NATO Symbol Mod, v02

[AMSwift]

The work described in the thread "ATG-anewdawn NATO Icon mod-swift [v227g, mod V01]" has progressed nicely, and it's time to release the first proper version of this mod. It is available on the VRDesigns website.

This mod is designed for use with ATG v228b and above (more symbols and better symbol layering). However, it will also work on earlier versions with some tweaking.

Revisions are made to the NATO symbols shown in the ATG Model/TOE Designer interface and that are used for formations with assigned models. At the bottom of this post is shown the current state of work: A complete rough draft of the symbols shown on the first page of icons available in ATG v228b. At present, only the medium-sized versions are ready.

See the text file included with the mod for details.

Some of the icons are discussed there in more detail, and I will provide additional notes in this thread.

Comments, suggestions, and critiques are all welcome! I look forward to improving this still rough-and-ready effort.

[AMSwift]

As of v228b, the Model Designer offers multiple pages of formation symbols, if sufficient symbols are available. The maximum number of symbols that the game will read is 983 (indices 18 through 1000, inclusive).

We're currently showing work on page 1. The objectives - subject to change! - for this, the most accessible and therefore the most important page, are to provide:
A. Symbols for every subformation type in base AT and ATG (with the exception of transport),
B. The most commonly-used NATO symbol modifiers, including special capability, mobility and unit weight markers, and
C. Unit size augmentation markers.

Thoughts for the others pages (again, subject to change):
2. Frames for land units with dark or saturated fills (like red and black) and white borders. A set of unit and modifier symbols in white. I am still in the process of figuring out what can be included in the available space (I am finding this to be a tight squeeze).

3. Frames for land units with light or unsaturated fills (like white and pink) and black borders. A set of unit and modifier symbols in black, duplicating page 2. I would like this page to be organized the same as page 2 to ease usage ... we'll see how well things go.

4. Sea and air colored frames, symbols, and modifiers. This is going to take a great deal of thought.

5. (possibly) Land equipment symbols, for use in small-scale scenarios (closer to squads rather than divisions).

6. Consider placing non-NATO icon, symbols, and small pictorial representations of formations here. Or leave it empty for mods?

[ernieschwitz]

A question and an observation.

Why are there empty icons?

If you have stuff on the utmost left side, it will interfere with the band that symbolizes the ownership of each HQ.

[AMSwift]

Why are there empty icons?

Expansion space. We want:
A. the game to be capable of including at least some new subformation and formation types,
B. players to continue to find all of the symbols in a particular category grouped together, and
C. for A and B to happen without mixing up the symbols of existing formations, or at least not doing so too often.

Given that the AT game uses fixed IDs for symbols (instead of, say, permanent identifying names), I don't have a better option than to include some "room to grow".

If you have stuff on the utmost left side, it will interfere with the band that symbolizes the ownership of each HQ.

The text file included with the mod has a bit more detail on this issue, and on the placement of the unit size augmentation markers. I tested light, medium, and dark HQ markers with the new unit size markers and found things to work pretty well. I do not consider this to be an ideal solution, but am unable to find another arrangement that works as well with the current AT counters.

I want to show an example of the new icons in use, but the forum does not allow me to post images yet (except as attachments to the first post in a thread).

I have uploaded an image to (htt) (ps) (://) (ibb) (.co) (/F4PYdFZ). My apologies, on behalf of the forum, for the inconvenience.

It shows three formation symbols. From top-left to bottom-right, they are:
1. An infantry division mounted on horses.
2. An amphibious mechanized brigade
3. A motorized dual-purpose AA/AT regiment.

[ernieschwitz]

Doesn't look as wonky as I thought Nice work

[AMSwift]

I've now finished the second page of icons, which contains several colored frames with white borders and a set of white-lined icons and icon modifiers.

These have not yet been uploaded to the repository.

[AMSwift]

Page 3 is devoted to light-colored frames and black-lined symbols.





The core of the C code that allowed easy recoloring of white to black follows. It uses the FreeImage library, but this can easily be replaced if you have another preference.

Code: Select all

     /* For each row in the original image */
     for (ximage = 0; ximage < width; ximage++)
     {
         /* And, along that row, each pixel */
         for (yimage = 0; yimage < height; yimage++)
         {
             /* Get the color here */
             (void)FreeImage_GetPixelColor(image_in, ximage, yimage, &this_color);
 
             // Ignore fully transparent pixels
             if (this_color.rgbReserved == 0) continue;
 
             // Ignore pixels that aren't fully white
             if ((this_color.rgbRed != 255) || (this_color.rgbGreen != 255) || (this_color.rgbBlue != 255)) continue;
 
             // Turn the pixel black; retain the current transparency
             this_color.rgbRed = 0;
             this_color.rgbGreen = 0;
             this_color.rgbBlue = 0;
             (void)FreeImage_SetPixelColor(image_in, ximage, yimage, &this_color);
             continue;
 
             // Save this pixel
             (void)FreeImage_SetPixelColor(image_in, ximage, yimage, &this_color);
         }
     }
 

[AMSwift]

Some examples of the icons in action:

[AMSwift]

(delete me ... but how?)

[Ormand]

Looks nice. I also went hog-wild with symbols as well.

[GaryChildress]

Very nice looking symbols!

[Bakon]

I have downloaded this mod but for the life of me cannot figure out how to get NATO symbols to show. Is there an option somewhere that you have to set to show NATO symbols? Many thanks for any help.

[cpdeyoung]

@Bakon,

Are you playing with TOE turned on?

These symbols are available in the TOE screen with the ">" symbol.

Chuck

[Twotribes]

How does one enable Nato symbols in games with out TOE?

[ernieschwitz]

ORIGINAL: Twotribes
How does one enable Nato symbols in games with out TOE?

All the information needed is in this thread, a bit down.

tm.asp?m=4602316

[LJBurstyn]

I have the Nato symbols but only one page shows up...the >< buttons are grayed out...what am I doing wrong. Is there another download I need...

[ernieschwitz]

ORIGINAL: LJBurstyn

I have the Nato symbols but only one page shows up...the >< buttons are grayed out...what am I doing wrong. Is there another download I need...

If I were to venture a guess, it is because you don't have the 228b update to ATG

[Twotribes]

I enabled them in Bombur 1900 random generator and now Trains don't appear. They exist as an sft but not in the Item list.

[ernieschwitz]

Each SFT needs to be set to a Reinforcement type. This is done in the SFT part of the editor. This is probably why trains are not showing up.

[Twotribes]

Where is rule var 344? the one you said allows nato symbols to appear?