[Mod] Yesteryears Updates

[Majestic]

How massive are we talking? Obviously the canon spacedock is freaking huge!

Which is why I ain't using the sucker.

Lets just say it make the Proxima look small. Since a picture speaks a thousand words:



I actually did some research and the Regula science station (which I was going to use as a starbase) is only as wide as the Constitution is long. TNG and DS9 massively upscaled the design, chopping off parts (like the tubes) and not re-adjusting the window sizes. But again this was back in the physical modelling days where making a new model was expensive much less a new design. They did the same with the Spacedock model too.

So instead of doing that I have moved the Regula design (not wasting a really good and accurate model) to one of the science stations and found a design that with some of my own changes (enlarged hangar) it will probably work for the starbase and look great plus it follows a similar design style to the Regula station. So should be happy days when I find the time to get it done, which might not be till after the weekend. My free day was taken up swapping my daughters room and my office around as she couldn't keep the big room she had clean. So now I have an office twice the size of the one I had and I have more room than I know what I could do with. Perhaps I could add a bed, install a small kitchen and bathroom and then I got everything I need to pump out more YY models.

 

[Adm_Z]

What you can do is use a smaller model for the part that is in line with the field of battle, where ships will run into it, and then use an overlay SOD for the parts above or below, so it doesn't cause pathing issues. Generally though, because it is a Top Down game, you would want things below the field of battle, like something orbiting a planet, or the planet's themselves. I'm not sure how it would work, but if you made a starbase/station with the yard part on top of it, you could potentially put the rest underneath it where it would be purely visual.

 

[Knight]

Scaling wise it looks fine to me. I guess its all about how it looks in game though

Interested to see what you do instead.

Not sure your missus would appreciate you becoming a hermit until the mod is finished though!

 

[Majestic]

What you can do is use a smaller model for the part that is in line with the field of battle, where ships will run into it, and then use an overlay SOD for the parts above or below, so it doesn't cause pathing issues. Generally though, because it is a Top Down game, you would want things below the field of battle, like something orbiting a planet, or the planet's themselves. I'm not sure how it would work, but if you made a starbase/station with the yard part on top of it, you could potentially put the rest underneath it where it would be purely visual.

Ah I understand now, I thought that is what you were talking about I just wasn't quite sure, but for a station like Regula it wouldn't work. Might be something to look into for some of the other stations/factions however. Thanks.

Scaling wise it looks fine to me. I guess its all about how it looks in game though

Interested to see what you do instead.

Not sure your missus would appreciate you becoming a hermit until the mod is finished though!

Problem with that scale is that it would cause pathing issues.

Lol she probably already thinks that, she did say the other day when I am in my modelling phase she doesn't see me alot, but she does get her peace and quiet.

 

[Knight]

Problem with that scale is that it would cause pathing issues.

Lol she probably already thinks that, she did say the other day when I am in my modelling phase she doesn't see me alot, but she does get her peace and quiet.

Fair enough.
My wife likes the peace and quiet when im off doing other things too

 

[kjc733]

If you're looking for canon designs, at the start of TMP, just before the spacedock scene, Scotty takes Kirk out in a travel pod. They leave from a base, I can't remember for the life of me what it looks like, or even if there's a good shot of it, but it may be something to look at.

 

[Atlantis]

That would be the orbital office complex, which is an upside-down Regula. With more podules.

Well, Regula is an upside-down office complex, really. With less podules.

 

[Majestic]

Lats night I did a few versions of quick and dirty kitbashing and modelling trying to get a starbase. No real successes yet but I feel I am close to getting something. Probably by the end of the weekend I should have something.

That would be the orbital office complex, which is an upside-down Regula. With more podules.

Well, Regula is an upside-down office complex, really. With less podules.

Yeah that would be the one, since Regular has become a science station in YY (as she was in Trek 2) I have been thinking of doing the office variant as a second science station.

 

[Majestic]

Been messing around trying to come up with a Starbase design. I can tell you this has been somewhat of a frustrating experience, especially considering there are some good designs out there in 2D but in 3D they don't look so good. In Star Trek Starbases have usually been large structures and in game I really can't have that, not only will it take up a lot of base space, it will cause pathing issues for many of the ships.

I started out wanting something similar to the Regula station, that didn't work so I tried a few other designs even trying the design from Legacy. In the end I ended up merging several of the scrapped designs and towards the end I realized that it kind of has the appearance of the Utopia Planitia stations seen in VOY.

