Unit Flash Cards

[Tomisama]

It may be a little late for MTW/VI, but once the criteria and format are established, they could be easily adapted for RTW and beyond.

What am I talking about?

Unit Flash Cards.

The backs could have a horizontal screen shot of the default size unit in the field. On the front, the unit name, icon and specs, including costs of upgrades. There could be by faction-by era availability deck sets, which I think would be most useful, or an all on one card for each unit type.

The object is to provide a fast way to learn to identify units at a glance, to help memorize unit types and specifications, and a tool to help in making troop purchase decisions.

Anyone interested in development of this tool, please post below.

Or if you would just like to have a set, if and when they are finished, please post also.

[Dionysus9]

It wouldnt be too hard, but I'm just too busy to help out. I'm overexstended as it is-- but I'd love to have a set

[Tomisama]

The basic idea, is something like this (poor res on this one).




I’m sure you recognize the Knights Templar, right?

Now what was their base combat rating?

[Sulla]

Nice Tomi, couldnt help with the comp graphics, but could help out with unit stats (thats the easy part ;))

Sulla

[Tomisama]

Your on Sully

I think for ease of user application the cards should be divided by era. You play a High Era game you grab the High Era deck, etc..

Let’s start with a simple goal, say the Early Era Cavalry. If you can gather the stats on these and mail them to me, I’ll make a couple of sample cards and we can make adjustments from there.

Please use: roninwarlords@hotmail.com for this.

Thanks



Anyone with any suggestions as to what would be the most important thing for you to see on these cards, please feel free to jump in

[octavian]

sounds like a good idea, i dont have time to help but once you are done, i would be interested. one place to check out is clan berserk, their unit compare tool tells you all the units stats.

[octavian]

isn't this the wrong forum though? (jousting fields are for MP)

[Jochi Khan]

I would think that new mp ppl would find these very helpful so the jousting fields is as good a place as any for information like this.

...Jochi

[Sulla]

Stats of Early cavalry have been send Tomi. I havent included the charge rates. If someone has those, or knows how to find them, please let me know in this forum

Sulla

[Tomisama]

I’m sure that being able to identify a unit at a glance, and know it's specs is important in SP, but to be able to do it in MP, where you have the possibility of facing multiple factions simultaneously, I think it’s crucial

Yes, I have Yas’s Unit Master, and it is superb tool In fact, it was the inspiration for the flash card idea. What the flash cards brings to the battle, beyond unit id training, is that you can have them laid out for instant access while you play. Until you have them all memorized that is


Got it Sulla, Thanks

Yes, the speeds will be a “must have”, if anyone can help. Also the base upgrade cost for weapons and armor (0 to 1). In my mind, although all information is important, the most valuable is that which you will most probably use most. That is what I intend to focus on initially.

Again, any suggestions as to what you would like to see in the way of a quick reference on the back of a Unit Flash Card?

Edit: and know it's specs

[Sulla]

Wouldnt it be easier for you to use the Yas tool (it has some error's, I believe), then to rely on me? Not that I dont want to, but seems a bit way around

Sulla

[Tomisama]

Because I can more easily copy and paste, rather than type in each individual number, using your list looks real good to me

I don't have a lot of time to work on this, so easy is best right now.

I will make up a few and see how it goes.

Will try to have samples up tomorrow morning

[Sulla]

Okidoki, ill start adding charge and speed using yas's tool tommorow

Sulla

[Tomisama]

Sully, hold off my friend

I've found an easier way to get this done using Annie's new Logfile Reader with Unit Specs. I haven't actuly done it yet, but have tryed it in parts and think it will work

[Sulla]

Ah oké. Could you email me how it works? With yas's tool it shouldnt be a big problem also ;)

Sulla

[Tomisama]

Hmmm?





Maybe?

[TosaInu]

I did post here?

[Tomisama]

Saw your name up front, but when I clicked to open there was no post here

[Sulla]

Very nice, keep us updated :D

Sulla

[TosaInu]

Hello,

Something went wrong.

I'll try to reconstruct what I said:

hello,
That's a great idea Tomi says, just brainstorming here: you may opt make an utility that create flashcards rather than making all flashcards themselves.

This flashcard creator would be dynamically feed by unit_stat txt, and use a subdirectory which contains graphics for the corresponding units (Templar.gif).

The tool creates a default layout, but the user can change and format this a bit or add extra data. Not only does this allow to build custom decks to suit a users taste, it will also easily allow creation of decks for mods and updated patches (even those with new custom units).

A deck could be printed out, a scissor could make single cards or there will be pages with several cards. It may also be possible to export the data to a database or slideviever, which would make an up to date and custom Beserk Unit Compare tool.

Some automation will also speed up your own project.

I recall that I addressed everything I said yesterday, but there may be missing parts, please ask if this makes even less sense than normally.

[Dionysus9]

Tosa that is a great idea That way all mods and patches would be able to instantly create their own cards. The problem I suppose is actually creating the tool, which is more technically demanding than just making individual cards.

Anyone have the skills to make such a tool?
I know I dont.

[Tomisama]

An automated system would be ideal, as this is a very labor intensive project


But I don’t have the knowledge or skills to put something like that together either.



