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Best way to share a fully modular ship design?

19MT70

By 19MT70
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19MT70

19MT70

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I'm designing a fully modular ship in that each major component is saved as a preset shape, allowing the ship to be reassembled into the exact design from the inside out at each upgrade level. The intent is to allow for the addition of each level of technology as it becomes available, such as shield generators, etc. without having to piecemeal the upgrades onto the outside of the ship or fiddle with positioning the camera inside of a hollow core.

 

The designing phase is going well, however once it's complete I plan to share it and therein lies the issue. Is there any way to share my preset shapes as a unit for someone else to use or do I need to save each as a 'ship' and share them that way?

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Tsunamik

Tsunamik

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Well, as you said, you can present XML for every part of the ship - as it was ship itself. Thats my approach (I am building modular ship aswell, tired of redoing everything constantly :D). Or you can create something like test bed, lets say loooong block, and attach every type of module to it, and share it at once. Players can then pick and copy only the part they need... BUT it is less comfortable for user than every block as its own XML.

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19MT70

19MT70

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Actually I think I just figured out an easier way for the end user. I can add the parts to the default preset templates XML file and just make that modified file available along with the XML file for an assembled ship so they can see how it goes together.

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Tsunamik

Tsunamik

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wow dude.. never though about that, but you have a point!

 

It is actually really amazing what you just did there, as we can basically create shareable libraries of premade blocks for easy ship construction! :) Thats gonna make mass production of ships so much easier....

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Thundercraft

Thundercraft

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Actually I think I just figured out an easier way for the end user. I can add the parts to the default preset templates XML file and just make that modified file available along with the XML file for an assembled ship so they can see how it goes together.

 

Even if you share your modified templates.xml, I suspect that the number of players who install it will be rather limited. At least, if my own experience is any indication, players often have their own stuff saved in their own templates. And it's far too tedious to merge two template files together.

 

Anyway, there's a much handier and easier solution that you're overlooking.

 

Method #1:

 

[*]Go to Build Mode.

[*]Select and click on a part.xml (or ship.xml).

[*]Click on "To Clipboard" (instead of "Apply Plan").

[*]Press [Ctrl]+"v" to paste the part directly on to our ship.

Profit!

 

Method #2:

[*]Go to Build Mode.

[*]Select and click on a part.xml (or ship.xml).

[*]Click on "To Clipboard" (instead of "Apply Plan").

[*]Open the Build Inventory window.

[*]Press [Ctrl]+"v" to create a new template out of the clipboard's content.

Profit!

 

Method #3:

 

See my post here in the "Tips for ship building" topic:

...Sometimes, however, I have need to convert a ship file directly into a template without the copy and paste method...

 

Basically, you can just open a ship.xml in Notepad++ and replace the <template accumulateHealth="true" convex="true"> </template> tags with <ship accumulateHealth="true" convex="false"> </ship> tags, then paste the tags and everything in between in your templates.xml file.

 

To facilitate sharing your templates, you could paste them in your Creations topic between {spoiler}{code}{/code}{/spoiler} BBCode tags. Example:

 

 

 

