I want to make Cronal! (but need help)
 

For a long time I've wanted to make Cronal as a ground unit, since his ship - Singularity - already exists via the Phoenix Rising mod (though that one doesn't have any hardpoints, but I think another one exists elsewhere). But there were always several recurring problems with this idea.

(I used spoiler tags to condense this down for those who aren't interested in doing much reading)

For one thing, Cronal is never truly seen. The only time he appears to people is as an ambiguous hologram.



Being even more reclusive than Palpatine, Cronal spent virtually all of his time giving himself over to the Dark Side. Eventually reaching a point where his physical body had become so withered that he had to stay in a spherical life-system chamber to keep him alive.



That said, it wouldn't make a lot of sense for Cronal to be a land unit. This troubled me for a great while until I thought of a solution:

Make the land unit a mobile hologram projector.

(this is where I need a model-maker's help)

I propose taking the model from the Imperial MDU.

And creating a customized version of it.

Visually, I would want it to be the Imperial MDU model with a customized hologram model on top of it resembling this:


Essentially, this would be a specialized MDU designed solely for projecting a hologram. It would not be able to "deploy". It would not be able to attack in any conventional sense, though Cronal would be able to attack remotely through the force with it (I'm thinking Silri's Drain ability and Palpatine's Convert ability). It would, however, have all the mobility benefits that the normal MDU enjoys as a small, hover target with fast turning speed, great acceleration, and a respectable top speed. It may not hurt to equip it with a limited-range sensor-scrambling effect (but that's a matter of coding, so never you mind that).



Now then, I'm sure by now somebody is wondering something:
"But if Cronal's land presence is merely a hologram, why would it count as his death if that machine is destroyed? He can just build another one."

True. But, let's not forget who we're dealing with here. Cronal is easily one of the most paranoid Dark Siders of the Galactic Civil War era. Having his mobile hologram projector would undoubtedly get the wheels of insanity turning within his mind.

So yeah, he wouldn't die, he'd just temporarily disappear off the face of the galaxy as he has done many other times in the past.


Anyways, I plan on doing the XML for it since that's what I'm generally good at. I may also attempt to do some voice recordings for the character as well.

Re: I want to make Cronal! (but need help)
 

The only problem I see with this is that it'd be a buildable... and when the buildable is destroyed you'd be stuck with a useless MDU... at least thats kind of the way I read it, figured I'd reply since no one else has.

Re: I want to make Cronal! (but need help)
 

Nah, it wouldn't be a build-able. It would all be one target. The unit wouldn't be an MDU, it's just that the MDU would make a good basis for this, rather than create an entire model from scratch.

Though I'm starting to reconsider this idea since having a hologram holding more or less still on the back of a fast-moving hover vehicle/droid might look really goofy.

I still want to be able to have a Cronal ground-unit though.

Re: I want to make Cronal! (but need help)
 

It could be an edited MDU model (assuming you can use the .alo importer)... to make it a single unit. It could look a little goofy but if it serves the purpose you want, you can use it as a base to getting the look you really like/want.

Re: I want to make Cronal! (but need help)
 

Yes, true. But I changed my mind as to what powers I wanted to give him.

I decided that I wanted to give him some sort of "reveal" ability similar to the MPTL's Spotter. However, I wanted to adjust a few things:

1. In addition to revealing said location on the map, the pinged area would cause a hinderance to enemy FoG revealing ability in the immediate area (similar to how the Sensor Scrambler or the edge of a Shield Generator works).
2. The immediate area would have a "scramble" effect, messing up the aim of all missile/torpedo-like projectiles in the area.
3. A minor "sap" power would be induced on the area, similar to Bossk's plasma grenades (but much weaker). Either that or some sort of a "slow" ability like those ice missiles or whatever they're called. Maybe both.

That said, this is an extraordinarily useful ability, so I needed to counter-balance Cronal. For one thing, moving around on an MDU would simply give him too much mobility for such an ability to be fair. That said, I want him to be on a slower structure. This way, he could still make a huge impact on the tide of a battle, so long as he is kept a safe distance away from the action.

Re: I want to make Cronal! (but need help)
 

Since you're making a mod with Cronal/Blackhole, would you be interested in a retextured black ISD with moving turrets?

Empire Hero - Lord Cronal/Blackhole - Singularity image - Mod DB

It's a reskin of the ISD2 from the ISD vs Venator mod.

Re: I want to make Cronal! (but need help)
 

Indeed I would... that's probably the non-Phoenix Rising model I was thinking of.

Re: I want to make Cronal! (but need help)
 

Update! With the likelihood of finding a model of a mechno-chair almost negligible, I decided to do what I should've done from the beginning (but was too lazy to bother with): Go through the entire list of Imperial ground vehicles looking for something appropriate.
Here are the options I came up with, let me know what y'all think:

PX-4 Mobile Command Base
http://images3.wikia.nocookie.net/__...b/Mcbyavin.jpg
Basically a giant, treaded base. It's heavily shielded and heavily armored. It also has a single heavy laser cannon, which I would probably make the equivalent of the main cannon on the M-2 Tank.

