406 réponses à ce sujet

[Zwerkules]

Making variations is not so bad if you're working on tiles with buildings, but for other tiles it can be unglamorous as Este said and making each terrain type work with each other terrain type can be gruelling work especially when they can all be raised as well.

Calling it unglamorous is putting it mildly. If you have more than four terrain types and have to make all the possible combinations it can get so boring that you have to take a break from that tileset and work on something else or it can put you off making custom content for quite a while.

[Bannor Bloodfist]

And of course there is the issue of missing one or two of the various combinations that you were sure you already added... things that seldom show up but you can be sure that someone will report the 'bug' eventually.

 

It is too bad that Thrikreen never released his updated NWMax that had the ability to auto-create blank tiles properly named for each combination necessary.  At least that way you could easily see what tiles still needed to be created.  Plug in the various terrains and crosser names needed, and it was supposed to auto-fill a table of tile names for you etc.  I would almost give my left leg for that, but since it is the only leg I have left, I guess I would have to give up something else instead.

 

Edit:  Estelindis, sorry that I have not been able to get things working on my pc at this stage of things.  I keep plugging away at it, eventually I will get a working copy of something installed.

[Borden Haelven]

Feel free to include my treehouses and Inn of the Last Home if you want. http://nwvault.ign.c....Detail&id=8158

http://nwvault.ign.c....Detail&id=8152

[Estelindis]

Feel free to include my treehouses and Inn of the Last Home if you want. http://nwvault.ign.c....Detail&id=8158

http://nwvault.ign.c....Detail&id=8152

Thank you very much!  The Inn looks like it would suit the aesthetics of the tileset.  I look forward to making a few tweaks so that it fits in.  Really appreciate this and will be sure to credit you.

 

 

It is too bad that Thrikreen never released his updated NWMax that had the ability to auto-create blank tiles properly named for each combination necessary.  At least that way you could easily see what tiles still needed to be created.  Plug in the various terrains and crosser names needed, and it was supposed to auto-fill a table of tile names for you etc.  I would almost give my left leg for that, but since it is the only leg I have left, I guess I would have to give up something else instead.

 

Edit:  Estelindis, sorry that I have not been able to get things working on my pc at this stage of things.  I keep plugging away at it, eventually I will get a working copy of something installed.

Seriously, it would be great to be able to use that tool, but not, as you say, at an awful cost!

 

Please don't worry about your PC not working out for you yet - at least, don't worry on my account.  To modify a quote from Jesus regarding the Sabbath: life shouldn't be at the service of better modding; modding should be at the service of a better life.  For my own part, the tileset is proceeding a bit slower than I'd intended, but I know that's because some of my life circumstances have changed (following my renovations, my father became very ill), so I'm not going to feel bad about it or apologise.  It'll be done when it's done.  And, because of that attitude, whenever I do have the time to work on the tileset and feel in the mood to do so, it's a great escape from my circumstances and helps me to relax.

[Ssythilac]

Sorry about your father, Estelindis. I wish that he recover shortly.

[Estelindis]

Sorry about your father, Estelindis. I wish that he recover shortly.

Thanks, Ssythilac.  All wishes gratefully accepted!  Honestly, it looks to be pretty serious, but early detection hopefully means that it can be handled more easily than it would be otherwise.

[Shemsu-Heru]

Best wishes to you and your family,  Estelindis.

[Bannor Bloodfist]

Estelindis, I am sorry to hear about your father.  I know how things like that can seriously effect your life.  You are in my heart and prayers.  I wish you and your father the best possible outcome with whatever treatments he has to deal with.  May God provide him the minimum pain and maximum possible outcome.

[cervantes35]

Estelindis, really sorry to hear bad news about your dad. I too went thru this if you ever need to just talk I'll be around. Best wishes to you and your dad, you'll be in my thoughts and prayers. 

[The Amethyst Dragon]

Estelindis,

 

I was watching this thread for quite a while, then got distracted before I could actually see your work in the toolset.  I've now downloaded the version you linked to on one of the first pages...

 

And I'm blown away.  That file is just a beta version?  Seriously?

