[Mod] Yesteryears Updates

[Knight]

Looks good Maj
Makes me wish I was a lot better at modding than I am so that I could help. I can adjust AI build lists but I'm not all that great at balancing them out!

 

[Majestic]

Been messing around a bit more today, got the Akula hardpointed and all that. I even tried my hard at lightmaps, I'm terrible at them to be honest. But they will do until Jetfreak gets back into the thick of things.

Here are some screenshots of the Akula and her lightmaps.

Looks good Maj
Makes me wish I was a lot better at modding than I am so that I could help. I can adjust AI build lists but I'm not all that great at balancing them out!

Yeah I am the same, I can make models and textures and do a lot of other things but AI I am no good at.

 

[Majestic]

Process has been steady the last couple of days. I now have (apart from hardpoint rotation) correctly hardpointed all the Federation ship models and lightmapped them all as well.



My lightmaps are rough to put it nicely, but they will do until I can find someone better at them willing to re-do them for me. These will probably be the ones released in the upcoming beta. The beta will also probably not have animations on the construction ship either, but will in later releases.

Now I guess it's time to look at mapping and texturing some stations.

 

[Rifraf]

Wow. I think they all look great. Nice job. I don't understand though what you mean by your lightmaps are still rough?

 

[Majestic]

Wow. I think they all look great. Nice job. I don't understand though what you mean by your lightmaps are still rough?

Thanks... rough as in not very good. Aussie slang, rough in Australia can also mean not very good, done very quickly and so the quality isn't that great etc.

 

[Rifraf]

I'm sorry, I meant that to my unsophisticated eye they look ok. I don't see in what way they look rough? Just highlights my glaring lack of skill LOL

 

[Majestic]

I'm sorry, I meant that to my unsophisticated eye they look ok. I don't see in what way they look rough? Just highlights my glaring lack of skill LOL

You know what they say, an artist is his own biggest critic.

Maybe I am just spoiled at having Jetfreak on hand to do these things for me. Either way these lightmaps do get the job done and can be replaced at a later date probably after the beta.

On other news today I started working on the stations again. I mapped one, rebuilt another (unfortunately I had too, ships would not have fit and it was easier and quicker to rebuild it rather than mess around with it trying to make it work). I also build one of my last stations, I had forgotten about it till today. I still need a refinery. I might just remake an older version and use that. I can in future releases make and release something better as a replacement and re-purpose the one that comes out in the beta as something else, a map unit or something.

I am looking forward to getting the stations that I have modeled done and in-game. Things are starting to shape up for the Federation, not looking forward to the coding that is always slow and painful. But it shouldn't be too bad for the beta, the balancing will be the nasty part after I release the Klingons.

 

[Knight]

I'm no expert mate... not even close. they look great to me

 

[Cborg1700]

I can't wait to play with these ships in-game they look fantastic!

 

[kjc733]

I've got to go with the general consensus above - nowt rough about these! Or if there is then I really, really, really can't wait for the professional redo!!!!

 

[Majestic]

Thank you all.

Knight I do consider you an expert you are after all one of the longest and loyal fans of this mod.

I have been a little stuck on texturing the first shipyard lately. Still trying to figure out how to add more detail to the top of the yard without it looking strange. But all 3 shipyards have been mapped and once I figure this out the others won't take long as I only need to imitate the style for the first yard. Another bit of good news is the fleeters now have a refinery. Not what I was originally going for, but it works I feel and is different and not what I was expecting. The stock A1/A2 style just wasn't working for my freighter design, the station was going to be as larger or larger than the starbase. Something I was trying to avoid.

Going to take today off the shipyard and start fresh tomorrow and I do feel tomorrow I will be able to sort it out and get the other two yards done as well. So here is hoping to some solid progress tomorrow. Kind of excited to get all the remaining stations completed and in-game.

 

[Jetfreak]

You deserve five stars for your honest-to-god effort Maj, you've come a long way in texturing these beauties. The glow effects really add icing to the cake.

I really would love to help you out on the finer details but I'm really backed to a corner right now. Curse this wicked education system of ours LOL! So it's an extended rain check for now.

 

[Majestic]

You deserve five stars for your honest-to-god effort Maj, you've come a long way in texturing these beauties. The glow effects really add icing to the cake.

I really would love to help you out on the finer details but I'm really backed to a corner right now. Curse this wicked education system of ours LOL! So it's an extended rain check for now.

Thanks mate.

It's cool on the rain check, when you're ready I'll be here for ya.

 

[Majestic]

Well she is now complete and ready for hardpointing.

The Shipyard is the first of two yards that produce ships. She builds the following units: Okinawa, Akyazi, Detroyat, Akula, Abbe (AWACS), Abbe (Tactical), Phobos, Miranda, Saratoga, Avenger, Soyuz, Constitution and Constellation classes.



Now I have this one done the other two won't take as long.

