[FlareBaffled]

 
So here I am, with a fresh, stock, newly re-installed game after a long sojourn away playing othir things, and now I want to mod the living daylights out of the game!

Where the heck do I start!

I've not modded the game before, but I know how to model and have Max7 to build with. Where do all the tuorials live to get me started making new content?

I now I wnt some of the SourceCode stuff.... but here are so many options and so much jargon in there, I have not got the faintest idea where to start when it comes to those builds. I want as much of the pretty graphics options....I want to use some pretty polygon heavy meshes....and I ABSOLUTELY MUST have the ability to put fully functional multipart turrets on the sides of my ships. I read somewhere it can be done....and I must have it

Aside from that, I just need some tutorials, some tools, and a slice of free time!

[Herra Tohtori]

I suggest this for starters:

The FreeSpace Oracle, a quite complete FAQ by karajorma.

[Flipside]

Side mounted cannons aren't a part of the main codebase at the moment, though they are operative in a test build. I suspect it won't be long before they are part of the main code.

If you want to gen up on them and get some practice, I suggest this thread:

http://www.hard-light.net/forums/index.php/topic,43271.0.html

Oh, and



[Jedi mind trick]You are hearing a welcome speech[/Jedi mind trick]

[FlareBaffled]

I've officially been 'beamed'

How do I use the test builds? Do I have to replace by stock/SC exe...or is there a tool to allow me to switch in the thing and switch it out again? Also...if I put in one of these builds, will it have all the things in the current 'official' SCP build...or is it likely to be missing stuff as well ?

Damn....this is confusing!

[Flipside]

Your best bet for installing stuff is to use the FreeSpace Open Installer by Turey, that'll get most stuff installed. You then need to run Launcher.exe from your FreeSpace 2 directory.

http://www.hard-light.net/forums/index.php/topic,42854.0.html

Get the latest version of the Launcher from here:

http://www.hard-light.net/forums/index.php/topic,40121.0.html

Basically, in the Launcher, at the top, there is a button for selecting which .Exe file you run, so you can keep multiple releases in your main directory in case you want to play with test stuff.

Any test build will have everything from the last 'official' build in it

[FlareBaffled]

Thanks Flipside.

I'll get the launcher and collect p all the 'official' unofficial stuff from the proper SCP release, play with that a bit to get an underdstanding of the way things should look under SCP, then I will start work on my first actual ship!

There are so many things to look at.... glowing things, lights, ballistic primaries, and things!

I will have to start reading through the 'oracle' and the Wiki to try and get an understanding of exactly what I can do with the SCP builds and how to make it work

Say hello to a steep learning curve

[Flipside]

Hehe, if it helps any, I've been here years and still feel like I'm running to keep up with what the guys come up with

[karajorma]

Bear in mind that the modding stuff in the Oracle is a couple of years old. So if the wiki contradicts it the wiki is likely to be correct.

[AdmiralRalwood]

Hehe, if it helps any, I've been here years and still feel like I'm running to keep up with what the guys come up with

I'm not sure that's any help to a newbie. If someone who's been here for years is having trouble, what hope does someone who just joined have? ;P

[FlareBaffled]

It's an honest reply!

One brief trip into the jargon rich world of FS2 is enough to confuse most mortals! What the hell is an SEXP...and who is FRED.

[Getter Robo G]

Never mention SEXP in mixed company (probably get you slapped).
As for FRED, he hasn't posted his pic yet.

Welcome aboard! 

[Turey]

As for FRED, he hasn't posted his pic yet.

But we know he's spanish, since his last name is Manuel. 

[Flipside]

Hehe, if it helps any, I've been here years and still feel like I'm running to keep up with what the guys come up with

I'm not sure that's any help to a newbie. If someone who's been here for years is having trouble, what hope does someone who just joined have? ;P

Well, in my defence, a lot of the stuff I'm running to keep up with has only appeared in the last 18 months Scripting and the Animation code is mostly what I suck at, and Fredding. I can do most stuff, but very very slowly. I guess the more I do it the faster I get

[asyikarea51]

I want to use some pretty polygon heavy meshes

I just hope things don't go overboard...

[FlareBaffled]

Fighter craft of around 1500-2000 polys with a load more for cap-ships, depending on need. The big carriers and mothership types will obviousely need more polygons, but there will never be a load of them on screen.

Compared to stock models.....thats loads 

I'll get the first few simpler meshes done and mapped, then I can get them in game as test-beds for all this stuff.

So far, though, I have got the launcher thing in place and the game running with the basic FSO install. I don't think the media VP's are in the installer package....so I suppose I should get that too.

[Scooby_Doo]

Don't be afraid to go over 2000, quite a few of my smaller fighter models are in the 2500 range. Bombers can do more because of their size.  Capships no comment 

[Flipside]

The 2000 limit is really just a convenience thing. The 3D Hardware likes to recieve polygons in batches of 2000ish for each texture. For a Capship this isn't so bad, but a fighter with 2500 polygons would require 2 'batches' just for an extra 500 polygons iirc. The difference in speed is practically un-noticeable in the long run, but it's basically just to keep things as efficient as possible.

Don't worry too much about it though, we are talking milliseconds here

[FlareBaffled]

The 2000 top limit pretty much fits with what I have started doing. I want to do an initial couple of fighter and bomber craft, then I will start worrying about the bigger ones. I will start with a couple of 'small' capships for fleet support, then move onto the Battlewagons!