Path to Victory (Alpha 0.0.7.1 - and an official good-bye)

[mololu]

Following a (for me) monumental texturing and modelling excersize, I've managed to produce a finished version of the Vaygr Artillery Cruiser.

The ship is a little larger than the destroyer and costs a little more to build however posesses only a minimal armor upgrade. The tradeoff is it's incredible range.
Armed with an advanced laser battery capable of firing far more rapidly than coparable Vaygr weapons and at extreme ranges, anything caught in the hail of bolts is likely to take a fair amount of damage - or be utterly obliterated.

To back this weapon system up, the Artillery Cruiser also carries a battery of five long range missile tubes. The missiles fired (see lower pictures) will discard their booster section when nearing their target, releasing an incredibly maneuverable and fast warhead.

Show Me

Edit: The upside down badge has been fixed.

Edit2: just realized the missile tubes aren't visible on any of the screenshots. They're along the top of the ship, in front of the bridge.

[Baroness]

nice !!!!!!

[Avatar II]

Is the vaygr V-badge supposed to be upside down? Or am I missing something?

[mololu]

No it isn't. I forgot that CfHodEd flips textures upside down when you extract them. It's fixed ingame but I didn't think that small change warrented an entirely new picture.

[Avatar II]

Ah I see. Admirable job replicating the style of the stock Vaygr. I think the missile tube placement is a bit esoteric; most people tend to look at the top / front areas of ships I think so placing heavy weapons there is a bit counterintuitive. The hull shape in general seems more derivative of Vaygr frigates than it does their cruisers or destroyers; I think lengthening it and adding more spikes and such to the main body would make it a bit of a better fit... then again for that much work you could do another ship or two, so I stress that opinion is mine as feedback and commentary, not harsh criticism or demanding or anything

[mololu]

Don't worry you're not the first one to think it looks like a frigate (which includes my oppinion). However I had a sort of vision for this ship which it ended up fitting more or less. I'll be making a version without the huge cannons below (carrying a second missile battery) just to see how it looks but the overall hull is more or less done.

I may get around to making another vaygr capital class ship (possibly a missile destroyer - all depends on the way things come) and I intend on staying more true to the vaygr capital class with that.

The addition of spikes simmilar to those found on the Battlecruiser was something I planned but decided to drop in favor of seeing the ship ingame sooner. I may go back and add some more goblins to make the ship's outline a little less simple.

[tadamir]

I like it, with just a few reservations.

I think the Bridge says "Vaygr Frigate" far too strongly.
Perhaps redesign a new bridge for this ship class that is similar enough to the Capship class bridges, not Frigate bridges, and place it off to one side?
Having said that, I do like how you've made a trench down the front dorsal so those in the bridge can actually see forward!

The huge 90 degree right angle, under the front, behind the turret, is a bit jarring.
Maybe (I'm not sure of the correct term; fillet?) do something to these two areas to soften the right angles.

As I have crudely drawn in Paint.

Aside from that, I like it.

The place where the turret is looks like it is Modular,
as in, depending on what the ships Task is it could have different loadouts;
Turret/Missiles/Production Facility/etc,
is that the idea?

[doci7]

May I just say that the texture totally sells this ship. I still like the model itself but the texture fits so well that I absolutely can't tell its a kitbash. If I could use stock textures this well, I might very well never make my own again. Well, not really, but it would be nice.

[MatthCoFreak]

I think the Bridge says "Vaygr Frigate" far too strongly.

They you should have a look at the vanilla desty :

For me, the engine style and the size of this tiny bridge scream "Destroyer".

[mololu]

Edit: Added to the front page, just put this mod up on ModDB: Link

The place where the turret is looks like it is Modular, as in, depending on what the ships Task is it could have different loadouts; Turret/Missiles/Production Facility/etc, is that the idea? Today 12:21 AM

Spot on.

It won't be in the next release I'm bringing because I need to do a few other ships done for that but the design for the future would be that the top (where the sensor dome is) can take a sensor-slot item and the bottom (currently the laser cannon) can take one of the following:

- Laser Battery (fast ROF)
- Plasma Battery (disables)
- Missile Battery (damage + EMP)
- Curise Missile prodcution bay (big honking missiles)

Obviously the ship would then be renamed to just 'cruiser' and the role would be decided by what's built on it.