EDIT:

All shipyards are now complete. The Advanced shipyard has a Proxima in it in the images and the repair yard has the Excelsior.



The advanced shipyard builds the following units: Constitution, Constellation, Excalibur, Excelsior, Ulysses and Proxima.

 

[Terradyhne]

hey Maj great looking models you got there

the only ship you should have found another design for is the Proxima, suggest the Kodiak Battleship or FASA Indomitable

 

[Majestic]

Thank you Terradhyne.

I understand the Proxima isn't a popular choice to well nearly everyone. But it works for me and at least to me was the most suitable choice. A lot of time and effort went into that one as not only did it take a very long time to build I had to make a new nacelle for it, due to the way the ship was designed and I didn't want to do a copy and flip of the original nacelle.

Considering she is a battleship in many games I doubt players will even get the opportunity to build one. I do plan at a later date to make an alternative or two, either as expansion units or as an avatar choice for those who are not fond of the design.

 

[Chiletrek]

Hello:
Nuuuuuu! I got to see the Repair Yard here before you uploaded it into DA .

But I got to see the differences you mentioned on Da it would have .

It is sad that you made a design not all people is fond of, I have been there too. But it is good that you found an alternative to make it an avatar choice to or to later give alternative designs.

 

[Majestic]

Well you can't please everyone and you know the first rule of modding, mod for yourself first.

Thanks, I don't update DA as much as here, I updated moddb even less, in fact I haven't been there for close to a month now.

I really need to get back into this, been taking a break. Probably due to lack of responses from when I original posted the shipyards. I lost motivation, it's amazing how just some simply feedback can motivate a modeler/modder to continue. The shipyards did take some time and I am not very good with stations and so a lot of thought had to go into how to texture them and yet not make the textures too time consuming or complicated.

The next stations I have are either the research stations, refinery or shipyard. Not sure which one I'll do first, but I know the starbase and one of the research stations will be very time consuming so I might do the others first and get them out of the way.

At least as far as I can recall I have no Federation models left to do, with perhaps the exception of a worker bee.

 

[Cborg1700]

Sometimes all you need is a break. When you come back your mind is fresh and you think of things you wouldn't have though of before.

 

[Majestic]

I have been spending a little bit of time on Yesteryears the last couple of days. Nothing too fancy, going to lose internet anytime now as I'm changing ISP and the phone has just been transferred.

So before I do I'd thought I would throw these up. They are the models with Jetfreak's lightmaps applied. Unfortunately I couldn't apply all his texture improvements as they were done to the tga files rather than the PSD and I do want to make more Federation models at some point and so my templates need to match, otherwise it will he a headache to get them all the match and so I'll have to settle just for the lightmaps.

Anyway here are some quick in-game screenshots of them. I am also looking at trying to get the rest of those stations done soon (you all know me, my motivation issues and the fact that I really struggle to texture stations, ships are so much easier and interesting).

I can say that apart from a worker bee (might just use the FO original for now), all the Federation modeling is complete. Most of the texturing is too, with only the 3 research stations, refinery and starbase needing to be mapped and textured. Also the other day when I couldn't bring myself to work on the Federation I did a model for the Klingons, got some permissions sorted on some other models to save me some time there and so I can stay that the Klingons currently have 9 ships already modeled and just require mapping/texturing.

I'm also intending on the first release to have an easter egg on one of the maps. Something to indicate the direction the mod will take towards the end of it's release. It has nothing to do with the secret faction but just something I am really interested in doing and plan to after the initial 6 factions are done and released. Anyway enjoy the images and feedback and discussing is also welcomed and a great motivator for me.

 

[Jetfreak]

I hope editing the lightmaps wasn't too much of a hassle. Its a shame that I wasn't able to download the PSD's. Slow internet and all that LOL, but either way, I'm just happy to have helped out a friend.

Maj, I was also hoping you'd take a crack at the Lexington Class someday. Did you have reasons for omitting her?

 

[Majestic]

Well that was a waste of time, I spent a couple of hours editing the starbase as I felt it was too big, I had to re-do the hangar and all and then after seeing it re-done on a smaller scale I decided the original larger version was better. How typical of me. Oh well I may find a way to recycle that work done the track for another station in a unit expansion or something.

I hope editing the lightmaps wasn't too much of a hassle. Its a shame that I wasn't able to download the PSD's. Slow internet and all that LOL, but either way, I'm just happy to have helped out a friend.

If you think it would help (and you're interested in doing them) I could send the PSD's one at a time, that way it won't be that much of a strain on your internet, and you could send the altered PSD's back the same way. Your additions certainly do improve the models a great deal and would be a shame if I didn't at least try and find a work around. Plus I still have the stations to finish and a hoard of coding to do so it's not like I need them next week or anything.

Maj, I was also hoping you'd take a crack at the Lexington Class someday. Did you have reasons for omitting her?

