OpenXcom Forum

Modding => Released Mods => XPiratez => Topic started by: mikKoi on December 25, 2021, 04:03:46 pm

Title: [Submod] Stuffiez - nice cute things
Post by: mikKoi on December 25, 2021, 04:03:46 pm
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1-OFLvLL3Ms/YckFFBbt3oI/AAAAAAAAAic/rHs-ax34JpkzEy4wWiS97lXCmbv8uMQygCNcBGAsYHQ/s620/Banner.png)

Submod for X-Piratez, contains ~100 modified basic sprites, remodels and custom-made redesigns


Changelog:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Kv6HN-XiHl8W_69BKijv3hoGuoVDH-8u/view?usp=share_link

Download:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1pzxqz3Ab7vnXQw2HCxzl3pAMshPFTOrW?usp=sharing

Blogger: [NSFW]
https://xpiratez-stuffiez.blogspot.com

Title: Re: [Submod] Stuffiez - nice cute things
Post by: mikKoi on December 25, 2021, 05:44:35 pm
Hi,

I come from ~5 years experience of vector 2D-animation background and these are my noobie experiments in pixel drawing. I have played tactical turn based squad leading games since the Jagged Alliance, which is still my all time favourite PC game because of the characters (and nostalgia).

I haven't got far in the XPiratez's campaign/lore but I really like the mod's variety in features, mechanics with logic, atmosphere and funny designs.

Thanks for reading, there is some more bla bla and overflowing cuteness in my blog!
Title: Re: [Submod] Stuffiez - nice cute things
Post by: Dioxine on December 25, 2021, 09:07:51 pm
Wow, really nice stuff! I like it!
Regarding the Baller - he's perfect. What I used was simply a Spaceballs mod one guy did, and recolored the helmet to red, lol. (And ofc made corpse and inv pic from other scraps to fit) :)
Title: Re: [Submod] Stuffiez - nice cute things
Post by: mikKoi on December 28, 2021, 11:10:34 pm
I just got out the first version of the first part of my first custom tileset study project named Nightcity69 and it's downloadable as public domain. 💪
Title: Re: [Submod] Stuffiez - nice cute things
Post by: Finnik on December 29, 2021, 11:34:43 pm
Thats a cute terrain. But how do you want to integrate it to mapscript, so it would be connected to another road blocks?
Title: Re: [Submod] Stuffiez - nice cute things
Post by: mikKoi on December 30, 2021, 12:36:06 am
I’m not yet familiar with the OpenXcom scripting. Been hustling with game engines before and planning at some point to get know-hows about viewing maps in battlescape at day and night.

My tileset release only contains files from MCDEdit. I used those in MapView2 to build that presentation with 10x10 mapblocks in mind, assuming that there then will be different possibilities when connecting them to get bigger (random) maps.
Title: Re: [Submod] Stuffiez - nice cute things
Post by: Finnik on December 30, 2021, 02:14:18 am
I was asking because it is pretty complicated task even if you are familiar to map scripting because of how `addLine` command works. And every script command does not know about the adjacent blocks. Can be done only with combination with 'checkBlock` command, I think ohartenstein23 uses this approach. But it makes the script very bulky, and it would not be able to scale itself to the map size. Things go even worse if you want 2x2 blocks. Sadly, `addLine` does not like blocks bigger than 1x1. I tried to change that, but I can't handle crossroads case.
I wanted to make something like this, but end up with that we do not have enough tools, this needs way more complex map generation.
Title: Re: [Submod] Stuffiez - nice cute things
Post by: mikKoi on December 30, 2021, 02:57:36 am
👍Thanks for the info! Oh, yes it's bit of a pity, but that’s what I get when just assuming unlimited possibilities to be. I’m still in a good belief that crossroads can be built in/on a big single block.
Title: Re: [Submod] Stuffiez - nice cute things
Post by: Finnik on December 30, 2021, 03:40:13 am
I would really like to know dev's opinion about the problem. Could there be some changes, if more or less complicated ideas are welcome here. I'm aware of this is not easy for both to design and to code, I personally made some attempts to alter map generation process, and it was pretty painful. And for now I can't see any easy solution  :(

