[UFOPAEDIA] Modding Ufopaedia

[Aldorn]

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)

[Aldorn]

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

[Aldorn]

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 !)

[Aldorn]

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...

[Aldorn]

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

[ivandogovich]

Great work, and write up here. 

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

[Aldorn]

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 

[ivandogovich]

Awesome!  and I think I figured it out:

Image>Mode>Colour Table, and "load"

Cheers, Ivan

[Hobbes]

Here's a pic for Cydonia or Bust:

[Aldorn]

I will test if it can suit with other background pictures

Thanks !

[Hobbes]

And another one for the Martian Solution:



Who colored the Research screen? It looks great!

[Aldorn]

Excellent !

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

[LeBashar]

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 

[Aldorn]

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 


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)

[Hobbes]

Suggestion: on the Cydonia pic focus instead on the top third of the original image since it displays the Face on Mars.