PDA

View Full Version : Alternative Graphics


General Staff
19 Jul 06, 08:59
It finally arrived today and am kicking the tires. Looks real good.

Reinstalling my non-standard graphics is now a cinch and I really like this feature, because it makes it much simpler to keep the original graphics separate from new ones that you might just want to try and then maybe reject.

I did an article on this at http://www.strategyzoneonline.com/toaw/uploads/articles/graphicsmods/graphicsmods.html

But just to show how easy it is now, I've attached a ZIP file containing all the graphics bmps mentioned in the article. All you have to do is unzip this into your AltGraphics subdirectory and fire up TOAWIII. Or if already running switch from one D mode to another (View->Options->Map View and go to another and then back to the one you use/prefer). If you like them keep them, if not just delete out of the AltGraphics folder and the default ones will reappear ((again View->Options->Map View and go to another and then back to the one you use/prefer). If you like some and not others, read the article and you can deduce which to keep and which to delete.

Just a quick intro to how easy Graphics now are for new players.

Edit: Just a heads up on what's here:

Formation highlights from silver/gold to green/red. The selected unit shows red, the other units in the formation green.
Rivers show slightly differently and the contrast between major and minor is a little greater.
In 2D-Small Mode, Major Roads show red, Minor Roads, yellow.
Railroads are crosshatched to make them more distinguishable from Roads. This I find the most useful.
Airfields show in the same blue as anchorages/ports.

Some of these are more important in big scenarios where you do need 2D mode. Also in East Front scenarios I find the Airfield bmp useful in finding where to post planes in all that space. I'd recommend keeping airfields and ports on top most of the time.

Boonierat
19 Jul 06, 09:24
Hey GS, you don't happen to have the normal size (2D) file for the Improved Road per chance? I'm desperatly looking for one that would fit my Vietnam Mod but your zip file only has the small version :o

General Staff
19 Jul 06, 09:30
Hey GS, you don't happen to have the normal size (2D) file for the Improved Road per chance? I'm desperatly looking for one that would fit my Vietnam Mod but your zip file only has the small version :o
I Zipped these off my HD, so they're the only ones I have. If you go to the TDG link in the article and work from there, you should find them. I believe they're the Graphics from Wickstrom.

Hope this helps.

General Staff
19 Jul 06, 12:15
For those who want to try the Red Major and Yellow Minor Roads in 2D Large mode, see attached file, though I'm not fussed on them myself. Too much colour, but on 2D Small it can help in making them stand out.

Enjoy!

Boonierat
19 Jul 06, 15:39
For those who want to try the Red Major and Yellow Minor Roads in 2D Large mode, see attached file, though I'm not fussed on them myself. Too much colour, but on 2D Small it can help in making them stand out.

Enjoy!

Cheers GS :smoke:

Veers
19 Jul 06, 15:47
I just modified the tiles_railroad that GS put up for the 2D small. I found the cross hatched stilla bit too hard to make out, so I made it wider (inspired by the wider, but not cross-hatched rails I used to use) and kept it crosshatched crosshatched. Now very easy to see. :D

Boonierat
19 Jul 06, 15:51
I'm not fussed on them myself. Too much colour, but on 2D Small it can help in making them stand out.

Ewww! I know what you mean, it looks...well awful :eek:
thanks for posting it though, back to the drawing board I guess.

General Staff
19 Jul 06, 15:58
I just modified the tiles_railroad that GS put up for the 2D small.
Do we get to see it?

Veers
19 Jul 06, 16:25
HAHAHAHAHAHAHA, I meant to upload it with the last post, and thought I did...:)

Here you go. :)
A look at the pic
Them zippded up
A screener

Okimaw
19 Jul 06, 17:15
Hey cool beans Veers, I was looking at that project but wasn't ambitious enough. I did a similar one for roads maybe I'll put up

General Staff
19 Jul 06, 17:35
Here you go. :)
Hey, nice. I'll take those thanks. It's neat to build these things. The airfield icon I built myself so landing strips would be easily visible at night on the steppe. ;)

General Staff
19 Jul 06, 17:40
Oh, yeah. Just looked at them in 2WIN. Now they really make your supply lines come alive. Thanks Veers.

Telumar
19 Jul 06, 18:12
If we are posting... A variant of the classic toaw look, mixed with various original and manipulated elements from other mods. Think i am gonna submit this soon. :stirthepot:

General Staff
26 Jul 06, 15:52
Telumar,

I just downloaded your latest graphics and I have to say they are brilliant. Now I did use Veers' Tiles_Railroad.bmp and my own Tiles_misc.bmp for airfield visibility but between all of them it looks excellent. In particular your rivers and roads, plus all other terrain. Huge improvement and thanks.

You can find them here:

http://www.strategyzoneonline.com/forums/downloads.php?do=file&id=1197

Telumar
26 Jul 06, 17:05
Thanks GenStaff, but the rivers, roads and railroads are not purely my invention. They are from other mods (lost track from which ones), but i manipulated the railway and the rivers.

Crocky007
26 Jul 06, 17:29
Thanks guys for someone thats just got TOAW for the first time these make it a lot easier to quietly work through and figure out how to play this beast :D

Veers
26 Jul 06, 19:28
I use this RR Graphic with GJK map Mod.

16710
Right, right. Mine are very simmilar, but wider, easier to see for those with bad vision. :laugh: of course, mine are not all that well done, just a mod of another mod. Anyone using my mod will see some spots where the cross-pieces are too close or to far apart. :)

General Staff
26 Jul 06, 20:36
I use this RR Graphic with GJK map Mod.

16710Thanks. Just wondering where you got this. Veers' lines are pretty bold, but it emphasizes Supply and that's why I particularly like them.

larryfulkerson
26 Jul 06, 21:21
I like this Mod a lot, especially the railroad. Unfortunately, unless the Windows fonts can be adjusted to a different color than white, they're going to blend in and be invisible. There's some talk about Ralph using Windows fonts for T3 instead of the classic fonts ( which have a black border around the characters ) and I've been having vision problemos since I'm a little older, and I found the Windows fonts a godsend since you can adjust the font size and font weight, and font boldness. Anyway, this graphic reminds me of the boardgameing days of old.

http://img131.imageshack.us/img131/4113/gjkmodgd9.gif

General Staff
27 Jul 06, 04:45
Here's how those I'm using look. Screenshot around Carentan from 2WIN. I'll wait until Ralph gets Windows fonts in for lettering.