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BC Forums => BC Modding => Topic started by: DJ Curtis on January 18, 2009, 03:41:13 AM

Title: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: DJ Curtis on January 18, 2009, 03:41:13 AM
Here's a ship I meshed out today.  No name so far, though I've tried a few different variations on ideas I've seen in many other ships, including a triangular secondary hull, as well having the nacelle pylons extend out from the very bottom of the ship.  It's tough to get them to integrate smoothly from there.

As you can see in the pictures, the ship will also have a separable saucer for MVAM.  MVAM seems to me vastly underused, so I figured I'd give a go to it as it's not that hard ot mesh out the ship that way.

I've also tried a few different styling cues for the engines.  Still plenty of work to do on the whole thing, mind you, such as impulse engines, torpedo launchers, etc.  I'd like to ramp up the modeled details on this ship a bit, given some time.

So far 8100 polygons with zero errors, and I haven't gone through to reduce where I can yet.  I'm going to shoot for very high detail with a ceiling of 15k for polys.
Title: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: szekeres2008 on January 18, 2009, 04:34:55 AM
Fantastic!!! Elements from the Dauntless and Prometheus clearly recognizeable, good job!
Title: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: Dalek on January 18, 2009, 05:18:53 AM
Ooh nice. Looks like the Soulwolf.
Title: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: Glenn on January 18, 2009, 08:56:20 AM
Ooh nice. Looks like the Soulwolf.

Correction..... It looks better than the Soulwolf!!. DJ may I suggest a couple of names. Renown Class or Resilient Class Starship.  8)

Great work once again DJ  :shock:
Title: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: Commander_One on January 18, 2009, 09:44:33 AM
Now that's one sweet design.  It definitely feels like it would come from the post Voyager coming home ships.  You know they had to use some of the technology that the Crew brought back home with them! 8)
Title: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: Shadowknight1 on January 18, 2009, 10:02:43 AM
Wow, nice. Reminds me of the design sketches I've seen of Ezri Dax's Aventine.
Title: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: Nebula on January 18, 2009, 11:37:50 AM
heh heh I see two of my ships on that thing.

Very wicked design!
Title: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: yanlou on January 18, 2009, 01:36:47 PM
that ship is frikin awesome, i can defiently imagine this beauty going up against the borg,
cookie for u sir
Title: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: FourChan on January 18, 2009, 02:14:48 PM
Pretty sweet ship.
Title: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: DJ Curtis on January 18, 2009, 03:28:20 PM
Rebuilt the nacelle pylons, and I'm going to rebuild the connection points.  What was there was really sloppy and not particularly aesthetic.

Added torpedo launchers, including one that will be hidden during non-separated flight.

I also added a bridge area, though I plan on spicing it up a bit.

I've also decided that i didn't like what I was planning with the deflector, so I scrapped it.  I'm going to try and do something more original with it.  Suggestions with drawings are welcome.
Title: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: El on January 18, 2009, 03:49:54 PM
Perhaps a triangular deflector? Would seem to fit the secondary hull nicely and I can't think of any other ships with one.
Title: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: DJ Curtis on January 18, 2009, 04:48:57 PM
really stumped on the deflector. :(
Title: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: Shadowknight1 on January 18, 2009, 05:03:19 PM
Hmmm....well, I liked the suggestion of slipstream that the old deflector gave.  It's a shame there's not a lot known about slipstream drive or you could probably design something.  Hmmm, I'll give it some thought, maybe I can come up with something for you. ;)
Title: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: Jason Archer on January 18, 2009, 05:15:10 PM
what bout something like excelsior set back in the secondary full..or something like the prometheus..?
Title: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: Darkthunder on January 18, 2009, 05:17:55 PM
Could you post a side and forward view of the stardrive area? Might be able to come up with something for the deflector.

EDIT: Was about to suggest something similar to what Jason wrote. An Excelsior-style alcoved deflector dish might look good. Not too many ships with that design.
Title: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: Nebula on January 18, 2009, 05:33:17 PM
How about a Deflector similar to the one on the Selfridge A?
Title: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: DJ Curtis on January 18, 2009, 05:39:54 PM
I'll test out an Excelsior style deflector and see what I come up with.

Impulse engines (I hope you like the placement, because I'm lovin it! :D), and new nacelle connections.

edit: i'm happy with the deflector now.  I did go with the excelsior style inlet, but I have the round deflector a bit of a retro look combined with some Century class influence.
Title: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: FarShot on January 18, 2009, 05:58:33 PM
Wow, DJ, I'm lovin it.

If I could say something...
I noticed the impulse engines are both receded into the secondary hull and jut out from the back of the saucer.  That area behind it, where it cuts out a bit of the secondary hull, I'd texture it with some heavy plating so that it can stand the force of the impulse directed alongside it.
Title: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: Darkthunder on January 18, 2009, 06:05:17 PM
I dunno why, but something about those forward torpedo tubes don't really sit well. Perhaps better with a more Sovereign-placement?

As for the Excelsior style deflector, it looks perfect just as it is. And the impulse engines is a welcome change from what is standard. I like them alot.
Title: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: Shadowknight1 on January 18, 2009, 06:21:38 PM
I agree with Darkthunder on the torpedo tubes, they just seem out of place like that.  The deflector is awesome looking though!
Title: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: DJ Curtis on January 18, 2009, 06:33:57 PM
I'm with you guys on the forward tubes, they're not working for me either.

Farshot--> Great idea about the plating, but I'm modeling it on instead of texturing.

I also added some beefy inlet things to the ventral side of the nacelle pylons, and you can also see the forward torpedo launcher on the cobra head suring separated flight mode.
Title: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: Nebula on January 18, 2009, 06:56:10 PM
Awesome :D

Hey got a question do those impulse engines on the secondary hull fold into the hull when the saucer section is attached? That would be awesome... (kinda like those secondary impulse engines on the delta flier.)
Title: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: eclipse74569 on January 18, 2009, 07:00:45 PM
i like it...the nacelles are almost Sovereign like.  but I wonder where you're gonna put the impulse engines on the saucer :P
Title: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: DJ Curtis on January 18, 2009, 07:33:30 PM
Neb--> That's a great idea about those engines, but I think that because of where the saucer engines will have to go, those engines will actually be the primary ones.

however, some fold out engines on the saucer might work nicely!
Title: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: Shadowknight1 on January 18, 2009, 07:38:11 PM
That would be interesting, wouldn't it?
Title: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: FarShot on January 18, 2009, 09:10:28 PM
You could do something like with the Galaxy EVO by LC.

This is really cheap looking I know.  :P
Title: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: DJ Curtis on January 18, 2009, 09:32:24 PM
That's okay, I don't think the saucer will have warp drive.

Here's an update:

I put impulse engines on the ventral side of the saucer, they're essentially hanging there, but I don't think I'll bother making them retractable as I kinda like the way they look when they're out.

-added thrusters
-added sensor pallet areas
-changed the back end a bit
-worked on the ventral saucer and blended the torpedo launcher

and i do see the error at the back of the ventral saucer now that i've got the renders out.
as to the ships role, I'm thinking that this is going to be a straight up warship.  Not a heavily armed explorer, not a heavy cruiser, A FRAKIN' WARSHIP BABY!  Thoughts? lol.

any suggestions moving forward are welcome.
Title: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: FarShot on January 18, 2009, 09:37:19 PM
Does that forward torp launcher have good LOS?
Title: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: DJ Curtis on January 18, 2009, 10:10:59 PM
If it didn't before, it does now... because I added another one. :D  Not to mention a couple phaser arrays here and there.

Listening to Rammstein while building a warship makes for an interesting combination! :D

There is a purpose to this ship being so heavily armed, btw.
Title: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: eclipse74569 on January 18, 2009, 10:24:03 PM
If looks could kill, this baby would commit genicide!

Seriously!? How big is this thing gonna be though?? I'd go with small, and maneuverable...but it's your choice :).  Loving it DJ!  This takes the cake of my favorite non-canon ships!
Title: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: FourChan on January 18, 2009, 10:40:46 PM
If the Katana Class and the Juno Mated and had a child, it would look like this ship.
Title: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: DJ Curtis on January 18, 2009, 10:42:46 PM
It's a mid sized ship, perhaps 400m long.  I'll give an exact number when I scale it.  The shuttlebay makes the ship look smaller, but in actuality, it's very big shuttlebay, designed to carry the fighter craft that wil go along with this ship.  (Which i have yet to create, but they will be there.)

I added an another torpedo launcher to the aft quarter.  There are now are now two launchers on the ventral side, and two on the dorsal side.  The advantage of this is that if you lose your dorsal shields (for example), then you're not gonna at risk of losing all your torpedoes in one hit.
Title: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: Kirk on January 18, 2009, 11:03:27 PM
Well DJ, you have lit a fire under my butt to start modeling. I've been wanting to rebuild the Soulwolf and this has made me want to. Good work. I love all of the little modeled in bits. Keep it up! :D
Title: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: Technerd89 on January 18, 2009, 11:16:52 PM
omg im drooling on my keyboard... immediate suggestions: add a small, rhode island-style deflector to the saucer section, as its a bit of a necessity in trek ship design. round out the keel of the ship just fore of the undercut. increase the size of the deflector 10-25%. also, theres a phaser blind spot on the rear of the saucer section, particularly when seperated. GREAT ship design, i cant wait.
Title: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: admiral horton on January 18, 2009, 11:31:22 PM
im loving this design
DJ rocks!!!
Title: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: DJ Curtis on January 19, 2009, 12:19:08 AM
advice taken on the saucer deflector.
Title: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: FourChan on January 19, 2009, 12:42:08 AM
There's a lot of ships out there, DJ Curtis has modeled the best of them and designed the best of them, I can't wait for the future to see more of his envisions and takes on Starfleet Vessels.
Title: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: Bigkap on January 19, 2009, 12:49:28 AM
That is probably my vote for mod of the year right there. Love the new deflector arrangement. Beautiful ship DJ. She's mean lookin' :twisted:
Title: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: Shadowknight1 on January 19, 2009, 12:50:07 AM
Saucer deflector is nice, as is everything else! :D
Title: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: DJ Curtis on January 19, 2009, 12:56:35 AM
Thanks guys!

Took care of the saucer's aft phaser blind spot during separated flight mode.

I also added some field coils to the lower half of the engines.

Currently 16k for polys.  That will fluctuate as I add detail and also clear out unnecessary triangles.
Title: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: Bigkap on January 19, 2009, 01:02:20 AM
You are a machine.
Title: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: DJ Curtis on January 19, 2009, 01:07:03 AM
No.  I am John Connor.

A couple of rough scale shots.
Title: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: Phantom0981 on January 19, 2009, 01:07:30 AM
DJ this ship is amazing! I especially love the look of the star drive section when the ship is separated. Love it and I can't wait to see more! Love the deflector that is on the saucer as well. Keep up the awesome work.
Title: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: DJ Curtis on January 19, 2009, 01:22:16 AM
Will do... but not tonight.  Going to bed!  Gotta work tomorrow, though i'd happily work on this through the night.

Here is a schematic view of the ships so far.

Title: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: Shadowknight1 on January 19, 2009, 01:30:00 AM
While I'm sure we'd like you to work on it through the night as well, I doubt your work would want you to. :P  Looking fantastic as always DJ
Title: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: DJ Curtis on January 19, 2009, 03:54:36 AM
I had an idea and couldn't sleep.  Guess what it was? :D
Title: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: Aeries on January 19, 2009, 04:03:48 AM
Modeled escape pods... nice

Dude, this is really impressive... :)
Title: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: mckinneyc on January 19, 2009, 05:14:05 AM
Never thought I'd like a Federation warship but DJ she's as gorgeous as she is deadly.

She reminds me of the King George V-class battleships, small, good lines, fast, and pack a punch!
Title: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: Raven Night on January 19, 2009, 06:05:40 AM
Wonderful work DJ...shes not a.....Marine corps ship, perhaps? hehe.

Worlds better than the Ares. Maybe they might look nice next to each other, if it wasnt for my horrible Fed modeling skills lol.
Title: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: rengers on January 19, 2009, 07:19:23 AM
very nice design DJ, I have to say i love the nacelles :D
Title: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: Darkthunder on January 19, 2009, 07:27:14 AM
Only one suggestion comes to mind:

In the forward view you posted, the stardrive looks a bit "droopy". Any chance of making it more rounded underneath? And possibly make the aft edges of the saucer a bit more rounded as well?

Loving the design thus far. By my count, you've got atleast 18 phasers in its combined mode together with 8 torpedo tubes. Perhaps this ship was built for a renewed conflict with either the Dominion, or dare I say it... The Klingons? (STO reference)
Title: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: El on January 19, 2009, 07:28:19 AM
This is probably the best ship I've seen since the Courageous. Wouldn't mind a bash at the HP if you want?
And it will be detailed like the courageous hp was (landing and registry lights for example)

Also looking at the schematic, are the bussards covered by the saucer (I know I mentioned that on your last ship!! lol)
Title: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: FarShot on January 19, 2009, 08:36:12 AM
Daaammmmnnnn....

DJ, I'll give you a million dollars cookies if you make that bridge separable.  :P

EDIT - Woot! 100 posts.
Title: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: gdata on January 19, 2009, 09:42:55 AM
Nice idea. Is it the same timeframe as the Century or later? May I ask how you get this rough, cast-like looking surface when rendering?
Title: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: Shadowknight1 on January 19, 2009, 09:51:25 AM
Wow DJ.  If you keep this up, this ship of your's will be born early. :P
Title: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: tiqhud on January 19, 2009, 10:19:13 AM
Ya DJ does do some Great ships. [cookie]
Title: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: JimmyB76 on January 19, 2009, 11:20:41 AM
absolutely beautiful DJ!!  :D
i have immediately fallen in love with this ship - i cannot wait to see how awesome she looks when she is all finished!
thank god you enjoy BC, and we are all so lucky to have your incredible talent to keep producing such amazing ships for it! :dance

*more cookies*
Title: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: Jason Archer on January 19, 2009, 12:46:44 PM
wow looks amazing..the deflector turned out really well lol...i do have good ideas...on occasion....wont get one ow for bout 4 5 weeks  :P
Title: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: yanlou on January 19, 2009, 01:16:39 PM
DJ ur a genius, that ship is awesome, cant wait to see what u do with the textures, might i suggest for textures(i know ur a long way off that but) a slightly darker more armoured look to ur previous ships to give it that warship feel to it, lovin the ship  :D
Title: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: DJ Curtis on January 19, 2009, 02:00:35 PM
I was actually planning a darker texture scheme for this ship. :)
Title: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: yanlou on January 19, 2009, 02:56:02 PM
ah cool, i think it would work reli well too, awesomeness, cant wait to see :D
Title: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: Aeries on January 19, 2009, 04:19:34 PM
With all these amazing projects... I rrreeeaaallllyyyy should get back onto the Mithra one of these days. x_x
Title: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: CaptainGMAN on January 19, 2009, 06:17:04 PM
Wow I just saw this it is all ready one of my favorite ships of yours.
Also I am the only one seeing a Nova when there is no saucer?
Also DJ how about some modeled phaser cannons like the Defiant's.
Title: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: Technerd89 on January 19, 2009, 07:09:13 PM
i dont think this ship needs or could properly use phase cannons. given its current armament and maneuverability, i cant see them being used practically compared to the phasers.
Title: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: eclipse74569 on January 19, 2009, 09:30:42 PM
I had an idea and couldn't sleep.  Guess what it was? :D

Poor wife must have been disappointed :P

This is looking great!
Title: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: DJ Curtis on January 19, 2009, 09:35:12 PM
It won't have phaser cannons, but i am planning some sort of heavy weapon to fire from the deflector.  It will be a large pulse that will essentially fire only once, perhaps burning out the sensor array.  I'll have to see about how to script that.
Title: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: FourChan on January 19, 2009, 11:07:26 PM
Eek, I hope you have short range secondary sensors on that, cause i'd hate to miss and have no sensors to lock on during a fire fight. It'd be like, a use only incase you're about to die weapon? Lol.
Title: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: DJ Curtis on January 19, 2009, 11:11:42 PM
Don't know how much you can actually tell tbh, but I've done some substantial reconstruction of the lower part of the secondary hull and the base of the pylons.  Also chamfered out a bunch of edges at the back.  I added about a 500 polygons but managed to also cut out about 300 or so by rebuilding that part of the mesh.  It smoothes a lot better now too, and the integration of the nacelle pylons is not so stretched out.

As to that deflector pulse weapon, the downside of using it would be that it's a one shot deal that essentially cripples you for a while.  It wouldn't destroy the deflector (sensors), but it would damage it enough that the sensors go offline and you've got to repair them.
Title: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: Triton on January 19, 2009, 11:30:19 PM
A very handsome ship DJ Curtis. Does she have a name?
Title: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: Adonis on January 19, 2009, 11:32:49 PM
Dude, looking at these last renders I got one crazy little idea about this ship, I'll need a sideview to draw it tho. Won't give or take off the shape.
Title: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: DJ Curtis on January 19, 2009, 11:35:13 PM
No name yet.

Here's the side render Adonis.  I did it hi res for ya.
Title: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: Adonis on January 20, 2009, 12:12:58 AM
OK, this is what I had in mind, it's just basically a slight reshape of the sec hull side to introduce a "brake line" that runs from where the leading edge of the nacelle struts meet the secondary hull up-forward to the "neck".

EDIT,: would you come to MSN for a sec, I'm online now.
Title: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: DJ Curtis on January 20, 2009, 12:43:33 AM
Currently weighs in at 20,200 polygons.

Pretty well done, with just a few things to do here and there.

Also, zero mesh errors.
Title: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: antagonist on January 20, 2009, 04:11:29 AM
Damn. I love those nacelles. Can't wait for you to start texturing.

I'd give you a cookie, but well...yeah... ;)
Title: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: FarShot on January 20, 2009, 06:40:42 AM
Will there be Voyager-style recessed windows?
Title: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: Darran on January 20, 2009, 08:25:51 AM
Sorry to Hi-jack, but DJ i've started working on a little present for you, hope you don't mind the presumption on the name but i thought seeing as it's a warship, why not name it after the guy who wrote the book on war, the number i got from adding a few to the raptors registry. the colour scheme is my go at 25 century styling. hope you like it.

(http://img401.imageshack.us/img401/5671/73964239ua9.th.jpg) (http://img401.imageshack.us/my.php?image=73964239ua9.jpg)
Title: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: JimmyB76 on January 20, 2009, 10:04:25 AM
very nice Darran!  keep going with it - it would look really nice in a (retextured) bridge for this ship! :D
Title: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: Dalek on January 20, 2009, 11:12:06 AM
Shame. Can't see it.

And is it me or is the secondary hull deflector a bit high up the front section of the sec. hull? It just looks slightly outta place to me. Great work though!
Title: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: Shadowknight1 on January 20, 2009, 01:31:33 PM
DJ, I think that you must have hit a virtual geyser of inspiration for this thing, I don't think I've ever seen one of your ships move so quick from early-WIP to being texture ready.
Title: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: DJ Curtis on January 20, 2009, 02:50:05 PM
Shadowknight--> I've always wanted to do a ship with a triangular saucer and another with nacelles coming from the bottom, but I've never really found a way to do it.  So yeah, i suppose you could say that once I found some inspiration, I just sort of rolled with it.  Though I built that Connie last week in less time, but it's a lot less detailed.  I've actually decided there are a few more things I want to do with this, as Adonis and I had a convo about some ideas late last night.

Dale--> It's right about center, actually, like most ships.  Probably just seems high because the lower half dips rather sharply.

Darran--> I LOVE that MSD.  I can't wait to see more, and feel free to post updates in the new thread about this ship once I have a name later today.  I would really like to release a retextured bridge for this ship at the same time, so if you want to help with that, (and anyone else with the know how) just PM me.

Farshot--> Perhaps, but I tried some and didn't like where I had them.

Antagonist--> Glad you like the nacelles.  They're actually the first thing I built, I designed them about a week ago just for fun and not specifically for this project, but they seemed to fit nicely.
Title: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: MarkyD on January 20, 2009, 04:40:56 PM
Nice work mate, at this rate their either going to have to make the MOTM award a smaller image, or im going to need a bigger monitor :)

nicely done.  :arms:
Title: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: FarShot on January 20, 2009, 04:43:38 PM
With the saucer's impulse engines on the bottom, it looks imbalanced.  Maybe you could add a third one behind the bridge?
Title: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: DJ Curtis on January 20, 2009, 06:06:53 PM
The thrust is vectored to compensate. ;)
Title: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: FarShot on January 20, 2009, 06:21:05 PM
Ooh, thrust vectoring!

(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/1/1c/Vector-nozzle-sea-harrier-jet.jpg)

Image of a Harrier's vector nozzles.  Kinda looks like the engines on the stardrive...  :mrgreen: :king:

EDIT - Lol, just noticed.  This thing looks a lot like the Protector from Galaxy Quest.  :lol:
Regarding the pylons, btw.
Title: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: WileyCoyote on January 20, 2009, 06:32:55 PM
Quote
Ooh, thrust vectoring!
It almost sounds like that this ship could land on planets like Voyager.
Title: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: DJ Curtis on January 20, 2009, 10:15:36 PM
I'm going to go with...

Sun Tzu Class
USS Athena

I've always wanted to name a ship Athena.
Title: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: Shadowknight1 on January 20, 2009, 10:41:11 PM
Sounds cool to me
Title: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: Darran on January 21, 2009, 03:57:21 AM
woo my name suggestion wins, happy days  DJ could I get a side on view of the separated hulls, so i know where to draw the line on the MSD
Title: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: DJ Curtis on January 21, 2009, 08:48:44 AM
sorry Darran.  Didn't get home till 11pm from work and went almost straight to bed.
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: Cmdr. Madden on January 21, 2009, 11:00:07 AM
The thrust is vectored to compensate. ;)


what would that exactly entail? what would that even do? would it just make the ship able to turn and roll faster than normal? not to mention if it is thrust vectored like you say, would the impulse engines actually move around ingame?

also if you look at that schematic pic that you released a couple of pages back, the nacelle pylons, where they join the nacelles, there's that little support thing that juts down from the nacelle, i think it kinda breaks flow a little bit, i realize that it's something that just about every starship has but on this one it seems off. beautiful though, i came back from a weekend away and i am just amazed at how fast you had this thing out, keep it up!
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: Darran on January 21, 2009, 11:59:25 AM
Quote
sorry Darran.  Didn't get home till 11pm from work and went almost straight to bed.

No worries mate, i've had a busy time of it too, exams, house hunting, being a first year law student is no fun, this MSD is serving as my procrastination, thanks for the images, when i get that line in place I can start fleshing out the decks
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: Dalek on January 21, 2009, 01:34:10 PM
Ahha! Athena, Greek god of wisdom, war, industry, the arts, justice and skill. :D
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: Adonis on January 21, 2009, 01:55:59 PM
DJ dude, watch the triangulation at the phaser strips, thrusters and escape pods. Those areas are actually mesh errors, but they don't show...yet.
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: tannerwaterbury on January 21, 2009, 04:44:50 PM
Ooh you know what would be kick @$$?  If you could armor the front end of the ship and use it as a ramship, basically the ship being a weapon itself. Think about it, all your weapons are disabled and theres no chance of them coming back online, you have no alternative but to ram your ship right down the enemys throat with minimal damage to yourself. Hell you might even pack the saucer with warheads just in case.
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: Arvis Taljik on January 21, 2009, 04:56:24 PM
That is definitely not a Starfleet tactic, nor do I think it would ever be (Picard's out-of-the-box thinking aside... lol). However, on the armor subject, seeing some deployable ablative armor on this bad boy would be VERY cool!  :D
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: tannerwaterbury on January 21, 2009, 05:33:42 PM
That is definitely not a Starfleet tactic, nor do I think it would ever be (Picard's out-of-the-box thinking aside... lol). However, on the armor subject, seeing some deployable ablative armor on this bad boy would be VERY cool!  :D

True its not a STARFLEET tactic, but who knows. Desperate times call for desperate measures. Plus it would be freaking cool!
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: yanlou on January 21, 2009, 07:04:33 PM
love the class name, DJ, glad you picked it as it suits it well, plus the ship name works well as your ship is beautiful but deadly.
will you be doing your textures in the usual 2048x2048?
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: Barihawk on January 22, 2009, 06:01:19 PM
What bridge model were you thinking of for the Athena? I could probably hash something together in the style of what I was doing for MarkyD's Olympic. Just throwing my name in the pot, at least.
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: Darkthunder on January 22, 2009, 08:47:41 PM
Regarding the shipname 'USS Athena', and the description of it being "Beautiful, but deadly". Any chance you had the character of Athena from BSG in mind? Aka 'Sharon' aka Grace Park... She's a beauty as well, AND she's a cylon... "beautiful but deadly" :P
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: Darran on January 22, 2009, 11:10:46 PM
Small update:- decked her our, using the bridge module as a size guide, DJ this thing works out at 20 decks, got a few things in place, the bridges, computer cores, massive 2 storey shuttle bay, all the torp launchers and caches and the deflectors

(http://img185.imageshack.us/img185/5893/suntzult3.th.jpg) (http://img185.imageshack.us/my.php?image=suntzult3.jpg)

What you think?
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: Darkthunder on January 22, 2009, 11:35:47 PM
Small update:- decked her our, using the bridge module as a size guide, DJ this thing works out at 20 decks, got a few things in place, the bridges, computer cores, massive 2 storey shuttle bay, all the torp launchers and caches and the deflectors

What you think?

