Reducing the size of battle map banners

[Teleklos Archelaou]

I was wondering - since people often seem interested in totally removing the oversized battle map banners for units, wouldn't it be possible to just reduce their sizes to a reasonable amount? I think many of us like those little banners that show experience level (small square ones visible in the image below), and if all banners are removed, those would be too - what I was hoping would be that we might (if others are interested) get someone to alter the .cas files for the banners (they are there) to make the size more like our "standard bearers"' standards (but please note that these are *not* standard bearers that I'm talking about). It would look more realistic but also keep the sides more visibly distinct in battle. Any thoughts on it? It seems like it would be either easy to do or not possible at all - someone with max who can look at those files could tell us quickly.

We lost a skinner/modeller recently and although one of our modellers just turned in his first (terrific) skin we still could use a little help on some of these new ideas. If someone who can do a little model work could alter the .cas files for one of the banners and try it out, then we could at worst offer it as a minimod, but possibly even incorporate it as an option on install.

Here is an example of what I'm talking about. The regular Pontic banner is on the right - the one on the left has been shrunken down by me. Something more like this size is what I'm talking about:


No other changes are really required - in the tga.dds files for the banners, just the sizes of the models. Anyone interested? I'll try to twist some arms of team members if no one is, but thought I'd ask if anyone out here is interested first.

[Grand Lord of Poop~]

i think that's an awesome idea!! but perhaps you can make it even smaller; the one on the left still looks a bit too "large" than real life. however, i do not have any modding skill regarding this apect (sorry! ), but at least i can encourage you!!!

[Aymar de Bois Mauri]

Here is an example of what I'm talking about. The regular Pontic banner is on the right - the one on the left has been shrunken down by me. Something more like this size is what I'm talking about:


No other changes are really required - in the tga.dds files for the banners, just the sizes of the models. Anyone interested? I'll try to twist some arms of team members if no one is, but thought I'd ask if anyone out here is interested first.

Did you resize the .cas 3d model or used alpha oclusion in the .dds texture to resize the banner?

It would be advisable to resize the .cas not to loose texture definition.

[Teleklos Archelaou]

I used the complicated "photoshopping" technique. I agree that we need to have someone resize the .cas model though for sure.

I think we are ok if the banners turn out to be just a little bit bigger than life-size. The goal is to get rid of the insanely huge banners, but still keep the armies more recognizably distinct (with their banners). Making them just a little bigger than life-size will probably make everyone happy.

[Zaknafien]

sure, why not have them bigger than life size, since, i mean... they float magically along with the army anyway. they are minor magical items , banners of amazing floatiness +1.

[Barigos]

Great idea.I would also like those banners to be fully 3d models,because now we always see them from the front,like trees in MTW (but for some reason we can see the banners from above)

[Kugutsu]

What would be nice would be if they were actual standards, with a guy actually carrying them, rather than vanishing when you get too close.

Edit: and to scale. Something one could realistically carry - a banner a couple of meters long by perhaps a meter wide on a 5m pole would be manageble...

[Teleklos Archelaou]

Well, we do have standard bearers, but we can't have them for every unit. Or rather we don't want them for every unit. These are the banners that vanish when you get close - a lot of people really hate the enormous sized ones, so this is an attempt at least to get something more realistic, even if it's not entirely.

[Barigos]

Yeah,and standart bearers like to turn into usual soldiers when zoomed out(suppose they don't use their own sprite,but use the sprite that is for the unit soldiers)

[Aymar de Bois Mauri]

I used the complicated "photoshopping" technique. I agree that we need to have someone resize the .cas model though for sure.

You don't need to resize the texture then. Make no changes to the big size textures and just use them. I'll resize the .cas to what size you think it's best. This way we won't loose texture definition and, therefore, make banners more identifiable and more crisp.

[fallen851]

Har har har. TA I see in that picture we have some Pontic standard bearers, will those be included in 0.81?

I've been making my own generals and standard banners (the generals are done), so do you have any idea which nations will have standard bearers and which won't?

So far, it's clear the Celtic nations, Rome, Sweboz, and the Hellenic nations are done.

Thanks.

