Modding assistance - Where do I start?

posted on April 21st, 2009, 9:55 pm

Okay. I have been dying to find a game which is (an RTS) and is awesome enough for what I want. I found this, epic awesome win etc etc...

I have a copy of stock A2 in my documents as a backup, so I am wanting to make a mod for it based on another game I play, however, I am inexperienced at both programming and coding. So, the questions I pose to you are as follows:

How do I make a good looking model? I have Wings 3d, and I am getting used to it. Blender just had wayyyyyyyyyyy too many buttons for me to try and cope with.

Can the torpedos from stock A2 be re-coloured into shades like blue, red etc?

Can beams be recoloured also?

Can models (custom models, which I will make with wings 3d) be imported into stock A2?

Thanks in advance,

-Delta

posted on April 22nd, 2009, 6:55 am

i dont know much about Wings 3d, but there are SOD (the Armada2 model format) exporters for 3DStudioMax and Milkshape. All 2D Graphics (like weapon effects) are simple TGA files and can be recolored with Photoshop for example.
You wont need much coding to mod Armada2, as the ODF files (the files that hold the attributes for a vessel, like its shieldpower or its weapons) are simple config files that do not even allow to "code" procedures yourself. If you want to use more advanced elements like we used in Fleet Operations, you may want to take a look at the Patch Project, available from our download page.

Happy moding

posted on April 22nd, 2009, 7:06 am

Thanks, Optec.

posted on April 27th, 2009, 5:29 pm

All good advice but the place to start I think in any case is Wesworlds Big Book of Modding, it's an invaluable reference and will tell you almost everything you ever need to know.

Here:

http://armada2.filefront.com/file/Westworlds_Big_Book_Of_Modding;8835

Other than that there's starbase 34 which is also a grate help:

http://www.starbase34.net/

Neither of these contain any of the new patch project commands but those are just small asides you can pick up later.

Good Luck 

posted on April 30th, 2009, 9:26 pm

Thanks a bunch!! 

posted on May 11th, 2009, 3:01 am

So i wanted to start modding A2  just simlpe little things to start out.. so what would be simple to do i need some suggestions cause im lost in what to star with.

I would love some help if anyone had the time.

posted on May 11th, 2009, 3:23 am

If you wan't help modding .odfs, just PM me any questions.  I can help alot with that, and I have time

posted on May 11th, 2009, 10:31 pm

Ok thanks i will   

posted on May 12th, 2009, 7:49 pm

I gave up my project, because I have no real experience (let alone skill) at 3d modelling, and the mod I wanted to make would make me re-model over 60 ships from a game called Darkspace. I will try and get better at modelling, but until then I am just going to play.

posted on May 12th, 2009, 8:22 pm

Don't worry, you are not alone.   I'll stick to my odfs 

posted on May 12th, 2009, 9:05 pm

Don't forget to add specials to the build list! Made that mistake, and it took me weeks to write the friggin' Replaceweapon. I can't model, by the way.

posted on May 13th, 2009, 12:09 am

Soo i need some help. i wanted to take a turrent and duplicate it and put differnt weapons on it and make a third turrent for a race. this is in Stock armada 2. i don't want to make any new models (yet) i just want to add a differnt weapon and diffent stats making it stronger and just useing a model of an already existing turrnet.  and add it to the build list and name it something differnt..  Can any one tell me if this is possible by just editing the odfs?

posted on May 13th, 2009, 12:46 am

It will take some work, not just by editing odfs, but it is still putty easy and I can also help with that.

posted on May 13th, 2009, 1:18 am

I have a question about adding weapons to ships in FO. If say for example I add a weapon(pulsed phaser) to the akira would I also have to add it to its leveled up versions as well in the ODF's In order for it to actually take affect?

Also Im wondering if anybody knows of a way to view FO ships "hardpoints" in storm 3d or Milkshape? Im still new to Milkshape and I see that the storm 3d viewer for armada 2 dosent quite work corectly for FO ships.

posted on May 13th, 2009, 3:06 am

yes you would also i dont know about storm 3d but you need the sod importer to view files in milkshape.