20 decks @ ~450 meters sounds about right. Voyager had a similar basic shape to the Sun Tzu Class, was about 340 meters in length, with a deck count of 15.
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: FourChan on January 23, 2009, 12:20:12 AM
Hey Darran, I would add a few more turbo lift shafts to like engineering and such. Just one simple shaft seems too small and short for a ship like this.
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: Darran on January 23, 2009, 04:40:42 AM
Hey Darran, I would add a few more turbo lift shafts to like engineering and such. Just one simple shaft seems too small and short for a ship like this.

I will be, it's just at 3am, my stamina got the better of me and I went to bed
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: FarShot on January 23, 2009, 07:28:52 AM
I just thought of something.

The nacelle pylons join to the hull at the bottom, so a warp drive far away wouldn't make much since.  It's been a while since we've seen a horizontal warp drive.  I recall something in the history of the Delta ships that one of them would have a horizontal warp drive (DJ?)

So maybe the warp drive can be horizontal, so that way it can be low enough to not be far from the start of the pylons.

This could make ejection faster, as well as expose a critical hardpoint on the invincible Sun Tzu.  :twisted:

EDIT- Found it in "Enterprise F", a theory on Century-class design, released with the Enterprise F.

"....the other two ships of Delta-3. Whilst the new core fit into the Vivace, the height of the core required it be mounted axially in the Allegra, running most of the length of the ship.
The other challenge was...."
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: DJ Curtis on January 23, 2009, 07:49:51 AM
Looks really good so far, Darran.  Deck number seems about right, as you correctly inferred that the saucer rim is one deck tall.  I also really like the color scheme you've got going, and I think it would suit a bridge retexture really well.  I'm going to contact Mark to see if a Prometheus bridge edit is okay. 

Couple things...

Use the current registry just as a placeholder, all the regs for my ship have some significance, but it will have to be in the 90,000+ range.  I'll hammer out an exact number on the weekend. 

Also, the ship that will be released will be the USS Athena, so if the name on the msd could reflect that, that would be perfect.  I love how it's shaping up so far.
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: Adonis on January 23, 2009, 08:47:50 AM
Oh, and don't forget the matter and the antimatter storage (matter being a LOT bigger than anti matter) Darran. Look at cross section schems of cannon ships for that. Also, you might wanna make the computer core radiuses about 50% greater.
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: DJ Curtis on January 23, 2009, 08:50:34 AM
Very early texture work.

I'm going to go with a raised panel look like Voyager, though I plan to add a great deal of paneling detail over an above what is seen on Voyager, which is rather plain.
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: szekeres2008 on January 23, 2009, 08:56:00 AM
Beautiful ship!
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: FourChan on January 23, 2009, 12:25:05 PM
Hey Darran, I would add a few more turbo lift shafts to like engineering and such. Just one simple shaft seems too small and short for a ship like this.

I will be, it's just at 3am, my stamina got the better of me and I went to bed

Alright, nice turbolift work though.
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: antagonist on January 23, 2009, 12:36:19 PM
Anyone else having problems with Darran's pic? I can't get it to show...
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: Technerd89 on January 23, 2009, 01:19:31 PM
 :deadimage

yeah i cant see it either. anyway the prelim texture looks good. i like the darker shade, and how thick and armored the plates look. moar pl0x
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: JimmyB76 on January 23, 2009, 04:34:16 PM
strange...   pic seems fine on my end...

ill upload it all the same in case anyone else is not able to see it...
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: Dalek on January 23, 2009, 04:36:17 PM
^
|
|

Odd colour scheme. And seemingly too much gradient-ness (if there is such a word).
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: Darran on January 23, 2009, 05:07:57 PM
It's my crack at a 25th C colour scheme, the gradients are supposed to be indicative of reflections, i think it makes the image more vibrant less flat, anyhoo heres an update, too onboard the advice and laid the core horizontal, the space either side will house the various storage tanks, added holodecks and finished the shuttle bay (that type 11 took an age to draw!!!), oh and corrected the name, this thing is still a long way off done but I am considering taking up the full bridge retexture once the exams are over

(http://img90.imageshack.us/img90/8259/suntzuxc5.th.jpg) (http://img90.imageshack.us/my.php?image=suntzuxc5.jpg)

Shuttle bay close up

(http://img98.imageshack.us/img98/17/shuttlecd4.th.jpg) (http://img98.imageshack.us/my.php?image=shuttlecd4.jpg)
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: FarShot on January 23, 2009, 06:09:21 PM
This is really shaping up nicely.  My idea on the warp core... Did you ask DJ about that?  LOL.  Anyways, love the detail, that's awesome.  Love your work - why didn't you show up sooner?!?  :lol:
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: Technerd89 on January 23, 2009, 06:48:05 PM
Darran I cant see youre most recent one either, so I dont think this is a random occurance. My suggestion is to stop using ImageShack and upload straight to the board. Seems to work fine for most people.
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: DJ Curtis on January 23, 2009, 07:23:38 PM
looks awesome Darran, and I for one really like the color scheme.  Darran, have you got max?
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: tiqhud on January 23, 2009, 09:29:21 PM
Very nice ship - cookie time
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: Barihawk on January 23, 2009, 09:29:53 PM
FYI Imageshack seems to be banned here. I've had problems using it on these boards since the link restrictions.
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: DJ Curtis on January 23, 2009, 09:42:26 PM
Barihawk, I think that if you and Darran want to team up, with my help, on editing the Prometheus bridge for this, I'd be game.  The only thing is that permission is required before we begin.
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: Bigkap on January 23, 2009, 09:46:38 PM
Love the teamwork going on here. Makes me wish I knew more about this stuff so I could pitch in. Anyways great work so far guys, keep it up.
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: Darran on January 23, 2009, 10:26:25 PM
I have max 9, BUT slight snag, some files have corrupted and I've lost my install disk so I cant make it work unfortunatly

Quote
This is really shaping up nicely.  My idea on the warp core... Did you ask DJ about that?  LOL.  Anyways, love the detail, that's awesome.  Love your work - why didn't you show up sooner?!?  Laughing

I've been around since the days of BCU, I've just been stuck for time to do things, the Stargazer bridge model in the Enterprise project..... mine  :lol:
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: DJ Curtis on January 24, 2009, 12:19:59 AM
A start.  I've never done a texture style like this, so I'm trying to make it very crisp, with some convincing beveling.
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: Aeries on January 24, 2009, 01:29:56 AM
Very cool!  :D I really like the textures so far; those escape pods are of particular interest... you're really going all out with this one, aren't you? I really look forward to seeing this progress more. When you said you'd be doing many layers where the hull armor is concerned, are/were you thinking in terms of, for example, the Nemesis Enterprise E style?
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: Shadowknight1 on January 24, 2009, 11:40:34 AM
Looking good so far DJ, really has more of a warship look than your previous ships.
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: DJ Curtis on January 24, 2009, 04:17:45 PM
An update on the saucer textures.  Notice the new Starfleet emblem I came up with.
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: mckinneyc on January 24, 2009, 04:35:14 PM
Great work DJ, as if you produce anything less!

I love the emblem by the way, much better than your previous installments if you forgive me for saying so.
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: Shadowknight1 on January 24, 2009, 04:39:54 PM
Nifty little emblem.  About time it got updated. ;)  Keep up the good work!
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: JimmyB76 on January 24, 2009, 04:55:16 PM
loving it!!  :D
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: Arvis Taljik on January 24, 2009, 07:28:44 PM
Figured I'd throw my 2-cents in on this awesome looking ship. Essentially this ship is designed to operate as a contemporary to the Prometheus-class (please correct me if I'm wrong) and I was thinking that as such a heavily armed ship it has a bit "too many" windows. If you look at the window arrangement on the Prometheus, you see that the number of windows is much more sparse on standard exploration-oriented vessels.
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: DJ Curtis on January 24, 2009, 07:36:24 PM
I want to give the ship some slightly altered phasers, as in somewhat different color, sounds, characteristics....  So I figured that a different phaser emitter style was in order.  I actually really like it.

as to the number of windows... Good point. however, on this ship, the designers invented a type of transparent aluminum that was as strong as Duranium.  :D 

edit: updated pic
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: FourChan on January 24, 2009, 08:33:16 PM
Looking great, I like how you done the textures giving it depth and detailed looks without having to sacrifice making it a higher poly version by giving it details by making windows inset or parts inset.
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: FarShot on January 24, 2009, 09:07:31 PM
That's nice, however I'm not really feeling the windows under the secondary deflector.

That's just me though.
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: Darkthunder on January 24, 2009, 09:37:49 PM
Given the current styling, perhaps make the Starfleet pendant seen in 5.jpg 15-20% smaller overall size, but to try and keep the same length? Looks a bit crowded between the windows and the new phaser arrays.
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: Phantom0981 on January 24, 2009, 11:53:58 PM
I am really liking this ship the more it progresses. I love the torpedo tubes on top of the saucer. I didn't notice it until a minute ago. Loving the textures but I agree that the Starfleet pendant could be smaller but the same length. Great ship!
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: szekeres2008 on January 25, 2009, 05:56:44 AM
OH MY GOD!!! :shock: :shock: :shock: This ship will kick ass!!!
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: newman on January 25, 2009, 07:04:36 AM
I think some of the windows need to go. Especially the ones below the deflector, just don't sit right visually for me.
Other then that, very nice.
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: mckinneyc on January 25, 2009, 08:00:55 AM
I like the window placement and amount. It's good to see that a warship will have windows so the crew doesn't go mad staring at bare bulkheads like on the Defiant and Prommie!
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: Dalek on January 25, 2009, 09:19:44 AM
It looks like its got blackheads. :( Maybe light some of them up?
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: FourChan on January 25, 2009, 11:58:45 AM
If I know DJ by his ship creation then by the time the ship comes out he'll have everything corrected, like the lighted windows. But as for the windows in the front of the ship, didn't the Enterprise D have them in a place called Ten-Forward?
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: DJ Curtis on January 25, 2009, 12:09:03 PM
Good suggestions.  I took out some windows and reduced the emblem.  As for the windows, I'll activate them at the end.
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: Nebula on January 25, 2009, 01:05:49 PM
hmm for windows I'd like to see them have a dark blue glow to them when activated I think it would fit the military feel of the ship.
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: DJ Curtis on January 25, 2009, 01:07:11 PM
good plan
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: Raven Night on January 25, 2009, 01:14:04 PM
I would love to see "Starfleet Marine Corps" on the side of this vessel hehe.

And I love the new emblem...much better than the Marine Corps hybrid I came up with on the Falcon.

Of course, I cant use yours instead :(
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: DJ Curtis on January 25, 2009, 01:46:55 PM
You can use the emblem if you want raven.  Here's a larger version of it.

Also, update.  The blue field glowers are for the "enhanced warp field forward projection system," designed to lower the ship's peak transition threshold and allow for greater efficiency at all warp speeds, thus reaching higher maximum velocities..... I think.  lol.  I originally made them sensor pallets, but felt that the weren't fitting with the rest of the ship, so I changed them and really like the glow.
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: zawerjack on January 25, 2009, 01:52:44 PM
Dj...the Man with thousands ideas :P Great ship, cant wait ! )
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: szekeres2008 on January 25, 2009, 01:58:31 PM
Hmm not so sure about it, I thought it will be a mount module of somekind for special weapons. But it could work for warp enhancers as well, good design anyway.
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: FarShot on January 25, 2009, 02:05:06 PM
I think it would look better if the lines crossing the warp field enhancers crossed horizontally along the length of the ship rather than the width.

But as for the windows in the front of the ship, didn't the Enterprise D have them in a place called Ten-Forward?

Warships don't have ten-forwards.  :P

Coming along very nicely DJ.  :D
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: majormagna on January 25, 2009, 02:38:09 PM
 Lookin' nice DJ (Yeah, I've been lurking here for a while)

 I like the idea of the forward field projection, other reasons for it may be (Don't quote me as it may fail miserably):

   1: It could be a new way to stop the damage to subspace made my previous warp field designs.
   2: It could reduce subspace fluctuations made when travelling at warp speeds, meaning that it could pass closer to an enemy vessel or station at warp than normal, with a lower chance of being seen on sensors (But not a 0% chance, that'd be 'daft').

