WYSIWYG Graphic Correction Pack - opportunity for beginner skinners

The WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get) Graphic Correction pack

Concept
The WYSIWYG graphic correction pack will address the discrepancies between unit stats and appearance by bringing the ‘look’ of the unit in line with its stats.

Background
In Rome Total War there are numerous examples where the unit’s stats don’t match the unit’s graphics, such as where the unit physically has a shield but gets no shield bonus. This leads to anti-intuitive play because some units do not respond to battle in the way that they appear they should.

Attempts to correct these discrepancies by changing the stats always run into the same problem: the cost. Even if the stats are wrong, the unit appears to have been costed fairly based on those stats. So if, for example, the unit gets a shield bonus is shouldn’t have (because it doesn’t carry a shield) then how do we compensate for the removal of that bonus? Do we lower the cost? Do we raise another attribute? By how much? As so much of this comes down to preference, it has proved impossible to get a general consensus on how the units should be changed.

This pack, therefore, will provide a purely graphical solution to the discrepancies between the unit stats and unit appearance – so players can play with the original CA stats yet have their units properly reflected on the battlefield.

For example: the armoured Pontic general bodyguard unit model carries a shield, and yet they have no shield bonus. WYSIWYG solution: remove the shield!

Code:

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stat_pri_armour  9, 6, 0, metal

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http://www.geocities.com/epistolaryrichard/wysiwyg.jpg

Scope
A list of the figures that are planned to be altered is included below, divided into different categories by the anticipated complexity of the alterations proposed. None of the adjustments to individual skins (with the exception of a few of the tier 3 entries) should take more than an hour and many should be much quicker.

The WYSIWYG attitude is to try and change as little as possible in order to achieve a fair representation. It will also keep to the unit and faction style created by CA so that the new skins blend seamlessly into the game. The alterations are therefore _not_ concerned with (nor try to achieve) historical authenticity.

None of the adjustments are anticipated to take more than half an hour to an hour and we will be looking as far as possible to reuse elements from other models in the same faction. This makes it an ideal project for new skinners who are just learning their skills and what to become involved in a team.

Beginner Skinners Wanted
Most of the individual alterations are not complicated, but there are quite a few of them! While I’ll happily accept the help of anyone offering it, I thought it might be especially beneficial to new skinners who perhaps want to contribute to a project, but perhaps don’t have the time or the confidence to approach one of the larger conversion mods.

All you need to become involved in this is the desire to help and the practical ability to manipulate skins (ie, the software you need to do it).

If you’re interested in taking on any of the units listed below then send me a PM and we can discuss the planned alterations.

If you’re not interested in skinning one of the units but you’d like to contribute to the discussion about where discrepancies exist then please visit this thread as the Forge is not the proper place for such a debate.

This list will be kept updated as work begins and is completed on the units. Interested in taking one on? Send me a PM.

Tier 1
In progress - German/Scythian Axe Warband
Completed - Woad Warriors
Completed - Briton Light Chariots
Completed - Briton Heavy Chariots
Completed - Rebel Heavy Chariots
Completed - Dacian & Scythian war machine crew
Completed - Pontic general


Tier 2 - swapping or adjusting skin elements
Briton/Dacian/Gaul/Rebel warbands
German spear warband
Briton/Gaul Swordsmen
Dacian/Thracian Falxmen
Night Raiders
Dacian/Gaul/German/Scythian/Rebel/Mercenary barbarian cavalry
Dacian/Gaul/German/Scythian/Rebel early barbarian warlord
Completed - Numidian archers
Numidian /Armenian legionaries
Completed - Cataphract archers
Parthian/Armenian horse archers
Light Lancers
Barbarian rebel general
Judean Zealots
Mercenary Eastern Infantry
Thracian bodyguard

Tier 3 – mostly small changes, but which may require using another model’s cas files or even modelling a new element from scratch (eg, a shield)
Gothic cavalry
Round Shield Cavalry
Armenian Heavy Spearmen
Pontic Pikemen
Pontic Light Cavalry
Pontic Heavy Cavalry
Cappodocian Cavalry
Desert Axemen
Pharoah's Guard
Egyptian chariot
Desert Raiders
Greek Cavalry
Samnite gladiators
Mirmillo gladiators
Equites
Cavalry Auxilia
Roman General early
Generic Rebel General
Mercenary Numidian Cavalry

Looking forwards…
Ultimately, it is hoped that the WYSIWYG pack will become a useful addition for experienced players annoyed by the game’s inconsistencies and wanting a better representation of their troops on the field. Individual skins will be freely available for players who just want to correct a few units and the pack itself will be open to be incorporated in other future modifications.

Sorry, is this against the rules reviving such an old thread (11 days) but, Richard, The skins I'm doing for you are going OK thus far. Leather armour is really easy to do ~:)

I'll post screens of some of them tomorrow if you want?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by The_Ferret

Sorry, is this against the rules reviving such an old thread

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Far from it, as each mod is only developed in a single thread they will often only have updates once a fortnight or even once a month or more. This is not a 'chatting' forum where dormant conversations should be left to die, it's a 'project' forum where necessarily progress is sometimes sporadic or takes place off the forum.

Post away...

A good project, certainly something that all realism/gamplay mods could include.

Great, just wasn't sure. I'll get some screens out in a sec.