The model still needs a bit of work, some rebuilding of parts etc. But here is the design as it stands currently. (Regula and Caldwell models added in for size comparison).



And some of the rejects.

 

[Cborg1700]

The station looks great. I like the concept. Would you consider the big fed starbase as a map or campaign unit (similar to the A1 missions featuring Earth Spacedock)

 

[Jetfreak]

I can understand that kind of struggle. Trial and error with models can be tough, especially if they're not turning out as you expected them to be. It's like banging a head against a titanium wall.

Honestly the stations look all right, maybe some texturing should encourage you to move on.

 

[Majestic]

The station looks great. I like the concept. Would you consider the big fed starbase as a map or campaign unit (similar to the A1 missions featuring Earth Spacedock)

If you mean the Earth Spacedock model, I will probably make it at some point as a background object for a Earth map (like the Agrus Array map in stock FO)

I can understand that kind of struggle. Trial and error with models can be tough, especially if they're not turning out as you expected them to be. It's like banging a head against a titanium wall.

Honestly the stations look all right, maybe some texturing should encourage you to move on.

Texturing is what I was thinking for the Starbase model that I settled on, will probably bring it out and make it look a whole lot better. It does need some more refinement before I am ready for that. I decided to give it a break and do some other stations and the two turrets are almost complete. I only need to finish up the modelling on the torpedo version. I'll probably do the sensor station next then texture all three turrets together.

Thanks for the understanding, modelling is a rather frustrating experience sometimes.

 

[Majestic]

Well taking a break from trying to design stations I decided to do some texturing, first up is the sensor station.

Unlike other mods, in YY sensor stations are crewed. This is done to firstly show that these valuable little stations (like in TNG) do have crew stationed on them. Secondly to add an addition strategy and element to the game, take over the enemy sensor stations and use them to spy on them and see when their fleet is coming towards you. Hey a free line of slight can't complain there.

This design is actually based off two designs, the Relay station from TNG and a physical model kitbash I saw online during one of my reference hunts.



There are some blank spots on the texture something I'll probably come back and address a little later. Thankfully this station didn't take all that long to texture.

 

[Adm_Z]

Very nice! I really like your texture style Maj. Very flat tones, not too shiny, very real looking. It really brings out the detail of the models.

 

[Majestic]

Very nice! I really like your texture style Maj. Very flat tones, not too shiny, very real looking. It really brings out the detail of the models.

Thanks mate, I am glad you like my textures. With them I am trying to bring a TMP feel to Yesteryears, I want people to feel like they are in the 2290's and not just using old ships in a 24th century setting.

I'll probably texture the turrets next. But first I am going to give this Starbase another shot, I may have stumbled upon something just last night that might work and might also make me happy. Two birds with one stone, sounds like a possible success to me. I also want to polish up the shipyards, nothing fancy. After which I will have the majority of stations modeled. With only a few like the refinery left.

 

[Majestic]

A little update, turrets are fully done (textured), I have a starbase I think I can live with modeled. I remodeled the shipyards, they look a lot closer to what I originally envisioned. Though I still need to do a repair yard. I also need to do another research station which is the next on my to-do list as well as the refinery. So it's now finally all coming together. I may slow down over the next few days as provided I hear back from the guy (he seems a tad uninterested) I will be looking at and hopefully buying a new car, something I have wanted for a good 5 years now but haven't had the opportunity (mainly money) to do so.

No promises but I might have all the models done (as in textured and ready for game) by the end of November. I might not get TCW out by Christmas but if things keep going the way they are, I might be lucky to get the Federation for YY into a beta format for you all.

Oh also, thanks to Kat's hard work of keeping the troublemakers out of MSFC, I am looking into making YY a non-password download for everyone who has download privileges. I am also looking into removing the password policy on my files as Kat has done an outstanding job and I feel confident and safe that no one who is on MSFC or will be in the future will abuse the hard work I or others have done.

 

[Cborg1700]

Can't wait to see all the models together. You have done an amazing job, your hard work has paid off.

 

[Majestic]

Thanks mate, glad you like my work. I have most the stations modeled now. I am going to look at getting the last ones done today as it might be a few days before I can do anymore work on YY. I have a new car to pick up on Sunday in Sydney (4 hours travel, one way), got an acre of lawn to mow this coming week that's two days worth of work as I unfortunately don't have a ride on. I need to on go and transfer the new car into my name and put new insurance on it and change the current car into Katala's name, that car also needs a oil change this week.