 Glad you got rid of the windows below the saucers deflector... And I can't wait for this beast to be let loose... (See how I DIDN'T use a Klingon reference  :D )
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: Raven Night on January 25, 2009, 03:06:24 PM
...and since it is a sep ship, it can provide warp travel when separated.
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: DJ Curtis on January 25, 2009, 03:07:34 PM
perhaps like the little sustain engine Prometheus had.  Darran, on the MSD could you include a warp coil or two that somehow runs from the top of that area to the bottom, since there will be an additional grill at the bottom that exactly is in the same spot?

Also, I think that while in cruise mode, the glow will be off, and on for separated flight mode.

edit: done.
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: Raven Night on January 25, 2009, 04:07:01 PM
Perfect. It was the same thing with the Ares, but I intended to put in two cores...the cores split at the connect point.

If you were to do something like that, the core would have to be at an angle I think. Or you could just have a very small core in the saucer section...

Or, smarter still............you could just do what you are doing.

Ok, ill shut up now. ;)
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: Darran on January 25, 2009, 04:27:50 PM
*moc scottish accent* och aye sure ye designers go aheed and make it look as pretty as yee like its us engineers that have te make it worrk. I'll give it a go, haven't got much time at the more as i need to ingest an 18 page case report to memory and form a critical analysis of it by Wednesday, but after that................. and the ensuing drunkenness, i'll get on with it
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: mayhemuk on January 25, 2009, 07:44:56 PM
She just gets better and better, i look at all of you latest work and it makes me wish that i had got Queball you texture the Courageous with there styles and colours.

She is amazing, and i can't wait to have her in game.
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: eclipse74569 on January 25, 2009, 08:20:56 PM
hmmm...looks great, but where oh where are you gonna put the bussards on the saucer? :P
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: Raven Night on January 25, 2009, 08:23:04 PM
Could you post a shot of her separated, just showing the main hull? Id love to see some views with the saucer off of her.

This ship is going to be a beaut even when separated....and that is quite an accomplishment, it is difficult to do so.

As to the bussard comment, personally I dont think it would need any...they really exist to replenish fuel, and the engines on the saucer are just for travel...there are already bussards on the nacelles. All I think would exist on the saucer is just the vents to allow the warp plasma to generate the field.

Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: DJ Curtis on January 25, 2009, 08:28:51 PM
Not sure about bussards, but I'll see if there's anywhere that makes sense.

I've started some intro work on the bottom of the saucer.

Also, Raven, I'll post some shots of the Drive section, but not textured shots, as I've got the ship all hacked up right now, so I'll use the pre-textures mesh.
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: Raven Night on January 25, 2009, 09:02:01 PM
Now, see, thats what I mean. This ship could operate without the saucer and it would look completely normal. Fantastic job.
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: FarShot on January 25, 2009, 10:05:39 PM
I see you took my suggestion.  8)

Love her, DJ.

And about the bussards...  Why 2?  Everyone says "bussards".
How about just one along the centerline?  It wouldn't need to be a bulb, maybe just a pane of glass that's red.  Maybe just above the secondary deflector array? :arms:
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: Raven Night on January 25, 2009, 10:09:01 PM
There are actually quite a few ships that have just one nacelle. Not sure if they have a symmetrical set of coils though. But theoretically I think, at least personally, a ship could operate on just one nacelle. So one vent might work.

I like the double vents though. The nostrils of the bull, so to speak.
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: Aeries on January 25, 2009, 10:42:25 PM
Warships don't have ten-forwards.  :P

Watch 'Yesterday's Enterprise'.

DJ this is gorgeous.
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: Nighthawk on January 26, 2009, 01:15:28 AM
I love how DJ has the gift for seeing the grandsons of every ship design lineage LOL

I still don't get why a "Sun Tzu" class is named "Athena". pretty contradictory if you ask me.
but it does have a point between fighter and explorer. that sleekness suits it.
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: kidtrekkie on January 26, 2009, 03:40:10 PM
Bagsy first go with it  :P
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: Dalek on January 27, 2009, 11:23:22 AM
I love how DJ has the gift for seeing the grandsons of every ship design lineage LOL

I still don't get why a "Sun Tzu" class is named "Athena".


A. It sounds cool!
B. A Galaxy class starship called Yamato? Same point you're making. :D

But you do have a valid point.

As for the ship itself, what weapons are going to be included? Any custom torpedoes? It is a future warship after all... :D
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: gdata on January 27, 2009, 12:57:14 PM
Love the the name and the design...I need to start giving cookies now, since I'm allowed to do so.
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: MarkyD on January 30, 2009, 06:46:23 AM
Great progress DJ mate, looks real nice.
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: ZERO on January 31, 2009, 02:02:48 PM
Certainly a great looking ship your putting together here.
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: davies78 on January 31, 2009, 03:46:57 PM
Real nice ship dj there is something about a kick the door in ship. Borg beware  :lol:
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: FarShot on January 31, 2009, 05:36:05 PM
Borg beware  :lol:

Amen brother.  Amen.
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: DJ Curtis on February 01, 2009, 11:14:37 AM
Thanks guys.

Also, I've done some work on the lateral sensors.

Sorry not too many updates lately, it's been busy at work.

Any suggestions you guys have are welcome.
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: Raven Night on February 01, 2009, 07:08:28 PM
I suggest you keep inspiring me to improve my federation design skills hehe.

If it wasnt for your skill, DJ, Id be lost when it comes to feds. You gave me some ideas for the Ares, when I get the mesh back im going to dig into it with some changes.

At any rate, keep up the good work :)
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: Shadowknight1 on February 03, 2009, 07:27:51 PM
My 2 cents, I like the idea of the warp grilles on the saucer as a kind of sustainer, but I don't think the saucer needs bussard collectors.
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: FarShot on February 03, 2009, 10:17:20 PM
And about the bussards...  Why 2?  Everyone says "bussards".
How about just one along the centerline?  It wouldn't need to be a bulb, maybe just a pane of glass that's red.  Maybe just above the secondary deflector array? :arms:

Well, here are 3 ideas I had for a possible bussard collector.
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: serverandenforcer on February 03, 2009, 10:22:13 PM
I like the first one better
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: Darkthunder on February 03, 2009, 10:28:49 PM
Agreed. The first one is clearly the best alternative. However, let's let DJ Curtis make that determination.
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: Billz on February 03, 2009, 10:34:12 PM
First one.

The third configuration kinda looks like a face, lol.

Warp grills = Eyes
Secondary deflector = Nose
Bussard collector = mouth

Only looks like a face in the third picture.
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: Dawg81 on February 03, 2009, 10:52:07 PM
i like the first render the best goes with the flow
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: FourChan on February 04, 2009, 02:31:36 AM
I would have the Buzzard highlighting around the saucer nacelles.
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: anazonda on February 04, 2009, 03:57:32 AM
I agree with the rest.

Not only does it look cool. But it also seems more natural to have the bussards there, since we always see them right in front of the nacells.
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: adama2 on February 04, 2009, 04:41:08 AM
sorry,  but clean is better...
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: mckinneyc on February 04, 2009, 04:56:18 AM
To be honest I like all of them.

Personally I'd go with the second option but have them like two small grills as shown in option 1.
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: Billz on February 04, 2009, 05:17:06 AM
sorry,  but clean is better...

Makes no sense.

 :shock:
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: Villain on February 04, 2009, 05:23:27 AM
Makes plenty sense. Aesthetically it looks neat, maybe, but think about the amount of space it'd have to take up to house... You're cutting right into several decks, not to mention housing the piping and such to deliver everything to engineering.
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: FarShot on February 04, 2009, 07:24:26 AM
The saucer section could have a micro-engineering.
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: Villain on February 04, 2009, 07:46:08 AM
Still need to direct the stuff from micro engineering to main engineering or directly to the nacelles and systems. It's not really viable. If it were on the sides of a single section ship, maybe. But this has an engineering hull too..
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: adama2 on February 04, 2009, 08:54:14 AM
ok, I think without the changes sees it better. all ships from DJ are very discreetly and graceful.
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: adama2 on February 04, 2009, 09:19:36 AM
The design of the voyager like me very well. what do you because it?
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: GavinStCloud on February 04, 2009, 09:36:29 AM

Also, update.  The blue field glowers are for the "enhanced warp field forward projection system," designed to lower the ship's peak transition threshold and allow for greater efficiency at all warp speeds, thus reaching higher maximum velocities..... I think.

Makes good sense.  If you're just looking to project a the ship's warp field forward you don't need a bussard on the saucer.  You would need augmented coils to project the field, but unless you're looking to collect interstellar hydrogen for use as energy, you wouldn't need a bussard.

The only reason I could see the for adding a bussard or two was if this projection system was also going to serve as the primary warp drive for the saucer section in separated flight mode.
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: Billz on February 04, 2009, 11:30:59 AM
The design of the voyager like me very well. what do you because it?

 :?

Eh?
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: Technerd89 on February 04, 2009, 11:38:59 AM
they all kindof leave a bad taste, but the first one is the only one thats viable. the 2nd one seems like it could interfere with the secondary deflector hardware, and the 3rd one could prove disastrous in a head on collision, which for a ship this heavily armored, would be considered a last resort combat tactic.
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: FourChan on February 04, 2009, 12:07:13 PM
One thing that'd work good for that ship is also if you have the Saucer Nacelles imbedded a bit inside the hull, like under it some.
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: Hellsgate on February 04, 2009, 01:35:54 PM
OOOOO! Sweet!! More, please!
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: Bigkap on February 04, 2009, 02:10:41 PM
You could also try adding some red into the front of the ventral impulse engines and call them the bussards: just an idea :)
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: adama2 on February 04, 2009, 02:44:46 PM
The design of the voyager like me very well. what do you because it?

 :?

Eh?


I wanted to say,
that i very like the upper front section of the voyager and what are you thinking about it...? perhaps it would look good if the free secondary and primary systems on those
sun tzu class transferred...

Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: Darran on February 04, 2009, 03:53:49 PM
TBH, I'm drawing out the MSD for this thing and i'm finding it hard to make those new coils fit in nicely let alone bussards, from the outside this is a very beautiful ship but because of exterior elements such as the saucer coils and the placement of the stardrive impulse, theres going to be very little in the way of deck design on it
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: Billz on February 04, 2009, 04:10:53 PM
The design of the voyager like me very well. what do you because it?

 :?

Eh?


I wanted to say,
that i very like the upper front section of the voyager and what are you thinking about it...? perhaps it would look good if the free secondary and primary systems on those
sun tzu class transferred...



English is not your first language is it.

 8)
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: ZERO on February 04, 2009, 04:23:39 PM
The design of the voyager like me very well. what do you because it?

 :?

Eh?


I wanted to say,
that i very like the upper front section of the voyager and what are you thinking about it...? perhaps it would look good if the free secondary and primary systems on those
sun tzu class transferred...



English is not your first language is it.

 8)

It does not take allot to realise that, let alone point it out..   lets move on, @ Darran, i hope ou manage the MSD i look forward to seeing it, as im sure its a pain in the butt lol...     :)
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: Nebula on February 05, 2009, 12:42:18 PM
You could also try adding some red into the front of the ventral impulse engines and call them the bussards: just an idea :)

I like that idea
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: DJ Curtis on February 05, 2009, 03:23:45 PM
sorry no posts for a while.  TBH, I really don't think a bussard collector on the saucer is necessary.
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: Nighthawk on February 05, 2009, 03:29:27 PM
seeing those red "bussards" (or whatever) in the front, I wonder, is this going to have MVAM?
looks like those red bits can easily be the bussards of two warp engines for the saucer.
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: majormagna on February 05, 2009, 04:19:27 PM
Um I think it's already been stated that it will have MVAM...

  Anyway, great work DJ.... The 'mighty' Federation needs a large warship; well it's large compared to the Defiant at least... I mean, how many bad guys could there possibly be? (Hm... sound like famous last words!) Not too sure if the saucer would need bussard collectors though, I mean that's just for collecting duterium, it could simply have a storage 'tank' in the saucer, supplied/refilled by the Engineering section bussards... The saucer's not going to be a viable vessel of it's own (i.e. long range) is it?
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: Mike Holt on February 05, 2009, 11:30:24 PM
Wow DJ. Raven wasn't kidding. You really are a master at Federation designs. I wish Raven could pick up a few pointers from you. His Feds are a bit ugly.
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: GavinStCloud on February 06, 2009, 09:33:26 AM
Wow DJ. Raven wasn't kidding. You really are a master at Federation designs. I wish Raven could pick up a few pointers from you. His Feds are a bit ugly.

ummmm...wow.  I certainly hope Raven is a friend of yours and took that as a friendly jab.  If not, that probably wasn't called for.

