Little Personal Project

[Majestic]

Hello all, well I am taking a small break from Yesteryears for a while. Syf and I always need to do this once in a while and while he is busy with another project that I support I thought I would go back to this that has been sitting on my hard-drive for quite sometime. I have been doing this on and off for quite sometime now (years in fact) and decided to do some more on it.

I doubt I will ever finish this personal mod and I don't even know if I have show this online before.

Simply put it's a TLE/TNG. Yes for a TMP era fan it's strange for me but every now and then one must go into a area they normally wouldn't.

Now this mod is a little different from what I have seen out there. Kind of like the old birth of the federation mod. You start off in the lost era (2340's) so you build Ambassadors and the sort. Then after a fair bit or researching you are able to move into the TNG (2360's) where you get the Galaxy, Nebula and what not.

I am not sure if I will add a level 3 to it, if I do it will be the 2380's, set just after Nemesis.

Now this isn't a big mod, about 6 ships (combat) per race, per era, so that is 12 ships total if I decide not to include a level 3. There are also only a few races, they are:

Federation
Klingons
Romulans
Cardassians

And possibility a minor race which has all those unknown, rarely seen races. They if I do them will be different as they will have alpha quadrant as level 2, beta quadrant as level 2 and delta quadrant as level 3.

The Cardassians I am planning, if I run out of designs to have the Dominion as level 3 (if I do a level 3), I know the war is over by then but this will be just a simple multi-player mod, nothing all that fancy just me messing around making something different when I want to mod but don't want to work on Yesteryears as the same thing can get boring every now and then.

Most of the models used in here will be what is already available for Armada two with a few SFC conversions. I am not really all that worried about poly counts, but like usual I will be aiming for the lower the better.

I may post screen-shots when I actually get some as right now I don't have the ships ingame, just working on the models and choosing what ships go where. But I will be working on it as an era and usually as a race basis starting with the Federation (they have the most designs after all).

I am interested in what you, the community thinks of this little endeavour.

 

[Knight]

I think it sounds pretty good and look forward to seeing it develop

so long as it doesnt detract from YY lol

 

[Syf]

BNope. We just agreed to allow me to focus on another, more pending project. You know what they say, money talks! Beyond that, I can not disclose that project.

Looks good Majestic... I don't think I've seen this one either.

 

[Majestic]

Thanks guys. Right now I am working on the Ambassador (LC Amaral/MAP), Cardiff (MAP) and the Apollo (Tycoon/Ryan). Just getting it so they all use the one texture set (they all have the exact same textures) instead of three seperate sets.

I am not too converned on stations and most likely will just use the upgrade project and use the stock ones, so it's basically just the ships changing through the eras and not the stations.

EDIT: Well I got them all using one texture (light maps and all) and now made two kitbashes from them, one a heavy cruiser and one a destroyer.

Seen in Best of Both Worlds (Pt2), the Niagara is actually a three nacelle design that uses both Ambassador and Galaxy parts. Well I have decided to only use Ambassador parts for the Niagara and have the believable reason that she was upgraded in the early 2360's.

Spoiler: Niagara Heavy Cruiser

Spoiler: Niagara Heavy Cruiser

Spoiler: Niagara Heavy Cruiser

The Seattle class is another Ambassador/Cardiff kitbash and obviously is a destroyer. Nothing fancy here but I got the idea off the TMP era Akula class. Note: Seattle is only the working name for this class, may change.

Spoiler: Seattle Destroyer

Spoiler: Seattle Destroyer

Spoiler: Seattle Destroyer

The Seattle is a funny looking design, I may actually end up only giving her one nacelles, opinions of this would be welcome.

 

[Lord_Trekie]

I'd leave the Seattle with two since the Freedom has only one? Then you'd have a complete 'set' with the Niagra, Seattle, and Freedom?

 

[Jeddy]

lol as u know majestic ive been working on Soverign styles.

and i made (a few days ago) a heavy-ish cruiser That i call the Celeste, which was basically a sov with a third nacele in roughly the same place. just like the niagra!

great minds eh? lol.

anywya good work they all look great!

 

[Knight]

Looking good so far Majestic.

I'd go with 2 Nacelles for the Seattle personally, but thats just me

 

[Majestic]

I'd leave the Seattle with two since the Freedom has only one? Then you'd have a complete 'set' with the Niagra, Seattle, and Freedom?

I actually haven't included the Freedom, but that solves the problem of the TLE frigate for the Federation... Thanks Trekie.

lol as u know majestic ive been working on Soverign styles.

and i made (a few days ago) a heavy-ish cruiser That i call the Celeste, which was basically a sov with a third nacele in roughly the same place. just like the niagra!

great minds eh? lol.

anywya good work they all look great!

Indeed, great minds do.

Looking good so far Majestic.

I'd go with 2 Nacelles for the Seattle personally, but thats just me

I decided to do that but I brought the nacelles closer to the hull. I will post pictures when I get her and the Niagara ingame.

[fieldset=EDIT: A Thought]I am actually considering of getting permission and releasing the said models or in fact the mod down the road if I do ever finish it. Note that most of the models will be stock (stations) using the upgrade project.

I also plan on putting thunderfoot's physics mod in too. Not much from stock will be changed in this mod apart from the techtree and the physics. Weapons and the works will remain stock.

Oh and first ingame screenshots are in. A bit small I haven't fixed the resoultion on the new install yet.[/fieldset]

Spoiler: Early Ingame Screenshot

Spoiler: Early Ingame Screenshot

Spoiler: Early Ingame Screenshot

Spoiler: Early Ingame Screenshot

Spoiler: Early Ingame Screenshot

Spoiler: Early Ingame Screenshot

 

[Steven Kodaly]

Hmm, this is supposed to be a simple mod - will there be any Hero units, to replace mission-critical vessels, or will players like myself have to do a little judicious editing in order to get a working campaign out of this, in the far-flung future?

 

[Majestic]

I am not planning on touching the campaign, so it will be non-workable if one installs this mod. Its simply changing the research/build lists along with added new (or should I say old) classes of ships to the game.

Nothing fancy and nothing to extensive or fast. Really just something for me to tinker around with.

[fieldset=Edit]Niagara and Seattle ingame.[/fieldset]

Spoiler: Screenshot

Spoiler: Screenshot

Spoiler: Screenshot

Spoiler: Screenshot

 

[Lord_Trekie]

I actually haven't included the Freedom, but that solves the problem of the TLE frigate for the Federation... Thanks Trekie.
d to do that but I brought the nacelles closer to the hull. I will post pictures when I get her and the Niagara ingame.

Cool! Can't wait to see it.

[fieldset=EDIT: A Thought]...Stuff...[/fieldset]

Cool thingy, that new feature you were talking about ?

Spoiler: Early Ingame Screenshot

Scary, what is it?

 

[Syf]

[fieldset=This is a fieldset]
This thingy... no, it's not new, it's been around for some time now.

It works much like the spoiler tags.
[/fieldset]

I hope that answers your question.

So Majestic, where's the Connies and the other ships?

 

[Majestic]

@Lord_Trekie

Syf has answered question 2 for me so for question three it's the Cardiff class by MAP. It's design was on the technology site and uses a Vulcan warp nacelle ring for warp and where the nacelles usually are has two massive sensor thingys. It was designed to be stationed along the neutral zone and detect cloaked Romulan ships.

The Freedom is modelled now but has to be the wrost kitbash I have ever done.

@Syf

I am trying to keep away from TMP but I am actually considering including a TOS and TMP era. One problem, the Cardassians.

@ Everyone

No YY models will be in this mod, I will only be using what I can find online.

 

[Syf]

Well I was just asking. I didn't figure you'd want to include YY models.

As for the cardies... You'll probably have to kitbash some.

 

[Majestic]

Indeed, I am using some fan made SFC3 Cardassians due to the texture set (by Zorg) and so many designs that use them. I would rather use Achilles texture set but I can texture for the life of me.

I am now working on getting the Klingon and Romulan fleets sorted for the TLE and TNG era done. All those designs on battleclinic.

 

[Syf]

Texturing really is not as hard as people make it out to be.... I do it all the time!

I look forward to seeing your selections for the romulans and klingons.

 

[Lord_Trekie]

My real problem with texturing is getting (for the Federation at least) a basic hull l pattern done. I've tried many times and can never get something satisfactory so I default to using what I can find.

 

[Aerilon]

To be honest, I am not a fan of any of these designs. I've noted my thoughts on cheap kitbashes before, so shan't go over that again.

