Mod Nebulae different

zzone · Post by **zzone** » Mon Jul 28, 2014 7:41 pm

How many different mods nebulae can put in the game at the same time?

_-Caleb-_ · Post by **_-Caleb-_** » Mon Jul 28, 2014 7:48 pm

Hola.

You can see the reply to this and more here -> http://www.starwraith.com/evochronmerce ... tomKit.zip

Welcome to the forum.

Regards!

zzone · Post by **zzone** » Mon Jul 28, 2014 8:52 pm

Thank you for your response Caleb, I'm already using this wonderful tool, but maybe I have not expressed myself right. What I want to know is actually how many sectors use different nebulae, because so far I only saw mod for 12 different nebulae and would like to do to other sectors if possible.

Post by **Marvin** » Tue Jul 29, 2014 2:21 pm

Are you talking about background nebulae or the kind of nebulae you can actually enter?

Busch · Post by **Busch** » Tue Jul 29, 2014 2:26 pm

Hello zzone, and welcome aboard!

If I'm reading between the lines correctly, the nebula mod you're describing contains 12 files, c1.png thru c12.png. Each of these files is used by the game software, either singly or in combination, to display a particular colored nebula in a given system. The workings of which rests somewhere in the depths of the game software. The green-colored nebula presentation generally denotes a 'good' system (Ie.: Atlas, Sapphire, Sol, and Wolf.). While the other colors and combinations allude to the general threat level/general system rep of a given system, Fair thru Hostile. That is, other than adding to the overall visual effects and features of the game. These files, c1-c12.png, are the 2D files the games uses, and are those which are generally used for the 'stand-alone' types in a system. (ie.: the high-energy nebulas and those which are not so high-energy in a system, regardless of color.) The game will also use that which is crafted using the cube map utility in the Mercs Customizing Kit, giving a 'global', 3D-type of presentation, reminiscent of the background nebulas of Legends fame. Using the cube map utility, once finished working it's special magic, it will deploy 6 files labeled starsX-X.png, where the first X equals the series (1 thru 6) and the second X equals one of the six sides of the cube, 0 thru 5 (ie.: stars1-0.png, stars1-1.png, and et cetera, for that one instance/use.). [You'll have to work with the cube map utility, become familiar with it's workings, as you'll have to rename files as needed - the utility does not consecutively number the files in-series.] Pilot Andrusynth and one of the [FF] clan pilots have posted up nebula mods using the cube map utility. Really spectacular artwork and superlative effort!

[Edited on 7-29-2014 by Busch]

[Edited on 7-29-2014 by Busch]

Post by **DaveK** » Tue Jul 29, 2014 5:20 pm

From post: 172133, Topic: tid=11557, author=Busch wrote:The green-colored nebula presentation generally denotes a 'good' system (Ie.: Atlas, Sapphire, Sol, and Wolf.). While the other colors and combinations allude to the general threat level/general system rep of a given system, Fair thru Hostile. That is, other than adding to the overall visual effects and features of the game.

Thanks for that Busch! Even after all these years playing I was so involved with the beauty of the eye candy that I didn't equate nebulae colour with threat levels. Did you suss this out yourself?

I wonder if the link holds with custom mods - that would require the modding player to firstly know that there is a link and secondly decide to follow that 'rule'!

Post by **Marvin** » Tue Jul 29, 2014 6:03 pm

From post: 172136, Topic: tid=11557, author=DaveK wrote: I wonder if the link holds with custom mods - that would require the modding player to firstly know that there is a link and secondly decide to follow that 'rule'!:)

It holds true for the fuzzy Milky Way mod ... even though, what Busch posted concerning a color-coordinated nebula - global reputation was also news to me.

Busch · Post by **Busch** » Tue Jul 29, 2014 9:17 pm

I must say quite honestly, that it took me some bit of time to connect the dots.... The game does use the c1.-c12.jpg 'nebula' files, singly and in combination, to create those wonderful parti-colored, stand-alone offerings of which we've grown accustomed - the variegated blues, greens, reds, ochers, and the others. The High and low intensity nebulas that are not always readily identified by their colors. Where one can not warp out, nor use certain weapon load-outs. The various colors that 'go with the system theorem' is something I've noticed of the AA/AC/ER/EL/EM inclusives - the 'background nebulas', and in/with Mercs that has become the starsX-X.jpg cube-map series. 'Good' systems are all Greens, of which there are four total, in the Known Quadrant. The only 'Goods' that aren't Green are the conflict and war zones. In these areas, they usually 'take' their que from the 'base' system. 'Fair', 'Moderate', and 'Hostile' systems run the gamut of colors: red-orange-yellows (Olympus Prime versus Sierra Prime versus the Pearl), up through the royal blues/indigoes/violets (Cerulean and Lost Rucker as cases-in-point) - no greens. Could be just whistling 'Dixie'.....