DJ, awesome job on this ship.  I just completed a re-install of BC specifically for this ship.  The textures are looking awesome.
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: DJ Curtis on February 06, 2009, 11:22:52 AM
lol.  they are. :D  Thanks Mike.
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: Raven Night on February 06, 2009, 04:07:58 PM
You werent supposed to agree with him DJ lol.

Actually.....I agree with him hehe.

Thanks to you they are improving though...im picking at your brain....
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: DJ Curtis on February 06, 2009, 09:55:49 PM
lol.  i meant that you were friends.
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: Raven Night on February 06, 2009, 10:12:35 PM
Oops. Might help if I read the thread, eh?

I guess I need to stop hitting myself in the head with these bricks.....
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: JimmyB76 on February 08, 2009, 01:18:39 PM
I guess I need to stop hitting myself in the head with these bricks.....
awww but thats fun!  at least to me anyway lol :P

ok sorry spam...  moving on...  :)
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: eclipse74569 on February 08, 2009, 08:12:50 PM
Oops. Might help if I read the thread, eh?

I guess I need to stop hitting myself in the head with these bricks.....

You should meet my younger cousin Raven, I call her the brick mason LOL (family inside joke, PM For the details lol)

I think I like the first one though as far as bussards go for DJ's ship.? However, I don't know how that would work now because of the deck space :S
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: Shadowknight1 on February 09, 2009, 09:56:11 PM
Honestly guys, isn't the point kinda moot?

TBH, I really don't think a bussard collector on the saucer is necessary.

Anyway DJ, whatever you decide is best, but I honestly agree with you.  Keep on truckin DJ! :D
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: cadt1984 on March 18, 2009, 03:14:37 PM
hi DJ, love your work as many do. Just wondering what has happened to this great looking ship? there have been no updates for a while. hope you are still working hard to release this beauty. :D
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: FourChan on March 18, 2009, 03:33:32 PM
I think he's more focused on the USS Enterprise that he's designing, though when he gets an update I'm sure he'll let us know :P
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: JimmyB76 on March 18, 2009, 03:38:17 PM
ya not to worry - ive never known DJ not to complete a project - especially one as cool as this!
he's prolly just taking a short break on it for now, and busy with life and other things...
besides, he won Modder Of The Month for this project so now he just has to finish it or we'll beat him with a bag of bricks and cats lol j/k :P
he'll post something when he has something to tell us :)
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: FarShot on March 18, 2009, 06:04:46 PM
Had to throw in the cat, huh?
I guess I'll let the cat out of the bag.

OH YEAH YOU SET YOURSELF UP FOR THAT ONE! lol

I too am willing to wait ages for this ship, so remain patient, young padawan. :)
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: DJ Curtis on March 18, 2009, 10:43:28 PM
I haven't forgotten about this project at all.  Don't worry.  I tend to run concurrent projects.  Mostly because I really don't like texturing, so once ships get to the texturing stage it takes me a lot longer to finish them as the motivation is just not the same.  Modeling is way, and I mean way, more fun.  Texturing is very tedious.

I'd say you can expect this ship in 2009, though precisely when I'm not sure.  I'll post an update when i've got it. :)
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: Villain on March 19, 2009, 01:31:49 PM
I share the same feelings, the difference is, my textures look like... Well... I'd rather not say. :lol: Though yours do turn out great, so take some solace in knowing that even though you don't enjoy it/lack motivation for it, you're still producing stuff many cannot achieve.
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: cadt1984 on March 19, 2009, 05:52:23 PM
fair enough.... just getting over-eager to fly her, lol.  I wish i could model a ship myself but wouldnt know where to start.
anyhoo, keep up the good work DJ.  8)
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: DJ Curtis on July 16, 2009, 01:01:51 AM
Well, I got a little bored texturing the Enterprise so I figured I pick this baby up.  It's a much different texture style, and a simpler, smaller job, so I'm keen on it atm.

I did some paneling, a couple windows here and there, and thinned out the window herd on the dorsal saucer.  I also decided to scrap all the little panel details and give this a much more voyager-esque looking hull.  I'll spruce it up with a faint specular map.

I just feel like doing something where I can really see my progress lol.  The Enterprise is so BIG.
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: Shadowknight1 on July 16, 2009, 01:11:55 AM
Wow, I'd forgotten about this completely, thank god you got a little bored there DJ!  I really like the darker colors on this ship, they seem to fit well.
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: JimmyB76 on July 16, 2009, 01:34:29 AM
Wow, I'd forgotten about this completely, thank god you got a little bored there DJ!
no doubt! :D  :dance

*gives 400th cookie :)*
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: FarShot on July 16, 2009, 08:34:56 AM
Yay!  Now DJ needs to pick up that one ship from ages back, and we're set!  What was it called, the Allegro?
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: Tuskin38 on July 16, 2009, 01:45:21 PM
I'd like to see how small this is compared to the Ent lol.

Nice looking ship.
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: Aeries on July 16, 2009, 01:54:05 PM
Here ya go bro; A low-carb cookie just for you! Don't want the wife hunting me down, y'know. :P

This ship is freakin' cool, bro... can't wait to pit her up against the Mithra... like a war of the goddesses! xD
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: CyAn1d3 on July 16, 2009, 04:04:09 PM
ooooh i likey... i likey verrry much
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: DJ Curtis on July 16, 2009, 05:59:33 PM
work continues...
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: CyAn1d3 on July 16, 2009, 07:32:53 PM
like a mini twin nacelled promethius.
looks hawt
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: DJ Curtis on July 17, 2009, 12:47:30 AM
-textured the shuttlebay
-mapped the forward parts of the nacelles covering the bussard collectors, as well as the dorsal cowlings.
-added more bumped hull details.
-added a few windows to the secondary hull
-started adding transporter emitters.
-started a nacelle grill texture.
-textured the spine
-mapped the cobra head and the separation cavity of the saucer.
-made some minor mesh alterations to the shuttlebay door.

Any thoughts or suggestions?

I've decided that the time period for this ship will be early 2370's, about the time of the Sovereign and Intrepid Class.  It just seems to fit with that era.  I'll probably call this a full-size offshoot program of the Defiant development.  That seems to make sense for a ship this heavily armed.
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: ACES_HIGH on July 17, 2009, 01:20:52 AM
did you say this has saucer separation? Awesome.  can you show us the separated sections?
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: MarkyD on July 17, 2009, 03:55:26 AM
Loving the tough panel look DJ mate.
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: Billz on July 17, 2009, 04:55:24 AM
Very nice. It looks a little odd without bussard collectors on the nacelles but I suspect there is a reason for this.
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: antagonist on July 17, 2009, 07:34:41 AM
Damn, glad you reminded us of this baby, DJ. I'd nearly forgotten about it as well.

It really looms awesome :D
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: DJ Curtis on July 17, 2009, 07:44:27 AM
Billz--> There's bussards.  They're on the underside.  They'll be textured late today.

Aces_High--> Yes, there's saucer sep.  I'll show it off once that part is textured.
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: DJ Curtis on July 17, 2009, 09:16:57 PM
-worked on the nacelles.  the aft tips will be different from what they are.
-bussards and forward nacelles textured.
-added some decals and paneling to the spine.
-changed the nacelle grill texture.  still want to do some work to it to add realism though.
-in the renders i now see i'm missing a phaser decal on the secondary hull by the spine.  i'll fix that.

I'm taking a lot of stylistic cues from LC's Intrepid class, if you hadn't noticed.  :)

suggestions?
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: Phaser on July 17, 2009, 09:40:21 PM
I am LOVING this design, DJ!  Though looking at it from the side view, the nacelles look maybe 30% too small.  :S

Besides that, though, VERY nice!
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: Vanguard on July 18, 2009, 06:08:24 AM
Hehe, the nacelles look like mini Battlestar Galactica's...Well the front bit of them anyway...  :P

Cookied.
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: Dalek on July 18, 2009, 06:15:37 AM
The pylons look a bit flimsy but overall love stuff. :) Can't wait to kick something with it.
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: JimmyB76 on July 18, 2009, 02:38:58 PM
The pylons look a bit flimsy but overall love stuff. :)
naaah, i dont feel that about them :P
Can't wait to kick something with it.
*kicks Dalek for the fun of it :P*

moar cookeez to DJ :D
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: DJ Curtis on July 18, 2009, 04:40:28 PM
more work done to the dorsal side of the ship, especially around the bridge.
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: CyAn1d3 on July 18, 2009, 04:46:33 PM
your spoiling us all too much DJ.
she purrrdy 8)
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: JimmyB76 on July 18, 2009, 04:49:33 PM
she purrrdy 8)
absolutely! :D  :dance


thank you, DJ! :D
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: DJ Curtis on July 18, 2009, 09:01:29 PM
After much pain (as I made the ship for texture mirroring) I've got a registry on the front of the saucer.

Now I KNOW  :) that the name is below the registry number, but due to the torpedo launcher, the sustainer grills, and the saucer deflector, the placement options were very limited.  However I still felt that a forward dorsal registry was necessary and that it looks better with one than without.  The name ended up on the bottom out of necessity for mapping.  I other wise would have had to hack up the mesh in spots and make a bunch of changes.  Not gonna do it.  That being said, I think it looks fine where it is.

Also added some windows to the bridge area and some stuff between the sustainer grills.  Speaking of which, I remapped the grills to free up some space on the saucer texture map.  I'm really trying hard to keep this ship to just two 2048x2048 textures while keeping them crisp.
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: Shadowknight1 on July 18, 2009, 09:53:28 PM
Ehh, it's not an Enterprise, so we'll cut you some slack. :P  Looks real good DJ.
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: Darkthunder on July 18, 2009, 10:18:51 PM
Perhaps my suggestion of moving the torpedo tubes a bit higher up closer to the bridge, isnt so bad after all :P

Looks great as usual, but it takes a bit to get used to the smaller "name" registry, when its usually reversed.
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: moed on July 19, 2009, 12:07:11 AM
Now I KNOW  :) that the name is below the registry number, but due to the torpedo launcher, the sustainer grills, and the saucer deflector, the placement options were very limited.  However I still felt that a forward dorsal registry was necessary and that it looks better with one than without.  The name ended up on the bottom out of necessity for mapping.  I other wise would have had to hack up the mesh in spots and make a bunch of changes.  Not gonna do it.  That being said, I think it looks fine where it is.

I know that you do all your textures in Max but maybe just for the registry, redoing it (only the registry section) in Photoshop might do the trick for the correct orientation. No biggie though, just a suggestion.

Looks real nice
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: DJ Curtis on July 19, 2009, 12:19:52 AM
well, moving the torp launcher is out of the question now, as it would require a great deal of remapping and texture changes on the saucer.

also, it's time to give this ship a little personality, eh?  Is it just me, or does a ship's deflector give it a personality of sorts?  It's sovereign/prometheus-esque, which makes sense given the shape and timeframe of the ship.  I played around with different colors.  Yellow was a bit overwhelming, especially when I had it on the edges and the middle.  So I'm going with a lit blue rim with a solid center.  Two tones.
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: Aeries on July 19, 2009, 12:22:13 AM
Very nice deflector, man. Lovin' it!
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: JimmyB76 on July 19, 2009, 01:36:36 AM
wow DJ... just, wow, i have no words...  thank you so very much for this :D
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: Shadowknight1 on July 19, 2009, 02:19:22 AM
Agreed, very nice deflector, it's pretty cool and fairly unique without following your typical deflector design.
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: gdata on July 19, 2009, 03:09:07 AM
I still can't get used to the bussard placement, but everything else is looking freakin' awesome.
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: MarkyD on July 19, 2009, 11:22:42 AM
Awesome deflector mate, and personally I like the registry  8)
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: mckinneyc on July 19, 2009, 01:02:38 PM
I love the deflector and the reg!

I loved it on the Big G too but you changed it.
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: DJ Curtis on July 20, 2009, 01:22:35 AM
Wow.  Slow day on the forums.

I did a lot of work to the Athena today, and virtually the entire ship is not mapped, even though there are still textures to come... most notably to the engine skin, the cobra head, and the ventral saucer.

I'll let the pictures speak for themselves, though I'll mention  a few things.

-changes the nacelle grills a lot
-did the impulse engine
-darkened and dirtied up the hull texture a bit.  I want the ship to look like it's seen combat.
-added more details to the dorsal hull.
-put a red glow behind the impulse engines and a blue glow in front of the deflector.

