you so that you get an better idea of how the model looks....or just take a look at my version. That one is quite close to the Claw Marks drawings...except for the extra details.

Title: Re: The cat's Bloodfang is back.
Post by: Scooby_Doo on April 04, 2006, 06:57:44 pm
Well they may be small but they would only take up about 4 polygons (2 for each side).  Kinda like billboarding, except the objects don't move to face you.

If you notice on my capships, at least the Ajax and Athena, they have exterior beams lighting the ships hull. Got this idea from B5's Omegas.
(http://www.ultradrive.com/images/b5_omega.jpg)

Btw, the Claw Marks are you referring to this:
(http://www.wcnews.com/newestshots/full/bloodfang2.gif)

and the 3 view layout of the new fighter (still missing the exhaust ports, looks like the orignal had 2 on the pylons, this one might have 3)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v356/Shodan_AI/bloodfang-3.jpg)


Oh and thanks for showing me that WC3 bloodfang. Light bulb went off. but I need a Kilrathi name for it.  After a quick 2 minute cut and pasting job, so I wouldn't forget about it latter on when I get around to actually work on it. Don't complain about detail, it's a quick hash job that I'll do considerable reworking latter on. t needs massive work done to it.. LOL the some of the parts aren't actually touching each other.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v356/Shodan_AI/unknown1.jpg)
Title: Re: The cat's Bloodfang is back.
Post by: StratComm on April 04, 2006, 10:43:55 pm
Ok, so the one thing that screams at me about that Omega is that it's massively tile-textured.  Wow.  I sure hope that's not actually from the show.

Which disapear when you look at them from certain angles? No, it's sad to say this, but that won't work. You'll also probably run into collision problems.

The game doesn't support two-sided polygons, no.  But that can be gotten around with just the slightest amount of creative modeling.  The trick is with the transparent textures, they are a pain.  However, that doesn't mean they are impossible; talk to me about it in about two weeks.  I'm experimenting with ways to get around that.  I already know of one, but it's applications are somewhat limited.
Title: Re: The cat's Bloodfang is back.
Post by: Scooby_Doo on April 05, 2006, 12:23:21 am
Well now that I know how to make transparent textures with DDS it shouldn't be a problem in photoshop.


could also do fake volumetric lighting around spotlights, like that Omega does, for nebula missions (where theres enough matter to create reflections).
ohhhhhh. could use it to do "air shields" around hanger bays. gives off a shield shimmer glow but you can fly right through it.
Title: Re: The cat's Bloodfang is back.
Post by: CaptJosh on April 05, 2006, 05:22:05 am
That's not tiling on that Omega, it's hull plating. An Omega class destroyer is a big ship. At least comparable to the Orion, IIRC.
Title: Re: The cat's Bloodfang is back.
Post by: gevatter Lars on April 05, 2006, 05:57:50 am
When I was talking about the "Claw Marks" I was refereing to the Wing Commander 1 handbook as references for your Bengal-class carrier.
This is from the online version of the "Claw Marks" -->  Bengal-class (http://claw.solsector.net/ships/tigersclaw.gif)

About your redesign of the WC3 Bloodfang...now it looks like the Vaktoth on steroids ^_^
Vaktoth from WC3 (http://tactics.solsector.net/joans/pictures/vaktoth.JPG)
Title: Re: The cat's Bloodfang is back.
Post by: StratComm on April 05, 2006, 11:44:41 am
Scooby-Doo, I don't mean that making transparent textures is a pain, but rather that making them work in-game without odd consequences can be a pain.  If you're not sure what I mean, check out the Fenris turret issue thread in the SCP forum, near the bottom, with the nameplate.

That's not tiling on that Omega, it's hull plating. An Omega class destroyer is a big ship. At least comparable to the Orion, IIRC.

