233 replies to this topic

[Nazgûl]

Ok, I've just started to (re)code an entire faction now... After days of reading and catching up by looking through the codes, updating tools and asking around for tips etc, I decided to go with Moria (wild) as my first project, since that's the faction I did the most work on myself, except Mordor. Thus I'm more likely to recognize codes and changes/additions. I remember that I thoroughly overhauled all their structures with unified textures and FX for buildups and idle states. So I'll start with the structures, move on to adding all units, then finally the heroes. When this is done, I'll (hopfully) have someone code all the hero powers and unit abilities (since I HATE that), and finish off with the faction's Spell Book

When all 9 factions are done like this, we move on to AI (which I will also require help with) and finish off with adding all of BFME1, BFME2 6 RotWK maps, polished and extended by NJM

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -



Generic stuff

- Map Scripts from skyboxes has been setup as well as all coding needed to start adding skyboxes into maps.



MORIA

- AI base (BSE map) has been updated and adjusted to fit SEE dc.

- All "lava based" structures has been given the same buildup FX (smoke/dust), levelups and bibs (ground textures) featuring 3 stages of hot lava filled cracks and various forms of stucture upgrades to differentiate level 1 from 2 and 3.

- Fissure has been "reworked" into a better looking concept featuring hot lava that cools down in 3 stages as well as smoke and steam FX. Fissure now acts like an underground armory manufacturing Scavenged Weapons, Scavengd Armor and siege equipment.

- Spider Pit has been adjusted with 3 stages of upgrades with small spiderlings (slave units) at level 3, protecting the pit.

- Treasure Trove is being converted into a bonus giving structure much like Gondor's marketplace. At level 3 a drake (slave unit) is protecting the structure.

- Wolf/Warg Den has been added, reskinned from RotWK.

- Wolf Riders has been added as light cavalry.

- Warg Riders has been added as heavy cavalry.

- Goblin Spearmen has replaced the now obsolete goblin pikemen with better anims.

- Hill Trolls from RotWK has been added as early game trolls.

- Cave Trolls are vastly expanded with new and adjusted animations and.

- Mountain Giants are reworked into Stone Giants and will be summons only from Spell Book.

- Spiderlings are removed and made into offspring of Shelob only.

- All goblin units, trolls and giants has been given the SEE Burning Death FX.

- Shelob has been given more powers and now feature the movie accurate Hero Webbing as well as Poison Stinger, Spiderling Offspring, Terror and Tunnel.

Edited by Nazgûl, 10 October 2011 - 12:59 PM.

[The Best Guest]

Semi-skilled Mapper TBG here I'm ready to resume work for you whenever you need it Chris.

[njm1983]

Woot, good stuff Naz, behind ya 100%... and now I feel that itch to begin mapping again.

[Nazgûl]

I posted earlier, but the forum/site crashed...
Thanks TBG! =) NJM is the chief mapper though so I'm gonna let him decide if and when he might need some help. I have a wish though, and that is that a mapper will also set up the skyboxes. I think I can dig up how it's done, and worst cae scenario I can do it myself, but it is very time consuming sice I want all BFME1, BFME2 and RotWK maps, so I rather concentrate on coding and other things. I would assume that a good mapper is not only capable of assembling a beautiful and functional map, but also have an equally artistic eye for what kind of sky would fit in a particular map (day/night, clear/cloudy, dawn/sunset, sunny/rainy, etc). If not, I can help/decide what skytexture goes to what map. I made a bunch of them back in the days when I helped with RJ Cam.

[KingElessar2384]

Greetings everyone So glad that SEE is rebuilding. U guys have my support!!!!
Thx

[ElessartheHigh]

Congrats on the reborn ! I'm glad to see you won't let it unfinished . But did you say NINE factions ? I think you only release Evil Men .