I'll be adding more windows and details to the secondary hull tomorrow.  Suggestions for details etc are really welcome on this porject, as I've never done textures in this style before.  Feel free to paintbrush over the images.  I might even render up some orthos.
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: Vanguard on July 20, 2009, 03:33:11 AM
Quote
I did a lot of work to the Athena today, and virtually the entire ship is not mapped

Looks pretty mapped to me  :P.

Seriously. Awesome work here, i'm drooling... And i love those vent style impulse engines <3. The separated version also looks just as good!

Although i still see Battlestar Galactica on the nacelles
Cookie.
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: MarkyD on July 20, 2009, 04:19:39 AM
That is looking really great mate, ur doing an awsome job
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: Shion on July 20, 2009, 04:31:19 AM
Looks great, except for the 3 light gray stripes on the rear impulse engine assemblies.  Looks really out of place when compared with the rest of the textures, I think it would look better plain gray with a few decals.
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: antagonist on July 20, 2009, 07:35:35 AM
Gotta say, I positively love those warp grills. Damn, she's a beauty alrigth.


Ha! One more on the road to cookietown :P
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: gdata on July 20, 2009, 03:00:47 PM
Omg, it's looking great, seriously...cookie for you!
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: Starforce2 on July 20, 2009, 03:17:15 PM
agreed. Can we have some more angles of the separation action? That rocks.
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: Dalek on July 20, 2009, 03:28:18 PM
I don't know why but to me those pylons look a bit flimsy.

But she's looking like she deserves to be called Athena. :D
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: Vortex on July 20, 2009, 04:08:19 PM
I don't know why but to me those pylons look a bit flimsy.

Because they bend out against the hull, but I like 'em. Nice work DJ!!
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: DJ Curtis on July 20, 2009, 04:15:21 PM
I think I can make them look a little stronger with textures.   any suggestions?
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: DJ Curtis on July 20, 2009, 05:21:04 PM
agreed. Can we have some more angles of the separation action? That rocks.

You betcha!  How bout with some texturing this time though?  :D
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: Vortex on July 20, 2009, 06:36:04 PM
I think I can make them look a little stronger with textures.   any suggestions?

Ablative armour? Or, a custom texture and say that it's a new super strength alloy or something. Or a new type of armour, maybe.
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: Shadowknight1 on July 20, 2009, 06:41:50 PM
That totally rocks DJ.  Keep it up!
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: Aeries on July 20, 2009, 08:54:28 PM
I think I can make them look a little stronger with textures.   any suggestions?

Thicken them. See how big & beefy the Mithra's pylons are? You could try similar, only about 50% the width of Mithra's and get rid of the the modules with the cuts and simply have the cuts inset into the pylons themselves.... it's just a thought. Idk how good it would look on this though... but they definitely could be thickened a little bit.

Awesome MVAM action btw. I dare say I like the look of the ship better WITHOUT the primary saucer! xD haha, that's just my odd tastes though.
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: Darkthunder on July 20, 2009, 08:58:58 PM
As someone said recently in regards to a modelling suggestion I made:

Due to that DJ has already mapped out most of the ship already, I doubt he'll do any major model changes. Personally, I think the pylons look just fine.
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: DJ Curtis on July 20, 2009, 10:44:04 PM
pretty much yeah, DT's right.

work continues...

I'd tried to give those pylons a look of extra strength by adding some thick ribbing to them... for you pleasure.  8)
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: DJ Curtis on July 21, 2009, 01:33:27 AM
... and a bit more, with details added to the ventral side, with ribbing along the bottom of the saucer... tho still plenty of work to be done, especially to that ventral saucer.

nacelles and the bottom side of the shuttle platform still need textures.  plus a few other areas.

muted the color of the escape pods somewhat.
adjusted the overall ship's hull tone a few shades lighter.
removed the saucer penants.
textured the torpedo launcher tubes.

I expect to be finished texturing this ship either tomorrow or Wednesday.  end of the week at the latest.
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: Starforce2 on July 21, 2009, 02:00:58 AM
If you want to get anal on the details..you need to add those docking clamp hatches (I believe they are opposing trapezoids, grouped in pairs) where the 2 sections meet...we saw them on the ent-d a couple times.
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: MarkyD on July 21, 2009, 05:43:16 AM
Very nice mate, Its looking awsome   :)
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: gdata on July 21, 2009, 07:04:23 AM
Who is the person to kidnap if I want you to teach me how to model and texture such cool stuff  :P
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: Dalek on July 21, 2009, 07:23:15 AM
From the bottom, the pylons look fine. From the top, they look like matchsticks.

Liking all the other stuff though. :)
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: mckinneyc on July 21, 2009, 08:02:21 AM
Why is everyone suddenly embracing anal?  :lol:

DJ she's a real beauty! The only ship I can think of that looks good from every angle combined and seperated.

Great work as always.
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: DJ Curtis on July 21, 2009, 09:11:25 AM
If you want to get anal on the details..you need to add those docking clamp hatches (I believe they are opposing trapezoids, grouped in pairs) where the 2 sections meet...we saw them on the ent-d a couple times.
they're there already. :)
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: CyAn1d3 on July 21, 2009, 11:49:28 AM
aww man this things gettn better by the minute.  #loveFFX#
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: antagonist on July 21, 2009, 11:51:28 AM
they're there already. :)

Another thing that's there are the phaser strip markings on the insides of the nacelles. ^^

You might have to remap your textures there :/

Then again, you might know that already... :P

BTW DJ, have you ever posted some orthographics of the model? Would be appreciated.
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: DJ Curtis on July 21, 2009, 03:19:09 PM
i know about those phaser markers.  i'm going to put something in there to make them look purposeful as there's no more room on the map and I don't want to have more maps.

also, there are orthos on one of the first few pages.
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: serverandenforcer on July 21, 2009, 03:40:17 PM
Speaking of phasers, there sure are a lot of them. 
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: JimmyB76 on July 21, 2009, 04:12:53 PM
i think thats awesome about it :)
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: Dalek on July 21, 2009, 04:16:59 PM
If it ever got a dedication plaque, it would probably say:

"William Ryker: Tough little ship."

Imagine the damage that beast could do...particularly with MVAM.
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: DJ Curtis on July 21, 2009, 04:59:20 PM
here's how the bottom of the saucer is shaping up.

and yeah, lots of phasers... but it's built to fight so that makes sense.
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: antagonist on July 21, 2009, 05:42:35 PM
Found them. Wow, ten phaserstrips having a clear shot straight ahead. She's going to be a monster to attack head on... ;)
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: moed on July 21, 2009, 06:02:24 PM
The ventral registry seems somewhat skewed... and a bit difficult to read.

Details look great.
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: DJ Curtis on July 21, 2009, 09:16:22 PM
Knowing that the Athena is 17 decks tall, I scaled it to the Galaxy class.  It makes the ship just a bit taller than the Galaxy's saucer.  The final dimensions are:

1.   Length:  525.6 m
2.   Width:  226.7 m
3.   Height: 77.2 m
4.   Decks: 17

In reality, the ship is not much bigger than an intrepid class.  It simply appears a lot bigger by the numbers because of the longer, backward extended nacelles.  The body is pretty comparable to the intrepid.  If the nacelles ended at the same place as on Voyager for example, the Athena would only be about 30 or 40 meters longer.
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: Darkthunder on July 21, 2009, 10:48:49 PM
Makes me curious to think what this ship might look with a considerable "fattar" nacelle variant, which is also shorter. Might be an idea for a future refit or variant? :)
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: Shadowknight1 on July 22, 2009, 12:00:09 AM
It's pretty!  And not super huge, lol!
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: MarkyD on July 22, 2009, 04:06:27 AM
The underside saucer is looking spot on mate, Loving that scale I imagined it to be bigger, but looking at the dual shots with the galaxy, it looks awsome.
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: admiral horton on July 22, 2009, 05:45:51 AM
great job more pics please
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: FarShot on July 22, 2009, 08:09:59 AM
The ribbing works out perfectly.  Gives an added sense of depth when it isn't really there. 8)
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: 086gf on July 22, 2009, 04:10:38 PM
Amazing work as always.
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: JimmyB76 on July 22, 2009, 07:23:40 PM
i love the comparison pics :) 
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: antagonist on July 23, 2009, 08:23:32 AM
Which reminds me, wouldn't you need RCS thrusters on the engineering section as well? I can't see any on your model ATM...
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: Darran on July 23, 2009, 11:02:07 AM
17 Decks?!? Aww man, I'm gonna have to change the MSD.... when i finally get round to doing it again lol
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: CyAn1d3 on July 23, 2009, 11:05:34 AM
i just had a dumb idea for a bridge for this baby, redress the Prometheus bridge. or am i too late to suggest that?
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: JimmyB76 on July 23, 2009, 12:03:36 PM
I'm going to contact Mark to see if a Prometheus bridge edit is okay.  

Barihawk, I think that if you and Darran want to team up, with my help, on editing the Prometheus bridge for this, I'd be game.  The only thing is that permission is required before we begin.

incidentally, i am quite sure Mark will give the ok to retexture the Prommie bridge; if im not mistaken there is at least 1 other Prommie bridge retexture out there currently...  
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: DJ Curtis on July 23, 2009, 02:27:05 PM
darran, how many decks did you put on the msd?
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: Shadowknight1 on July 23, 2009, 02:33:10 PM
Which reminds me, wouldn't you need RCS thrusters on the engineering section as well? I can't see any on your model ATM...

I do believe they are somewhat of a requirement unless you want the secondary hull to have the maneuverability of a brick.
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: Darran on July 25, 2009, 05:19:50 AM
DJ:- I put 20 decks in, it's only 3 more, i can strip them out if you want
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: Phaser on July 25, 2009, 01:38:25 PM
*Claps*

This looks amazing, DJ.  Boy, it sure has a LOT of phaser strips!!

Personally, I think the ship should be larger than 17 decks, but that's a minor nitpick.  Plus, at this stage, it's a moot point.

Looking at that side view of the ship, you really did a bang-up job on the saucer separation design.  From the side, you can't tell at all that the ship separates!

Very nice work.  This is probably my favorite ship that you've designed.
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: DJ Curtis on July 25, 2009, 02:39:17 PM
Thanks Phaser.  Glad you like it.

I've done up the glows and specular maps.  Here's a look at the wash from the deflector and impulse engines.
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: Dalek on July 25, 2009, 02:54:26 PM
Very pretty. :D
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: CyAn1d3 on July 25, 2009, 02:58:49 PM
good god man that thing looks eerie in that lighting. but DAMN hot
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: DJ Curtis on July 25, 2009, 03:29:57 PM
And with a placeholder HP, she's now in game.
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: JimmyB76 on July 25, 2009, 03:31:41 PM
 :dance awesomeness!
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: Dalek on July 25, 2009, 03:34:45 PM
Wow. Just...wow.
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: CyAn1d3 on July 25, 2009, 04:01:16 PM
DJ. i do beleive drinks are in order
(http://www.picpiggy.com/smile/party/party0005.gif) (http://www.picpiggy.com)
cheers! and a job well done!
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: Shadowknight1 on July 25, 2009, 04:35:47 PM
Very well crafted ship, can't wait to see what she's made of.
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: Aeries on July 25, 2009, 04:45:32 PM
Dayum, boy. That's one hawt gal you've brought to the scene. >:3
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: Shino Tenshi on July 25, 2009, 05:02:16 PM
smoothing needs to be fixed on some spots, but she sure looks great :D
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: Dalek on July 25, 2009, 05:13:33 PM
Looks fine to me.
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: CyAn1d3 on July 25, 2009, 05:30:48 PM
smoothing needs to be fixed on some spots, but she sure looks great :D

a DJ model... with smoothing errors?
YOU SPEAK MADNESS!!!!
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: DJ Curtis on July 25, 2009, 05:45:26 PM
No smoothing errors.  I presume you're looking at the undercut by the phasers where there is some mesh tension.  But don't worry about it, it can show up from certain angles and be easy to mistake as an error.
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: DJ Curtis on July 25, 2009, 06:21:07 PM
Athena has weapons.  Now she just needs a shield and shoes.  :D  (btw, torpedo looks so big because its about to pass the camera, lol)
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: Dalek on July 25, 2009, 06:27:25 PM
Couldn't you use a better quantum? The stock KM one isn't brilliant...
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: 086gf on July 25, 2009, 06:28:40 PM
Yeah, using the one from the cgsov would be much wiser.
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: Shadowknight1 on July 25, 2009, 07:00:56 PM
Yeah, I agree on the use of a better quantum.  Looks like you don't want to be in front of the Athena though.  :shock:
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: Billz on July 25, 2009, 07:02:29 PM
I use the hayden ship pack quantum for my ships that all use quantums. They are visually great and pack a wallop.

