Weather Graphics

[Redmarkus5]

OK! These alt maps are intended to show the Season, not the weather as such. Players will still need to look at the weather info boxes in the top right corner...

[roflbinflood]

Yeah i was talking about these gfx files:(see below)
No matter how you edit them.. they still have the same pattern ingame. How do i go about changing those patterns?

I wanted to make em more flat'ish and transparent.(does the game support alpha channels?)

[Helpless]

Yes, alpha channels supported and should be present on "transparent" art.

P.S. Thread is really worth to be moved to the modding section.

[Helpless]

Just tried to run the game with weather overlay (snow) and didn't see any slowdowns. The only difference that I'm running it with the latest code which is faster in "map handling".

[roflbinflood]

Ahh im so blind.. theyr right over there in channels! .. [:'(] thanks!

[Redmarkus5]

ORIGINAL: Helpless

Just tried to run the game with weather overlay (snow) and didn't see any slowdowns. The only difference that I'm running it with the latest code which is faster in "map handling".

I would still prefer to see the map coloured for each season and not have it overlayed with weather graphics. The map is fantastic - one of the top features of the game. The weather graphics - well... they are just normal snow and mud graphics.

[Redmarkus5]

So, by creating B&W versions of the map and placing those in my *_('with_grid') folders (I don't use the grid maps), I can now toggle between Clear and Winter seasons (not weather effects) via my Preferences screen. I just need a drop-down instead of a tick box in order to selected from multiple map mods and modes. Please? How much work can it be?

[Redmarkus5]

Exit the game and re-start and, Presto! I have a winter background.

The German units don't stand out too well against the snow, so I will edit their colours soon to make them 20% darker.

[Redmarkus5]

I will repeat for each zoom level and in about an hour the job will be done!

[Redmarkus5]

OK, job done. Winter map at all zoom levels.

Note - this is not a WEATHER map. It's a SEASONAL map. I don't know about you, but I feel cold just looking at it, while I don't have the map obscured by 'weather effect graphics'...

[Redmarkus5]

I will do the Mud version when winter ends in my game. I'll also play around with the unit graphics...

[Redmarkus5]

In a future release, if you decide to go for 'Seasonal maps', you simply need to do a check each turn for the date and have the system switch to a new map folder. If that's hard, then have it present the user with a dialogue at the start of each season "'X' Season is over. Would you like to switch to the 'Y' season map now? You will need to save and re-start your game to see the change."

[Redmarkus5]

German units shaded a bit darker at Zoom level 5

[Redmarkus5]

Not adjusted at other levels as I think they look fine. They also look colder than the Russian units in the line opposite

[Redmarkus5]

If I turn the weather graphics back on over the modded winter season map, I think they actually work better than they do over the vanilla map. It's a matter of taste, of course.

When the performance fix for weather graphics comes along, this is probably how I will set my system up.

[Redmarkus5]

Actually, toggling the weather graphics (Shift+D) on and off in Zoom 5 (max zoom out) is a great way for a player with performance issues to see the weather zone story, while also using this modded Winter map. Then you just Shift+D again, zoom in and play your turn with no performance hit.

It's still a workaround, but it delivers all the intended features of the weather display.

[wmcalpine]

Redmarkus4,

I like the look of the winter seasonal map. Excellent work.

Bill

[Mifune]

Remember he said the new code improves map speed. All this sounds like excellent eye-candy. Can you post a snap shot of a map with the weather effects turned on?

[Mifune]

Yes you have my vote on a mud set of maps.

[Mifune]

For those wanting Marks great Winter Map Mod you can find it now at http://www.alternatewars.com/Mods/WITP_ ... io_art.htm
Just click on the picture.