• New Horizons on Maelstrom
    Maelstrom New Horizons


    Visit our website www.piratehorizons.com to quickly find download links for the newest versions of our New Horizons mods Beyond New Horizons and Maelstrom New Horizons!

Realistic Fortifications

To Chocolate Bill and CouchcaptainCharles: I am finishing the replacement for CouchcaptainCharles keep model but I think is getting too hi poly, so I would like to know the poly count boundaries of the game, second, the keep will have a size almost the same as silehard´s mansion in redmond, that size it´s realistic, because after all a keep was the seat of power in medieval times, it later evolved as the "chevallier" wich in fortification terms is the highest battery of a castle, being able to bombard the castle itself to repel invaders. I think the good CouchcaptainCharles also intended the keep as perimeter defense turret, but I think 2 sepparate buildings would fit better in a 17th century setting, that is why I am also making a triangular redoubt wich could fit perfectly in the locations already ingame, being about the size of a house.

Among other things, I have some wooden fortifications sitting arround my HD doing nothing since Command & Conquer Pirates was cancelled, so I think having a wooden cheaper version of the fortifications would be a cool addition to the game, what do you think?

To bremg and Cpt. Yuke: Thanks for the complements, I am glad my work is appreciated. My city is a big scene intended for a book-3D tour I am writing and creating with a fellow historian, I plan to subdivide it and use just the parts I circled with the colored lines, but to do that I would need a lot of help and understanding of the modding tools or a mod team, so anyone interested is free to join the "scennery mod" hehehe that just came up.

Some pictures of real keeps-towers

French fort in Morocco
<img src="http://www.hobotraveler.com/164essaouiramorocco/blogmofoccofort02.JPG" border="0" class="linked-image" />
<img src="http://www.hobotraveler.com/164essaouiramorocco/blogmorrocofort.JPG" border="0" class="linked-image" />

Strongtowers in Cuba
<img src="http://www.orishasthebest.com/Fotos/Cuba/La_Habana/Torreon_La_Habana.jpg" border="0" class="linked-image" />
<img src="http://www.cubanite.com/foto/117.jpg" border="0" class="linked-image" />
 
Ships are maximum 7000 polygons,not sure what fortifications are,those are great pics mate,hope you can thses ingame,curious what you are intend'n for walking around inside forts, like doors and reload locations for rooms inside:cheers
 
<!--quoteo(post=139087:date=Feb 8 2006, 01:20 PM:name=skull)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(skull @ Feb 8 2006, 01:20 PM) [snapback]139087[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Ships are maximum 7000 polygons,not sure what fortifications are,those are great pics mate,hope you can thses ingame,curious what you are intend'n for walking around inside forts, like doors and reload locations for rooms inside:cheers<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

Well, the buildings I am working on right now are just replacements for the ones CoachCaptain Charles has, but if someone helps me create new locations then I could add powder magazines, barracks and such things. I have a good asorment of plans and desings from the colonial era, so creating them won´t be a problem, putting them ingame is (at least for me now)
 
Sweet,haven't tried CCC building set yet, added a pirate fortress to QC some time ago and filled it with pirates O' course for future pirate quests,however the fort is just a reload location changed from house in jungle,so only inside of fort is seen,would be nice to add one O' yer model to QC since it doesn't have a fortification <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/yes.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":yes" border="0" alt="yes.gif" /> <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/par-ty.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":cheers" border="0" alt="par-ty.gif" />
 
<!--quoteo(post=139051:date=Feb 8 2006, 03:33 PM:name=Capitan Caceres)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Capitan Caceres @ Feb 8 2006, 03:33 PM) [snapback]139051[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->To CouchcaptainCharles I have a proposition for you, I was looking at your work last night and fell in love with the rum destilery, is a very resourceful approach you used for it,<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Hehe, "resourceful" is a very diplomatic description for the use of a candelabre model as destilling tubes <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/icon_mrgreen1.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":cheeky" border="0" alt="icon_mrgreen1.gif" />

Thanks a lot for trying to improve my buildings, they certainly could do with some redesign. I know nothing about the actual modelling, so I had to cobble my buildings together from existing PotC modelcomponents. I can also not help you with the conversion to GM format. But if you make a working .gm building model I should be able to put it into the game.

