A Different Kind Of ICON Fun!

Starhammer · July 04, 2013, 12:10:24 AM

These are awesome! Thanks for all the work on these. So now I have to wonder... any chance you could extract a TIE Interceptor from SWG and use it to overwrite one of the lesser used cars?

The Fifth Horseman · July 04, 2013, 10:29:12 AM

No. These things are just texture swaps, not model replacements. IIRC we don't have tools for that yet.

Mantic · July 04, 2013, 05:21:24 PM

Here's something you're free to use, though it's still needing a new bump map in-game at this point:

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v684/ManticMan/face_skin_alien_01.png

Here's the *.texture file rar'd up with directory structure.

If I recall correctly, this same file is referenced by both male and female models now.

It's an old edit so I forget a bit, like what the proper DDS settings were and all. If you're familiar with the original alien face texture you can see that I aligned everything to it as precisely as possible. The sad thing is, I used a deprecated version for all my alignments and now it doesn't match up to the new bump map at all, and I don't even know where that bump map is to fix it. :/ The alpha in this file is just a color mask. I used it to mask out the eyes so they stay brown and to give the high points of the topology a little highlight.

If anyone knows what file is referenced for the alien face bump map, and what pigg it is in, point me to it and I'll make it actually match this.

That's really why I thought to post this texture. Now that nobody is worrying about violating their license agreement, maybe folks can pool experience to figure out more about this stuff. I never had anyone to ask when things messed up, and it seems almost every time I go in to muck with the *.texture files the thing is using a different DDS compression setting. Or something else would mess up for no obvious reason.

One of the big problems I ran into was reflection masks. Maybe I just don't have the right DDS tool, but I never could figure it. Every time I modified a file with a reflection mask the game would flip the reflection upside-down. If anyone knows how to make that work right, I should have an old replacement for the metallic textures here somewhere that removes the indented bands and adds a new bump map for a clean Silver Surfer type base texture.

Personally, I wish it were possible to bring the old faces up to the level of the steampunk and sci fi textures, rather than just downgrading them to be consistent. Alas, though I'd be keen on tackling that, I never saw analogous displacement maps for the old face textures in the piggs.

The devs were able to cheat using higher resolutions on most of the newer assets, too.

MWRuger · July 05, 2013, 09:37:18 PM

This exactly where I see the Icon project going ultimately. A very cool user run mod site (Titan maybe?) where you can read, review and download mods for you over version of COH on a private server where you and your friends could play. Custom missions, maps, zones, costume pieces and maybe even new power sets.

Codewalker · July 05, 2013, 09:51:51 PM

Quote from: Mantic on July 04, 2013, 05:21:24 PM
If anyone knows what file is referenced for the alien face bump map, and what pigg it is in, point me to it and I'll make it actually match this.

It's in the same place as the texture itself.

texture_library/V_PLAYERS/AVATAR/Male/Face/CoH_Converted/v_face_skin_alien_01.texture
texture_library/V_PLAYERS/AVATAR/Male/Face/CoH_Converted/v_face_skin_alien_01_bump.texture

(the v_ one is the one that's used by the actual Alien face. It got converted when all the head geometries were changed to use the higher-poly CoV ones).

Mantic · July 05, 2013, 10:53:54 PM

Thanks Codewalker!

As I mentioned, this is an old edit and I don't recall entirely what went wrong, except that the bump map was misaligned. Maybe that's what I mis-referenced. Will see what I can do about it now, since the texture was pretty effective otherwise.

So, I found the metallic chest texture from waybackwhen that had issues and after opening files up in a hex editor and comparing headers I finally figured out the correct settings. It works now.

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v684/ManticMan/CoH/metallic_chest_definition.png https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v684/ManticMan/CoH/metallic_chest_definition_back.png

So here's that, rar'd up with directory structure as before.

As you can see, it not only has the bands removed but there's new muscle contour, sporting a clearly defined six-pack and other anatomical definition. Unfortunately, now that it actually works right I can see there's a pretty big error: the biceps starts halfway up the deltoids. Other than that I guessed fairly well. Once I've gone through and given the rest of the metallic textures this Silver Surfer treatment I'll come back and fix those biceps.

