Author Topic: [UFOPAEDIA] Modding Ufopaedia  (Read 29469 times)

Offline Aldorn

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[UFOPAEDIA] Modding Ufopaedia
« on: July 29, 2014, 01:38:28 pm »
Just to share an idea I implemented on my hell mod. Also it is more a concept for global mods (as FMP)

1) Reorganize ufopaedia entries in order to separate "advanced technologies" from "alien research" (screen shot 1)
- "Alien Artifacts" becomes "Advanced Technologies" (screen shot 2)
- "Alien Research" becomes "Alien Menace" (screen shot 3)
- Also moved Alien Items entries to "Weapons And Equipment" (screen shot 4)

2) Create ufopaedia entries for any ammunition, in order to display some description on ammo (weight, clipSize, ...) but on weapons too, regarding specific properties as autoShots, minRange, ArcingShot, Pellets, blastRadius, ...

See below

3) Finally, I am working/brain storming on a way to "display" tech tree information

See below
See then here for weaponry part

4) Another small modification : I also reworked the ufopaedia entries for crafts, to make them on same format (same position for characteristics)

See below

5) Change Alien Missions presentation

See below

6) Stats And Damage Modifiers

Adding some extra info on aliens, see below

I attached stuff for (6)

« Last Edit: August 07, 2014, 01:47:14 am by Aldorn »

Offline Aldorn

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Re: Modding Ufopaedia
« Reply #1 on: July 29, 2014, 01:43:16 pm »
2) Create ufopaedia entries for any ammunition, in order to display some description on ammo (weight, clipSize, ...) but on weapons too, regarding specific properties as autoShots, minRange, ArcingShot, Pellets, blastRadius, ...

I tried to find a compromise for equipment or weapons without any ammunition
« Last Edit: July 30, 2014, 08:21:05 am by Aldorn »

Offline Aldorn

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Re: Modding Ufopaedia
« Reply #2 on: July 29, 2014, 01:49:02 pm »
I attached the rulesets to have an idea : it's a huge job, but I am satisfied by the result


3) Finally, I am working/brain storming on a way to "display" tech tree information

At this point, I am not yet sure if it's a real good idea to provide some guidance, but I think it could be necessary with new tech tree growing indefinitely... (thanks to Solars for its FMP !)
« Last Edit: July 29, 2014, 02:00:29 pm by Aldorn »

Offline Aldorn

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Re: Modding Ufopaedia
« Reply #3 on: July 29, 2014, 02:08:39 pm »
4) Another small modification : I also reworked the ufopaedia entries for crafts, to make them on same format (same position for characteristics)

Without any great interest, but it's done...
« Last Edit: July 29, 2014, 02:12:18 pm by Aldorn »

Offline Aldorn

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Re: Modding Ufopaedia
« Reply #4 on: July 29, 2014, 03:15:56 pm »
5) Change Alien Missions presentation

But I meet an issue regarding vanilla ufopaedia entries, as I have to delete them from Xcom1Ruleset.rul to make it work...

Anyway, result is better than just a purple background

To change appearance of vanilla ufopaedia entries, they have to be "deleted" in a first step, then it works well

Credits to Lebashar for "Lightning Ufo" image, that I split in two parts : "ground" for Alien Origin, Martian Solution and Cydonia or Bust, and "ufo" for other Alien Missions
Credits to Neoworm for frightening aliens
« Last Edit: July 30, 2014, 08:29:57 am by Aldorn »

Offline ivandogovich

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Re: Modding Ufopaedia
« Reply #5 on: July 29, 2014, 03:47:38 pm »
Great work, and write up here.  :D

I'm still struggling with editing graphics for these images with Photoshop.  I've seen discussions saying that Photoshop/GIMP are not very good for editing images in OpenXcom as they down save the pallettes right. I down loaded the palettes from the thread, but can't figure out how to get Photoshop to use them (CS4).  :-[

What image editor did you use, to put your images together? and any tricks there?

Cheers, Ivan :D

Offline Aldorn

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Re: Modding Ufopaedia
« Reply #6 on: July 29, 2014, 03:52:06 pm »
I am not well placed to answer this kind of questions, as I am definitely not an expert, better to ask this in adequate threads  ;)
« Last Edit: July 29, 2014, 04:12:31 pm by Aldorn »

Offline ivandogovich

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Re: Modding Ufopaedia
« Reply #7 on: July 29, 2014, 04:09:08 pm »
Awesome!  and I think I figured it out:

Image>Mode>Colour Table, and "load"

Cheers, Ivan :D

Offline Hobbes

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Re: Modding Ufopaedia
« Reply #8 on: July 29, 2014, 04:09:45 pm »
Here's a pic for Cydonia or Bust:

« Last Edit: July 29, 2014, 04:14:10 pm by Hobbes »

Offline Aldorn

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Re: Modding Ufopaedia
« Reply #9 on: July 29, 2014, 04:11:51 pm »
I will test if it can suit with other background pictures

Thanks !

Offline Hobbes

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Re: Modding Ufopaedia
« Reply #10 on: July 29, 2014, 04:13:43 pm »
And another one for the Martian Solution:



Who colored the Research screen? It looks great!

Offline Aldorn

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Re: Modding Ufopaedia
« Reply #11 on: July 29, 2014, 04:16:03 pm »
Excellent !

But I would be forced to cut it, or we will not see anything written on it !  :-\
(will try  ;))

Offline LeBashar

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Re: Modding Ufopaedia
« Reply #12 on: July 29, 2014, 04:33:33 pm »
Interesting, I also would to have some stats about weight or else in ufopedia. Do you plan to make something for ufopedia entries of aliens, where we can have more usefull infos than fictionnal-lore ?

I was primarily surprise to see the ufo-lightning but you don't have to credit me, I have only modify palette of image found quickly with google  :-[

Offline Aldorn

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Re: Modding Ufopaedia
« Reply #13 on: July 29, 2014, 04:51:32 pm »
Interesting, I also would to have some stats about weight or else in ufopedia. Do you plan to make something for ufopedia entries of aliens, where we can have more usefull infos than fictionnal-lore ?
I did not think about it yet, even if I bear in mind at least to make the alien damage type RR appear somewhere

I was primarily surprise to see the ufo-lightning but you don't have to credit me, I have only modify palette of image found quickly with google  :-[
Yes sorry I did not ask you before, as I pick up many resources from many people here  :-[ :-\ :P


EDIT :
Thanks to Hobbes, whom I apparently distracted from his tasks, an attempt with Mars and Cydonia
I keep a lot of space as it is needed for other languages (at least for french translation)
« Last Edit: July 29, 2014, 04:55:07 pm by Aldorn »

Offline Hobbes

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Re: Modding Ufopaedia
« Reply #14 on: July 29, 2014, 05:04:13 pm »
Suggestion: on the Cydonia pic focus instead on the top third of the original image since it displays the Face on Mars.