[But I don't think I'm too far off the goat trail...] Nebula colors don't correspond to the 'economic climates', and I've not noticed if they also correspond to the 'political' associations - which may be a 'horse of a different color' entirely...

[Edited on 7-29-2014 by Busch]

[Edited on 7-29-2014 by Busch]

[Edited on 7-29-2014 by Busch]

Post by **Marvin** » Tue Jul 29, 2014 11:00 pm

IIRC though, Onyx has no background nebula at all.

Busch · Post by **Busch** » Wed Jul 30, 2014 12:47 am

True dat, Marv! Onyx system is, and has been, the sole in-quadrant system that does not display/deploy a 'background nebula' (ER/EL), nor is it 'toggled' for any of the starsX-X.png series, inclusive of the current mod offerings (EM-all iterations). It's dark, stygian gloom is on purpose (I think). And, for want of better, lives up to it's naming. Dim bulb for a star too....

Busch · Post by **Busch** » Wed Jul 30, 2014 1:18 am

Good point, Dave! With the cube map utility, each of the six files produced correspond to a specific location and deployment, within the cube. (A fact the movie Stargate made public record of for celestial navigation/nautonniers.) When I went to schule, seven coordinates for a single location of an object in space, which describe and detail the cubes' location - six digits for the 'localized' box, number seven is your point/location within. [F-1, NavCon, PX-Y/SX-Y stack - the 'six', then check left lower, mid-column, the 'numbers stack' for want of better, for number seven; see the numbers change as you move your cursor too.] The nebula/stars mod(s) artists/craftsmen who've shared with us the fruits of their labors in this area, appear to have a grasp of the essential mechanics....

[Edited on 7-30-2014 by Busch]

[Edited on 7-30-2014 by Busch]

zzone · Post by **zzone** » Thu Jul 31, 2014 1:26 am

From post: 172133, Topic: tid=11557, author=Busch wrote:Hello zzone, and welcome aboard!

If I'm reading between the lines correctly, the nebula mod you're describing contains 12 files, c1.png thru c12.png. Each of these files is used by the game software, either singly or in combination, to display a particular colored nebula in a given system. The workings of which rests somewhere in the depths of the game software. The green-colored nebula presentation generally denotes a 'good' system (Ie.: Atlas, Sapphire, Sol, and Wolf.). While the other colors and combinations allude to the general threat level/general system rep of a given system, Fair thru Hostile. That is, other than adding to the overall visual effects and features of the game. These files, c1-c12.png, are the 2D files the games uses, and are those which are generally used for the 'stand-alone' types in a system. (ie.: the high-energy nebulas and those which are not so high-energy in a system, regardless of color.) The game will also use that which is crafted using the cube map utility in the Mercs Customizing Kit, giving a 'global', 3D-type of presentation, reminiscent of the background nebulas of Legends fame. Using the cube map utility, once finished working it's special magic, it will deploy 6 files labeled starsX-X.png, where the first X equals the series (1 thru 6) and the second X equals one of the six sides of the cube, 0 thru 5 (ie.: stars1-0.png, stars1-1.png, and et cetera, for that one instance/use.). [You'll have to work with the cube map utility, become familiar with it's workings, as you'll have to rename files as needed - the utility does not consecutively number the files in-series.] Pilot Andrusynth and one of the [FF] clan pilots have posted up nebula mods using the cube map utility. Really spectacular artwork and superlative effort!

[Edited on 7-29-2014 by Busch]

[Edited on 7-29-2014 by Busch]

It really was very good that your explanation Busch, I had no idea of the meaning of the colors of nebulae in relation to friendly and hostile sectors. Regarding the tool you mentioned, I'm testing it now and discover how to make visual wonders with it. So from what I understand are only 12 images that are even used in many sectors of the game.

Busch · Post by **Busch** » Thu Jul 31, 2014 1:12 pm

Yes sir, just those twelve - so far.

It's great that you're experimenting with the cube map utility! Looking forward to the samplings of your efforts!