sprites & CAS

[Keyser Soze]

i try to put some new units to the game and i don´t know what about sprites and CAS files. i heard that game generate them automaticly but must i add them before or what?
sorry if it is in no correct forum.

[HeroSK]

Cas files are 3D models for units. Sprites are 2D images for units that will be used while looking unit at long distances. Sprites are used to reduce image calculations for making game faster since 2D images requires less calculations than 3Ds.

Hope this helps.

[Keyser Soze]

thanks. but must i create sprites, or only make folder, named it and the picture will be automaticly generate?

[Aradan]

Yes, you only need the "sprites" folder, the sprite-script.txt and the " -sprite_script" command in the shortcut. The game will generate the actual sprites (.spr and .tga files)

[HeroSK]

visitor, there is a program called Sprite Generator but I never used it before. Here, Sebulba's answer expalains how to make sprites for units.

Hope it helps

[Keyser Soze]

thanks, boys. the program seems good. i´ll try it .

[Keyser Soze]

when i add new units to descr_model_battle.txt must be there for new unit be _sprite.spr or without? like: saxons_BI_saxon_general_sprite.spr
or: saxons_BI_saxon_general

and if i do any little changes on textures of existing units, must i generate new sprites for it too?

[HeroSK]

If you change very little I think you dont need to generate sprite again. However, every new unit need sprites.otherwise it will be invisible at some distance.

[Aradan]

You need both the .tga files (which should be converted to .tga.dds) and the .spr files.

[Keyser Soze]

o.k. but you wrote me that units have usually 1-4 sprites.tga
and for me it generate only one 000.tga, no 001.tga, no 002. tga. will it be problem in game to have only 000.tga?
sorry if i can´t explain exactly my problem.

[Aradan]

Assuming your sprite-script is correct, just use *anything* the game generates. yes, there will be a problem if you remove some of the .tga files, since the game generated them, it needs them.

[Atahualpa]

Hi,
I have followed the instructions that KLA and Sebulba wrote, but the sprites don´t work. I mean, once i have obtained the sprites, put the new sprite line in descr_model_battle.txt and started a new battle with the unit that suppose to have the new sprites, they simply don´t appear: when zoom the image, the unit turns invisible.

are there common errors in this process? what I should have to do?

Please help me.

[Aradan]

Did you use the proper preferences.txt file while generating them?

[Atahualpa]

Did you use the proper preferences.txt file while generating them?

Is it necessary modify the preferences.txt file? I didn´t know that. What´s the "proper" preference.txt to do it?

Thank you

[Aradan]

This one. When you're done generating sprites, replace this with your original prefs file.

[Atahualpa]

This one. When you're done generating sprites, replace this with your original prefs file.

Thanks a lot Aradan, I´ll try and tell you about the result later.

[Atahualpa]

Hi again, it doesn´t work. I replaced the file but nothing. The only tga file that is generated is empty, it doesn´t have any model inside. I´m trying to generate a sprite for a mercenary unit, so in the sprite_script.txt file I write: "gallic_heavy_infantry merc".
Gallic_heavy_infantry is the "type" in my descr_model_battle.txt and there is just a texture for that model.

Any suggestion?

[Aradan]

You need to write "no_faction" instead of "merc" iirc. There's a sprite-generator around here, that can do the dirty work for you, make a search.

[Atahualpa]

So, i have to write "gallic_heavy_infantry no_faction iirc" or
"gallic_heavy_infantry no_faction"?

Thank you very much Aradan.

[Aradan]

lol, iirc is the acronym for If I Recall Correctly.

You need to replace "merc" with "no_faction".


Here, read this: http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showt...45#post4065345