 

I have some elves in my PW that need their own living spaces that aren't retextures of the underdark or drow tilesets.  I was considering trying to make my own elven city exterior that has elven (rather than drow) style, when I remembered you were already working on one and I had to search it out.

 

Wonderful work already, and myself and others are (im)patiently holding our breaths for this set (or news of it) to pass our way.  It's a thing of beauty.

[Estelindis]

Thanks, AD.  It's nice to see such interest in the tileset.  As I said earlier, my dad's illness has made life difficult.  (Thanks very much to everyone who expressed their sympathy.)  Nonetheless, I have a lot more done since my last post here.  I wanted to pass a few more benchmarks before I updated the project file that anyone can access, but I suppose it can't hurt to update earlier than I'd intended, especially if folks want it.  Please see the link in my signature for the project, with the updated file.  Alternatively, if I've set things up right, you should be able to download it from my Google Drive: https://drive.google...it?usp=sharing 

 

I have added three crossers: alley, courtyard, and roof.  These are all for the building terrain.  Details follow below.  

 

1. Alley.  There is little to no variation in this crosser yet.  All the basic, necessary tiles are there.  What I want next is to add lots more variations and also to add "advanced, necessary" tiles - that is, various ways to enter the alley via inside corner building tiles (usually appended 01 by Bioware), not just straight building tiles (02).  Having all those options was one thing I had wanted to do before releasing an update, but not to worry.
2. Courtyard.  This is pretty much the same as the alley, except not walkable, i.e. without platform.  Instead, trees grow up through the space.  Ideally, I want to make this work with a walkway through the courtyard as well, but I haven't prototyped this yet.  As yet, I have only made two basic tiles of this type.  Getting to the same number of courtyard tiles as alley was my aim before releasing the update - but, again, that can come later.
3. Roof.  I noticed that the number of centre tiles, those typically given the number "20" in Bioware terrains, was getting quite large.  To help builders who want to "line up" the roof tiles, I have created this crosser.  It is, essentially, a "roof helper."  It will eventually make edge tiles nicer too.  (FYI, I haven't made edge tiles yet for any of this new stuff.)  A much smaller number of building centre tiles are left over, now that many of them are integrated into the roof crosser.  I still have a *heap* of new building centre tiles that I want to make, though.  Also, the little balconies that I've put into some of them have a systematic bug that I haven't fixed yet (the balcony floor should be higher).

As for pictures, I can't seen to get Print Screen to work for NWN at the minute, so you'll have to settle for some small toolset images.

 

 

[The Amethyst Dragon]

Don't want to rush you, Estelindis.  Just wanted to show my appreciation for the work you've already put into this.  I've not made a tileset from scratch myself, but I know just from modifying existing ones that it's a huge amount of work.

 

And the new screenshots: beautiful work.  Love the leafy open "courtyard" look and the window-lined alleys.  So much potential.

[cervantes35]

Wow that is jaw dropping este but don't hurry family first.

I'll continue to keep your father in my prayers.

[Pstemarie]

That's a beautiful tileset you've got there, Este. My thoughts are with you and your father.

[Ssythilac]

Beautiful work as always, Estelindis. My best wishes for you and your father.

[Estelindis]

Thanks, everyone.  Between last night and today, things at home have taken a dramatic lurch for (what I think is) the worse.  No promises at all as to when I'll be able to post anything new, and I know that's okay with all of you.  I appreciate the support.

[3RavensMore]

Best of thoughts to you and your family, Estelindis. 

[KlatchainCoffee]

It's hard to know what to say at a time like this; even in person & let alone with a line of text, far removed by the digital distance, but I'll keep you in my thoughts and wish you every strength and an irrepressible disposition in the face of each new day.

 

Thank you again for all the beautiful work you've created for so many people to enjoy!

 

KC

[Mecheon]

Family's more important than computer games, there's no issue at all with any of that

 

Best of luck with it all Est, my wishes are with you and your family

[Bannor Bloodfist]

Este, as you know I will shortly be facing these same sorts of issues with both of my parents, one already had a stroke phyically paralyzing her entire left side, the other, well, he has had 3 brain surgeries, needs a 4th but dr's won't do it due to his age and the dangers involved, he has also had 4 separate heart attacks and is on his 3rd pacemaker, again the drs refuse to do any more for him.  Anyway, my point being that I do truly understand what you are going through, and you have my complete, truly heartfelt prayers and thoughts as your trial through this horrible time goes forward.  May God be with you and your father and with your entire family.  I truly wish, as others have stated, that we were not distanced by this digital divide and that we could all help in any way that our presence might be a comfort.

