New 3d warships - Cruiser, Destroyer, Minesweeper

[LandMarine47]

New Scenario: The Island

Ok guys... To create a playable, alpha test using some of our new toys, I'm going to knock up a simple little scenario where the Japanese control a small island with two airfields. The IJN has positioned a defensive fleet nearby... The USN is approaching with a large invasion fleet, including two Essex class carriers.

So long as the Japs control at least one airfield, they can use their aircraft bonuses. So long as USN has at least one carrier, they can use their aircraft bonuses... If they're in testable shape, we'll deploy Amaris' seriously cool new Zero and Corsair 'raid' animations. If not, we'll temporarily use the Fw190 and Typhoon and swap 'em out for Zeros and Corsairs in a future update.

For ground units, we'll borrow Junk2Drive's excellent Jap units, and hopefully add more if we can discover 'em... I've PM'ed J2D but it looks like he's off the grid at the moment...

Any suggestions, let us know... But remember that this will be a very simple alpha test, just to check that that all of the new objects/animations can work in combination play... So please don't expect any hidden subs yet, ok...

ETA (playable alpha): 2 weeks (ish)

I can see major tournaments! Can't wait

[LandMarine47]

If I can add to the help here's an idea for hidden subs. Until an animation for submerging can be done this is the order. Units will not stop sub until it is close enough. Here's what I had in mind.
Any ships other than destroyers or minesweepers will only spot the sub if it is 2-3 tiles away.
Destroyers and Minesweppers can spot subs from 4-5 Tiles away. Subs are VERY vulnerable to enemy fire so use them wiseley! They are the "infantry" of the navy

[LandMarine47]

And I say we make a model for the famous LVT landing craft one of the work horses of the initial landings during an invasion. An Icon of the USMC during WW2

[Richcat]

Hi Guys
Checking back through old posts Twoeyes (Richard) has already supplied us a Marine Corps Amphib he had lying around here https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/249 ... Models.rar when we where sorting out the direction of the barges but its in max format so if Amaris would kindly covert to 3ds with his 30day trial for us (or if twoeyes could) then we could get into the mod easily and it has the has the dds graphics file as well.

Forum page http://www.slitherine.co.uk/forum/viewt ... 0c#p402330

[LandMarine47]

I'm curious how are the death animations? And do they bob like regular ships? Lets hope they aren't too OP

[Amaris]

Well I'm progressing slowly, very slowly.

But with trying to copy the fairmileB's animation, I have put a smoke when the cruiser move:



And I also added an animation for the fire:



This is not perfect, but it is at least that.
The flame of fire does not follow the turret.

So if a talent modeler can take the relay I would not be against. Because it will take me a long time.

[GottaLove88s]

Good memory Richcat!! I'd totally forgotten that... Yes, TwoEyes gave us some neat MAX models of US Marine Corps LVTs that he said Slith had fully worked up in gorgeous detail, they haven't used 'em yet, but they'd be happy to seem 'em 'go to a good home'...

Hi Guys
Checking back through old posts Twoeyes (Richard) has already supplied us a Marine Corps Amphib he had lying around here https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/249 ... Models.rar when we where sorting out the direction of the barges but its in max format so if Amaris would kindly covert to 3ds with his 30day trial for us (or if twoeyes could) then we could get into the mod easily and it has the has the dds graphics file as well.

Forum page http://www.slitherine.co.uk/forum/viewt ... 0c#p402330

[GottaLove88s]

Really impressive work Amaris... You can feel the power from the forward guns on that cruiser... Very nice attack animation...

Btw, your smoke is actually much BETTER than the previous smoke on warship movements... Previously smoke seemed to come from the back of the ship... Now... Well, will you look at that!... You've got smoking coming right out of the smokestack... NICE!!

Well I'm progressing slowly, very slowly.

But with trying to copy the fairmileB's animation, I have put a smoke when the cruiser move:



And I also added an animation for the fire:

[GottaLove88s]

PS. For the heavy gun explosions, use the sound files for the warships in Dieppe... You'll get a really nice BOOOOOOM that sounds like something big...

[Richcat]

Hi Amaris
I can help with the "fire does not follow turret", its a case of linking the small grey fx boxes to the turret gun, and then exporting again.
Also I was looking at getting both turrets to fire as similar to herehttp://www.slitherine.co.uk/forum/viewt ... 9f3eb4f13b, will both turrets turn together? they may be not as I seem to remember that you can only have one turret in BA

[GottaLove88s]

Hey Richcat/Amaris,

See Pip's comment on this thread, July 4th 16.24 GMT -> http://www.slitherine.co.uk/forum/viewt ... e8#p411954

Pip gives the impression that multi-turret does not work yet, but it's something he will try to look into, once Rommel is released... It's going to look really rather impressive when a cruiser fires a broadside...

Hi Amaris
I can help with the "fire does not follow turret", its a case of linking the small grey fx boxes to the turret gun, and then exporting again.
Also I was looking at getting both turrets to fire as similar to herehttp://www.slitherine.co.uk/forum/viewt ... 6419fe58e8, will both turrets turn together? they may be not as I seem to remember that you can only have one turret in BA

[LandMarine47]

If I might add to make it more realistic once the turrents are turned they can't turn around unless the ship itself turns completely. So use your shots wisely.

[Amaris]

Hi Amaris
I can help with the "fire does not follow turret", its a case of linking the small grey fx boxes to the turret gun, and then exporting again.
Also I was looking at getting both turrets to fire as similar to herehttp://www.slitherine.co.uk/forum/viewt ... 07a3efaa61, will both turrets turn together? they may be not as I seem to remember that you can only have one turret in BA

Linking the small grey fx boxe to the turret: oh well we can do this kind of thing in gmax?
The problem is that I don't know what I do.
I'm beginner modeler. A very very beginner.
I learn by copy.

Now I have successful copy the other animation (wait, die, ..) but I have several animations at the same time:



Modeler is a real job.

[Richcat]

Hi Amaris

Yes you can do it in gmax, hope image below helps.
1.Select the link tool on the tool bar
2.Select the object (grey fx box)to be linked by left clicking and hold - the link cursor should then appear (it s not exactly like this as I had to paste this it in as when grabbing screen shot the link cursor did not appear) , drag link shaped cursor over to the object you want to link to (the turret or gun) and release, the object that you want to be linked too (turret or gun) should then flash with its white corners selection boxing - now its linked.

linking fx boxes.jpg (99.65 KiB) Viewed 5165 times

[Amaris]

Great tanks. It's working.
I have all animations (move wait fire death...) done for one model.
I'll put screenshots more later but this rocks
Just do the same for all models

[Amaris]

There are some (minor) flaws with explosions, fire, smoke and sunken wreck but I'm pretty proud of my 'work'(*)

(*): copy the animation of Fairmile to the Cruiser into Gmax - take me several hours.

[Richcat]

Amaris thats amazing

Thats alot of hard work and effort
There must be an easier and shorter way to transfer animation, I'll see what I can find out.

[Amaris]

Lot of time as I learn at the same time.

So 2nd model are done more quickly:

[Amaris]

[GottaLove88s]

Very, very, VERY nice animations, Alex!

LM, if you look real hard, you'll notice that the light cruiser is gently bouncing on the waves during its fire animation...

Hey, Alex, I notice that you've slightly lowered both cruisers lower into the waterline... to keep their displacement correct...

I'm sure you're going to keep displacement and mast heights internally consistent across the fleets (ie. no massive minesweepers or submarines) so I promise to shush...

AMAZING WORK, MONSIEUR!! Can't wait to get this into our first scenario...