	<template accumulateHealth="true" convex="true">
	<item parent="32" index="33" maxDurability="0" currentDurability="0">
		<block lowerX="0.200000301" lowerY="-0.449999809" lowerZ="-1.0999999" upperX="0.400000095" upperY="-0.249999046" upperZ="-1.04999971" index="191" material="0" look="0" up="2" color="ffbfaea3"/>
	</item>
	<item parent="-1" index="1" maxDurability="0.408416361" currentDurability="0.408416361">
		<block lowerX="-0.400000274" lowerY="-0.550000191" lowerZ="-1.29999161" upperX="0.400000274" upperY="-0.449999809" upperZ="-1" index="100" material="0" look="3" up="4" color="ff696969"/>
	</item>
	<item parent="1" index="2" maxDurability="0.360417485" currentDurability="0.360417485">
		<block lowerX="-0.199999973" lowerY="-0.449999809" lowerZ="-1.05000019" upperX="0.200000122" upperY="-0.249999046" upperZ="-1" index="2" material="0" look="1" up="3" color="ffffff00"/>
	</item>
	<item parent="2" index="3" maxDurability="0.31431219" currentDurability="0.31431219">
		<block lowerX="0.200000122" lowerY="-0.25" lowerZ="-1.05000019" upperX="0.399999917" upperY="0.149999619" upperZ="-1" index="2" material="0" look="1" up="3" color="ffffff00"/>
	</item>
	<item parent="2" index="4" maxDurability="0.00610522181" currentDurability="0.00610522181">
		<block lowerX="-0.399999797" lowerY="-0.449999809" lowerZ="-1.05000019" upperX="-0.199999973" upperY="-0.25" upperZ="-1" index="100" material="0" look="1" up="2" color="ffffff00"/>
	</item>
	<item parent="2" index="5" maxDurability="0.0239999238" currentDurability="0.0239999238">
		<block lowerX="-0.400000036" lowerY="-0.449999809" lowerZ="-1.29999542" upperX="-0.199999973" upperY="-0.25" upperZ="-0.999996185" index="100" material="0" look="0" up="3" color="ff696969"/>
	</item>
	<item parent="3" index="6" maxDurability="0.00610522088" currentDurability="0.00610522088">
		<block lowerX="0.200000122" lowerY="-0.449999809" lowerZ="-1.05000019" upperX="0.399999917" upperY="-0.25" upperZ="-1" index="100" material="0" look="0" up="2" color="ffffff00"/>
	</item>
	<item parent="3" index="7" maxDurability="0.158103019" currentDurability="0.158103019">
		<block lowerX="-0.199999973" lowerY="0.149999619" lowerZ="-1.05000019" upperX="0.200000122" upperY="0.350000381" upperZ="-1" index="2" material="0" look="1" up="3" color="ffffff00"/>
	</item>
	<item parent="3" index="8" maxDurability="0.00610523671" currentDurability="0.00610523671">
		<block lowerX="0.200000122" lowerY="0.149999619" lowerZ="-1.05000019" upperX="0.399999917" upperY="0.350000381" upperZ="-1" index="100" material="0" look="0" up="3" color="ffffff00"/>
	</item>
	<item parent="3" index="9" maxDurability="0" currentDurability="0">
		<block lowerX="0.199999973" lowerY="-0.25" lowerZ="-1.0999999" upperX="0.249999657" upperY="0.149999619" upperZ="-1.04999971" index="190" material="0" look="1" up="3" color="ffffec8b"/>
	</item>
	<item parent="3" index="10" maxDurability="0" currentDurability="0">
		<block lowerX="-0.199999735" lowerY="0.149999619" lowerZ="-1.09999895" upperX="0.199999779" upperY="0.199999809" upperZ="-1.05000067" index="190" material="0" look="1" up="3" color="ffffec8b"/>
	</item>
	<item parent="3" index="11" maxDurability="0" currentDurability="0">
		<block lowerX="-0.199999735" lowerY="-0.300000191" lowerZ="-1.09999895" upperX="0.199999779" upperY="-0.25" upperZ="-1.05000067" index="190" material="0" look="1" up="3" color="ffffec8b"/>
	</item>
	<item parent="3" index="12" maxDurability="0.0320000984" currentDurability="0.0320000984">
		<block lowerX="-0.200000033" lowerY="-0.25" lowerZ="-1.05000019" upperX="0.200000063" upperY="0.149999619" upperZ="-1" index="150" material="0" look="1" up="3" color="ffbfaea3"/>
	</item>
	<item parent="3" index="13" maxDurability="0.0239999965" currentDurability="0.0239999965">
		<block lowerX="0.200000003" lowerY="0.150000572" lowerZ="-1.29999733" upperX="0.400000036" upperY="0.350000381" upperZ="-0.999997139" index="100" material="0" look="1" up="2" color="ff696969"/>
	</item>
	<item parent="3" index="14" maxDurability="0.0239998642" currentDurability="0.0239998642">
		<block lowerX="0.200000226" lowerY="-0.449999809" lowerZ="-1.29999542" upperX="0.399999797" upperY="-0.25" upperZ="-0.999996185" index="100" material="0" look="2" up="0" color="ff696969"/>
	</item>
	<item parent="3" index="15" maxDurability="0.0479987487" currentDurability="0.0479987487">
		<block lowerX="0.400000513" lowerY="-0.449999809" lowerZ="-1.29999542" upperX="0.499999464" upperY="0.349999905" upperZ="-1" index="100" material="0" look="0" up="4" color="ff696969"/>
	</item>
	<item parent="4" index="16" maxDurability="0.00210521393" currentDurability="0.00210521393">