PS: Love this ship. Damn! Athena's packin' heat!
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: DJ Curtis on July 25, 2009, 07:20:23 PM
The torpedo is set to the default quantum and photon scripts for the game.  Whatever torps you have in those slots, the ship will use.  I do this on purpose so that if people have set up a particular torpedo they like as the default, then it's automatically used by my ships.
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: Aeries on July 25, 2009, 07:46:36 PM
Wow, stay out of her way! Lol.
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: Tuskin38 on July 25, 2009, 08:18:45 PM
Thats a Pretty ship... I wish i hadn't lost my BC disk,
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: DJ Curtis on July 25, 2009, 08:30:13 PM
Can anyone recommend (with pics and name of mod) a particularly good quantum torpedo.  It has to be an actual torpedo, not a pulse that looks like a torp.
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: Billz on July 25, 2009, 08:47:06 PM
Can anyone recommend (with pics and name of mod) a particularly good quantum torpedo.  It has to be an actual torpedo, not a pulse that looks like a torp.

Either this http://bridgecommander.filefront.com/file/Advanced_Quantum_Torpedo;85695 or this http://bridgecommander.filefront.com/file/Canon_Nemesis_Quantum_torpedo;67386
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: WileyCoyote on July 25, 2009, 09:25:32 PM
I really like that first pic. I wish I can model as well as you can.
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: DJ Curtis on July 25, 2009, 09:58:20 PM
Unified meshes buddy! :D  Thanks for the compliment Wiley.  You and me gotta tag team something some day.

Couple of pix:

1. You can see that the mesh damages well in game without any anomaly.  Of course, if i had saucer sep working, this wouldn't actually have been the end of the road.  lol

2. Look who showed up to help out.  (just for fun)


The HP for the intact ship is basically finished except for some strength and power adjustments here and there.  Also, for the torpedoes I decided to go with the quantum from the CG Sov, armed as a pulse weapon.  That being said, when you guys fire the photons on this ship in dual fire mode, I think you'll be in for a pleasant surprise.
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: Lionus on July 25, 2009, 10:40:14 PM
Oooooohh.. :shock: that "ImmaFirignMahPhazorz!"-picture is epic. I'd think twice before pissing off a Sun Tzu-class starship.. :lol: do want!  :whenitsdone
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: admiral horton on July 25, 2009, 11:59:15 PM
 :shock: i love it more pics please :hurr
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: Shadowknight1 on July 26, 2009, 02:48:05 AM
:shock: i love it more pics please :hurr

What he said!
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: Billz on July 26, 2009, 02:57:19 AM
Does the damage transfer when you use MVAM?

Like say for instance, a nacelle gets blasted off and you decide to do MVAM in order to try and win. Would the destroyed nacelle get transfered to the seperated stardrive section of the ship and still be like that when after reintergrating with it?
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: Dalek on July 26, 2009, 05:32:00 AM
I would've suggested the quantum currently being used for DS9FX XTended but you've already picked. :P
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: antagonist on July 26, 2009, 07:25:27 AM
Wow. That first pic looks like she digested something she really didn't like ^^
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: MarkyD on July 26, 2009, 09:03:20 AM
Looks great DJ, I really need to get my head around scripting lol
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: JimmyB76 on July 26, 2009, 09:32:55 AM
:shock: i love it more pics please :hurr

What he said!
(http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b54/jimmyb76/random/yeahthat.gif)  :mrgreen:
im really excited about this ship - i cant wait to take her out for a test run :D
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: Dalek on July 26, 2009, 09:35:07 AM
I'm loving that deflector dish btw. Very reminiscent of something JJ...xD
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: Darran on July 26, 2009, 10:31:28 AM
I do love this ship, hope you dont mind DJ if i post this here but i've dusted off the MSD and just going to show what I've got to remind everyone (and myself :p) of where I am at. Still quite alot of blank spaces and place holder drawings but i'm getting there slowly. just want to show off a few areas of detail, and thats the engineering section, complete with horizontal warp core, and the whole shuttle bay, cargo bay area

EDIT: modified registry to match hull
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: Billz on July 26, 2009, 10:37:53 AM
Horizontal warp core?

So, if you use the Eject Warp Core mod with this, that warp core will come flying out the a$$ of the ship?

O...k :?
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: MarkyD on July 26, 2009, 10:45:49 AM
Awsome attention to detail on that MSD Darran take a cookie son.  8)
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: Dalek on July 26, 2009, 10:49:28 AM
Very good MSD. :) As a spoof, you could put a rubber duck or soemthing else silly just like on the actual Enterprise D MSD. :P
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: Tuskin38 on July 26, 2009, 10:53:16 AM
Very Nice DJ and Darran
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: Barihawk on July 26, 2009, 10:54:04 AM
Horizontal warp core?

So, if you use the Eject Warp Core mod with this, that warp core will come flying out the a$$ of the ship?

O...k :?

I think it drops straight down.
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: Vortex on July 26, 2009, 11:16:34 AM
That would be one BIG hatch!!
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: DJ Curtis on July 26, 2009, 11:24:33 AM
Looks great Darran.  I love it.  And no problems with the horizontal warp core.  I'm pretty sure I can make it eject out the hatch in the back.

Dalek--> Got a pic?

Billz--> The damage thing is an MVAM issue, not actually a ship issue.  As far as I know, because MVAM loads new models for separation, there's no way to transfer damage.

Edit: No can do with the horizontal ejection.  The warp core property in the SDK's MPE can't be rotated.  No problem though, leave as it is.  We'll just say the ship has a really flexible warp core.  :D
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: Barihawk on July 26, 2009, 11:43:14 AM
It swings out :P
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: Darran on July 26, 2009, 11:44:29 AM
DJ: fancy giving me a hand designing the internals of this warp grille thingy in the saucer section, i'm a bit stuck for ideas
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: Vortex on July 26, 2009, 11:47:03 AM
Maybe the matter/anit-matter is vented out into space instead. Open the Nacelles up or have a flush system from the core.

And then eject the Storage tanks, maybe.
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: Dalek on July 26, 2009, 11:53:32 AM
Here ya go DJ: http://www.ex-astris-scientia.org/inconsistencies/curiosities2.htm

First 4 pics. Lots of in-joke stuff. :)
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: DJ Curtis on July 26, 2009, 11:54:52 AM
You remember how in an episode of TNG they saturated the warp coils for a big warp burst?  Well, if all that saturation wasn't used up in one big burst, i imagine the ship could probably carry on at warp if for quite a while on that saturation.  Basically there should be two or three warp coils running between the top and bottom of the saucer between the grills.  I'm sure whatever you come up with will look great.
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: Billz on July 26, 2009, 12:02:29 PM
Just a thought on that MSD. I know its merely a graphic, but you do realize that those turbo lifts would never fit if they were to move along horizontally right? The horizontal turbolift shafts aren't high enough.

Anyway, DJ, let me know if you want a beta tester.
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: DJ Curtis on July 26, 2009, 01:00:54 PM
pic
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: Dalek on July 26, 2009, 01:02:09 PM
Ok, stop teasing us. :lol: Looks like she's nearly finished.
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: DJ Curtis on July 26, 2009, 01:06:35 PM
Left to do:

1. Finishing touches of the integrated ship's HP.
2. HP the saucer and drive section independently.
3. Create icons.
4. Create ships plugins for the saucer and drive section.
5. Set up a shuttle launching framework.
6. Create the ship's MVAM plugin.
7. Tactical displays for each ship component.
8. Beta test.
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: X_TheUnknown_X on July 26, 2009, 02:14:29 PM
you could put a rubber duck or soemthing else silly just like on the actual Enterprise D MSD.

Maybe you could include the Number 47 as well - Star Trek's lucky number? (ie: Cargo bay 4 on Deck 7?)

Awesome work on the Sun Tzu class by the way. Like the Nova class but just much better, especially those impulse vents which I really like. Can't wait to try the ship ingame, certainly a replacement for the Nova in my eyes.
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: Dalek on July 26, 2009, 02:23:23 PM
I don't think the Nova was ever intended as a weapon of war. The Sun Tzu most definitely is. :)
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: Darran on July 26, 2009, 05:23:51 PM
Just a thought on that MSD. I know its merely a graphic, but you do realize that those turbo lifts would never fit if they were to move along horizontally right? The horizontal turbolift shafts aren't high enough.

Anyway, DJ, let me know if you want a beta tester.

your right theres an awful lot of tweaking to do, some of it is quite slap dash, but then again I am a cow boy Lcars builder
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: DJ Curtis on July 26, 2009, 05:46:24 PM
ugh, i HP's the entire saucer and somehow the changes didn't apply themselves and now i gotta do it over again.  an hour down the drain.
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: DJ Curtis on July 26, 2009, 11:40:33 PM
Ok, the saucer is now fully HP'd and in the game as an independent ship.  I have to make a texture modification in max yet that will have the warp grills activated.
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: DJ Curtis on July 27, 2009, 01:47:06 AM
ooh, triple post.

anyhow, all components are HP'd and in the game, and MVAM is set up and just needs some minor tweaking on the reintegration setup.

little problem exists with this ship atm, maybe someone knows what to do.  basically, it seems that enemy weapons fire from directly ahead goes right through the shields and does a great deal of damage.  any ideas why this is?

edit: to further refine this explanation:  it seems that torpedo hits directly to the hull cause devastating damage.  so in other words, a single torpedo to the saucer destroys nearly the whole thing.  There must be a value somewhere I can change that will fix this.
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: Jb06 on July 27, 2009, 04:23:16 AM
It's normally the damage resolution DJ, don't set it higher than 1 :D might be wrong though

Looks awesome BTW.

~Jb06
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: GMunoz on July 27, 2009, 06:47:42 AM
DJ - does it also damage/destroy the weapons and systems or just the mesh?
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: FarShot on July 27, 2009, 08:13:12 AM
Darran, I love the shuttle bay in the MSD.  I loved XI for having the racks, and looks like you slapped them on as well.

DJ, awesome as always. :)
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: MLeo on July 27, 2009, 09:10:38 AM
ooh, triple post.

anyhow, all components are HP'd and in the game, and MVAM is set up and just needs some minor tweaking on the reintegration setup.

little problem exists with this ship atm, maybe someone knows what to do.  basically, it seems that enemy weapons fire from directly ahead goes right through the shields and does a great deal of damage.  any ideas why this is?

edit: to further refine this explanation:  it seems that torpedo hits directly to the hull cause devastating damage.  so in other words, a single torpedo to the saucer destroys nearly the whole thing.  There must be a value somewhere I can change that will fix this.
In the ship file (scripts/Ships) there are various values you can try. Look at the commets above the AddLod section for examplations of the values.
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: DJ Curtis on July 27, 2009, 09:59:48 AM
Hmm, I've tried both solutions, and remembered to delete the vox file after each change, but nothing seems to work.

gmunoz--> destroys the mesh and takes systems with it.  although there have been incidents where the mesh goes and the systems stay.
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: Shadowknight1 on July 27, 2009, 10:37:59 AM
Also DJ, when MVAM separates or reintegrates a ship, it loses shield power until they recharge.  I don't know why that is, but it's been a bug ever since the MVAM Prommie.
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: Darran on July 27, 2009, 12:17:52 PM
Darran, I love the shuttle bay in the MSD.  I loved XI for having the racks, and looks like you slapped them on as well.

DJ, awesome as always. :)

I added the double decker shuttle bay months before Trek XI came out... i call copy right!
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: DJ Curtis on July 27, 2009, 03:39:42 PM
Also DJ, when MVAM separates or reintegrates a ship, it loses shield power until they recharge.  I don't know why that is, but it's been a bug ever since the MVAM Prommie.

only if the shields are down when the ship separates.
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: Shadowknight1 on July 27, 2009, 04:08:45 PM
No, I've seen that happen with full shields in the middle of combat.  Rather annoying actually.
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: CyAn1d3 on July 27, 2009, 04:10:07 PM
No, I've seen that happen with full shields in the middle of combat.  Rather annoying actually.

so have i.. idr which ones tho. it happens sporadically tho
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: majormagna on July 27, 2009, 04:31:40 PM
I've never had it from 0%; I've seperated and shields go down to 75% before, 30% once.

