Preivew of things in the pipeline

GaryChildress · Post by **GaryChildress** » Fri Sep 15, 2023 2:16 am

Been working on a new set of graphics for ATG. Here is a little preview of some of what I'm working on.

: Tank; test 1.png (32.8 KiB) Viewed 1749 times

: Paratrooper; test 2.png (28.7 KiB) Viewed 1749 times

: Machinegun; test 3.png (15.81 KiB) Viewed 1749 times

: Dense Forest Landscape; test 4.png (547.19 KiB) Viewed 1749 times

GaryChildress · Post by **GaryChildress** » Fri Sep 15, 2023 5:18 am

All these are originals produced by me using mostly my own models created in Wings3D and then rendered in Poser and finished up in Paintshop Pro.

Rosseau · Post by **Rosseau** » Sat Sep 16, 2023 12:40 am

Very nice artwork for a game that is worth the effort!

I am no big wargaming "expert," but I have been around since the "beginning" of the digital age. And I must say that Advanced Tactics Gold keeps me coming back: I uninstall it for a while and then keep installing it back again.

GaryChildress · Post by **GaryChildress** » Sat Sep 16, 2023 3:15 pm

Rosseau wrote: Sat Sep 16, 2023 12:40 am Very nice artwork for a game that is worth the effort!

I am no big wargaming "expert," but I have been around since the "beginning" of the digital age. And I must say that Advanced Tactics Gold keeps me coming back: I uninstall it for a while and then keep installing it back again.

Thanks!

It's a shame that ATG doesn't get more love on the forum. It's such an awesome game!

GaryChildress · Post by **GaryChildress** » Sun Sep 17, 2023 12:54 am

First up, I created brand new models for my tanks. Here are two versions, a grayscale version (on the bottom) which can be used with regime color overrides active, and a color version (on the top) if a modder wants to dispense with the override color system and just use predetermined colors.

From left to right: Light tank, medium tank, heavy tank.

: TANKS.png (128.66 KiB) Viewed 1616 times

Let me know what you all think. Once I get a large collection together I'll post graphics packs for modders to use.

GaryChildress · Post by **GaryChildress** » Sun Sep 17, 2023 5:36 am

Revised the tanks after experimenting with some backgrounds. From left to right, Hvy tank on normal countryside background, med tank on snowy countryside background, lt tank on muddy countryside background.

Backgrounds are difficult to make in a way that doesn't crowd or overbusy the subformation image, detracting from the quality and clarity. Some images, such as forest, hills, mountains, etc aren't going to work with the aesthetic qualities of the subformation art I'm making. I'll either have to abbreviate the variety to a few basic terrain conditions or find a way to represent other landscape types in a way that doesn't hide the subformation.

In addition to adding a terrain background, I added shadows to the ground under the vehicles and created less size disparity between the small, medium, and large tank graphics than the first picture posted above. I think this one looks better.

: TANKS REVISED.png (270.47 KiB) Viewed 1592 times

GaryChildress · Post by **GaryChildress** » Sun Sep 17, 2023 6:41 am

I'll be working on a revamped set of vanilla subformation graphics for the game first. After that I've already been dabbling in a project that I hope to introduce later. It's a kind of modular armored fighting vehicle system. Basically, I have some standard chassis, tracked, wheeled, 4 wheeled, 6 wheeled, 8 wheeled, etc and will mix and match weapons system add ons to give the same platform different capabilities. In this example I have 4 wheel armored cars in three versions, a basic 4 wheel armored car version that has no armament, an infantry fighting vehicle with a chain gun and anti-tank missile system, and an armored personnel carrier version with only a machine gun on top.

I had already tried a similar set of subformations a few years back and liked what I came out with. These will be based on improved techniques of modeling and rendering that I'm using.

: MODULAR VEHICLE PREVIEW.png (203.64 KiB) Viewed 1583 times

GaryChildress · Post by **GaryChildress** » Mon Sep 18, 2023 1:38 am

Took some time today to spruce up graphics and develop and refine a kind of modular assembly approach to my subformation graphics production. That should help with both speed of production and quality consistency of what I produce. I'm hoping to be able to start churning stuff out quickly with decent quality within the next couple of weeks. Mostly getting organized right now.

GaryChildress · Post by **GaryChildress** » Mon Sep 18, 2023 1:47 am

For now, I'm concentrating on revamping the "vanilla" "WW2ish" graphics for the base game in the new Phoenix update. Over the course of my project I hope to branch out into a vast catalogue of alternative graphics, including a subformation upgrade line that will span time from the early 20th century to present day warfare. I hope to start with infantry, cavalry and artillery, and finish off with main battle tanks, missile systems, and advanced warfare options for modders.

The most difficult thing for me right now is going to be aircraft. However, I've been honing my skills a bit in that department over the years and will hopefully be able to come up with some generic models that are of fair aesthetic quality.

I'll try to complete things in stages. I'll start with the vanilla game graphics and then add different time periods for subformations in complete packages. My next project will probably be modern weapons and from there I can go backward to the early 20th century and maybe at some point see if I can go back earlier and get something going with Napoleonic period warfare.

We'll see what happens. I love this game. It's a modder's paradise and makes life worth living for this hermit.

ernieschwitz · Post by **ernieschwitz** » Mon Sep 18, 2023 3:47 am

Must admit: I love your work!

GaryChildress · Post by **GaryChildress** » Mon Sep 18, 2023 4:03 am

ernieschwitz wrote: Mon Sep 18, 2023 3:47 am Must admit: I love your work!

Thank you! I wish I had your event coding and scenario-making skills and knowhow. I guess art is more my thing. Maybe if I make the art someone will make some more scenarios I'd like to see! I'd love to see more work done on random-generating scenarios. I think that's one of the biggest draws for me. Maybe someday someone could make a giant "history of modern warfare" scenario spanning 1900 to 2000 or something.

GaryChildress · Post by **GaryChildress** » Fri Sep 22, 2023 5:01 am

Latest update. Some more vehicles added to the lineup. Completed set so far are:

GaryChildress · Post by **GaryChildress** » Tue Oct 10, 2023 4:59 am

Rifle, Elite Rifle, Paratrooper and Militia:

GaryChildress · Post by **GaryChildress** » Tue Oct 10, 2023 5:01 am

Cavalry, Anti-tank Gun, Infantry Gun, AA Gun.

GaryChildress · Post by **GaryChildress** » Tue Oct 10, 2023 8:03 pm

The next two posts are going to contain all the land subformations I've done. Next up will be ships and aircraft. I did two versions, one with transparent background and one with a background I created as a generic universal background.

GaryChildress · Post by **GaryChildress** » Tue Oct 10, 2023 8:03 pm

Subformations graphics without background:

GaryChildress · Post by **GaryChildress** » Tue Oct 10, 2023 8:05 pm

Subformation graphics with generic background. I never liked toying around with the shading that ATG gives subformations of different regimes. I prefer a standard background that highlights the unit and looks compatible with it:

GaryChildress · Post by **GaryChildress** » Tue Oct 10, 2023 8:11 pm

All the above vehicles, guns, and weapons were made by me using Wings3D and then rendered in Poser 12. The only items I didn't make myself are the 3D figure called Michael 4 that I dressed up for the task and the clothing that I applied to Michael 4.