		<block lowerX="-0.505263448" lowerY="-0.550000191" lowerZ="-1.29999161" upperX="-0.400000215" upperY="-0.449999809" upperZ="-1" index="101" material="0" look="3" up="4" color="ff464646"/>
	</item>
	<item parent="6" index="17" maxDurability="0.00210521393" currentDurability="0.00210521393">
		<block lowerX="0.400000215" lowerY="-0.550000191" lowerZ="-1.29999161" upperX="0.505263448" upperY="-0.449999809" upperZ="-1" index="101" material="0" look="0" up="4" color="ff464646"/>
	</item>
	<item parent="7" index="18" maxDurability="0.0639989078" currentDurability="0.0639989078">
		<block lowerX="-0.400000274" lowerY="-0.25" lowerZ="-1.05000019" upperX="-0.20000045" upperY="0.149999619" upperZ="-1" index="2" material="0" look="1" up="3" color="ffffff00"/>
	</item>
	<item parent="7" index="19" maxDurability="0.00610524043" currentDurability="0.00610524043">
		<block lowerX="-0.399999797" lowerY="0.149999619" lowerZ="-1.05000019" upperX="-0.199999973" upperY="0.350000381" upperZ="-1" index="100" material="0" look="1" up="3" color="ffffff00"/>
	</item>
	<item parent="7" index="20" maxDurability="0" currentDurability="0">
		<block lowerX="-0.249999627" lowerY="-0.25" lowerZ="-1.09999943" upperX="-0.199999914" upperY="0.149999619" upperZ="-1.05000019" index="190" material="0" look="1" up="3" color="ffffec8b"/>
	</item>
	<item parent="7" index="21" maxDurability="0.0479988344" currentDurability="0.0479988344">
		<block lowerX="-0.399999917" lowerY="0.350000381" lowerZ="-1.29999447" upperX="0.399999976" upperY="0.449999809" upperZ="-1" index="100" material="0" look="2" up="4" color="ff696969"/>
	</item>
	<item parent="7" index="22" maxDurability="0.0239999052" currentDurability="0.0239999052">
		<block lowerX="-0.399999797" lowerY="0.149999619" lowerZ="-1.29999638" upperX="-0.200000212" upperY="0.350000381" upperZ="-0.999998093" index="100" material="0" look="3" up="1" color="ff696969"/>
	</item>
	<item parent="8" index="23" maxDurability="0.00210521044" currentDurability="0.00210521044">
		<block lowerX="0.400000513" lowerY="0.349999905" lowerZ="-1.29999542" upperX="0.499999464" upperY="0.455263138" upperZ="-1" index="101" material="0" look="0" up="3" color="ff464646"/>
	</item>
	<item parent="10" index="24" maxDurability="0" currentDurability="0">
		<block lowerX="-0.199999794" lowerY="0.199999809" lowerZ="-1.0999999" upperX="0.199999824" upperY="0.350000381" upperZ="-1.04999971" index="190" material="0" look="1" up="3" color="ffbfaea3"/>
	</item>
	<item parent="18" index="25" maxDurability="0.0479988717" currentDurability="0.0479988717">
		<block lowerX="-0.499999464" lowerY="-0.449999809" lowerZ="-1.29999638" upperX="-0.400000572" upperY="0.349999905" upperZ="-1" index="100" material="0" look="1" up="4" color="ff696969"/>
	</item>
	<item parent="19" index="26" maxDurability="0.00210521393" currentDurability="0.00210521393">
		<block lowerX="-0.505263209" lowerY="0.350000381" lowerZ="-1.29999447" upperX="-0.399999976" upperY="0.449999809" upperZ="-1" index="101" material="0" look="1" up="4" color="ff464646"/>
	</item>
	<item parent="24" index="27" maxDurability="0" currentDurability="0">
		<block lowerX="-0.399999619" lowerY="0.150000572" lowerZ="-1.0999999" upperX="-0.199999794" upperY="0.350000381" upperZ="-1.04999971" index="191" material="0" look="1" up="3" color="ffbfaea3"/>
	</item>
	<item parent="24" index="28" maxDurability="0" currentDurability="0">
		<block lowerX="0.200000301" lowerY="0.150000572" lowerZ="-1.0999999" upperX="0.400000095" upperY="0.350000381" upperZ="-1.04999971" index="191" material="0" look="2" up="1" color="ffbfaea3"/>
	</item>
	<item parent="27" index="29" maxDurability="0" currentDurability="0">
		<block lowerX="-0.400000095" lowerY="-0.249999046" lowerZ="-1.0999999" upperX="-0.249999985" upperY="0.150000572" upperZ="-1.04999971" index="190" material="0" look="1" up="3" color="ffbfaea3"/>
	</item>
	<item parent="28" index="30" maxDurability="0" currentDurability="0">
		<block lowerX="0.25" lowerY="-0.249999046" lowerZ="-1.0999999" upperX="0.400000095" upperY="0.150000572" upperZ="-1.04999971" index="190" material="0" look="1" up="3" color="ffbfaea3"/>
	</item>
	<item parent="29" index="31" maxDurability="0" currentDurability="0">
		<block lowerX="-0.399999619" lowerY="-0.449999809" lowerZ="-1.0999999" upperX="-0.199999794" upperY="-0.249999046" upperZ="-1.04999971" index="191" material="0" look="3" up="0" color="ffbfaea3"/>
	</item>
	<item parent="31" index="32" maxDurability="0" currentDurability="0">
		<block lowerX="-0.199999794" lowerY="-0.449999809" lowerZ="-1.0999999" upperX="0.199999824" upperY="-0.299999237" upperZ="-1.04999971" index="190" material="0" look="1" up="3" color="ffbfaea3"/>
	</item>
</template>