[Nazgûl]

- Gondor
- Rohan
- Lothlorien
- Erebor

- Mordor
- Isengard
- Moria
- Rhûn
- Harad

...and no, elves won't be split

[Phil]

Nice to see you're giving it another shot

[Nazgûl]

Thanks, after last night I'm almost calling it a third shot though...
I had the Fissure done, right after the Cave, and suddenly I got "greedy" and thought I'd save repo space by not adding the Fissure at once (like I did with the Cave) so moved on. Since everything had progressesed so smoothly (even though slooowly) I it was time to go for the fortress. THAT was a misstake (at this stage). Aparently here's where a lot of Sûl's AI coding is located. So besides the fact that a fortress ini is huuuge and that it refers to a series of other object inis that also would have to be adapted - they also refer to a lot of Sûl's new and exclusive (non EA) AI inis. So I had to mess with that too, and I ended up coding the fortress from about 10 pm (22) to 05 am. I had about 13-15 ini codes open in Notepad at the same time, and I couldn't stop in the midst of things. And the more I got done (converted), the more codes showed up that needed further coding and adapting to fit this new setup (where for instance the "M_" macro is no longer used. I got to the SEE made walls for moria, since the fortress reference to them, and that opened up another can of XX number of inis that needed adapting *sighs* At this our I was beat so I got lost. And now the game crashes cause of a never ending stream of missing references

In other words, I have to roll back to when only the Cave was updated and I was about to start with the Fissure. This time I will update after each successful step. The problem with fortresses is that all connected and affected inis will have to be fully adapted for the game to run, and there are a LOT of them. I'll try again... but this should give you an idea of why this project will probably take a very very very long time...

[Ridder Blauw]

Made the same mistake coding 4.7 Naz, I forgot to update the repo and lost lots of work.

[Ridder Geel]

Just keep on going, you will get there eventually!
Perhaps i can take a look at the fortresses for you later, seeing the fact that you do not seem to like their "huge" codes?

@RB if you do it right, and start the game every few changes... Or whatever, it should be easy to do things without having to update the repo... And you should be quicker to spot the problems... Or you can of course ask me to check it out for you

Edited by Ridder Geel, 11 September 2011 - 10:28 AM.

[Ridder Blauw]

You didnt know what happened either.... but lets stay on topic.

[Nazgûl]

got the fortress in... struggling with the AI now...

[njm1983]

Hey.... Thought you were gonna wait on AI until after all the buildings and units make it in? Anyways glad to see this is moving forward. Let me know when you think a faction is complete enough that I can update my version - I needs to play with SEE to keep my motivation going precioussssss.

[Nazgûl]

I though so too, but the AI is so intangled with the fortress ini that I HAVE to adapt it too. Otherwise it would be several loose ends everywhere to go back to later. So there's no escape, I have to do the AI too... at least for the fortresses

However, as of a few minutes ago, I finally got it working. Moria fortress and its AI base is now updated to 4.7 status and the game runs. I just checked how the AI built an entire Moria base according to my directions in the generic BSE map and the AI build plot coding adaptations from Sûl's old codes. Everything is built 100% correct, except those structures I havent gotten to yet (Troll Drum, new Warg Pit, etc).

[njm1983]

Well that makes sense, I always figure if your doing something outside of the initial plan - its a necessary evil.

Awesome - looking forward to messing with Moria. Gonna need to refresh myself on using the repo again..... a little side note Ive got some texturing done on Bree and another new map in the pipeline - a location Ive wanted to do for a long time.

[Nazgûl]

Sounds good!

yeah the repo is a friggin pain in the neck. As soon as I change somethin in my file structure, hell breaks loose. Atm, I'm on my 5th try in trying to add all the old SEE assets (art)...

[Elric]

sounds like a drag. But worth it!

p.s: Who is the main coder now? Other then you.

Edited by Dragon Rider, 12 September 2011 - 02:31 AM.

[Ridder Blauw]

Nazgûl is the Head Coder for SEE, but me and someone else will be doing some supportive coding where Nazgûl requires it.

[Ridder Geel]

I'm not sure where my place exactly is in all this, so you would have to ask Nazgul