May I just say that the texture totally sells this ship. I still like the model itself but the texture fits so well that I absolutely can't tell its a kitbash. If I could use stock textures this well, I might very well never make my own again. Well, not really, but it would be nice.

As you say, the entire texture is a kitbash (all my textures are if you look close enough). The real trick is finding the bits you can use and adding to them when nothing fits. 70% of the texture is cut of the Carrier. The rest came from the destroyer or battlecruiser.

In all honesty, if you look at this ship without team colors it looks really bland but with the remap the texture really comes to life.

[rayrat881]

the "PTV001.rar" download link error!!

[mololu]

I'm aware of that. A second release will come within a week and given the first version had some ugly bugs in it I'm not uploading that release again.

[mololu]

I was planning to do this forever but never got around to it. While the technique doesn't work with all ships for wharever reason, presenting reloading missile tubes:

Loaded:


Fired:


Reloading:


Currently this effect is in place on:

Vaygr Destroyer
Vaygr Artillery Frigate
Vaygr Lance Fighter
Higaaran Torpedo Bomber

I may do more if I think it's worth it.

[doci7]

That's pretty cool! It's little things like that I was surprised that the game didn't do. I may have to consult you in the future when I attempt to animate my own Munitions Bomber.

[MatthCoFreak]

Hum, what are we supposed to see ? I can see only one picture, the one under "Fired".

[mololu]

Odd... they show fine on my end.

Basically you see a missile on the laucher which disappears when the missile fires and then reapears as the weapon reloads.

The images can be found here too.

[aquemnun]

Thought I might as well ask seeing as I havent noticed any discussions about it in this thread: Do you plan on giving the keeper ships teamcolours or not? I think I'd be rather cool if you made the classic red stripe into a team colour. The whole ship I think would be a bit OTT, as they are meant to be derelicts, however just that little stripe would be a neat little touch


just my $0.02, awesome work on the keepers so far btw, theyre coming along really nicely!

[mololu]

Indeed, just that is planned but ATM it isn't my highest priority. I'll get round to team colors somewhere further down the line - along with a general Keeper graphics update.

[aquemnun]

ah ok, thats good to hear. Keep up the interesting designs, loving the mini dreadnaught or whatever it was called

[mololu]

Phew! After 1.5 hours of crappy upload and a connection loss I finally got the second release uploaded.

First page updated with link etc. or download here: Filefront

[mololu]

Another small addition for the vaygr - who are now nearing completion. Really just the cruiser to finish now (at least until new ideas come).

The Plasma Corvette:


I've got the feeling the cannons make the ship a little too wide and they should be moved in closer to the hull like the Laser Corvette.

On the other hand, the shape is very distinctive.

Comments are welcome.

[aquemnun]

I think whether or not they should be moved closer to the hull or not depends on what this plasma weapon is. Would it be like the bomber weapons, or something different.

(if it IS similar to the bomber weapons, I think they could work as they are pretty well, I agree it does give the ship a very distinctive, perhaps to amplify it's deadliness.... )

[mololu]

They will be like the bomber's weapons with a little more of an EMP effect, possibly with a new FX or something to make them look a little more interesting.

[KeyBored]

Thats brilliant Maybe a nice blue sphere burst FX with some wave going through the bubble ? a bit like the chronosphere FX from red alert 2, but a full sphere.

[mololu]

Yeah, an effect like that would really fit. I'll look into it tonight or tomorrof - whenever I have time! I really like the idea

[mololu]

Another 'small' update which means the Vaygr factions are more or less finished save for some effect changes or maybe future additions if I feel necessary.

Presenting the replacement of the Vaygr Artillery Cruiser: The Modular Cruiser.

This ship gives the Vaygr much needed long-range fire support and can be upgraded with one of two weapon subsystems depending on which faction you are playing.

Task Force Venom gets the Missile Battery and Plasma Battery, Task Force Overlord can choose between Missile Battery and Laser Battery.