So very busy this week. Probably at the end of the week I will be able to get some more work done. But I really don't have a lot left to do for the Federation in modeling and texturing.

In the meantime, here are the two turrets I have done. Like in stock and other mods they are automated turrets. I also warned you all to look out for some stock designs due to my nostalgia with Armada 1 and here the first examples.

 

[Rifraf]

Loving the work so far. You never cease to amaze me. You're just banging this stuff out left and right. Very nice job. I really like your idea of crewing the sensor station too. In all these years of tinkering with modding I never would have thought of that as a game play element.

 

[Knight]

Looking good Maj. Love the idea of a crewed sensor station... did you ever read the "Furies" books, spanning TOS, TNG, DS9 and Voyager?
The TNG one featured a crewed sensor station as one of the key focal points of the story, watching over the space that Kirk had defended in previous years against an invading alien force.

All good stuff. I'm liking those stations. Only thing I'd suggest is maybe adding some of the 'Regula Station' piping (like on the sensor station) to the Weapons platforms, to make them feel more TMP like... Feel free to ignore though

 

[kjc733]

Looking good Maj. Love the idea of a crewed sensor station... did you ever read the "Furies" books, spanning TOS, TNG, DS9 and Voyager?

Ohh, you mean the Invasion series? One of my favorite TOS books there. The rest of them weren't bad either. They were tools that I used to induct a friend to the dark side

 

[Knight]

Ohh, you mean the Invasion series? One of my favorite TOS books there. The rest of them weren't bad either. They were tools that I used to induct a friend to the dark side

That'd be the one. I couldn't remember the name. The Ds9 one was my favourite, although a little bit out there. I think mostly that was down to the setup at the start. The voyager one was a bit poor though imo

 

[Majestic]

Loving the work so far. You never cease to amaze me. You're just banging this stuff out left and right. Very nice job. I really like your idea of crewing the sensor station too. In all these years of tinkering with modding I never would have thought of that as a game play element.

Looking good Maj. Love the idea of a crewed sensor station... did you ever read the "Furies" books, spanning TOS, TNG, DS9 and Voyager?
The TNG one featured a crewed sensor station as one of the key focal points of the story, watching over the space that Kirk had defended in previous years against an invading alien force.

All good stuff. I'm liking those stations. Only thing I'd suggest is maybe adding some of the 'Regula Station' piping (like on the sensor station) to the Weapons platforms, to make them feel more TMP like... Feel free to ignore though

Thank you both, I am glad you like them. The sensor idea was something Syf and I were doing in the first Yesteryears while we were designing the Gorn. It's something I wanted to carry over and I can think of all the fun and frustration that this will cause for gamers.

I haven't had much time this week to really work on anything for Yesteryears, went to Sydney last friday and bought a 4x4 and then picked it up last Sunday. Been busy doing oil chances on two cars, changing rego's over and fixing up insurances and all the other stuff that one needs to do but would rather not have to do. Saturday I think was the last time I had a chance do do any work on the mod and I did get the science stations sorted, I am extremely happy with them and once textured they'll do awesome imo.

If memory serves I think I have all the stations I need now modeled. They just need texturing. Next week I am hoping to get a few days to get some more work done. I am also hoping for a day this weekend as well.

 

[Majestic]

Thank you Knight I am glad you like my work. I hope not to disappoint anyone.

Well I have finished revamping all my other existing models, I had to re-map the rim a little for the Constitution and I decided to go back and model in the hangars on the Constellation which basically required a rebuild on the saucer rim for her. She was by far the most time consuming. I decided to model them in as all my other ships had them modeled and the Constellation did look out of place having her hangers only textured in.

Here are the images of the updated models. Later this afternoon or this evening I'll start mapping the Battleship.


View attachment 9353 View attachment 9356 View attachment 9358 View attachment 9351 View attachment 9359 View attachment 9357
View attachment 9352 View attachment 9360 View attachment 9361 View attachment 9355 View attachment 9354 View attachment 9362

When I did these I forgot to add the Excelsior and Excalibur. So here they are:



I still haven't had any real time to do any further work on YY. But the week after next I should be able to pump out 2 or 3 textures perhaps more depending on motivation and time. So I have a personal aim to get all my models textured by Christmas, obviously the Federation faction won't be out by then as I have a truck load of hardpointing, need to learn animations (construction rig's doors for example) and get everything into game and working.

