Topic: Newbie needs help  (Read 8561 times)

0 Members and 3 Guests are viewing this topic.

Offline elkhartgreg

  • Lt. Junior Grade
  • *
  • Posts: 32
Newbie needs help
« on: March 15, 2011, 12:25:33 pm »
Hi, everyone!  I came across SFC at a garage sale a few months back and LOVE it.  I'm ready to move up to SFC2-E@W and have a question:  Is it possible to take some of the ships like the Bismark and the Klingon "frignaught" and use them on SFC2?  If so, how do you do that?

Also, I noticed that their are custom ships;  Is it possible to take a Hydran battleship and use the Battlestar Galactica fighters with it?  If so, how?

Any other advice would be welcome...

Thanks!

Offline atheorhaven

  • Lt. Commander
  • *
  • Posts: 1801
    • Mare Imbrium Shipyards
Re: Newbie needs help
« Reply #1 on: March 15, 2011, 12:57:44 pm »
Some of the work has already been done for you through the ages, ships like the Ulysses and all (I think) of the original ships have long since been converted to SFC 2.  A lot of the mod packs out there for SFC 2 will have these ships included for you already.

But as a general rule, the version before ships will work in the next version (SFC 1 -> SFC 2, SFC 2 -> SFC 3) but usually not the reverse.  SFC 1 will crash with an unconverted SFC 2 ship ingame, and SFC 3 ships will fire from odd places in SFC 2.  That being said you can use a SFC 1 ship in SFC 2 (it'll have no illumination textures though), and a SFC 2 ship will have no glows and fire from odd spots in SFC 3.
..ooOOoo..totally useless information..ooOOoo..

Mare Imbrium Shipyards - http://mareimbrium.webhop.net

Don't bother checking out my website for the most recent updates, because I've
been too lazy to update it!  Check Battleclinic!

Offline TAnimaL

  • Lt.
  • *
  • Posts: 772
  • Gender: Male
    • Combat Logs from the Cold Depths of Space
Re: Newbie needs help
« Reply #2 on: March 15, 2011, 03:18:02 pm »
Some quick and dirty advice on how to get custom ships into your SFC:EAW

First, do a search of these boards, 'cause I'm sure that it's beens asked before, and what I know I probably learned it here!

There are a number of sites where you can find models, but the biggest  is Battleclinic - http://sfc.battleclinic.com/index.php - and the descroption will tell you whether they're for SFC1, 2, 3...

in the games "Assets" folder, in a folder named "Specs" there are some files, "shiplist.txt" (for ships) and "ftrlist.txt" (for fighter) (WAIT, STOP - backup these files someplace safe first!) If open these in Excel (you backed them up, right?) and scroll along the columns, you'll find that each ship points to a model in (duh) model folder in "Assets." You can edit this entry (after you backed up, right? Right?) to get the model to use another model you've d/loaded and placed in the model folder. After saving (as a tab delineated txt file), you'll see that ship use your new model in EAW (as long as the model is for SFC1, EAW, or OP).

Oh, almost forgot. If you have made an altered shiplist or ftrlist, you also have to save a copy to a folder called "MetaAssets" in the SFC II root folder. Needs to be in both - the game randomly pulls the ship/ftrlist from either folder, IIRC.

I've replaced the "3rd Gen" Romulan ships with various BSG models in my SFC:OP game by a slightly different method, which I started describing here
http://bylennon.com/SFX/
[it's a WIP for now, but this ship replacement method I suggest (in the "ship model changes" part of my page )works for both EAW & OP]

Do a little research, elkhartgreg. It's not that hard to accomplish (after all, I managed it) and it can make a great game even better

Offline TAnimaL

  • Lt.
  • *
  • Posts: 772
  • Gender: Male
    • Combat Logs from the Cold Depths of Space
Re: Newbie needs help
« Reply #3 on: March 15, 2011, 03:41:54 pm »
ok, Did a quick search and found these mostly relevant threads:

http://www.dynaverse.net/forum/index.php/topic,16382236.msg1122178857.html#msg1122178857 

http://www.dynaverse.net/forum/index.php/topic,163390862.msg1123013805.html#msg1123013805

http://www.dynaverse.net/forum/index.php/topic,163376268.msg1122819795.html#msg1122819795


These will also describe how to create new ships, and they recommend (as do I) the wonderful ShipEdit program - particularly good for modifying existing ships.

Offline elkhartgreg

  • Lt. Junior Grade
  • *
  • Posts: 32
Re: Newbie needs help
« Reply #4 on: March 15, 2011, 08:36:00 pm »
Thanks, guys!  I'm been messing-around with ShipEdit version2 for my SFC1 tonight and am a little lost, even with the tutorial.  It's not clear in some places and leaves me going "Huh?  What?".  Also, I'm having problems saving my edited .txt file in Specs because it's giving me a read-only message. 

Thoughts/advice?
Thanks again...

