Duelist Heavy Fighter, Hunter's Guild (I'm having a go!)

Thinking about improving the Artwork in Vega Strike, or making your own Mod? Submit your question and ideas in this forum.

Moderator: pyramid

Post Reply
-REBEL3-
Bounty Hunter
Bounty Hunter
Posts: 132
Joined: Sun Nov 01, 2009 2:43 am
Location: Alaska

Re: Duelist Heavy Fighter, Hunter's Guild (I'm having a go!)

Post by -REBEL3- »

starbright wrote:
Erm.. I've started making my heavy missile launcher even more complex. But as soon as that code is ready I'll rip it out and replace it with a hardpoint I promise.

Image
Here you can see the missile launcher with missile loaded and the feed mechanism poking out from beneath the wing. It still needs more work of course.

The three shapes on the rear wing are the liquid-droplet radiators. Each includes a wide slot spraying droplets at a target. I've made them small and recessed them in the hull to make it less likely that coolant would be lost in a dogfight.

Image
Here is a look at the new wings from a distance.

I've included the blend file as usual. It's a bit of a mess (full of triangles and twisted faces) but replacing the wings is turning out to be a big job and time is tight right now.

As usual this is a work in progress, with a design evolving as it goes. I'm interested in everyone's input.

Blend file http://www.starbrightillustrations.com/ ... ip85.blend
Looks very nice! One note-the missile launcher looks a bit flimsy-it could be bulked up a bit.
I like the radiators-I'm thinking a silvery sheen as a texture.
Dragonseraph Angel
Hunter
Hunter
Posts: 94
Joined: Sun Dec 23, 2007 9:51 pm
Location: Usually in the Cephid 17 system.

Re: Duelist Heavy Fighter, Hunter's Guild (I'm having a go!)

Post by Dragonseraph Angel »

I love your ship! I can't wait to fly it. The details and greebles are very nice. I look forward to seeing the textured version, but take your time - the more details the better! Keep adding details!

Good job :)

(I hope it gets in the next release :wink: )
-REBEL3-
Bounty Hunter
Bounty Hunter
Posts: 132
Joined: Sun Nov 01, 2009 2:43 am
Location: Alaska

Re: Duelist Heavy Fighter, Hunter's Guild (I'm having a go!)

Post by -REBEL3- »

*Gentle prod*

You still working on this?
Drak Zelthor
Explorer
Explorer
Posts: 10
Joined: Wed Jun 16, 2010 6:19 pm

Re: Duelist Heavy Fighter, Hunter's Guild (I'm having a go!)

Post by Drak Zelthor »

Looking at what other people have said in this forum about using franklins I think that they do in fact have at least one turret on them. (point defence I believe) The reason that this doesn't show up in the weapons listing is that Turrets go under the sub-units description in the ship info not the weapons.

Great model none the less.
starbright
Merchant
Merchant
Posts: 52
Joined: Sun Apr 18, 2010 12:18 am
Location: Austria
Contact:

Re: Duelist Heavy Fighter, Hunter's Guild (I'm having a go!)

Post by starbright »

-REBEL3- wrote:*Gentle prod*

You still working on this?
I'm trying to get back round to it as quick as I can. Real work (I do translations) has picked up, and England are doing well in the World Cup, between the two it's really eating into my time.

@ Drak Zelthor, about the turret.
Oh no, now you tell me! I'll put it back in - what does a point defence turret look like? Something like a gatling gun in a little ball turret?
I design spaceships. Take a look! http://starbrightillustrations.com
-REBEL3-
Bounty Hunter
Bounty Hunter
Posts: 132
Joined: Sun Nov 01, 2009 2:43 am
Location: Alaska

Re: Duelist Heavy Fighter, Hunter's Guild (I'm having a go!)

Post by -REBEL3- »

starbright wrote: @ Drak Zelthor, about the turret.
Oh no, now you tell me! I'll put it back in - what does a point defence turret look like? Something like a gatling gun in a little ball turret?
Sorta-here's the turrets from the Crayfish.
Crayfish.jpg

Take your time-as long as it looks good in the end, we don't mind. :D
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
Deus Siddis
Elite
Elite
Posts: 1363
Joined: Sat Aug 04, 2007 3:42 pm

Re: Duelist Heavy Fighter, Hunter's Guild (I'm having a go!)