I omitted her as she didn't fit in with the style I was after when I returned to working on Yesteryears, hence the Excalibur was born from that decision. I do have a model of her, done in my own style of course that I was indenting on using and may one day texture just as a map unit or something.

http://fav.me/d3gd9qw
http://fav.me/d3gd9sf
http://fav.me/d3gd9ty
http://fav.me/d3gd9v7

 

[Jetfreak]

Aye, sending the PSD's one at a time is a very economical move, I'm all for it Maj. The edits shouldn't really take too long to be honest. I'll probably put all the changes in separate layers. They're mostly the new running lights and the recolored impulse engines I believe.

Shame about the Lexington Class though, a good effort even in that unfinished state. But like you said, models are never finished and you may find a use for her down the road. The benefits of recycling at work.

 

[Majestic]

Aye, sending the PSD's one at a time is a very economical move, I'm all for it Maj. The edits shouldn't really take too long to be honest. I'll probably put all the changes in separate layers. They're mostly the new running lights and the recolored impulse engines I believe.

Shame about the Lexington Class though, a good effort even in that unfinished state. But like you said, models are never finished and you may find a use for her down the road. The benefits of recycling at work.

Sounds great, if I still have internet this afternoon, I could loose it in 5 seconds to be honest, I will upload them individually for you. Yest basically just the impulse and lights and with the layers edited it means all I need to do is copy the layer effects for the impulse engines/lights etc onto any new models I make in the future.

Thanks again mate, your work always improves my models ten folds.

 

[Majestic]

First station in-game with basic Majestic lightmaps.

 

[Rifraf]

I have to say (and not for brownie points) that your mod is a breath of fresh air. Now I certainly don't knock the work of others as everyone does fantastic work and there is such tremendous talent in the community. I like super fancy, sleek, powerful ships and such as much as anyone, but the clean, simple, beautiful ships/stations you've been doing for the mod take me back to The Motion Picture and the movie era with the original cast that I grew to like Star Trek with.

I still look at your ships with their clean lines and simple texture work and it makes me wish it was ready. You're work is not simple, but you know what I mean. I don't recall reading, but will your mod be a more basic design for game play or are you going to have special weapons/abilities everywhere? I'm not a fan of them myself at least for the Trek Universe, but was just curious.

 

[Majestic]

Hey Rifraf thanks for dropping by and leaving a comment.

When I rebooted Yesteryears for Fleet Operations I made the decision to go simple with the textures. They are after all one of the most time consuming aspects of the modeling process. I didn't want to be bogged down for insane amounts of time doing textures. My Battlestar Galactica textures for example can take up to 72 hours to complete. So I took a more plain and simple approach and I think it works well for the era I choose.

I am glad that my models and design are bringing you back to the era as it was one of my aims to make players feel as they are back in Kirk's era, rather than just TMP ships in a TNG setting. I have tried to keep many TNG designs (such as stations) out of the mod, and instead make prequel designs or predecessors if you will for those stations. Some like the turrets I found worked better in in TMP than they do in TNG, but I still tried to texture them in a way so they still feel like they belong.

As for special weapons, I am eventually planning a few, many I hope to be more passive ones (no buttons, aka automatic) as I dislike the concept of special weapons like chain reactor pulsars etc. I want the player to be focusing more on the building of an empire and waging the war they are in.

The last few days I and Jetfreak have been working hard to get his edits onto my texture templates. It's been a bit of a work around due to the size of my templates (some are like 125MB) and the restrictions of network speeds and different versions of photoshop not wanting to play nice together. But we have managed to make some progress. Last night I managed to get a look for the impulse engines that I can live with and be fairly easy to replicate on future textures and models. Yesterday I also did some last minute changes to my refinery model, changed the mesh a bit, removing and adding things as well as trying to reduce the poly count a little.

 

[Rifraf]

I had another question. Are you going to have the continuous fire phasers that are standard look in game or are you going to have them look like the movies typical to the ball type phasers where they fire multiple streams? Like the battles in Wrath of Khan. I know there is a TMP phaser mod about that did it. Was just curious.

 

[Majestic]

I had another question. Are you going to have the continuous fire phasers that are standard look in game or are you going to have them look like the movies typical to the ball type phasers where they fire multiple streams? Like the battles in Wrath of Khan. I know there is a TMP phaser mod about that did it. Was just curious.

Thanks for the question. I'm always happy to answer questions presented to me by the MSFC community.

I will be going the authentic look for the Federation, so the TWOK phasers it is. I did used a modified version of Jetfreak's TWOK phasers in the past before I moved the mod to FO, but I still plan to use the TWOK phasers. Unsure yet if they will be sod based like FO or just sprite based like stock A2.

 

[Chiletrek]

Hello:
Even if basic lightmaps, it is very awesome to be able to start seeing your stations ingame . I look forward to see more updates for this mod! .

Also ; you made a huge list of pic of your ships some posts ago .

Keep it up!