On the side: My vision for the flash card is really driven by the upcoming release of Rome. Here we go again, with a hundreds of new units to learn. It would be great to be able study-up virtually anytime, anywhere you could pack a deck. But there’s more to the idea than that.

I was hoping the powers that be, would hook-up with the concept that this is also a great promotional tool, something to soften the impact of an overwhelming cast, to the potential new customer.

It could be sold separately to make extra lira, and even qualify as a collectors item, introducing the game wherever they were seen.

What would you pay for an all era flash card deck set for RTW?

[Yas Terazawa]

Good Idea Tomi.
I am interested.
I may help about the automated system what u need.
First, show me a few samples - the design, size, contents to be included... - what u 've done and what u expect.
I'll try to invent the tool that is available for any version.

[Dionysus9]

Yas Yas He's our man If he can't do it, no one can

[Lechev]

Quote[/b] (Dionysus9 @ April 13 2004,12:35)]Yas Yas He's our man If he can't do it, no one can

Im second to you Bacchus.

[Yas Terazawa]

Anyway I'll do my best, thank you

[Tomisama]

Excellent Yas

*bows*

Much appreciated

The work so far has been mostly trying to figure what the most important things would be to the majority of folks. Besides that, and a few stabs at the art work (the latest above), this is still a project in it’s conception stages.

So far (nothing in stone), the concept has been a double sided card, with a picture on one side, and stats on the other. The media being a standard blank 3x5 index card.

The base group organization would be in eras (four decks), with one card per unit type per deck.

In addition to the picture and stats, each card would have an edge index, to make it easy to sort out a faction set, by just tilting the deck

The picture was to be of a full unit in the field (sand makes the best background), with no other identification.

On the opposite side, the unit name and size, and stat variations for valor’s 0 through 4, plus your combat ratings calculation for each valor.

Below that, the non-variable speed and ammo(With this I personally would like to see the cost of adding at least one upgrade each, of weapons and armor).

And finally, the collection of the series of comments that appear on the screen when you choosing your units (irresistible attack, etc., etc.).

*takes a breath*

The major problem I see is having a program produce a full unit picture. You may know how to do that, I am hoping so.

Anyway

Yas, you certainly have more experience in the game, and a greater knowledge of it’s workings than I probably ever will have Plus your Unit Master Tools demonstrates your excellent programming and artistic skills, so why do keep on talking?

Yas Yas He's our man If he can't do it, no one can

[Yas Terazawa]

Hello Tomi
I've just read ur reply.
Ok, I understand what u mean roughly.
Let's begin.

Ah, I have a questions about ur project.
U said u will use 3x4 index card, then will u print them for urself one by one? I mean, should I make it 1 unit per 1 page so that u can print them each? or several units per 1 page(A4 size etc..) and divide them with scissors? Which way? Ur answer needed to layout pages.

And I need some help, about image source.
As u mentioned, 2 images r needed for each units.
Unit icons for stats background and unit screen captures.

Unit icons
As u already know, u can find the unit icons in [D:\Program Files\Total War\Medieval - Total War\Battle\UnitIcons] folder as LBM format images. And u can read and convert the lbm fils with [LukMap/LBM image converter] - http://www.3ddownloads.com/strategy-...otalwar/Tools/ - or anyother ways r ok.
All the lbm fils r named [unit name].lbm - ex. AlanMercenaryCavalry.lbm -, and u just convert them to [unit name].jpg -AlanMercenaryCavalry.jpg, conserving the file names as they r.

Anyway, all the [each units' name].jpg files r needed for stats side's bg(as u designed above).

full units capture
Please identify the files like [FAlanMercenaryCavalry.jpg] - F~ prefix is just to distinguish them from unit icon images. U can use any other prefix as u want.
And the image size should be 216x360 to fit to index 3x4 media.

Good luck with ur project, and I'll do my best to help u.
Have a nice day~

[Tomisama]

Taking an idea from imagination to reality is not really that hard. I mean like you create a prototype and then, well there it is But the real test comes when you try to apply it. “Where the rubber meets the road”, is the saying.

In this case, if some one can print out 15 to 20 pages, get busy with some scissors, and complete the creation of something worth having. If it’s not easy to do, it won’t get done, and there’s no point in working it up to start with.

Of course the up front side has to be practical also. Having a program that will extract “everything” you need is really essential, as we all have too little time as it is With all of the above in mind, working this idea up, will have to be working it down some. In a word, simplification

What I now see as “practical” is moving from an index flash card, to a playing card sized trading card (single sided print). These can easily be set in 8 cards to a sheet.

Because of the reduced size of card and resolution that goes with it, and the need to have a picture extractable from the game it’s self (for auto production), I am thinking that the UNITbmp’s will be the only reasonable solution.

I’ll make up a sample, and we’ll see

[Tomisama]

A simple 2.5 by 3.5 inch, one sided card, which can be auto generated (I believe), and be printed out 8 per page.



Text Color Era Coding
Dark=Red
Early=Green
High=Blue
Late=Black

What do you think?



Edit: not sure about the max number of faction flag place holders needed to cover all posibilitys. I don't believe any era has the same unit available to all factions. But may be wrong about that. The flags could be half that size if needed.

Edit 2: Forgot to rearange against cavalry ()and against infantry. I believe against infantry values should always come first.

Last edit :p Also forgot the number of me in the unit, it's been a long day...