Post by Deus Siddis »

The franklin has two turrets, according to units.csv.

You don't need to model them though, just have a couple flat places for them on the mesh, I'd recommend one topside and one bottomside for good coverage.
starbright
Merchant
Merchant
Posts: 52
Joined: Sun Apr 18, 2010 12:18 am
Location: Austria
Contact:

Re: Duelist Heavy Fighter, Hunter's Guild (I'm having a go!)

Post by starbright »

Deus Siddis wrote:You don't need to model them though, just have a couple flat places for them on the mesh,...
Sounds good to me :D

And I got Vega Strike to work on my lappy by forcing it to do everything in software, no direct 3D card support. But even though I turned everything down, turned off the shader etc, it was so slow it was like a hypnotic screen saver. So I'm still a little in the dark about how the game actually works. I'm having fun making the model though. Should have some time today...
I design spaceships. Take a look! http://starbrightillustrations.com
-REBEL3-
Bounty Hunter
Bounty Hunter
Posts: 132
Joined: Sun Nov 01, 2009 2:43 am
Location: Alaska

Re: Duelist Heavy Fighter, Hunter's Guild (I'm having a go!)

Post by -REBEL3- »

What version of VS are you using? Also, what style of laptop are you using? I know that I used to run VS on my Macbook-I got around 50ish FPS with (what appeared to be) good quality. FYI, most of the setting sliders in the 0.50 setup are broken.

Still, something doesn't sound right. Almost any new lappy should be able to get good performance out of VS if the settings are low (unless you go the solar system in VS-it's custom, so it slows computers down).

One other thing-I would recommend SVNing up, if you haven't already. Instructions can be found on the wiki.
-REBEL3-
Bounty Hunter
Bounty Hunter
Posts: 132
Joined: Sun Nov 01, 2009 2:43 am
Location: Alaska

Re: Duelist Heavy Fighter, Hunter's Guild (I'm having a go!)

Post by -REBEL3- »

Normally I don't double post-but I noticed we didn't answer your questions from about 2 pages ago! :mrgreen:

"I guess the Leeches might look like a rack of limpet mines ready to be seeded in the spaceship's wake?

The heavy missile on the other hand. Is that like a Battletech heavy missile system - a big bin with little holes on the front for swarms of missiles to shoot out of - or a single launch rail?
Is the spaceship capable of reloading, or is this system one shot?"-Starbright


Here's the description of leeches-straight from the Master Part List

"Like the Crippler, the leech gun relies on sophisticated projectiles housing single-shot laser warheads and minimal targeting systems to do the dirty work of rendering a target vessel disabled. Unlike the Crippler, the leech gun has a reputation for being sufficiently underpowered that it's dangerous to not pack more lethal weaponry as well."

Heavy missiles are normally one big missile. The system can reload.

Here's the description for the torpedo:

"Featuring bulk and drive style rapidly approaching that of a small vessel, these beasts pack a heavy punch, but tend to have acceleration curves suited to catching only the less than fleet of foot."
Deus Siddis
Elite
Elite
Posts: 1363
Joined: Sat Aug 04, 2007 3:42 pm

Re: Duelist Heavy Fighter, Hunter's Guild (I'm having a go!)

Post by Deus Siddis »

You don't need to worry about how particular weapon systems look, just model generic weapons or weapon housings based on their size and type in units.csv.

All you need to know is, whether it is a gun or missile, special or normal, and light, medium or heavy (the franklin can't mount anything capship sized weapons so no need to worry about the larger size classes).
starbright
Merchant
Merchant
Posts: 52
Joined: Sun Apr 18, 2010 12:18 am
Location: Austria
Contact:

Re: Duelist Heavy Fighter, Hunter's Guild (I'm having a go!)

Post by starbright »

-REBEL3- wrote: "Like the Crippler, the leech gun relies on sophisticated projectiles housing single-shot laser warheads and minimal targeting systems to do the dirty work of rendering a target vessel disabled. Unlike the Crippler, the leech gun has a reputation for being sufficiently underpowered that it's dangerous to not pack more lethal weaponry as well."