I'd look into xcom2 map generation process  for inspiration, as AFAIK it solves the problem of map blocks relations.
Title: Re: [Submod] Stuffiez - nice cute things
Post by: mikKoi on December 30, 2021, 05:05:07 am
I was thinking of a little workaround to gain some random goodness in map creation. This really isn’t what randomness is all about.. and actually is terribly manually repetitive (so very very vulnerable to humane errors), but I would do it now like this:
I don’t yet even know if MapView allows this kinda operations. ;D
Title: Re: [Submod] Stuffiez - nice cute things
Post by: kevL on December 30, 2021, 07:29:21 am
Quote from: mikkoi on December 30, 2021, 05:05:07 am
I was thinking of a little workaround to gain some random goodness in map creation. This really isn’t what randomness is all about.. and actually is terribly manually repetitive (so very very vulnerable to humane errors), but I would do it now like this:
  • Make helluva lotta of basic 10x10 maps
  • Draw some kind of visual grid note out of them
  • Design maps using those notes (with some topdown tilemap editor?)
  • Copy/paste map blocks one by one onto bigger maps like “maptiles”
  • Have a damn big set of big maps made out of smaller ones
I don’t yet even know if MapView allows this kinda operations. ;D

yes and NO. (mostly no)

XCOM was originally designed to place 10x10 or 20x20 mapblocks randomly. The openXcom engine(s) support this and have extended things somewhat -- but only somewhat. It should be, technically, possible to build mapblocks in MapView that are ... uh, 100x100 ... and perhaps the engine can place that block and only that block, and there you get your pre-instanced Map. Then you could maybe make a bunch of those to get what you're suggesting above. But MapView will become too slow and cumbersome to use as a mapblock is increased in size ... there's no hard limit but rather than trying to build huge mapblocks in MapView i suggest rather learning the benefits and limitations of OpenXcom's map-scripts, and keep your mapblocks as small as possible to achieve what you want,

Hobbes, for example, put together some remarkable mapblocks, that fit together in very specific ways (the INDUSTRIAL tileset, iirc) using OxC/e map-scripts
Title: Re: [Submod] Stuffiez - nice cute things
Post by: mikKoi on December 30, 2021, 09:35:42 am
Ok, yes, and I could imagine what pain in the arse it could be setting all those unit routes in big laggy maps. The problem with my creative desires seems to be a need for too much control and customization even though I knew that Xcom is all about randomness and I should just go with that (flow). I will take my time to explore mapscripts and if I find them too limited for me, I just stick with graphics and do my (more demanding) level designs somewhere else.

Thank you for your kind answer.
Title: Re: [Submod] Stuffiez - nice cute things
Post by: Finnik on December 30, 2021, 02:25:59 pm
Quote from: mikkoi on December 30, 2021, 05:05:07 am
I was thinking of a little workaround to gain some random goodness in map creation. This really isn’t what randomness is all about.. and actually is terribly manually repetitive (so very very vulnerable to humane errors), but I would do it now like this:
  • Make helluva lotta of basic 10x10 maps
  • Draw some kind of visual grid note out of them
  • Design maps using those notes (with some topdown tilemap editor?)
  • Copy/paste map blocks one by one onto bigger maps like “maptiles”
  • Have a damn big set of big maps made out of smaller ones
I don’t yet even know if MapView allows this kinda operations. ;D

You will have troubles with spawning xcom craft and ufo, as they need specific place for them, so you will have to keep holes.
I have some experience with making huge semi-fixed maps for my project, and I can share my conclusions after finishing some maps like that:
1) Sorry to say, but MapView can't really handle big map blocks. I made a block with 80x60 size, and lags were a pain. But the game itself can support it, so you can use MapEditor instead.
2) You either can't use map features, that should be connected to south or east borders of the map (like roads, for example), or you should forget about random size for your terrain, that would limit its usage.

Also, your plan looks to me like very boring work with copy-paste, the process is not super handy for both MapView and MapEditor...
Title: Re: [Submod] Stuffiez - nice cute things
Post by: mikKoi on December 31, 2021, 06:25:16 pm
What XPiratez base GUI could be if made in 512x320 pixels? I find that so intriguing that I had to check it out.

If done like in attachment, the most interesting thing is that merging hands/vessels, research/manufacture and blackmarket/fence as own tabs, there will be two unused tabs, and with tab aspect ratio 2:3, there could be five new usable tab slots.

What would they contain? Nobody knows :o
Title: Re: [Submod] Stuffiez - nice cute things
Post by: Yankes on December 31, 2021, 06:47:23 pm
Quote from: mikkoi on December 31, 2021, 06:25:16 pm
What XPiratez base GUI could be if made in 512x320 pixels? I find that so intriguing that I had to check it out.

