[TrashMan]

I guess I'll put this here:

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/120aul-42P8zOw-dI-RFGOIwdBdXqxXLO?usp=drive_link

Link to my Freespace google drive. It contains everything I'm working on.

From Blender scenes to the entire working FOW Knosos folder with everything inside (tables, models, textures, etc), compressed.*
It naturally contains the latest and fixed versions of my models - I've cleaned up the pof data and fixed some issues, updated tables and animations and so on, so it's the best place to get my stuff.


Also included are two compressed files with variations of the MVP Orion and Typhon.

3 versions of the Orion, all with 24 turrets, just the turret models are different (FS1 version, FS2 version and FS2A, which keep the beam cannons on the sides but has a regular cannon turret on the front). Will probably make more.

For the Typhon, also 3 versions - with 24, 30 and 34 turrets (4 of new turrets are big doubles). One of the turrets is a nice frontal cannon shamelessly stolen from a zod cruiser.


*You can just extract it into your Knosses and try to play the campaign. Hard block at mission 6 atm due to fred issue. Fair warning, it contains everything, including WIP missions and chapter 3 stuff.

[TrashMan]

Added a 34 turret Hecate version and a 33 turet Orion version

[TrashMan]

Added a modified Haven core. Still needs debris and lod, but now those windows aren't just for show

[Colonol Dekker]

Dude   thats so cool

[JCDNWarrior]

I've been wanting to see windows/glass be usable for stuff like cutscenes. Getting to see how people live on space stations has always interested me too.
If I have the time I might play around with this, like making little scenes.
Keep up the good work, Trashman.

[TrashMan]

I was planning of having tiny low-poly human models or carboard cutouts move around, but animating that would be a nightmare.

[JCDNWarrior]

If collision worked better I'd say, create the models and then let FREDders move them around themselves. If they're good enough, they could be used in a variety of places like on planets, but the more polies, the less you can place.

Maybe with collision turned off and limit them to the height axis they're on?

But else, it does seem the only option would be something like what you described.

But as they say, limitations breed creativity.

[TrashMan]

Particles... using transparent textures/cutouts of people as particles and just shoot them slowly so they "walk"

[JCDNWarrior]

I didn't even consider that option, but that sounds like a very cost-effective way to go about it. At the very least, worth trying out!
Fired from six or eight directions it could make a crowd possible moving in all directions. It might need tinkering to make it look more organic, but good camera work helps too.

Returning to billboards that can be moved individually, I'm reminded that even games like Mass Effect 3 used something like billboards to show people running around in the opening level far from the player's sight. Or in ME2 on Illium, distant crowds were basically just static images, with ones closer by being animated images.
It might give a good visual example of the possibilities.