Some n00b questions

[luckless666]

Hi all,

 

Just a few annoying n00b questions you've probably been asked millions of times, but just need clearing up. (Can you include technical side of doing these if they are possible too please, or point me to where i should be looking? Cheers):

 

1) Can you edit and/or change the main galaxy map picture displayed on the main screen (the one where you view all the systems)?

2) Can you change the names of sectors and planets?

3) Can you change the number of sectors generated? (I'm assuming not, as we don't have access to the source code and the locations are fixed)?

4a) Can you change the mission briefing (or rather, what C3PO etc. says at the beginning)?

4b) Can you change C3PO (Again, I'm assuming not. He looks pretty fixed in position)?

5) Are there any good tuts to look at?

6) Has anyone started a petition to get the source released? (Benefits for this include updating the tactical engine to support new features from Directx 9.0b (or is it 9.0a presently?). Could use normal maps on the ships to get some truely gorgeous graphics!!)

7) Whats the best Modelling app to use with the models. I got Blender and Wings3D.

Any other useful tools (other than RebED, etc. ie Sound Editors, graphic apps (I got PSP 5.0) etc.)

 

Errr... think thats it! As I said, all basic stuff, but it'll hopefully put me on the right footing. I'm presently just hoping to make a MOD that is just about space combat, with minimum planetary micromanagement.

 

PS

9) Can you select which which planets you start with (i.e. have the galaxy completely split in two, no neutrals)?

10) Can you make Outer Rim planets viewable without needing porbots/scouts?

 

God, thats a lot.

PPS I used the search feature before i asked. couldnt find the info i needed. Thanks!!!

[Trejiuvanat]

Hi luckless,

 

here are some short answers:

 

1) Yes, you might want to use ResourceHacker to find the bitmap within Strategy.DLL and then replace it.

 

2)Yes, use RebEd for that, or do it directly in the TEXTSTRA.DLL file, it's the 729-761 strings.

 

3)In RebEd you can uncheck the active check and have less sectors, but no more, again in RebEd you can move them around.

 

4a) Yes and no, you can change the pertaining Sound files, but not what the briefing shows.

4b) Yes, it's a tough job to do.

 

5) There is a tut for exchaning fighters, look around in the threads for some info on texturing models

 

6) Yes but LEC won't do it.

 

7) Ask the_mask or Chimera, they are the ones who are into modelling.

 

8 )ResourceHacker is a must, of course and PSP 5.0 will do fine.

 

9) No, not without the source code.

 

10)Yes, check the colonized check in RebEd, that will make them viewable and neutral. oddly the Rebel HW will be revealed and the planet will have a strong Imperial support.

[luckless666]

Thanks for the quick response. Another question. sorry...

 

Can you modify your starting resources? and can you modify how much maintainence each ship is (i assuming yes for ship maintenace).

 

Just gonna get Resource Hacker. Cheers again

 

//luckless666

[the_mask]

Hi,

 

sure you can. The indirect way would be to make more planets colonized and setting their importance higher. That should result in having more planets with their apropriate resources at the beginning.

 

The maintenance for each unit (ships, fighters, troops,..) can be set in RebEd, right beside the construction cost.

[Cain]

Thanks for the quick response. Another question. sorry...

 

Can you modify your starting resources? and can you modify how much maintainence each ship is (i assuming yes for ship maintenace).

 

Just gonna get Resource Hacker. Cheers again

 

//luckless666

 

 

It seems that you didn't play with the RebEd v.0.26 !?... try it !...also try TC and scenarios from the Admirals'Nightmares froum....welcome here also !

 

Seeya.

 

 

BTW. FOR TREJ.....how can I change the .wavs....the big and small ones ....Mask explain it but I still want to try to do it with RebEd so do you know any trik to do it ....?

[the_mask]

The problem is, that RebEd can only replace files with the same length. So if your file is shorter, you'd have to make it as long to be accepted, also if your file is longer it wouldn't work, because of this.

 

Give it a try with ResHacker, it doesn't care about the lengths

[Cain]

Ok I WILL ...anyway not now but when I will finish all my cards I will start to work on waves....btw I happy that you liked admirals'nightmares when you finish to see all post don't forget to post your opinion

[luckless666]

Ok another question (but this is modelling related)

 

Does anyone know a free (or cheap) modelling package that IMPORTs .X files. I have an exporter, and thats fine, but i'd like to have a go with fiddling with the game models (and using them as bases).

 

Cheers

 

(PS No i haven't tried RebED yet due to the fact i only just discovered it, and im at uni. what relevance is this? well, my copy of rebellion is at home, a 250 mile gap. sigh... Just wanted to clear up a few things before my bro sends it up to me in the post.)

 

TO CAIN...will try them as soon as I can. should be a week max, a few days more probably...

[Chimera]

Lithunwrap 1.3 by Brian Bolthouse (?) reads x files... if you go to his page, he has a new program that you have to pay for, but if you search the net you should be able to find a copy of his old program.

 

It also exports x files, but some have reported problems (like me! ) You can save as .3ds files and convert to x with no problem if you use conv3ds.

[the_mask]

*cough*Brad Bolthouse's program can also be found on my page. After finding it once myself, I asked him, if it would be ok with him to put it there and he didn't mind at all

 

My page's URL is in under the www button in this post

[Cain]

Hey ...make a topic with your page and Mask staff.... I'm always loosing the adress ...also could you add there the last smaker that can see new tipes of avi movies or dvix ....!?....and also that program for screen capture....like Mask's coolest links...btw did you try the Clone's Return and Last Moff Exile ?.....did you lose !....I gues you did ....

[Trejiuvanat]

There already is a topic with mask's page and when it's updated, there is also a link under every one of mask's posts. It's the tiny button that says "www", Cain.

A Smacker is already in mask's site, the program for screen capture would definetely be welcome, so mask, put it up!

[luckless666]

I've visited masked site and downloaded all the tools i think. whats this screen capture tool? Can't you just press print screen, alt-shift out, open up a gfx app and paste it as a new image? Long way round i know.

[Chimera]

The Viscount model needs a .rsc card, and a screen capture program would work great for that!

[the_mask]

You can press ALT-PRINT, while having the model in Lith's 3D preview

 

The screenshot tool would be Hypersnap. But I don't think they'll let me put it on my site. Their adress sounds something like hyperonics ... (ask google )