- Joined
- 16 Dec 2009
- Messages
- 3,142
- Age
- 34
There are tasks every modder has to do. Tasks that many of us don't like because they are extremely time-consuming or just boring, often because you have to experiment around until you've found the right settings. You don't know what I'm talking about? Well, I'll have to explain it.
Ever wanted to be able to adjust the lighting of your weapons to use EXACTLY the same color as your weapons sprites?
Ever wanted to be able to know how much damage a unit deals WITHOUT having to start the game?
Ever wanted to be able to rescale a unit to your personal mod WITHOUT having to change the scaleSOD a thousand times?
Ever wanted to be able to know how often that special weapon of yours would fire in a minute?
You see? You DO know what I'm talking about.
Some of these tasks can already be automated. The only thing you need is a set of tools - the Modder's Toolbox.
However, some of these tasks are still time-consuming.
I intend to change that.
A few days ago I started my new project - the Modder's Toolbox reloaded.
The intention of this project is to add new tools to the Toolbox. Three or four additional tools are planned, but I will add more if possible.
I don't have much time at the moment so I really can't tell when this project will be finished BUT it WILL be finished. When a new tool has been planned or completed, I will post an update here. Soon you will be able to take a look at some of those new tools, learn how to work with them and - of course - be informed about the release date when I'm done. So, stay tuned.
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And here's the first new tool.
Ever wanted to be able to adjust the lighting of your weapons to use EXACTLY the same color as your weapons sprites?
Ever wanted to be able to know how much damage a unit deals WITHOUT having to start the game?
Ever wanted to be able to rescale a unit to your personal mod WITHOUT having to change the scaleSOD a thousand times?
Ever wanted to be able to know how often that special weapon of yours would fire in a minute?
You see? You DO know what I'm talking about.
Some of these tasks can already be automated. The only thing you need is a set of tools - the Modder's Toolbox.
However, some of these tasks are still time-consuming.
I intend to change that.
A few days ago I started my new project - the Modder's Toolbox reloaded.
The intention of this project is to add new tools to the Toolbox. Three or four additional tools are planned, but I will add more if possible.
I don't have much time at the moment so I really can't tell when this project will be finished BUT it WILL be finished. When a new tool has been planned or completed, I will post an update here. Soon you will be able to take a look at some of those new tools, learn how to work with them and - of course - be informed about the release date when I'm done. So, stay tuned.
---------------
And here's the first new tool.
It's the Scaling Calculator!
Every modder knows that it's not easy adding a ship to your install. Putting it into the game may be easy, but when you're done you'll probably have to re-scale it. Experimenting around with the scaleSOD can take some time.
The Scaling Calc can help you. All you need is a consistent in-game scale (something like "1 square grid = 300m").
You start the game without changing the scaleSOD. Take a look at the unit and see how 'big' it is in your pre-defined scale. Then you check the ODF's scale SOD. Now think about the size you want the unit to have. Put those numbers into the Calc and it'll tell you the required scaleSOD.
Let's say you just put some kind of Sovvie into the game. It's almost 2000m big - of course, you want it to be smaller. The scaleSOD is 1.35.
You want the Sovvie to be... ummm... 700m. So, put all of that stuff into the Calc. And the Calc tells you that you have to use a scaleSOD of 0.4725.
Here's the GUI:
Every modder knows that it's not easy adding a ship to your install. Putting it into the game may be easy, but when you're done you'll probably have to re-scale it. Experimenting around with the scaleSOD can take some time.
The Scaling Calc can help you. All you need is a consistent in-game scale (something like "1 square grid = 300m").
You start the game without changing the scaleSOD. Take a look at the unit and see how 'big' it is in your pre-defined scale. Then you check the ODF's scale SOD. Now think about the size you want the unit to have. Put those numbers into the Calc and it'll tell you the required scaleSOD.
Let's say you just put some kind of Sovvie into the game. It's almost 2000m big - of course, you want it to be smaller. The scaleSOD is 1.35.
You want the Sovvie to be... ummm... 700m. So, put all of that stuff into the Calc. And the Calc tells you that you have to use a scaleSOD of 0.4725.
Here's the GUI:
