This is the topic where I will post some of the things I will be custom making for the next hak update. On my list so far are a variety of standard shields, the deity shields, amian city shields and flags, different colored carpets and deity stained glass windows.
I will be expanding the first two posts, as I continue making stuff. Comments, feedback, suggestions, requests and the like are all of course welcome.
Pony's Stained Glass Windows (Textures Only)
Pony's City Banners (In Game)
Pony's Map Floors (In Game)
Last edited by Pony on Wed, May 07 2014, 19:03 PM, edited 8 times in total.
Joined: 23 Sep 2005 Location: Jyväskylä, Finland, Europe
Would it be possible to make a shield template that can display custom heraldry by for example loading it from the portrait or even with a separate but similar function to custom portraits? This would be relevant to my interests as house Havthorn has pretty badass burgher arms.
_________________ Gagis Silvarna, the Robocop with wings who shoots lasers from his fingertips Lily Havthorn, the Waukeenar Silwe, the elf
Not in any fashion that would work for the server. There needs to be a model and texture in the hak, and then we would need to work with overrides. But we bump into quite a few problems at that point. One being hak size for the placeholder shields, and the other being we can only do so in a limited number. In addition, it would actually take someone with the know-how to edit each override shield.mdl file for the "portrait pack like shield textures".
Joined: 23 Sep 2005 Location: Jyväskylä, Finland, Europe
Dang. That is very unfortunate.
Pony wrote:
One being hak size for the placeholder shields, and the other being we can only do so in a limited number.
This part I did not get though. I was thinking on the lines of there being just one or two shield models that simply load the portrait of the character carrying them... though that would imply the texture could be divided into the generic shield part and the front that is drawn according to an external file.
_________________ Gagis Silvarna, the Robocop with wings who shoots lasers from his fingertips Lily Havthorn, the Waukeenar Silwe, the elf
A shield can only draw from specific files. It can not be given the command to draw from a character's portrait.
For a very long awnser;
A specific shield can only use specific textures. Unless some wiz kid found a way to circumvent that. But unless that wiz kid found such a way, towershield 22's model file has the command to use texture XY, and hence it will always show texture XY. While you can add a different version of texture XY in your override, it will retexture all tower shield 22 models.
So the only option would be to add basic shields (all wooden in appearence, for example) and then provide an override package of alternative textures the players send in. Those who use the override see the new textures the players sent in, while those without it would see basic wood shields.
But as I wrote, this actually means there would need to be placeholder shield models and placeholder textures in the hak file. This adds quite a bit of size, and has a limit at a certain point. I think anything over 250 shields would no longer be selectable in the toolset.
If they could still be selectable with an ingame crafting script, then it might be possible. Might, as I am not sure how well Neverwinter Nights would handle it. It would still require us to add an extensive number of shields to the next hak and create such an override pack. Those all have an mb tag attached.
Quality control is another concern, given some might make shields with smiley faces, or want to add textures so big in size it lags us out. It will actually require a team member to do regular updates.
Whoa, Pony. Wouldn't the wooden shields with the override actually be a good idea? You could use it for city shields, in case a particular city's symbol changes through time. You wouldn't have to go through and wait for a hak update just to do the shields, right?
Placeholders for each major city, with override file to see that city's shield. Kohlingen, Cordor, Winya Ravana, Barak Runedar, Bendir Dale, Tarkuul, Zanshibon, so on and so on. If it was done like that, you wouldn't have to do a hak update for said city's shield. Heck, you could even add in a few extra blank, wooden ones in case a new city ever comes along to the server. It'd be an override change, which I'm guessing is much easier than a hak update.
Unless that would be too much work in the long run, of course!
The placeholder takes up roughly the same room, so I prefer to just add them to the hak. Now that we will be doing more frequent and regular hak updates, it won't be a problem.
More importantly, tga textures can be placed on an emitter, meaning you really only need one shield model. This would allow you to add new textures to the shields with no new models, saving you the trouble of modeling, skinning, and preparing hak entries for new city shields altogether.
_________________ ~Diana de Priondragas - Enigmatic druid, Arbiter, Counselor, Bear. ~Corinn Aldaine - Just a girl with a big heart... who can turn you into a newt. ~Vigdis Haldorsdottr - Walk softly and carry a big axe.
Seems that Silvarus' suggestion may actually be feasiable after all , as the emiter could perhaps actually allow to circumvent the problem I described. Would still require an override package. I will see what can be done with Eurgiga and get to you back to you. Do not get your hopes up yet, though.
I've seen some of the light crossbows remodelled into hand-crossbows on other servers. They look amazing, but I'm not sure what hak it was. I'll try and find it though because it would be really cool to implement here.
I don't really want to see people able to put their character's portrait on their shield. While it would make sense for those who use non-portrait style portraits it would not make sense to have an actual image of the character on their own shield. Unless I'm totally missing something here, there would have to be a way to only do it through request or some sort of toggle or something.
No, portraits wont go on shields. If the emitter system does work, it would be more of a staff handled shield-texture-override pack. That is if the testing goes well, and the staff decides to go that route. That is not a decision I feel is up to me, and there are a few issues that would need to be discussed.
And I have removed the 1-4 limitation on weapon parts/colors for CopyAndModify because swag has to be boundless.
_________________ Fear is not evil… It tells you what your weakness is. And once you know your weakness, you can become stronger as well as kinder. - Gildarts Clive, Fairy Tail, Hiro Mashima.
Would it be possible to draw and submit pictures/skins for things to be added like painted murials?