Offline atheorhaven

  • Lt. Commander
  • *
  • Posts: 1801
    • Mare Imbrium Shipyards
Re: Newbie needs help
« Reply #5 on: March 15, 2011, 08:47:50 pm »
Thanks, guys!  I'm been messing-around with ShipEdit version2 for my SFC1 tonight and am a little lost, even with the tutorial.  It's not clear in some places and leaves me going "Huh?  What?".  Also, I'm having problems saving my edited .txt file in Specs because it's giving me a read-only message. 
Thoughts/advice?
Thanks again...

Been a while since I used ShipEdit because I usually mod the game through adding in my own stuff.. but this one is pretty simple.  Check for ship*.* (any file that begins with the word ship)under the SFC directory and then right click on the file, bring up Properties, and finally uncheck anything resembling read-only in the attributes.  That should clear that error for you.  :)
..ooOOoo..totally useless information..ooOOoo..

Mare Imbrium Shipyards - http://mareimbrium.webhop.net

Don't bother checking out my website for the most recent updates, because I've
been too lazy to update it!  Check Battleclinic!

Offline Czar Mohab

  • Faith manages.
  • Lt.
  • *
  • Posts: 564
  • Gender: Male
  • Chewie - Go jiggle the handle!
Re: Newbie needs help
« Reply #6 on: March 15, 2011, 09:06:49 pm »
...  Also, I'm having problems saving my edited .txt file in Specs because it's giving me a read-only message. 

Thoughts/advice?
Thanks again...

If clearing the read only attribute isn't enough, AND you are running Vista OR Win7, AND you've installed to the default directory ("C:\Program Files\..." for 32 bit OR "C:\Program Files (x86)\..." for 64 bit), you'll need to run shipedit as administrator (right click shortcut, then click "run as administrator" OR set compatability mode to "run as administrator".
US Navy Veteran - Proud to Serve
Submariners Do It Underwater - Nukes Do It Back Aft - Pride Runs Deep
Have you thanked a Vet lately?

Subaru Owners Do It Horizontally Opposed!
Proud Owner - '08 WRX - '03 Baja - '98 Legacy

Offline Bonk

  • Commodore
  • *
  • Posts: 13298
  • You don't have to live like a refugee.
Re: Newbie needs help
« Reply #7 on: March 15, 2011, 10:11:44 pm »
Space: 1999!!!

Space 1999 Intro


(sorry, just had to get that out of my system, some of those fighter screenshots made me instantly think of the Space: 1999 Eagles, small trip down memory lane ... 1999 ... so optimistic, makes me think of the original Buck Rogers too. My brother once asked my mother when we were kids: "Can I go see Buck Rogers in the 25th Century?" - "That's about when you'll see him." she dryly replied.  ;D)

Offline GotAFarmYet?

  • Lt. Commander
  • *
  • Posts: 1189
Re: Newbie needs help
« Reply #8 on: March 16, 2011, 01:26:51 am »
Thanks, guys!  I'm been messing-around with ShipEdit version2 for my SFC1 tonight and am a little lost, even with the tutorial.  It's not clear in some places and leaves me going "Huh?  What?".  Also, I'm having problems saving my edited .txt file in Specs because it's giving me a read-only message. 

Thoughts/advice?
Thanks again...

Pitty you came here just before we shut down for site upgrades to the server, we will be back but you will be stuck for a week.

Open windows explorer, go to where you installed the game and go to that files location right click on the file and turn off the read only setting on the attributes area, apply and that is it.
any other questions just ask what you want to know and we can probably answer it, if not the two guys that wrote the software are actually around here frome to time.
People always said they wanted the government to listen to them and now the government is listening, taking notes and names...and coming to see you soon!

America-Not the land of the free anymore...
 Its the land of the freeloaders

Remember the axiom of big government bureaucrats: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. When, finally, under the crushing weight of taxes and regulation, it stops moving, subsidize it.

Offline TAnimaL

  • Lt.
  • *
  • Posts: 772
  • Gender: Male
    • Combat Logs from the Cold Depths of Space
Re: Newbie needs help
« Reply #9 on: March 16, 2011, 08:05:30 am »
Eagles are the most awesome-loooking PFs! My archnemesis has been flying them against me for25 years, back in the days of the paper game and hexmap!

But my real wish for SFC is Hawks...

Someone has to do Hawks.

Offline atheorhaven

  • Lt. Commander
  • *
  • Posts: 1801
    • Mare Imbrium Shipyards
Re: Newbie needs help
« Reply #10 on: March 16, 2011, 10:11:10 am »
Eagles are the most awesome-loooking PFs! My archnemesis has been flying them against me for25 years, back in the days of the paper game and hexmap!

But my real wish for SFC is Hawks...
Someone has to do Hawks.

Hawks can be kitbashed.. ;)  Just need d/l links for SFC Eagles and other Space:1999 ships to work from..
..ooOOoo..totally useless information..ooOOoo..

Mare Imbrium Shipyards - http://mareimbrium.webhop.net

Don't bother checking out my website for the most recent updates, because I've
been too lazy to update it!  Check Battleclinic!