A proposal for some forum teamwork: could you upload your models on the FTP :

ftp.piratesahoy.org
files@piratesahoy.org
piratesahoy

Bill or whoever is willing and able could convert them to .gm format and I will try to put it into the game. And anyone who's interested could follow or support our progress.

BTW, do you have the GM viewer? If your model looks allright there it should work in the game as well.

Those stronghold towers are just what I had in mind, and wooden fortifications would FAIK be rather common in young colonies. (Could also be used as makeshift battlefield barricades)

As for the size of model and file, maybe you need to make a compromise between realism and the limitations of the PotC locations. The idea of the Buildingset is that you should be able to erect your own settlement somewhere. But most PotC locations are rather confined, so the buildings can not be too large.
Another thing, there should be an interior in those buildings, as you walk right into them (no reloading to an indoor location)
 
To CouchCaptain Charles: Oh my, I totally forgot the interior, I have no problem in making one the problem is the polycount, by the way, I forgot to thank Skull for the answer.

Blast, my keep is already 7000 polys on the outside can anyone confirm the poly limit for land objects?

I do have the GM viewer, but as I said before, I m having serious problems with Inez tool, so the models will be uploaded in *.max or *.3ds or even my nemesis the VMRL format then the person in charge of exporting it can do his/her thing.

As for building sizes I totaly agree with you, so far the keep should fit as a mansion, I think that is ok for a keep, since it is supposed to be like a town centre or something, as for defensive turrets, they will be smaller, so the player can build more of them, another method would be to let the player decide if he/she is going to build just 2 big fortifications or a lot of small ones, what do you think?

I will upload the finished model tonight. so we can discuss size and any other modification you would like me to do to it.
 
i believe, that this shouldn't matter... the 7k-poly mark is not really true. i got my ship ingame with 25k polys and it worked without making any trouble.
(using an AMD Duron 1200 and an Elsa Gladiac 311 32 mb !!)
 
<!--quoteo(post=139106:date=Feb 8 2006, 04:27 PM:name=´Chocolate` Bill)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(´Chocolate` Bill @ Feb 8 2006, 04:27 PM) [snapback]139106[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->i believe, that this shouldn't matter... the 7k-poly mark is not really true. i got my ship ingame with 25k polys and it worked without making any trouble.
(using an AMD Duron 1200 and an Elsa Gladiac 311 32 mb !!)<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

Ahh ... then we should see it in game soon right?

Another thought ... how will she behave (frame rate wise) with several other ships in the same area?
 
<img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/hi.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":gday" border="0" alt="hi.gif" /> there Capitan Caceres.

Love your work matey. Hope you can co-ordinate with CCC and get some new and unique towns, buildings and locations going, particularly for the new islands. This would indeed bring a whole new refreshing ambience to the game. Looking forward to seeing the fruits of your work soon.

Cheers, lads. <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/par-ty.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":cheers" border="0" alt="par-ty.gif" />
 
<!--quoteo(post=139106:date=Feb 8 2006, 04:27 PM:name=´Chocolate` Bill)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(´Chocolate` Bill @ Feb 8 2006, 04:27 PM) [snapback]139106[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->i believe, that this shouldn't matter... the 7k-poly mark is not really true. i got my ship ingame with 25k polys and it worked without making any trouble.
(using an AMD Duron 1200 and an Elsa Gladiac 311 32 mb !!)<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

Thanks mate! those are great news, now I can finish that tower as well as the rest of the fortifications.

Can you PM me your email, because I don´t see it in your profile, I will send my models directly to you since I just don´t know how to put them ingame.
 
This is the almost finished keep, I may just upload/send it like that and let the other guys decide what is going to be insede. My opinion is that it should double as a mansion or town centre and let the defensive turrets/small redoubts I am making take the role of perimeter defense.

What do you think?

<img src="http://img225.imageshack.us/img225/3412/torreon0fc.jpg" border="0" class="linked-image" />
 
ok, i just sent a pm to you.

But, i weas thinking about the poly's. I just reduced my ship to ~10k polygon's, 'cause there should be no problem in using the ship by sailing around or fighting other ships, except the ohter shipas are 'surprises' as well... then there could be some problems...
anyway, hope it will work =)
 
I reaaaaaaaally like the keep, but havent played the building set, because when it was a additional download i played it but when i built a house, i didnt saw it. now i am downloading the post build 12.
 