One thing though, aren't the Niagara (and Freedom, if you have them) suppose to be smaller than the Ambassador?

The TMP Project is a good one, just not too fond of some of the designs, tis all.

 

[Majestic]

To be honest, I am not a fan of any of these designs. I've noted my thoughts on cheap kitbashes before, so shan't go over that again.

One thing though, aren't the Niagara (and Freedom, if you have them) suppose to be smaller than the Ambassador?

The TMP Project is a good one, just not too fond of some of the designs, tis all.

I thought something like this may come up. Its a play project, using what I can with that modelling skills I have ie, kitbashing. It's by no means meant to be a big mod or on par with mods like YY and Zero Hour. It's just for me to play around with.

Kitbashing is a major part of Star Trek as we have discussed in a thread on A2Files so no need to get into that again.

It's just a play project and if I ever do release it or the kitbashes (if I can get the correct permissions) then I am not to worry if people like it or hate it.

 

[Lord_Trekie]

I thought something like this may come up. Its a play project, using what I can with that modelling skills I have ie, kitbashing. It's by no means meant to be a big mod or on par with mods like YY and Zero Hour. It's just for me to play around with.

Kitbashing is a major part of Star Trek as we have discussed in a thread on A2Files so no need to get into that again.

It's just a play project and if I ever do release it or the kitbashes (if I can get the correct permissions) then I am not to worry if people like it or hate it.

I think it would be cool to release as a mini mod if you get permission. Kitbashes or not, it makes a certain amount of sense to kitbash a 3d model when the physical models were kitbashed as well?

 

[Jeddy]

The Aurora started life as a kitbash but it grew into its own.

Anyway personally i quite like the designs. personally im more a fan of the TNG era. but these arent bad!

 

[Majestic]

I think it would be cool to release as a mini mod if you get permission. Kitbashes or not, it makes a certain amount of sense to kitbash a 3d model when the physical models were kitbashed as well?

My point exactly.

 

[Achilles]

Indeed, I am using some fan made SFC3 Cardassians due to the texture set (by Zorg) and so many designs that use them. I would rather use Achilles texture set but I can texture for the life of me.

there's a pity, I was hoping to use some of your kitbashes for my alpha alliance side.

and like Syf said, texturing aint hard, just slow going.

 

[Majestic]

there's a pity, I was hoping to use some of your kitbashes for my alpha alliance side.

and like Syf said, texturing aint hard, just slow going.

You never know I way give it a shot. I currently have uploaded (in the downloads section) around 4-5 kitbashes using your models.

 

[StarBlade]

I really like the Seattle class, Majest. It's suited to the design elements of the period.

I'd love to see someone work off the Carolina class rather than the Ambassador class, since it also suits the time period. Would love to also see something that 'fills the gap' between the Akyazi and the Sabre/Steamrunner....

And there's always room for crazy Miranda / Excelsior variants and 'frankenstarships' galore!

 

[Majestic]

Welcome to MSFC, great to see someone new posting.

Yes I have mainly done only Ambassador kitbashes, perhaps down the road when I can find a good poly sized Excelsior and Miranda I may do some kitbashes of them as well. I may even see about getting permission for these and make them publicly available here on MSFC. When that happens I am not sure at the moment, time is the factor here.

 

[StarBlade]

Oh, of course. In a pinch, Starforce Productions does far more kitbashes with TMP-era ships than anyone could possibly want. Theoretically they'd take less time to import from BC than making fresh kitbashes to match.

But yeah, new lightmap-enabled models of older ships like the Excelsior and Miranda, in low-poly cannon-fodder-friendly format, would be awesome.

 

[SquireJames]

The TMP Ship Pack has a gorgeous Excelsior and Miranda. I personally retextured the Excelsior into SFC style textures for KA2, and the Miranda and conny didn't match the rest of my fleet so I stuck with the SFC ones (well, a retextured model of Captain Fingers Conny)

Decent poly count too, very detailed but very well made so barely any wastage.

Texturing isn't the hard part for me, its the UVing. Trying to uv all those fiddle little buggering bits or a rounded object. Nightmare.

 

[Achilles]

use 3dsmax (if you dont already) much more uv mapping options.

 

[adm_stacks]

The Talented Mr. Majestic

This "distraction" of yours would be a full mod for other people
Just make sure you don't burn yourself out from all the side projects you have