Offline TAnimaL

  • Lt.
  • *
  • Posts: 772
  • Gender: Male
    • Combat Logs from the Cold Depths of Space
Re: Newbie needs help
« Reply #11 on: March 31, 2011, 11:16:37 am »
my 3D skills are too antiquated and limited to InfiniD and SketchUp to turn an Eagle into a Hawk  :(


altho I did kitbash (kit-delete?) a Eagle with no pod


Offline TAnimaL

  • Lt.
  • *
  • Posts: 772
  • Gender: Male
    • Combat Logs from the Cold Depths of Space
Re: Newbie needs help
« Reply #12 on: March 31, 2011, 11:19:55 am »
and some other photoshopped images for S:1999 fans

Offline atheorhaven

  • Lt. Commander
  • *
  • Posts: 1801
    • Mare Imbrium Shipyards
Re: Newbie needs help
« Reply #13 on: March 31, 2011, 12:04:29 pm »
my 3D skills are too antiquated and limited to InfiniD and SketchUp to turn an Eagle into a Hawk  :(
altho I did kitbash (kit-delete?) a Eagle with no pod

See above... if I can get a download link for an Eagle, I'm willing to try kitbashing a Wasp for all.. ;)

So original credits from the Eagle needed so I can see who I need to contact to ask permission to kitbash a Wasp from their work.. but I'm certainly willing to give it a try..
..ooOOoo..totally useless information..ooOOoo..

Mare Imbrium Shipyards - http://mareimbrium.webhop.net

Don't bother checking out my website for the most recent updates, because I've
been too lazy to update it!  Check Battleclinic!

Offline Bernard Guignard

  • Cad Schematics are our Speciality
  • Lt.
  • *
  • Posts: 888
  • Gender: Male
  • Trek Canon!!! I NO believe in TreK Canon!!!.
Re: Newbie needs help
« Reply #14 on: April 02, 2011, 06:49:18 am »
Atra created an Eagle Model If I remember rightly

Offline TAnimaL

  • Lt.
  • *
  • Posts: 772
  • Gender: Male
    • Combat Logs from the Cold Depths of Space
Re: Newbie needs help
« Reply #15 on: April 02, 2011, 10:21:40 pm »
that's the same model by atrahasis that I've been using, but I'm pretty sure I have one by someone else, if that matters in kitbashing...

Offline Bernard Guignard

  • Cad Schematics are our Speciality
  • Lt.
  • *
  • Posts: 888
  • Gender: Male
  • Trek Canon!!! I NO believe in TreK Canon!!!.
Re: Newbie needs help
« Reply #16 on: April 03, 2011, 06:55:59 am »
well if someone is going to make a hawk this will be helpful   ;D

Offline atheorhaven

  • Lt. Commander
  • *
  • Posts: 1801
    • Mare Imbrium Shipyards
Re: Newbie needs help
« Reply #17 on: April 03, 2011, 12:06:19 pm »
Atra created an Eagle Model If I remember rightly

Bernard, thanks for coming through.  :D

I'll also use the sheets you uploaded, I'd downloaded some but they weren't as detailed as what you have.  (Of course, you seem to always be the guy for that, it's a great asset for the community here).  ;)

Thanks again.. will try to get something out by the end of next weekend (my honey-do list has me hopping during the week usually)..
..ooOOoo..totally useless information..ooOOoo..

Mare Imbrium Shipyards - http://mareimbrium.webhop.net

Don't bother checking out my website for the most recent updates, because I've
been too lazy to update it!  Check Battleclinic!

Offline Bernard Guignard

  • Cad Schematics are our Speciality
  • Lt.
  • *
  • Posts: 888
  • Gender: Male
  • Trek Canon!!! I NO believe in TreK Canon!!!.
Re: Newbie needs help
« Reply #18 on: April 04, 2011, 05:57:38 pm »
Atra created an Eagle Model If I remember rightly

Bernard, thanks for coming through.  :D

I'll also use the sheets you uploaded, I'd downloaded some but they weren't as detailed as what you have.  (Of course, you seem to always be the guy for that, it's a great asset for the community here).  ;)

Thanks again.. will try to get something out by the end of next weekend (my honey-do list has me hopping during the week usually)..

I can reach that  when ever the better half says I've been thinking I cringe at what is coming next  ;)  ;D  Glad that I could help out

Offline atheorhaven

  • Lt. Commander
  • *
  • Posts: 1801
    • Mare Imbrium Shipyards
Re: Newbie needs help
« Reply #19 on: April 04, 2011, 10:11:47 pm »
WIP shot.. not complete yet.  :)

Tuesday edit: more complete.  Have a hole in the pod to fix, and texture work but the mesh is more or less complete now.
« Last Edit: April 06, 2011, 12:47:05 am by atheorhaven »
..ooOOoo..totally useless information..ooOOoo..

Mare Imbrium Shipyards - http://mareimbrium.webhop.net

Don't bother checking out my website for the most recent updates, because I've
been too lazy to update it!  Check Battleclinic!