A quick summary of the differences:

Missile Battery: Good ROF, acceptable damage and EMP effect but damage is delayed. Good against anything the size of a frigate or larger.

Plasma Battery: Average ROF and damage but can disable ships at incredible range. Good against capital ships and to some extent frigates.

Laser Battery: Lower ROF but very high damage. Great against capital ships. No EMP effect but good at 'sniping' enemy capital ship formations.

Edit: Better resolution. Note the second 'bridge' at the front of the ship.

[mololu]

Okay, I've run across a bit of a balance/concept snag here and I think some feedback from the community might help.

This concerns capital ship families. We have destroyers, cruisers and battlecruisers.

The problem is how should these work i.e. how many destroyers trump a cruiser, how many cruisers (or destroyers) a battlecruiser?

This is further complicated by the fact that the ships aren't mirrors of each other. The Hiigaran Battlecruiser and the Vaygr Cruiser are long-range ships and can remain out of other ship's range.

The only problem with that is that a hiigaran battlecruiser can deal with any capital ship by simply moving backwards. The same goes for the vaygr cruiser. I see two solutions to this:

1) long-range ships have slower movement speeds
2) long-range ships have longer acceleration times

Okay, this actually turned into two questions. Oppinions are welcome!

[adamstrange]

Mololu

The Plasma Corvette looks just right and that Cruiser that you sent me ...well though its a bit odd,the ship is really an excellent design.

Its like a hybrid between the ship from Star Trek Voyager and a BattleCruiser.

[mololu]

Thank You!

The cruiser really is a little odd and takes some getting used to. But the design is utterly unmistakable, sort of like the Vaygr cruiser.

Out of curiosity, will you be using them for anything?

[TonyOneBlairoby]

Strange, in my thiught, it was more looking like a frigate ^^. At least from side view.

But the plasma subsytemt does not fit very well with the rest of the shape from my point of view. I mean, this horizontal configuration associated with the vertical ship shape doew not look very good in my thought.
Also, mounted like that, the battery seem quite a weak structure.
I would imagine them mounted more something that way:

(hope i hadn't too much injuried your design with this drawing xD )

But remember, these are just my thoughts ^^

[mololu]

No, you've certainly not! I actually only left the plasma gun that way because I didn't have time to make another.

I really like the vertial barrels. It's on my to do list right now but it will probably not make it in to the next release.

So much to do...

Thank you for the great suggestion!

[adamstrange]

Out of curiosity, will you be using them for anything?

Yes I will.

Right now its a little to big so I'm going to scale it down a bit.

There are also lots of spot on the ship where I can hod in more weapons so thats another plus.

By the way did you ever make one that didn't have a launch bay and do you have anymore odd designed ships lying about your drive ?

Another about that destroyer,I love the fact that it looks like it reloads.

Does your mod run on ordinance load-outs or is this just for looks ?

[mololu]

Sadly no on the no launch bay. As for other ships, everything I've ever made in my entire life has been posted here or on moddb with the exception of what I'm working on now.

[mololu]

A few more images for those who haven't seen them on ModDB:

Images

Drones:


Strike Fighter:

The next release is drawing ever nearer. I still have a bunch of icons and subsystems to do.

Estimate is a week or two, plus minus depending on how much will actually be put in the 0.0.3 release.

[gthompsn]

I like the strike fighter, but think it should have a little sharper edges... just my 2c

[mololu]

I agree. Again, something to look at in the future. It took me a long time to get the damned shape down right. It just wouldn't fit...

Again, all feedback I've recieved will be looked at in future releases but I have been listening!

[TonyOneBlairoby]

Wow very interesting fighter :P .

[doci7]

Awesome man! The drones are almost lethally cute. Very good work.

[mololu]

I just re-read a bunch of posts and caught this from adamstrange:

Does your mod run on ordinance load-outs or is this just for looks ?

I do not have limited ordinance implemented nor do I ever intend to. It's just for the looks.

Edit: Given current progress, I think the next release (0.0.3) will come in about a week. There are still many balance issues, new additions, adjustments and other small tibits to attend to but there is time enough for that.

[tadamir]

I can't run your mod yet but am keen to try it out asap.