Heavy missiles are normally one big missile. The system can reload.
Wow thanks. The leech gun sounds like a gauss gun with smart ammo containing a laser. I've added a nice big gun under the cockpit, I made it triangular to house the magnets used to project the laser ammo where it needs to go.

I've also made the missile system a whole lot bigger.

Image

and a closeup of those missiles from an iteration before I decided the ammo feed should be armoured Image

Here's the blend file. Don't look too close I've ripped open a big hole under the wing that isn't closed yet, and there is a whole bunch of other stuff to do too.

http://www.starbrightillustrations.com/ ... ip96.blend

@Deus Siddis -- The flat bits for the point def turrets are next on my todo list.
I design spaceships. Take a look! http://starbrightillustrations.com
charlieg
Elite Mercenary
Elite Mercenary
Posts: 1329
Joined: Thu Mar 27, 2003 11:51 pm
Location: Manchester, UK
Contact:

Re: Duelist Heavy Fighter, Hunter's Guild (I'm having a go!)

Post by charlieg »

Looking really good.
Free Gamer - free software games compendium and commentary!
FreeGameDev forum - open source game development community
-REBEL3-
Bounty Hunter
Bounty Hunter
Posts: 132
Joined: Sun Nov 01, 2009 2:43 am
Location: Alaska

Re: Duelist Heavy Fighter, Hunter's Guild (I'm having a go!)

Post by -REBEL3- »

Make sure you save separate blend files of the weapons throughout the process. The earlier missiles could be used for an less expensive, less powerful missile launcher.

So far, it looks very nice! :D



*EDIT*-klauss just informed us that the engine CAN support seprate weapon entities without having to have any code changes. Yay! Start snipping those guns off! :D
starbright
Merchant
Merchant
Posts: 52
Joined: Sun Apr 18, 2010 12:18 am
Location: Austria
Contact:

Re: Duelist Heavy Fighter, Hunter's Guild (I'm having a go!)

Post by starbright »

-REBEL3- wrote:*EDIT*-klauss just informed us that the engine CAN support seprate weapon entities without having to have any code changes. Yay! Start snipping those guns off! :D
OK, snipped 'em off. :D
Image
*edit*
You can also see the round flat place on top for the point defence weapons. There is a similar (OK exactly the same, I shift D duplicated it) one underneath.

*edit*
more work...
Image
Image
Image
I design spaceships. Take a look! http://starbrightillustrations.com
-REBEL3-
Bounty Hunter
Bounty Hunter
Posts: 132
Joined: Sun Nov 01, 2009 2:43 am
Location: Alaska

Re: Duelist Heavy Fighter, Hunter's Guild (I'm having a go!)

Post by -REBEL3- »

Looks very nice! I do like the gold cockpit-is that just a temporary rendering texture, or were you planning to use it for the final version?

Oh-I noticed in your blog you planned to put a little person in it-we've done that before. Here's the link.

http://vegastrike.sourceforge.net/forum ... 8&start=90
starbright
Merchant
Merchant
Posts: 52
Joined: Sun Apr 18, 2010 12:18 am
Location: Austria
Contact:

Re: Duelist Heavy Fighter, Hunter's Guild (I'm having a go!)

Post by starbright »

-REBEL3- wrote:Looks very nice! I do like the gold cockpit-is that just a temporary rendering texture, or were you planning to use it for the final version?
I like the gold too! I'm thinking of keeping it.

You asked me before about my lappy and why it is having such problems playing Vega Strike. It's a Packard Bell EasyNote and the graphics card is a S3 Savage http://vegastrike.sourceforge.net/forum ... =1&t=15344. Ubuntu doesn't have a driver for it, or it does, but without direct rendering support. I have to run things like Blender or Tux Racer with software rendering. It's all very slow and buggy.

I'm still looking for a solution though, you never know. :?
I design spaceships. Take a look! http://starbrightillustrations.com
Shark
Confed Special Operative
Confed Special Operative
Posts: 360
Joined: Tue Mar 02, 2004 9:34 am
Contact:

Re: Duelist Heavy Fighter, Hunter's Guild (I'm having a go!)