 

 

 

In case anyone is interested, the above is for an engine glow prop (size 1 x 1), which I use to hide my actual engines behind a layer of armor. This is what it looks like:

Engine_glow_prop_01.jpg

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SageThe13th

SageThe13th

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Posted

So....as someone that can't build anything that looks good any ETA on these modular projects?  Also are there any other projects out there like the ones mentioned here? 

 

I would love to do some building but I'm about as artistic as a rock.

 

I'm also working on some modular ships.  I'm just having trouble finding the time to build.

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FrostByghte

FrostByghte

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I managed to find these sphere and wing shapes:

 

http://www.avorion.net/forum/index.php?topic=1689.0

 

But that is about it.  Anyone else have some good finds?

 

OR any ships/creations that are easy to mod?  I've downloaded several ships but none really have a layout I can change without destroying the aesthetic of the ship. 

 

Should I start a new thread? I think this falls within this topic somewhat as it's sharing and such. :)

 

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19MT70

19MT70

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I'm currently working on a Battlefleet Gothic ship, an Infidel class 'raider' which is essentially in the destroyer range of ships. It's modular in that I'm designing it with plenty of room for tech upgrades such as power generators, shields, etc. as you advance. Just have to pop off certain parts of the armor, make the upgrades and/or additions then paste the armor back in.

 

It should be ready by the end of this weekend.

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19MT70

19MT70

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General view of the prow without top and bottom armor plates in place:

 

TUxuq94.png

 

 

View of the prow showing the space inside for addition of tech upgrades:

 

GpVoKhP.png

 

 

Going to try and keep the top and bottom armor sections for this prow with clean lines at the joins so that it's clear where to cut for adding upgrades and then repasting the sections afterwards.

 

Probably going to be a few more areas with space like this along the ship, too.

 

I want a very nice Battlefleet Gothic model without upgrades just tacked on everywhere while at the same time still having the capacity to add them.

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