It is one of those things I am really on the fence about. One of the aspects I place a lot of focus on is that all content for the hak updates (with the exception of DM content requests) fits the style and theme of the server and that it has a certain level of quality. When members of the community make the effort to create something, put in the time and are proud of what they made, I have a hard time telling them that it just does not fit or is not good enough.
I simply do not want my task to include telling those that want to contribute to the server, that their contributions are not good enough. This is also one of my big concerns with the custom shield idea, as who ever oversees it has to handle such situations. Taste is subjective, and at times it is just a gut reaction. So yeah, I will think on it.
That being said, one of the reasons I read all of the hak suggestions and make topics like these is to get the input of the playerbase.
Yes, like those. Though they might still go in, as the issue was only the conflicting statements I got regarding the lore-accuracy of them. But the gnomish head with the tophat and mechanical eye is a good example. Awesome head that Eurgiga did a fine job with, but one I vetoed because I felt it was a bad fit.
I already discussed that specific example with Eurgiga, and even used that specific example of what I would be good with. Jansen like monocle yes, tophat no.
But this is a good example of a line I do not want to cross. I do not want to move the vetting process into the hands of the players. If we do that, the server will look like a crazy circus, and I will be stuck in numerous discussions instead of actually being able to work on the hak updates.
Please don't politicize the hak updates. Just be happy for what's coming out, if it gets vetoed it gets vetoed.
_________________ ~Diana de Priondragas - Enigmatic druid, Arbiter, Counselor, Bear. ~Corinn Aldaine - Just a girl with a big heart... who can turn you into a newt. ~Vigdis Haldorsdottr - Walk softly and carry a big axe.
Though back on topic. For the stained glass windows I currently have on my list:
- Bane - Shar - Velsharoon - Elistraee - Elistraee and Corellon (Liked the lore value of this one) - Corellon - Lolth ✓ - Lathander ✓ - Kelemvor ✓ - Helm - Tyr - Torm - Ilmater - Sune - Waukeen - Mystra
For Mystra and Corellon I have not found pictures I am really happy with. It almost seems the two switched genders. If someone knows a better one of them, please link it. For all the rest on the list I got ones I like.
If I am missing a god who has a temple on Amia, which should also have such a stained glass window, please suggest away.
Not sure if Moradin might be a good addition lore wise. I got no idea if dwarves would have such depiction of their gods, as I think stonework statues are more their thing.
Would it be possible to draw and submit pictures/skins for things to be added like painted murials?
It is one of those things I am really on the fence about. One of the aspects I place a lot of focus on is that all content for the hak updates (with the exception of DM content requests) fits the style and theme of the server and that it has a certain level of quality. When members of the community make the effort to create something, put in the time and are proud of what they made, I have a hard time telling them that it just does not fit or is not good enough.
I simply do not want my task to include telling those that want to contribute to the server, that their contributions are not good enough. This is also one of my big concerns with the custom shield idea, as who ever oversees it has to handle such situations. Taste is subjective, and at times it is just a gut reaction. So yeah, I will think on it.
That being said, one of the reasons I read all of the hak suggestions and make topics like these is to get the input of the playerbase.
A very good answer thank you
_________________
Life should be prolonged only when it serves the greater cause of the death of the world.
Not sure if Moradin might be a good addition lore wise. I got no idea if dwarves would have such depiction of their gods, as I think stonework statues are more their thing.
Yes, stained glass is for sissies. Dwarfs wouldn't be seen dead with it.
I think you got it right, they'd go for stone works instead. Barak's main temple doesn't have any windows anyway since its inside a mountain.
Joined: 20 Apr 2008 Location: The downeaster "Alexa"
I don't think dwarves are beyond stained glass; glassblowing and such is a pretty damn tough bit of craftsmanship.
But given the traditional Dwarven disposition to subterranean life, windows in general could seem a bit out of place.
_________________
You think Magic is your ally... but you merely adopted the Art. He was born in it. Molded by it. Sometimes, an angel is simply a devil with better intentions.
You look outside the window and see... stone because you're in a mountain, silly!
_________________ Whomst've'll'd'mn't I play: Salema Nefahri::A penny for your thots Zrae'a'stra'fryn::That which nightmares are made of Khasir::From the East a storm is coming
Here is something that I will be working on quite a bit for one of the future hak updates. When it is done, Amia should have it's own addition to the color palette for leather, clothing, and metal options.
_________________ -Ja'acira Arrows'R'Us -Balorin Wolfhammer- A dwarf so old he remember when the Beer stein was invented Saisha Jai'diem Knight of bahamut, and abit of a looker
Sadly that one simply is very difficult to convert into a stained glass window. The simpler the illustrations are, the better.
I also updated the second post with screenies showing the 23 colors of the autumn palette. I will be tackling the spring palette next. If anyone feels there are certain colors tones missing in general, feel free to link an example of them. But please no direct posting of images, always links. Else this topic will get way too cluttered with them.
The first two banners in game: The crowned raven of Wiltun, and the silver dragon of Kohlingen. These will also be the symbols I will be using for the revised city shields.
Next on my list are Commonwealth Cordor and Ostland.
The third and fourth banner: The tower of Ostland, and the moon and star crowned copper piece of the Commonwealth Cordor. Though, as we all know, the Commonwealth banner is often called the star gazing frog, as well.
Hackums did not make that map. He just added some blotches in MS-Paint.
Sadly the player who made it (was an awesome player btw) is long gone. Though we have one of Amia, Rauthym and the Swordcoast on the Amia Wiki, which I will use next. It might be so large though, that if I reduce it's size the geography would be too hard to make it. So it might require a 2x2 sized tile placeable.
*edit: player, not play
Last edited by Pony on Wed, May 07 2014, 16:51 PM, edited 1 time in total.
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