 

God Bless.

[Pstemarie]

God bless you and your family, Este.

[kalbaern]

Don't want to rush you, Estelindis.  Just wanted to show my appreciation for the work you've already put into this.  I've not made a tileset from scratch myself, but I know just from modifying existing ones that it's a huge amount of work.

 

And the new screenshots: beautiful work.  Love the leafy open "courtyard" look and the window-lined alleys.  So much potential.

Agreed and no rushing on my part either. Family always comes first afterall.

 

After playing around with this preliminary work ... Wow ... if you stopped work now, I know I'd still use it.

 

I do have a few sugestions/requests though.

 

- Can you add a ground level option of some sort with connectors? (elevators, large trees with transitions or stairs)

- Maybe make a version of the "Giant Tree 2x2" that has a doorway and walkway to it so it can be used as access to either the ground or higher up.

- "Platform Placeables" which could be used on ground level maps so you can "see" that there is something high above you or added over treetop areas to make it appear there are higher platforms still.

 

Anyhow, just my own suggestions/requests. I enjoyed playing with the existing options this weekend and look forward to more ... when time and circumstances allow.

[Estelindis]

Thanks to everyone for all the kind, supportive posts.  Just "liking" those posts rather than posting responses, because I don't want to turn the thread too off-topic, but I really appreciate what everyone's said.

 

 

- Can you add a ground level option of some sort with connectors? (elevators, large trees with transitions or stairs)

- Maybe make a version of the "Giant Tree 2x2" that has a doorway and walkway to it so it can be used as access to either the ground or higher up.

- "Platform Placeables" which could be used on ground level maps so you can "see" that there is something high above you or added over treetop areas to make it appear there are higher platforms still.

 

Thanks for the suggestions.  It's good to see what people who've played with the set a bit want.  I can (and intend to) create a variety of transitions.  I've actually done a fair bit of work on various stairs in Max (3dsMax has some very helpful stair primitives), but got more interested in alleys for a bit.  Really should get back to the transitions, as I think they're very important for a set like this.  How is one supposed to get up to the treetops, after all?  Have also put more raise/lower tile combinations on the backburner for a bit, but I know exactly how I want them to be, so it's just a question of doing the work.  Btw, I fully understand that you intend to exert no pressure by making these suggestions.  I am glad to learn what you want.  

[Lord Sullivan]

While I haven't a download of this, judging by the screenies... it is absolutly a charming tileset. Sorry about your Pops, I send positive energy your way.

[Estelindis]

I'm sorry to say that my father passed away last week due to cancer.  It has been a huge shock; I honestly didn't know that cancer could act this quickly.  However, many great people in my life are helping me to cope.  Thanks for the support of all those who posted kind thoughts and wishes in this thread.  

 

I find it helpful to be busy at the moment.  In terms of this tileset, I've been doing the dull, time-consuming work of making raise/lower work properly with a variety of forest/platform terrain configurations.  I have updated the project file in my sig with the newest version of the hakpak.  

 

One thing that's puzzling me, however, is that groups/features paint sometimes paint improperly when I'm trying to put them on raised terrain.  This seems to happen when the raised platform is surrounded by forest on all sides.  However, if platform goes right to the edge on at least one side, it works fine.  I am posting some images to help show what I mean.  Does anyone know what's going on here?  (By the way, I hope it doesn't seem weird that I'm doing this at this awfully difficult time in my family's history.  I was with my father every day of his illness and gave him the best help that I could.  Now I need distractions to help me get through each day without being constantly preoccupied with what has happened.)

 

Here you see the large, raised area before I paint a feature.

 

Now you can see that painting the feature made a ring of tiles go down but left the painted feature at the correct height, so it floats above the surrounding tiles.

 

Here you can see that this problem is not universal.