If done like in attachment, the most interesting thing is that merging hands/vessels, research/manufacture and blackmarket/fence as own tabs, there will be two unused tabs, and with tab aspect ratio 2:3, there could be five new usable tab slots.

What would they contain? Nobody knows :o
OXCE need to work in 320x200 as it was in original game, because of this there can't be new screens that do not fit this base restitution.
Of corse this is not that this is impossible to do but simply its outside of scope of OXCE.
Title: Re: [Submod] Stuffiez - nice cute things
Post by: Dioxine on January 06, 2022, 06:46:28 pm
Quote from: mikkoi on December 30, 2021, 12:36:06 am
I’m not yet familiar with the OpenXcom scripting. Been hustling with game engines before and planning at some point to get know-hows about viewing maps in battlescape at day and night.

My tileset release only contains files from MCDEdit. I used those in MapView2 to build that presentation with 10x10 mapblocks in mind, assuming that there then will be different possibilities when connecting them to get bigger (random) maps.

I think I could make a script to integrate this kind of tile properly in a semi random fashion... With some limitations (like it'd have to have a set position of x or y axis)... A lot of stuff is possible if you accept limitations (best example is UAC vaults - it's an extremely complex, yet limited script that uses a lot of fixed positions - so what? Player only notices the map is cool, doesn't notice the limitations. Smoke and mirrors is the key to success!)
Title: Re: [Submod] Stuffiez - nice cute things
Post by: mikKoi on January 28, 2023, 08:12:42 am
Hello, though Stuffiez have been on and off alive a year now, there haven't been any extra nice reasons to post anything. Been mostly doing the same units’ sprite editing shit all over again, but a while ago I moved mainly to map assets and replaced two polished original terrains which are playable as quick battles named Mountainous/Plains (Dead/Snowy/Tundra). Campaign also uses them at least as globeTexture terrains.

Here’s an example how the submod’s tile sprites affects to the ogs: [SNOWY.webp]
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1vLlq24kQSthjpL-Fi4KRHBIecwM2E0Zm/view?usp=share_link

After a couple of new polished Mountainous/Plains terrains, it’s time for a new release. So long!

PS. Tilesheets are made using Piratez’s Cold palette, so PCKs render colors a bit differently (lighter) in mods and tools using vanilla battlescape palette.

<Edit> Zip removed, PCKs are now in XPZ. MCDs + mapblocks just for personal use/testing only.
Title: Re: [Submod] Stuffiez - nice cute things
Post by: Dioxine on February 17, 2023, 03:45:03 pm
I really like the new spritesheets, but I don't quite get some of your MCD decisions, like making some rocks invulnerable :)
Title: Re: [Submod] Stuffiez - nice cute things
Post by: mikKoi on February 17, 2023, 04:48:47 pm
Great feedback, wonderful :) I don’t fully remember why I left big rocks indestructible, but if I recall right, it was because they didn’t have good deathID choices or smth, and at one very early point I WAS planning a general rock rubble for them, but don’t know what happened to it :P

Yes, of course they should be able to be destroyed. Maybe making them harder than earthy hills (as ogs are) and breaking/vanishing to the most ruined floor available.

PS. There’s still some general MCD functionality which I’m not quite aware of and I’m trying to find out about them mostly via testing.
Title: Re: [Submod] Stuffiez - nice cute things
Post by: Dioxine on February 17, 2023, 05:08:20 pm
For now I've just pasted the spritesheet over the old MCDs. I only left the circular snow/ice pattern out (kept the old tile) because it looks odd, as you can see below.
New rocks and plants, really beautiful...
Title: Re: [Submod] Stuffiez - nice cute things
Post by: mikKoi on February 18, 2023, 11:48:55 am
I updated Mountainous/Plains from here and Stuffiez

- big rocks are destroyable with/by good strength and Pickaxe or Hammer (at least)
- I don’t fully get the sliding movement (snakeman?) so I just gave it +1 TU cost in frozen grass
- snowy ‘fantasy’ floor tile (what Dioxine posted) is changed and used as a small rubble for big rocks
- side and corner rocks are no longer bigWalls (same as ogs)
- minor fixes

<Edit> MCDs aren't anymore/yet downloadable...