Post by Shark »

Very nice! Good job!
starbright
Merchant
Merchant
Posts: 52
Joined: Sun Apr 18, 2010 12:18 am
Location: Austria
Contact:

Re: Duelist Heavy Fighter, Hunter's Guild (I'm having a go!)

Post by starbright »

Shark wrote:Very nice! Good job!
Thanks!

I had a look at your site. I love the HUD graphics you did. http://i421.photobucket.com/albums/pp29 ... _hud_2.png

Edit---

Image

You can now see the pilot. Or at least their outline.
I design spaceships. Take a look! http://starbrightillustrations.com
Shark
Confed Special Operative
Confed Special Operative
Posts: 360
Joined: Tue Mar 02, 2004 9:34 am
Contact:

Re: Duelist Heavy Fighter, Hunter's Guild (I'm having a go!)

Post by Shark »

Thanks! Looking at that image again I probably should have labeled everything.

Too bad I can't download knowledge of C++/Python and the current state of VS's code into my brain like in The Matrix. :(

I should also re-do the interface in SVG or something instead of HTML that works only in IE "quirks mode".
Neskiairti
Confed Special Operative
Confed Special Operative
Posts: 334
Joined: Thu Jan 11, 2007 4:10 am

Re: Duelist Heavy Fighter, Hunter's Guild (I'm having a go!)

Post by Neskiairti »

er, compared to the other windows in the ship.. that pilot looks like hes fucking huge :O
-REBEL3-
Bounty Hunter
Bounty Hunter
Posts: 132
Joined: Sun Nov 01, 2009 2:43 am
Location: Alaska

Re: Duelist Heavy Fighter, Hunter's Guild (I'm having a go!)

Post by -REBEL3- »

Remember though, he'll probably never be seen. so it doesn't matter much either way.
Deus Siddis
Elite
Elite
Posts: 1363
Joined: Sat Aug 04, 2007 3:42 pm

Re: Duelist Heavy Fighter, Hunter's Guild (I'm having a go!)

Post by Deus Siddis »

-REBEL3- wrote:Remember though, he'll probably never be seen. so it doesn't matter much either way.
Actually the pilot very well could be visible and it is always best to model everything to scale anyway, otherwise it probably will never look to scale. And having things look their size is really important, for a game like this especially.
starbright
Merchant
Merchant
Posts: 52
Joined: Sun Apr 18, 2010 12:18 am
Location: Austria
Contact:

Re: Duelist Heavy Fighter, Hunter's Guild (I'm having a go!)

Post by starbright »

I've been working on the pilot. There are still some problems - the worst of which is a strange dark area in the cockpit - but I think he is approx the right size now. I modelled him independently of the spaceship to be sure.

Image

Here in this render you can see the strange dark bit in front of the pilot (flipped normals maybe? bad lighting?)

Image

He, he, I made the windows of the passenger compartment transparent. Would it be OTT to model a VIP lounge in there for the diplomats?

Edit----

Here is the latest blend http://www.starbrightillustrations.com/ ... p124.blend, in case anyone wants to play mesh doctor and tell me why the front of the cockpit (the pilot's console) renders so dark.
I design spaceships. Take a look! http://starbrightillustrations.com
-REBEL3-
Bounty Hunter
Bounty Hunter
Posts: 132
Joined: Sun Nov 01, 2009 2:43 am
Location: Alaska

Re: Duelist Heavy Fighter, Hunter's Guild (I'm having a go!)

Post by -REBEL3- »

starbright wrote:
He, he, I made the windows of the passenger compartment transparent. Would it be OTT to model a VIP lounge in there for the diplomats
Probably not-I know we do some of that for bases. Make the inside of the lounge low-poly though.

Just a general comment about the ship-it seems to me it should look somewhat more sexy-sort of like the H496 (http://vegastrike.sourceforge.net/forum ... 28&t=9024), the Seaxbane (http://vegastrike.sourceforge.net/forum ... =28&t=8627), or the CT1000 (http://vegastrike.sourceforge.net/forum ... =4&t=12134). IMO, it should look like whoever owns it made an effort to make it look pretty. While your model is great, it just seems a bit too utilitarian to me. I guess I would recommend generally make the ship flow together more, and round lots of corners. Since it is a diplomatic ship, it would be a bit of a symbol of the power of the owner.
Post Reply