Re: First Strike Mapping Set Up Guide

Hmmmm, this didn't work for me for some reason, when it came to the loading of First Strike into the BF2 Editor I got an exception error and it created a 'Dump' file. Only step I didn't take was to update BF2, but I assumed if BF2 was only necessary for the registry I wouldn't need to update this.

Will give the file extraction another go and see if I made an error there somehow. Are you supposed to leave the ZIP/RAR files in the directory after you've extracted them or would you need to remove them for the thing to work?

[EDIT:]

Seems to be working this time, I think it was because I extracted all the files rather than just the 5 folders to be focused on the first time.

[EDIT 2:]

Hmmm, spoke too soon. When compiling FS in the editor have got two console errors. 'Couldn't open console script "common/sky/skydome/skydome.con" & "common/sky/flare/flaresprite.con"


Though that said hopefully this has got me far enough in to have a go at trying to get a map imported into 3DS Max.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v600/TALON_TAW/TALONSIGNEWB-1.jpg
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Re: First Strike Mapping Set Up Guide

What OS do you have? I have windows 7 and I had to run the installer in compatibility mode for windows XP before it worked correctly for me.

Re: First Strike Mapping Set Up Guide

I'm on XP so my retro chic means I don't have that issue.

lol


Now done with the 3DS Max side of the lightmapping process, so just have to suss the editor out now. When I load FS I'm still getting a:

[Console] : Couldn't open console script "common/sky/skydome/skydome.con"
[Console] : Couldn't open console script "common/sky/flare/flaresprite.con"

...message, is this normal, or is this something I need to fix?


[EDIT:]

Just loaded Mos Espa without issue, other than the fact it was missing the skybox/skydome which is most likely related to the error highlighted above. So not sure why Parmel isn't loading correctly, unless it is and I just have to figure out which way is up and then trundle upwards until the assets come into view, which is probably most likely the case. Going to be tricky to navigate without the skybox for guidance though.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v600/TALON_TAW/TALONSIGNEWB-1.jpg
http://stats.fsmod.com/fssig.php?player=Talon-UK
http://stats.fsmod.com/sig/pilot.Talon-UK.png

Re: First Strike Mapping Set Up Guide

Seeing Mos Espa working fine in the editor it became evident that I just needed to navigate up to see the station and other assets on Strike at Parmel. So now I seem to have the map in okay, only issue now is that the only thing I can see properly are the Lambda Shuttles (the only statics which are not lightmapped, the station itself is really hard to see and the interior of the hangars and some of the platform is all that can really be seen. If I remove the object lightmap files and replace them with the original lightmap atlas file I can see everything clearly, so obviously there is some additional problem.

In Max I had to shift the sunlight asset up so the station was visible in that software, I wonder if that has had an effect or something? Maybe the light position in the editor has to be shifted up too? Though I thought that light was just directional so only the angle and direction should matter, the position shouldn't matter. A strange one for sure.

There is also the possible issue of needing an additional UV channel for the lightmaps, but this wasn't mentioned in the tutorial. I think that is only needed if an asset uses a tiled texture, which I suspect the station and most of the other assets do.


[EDIT:]

Hmmmm, looks like the Freighter and containers are showing up as expected, it is just the station which is playing up (most likely means the asset needs that second set of UVs for lightmapping due to a tiled texture being used. The lighting direction is okay, but perhaps needs to be raised so more light plays across the top of the assets (or angle of light changed to make it less shallow vertically).

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v600/TALON_TAW/TALONSIGNEWB-1.jpg
http://stats.fsmod.com/fssig.php?player=Talon-UK
http://stats.fsmod.com/sig/pilot.Talon-UK.png

Re: First Strike Mapping Set Up Guide

Well its not going in this release is it? So just play around a little until you get something your happy with.

Bite my shiny metal Tie Fighter!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v600/TALON_TAW/TwigsSIG.jpg
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Re: First Strike Mapping Set Up Guide

Yeah will do. Know why I've avoided having to work with the editor until now though.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v600/TALON_TAW/TALONSIGNEWB-1.jpg
http://stats.fsmod.com/fssig.php?player=Talon-UK
http://stats.fsmod.com/sig/pilot.Talon-UK.png