<!--quoteo(post=139125:date=Feb 9 2006, 06:46 AM:name=Capitan Caceres)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Capitan Caceres @ Feb 9 2006, 06:46 AM) [snapback]139125[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->This is the almost finished keep, I may just upload/send it like that and let the other guys decide what is going to be insede. My opinion is that it should double as a mansion or town centre and let the defensive turrets/small redoubts I am making take the role of perimeter defense.

What do you think?

<img src="http://myspace-145.vo.llnwd.net/00488/54/14/488384145_l.jpg" border="0" class="linked-image" /><!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->


you say you dont have much expierience but your models are bloody well done RESPECT <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/bow.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":bow" border="0" alt="bow.gif" /> <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/bow.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":bow" border="0" alt="bow.gif" /> <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/bow.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":bow" border="0" alt="bow.gif" />
 
Beautiful keep, just what we need to improve looks and atmosphere of PotC <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/me.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":onya" border="0" alt="me.gif" /> Let's hope we can convert it (fingers crossed)

One request: The keep will be built on slopes, hills or in the water. To prevent it from "hanging in the air" then it needs a kind of foundation or basement (Build something on a sloping beach to see what I mean). Could you extent or draw down the walls to about 5 meters BELOW gatelevel ?

One proposal: A (draw)bridge in front of the gate would be nice so that a keep in the portwaters could communicate with a jetty.

One question: is it possible to use textures that are already in PotC? That would save us some download datavolume, but I don't know if that's possible.
 
<!--quoteo(post=139165:date=Feb 9 2006, 01:19 PM:name=CouchcaptainCharles)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(CouchcaptainCharles @ Feb 9 2006, 01:19 PM) [snapback]139165[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Beautiful keep, just what we need to improve looks and atmosphere of PotC <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/me.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":onya" border="0" alt="me.gif" /> Let's hope we can convert it (fingers crossed)

One request: The keep will be built on slopes, hills or in the water. To prevent it from "hanging in the air" then it needs a kind of foundation or basement (Build something on a sloping beach to see what I mean). Could you extent or draw down the walls to about 5 meters BELOW gatelevel ?

One proposal: A (draw)bridge in front of the gate would be nice so that a keep in the portwaters could communicate with a jetty.

One question: is it possible to use textures that are already in PotC? That would save us some download datavolume, but I don't know if that's possible.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

All your questions are already answered mate, the keep does have a foundation, I just did not include it in the render, The textures that you are seeing are all from POTC I wanted to keep the looks of the game and as you said help with the downloading, as for the drawbridge I will have to create it, but that is not a problem.

This is the replacement for your bastion, in this case a triangular redoubt, since it is small I think I can keep it realistic without occupying much space. Tell me what you think.

<img src="http://img139.imageshack.us/img139/4469/reducto5xd.jpg" border="0" class="linked-image" />

The cannons and the untextured blaze are just for showing the scale, I think the ingame cannons would look better. The building is realy low poly, below 200 I made it that way in anticipation for the cannons and the gunner that I assume will be added.



I just sent the keep to Chocolate Bill.
 
@Capitan Caceres

plz. check your emails.
i told u, what still needs to be fixed. after that we can finish this nice keep!

p.s. the conversion worked perfectly!
 
<!--quoteo(post=139180:date=Feb 9 2006, 05:22 PM:name=´Chocolate` Bill)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(´Chocolate` Bill @ Feb 9 2006, 05:22 PM) [snapback]139180[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->@Capitan Caceres

plz. check your emails.
i told u, what still needs to be fixed. after that we can finish this nice keep!

p.s. the conversion worked perfectly!<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

I just sent you the fixed keep, but are you sure that it worked perfectly, I got this weird error in inez tool, the whole building is stretched on the Y axis. The keep is supposed to be square, not rectangular.

I hope it all works fine on your machine, because here is making funny things.
 
Excellent redoubt <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/onya.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":onya" border="0" alt="onya.gif" /> Just the small fortification that I had in mind <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/yes.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":yes" border="0" alt="yes.gif" />

And yes, please do not add cannon to the model. There will be (actually working) cannon added by the Buildingset, but only if you pay for them, and then tey will be added as weapon to the gunner.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top