[Kolgena]

wholly crap. Genius design decision

[Dragon]

PCS2 can be used to add insygnia, so it shouldn't be a problem.

[esarai]

THAT.  IS.  BAD.  ASS.

[Snail]

i think right there is proof for the existence of God

[Mobius]

Amazing, I can't wait to use the HTL Medusa!

[chief1983]

Mobius, you can barely read your font color on the default theme, just fyi.

[Kolgena]

O.o

What are you talking about? Default has a dark grey background.

[Marcov]

I used to play Red Baron 3D and one of the most interesting things about that was that you could actually paint your own aircraft. Also, it didn't require much modding/editing of textures since you could just mix up paint themes from different squadrons in the German/British/French/American Air Force (actually the Germans had the most artistic paint themes so I played them most of the time). Now that pic triggered some idea in my head. I thought of FreeSpace with some kind of ace-to-ace battle topics, where the ace is recognizable with a special paint setting for his fighter...I recall there's one mission in FS1 where you engage a Zod ace, perhaps we should make more? Just a thought.

To be offtopic...

To respond to the Colossus debate in this thread (http://www.hard-light.net/forums/index.php?topic=75128.20) I'll be posting the Colossus engaging a group of Orion destroyers.

Just did a mission involving the Colossus with no working engines and engaging seven Orion-class destroyers at almost every angle. Each Orion would be able to fire its starboard BGreen and some of its broadside TerSlashes, and simply didn't move (probably due to the fact that I ordered them to "Stay Still").

This mission was tested twice. For the first time, the Colossus obliterated all of them and ended up with 16% or 19% (I don't remember very well) hull integrity. The second test, which I have pictures of in "A celebration of FreeSpace" (http://www.hard-light.net/forums/index.php?topic=25406.new#new), the Colly destroyed all 7 of them with 7% hull integrity.

1. HUD view of the Colossus and destroyers:



2. Colossus view of herself and destroyers:



3. Beamz galore:



4. And the first one explodes in a massive fireball:



5. This is actually the 3rd one to be destroyed:



6. Double Kill:



7. The Colossus fires a BGreen and takes down the 2nd to the last destroyer:



8. Shockwaves:



9. The last Orion destroyer could actually only recieve fire from the Colly's twin rear TerSlashes:



10. The last of them gets destroyed:



11. A battle-damaged Colossus emerges victorious:



12. Events Data for this experimental mission:




Well, this is interesting to know. Looks like the Colly surpassed her description of "having the armament of 5 Orion-class destroyers". Possibly yes, but it could handle several more than five of them in a fight to the death. It could be a useful tactic for the GTVA to lure a Shivan/NTF fleet into position, then deploy the Colossus right in the middle of the fleet, then beam them all to death like what Luis Dias described in the other thread.

[Commander Zane]

When you say starboard BGreen I noticed that for the most part the only BGreen being used was the ventral cannon under the nose, since they're mostly pointing directly at the Colossus, which is the improper way to use the Orion's total firepower. Had they actually been showing their starboard sides they could use three BGreens, and space the Colossus.

[Marcov]

I could do that, but...it might be unfair?

The Colossus attacks an Orion with only a portion of its firepower. Therefore it may only be fair for the Orion to ALSO attack the Colossus with a fraction of its own power.

Though I can understand that may be unrealistic.

[Shivan Hunter]

Another thing here is, an engagement between a Colossus-size vessel and 7 destroyers, even if someone was dumb enough to let it happen, wouldn't happen like this. You're in a fighter in FS for a reason- they're bloody powerful. Heavy assault fighters could attack turret subsystems, bombers could soften up the opposing ship(s), and light fighters could provide cover. Cruisers and corvettes might provide temporary safe areas for fighters, although they'd be mostly useless in the battle itself. Orions would, in fact, broadside the Colossus at whatever angle was best.

The outcome of the BoE would depend on so many variables it's not even funny. I think it likely that in a realistic engagement of this size the Orions would win (or cripple the Collie, which would jump out as soon as they realized they were outgunned), but even that depends on the fighters doing their jobs.

Anyway this is getting off topic will post pics soon

[EDITZ0rZ] Pwn the NTF!

[Nyctaeus]

Cool! I love your light settings , especialy green glow from the beam cannons.

[Commander Zane]

I see you have the same weird thing with your Post-Processing as I do with the bloom making vertical lines, but they're very dark and pretty shots.

[MatthTheGeek]

Remind me where those shockwaves come from ? I've spotted em in a couple of screenshots but never got my hand on em.

[TopAce]

Those are Nighteyes's shockwaves. Get them from the FSU board.

[MatthTheGeek]

This


and this



are definitely two different effects. I'm of course not talking about the color, but about the texture itself. You can see that the first one has a much more marked, sharp border than the second one.

[Dragon]

Both are by Nighteyes, but the first one is older.
I have a blue version, but could you check where did you got the first one, Shivan Hunter?
I'm sure I once had it, but I can't find it.

[Pred the Penguin]

Could it be a difference between 2D and 3D?

I could do that, but...it might be unfair?

The Colossus attacks an Orion with only a portion of its firepower. Therefore it may only be fair for the Orion to ALSO attack the Colossus with a fraction of its own power.

Though I can understand that may be unrealistic.

Have you tried setting up the Orions to all attack from one side of the Colossus? (probably even more unrealistic )

[jr2]

If you were an enemy commander and you had 7 Orion Destroyers at your disposal and you wanted to take down the Colossus, would you decide to 'play fair"?!?  No.  You would find the weakest, least defended point on the Colly, and the strongest point on your Orions, and go for the kill.  That's how war is.  You don't fight with one hand behind your back.  This isn't Neverland.  You do that and you get badly hurt at best, killed more likely.  If you want to be merciful, disable your opponent as fast as you can and then maybe he'll see you are actually trying to be nice to him when you don't finish him off when he is at your mercy.  Probably not, but you can always hope.  (Look at the Japanese after WWII.)

[Shivan Hunter]

The blue version of my shockwave is in this post by Nighteyes (the first effects pack link, not the newer one). Not sure where the orange version is from.