Shooting Arcani

[Boss]

I want to make my arcani shoot.

So far, i've changed the stats in export_descr_unit.txt so that they can shoot;
type roman arcani
dictionary roman_arcani ; Arcani
category infantry
class heavy
voice_type Light_1
soldier roman_arcani, 16, 0, 1
attributes sea_faring, hide_improved_forest, hide_long_grass, hide_anywhere, very_hardy
formation 1.2, 1.2, 2.4, 2.4, 3, square
stat_health 2, 0
stat_pri 17, 4, arrow, 145, 30, missile, archery, piercing, none, 25 ,1
stat_pri_attr no
stat_sec 22, 3, no, 0, 0, melee, simple, piercing, sword, 25 ,1
stat_sec_attr no
stat_pri_armour 7, 16, 2, metal
stat_sec_armour 0, 0, flesh
stat_heat 0
stat_ground 0, 0, 6, 6
stat_mental 12, normal, untrained
stat_charge_dist 30
stat_fire_delay 0
stat_food 60, 300
stat_cost 2, 1200, 600, 900, 140, 900
ownership romans_julii, romans_brutii, romans_scipii, romans_senate

I also changed the descr_model_battle to allow them to actually shoot, so the game doesnt crash to desktop. ;

type roman_arcani
skeleton fs_semi_fast_archer, fs_semi_fast_swordsman
indiv_range 40
texture romans_julii, data/models_unit/textures/unit_roman_arcanii_julii.tga
texture romans_brutii, data/models_unit/textures/unit_roman_arcanii_brutii.tga
texture romans_scipii, data/models_unit/textures/unit_roman_arcanii_scipii.tga
texture romans_senate, data/models_unit/textures/unit_roman_arcanii_senate.tga
model_flexi data/models_unit/unit_roman_arcanii_high.cas, 15
model_flexi data/models_unit/unit_roman_arcanii_med.cas, 30
model_flexi data/models_unit/unit_roman_arcanii_low.cas, 40
model_flexi data/models_unit/unit_roman_arcanii_lowest.cas, max
model_sprite romans_senate, 60.0, data/sprites/romans_senate_roman_arcani_sprite.spr
model_sprite romans_scipii, 60.0, data/sprites/romans_scipii_roman_arcani_sprite.spr
model_sprite romans_brutii, 60.0, data/sprites/romans_brutii_roman_arcani_sprite.spr
model_sprite romans_julii, 60.0, data/sprites/romans_julii_roman_arcani_sprite.spr
model_tri 400, 0.5f, 0.5f, 0.5f

So, they can shoot, and they're powerful, but also low in numbers. Currently when they shoot, they just hold their two swords kinda like an "X" and an arrow comes flying out.

Im working on the rough outline of the unit to the finished product, thus i started with "ok they can shoot". Now i want to give them a bow, next, a new texture, unit card, etc.

Is it as simple as changing a text file, or do I have to change the model in 3dsmax?
Any help would be appreciated.

[kshcshbash]

edit them in 3DS Max, I think

[John I Tzimisces]

If the units work ingame, and they don't have a bow, you'll probably have to give them a bow yourself using the 3d-modeling program, 3DS max, then. I don't make units, but that seems to be the gist of how it is done...

[Boss]

Sorry i was gone for a couple days.

Ok, so I'm in 3d max. How exactly do i put a bow onto my arcani, give it some texture (even just a dark brown from the skin, to make it look like wood), and make it work in game?

I've looked at the tutorials for 3dmax at this and other sites, but they all deal with stuff that i really dont need, and i havent found a simple switching one.

[Goscinio]

Simply import an archer model ( Guide. ) and delete everything except the bow ( and probably the quiver as well? ). Then just import the arcani model, and link the bow to the bone_Rhand by using the select and link modifier ( the third icon from the left, next to undo and redo ). Just click on the bow and drag your cursor to the furthest bone on the left ( from your point of view in front of the unit ). Same for the quiver, but link it to bone_torso.

For the skin you should add the bow and the quiver from the archer's skin to the arcani skin, using photoshop, gimp ( which is free ), paintshop or another such program. There are some tutorials on skinning ( and most importantly how to save your skin ) in the Tutorials and Walkthroughs subforum. Then you'll probably need to change the bow and quiver's UVW maps ( Guide. )

After that, the only thing left to do is export your arcani model. Hope it helps, but I bet it's really confusing. PM me if you have questions, and I'll try and answer them ( probably with some pictures, for which I don't have time now ).

[Boss]

Thanks Goscinio. I was trying things out on my own and I am nearly done. I attached the bow to the left hand bone, because thats where it was on the archer. Right now I just need to update the UVMs, and then export it. Ill post a screeni when I am done.

[Valdemar]

This is just for informational purposes and I apologize that its a bit off-topic, but...

They were called AREANI. I believe that Arcani was a typo that was never caught or corrected. So in addition to making your agent provocateurs into archers, you might want to change the name to their actual title.

Good luck with your mod, and let us know how it turns out. I'm sure others would be interested.

Valdemar

[Boss]

Ok, i was able to attach the bow, and got the textures working, all but one last little thing i wanted to add. I decided to make them greek, cause i really like the greeks (not the greedy romans!) Anyway, i changed the colors, and wanted to add a lambda to his chest. So.... I have:



but, in 3dsmax (yes i saved it) no lambda shows up

(deleted pic)

Edit, im an idiot, i somehow forgot that the chest texture in the dds is half the front and half the back. Anyway, how does the lambda look?

[Boss]

Will do Valdemar, but im changing them up a bit, makin em greek, read above

Ahh, the lambda looked retarded, it copied backwards to the otherside

[Boss]

Dammit, i must be tired, cause i exported the CAS file (no errors), what file do i change so that i uses the new model?