And since crocko seems to be on the fritz, here's an alternate link for the ape face, too.

daveyfiacre · July 07, 2013, 12:46:24 PM

oooh i look forward to the metallic textures! :D

Mantic · July 07, 2013, 04:42:31 PM

I wasn't going to do this first but I went ahead and did a patch on the metallic chest; the delt pops more and though the connections are still a little higher than the polygonal geometry all the way around the base of the delt it's not too noticable now.

Here's a comparison of the original to the new one:

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v684/ManticMan/CoH/metallic_chest_before__after.png

And here's the new file. If it doesn't appear to work at first try moving your data directory and moving it back, or the actual files, while the game is running. I've noticed that sometimes the files in the data directory don't all get precedence at first.

More to come.

blackjak · July 07, 2013, 10:29:52 PM

Somewhat of an off topic question, but how did you get the snake body on the first page? Icon in npc mode?

Arachnion · July 07, 2013, 10:36:46 PM

Quote from: blackjak on July 07, 2013, 10:29:52 PM
Somewhat of an off topic question, but how did you get the snake body on the first page? Icon in npc mode?

I think that's an NPC.

Wasn't there an enemy group that had some female snakepeople?

:o

The Fifth Horseman · July 07, 2013, 11:39:51 PM

NPC model. The group was called Talons of Vengeance: http://paragonwiki.com/wiki/Talons%20of%20Vengeance

blackjak · July 08, 2013, 12:17:42 AM

oh yeah....Darn. I have a character I made up a long time ago that has a snake body...

daveyfiacre · July 08, 2013, 03:30:32 AM

yeah, sorry. i had just summoned an NPC for that screenie.

but in icon you can /be_npc Stheno and that's pretty fun to slither around and jump and what not. xD

believe me, if there was any way to load the snake tail lower-body half i would just about die from glee.

blackjak · July 08, 2013, 03:38:43 AM

If it's available as an npc, it's probably not out of the question. Better brains than mine would have to figure that one out though.

Sin Stalker · July 08, 2013, 07:34:31 AM

These are awesome!

I wish CoH would have allowed community costume pieces. These are so much better. :)

MWRuger · July 09, 2013, 07:35:06 PM

Hey Mantic! This is awesome stuff!

I know it's not an issue yet, but give some consideration on how this could be deployed ala a Mod. I am also thinking standardized format for pics illustrating the costume pieces and the like. I'm raising this here because this is the first place I've seen the kind of activity that might conceivably become fodder for a community mods for Icon.

I'm thinking a self extracting zip file that loads the pieces where they need to be and either updates the costume piece list or replaces it. (updating would make the file smaller I expect).

It would also need to check that it isn't overwriting a current costume piece without the user's knowledge. It would be relatively easy to have it add a trailing digit for an additional piece. Example: A A replacement Cyberpunk.armor.leg could be renamed Cyberpunk 02.armor.leg.

Anyway, just a thought.

Nebularian · August 25, 2013, 06:02:10 PM

I think this one is going to be beyond me. I got a pigg viewer (as stated, the one listed earlier is iffy for Windows 7 so I downloaded the PiggViewer from here: http://sourceforge.net/projects/piggviewer/?source=dlp (I guess it was originally called Hero Viewer)

I've gotten to the point where I can view piggs....but I have no clue of where to look for what I want. I just want to look at the basic emblems and see if I can alter a few of them. Just can't seem to figure out where they are.

LKN-351 · August 28, 2013, 06:03:37 PM

If you are looking for which piggs to view they would be under the 'stage' piggs. I was doing pretty much what you are speaking of a while back, but I don't recall which pigg had them specifically... try stage1c or stage1d. I'm fairly certain that the majority of the emblems are in the same pigg, but it's been a while since I've messed with it so that could be wrong.

If you had already gotten that far and just can't find them while viewing the pigg archives they would be under supershared.

Also, Tonys pigg viewer is really good for finding lost pieces since it opens all of the piggs at once and when you select the piece your lookin for it shows you which pigg it's located in specifically.

