Must have mods?

Matrix Games Forums

Forums Register Login Photo Gallery Member List Search Calendars FAQ

My Profile Inbox Address Book My Subscription My Forums Log Out

Must have mods?

View related threads: (in this forum | in all forums)

Logged in as: Guest

Users viewing this topic: none

Printable Version

All Forums >> [Current Games From Matrix.] >> [World War II] >> Norm Koger's The Operational Art Of War III >> Must have mods?

Page: [1]

Message

<< Older Topic Newer Topic >>

Must have mods? - 2/16/2011 9:55:58 PM

RealDarko

Posts: 11
Joined: 12/10/2007
Status: offline

I'm new in TOAW III and will like to know If there are some mods that are a must for the game. The graphics specially I think they can be improved. Can someone help?
Thanks!

Post #: 1

RE: Must have mods? - 2/16/2011 10:24:27 PM

larryfulkerson

Posts: 39932
Joined: 4/17/2005
From: Tucson, AZ
Status: offline

I'm using a graphics mod that I consider the best yet.� Of course that's my opinion and subject to interpretation ( the eye of the beholder etc. ) but you can download the alt-graphics folder I'm using from here:

http://www.filedropper.com/altgraphics

Just unzip it and replace your AltGraphics folder with mine.� You might want to move your AltGraphics to a safe spot instead of replacing it....just a thought.

< Message edited by larryfulkerson -- 2/27/2015 8:32:10 PM >

_____________________________

If we're all created in the image of god then why aren't we all invisible?

(in reply to RealDarko)

Post #: 2

RE: Must have mods? - 2/17/2011 12:56:50 AM

ralphtricky

Posts: 6685
Joined: 7/27/2003
From: Colorado Springs
Status: offline

To try to help, I need to try to explain some 'technical' things.

First, a Pixel is one of the tiny dots that make up you screen. If you're at 1024x768 resolution that means that there are 1024x768 pixels on the screen.

There are now two types of graphics used by TOAW.
Type 1 is the old style graphics, these are BMP, they aren't compressed, and TOAW interprets many of the BMPs so that certain pixels with a specific color (I think it's white) are not displayed.

Type 2 is the new style (PNG) graphics. These are compressed so they are smaller. PNGs actually store the transparency (Alpha) of each pixel with the pixel. If you look at the PNG clouds, you will notice that you can see through them. The text should also be a little clearer since instead of just on or off, you can have partially on. When you hear about Anti-Aliasing, it uses this type of thing so that diagonal lines don't look like a stairstep.

PNG files have the priority, if you have a PNG and a BMP file in the same directory, I will use the PNG version.

If you like the old tiles, I'd reccomend that you move all the PNG grahics to a safe place, then you can go into the options and turn on PNG support. Once you've done that, it's pretty easy to identify the files that you want to move back and move them back.

My favorite PNG is clouds. The old clouds were opaque, they were useless since they hid whatever is under them. My favorite set uses modified clouds. I went into paint.net and managed to make them even more transparent and it is very easy to see through them, so I can toggle them on, set up the air units, then turn them back off.

I think that the PNG support may be the biggest part of the facelift, it opens up a lot of potential that people haven't really started playing with yet. A good artist (not me) could make very realistic rivers, and I suspect that the map markers could have fantastic things done to them. The posibilities are pretty open.

< Message edited by ralphtrick -- 2/17/2011 12:57:08 AM >

_____________________________

Ralph Trickey
TOAW IV Programmer
Blog: http://operationalwarfare.com
---
My comments are my own, and do not represent the views of any other person or entity. Nothing that I say should be construed in any way as a promise of anything.

(in reply to larryfulkerson)

Post #: 3

RE: Must have mods? - 2/19/2011 1:04:45 PM

berto

Posts: 20708
Joined: 3/13/2002
From: metro Chicago, Illinois, USA
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: larryfulkerson

I'm using a graphics mod that I consider the best yet.

This is great, Larry.

After using the classic default graphics for years, I am tired finally of their sameness. It's not a question of aesthetics. In the Singapore 42 scenario, for instance, it is simply too hard to distinguish the difference between jungle vs. hills-jungle vs. jungle-muddy vs. forest vs. hills-forest vs. marsh vs. every other possible combination, so on and so forth, etc., etc. (EDIT: The "sameness" effect now appears to be much worse with the classic graphics as implemented in 3.4.)

Given your graphics compilation, it is much easier to discern these differences at a glance (without constantly having to refer to the Information Panel, and absent those sometimes useful but generally annoying 3.4 tooltips).

I have a few dislikes, but I can easily change them. (I also don't like the new 3.4 default graphics set--too bland, pastel, and washed out for my tastes.)

So, a tip of the hat to you, Larry. You've made my TOAW play much more enjoyable.

< Message edited by berto -- 2/19/2011 2:22:39 PM >

_____________________________

Campaign Series Legion https://cslegion.com/
Campaign Series Lead Coder https://www.matrixgames.com/forums/tt.asp?forumid=1515
Panzer Campaigns, Panzer Battles, Civil War Battles Lead Coder https://wargameds.com

(in reply to larryfulkerson)

Post #: 4

RE: Must have mods? - 2/19/2011 4:29:08 PM

larryfulkerson

Posts: 39932
Joined: 4/17/2005
From: Tucson, AZ
Status: offline