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BC Forums => BC Modding => Topic started by: TheConstable6 on May 12, 2010, 01:54:15 PM

Title: Idea for new Dominion vessel
Post by: TheConstable6 on May 12, 2010, 01:54:15 PM
I'm hopeless at scripting & modding, so I thought I should pass this idea to the community.

The Dominion Wars game (whose potential was sadly never fulfilled, and which has already yielded the Achilles-class & the Hutet) has a ship called a Jem'Hadar Super Carrier. It's decently armed, but its main weapons are super shields (better than a Dominion battleship's,) and its ability as a carrier of bugships. The carrier idea has already been used w/ the Kessoks (quite well-executed I may add), but the design of the Jem'Hadar carrier has the potential to be very eye-catching and a good addition.

http://www.simonandschuster.com/specials/dominionwars_site/ShipPro_JemCarrierPro.htm (http://www.simonandschuster.com/specials/dominionwars_site/ShipPro_JemCarrierPro.htm) Specs, info & pictures

Also, there are other intriguing ideas for BC ships from the Dominion Wars game. Several good Cardassian vessels, a original Klingon starship and another Dominion ship (http://www.simonandschuster.com/specials/dominionwars_site/ShipPro_JemStrikeCruiserPro.htm). All of these & more can be found of the aforelinked site.
Title: Re: Idea for new Dominion vessel
Post by: JimmyB76 on May 12, 2010, 04:15:25 PM
is this another ship request?

im sorry to say, but modders generally dont take ship requests...  all of BC's ship modders are all very much backlogged with their own projects and as such dont take public requests (unless asked, which usually never happens)...

the best bet for you to see a ship youd like ingame for BC is to take on learning the process of learning how to do it...  modders are always very happy to help out when newcomers ask for advice on how to do so, and guide them along the way...  but thats about it...
Title: Re: Idea for new Dominion vessel
Post by: 086gf on May 12, 2010, 08:38:03 PM
All of the ships from Dominion wars are available for or can be converted for use in BC.

Dominion Carrier
http://armada2.filefront.com/file/Dominion_Carrier;65618
http://armada2.filefront.com/file/Dominion_Carrier_reTextured;107617

Hutet
http://bridgecommander.filefront.com/file/BC_Hutet;9499
http://bridgecommander.filefront.com/file/Cardassian_Hutet_and_Mobile_Dominion_Ketracel_White_Facility;43559

Dominion Strike Cruiser
http://armada2.filefront.com/file/Chimera_Class;108665

Norin
http://armada2.filefront.com/file/Cardassian_Norin;64553

K'Vortcha
http://bridgecommander.filefront.com/file/KVortcha;7335

Tonga w/varients
http://armada2.filefront.com/file/Tonga_class_pack;99905

Achillies
Take your pick with this one. http://bridgecommander.filefront.com/files/search/?search_category=all&fields_name=1&fields_filename=1&game=8&keyword=achilles

Dominion Warship
http://armada2.filefront.com/file/Dominion_Special_Forces;96549

The non BC ships can be found in other places as well(full race mods and such).
Title: Re: Idea for new Dominion vessel
Post by: King Class Scout on May 12, 2010, 08:40:37 PM
I'm assuming that converting over the models and textures is the easy part, and that the hardpoints are the female dog :P
Title: Re: Idea for new Dominion vessel
Post by: Morgan on May 12, 2010, 08:43:38 PM
Hardpoints are actually pretty easy. Converting from Armada is the female dog because Milkshape will only import stock A2 models, not fan-made ones.
Title: Re: Idea for new Dominion vessel
Post by: dEjavU on May 12, 2010, 11:15:43 PM
....unless of course you have the unofficial SOD importer/exporter for it. Unfortunately that was never released to the public though.
Title: Re: Idea for new Dominion vessel
Post by: Villain on May 13, 2010, 08:10:16 AM
Anything is possible, it's just a question of whether you're willing to ignore your morals.
Title: Re: Idea for new Dominion vessel
Post by: teleguy on May 13, 2010, 09:22:44 AM
....unless of course you have the unofficial SOD importer/exporter for it. Unfortunately that was never released to the public though.

You can also use Lithium Unwrap though it's pretty hard to find nowadays on the web. There are 2 versions available one in an installer and one in a zip file. Both say version 1.3 but only one is able to open armada2 files.
Title: Re: Idea for new Dominion vessel
Post by: Maxloef on May 13, 2010, 11:45:04 AM
....unless of course you have the unofficial SOD importer/exporter for it. Unfortunately that was never released to the public though.

i have it....
Title: Re: Idea for new Dominion vessel
Post by: TheConstable6 on May 13, 2010, 09:23:15 PM
I appreciate your help, I should've known better to make a request. Being new (& stupid) isn't easy, you know.  :)

If one of you experienced modders could walk me through step-by-step how to move a ship from A2 to BC, I would absolutely love it (although I'm sure you all have better things to do ;)
Title: Re: Idea for new Dominion vessel
Post by: dEjavU on May 13, 2010, 11:56:21 PM
..if one of you experienced modders could walk me through step-by-step how to move a ship from A2 to BC, I would absolutely love it (although I'm sure you all have better things to do.....