Fennec · September 19, 2013, 06:42:40 AM

Sorry there haven't been any updates in a while. Life gets in the way sometimes. I am currently working on a collection of new patterns, but in the meantime, a little something to tide you over...

It is time to choose your team! You can be WONDERful! Awesomely SUPER! Really MARVELous! AUTOmatically DECEPTive! And even FANTASTIC! You won't need your FLASHlights or LANTERNs, because even in the DARK NIGHT, a sharp-eyed HAWK will find that X-Marks the spot! SHIELD yourself from the LEGIONs of HYDRAs and SPIDERs! You'll QUASAR in your boots! (Yeah, that last one was really bad, but whatcha gonna do? :P )

Get it here:
https://skydrive.live.com/redir?resid=73B2B52F37816750!128

Contents:
19 chest emblems
Replacing GREEK UPPERCASE Alpha thru Rho and Psi & Omega
(1 designed exclusively for the female body type)

Spoiler for Hidden:

4 capes
Replacing INSECT 2, INSECT 3, LACE and TRANSLUCENT 1
(1 designed to be used with short cape)

Spoiler for Hidden:

1 belt
Replacing JEWEL
(not available for female body type)

Spoiler for Hidden:

_{I wish to state that these images were created by me, but based off the copyrighted work of others. I share these with the understanding that they are for the downloaders' own personal use and enjoyment. I am not, nor should you, attempting to seek any sort of profit from their use. They are presented solely by me and I am not in any way, shape or form, affiliated with the creators or owners of this website. I believe these images to be in the realm of "fair play," but will, of course, stop their distribution if the copyright owners wish and contact me to say so.}

Kyriani · September 19, 2013, 01:50:27 PM

Quote from: Fennec on September 19, 2013, 06:42:40 AM
Sorry there haven't been any updates in a while. Life gets in the way sometimes. I am currently working on a collection of new patterns, but in the meantime, a little something to tide you over...

It is time to choose your team! You can be WONDERful! Awesomely SUPER! Really MARVELous! AUTOmatically DECEPTive! And even FANTASTIC! You won't need your FLASHlights or LANTERNs, because even in the DARK NIGHT, a sharp-eyed HAWK will find that X-Marks the spot! SHIELD yourself from the LEGIONs of HYDRAs and SPIDERs! You'll QUASAR in your boots! (Yeah, that last one was really bad, but whatcha gonna do? :P )

Get it here:
https://skydrive.live.com/redir?resid=73B2B52F37816750!128

Contents:
19 chest emblems
Replacing GREEK UPPERCASE Alpha thru Rho and Psi & Omega
(1 designed exclusively for the female body type)
Spoiler for Hidden:
https://images.weserv.nl/?url=i40.tinypic.com%2F11l3280.jpg
https://images.weserv.nl/?url=i43.tinypic.com%2F2dtax69.jpg
https://images.weserv.nl/?url=i39.tinypic.com%2F2hnt4w5.jpg
https://images.weserv.nl/?url=i39.tinypic.com%2F28tdtmg.jpg
https://images.weserv.nl/?url=i39.tinypic.com%2Fnoizad.jpg

4 capes
Replacing INSECT 2, INSECT 3, LACE and TRANSLUCENT 1
(1 designed to be used with short cape)
Spoiler for Hidden:
https://images.weserv.nl/?url=i44.tinypic.com%2Fxpuipx.jpg

1 belt
Replacing JEWEL
(not available for female body type)
Spoiler for Hidden:
https://images.weserv.nl/?url=i43.tinypic.com%2F30a46j5.jpg

_{I wish to state that these images were created by me, but based off the copyrighted work of others. I share these with the understanding that they are for the downloaders' own personal use and enjoyment. I am not, nor should you, attempting to seek any sort of profit from their use. They are presented solely by me and I am not in any way, shape or form, affiliated with the creators or owners of this website. I believe these images to be in the realm of "fair play," but will, of course, stop their distribution if the copyright owners wish and contact me to say so.}

You should totally do Jean Grey's Phoenix chest emblem for male and female!