The horror, the horror

**Vyktrius** · May 02, 2006, 02:20 AM

If any of you have ever dared to take a look at the sprites folder you know why it would seem no one dares to make one of there own. But I have a few questions to any one who knows how they work. Am I correct in assuming that the skeletons and models don't govern the sprite movement? I may be wrong so if someone knows better please tell me. And how can you tell if they are working as they should? The reason I ask this is well... unimportant so please answer these questions if you can.

**eastsidehighrise** · May 02, 2006, 02:25 AM

actually as of rome total war 1.2 CA's 'sprite generator' can now be activated. the sprite tgas may seem very painstaking to create, but its all a rather automated process... well thats how sprites are made at least

**Vyktrius** · May 02, 2006, 02:27 AM

whoa, whoa. What?! The sprites make themselves? That would explain one thing but... how do I get that to work?

**eastsidehighrise** · May 02, 2006, 02:48 AM

yes, if you follow certain instructions rtw can actually create the sprite files for any unit, vanilla or custom, that you want. there is a guide over at totalwar.org, heres the specific link...

sprite generator... CA?

I never had a problem creating a custom set of unit sprites a while back, if u go through the thread you should be able to get an exact idea of what you need to do

**Vyktrius** · May 02, 2006, 03:32 AM

Okay, now where can I get a program to convert my .tga's to DDS's?

**eastsidehighrise** · May 02, 2006, 04:02 AM

look for "dds converter", probably on download.com. its freeware, effective, and the one that i used.

mind you, theres a fair bit of work involved to create your own sprites and make them work in-game, its all quite achievable though.

**Vyktrius** · May 02, 2006, 04:46 AM

I have to say. That is the most AWSOME thing EVER!!!. I have literally dozens of units that don't have their own sprites and this is spectacular. I mean I can even create sprites for flagbearer units...with flags! Now if only something like this existed for unit cards.

**Lusted** · May 02, 2006, 04:49 AM

It does, 3ds max, once you have the right stuff you can do top quality unit cards in minutes.

**Vyktrius** · May 02, 2006, 05:27 AM

Well now I have another problem. I can create sprites quickly and easily but there is no alpha so when it gets to the sprite distance it puts a black square with the sprite picture in the middle. Is there a way I can make a working alpha en masse or do I have to do it by hand as i have been? That is, creating and alpha, sending it to paint, whiting out all the stuff that I should see and blacking out all that I shouldn't. There has to be a better way. Somebody help, please.

**eastsidehighrise** · May 02, 2006, 05:52 AM

perhaps you need to save the sprite tgas with the alpha channel retained. and sorry about that program i suggested earlier, it isnt on download.com any longer. this is the program i meant to suggest, albeit located on a different site: DDS Converter 2.1

and the thing with the flagbearer/standard bearer officers which are added to your units, they do not get their own dedicated sprites in the game engine. they simply use the sprite of the unit to which they are attached; by all means its possible to create a flagbearer/standard bearer sprite, but it would have to be given to the unit and not the flagbearer/standard bearer individual itself - and youd have a whole unit of soldiers who are all standard bearers lol.

**Lusted** · May 02, 2006, 07:02 AM

Yes, you need to save the .tga as a .dds type dxt 5 or similar so it retains the alpha.

**Vyktrius** · May 02, 2006, 12:24 PM

Well that sounds good. I'll see if I can't get it to work that way. Thanks.
Okay, one last question... I hope. Whenever I make sprites there is one file that ends in .spr. Is it necessary that I convert that in to a Dxt 5 DDS file or can I leave it how it is. I think its fine the way it is because i can see the units at a distance. Units always disappear if there isn't a sprite right?

**Lusted** · May 04, 2006, 08:51 AM

Units do not disappear at long ditances if there is no sprite, they jkust go on using 3d models for all distances which drains performance. The .spr file contains all the info for the sprites, and is the one that should be refernced in descr_model_battle.txt. Are you making sprites for new units or old units?

**rstoner** · May 04, 2006, 04:54 AM

No you don't have to do anything to the spr file, it just contains data about the dds/tga files.
Oh, and how many dds/tga files do you get? I used to get loads, but was advised to turn off anti-alaising and put my resolution down to the lowest settings (stratmap and battlemap) before making them.

**Vyktrius** · May 04, 2006, 08:22 PM

Originally Posted by rstoner

No you don't have to do anything to the spr file, it just contains data about the dds/tga files.
Oh, and how many dds/tga files do you get? I used to get loads, but was advised to turn off anti-alaising and put my resolution down to the lowest settings (stratmap and battlemap) before making them.

I only get 1 to 4 depending on the unit. I'm having a little trouble getting them to work completely though. My standard bearers and officers (new ones that is) don't appear. I don't expect them to appear as standard bearers and officers but they just completely dissapear and leave only a shadow. One of my created sprite files has a faulty alpha and I don't know why. Most of my units have something weird happen to them at longer distances. Its like a stripped shadow crosses over them. Its almost as if they disappear but I can't tell. This doesn't happen with the sprites in vanilla RTW. I don't know. I guess I have a lot of text to work out and files to change. But if anyone can help to explain these questions to me that would speed my work up that would be appreciated.