I can't offer much help as I too am still learning this process but my suggestion would be to get your hands on a milkshape modeling program(http://chumbalum.swissquake.ch/ms3d/download.html )if your lucky enough a 3ds max or, as teleguy suggested above, a Lithium Unwrap. If dealing with milkshape, seeing as how your going to work with models other than stock SOD's your going to need that importer\exporter that was previously talked about above.

Also your going to need something called NIF scope(http://niftools.sourceforge.net/wiki/NifTools )a model property editor or MPE which is in the SDK(http://bridgecommander.filefront.com/file/Bridge_Commander_SDK;2455 )and bcut(http://bridgecommander.filefront.com/file/Bridge_Commander_Universal_Tool;106619 )I believe this is all the requirements needed to port SOD into NIF. I don't know the steps as I haven't actually done this yet(sorry)I'm just recycling parts of what a friend once tolled me not too long ago and I recommend you divert your efforts to aquiring these first before you do anything else.   ;)
Title: Re: Idea for new Dominion vessel
Post by: teleguy on May 14, 2010, 09:01:19 AM
That's part of a guide I gave somebody else:


As I said you need to download

1. Lithium Unwrap
http://bc-central.net/forums/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=7413.0;attach=42323
http://files.seriouszone.com/download.php?action=download&fileid=198&mirrorid=10&h=258785d6f150c91dafa97555956fb9e6
(if one doesn't work try the other one)
2. Milkshape
http://chumbalum.swissquake.ch/
3. Nif Plugin for Milkshape
http://bridgecommander.filefront.com/file/Milkshape_Nif_ImporterExporter_plugins;18852 .

Then you put both the model file from Armada (ending .SOD) and the corresponding textures (ending .tga) into the same folder. Open the model file with Lith Unwrap. If you click on "preview" you should be able to see your model properly textured. Now save the model in a format Milkshape can read like *.ms3d or *.obj. Next you open the file you just saved with Milkshape and export it (File->Export) to nif format which Bridge Commander uses. If you did everything right you should now be able to view your model with either Nifskope
http://sourceforge.net/projects/niftools/files/nifskope/
or Model Property Editor included in the SDK
http://bridgecommander.filefront.com/file/Bridge_Commander_SDK;2455 .
and the model is ready to be put into Bridge commander.

Next step will be creating a ship icon and then doing the scripts.
Title: Re: Idea for new Dominion vessel
Post by: Lionus on May 14, 2010, 10:41:26 AM
oh yeah, is there a way to get the nifscope working on win7?  :P
Title: Re: Idea for new Dominion vessel
Post by: teleguy on May 14, 2010, 11:03:46 AM
oh yeah, is there a way to get the nifscope working on win7?  :P

Did you try the usual like compatibility or admin mode?
Title: Re: Idea for new Dominion vessel
Post by: Lionus on May 14, 2010, 12:00:25 PM
let me guess.. no-one else has nifscope on win7? :lostit:
Title: Re: Idea for new Dominion vessel
Post by: Maxloef on May 14, 2010, 12:03:57 PM
let me guess.. no-one else has nifscope on win7? :lostit:

i do works fine over here?
Title: Re: Idea for new Dominion vessel
Post by: Majestic on July 23, 2010, 08:53:00 AM
I may be new here, but I have been in the Armada community since 2001 and may I suggest contacting Achilles over on Armada 2 Files. I have had many dealing with him over the years and he generally always grants requests and you'll probably be able to grab a 3DS version of the ship from him too. So no need to try and import the model by less than honest means. Hailing from the Armada 2 community, you Dejavu should know better.

Title: Re: Idea for new Dominion vessel
Post by: dEjavU on July 24, 2010, 02:21:09 AM
Yeah your right I should've known better than to mention it, guess I kinda got carried away trying to help out(sorry about that).  :D
Title: Re: Idea for new Dominion vessel
Post by: TheConstable6 on July 24, 2010, 11:20:54 AM
Wow, I was stupid then.

There are a lot of cool Armada-exclusive ships out there. I've never been a huge fan but i make a point to browse Armada Files.

This chap Achilles, grants requests?
Title: Re: Idea for new Dominion vessel
Post by: dEjavU on July 24, 2010, 09:44:26 PM
Doesn't hurt to ask.   ;)
Title: Re: Idea for new Dominion vessel
Post by: Majestic on July 25, 2010, 04:35:25 AM
Wow, I was stupid then.

There are a lot of cool Armada-exclusive ships out there. I've never been a huge fan but i make a point to browse Armada Files.

This chap Achilles, grants requests?

It really depends on whether he likes the ship you're requesting or not. There is one thing however, he isn't a fan of Federation ships, he is more aimed towards the Romulans, Klingons, Cardassians and Dominion.

He is also a rather generous fellow that allows so many people convert his work to other games, kitbash and what not as long as you credit him as the original author.

Yeah your right I should've known better than to mention it, guess I kinda got carried away trying to help out(sorry about that).  :D

I recommend you check out Adm_Z's thread on MSFC as there is a urgent matter regarding you there and your break of an agreement. I won't go into any further here.