Pros:

• - The heavy defenses are well-suited to Cronal's personality.
• - It is armed, but not over-powered.
• - It's not designed for front-line combat, also suited to how I want Cronal to be.

Cons:

• - It can't be used to deploy Black Hole Troopers because, according to the wiki, in spite of it's size, all that defense eats up most of it's interior room, meaning it can't be used practically as a troop deployment transport.
• - There probably isn't a model made of it.

Shadow AT-AT
http://images2.wikia.nocookie.net/__...adowwalker.jpg
It's an AT-AT painted black. Seriously, that's all there is to it. It's meant to be more intimidating than a normal AT-AT, that's all.

Pros:

• - The name "Shadow" fits with Cronal's "Shadow Troopers" (AKA "Black Hole Troopers").
• - It's very believable. If anyone were to keep "Shadow AT-ATs aboard their Star Destroyer, it'd be Cronal.
• - Finding a model for it can't be too hard, worst case scenario, I ask someone to do a quick re-skinning for me.
• - Getting Black Hole/Shadow Troopers to deploy from it would take almost no work at all.

Cons:

• - It's an AT-AT, they're over-powered by definition.
• - Although AT-ATs aren't necessarily front-line vehicles, they do tend to be very close to the action in a battle.
• - AT-ATs are for people who want to announce their presence, not the reclusive types like Cronal.
• - It's a little bit silly... but I suppose no sillier than the idea of a Star Destroyer painted black...

QH-7 Chariot
http://images.wikia.com/starwars/ima...ariotyavin.jpg
It's a light, but advanced, vehicle used primarily for moving VIPs. Like if a general wished to see how things were going on the front lines for himself, he would take a ride in a Chariot and meet up with the forward commander, then get back into his Chariot and move back to the main HQ. To call it advanced is an understatement. It is immune to EMP bursts, it has ridiculously intelligent message scrambling systems, not to mention tons of data displays and localized data banks in case it becomes necessary to use it as a temporary command center.

Pros:

• - This is EXACTLY the kind of vehicle Cronal would choose to travel in - it's safe, it's secure, and it's fast. It's the perfect escape vehicle.
• - This is exactly the kind of vehicle an individual of Cronal's rank would be expected to travel in.
• - It's not over-powered by any means, but it's still very practical.
• - This is pretty much exactly equivalent to my previous MDU idea, only this makes more sense, would look less goofy, and comes with a couple light laser cannons.
• - Chariots are popular, so it's conceivable that there's a model out there for them.

Cons:

• - It has very limited room inside it. The advanced technology and armor take up much of it's volume. That said, it couldn't be used to deploy Black Hole Troopers.
• - Chariots are popular, but not necessarily popular enough for me to be certain that models of it exist...

Armored Personnel Carrier
http://images.wikia.com/starwars/ima...arrierRS02.jpg
Also known as APCs, these crafts are designed for light anti-personnel combat, but mostly for deploying troops. They're quite spacious inside.

Pros:

• - They're perfect for deploy Black Hole Troopers from.
• - They have weapons, but nothing excessively powered.
• - They would make a great counter-part to the Chariot; Cronal himself could be in the Chariot, while two APCs would land next to his Chariot to deploy his Black Hole Troopers and offer protection to the Chariot.

Cons:

• - It's pretty doubtful that a model of the APC exists. This is the main drawback. As far as repulsorlift vehicles go, it'd be pretty tricky to make, since it would need working "deployment" animation where it's door opens up, as well as making its three gun turrets rotate...
• - On it's own, it doesn't make much sense for Cronal to ride aboard one of these things. Their armor is best described as "adequate" and nothing more. Of course, when paired with the Chariot this shouldn't be a problem.
• - IF I had both models, I would have to re-figure out how to make it so that disposable ground units will deploy with the "hero" unit. I think I figured out how to do this with Vader and 501st Storm Troopers once though, so this shouldn't be TOO hard to figure out again... hopefully...

Re: I want to make Cronal! (but need help)
 

The Black ISD I mentioned.

Lord Cronal/Blackhole and the Singularity ISD - Everything EAW Files

I don't think a model exists for any of those units. Why not use the Juggernaut or the ZC cloaking Transport.

Re: I want to make Cronal! (but need help)
 

I bet there's a black-skinned AT-AT. I know there's that one Might of the Empire mod, but the mod contains all the models and skins within some sort of package which probably makes loading the game easy for non-modders, but I can't remember how (or if) they can be extracted. It's been too long...
:uhm:

Re: I want to make Cronal! (but need help)
 

HERE is a black AT-AT, not sure if it's the kind of black you are looking for.

I'm operating under the assumption you can view this model, if not I'll put up some screenshots.

Re: I want to make Cronal! (but need help)
 

Sadly... I cannot.

Maybe I should look into seeing if I can at least view dds files on a mac though...

Re: I want to make Cronal! (but need help)
 

I think GIMP works on a Mac:
GIMP - for Mac OS X

And then Google search for a .dds plugin.

I've noticed (On my pc anyway) that there is a large difference between how the texture looks in GIMP, and then in the .alo viewer, the latter of which I think is of closest resemblance to the game. I will try and get some screenies up later.