dinosaurJR's Halo Mod

[C.A.B.A.L.]

Hey Dino, before I move on to the next part of the interface I need to know if ships will have shields or hull. If they have shields I need to make a shield system health icon. I would imagine they have hull, since I don't remember any shielded ships, Covenant or UNSC. Also, I only know how to do one or the other in A1. As far as I know, you can have all of your ships with shields, or all with hull.

Having hull instead of shields is partly a visual trick where the weapons look like they are impacting the hull, but are still dealing damage to the shields rather than systems. You also make the shield generator untargetable and don't give it a part of the wire frame. You can make it even better by making the shield regeneration rate 0, because it's not like the hull can repair itself (unless you are using organic technology). This would also make bringing ships back to repair yards a little more important.

EDIT: I almost forgot...

Spoiler:

current screenie

[dinosaurJR]

Hey C.A.B.A.L. - long time no see buddy - hows it going?

Firstly, I think your screenie of the UI WIP is utterly brilliant - it goes a long way to changing the feel of the game, and I really appreciate the work your putting in! ( I would + rep you, but it seems that the rep system isnt working...)

As for shields vs unshielded - The UNSC has no shield tech - but the Covenant does...

I think removing the shields from the models themselves isnt a problem, but your telling me that the GUI must either have a shield icon or no shield icon (not changeable between races...) hmmm

I think it could be best to have like a small shield icon maybe in a corner somwhere, out of the way maybe...? So that it is useable for the Covanent side, but not too obtrusive for the UNSC? What do you think? Also, what is possible?
Also, good call on the big wireframe - Im planning on using a 3 view schematic for the UNSC - you read my mind

Also, Dan has kindly offered to do some graphical work on the weapons - so you can expect some incoming plasma fire soon...

One last thing C.A.B.A.L.... how are you at GUI work for A2?...

The reason being that, ladies and gentlemen, I am pleased to announce that this mod is going multi platform!

Thats right, Halo: Fleet Command will be available in two different flavours - for Armada and Armada 2... with some unique content for each version...


watch this space for more information...

[C.A.B.A.L.]

Yeah, I've been very busy recently. Camping up in Washington, going to a family get together for my mom's side of the family (also near Washington), My mom's birthday (not in Washington), etc.

I haven't really looked at the A2 gui very much and the only A2 install I have at the moment is FO. I could take a look at it though. The same general stuff should apply to the A2 gui, I would think.

Anyway, the problem with the shields is that you apply the shield/no shield effect in the weapon odf and it can't be applied on a ship by ship basis like damage can.

Spoiler:

So, you pretty much have to pick if you want shield effects on every ship or no ships.

EDIT: You could have the Covenant visually have no shields but still behave like they have shields. Shields down could be represented with a cloud around the ship.

NEW EDIT: Ignore the rest of this post. I have successfully disabled the shields on a ship. Ordinarily in A1, setting the max shields to zero would result in a red line extending from the left side of the shield meter, off the edge of the screen.
EXAMPLE:

Spoiler:

I didn't bring this up before because I didn't think there was a way to fix it and it looks hideous. However, if you set the line maxHealth = -1, the shield bar stays lit up red without going off the edge of the screen.
EXAMPLE:

Spoiler:

Then I just removed the shield generator the way you would remove engines to make a station and set the shield regen rate to 0. Then just set system hitpoints really high and the critical hit chance really low and it works great. Weapons simply pass through the place where the shields would be. With this, the Covenant can have shields while the UNSC don't.

And can you send me pics of the three views you want for the UNSC schematics? Any ship is fine, I just want something to use for a mock up of the wire frames and can't find any schematics of UNSC ships online.

[dinosaurJR]

Hey C.A.B.A.L.

Here is the image you asked for - just a quick wire frame mock up of the Frigate... hope its what you meant?

Spoiler:

[C.A.B.A.L.]

Perfect! Now that I have that, I can also give you a preview of the UNSC wire frames, featuring an incredibly fake In Amber Clad. Speaking of which, why would you make your ship's name a reference to fossilized insects?

Spoiler:

I also want you to tell me what you think the different icons along the bottom are. I designed them so I know what each one is but I want to know if other people can figure it out just by looking at them.

[dinosaurJR]

Damn man! Thats awesome!

seriously, that thudding sound - it was my jaw hitting the floor! Amazing...very clear and detailed. Im a fan.

As for the icons - from left to right...

Shields (greyed out), Engines, Weapons, not sure, sensors, life support?

do I win a prize now I like them - and never mind about people not getting them right away - thats what the game manual is for...

Seriously though - Im a big fan of you GUI work and I would love for you to do the GUI work for the A2 version too... Have you had any thoughts on the covenant GUI? Also on the mod in general (as I kina consider you a part of the team, if your in?)

Camping is awesome fun too! - Im going on a fishing trip next weekend into the mountiains (we have awesome mountians and nature in Norway) so I guess thats another thing we got in common! Oh, and happy birthday to your mum too

[FallenGraces]

Yeah when i first...met?...CABAL over at AFC the dude could pull out and do the most amazing stuff even in A1...hell he made me jealous but now that we've let him lose on A2...who knows what he's gonna do

LOL need to learn how to edit the GUI. After this project is over CABAL mind working on a quick tut. on editing the GUI

[C.A.B.A.L.]

I thought when I first showed up at AFC I was pretty much going 'Help, my mod crashed!' all the time. I'm still not good at special weapons and most of the ones I make CTD.

Shields (greyed out), Engines, Weapons, not sure, sensors, life support?

Almost, shields, engines, weapons, life support, sensors, crew dot. You got most of them though so here is your prize:

Spoiler:

As for the Covenant, I'm thinking much more glowy holograms. With purple. Lots of it. And some pink. Maybe some blue, too. More curvy, less pointy. And Covvy symbols.

[Dan1025]

That is one fantastic GUI you've put together there CABAL! If the UNSC one is anything to go by then the Covenant one should be amazing, looking forward to seeing what you come up with

[dinosaurJR]

This gets better and better - I got a doughnut!!! With sprinkles!!!

As for your ideas on the Covenant GUI - I agree - purple pinky blue is the way to go - with all curved edges... and cranked up glow...

The UNSC is looking really good too!

Fallen Graces - I think what we are seeing here is just the beginning (although it is absolutely awesome)

C.A.B.A.L. - Do you want me to send you the Wireframe schematics of the other UNSC units Ive got too - so you can have a go at other WFs? It will probably be next week - Im mad busy just now between work and this music festival we have in Oslo at this time of year (its called Øya) Im going to see Arctic Monkeys, Glasvegas and many others tonight...

Also, Dan - as I said over at MSFC, you MAC cannon is looking awesome - cheers mate!

I think with Dan on PR, weapons and other essential graphic duties, C.A.B.A.L. on GUI, WF and (if you want to?) build buttons etc... Me on modeling and texturing and general messing about duty, excellent support from Majest over at MSFC, as well as help on the ODFs from Wheller at MSFC this mod is going to rock! (so much better than just me on my own )

Believe me guys - I really apprecitate the work you are all putting in here, thank you all