Matrix Games Forums

Is it possible to create counters like this in TOAW IV?
With the different color at the bottom of the counter?
I believe that is a TOAW III mod.

This is from an article from the Steam Community
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/ ... 2244383962

The number background is typically tranparent so the counter color shows through. Just remove the transparency and make the number background whatever color you want. Don't forget the game changes the backgrounds during the game.

Sorry I'm thinking of TOAWIII. I think they hosed us on this one because they went with the one size fits all number sheet. They decided they didn't want us showing any individuality. Shame on us for even thinking that way.
Did the same trick to us on counter sheets.

As far as I know, in TOAW IV you can only change the colors through the Color File.

So do I understand it's not possible in TOAW IV?

You used to be able to do so much more before the one size fits all unit counter sheet of TOAWIV. But we are stuck with it so just best to not worry about what will never be again.

Maybe Bob or someone else can help you with this if it's even possible. As far as I know the background color of the numbers can't be any different than the background color of the counter. It would be nice to be able to change it to how you have it in your screen shot.

You can change the color of the numbers but I think that's about it.

William the Silent wrote: Sun Aug 28, 2022 8:15 pm Is it possible to create counters like this in TOAW IV?
With the different color at the bottom of the counter?
I believe that is a TOAW III mod.

In this screen shot I had changed the opacity of the CounterNumbers.png graphics. Unfortunately there is no strip. It just changed the area around the numbers. I just did the whole graphic so it changed everything else associated with the numbers but you could do the numbers only. I just did this to see how changing the opacity would affect the counters.

There are masks for the counters. Not sure how they worked. Never bothered with them. Maybe if you did something with CounterBackground.png you could get the stripe effect. There's also CounterInsideColorMask.png and CounterOutsideColorMask.png you might mess around with.

It's unfortunate that our ability to personalize our scenarios was hamstrung. Would have been nice if the player base had been consulted.

Thanks for the suggestions.
I was thinking of creating counters in the direction of the 19th Century boardgame counters (see below). Trousers, jacket, front and linings.

I believe that could be made possible by changing the masking of the counters where the numbers are.
The new way of changing the counter colors is actually much easier then editing whole bitmaps. But not much varity.

The picture example I used in my first post is from "Arracourt 44" scenario and it looks like its in TOAW IV. So I don't understand how they made these counters possible in TOAW IV.
Or it's a deceptive article.
That mod is a piece of art.

TOAW IV sacrificed a lot. For one example, pictured here is the TOAW III Numbers File.

Wow, that Numbers File brings back some great memories from creative Scenario and Graphics Design.

Since Ralph is gone and TOAW doesn't seem to have a Matrix Rep [at least none that we have heard from since Tamas left], I guess it's ok to gripe about how the greatest game system in the history of computer gaming is treated so poorly by its caretaker[s]. Don't get the wrong idea, I am not speaking of Matrix. I do not work for Matrix but as far as I can tell they have done what they can to support this community thru these past 16 fiercely stagnant TOAW years.

We haven't heard anything for a long time [and we understand that is the way this industry goes] but let's hope that there is someone out there that like the rest of us is willing to commit their spare time to continuing this wonderful past time.

The new way of changing the counter colors is actually much easier then editing whole bitmaps. But not much varity.

Well put! But we must ask ... why make it easier while restricting variety ??

Other game systems have less variety because developers do not have the time to add it. They need to spend their valuable time on more important issues.

But TOAW ALREADY HAD IT!

All of this goes to the way that development of TOAW is handled. It's been a mess for a long time, and many great TOAW minds, designers and contributors have walked away. I hope that some one can get it all sorted out, or see fit to properly pass it on.

The picture example I used in my first post is from "Arracourt 44" scenario and it looks like its in TOAW IV. So I don't understand how they made these counters possible in TOAW IV.

Your first post shows St. Vith, which is not in Arracourt 44. But your next post shows Mojenvic, which is in Arracourt 44, it looks like a mod, and I agree it is a piece of art. Lets look for it!

AHAH !! Is this it ??

https://www.matrixgames.com/forums/view ... 6&t=331046

sPzAbt653 wrote: Tue Aug 30, 2022 1:54 pm AHAH !! Is this it ??

https://www.matrixgames.com/forums/view ... 6&t=331046

The article doesn't give an answer about how he got counters with different color at the bottom in TOAW IV. I think it's actually III, because he talks about counter files.

I got the article from the Steam website:
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/ ... 2244383962
Under the name Leigh.
It shows the counters with different bottom colors in TOAW IV.

I actually have the mod, but there is no creator name with it. And it doesn't generate counters like in the article. Just the basic IV counters.

If it's TOAWIV I would guess he did something with one of these: CounterBackground.png, CounterInsideColorMask.png and CounterOutsideColorMask.png.

I did a real quick edit using CounterInsideColorMask.png. It's sloppy but you get the idea:

That's a great finding.
I do not have much time lately but I will defenitely will look into that.
Thanks so much.
So maybe more is possible with counter editing then we thought.

Well no. It applies anything you do to EVERY counter in the scenario. We used to be able to apply edits in a very specific way so that each counter could be edited to the exclusion of all others. Much has been lost.

Lobster wrote: Wed Aug 31, 2022 2:08 am I did a real quick edit using CounterInsideColorMask.png. It's sloppy but you get the idea:
ScreenHunter 210.jpg

I think what is making those look sloppy is the 3D shadowing on the counters. If you use the "flat" boardgame counters available in one of the counter/boardgame mods floating around here, your fix would probably look fine.

I only use the existing colors from the original TAOW IV Color File to make my counters.
I would like to have some more colors.
Does anyone have any?
It's too complicated to create them the Curtis Lemay way.
Purple, pink.
More shades of basic colors.

I'm a fan of counter color-moding. Glad to help - anything specific?

Here's my WW2 Germans and Soviets - all tied to uniform and camo colors in some way; I create color pallets in Google slides, then use Curtis Lemay's instructions to change the file. I find it easy to use once you start.

I am missing pink, purple and orange.
In different shades would be nice.
Just need numbers.

That would be great.