And the Orion is tiled too, it's just not that repetitive or, more importantly, uniform.  Hull plating should not repeat.  The pattern of repetition should certainly not be the same on the hanger as it is on the hab array as it is on the engines etc.  And it shouldn't streak across the inner cylinder.
Title: Re: The cat's Bloodfang is back.
Post by: Scooby_Doo on April 05, 2006, 02:33:22 pm
Ah ok that I do understand StratComm, too bad I don't remember my C/C++ as well anymore. Gotten spoiled with C#  :D

As for the Vaktoth on steriods, now would be the time for suggestions. However it should remain symertic, merging attributes of WC3+ (sharp and pointy) with WC1/2/armada (symertic)
Title: Re: The cat's Bloodfang is back.
Post by: gevatter Lars on April 05, 2006, 03:11:54 pm
Suggestions...well that depend on what you want. Following a Human-Kilrathi hybrid like you mentioned for the WC2 Bloodfang would most likely be symetric and would move the cockpit to a center position. At the moment it would have two cockpits at the sides.
It also strongly reminds me of the Crossbow in its current configuration. Maybe you might want to take a look at it also for inspiration. Crossbow bomber (http://tactics.solsector.net/joans/pictures/crossbow.PNG)
I would also remove the lower fins or make them smaller.

Title: Re: The cat's Bloodfang is back.
Post by: Scooby_Doo on April 05, 2006, 03:41:43 pm
Sweet, I kinda liked the Crossbow bomber, especially it's shape, does a mesh of it exist? I'm already getting some ideas for it  :drevil:

Title: Re: The cat's Bloodfang is back.
Post by: gevatter Lars on April 05, 2006, 03:45:04 pm
Not that I know of any mesh except the one that was created for Standoff.
Title: Re: The cat's Bloodfang is back.
Post by: Scooby_Doo on April 05, 2006, 05:04:23 pm
Thats too bad  :(  But thanks for the picture, that should help create one, only wish there was a front view. You'll probably be hearing back from me about this in a few days  ;)
Title: Re: The cat's Bloodfang is back.
Post by: Scooby_Doo on April 05, 2006, 11:27:22 pm
Ok maybe less than a few days. After about an hour of work.

Engines still need a ton of work (LOL they look like flashlights), Cockpit hull needs some touching up, plus a unique cockpit,(I'm guessing front and back style, not side by side pilots (hides the copilot LOL). and everything needs to be booleaned and combined to cut out intersections and lots of detailing.

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v356/Shodan_AI/CROSS1.jpg)
Title: Re: The cat's Bloodfang is back.
Post by: aldo_14 on April 06, 2006, 04:50:36 am
That's not tiling on that Omega, it's hull plating. An Omega class destroyer is a big ship. At least comparable to the Orion, IIRC.

And the Orion is tiled too, it's just not that repetitive or, more importantly, uniform.  Hull plating should not repeat.  The pattern of repetition should certainly not be the same on the hanger as it is on the hab array as it is on the engines etc.  And it shouldn't streak across the inner cylinder.

Well, bear in mind it's from CGI (assuming it's either the actual show model or close to it).  You don't really need good textures for a lot of CGI, because you have lots more polygonal effects, shadowing and light variance, motion blur from movement, proper phong shading, etc that all add 'on top' of the texture detail to mask the plain-ness or otherwise of it.  I remember one shot from the show of a whitestar docked onto B4, and the texturing for the station hull was actually really repetitive; you just normally don't see because of the lighting.
Title: Re: The cat's Bloodfang is back.
Post by: Col. Fishguts on April 06, 2006, 06:04:57 am
Looks like a fan render. But the actual model used in the show looks pretty much the same. And the basic hull plating map is actually tiled, although not very visible.

But check out some season 1 episodes, if you want to see some old school CGI work. Especially B5 station had some very bad texturing (bz today-s standards)
Title: Re: The cat's Bloodfang is back.
Post by: Scooby_Doo on April 06, 2006, 06:15:14 pm
Well it's converted :-)  I had a little trouble with the cockpit glass, PCS frooze up when it tried converting it. I've found that at least with MAX if you draw a box around the offending object and do a boolean intersection? it'll create a new object identical to the original but will convert with PCS.

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v356/Shodan_AI/blood-1.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v356/Shodan_AI/blood-2.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v356/Shodan_AI/blood-3.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v356/Shodan_AI/blood-4.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v356/Shodan_AI/blood-5.jpg)

As soon as the Aurora cruiser gets converted I'll re-release everything again.