[Teleklos Archelaou]

Pontos actually won't have any (I think you are seeing the experience banners that vanish) - I'd sort of like them to have them, but they're too much on the fence I think. It probably wouldn't be too hard to make them though for your personal build.

Another culture's "standard bearers" are taking shape now too inside the mod. Can't wait to get them in too. But yes, standard bearers for greeks will be in 0.81.

[Centurio Nixalsverdrus]

Could you please completely delete those battle map banners? They are just awful. They are growing out of the soldiers' heads, what makes them quite ridicoulus (despite of beeing oversized).

In one Vanilla RTW-Campaign, not knowing the fantastic EB-mod at that time, I finally captured Roma and was very forward-looking to have those "First Cohorts". I was dreaming of having those aquilifers of the Vanilla Intro sequence. But that turned out to be rather a nightmare. I remember very well how disappointed I was realizing that the "legion's eagle" was just a little gimmick atop of theese awful unrealistic battle map banners!

In my opinion, the battle map banners are not part of the game, but more a part of the user interface. You can use them to easily select your units, that's it. For the soldiers, they are more like magical items or what ever.

So, if it was christmas time again, I'd wish:

1. Just kick those banners out and

2. Make a First Cohort for the Romani, and in that unit please exchange the signifer with an aquilifer.

That would be simply perfect.


Greetings
Lars

[Teleklos Archelaou]

We will not be deleting them. The reason for that is that they are very easy to remove by yourself - there is an option in the preferences file I believe.

I am asking if someone would be willing to do the relatively easy job of reducing the model size (if you have the 3dsmax modelling program) so we could make them smaller and make the problem less noticeable. I guess I will just need to resort to bribing one of our modellers instead.

[-Praetor-]

1. Just kick those banners out and

2. Make a First Cohort for the Romani, and in that unit please exchange the signifer with an aquilifer.

That would be simply perfect.


Greetings
Lars

Go to the C:\Program Files\Activision\Rome - Total War\EB\preferences folder, open the preferences.txt file, search for the SHOW_BANNERS entry and turn it into FALSE.

Voilà.

Cheers!!!!

Ps: while you`re there, you can also change the DISABLE_ARROW MARKERS (little green arrows at the feet of your soldiers) and the UNLIMITED_MEN_ON_BATTLEFIELD (in order to avoid the "delayed reinforcements" feature, which is a tool made only for limiting the models on the battlefield in order to avoid lag due to processor problems) into TRUE.

Cheers!!!!

[Tellos Athenaios]

sure, why not have them bigger than life size, since, i mean... they float magically along with the army anyway. they are minor magical items , banners of amazing floatiness +1.

Exactly how I feel about those banners (vanilla). It's not that they are so ridicously large, it's that they appear to be glued onto some poor soul's head... (If you happen to zoom in at the right angle...but be careful in order not to harm your eyes.) So, though it would be nice to resize banners, it's not that great if the banners themselves keep 'floating above & glued on top of' units.

Btw, it's not that difficult to find your men back even in the worst mess possible. Thanks to the distinct change that happens to the unit if you left click it's unit card.

[fallen851]

Go to the C:\Program Files\Activision\Rome - Total War\EB\preferences folder, open the preferences.txt file, search for the SHOW_BANNERS entry and turn it into FALSE.

Voilà.

Cheers!!!!

Ps: while you`re there, you can also change the DISABLE_ARROW MARKERS (little green arrows at the feet of your soldiers) and the UNLIMITED_MEN_ON_BATTLEFIELD (in order to avoid the "delayed reinforcements" feature, which is a tool made only for limiting the models on the battlefield in order to avoid lag due to processor problems) into TRUE.

Cheers!!!!

It is amazing how many people don't know how easy RTW is to mod...

[Centurio Nixalsverdrus]

I really didn't know that! Thank you, k_raso.

[-Praetor-]

It is amazing how many people don't know how easy RTW is to mod...

"Quisque est ignorantii alio".

Everyone of us was first a colt before a horse.

I really didn't know that! Thank you, k_raso.

You`r most welcome.

[MarcusAureliusAntoninus]

"Quisque est ignorantii alio".

[fallen851]

Never was I ever a Colt fan. Ever.

Go Patriots!