But never had shields fail on me post-seperation though.
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: DJ Curtis on July 27, 2009, 04:52:53 PM
anyone have any more suggestions for the problem i had above?
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: Dalek on July 27, 2009, 04:56:02 PM
The only thing I can think of is that either a) the projectile you're going against is stupidly powerful and has a huge blast radius or b) you missed a digit with your shields or c) its a combination of both.
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: MLeo on July 27, 2009, 05:01:44 PM
c) Hole-value is set too high in the ship file.
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: DJ Curtis on July 27, 2009, 05:18:46 PM
I messed around withe the hole value and got no change, even after clearing out the vox file.  Am i missing a step?
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: MLeo on July 27, 2009, 05:58:45 PM
Possibly deleting the pyc file, for some (small) changes that might matter.
You may also get results with changing the PickLeafSize and the SurfaceDamageRes and the InternalDamageRes.

In Favour the Bold Dasher used a base hole value of 1400, then, if the ship had Ablative Armour he would add the armour strength to it.
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: DJ Curtis on July 27, 2009, 06:01:27 PM
I'll give that a try Mleo.

On another note, the grills on the saucer now activate after separation.  Also, the tactical display icons and ship icons, as well as MVAM script are all complete.  The ship is very near to completion.
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: Dalek on July 27, 2009, 06:12:39 PM
Beautiful...completely. :)
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: CyAn1d3 on July 27, 2009, 06:18:13 PM
Beautiful...completely. :)

indeed, that is one sexy lil beast
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: Bones on July 27, 2009, 06:40:32 PM
oooops you did it again .... you broke my jaw ... I can't find it :D Maaaan you should really work for ST XII  GFX crew or for some game companies cuz your designes roooooocks so frakin much :D
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: bankruptstudios on July 27, 2009, 06:52:36 PM
I totally agree with Bones. Best designs since Enterprise E.
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: DJ Curtis on July 27, 2009, 08:57:45 PM
Thanks guys.  Though I'm pretty happy teaching.  Besides, my next career will be as host of the Tonight Show.

Mleo--> I tried that, and no luck. :(
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: DJ Curtis on July 28, 2009, 01:02:53 AM
1. Finishing touches of the integrated ship's HP.
2. HP the saucer and drive section independently.
3. Create icons.
4. Create ships plugins for the saucer and drive section.
5. Set up a shuttle launching framework.
6. Create the ship's MVAM plugin.
7. Tactical displays for each ship component.
8. Beta test.
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: Shadowknight1 on July 28, 2009, 01:11:30 AM
Okay, so this ship went from "to do list" to complete in how long? :P  And all because you got bored with the Enterprise lol

Fantastically beautiful ship DJ, can't wait to see her tear apart a few ships.
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: DJ Curtis on July 28, 2009, 01:16:03 AM
hmm, so since i can build a mesh in just a few hours, and basically started texturing this from scratch when i picked it up again on the 15th...

I should be able to pump out a ship every two weeks. :D

Well, let me get on that.  lol.  Did I mention my mouse hand is murdering me right now?  I think I'm gonna do some work around the house.

Anyhow, provided I can get the last kinks ironed out and a readme done up, call the release date for this ship Sunday August 2nd.  :hurr
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: Aeries on July 28, 2009, 02:34:52 AM
hmm, so since i can build a mesh in just a few hours, and basically started texturing this from scratch when i picked it up again on the 15th...

I should be able to pump out a ship every two weeks. :D

Well, let me get on that.  lol.  Did I mention my mouse hand is murdering me right now?  I think I'm gonna do some work around the house.

Anyhow, provided I can get the last kinks ironed out and a readme done up, call the release date for this ship Sunday August 2nd.  :hurr

OMG OMG OMG FOR MAH BURFDAAAAIIIIIIII!
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: bankruptstudios on July 28, 2009, 05:08:06 AM
My wife's birthday, she loves this ship. A great present for her, better than my Flowers, lol.
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: JimmyB76 on July 28, 2009, 08:32:03 AM
the day after my b-day lol :)
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: Shadowknight1 on July 28, 2009, 09:34:11 AM
Awwww, not for my birthday.  :P
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: CyAn1d3 on July 28, 2009, 11:56:26 AM
WOOOT!!! i shall set my calendar and stare endlessly!!

My wife's birthday, she loves this ship. A great present for her, better than my Flowers, lol.

hahaha lucky you.

Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: gdata on July 28, 2009, 12:01:37 PM
My wife's birthday, she loves this ship. A great present for her, better than my Flowers, lol.

Are you serious? I haven't met any female being that likes Trek in my life...maybe it's the appearance of DJ's designs  :lol:
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: CyAn1d3 on July 28, 2009, 12:02:52 PM
My wife's birthday, she loves this ship. A great present for her, better than my Flowers, lol.

Are you serious? I haven't met any female being that likes Trek in my life...

theyr like looking for a unicorn....
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: Aeries on July 28, 2009, 12:34:49 PM
it seems, Dj, that you've chosen the best time to release this! Let's hope all goes smoothly and you make that deadline. Best wishes buddy. This is amazing work once again. :]
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: JimmyB76 on July 28, 2009, 01:19:43 PM
it seems, Dj, that you've chosen the best time to release this!
lol thats right - your bday is the day after :)
aug 1 is me, aug 2 is the athena, and then aug 3 is you lol :P
cheers dah-ling! (http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b54/jimmyb76/random/vb_cheers.gif) (http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b54/jimmyb76/random/beer.gif)
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: Billz on July 28, 2009, 04:15:58 PM
hmm, so since i can build a mesh in just a few hours, and basically started texturing this from scratch when i picked it up again on the 15th...

I should be able to pump out a ship every two weeks. :D

Well, let me get on that.  lol.  Did I mention my mouse hand is murdering me right now?  I think I'm gonna do some work around the house.

Anyhow, provided I can get the last kinks ironed out and a readme done up, call the release date for this ship Sunday August 2nd.  :hurr

My bad luck strikes again, lol.

I'll be house sitting for my sister while looking after her 3 cats. I wont be able to use this ship because I wont be on my PC for 2 weeks.

 :(

Looks awesome though. Cookie!!!
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: DJ Curtis on July 28, 2009, 04:22:57 PM
when do you leave, Billz?
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: Billz on July 28, 2009, 05:26:30 PM
when do you leave, Billz?

Friday 31st july. But dont rush it out because of me. I'd hate to be the cause of bugs because of a rushed release.
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: DJ Curtis on July 28, 2009, 07:30:56 PM
care to beta test, Billz?
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: Billz on July 28, 2009, 08:25:28 PM
Up to you. I'm not going to force you to as it wouldn't be far to others.
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: FarShot on July 29, 2009, 07:52:03 AM
I leave July 31st on a vacation to Colorado.  Hope I can bring my laptop! :)
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: DJ Curtis on July 31, 2009, 01:32:08 PM
I hate to break up the birthday benefits, but I've ended up out on a little vacation and the ship's at home not packaged up, so it's gonna be the following weekend for release.  Besides, I'd like to try and get the damage bug worked out.
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: Aeries on July 31, 2009, 01:49:02 PM
*dies a little inside*

Hehe, nah, take all the time you need bud. Better she's working PROPERLY than not, anyway. :] have fun on your vacation! :D
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: bankruptstudios on July 31, 2009, 02:17:04 PM
Definitely worth waiting for.
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: Shadowknight1 on July 31, 2009, 07:21:30 PM
*dies a little inside*

Hehe, nah, take all the time you need bud. Better she's working PROPERLY than not, anyway. :] have fun on your vacation! :D

Yeah, that. ;)
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: CyAn1d3 on August 01, 2009, 01:32:09 PM
i can waits... ill just sit here in my corner till its done XD

*pulls up chair and lights cigarette*
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: Shao on August 09, 2009, 01:35:09 PM
Can't wait to see this ship in action!! Can't be too long now.....
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: bankruptstudios on August 10, 2009, 04:38:40 AM
*pulls up a chair and table next to CyAn1d3, lights a smoke and deals some cards*

This will pass the time faster, i hope.... :lol:
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: CyAn1d3 on August 10, 2009, 10:41:36 AM
*pulls up a chair and table next to CyAn1d3, lights a smoke and deals some cards*

This will pass the time faster, i hope.... :lol:

5 card stud or holdem?
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: JimmyB76 on August 10, 2009, 12:04:33 PM
ooook guys please try and avoid spamming up DJ's thread too much lol :P
DJ will release it when he is ready :)
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: DJ Curtis on August 11, 2009, 01:14:50 AM
Still haven't solved the damage bug.
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: MLeo on August 11, 2009, 04:12:45 PM
If you want, I can take a look if you send me the ship file (the one in scripts/Ships), maybe it's some setting other than burn/hole value that is either very low or very high.
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: DJ Curtis on August 11, 2009, 07:09:24 PM
Since all three seem to have the same problem.  Here are the ship files.
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: MLeo on August 12, 2009, 06:37:15 PM
Unfortunately, I haven't found an anomaly.

I suppose you have already tried swapping in a stock model, just to see if it is that?
Could is also be that you have double faced polygons, or if the model is hollow?
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: Shadowknight1 on August 12, 2009, 06:47:45 PM
DJ, what exactly was the problem again?  :?
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: JimmyB76 on August 13, 2009, 10:00:14 AM
little problem exists with this ship atm, maybe someone knows what to do.  basically, it seems that enemy weapons fire from directly ahead goes right through the shields and does a great deal of damage.  any ideas why this is?

edit: to further refine this explanation:  it seems that torpedo hits directly to the hull cause devastating damage.  so in other words, a single torpedo to the saucer destroys nearly the whole thing.  There must be a value somewhere I can change that will fix this.
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: moed on August 14, 2009, 06:40:00 PM
DJ, I'm not exactly sure but maybe your damage radius (in the HP) for the hull may be to large?
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: Darkthorne on August 14, 2009, 09:29:02 PM
isnt there also a bug in bc where if your going to fast toward a torpedo that it goes right through shields?
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: Bones on August 15, 2009, 04:34:24 AM
isnt there also a bug in bc where if your going to fast toward a torpedo that it goes right through shields?
I remember something like that happening to me but sometimes one torpedo from full volley (about 8 ) goes through shields even if my ship stands still , isn't it NanoFX critical hit (although I'm not sure if that was the name) feature ?
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: JamesTiberiusKirk on August 15, 2009, 05:36:18 AM
Yeah thats the critical hit feature.

But anyway, I think if Mleo finds nothing wrong with the script, then it must be the model.
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: MarkyD on August 15, 2009, 04:17:01 PM
Yeah thats the critical hit feature.

But anyway, I think if Mleo finds nothing wrong with the script, then it must be the model.

But as great at scripts MLEO is, DJ is just as good at building meshes  8) mabey its a phantom issue  :)
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: CyAn1d3 on August 15, 2009, 04:18:46 PM
or something that looks this good isnt meant to be shot up :P
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: Joshmaul on August 15, 2009, 05:21:08 PM
or something that looks this good isnt meant to be shot up :P

See? Logical explanation for everything.
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: hobbs on December 10, 2009, 04:00:34 PM
My wife's birthday, she loves this ship. A great present for her, better than my Flowers, lol.

Are you serious? I haven't met any female being that likes Trek in my life...maybe it's the appearance of DJ's designs  :lol:
my wife to be loves trek too lol cool or what (and rock and metal music)

dj cool ship :) can i borrow your skills for a bit and make a cool ship too
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: Aeries on December 10, 2009, 04:05:24 PM
Have you checked the ship model itself? is it centered properly, etc? Just a thought, but maybe she ship is set outside the shield bubble radius if the model itself isn't centered... that or I'm just being dumb. x__x I honestly haven't gotten to anywhere near that stage yet. :P
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: Dalek on December 10, 2009, 04:08:38 PM
You're not being dumb Aeries, it's a BC glitch. BC has trouble creating a shield around long thin pointy ships and this 'trouble' causes glitches in the shield allowing projectiles to just happily fly there way in. Nothing can be done about it.
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: JamesTiberiusKirk on December 10, 2009, 05:43:37 PM
thread resurrection? and i dont think that anyone has a clue what everyone has said and ment... its been a little long since someone viewed this thread
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: DJ Curtis on December 10, 2009, 08:02:09 PM
Athena is packed up and ready to go.  I reinstalled BC and the glitch doesn't seem to be occurring.  Will be released on Christmas Day.
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: MarkyD on December 10, 2009, 08:53:36 PM
Awsome, glad you fixed the bug DJ. have a good christmas  ;)
Title: Re: Sun Tzu Class - USS Athena
Post by: Shadowknight1 on December 11, 2009, 12:56:10 AM
Awsome, glad you fixed the bug DJ. have a good christmas  ;)

^^^What he said. :D