While I do have sometime this week I plan on getting some files ready for release that aren't related to my big projects. So I plan on taking a small break from Yesteryears for the next week, though don't be surprised if you see me produce a texture for a YY model during this time, just don't count on it.

 

[Chiletrek]

Hello:
WOW, those are huge updates! this is why I hate been inactive :x .

The models look gorgeous and the color schemes you have surely add to the feel in that era and allows the ship to look like the organized fleet the Federation would surely have.

Keep it up with the great work! and I'll try to return more often, as much as time allows.

Edit: I forgot to ask you: How do you make your pics? In normal MS3d with playing a bit with texture materials and a black background? Or do you use something else? I wish to make more and better pics myself, that is why I ask .

 

[Majestic]

Edit: I forgot to ask you: How do you make your pics? In normal MS3d with playing a bit with texture materials and a black background? Or do you use something else? I wish to make more and better pics myself, that is why I ask .

I just use MS3D, default texture materials (when you make a new texture before you play with the settings to make them A2 compatible with lightmaps) and then the rest I use Photoshop. I capture the images with Snagit, as I don't have to chop out the MS3D interface.

 

[Knight]

Looks good Maj!

 

[Majestic]

Hello all, a small update though nothing new that I am ready to show. Well it's 2014 now and while I never did get finished on the models in 2013 as I had planned I am hopeful in the next couple of months I will. I have 1 station left to model the refinery but all the others have been modeled.

Currently the stations that need mapping and texturing are:

Shipyards (x2)
Starbase (yes finally got one that works for me)
Regula Station
Research Stations (x2)
Defense Station

Being summer here and my office doubling as a guest room for the in-laws and relatives I don't get a lot of time to work on this, but I am still motivated to get this mod into a working format asap and released. I have the kids on holidays at the moment but they will be going back in 2 weeks (in Aus kids get 6 weeks in summer off and another 6 (split into fortnightly holidays at the end of each term during the year), so I will get some more time to work on this especially with my sister-in-law coming to stay and hanging out with my wife so I will enter hermit mode, lock the door and hope they don;t have blasters.

I will also be on the look out for anyone with particular skill-sets who may want to help out in the after-model phase. I will be looking for a weapon sprite creator (I normally use Terra_Inc but he hasn't been back for sometime) also someone good taking pretty pictures (Jetfreak normally does this but he is focusing on his school work and real busy atm). Also anyone that wants to work on some AI files, I'm rubbish at them. If no one can assist that is okay, I will do these myself it will just take a little longer. I am planning the first release to be more a copy and paste, with minor coding edits from FO stock. I really don't need to worry about balancing there as it will be Federation only.

Also in March or April, I will be doing the upgrade to MSFC. This will probably be a week or two process. MSFC will remain open as it will be new forum software not a vBulletin update. So if I haven't managed to get the mod out by then it will be delayed briefly. But a couple of weeks won't be that big a deal unlike summer has been. A bit of a hot one this year, evident by all the bushfires and smoke storms we've been having.

Stay tuned I am hoping to get one of the stations textured very soon, was hoping today but I don't think that will happen unfortunately.

 

[Rifraf]

Sounds like you have your hands full. I could help some with the AI if you'd like. I don't claim to be an expert, but feel I've learned a lot from Freyr and Dominus_Noctis. When you say AI do you mean editing the personality AIP's for how it plays or writing build list or both? Is this for instant action only?

Anyway, let me know when the time comes and I can lend a hand if you'd like.

 

[Majestic]

When I mean AI, just the buildlists, I think the FO personality is fairly well done and in no need for changes. It is an Instant Action only mod, at least until I get all the factions done which will probably take a few more years unless Syf comes back on the scene.

Your help would be most welcome, thank you. So far I haven't gotten a working prototype yet, still finishing up the models. As soon as I do and if you're still interested in helping I'll send a the prototype install your way for the AI.

EDIT:

Today I decided to do some early in-game scaling. I don't want to use the scale sod feature at all and so I went through and scaled my models to the stock FO ones so I can get the size I am after. Did a quick convert to sod for all my ship models. They may appear a bit bright as they lack proper material settings, lightmaps and I still need to look at adjusting the contrasts and brightness for the textures like I did for the ships in TCW.

Still it was about time some in-game WIP images graced this thread.



I also used the opportunity to start on the coding and beta set-up. Hence why I used the map editor for these images, I haven't got the stations done yet, nor do I have them coded in at all.