Revision as of 09:57, 4 May 2011

Methods of model addition

I wanted to include a set of ship models to the project. I couldn't reliably do that until I started using the NSIS installer kit which allows me to script some actions, such as file install, directory copying, and file attribute manipulations. Thanks NullSoft. :)

OP+ 4.1 includes some 343 Models installed from the 3 different methods listed below. I invite you to download OP 4.1 and try it out for yourself. Feel free to replace any models you want. As long you don't change the other files, you'll be completely compatible to other OP+ 4.1 players.

Note: The installer will require over 750mb of space.

Model Replacement

This project's view is not to replace all the models that are already in the SFC:OP game. Instead, it is designed to enhance it and improve the gameplay experience. Many of the standard models are still being referenced by the shiplist. Example: The standard FCA model is still used to represent the + refit u applied to Federation cruisers. Pre + refit ships are considered to be of TOS style, and have models to properly reflect that technology.

Below: a F-CAR+ (left) and a TOS-style F-CA (right)

Model Separation

Sometimes, different models altogether were used. The current models with the stock game can be unflexible when trying to represent the variants that exist for certain ship classes. Example: The Taldren KCL model is perfect if there was only D5 variants to worry about. Unfortunately, there's also the D5W variants and the LTT Tug variant (D5H).

Below: a K-D5W (left), a K-D5 (center) and a K-D5H (right) .. (from OP+ 3.0)

Example: The Federation Dreadnought Line-Up Below: a F-DN+ (left), a F-DN (center) and a F-DNG (right)

Model Resizing

The 3rd method I've used to include new models.. is not by including models at all. By specifying a different size in Assets/Models/model.siz, and by copying the desired model from the Taldren stock, new ship models are generated. Example: I didn't find Romulan purchased Klingon ships' models I liked better than Taldren's own. By copying the RCA stock model into RKR and RKCR models, I can control the sizes of the 2 new ones appropriately.

Below: a R-KR (left), a R-K7R (center) and a R-KCR (right) .. (from OP+ 3.0)

Other model tweaks

LODs (Levels of Detail)

In OP+, all models have been updated to guarantee having levels of details to reduce CPU load while playing the game. The idea is that if the ship is too far in gameplay, it can't be looked at properly anyhow.. .. so why waste CPU cycles? Some ships have well over 3000 polys on their primary LOD.

Example:

• LOD 1: 2316 polys

• LOD 2: 1215 polys

• LOD 3: 730 polys

Break MODs

All ships should now have appropriate break models. They should all be detailed enough so that each piece doesn't have a missing portion where you can see through the entire piece (because there is no poly facing you).

Example, a piece from a F-FF: