Vehicle Skins

BadAsh · 2004-03-04, 08:04 PM

I think it�s time for a new set of vehicle skins. Some of the vehicles look pretty bland and some look too similar between empires. In particular are the VS and NC common pool Reavers, Mosquitoes, and Lightning Tanks. They are hard to distinguish at medium to longer ranges because their colorations are too similar. The TR skins are easily distinguishable at these ranges.

I�d like to see some type of cool camouflage patterning to the skins. The TR could have the typical blotch style camouflage pattern in black and bright red. The NC could get that wicked looking tiger stripe pattern with blue and bright yellow. The VS could get an alien looking camouflage pattern of purple and teal.

Not only would this look really cool, but would give a more unique appearance to the common pool vehicles. Also, this would be an easy thing to accomplish in terms of design and implementation. Skinning with a pattern design like camouflage is easy so this would not waste much of the artist�s time to complete.

I Hate Pants · 2004-03-04, 08:06 PM

There are plenty of other things that i'd rather have the devs focus on than new vehicle skins.

Seer · 2004-03-04, 08:15 PM

I never understood why the vehicles weren't skinned in the same manner as their inventory pictures. The skins in the inventory pictures are much better.

BadAsh · 2004-03-04, 08:29 PM

Originally Posted by I Hate Pants

There are plenty of other things that i'd rather have the devs focus on than new vehicle skins.

I agree, but literally this is a 30 minute task for one person to complete.

Peacemaker · 2004-03-06, 09:07 AM

Originally Posted by BadAsh

I agree, but literally this is a 30 minute task for one person to complete.

Youve never skinned anything in your life have you?

Rayder · 2004-03-06, 09:20 AM

Changing a skin is different from making a new one.

BadAsh · 2004-03-06, 12:28 PM

Originally Posted by Peacemaker

Youve never skinned anything in your life have you?

I created whole skin packs for Quake 1, 2, & 3. I'm by no means the best skinner around and I only have graphics software that is freeware but I can create skins that look pretty good.

The easiest ones to make are ones that are simple pattern wraps... like camo... so for this idea all you'd have to do is create 3 camo patterns, color them in empire colors, tile a sheet, cut them to fit the skin molds, and apply.

I'm assuming SOE has the best graphics toys money can buy and someone who has training and much more experience than a freeware using geek wannabe like me.

Krinsath · 2004-03-06, 01:42 PM

Sure, it seems like a relatively minor thing overall, but it does make a big difference.

VS and NC reavers are both grey. On a continent where there's a dark sky (like Hossin), a Reaver against the sky is near impossible to identify without getting close, which is a bad thing. Same thing with Lightnings. When you're doing an attack run for instance, you don't always have time to get close, do an overflight and they just know you're coming. A lot of friendly fire has gone on simply because they didn't think to make the skins more different. Again, you can't blame a Lightning for opening up on an unknown reaver...let it get close and you'll get a rocket spam in no time flat.

TR aircraft and tanks however, stick out like sore thumbs. Any enemy soldier can readily identify them and engage at maximum range. Not exactly a fair situation.

BadAsh is right, the models already exist, all they're really changing is the graphics that go over that model. It's slightly beyond chaging a text file, but not to the point where they will need to devote massive resources to it. There might not even be a single code change required.

The art team *is* a part of the devs, but the ones that everyone is concerned with (bug fixes, optimizations, etc.) are PROGRAMMERS, which are generally a separate category from the ARTISTS. They both have knowledge of the other's realm of expertise, but not enough to really make an impact (in general).

They do need to do *something* to make all the empire vehicles readily distinguishable at a glance at the maximum draw distance. That, or reskin the TR so they don't stick out anymore.

Bad Mojo · 2004-03-05, 07:09 AM

Originally Posted by I Hate Pants

There are plenty of other things that i'd rather have the devs focus on than new vehicle skins.

Yes, this is why there is an art team who makes changes like these and not the devs.

GreyFox · 2004-03-05, 08:52 AM

Originally Posted by Bad Mojo

Yes, this is why there is an art team who makes changes like these and not the devs.

The art team is a part of the devs, atleast in my book. Just that they don't program or design (they might do that though).

Dharkbayne · 2004-03-06, 03:01 AM

Originally Posted by Bad Mojo

Yes, this is why there is an art team who makes changes like these and not the devs.

Otherick · 2004-03-06, 08:58 AM

Originally Posted by I Hate Pants

There are plenty of other things that i'd rather have the devs focus on than new vehicle skins.

HERE HERE!

BDMJ · 2004-03-04, 08:26 PM

Turn on low detail vehicle skins to activate the skins shown on the v-pad menu.

Seer · 2004-03-04, 09:19 PM

Originally Posted by BDMJ

Turn on low detail vehicle skins to activate the skins shown on the v-pad menu.

Ah, darn. Those are the lq skins?

Rayder · 2004-03-04, 08:35 PM

Originally Posted by BadAsh

The NC could get that wicked looking tiger stripe pattern with blue and bright yellow.

Falkenberg's Legion eh?