I had a question about your Defense Drones though; looking closer at the images it looks like the dome is for propulsion and the weapons turret below can rotate independently, is that the case? Direction of Travel appears to be perpendicular to direction of fire;


If so, damn fine work, should allow the drone to fire at stuff while it boosts past, instead of out-right frontal suicide runs.

[mololu]

That is indeed the case. They circle their targets (albeit very slowly) raining firing in on them.

The design looks really cool in action.

[mololu]

The last model to go into the 0.0.3 release, the Hiigaran Defense Fleet heavy gunship.

Warning: Big

Description:

Not long after reclaiming their Homeworld, the Hiigaran Defense fleet realized that with all it's heavy armor and advanced defense technologies, it lacked a crucial element in battle: firepower.

Not only that, the Hiigaran Defense Force has a long standing tradition of miserable marksmanship due to the large number of fresh recruits in their ranks - more seasoned veterans chosing to serve their second tour with the Expeditionary Fleet.

Thankfully, Hiigaran High Command found a solution for this that did not require more training or highly increased costs. This solution was the 'Hammer of Hiigara' or the Heavy Gunship.

Equiped with a large and rather cumbersome arsenal, the heavy gunship orbits its targets at range, pounding them with it's heavy shock cannon and long range kinetic cannons. Over the past few months the Heavy Gunship has become a common sight in many battles and has proven its worth, engaging hostile strike craft and frigates at ranges they can not retaliate from.

The only downside is the heavy weapons take time to aim and reload, meaning the Heavy Gunship is not suited for engagements where it is in the direct line of fire.

Best used with Interceptor and Pulsar Gunship support.


Edit: Bugtesting led to this odd effect when playing against the Amun Keeper AI... suffice to say my fleet lasted about 30 seconds. (There were more of the damned things off-screen too, tearing up all my fighters. So many they were impossible to counter)

Beams! More Beams!

[Talros]

Great work with the turrets !

[MatthCoFreak]

Damn the turrets are awesome, great job

[mololu]

Version 0.0.3 released and available for download through ModDB (note: may take a few hours for the link to be authorized).

For reasons of not wanting to wait another hour and a half for the upload, another download link will not be available for this release.

Enjoy the mod and if anything comes up, feel free to post or PM me.

ModDB Link

[mololu]

With 0.0.3 released, my focus is turning back to the Keeper factions who are both in dire need of a rework. This is a minor update which is pretty much cosmetic only for the two Versions of the Keeper:

Image

[mololu]

Yet another small keeper Update concerning the Swarmer (mini-fighter capable of causing havoc in numbers) and Keeper Remaps in general:

Image

[doci7]

Good work, as is your norm. The Keeper looks even better the way you have it modified.

[mololu]

Thank you, doci. More updates are in progress (slowly) as is balancing.

In another (probably fruitless) attempt to start a discussion here, I've been puzzling over ways to give the Keepers more of an 'awesome' feeling to them.

Currently the Sabtah keepers have their phase shields which are admitteldy quite cool but in the overall scheme of things, neither of the keeper factions have that 'oh shit' feeling about them which I'd like to achieve.

Hiigarans have their defensive weapons. They seem organized.

Vaygr come in swarms with a zillion strike craft. They seem chaotic and deadly.

The Keepers... well, don't have anything special.

I'm searching in vain for traits that could be given to the Keepers that make them seem dangerous, advanced, unique, anything.

Any suggestion at all is welcome!

[TonyOneBlairoby]

Keepers :
-have mainly predator design (by the way, maybe the swarmer could benefit from having some more terrific lines)
-and when they attack, it is not for giving some slap but for deal big punch in da face.
-they can do a lot with a few.
-they are quite roxor about hyperespace jump and inhibition, and probably about there detection
-they seem mainly energy race (maybe only energy) which they use more efficiency than other races. beams beams beams and beams, and uber beams, higgies are kids playing playmobile compared with.
-they seem quite though
-they seem quite slow, even if they can do nice maneuver
-they don't really count on there numerical superiority
-they are really holywoodish with glow and bright light and shwoop da woop everywhere