This tells what you'll need to make ships and their graphics.

1. There is no specific ship-graphics editor for NOVA. The plug editors and the graphics editor are not one in the same. You must use another 3D graphics program to create ships/picts. Such programs include Bryce, Mechanisto, Strata, POV-ray, etc. Sprites are usually rendered in 36 different views, 10ş of change to a view starting at 0ş and going clockwise.

2. Once you've made and rendered your ship, You will also need programs to compile the outputted sprites into NOVA, I use Sprites and ENRleDeRle, both should be available in the addons section and are from W00tware. Drop your sprites onto these applications and they will output files that can be used with NOVA plugins.

3. You will need a NOVA plugin editing application in order to implement your ship into the game. These include Resedit with novatools, Mission computer, and EVONE. The NOVA bilbe has almost all the information you will need on what everything in these does, so I will not write everything about each resource in them. Know that the bible is available on the addons site.

4. You will need to copy the ship from the outputted res file and paste it into your plug. Or, you can open the outputted file and under "File" "get info for (insert name here)," change the type to Npďf and the creator to Növä. This will make the file a recognised plug. Create a ship with an ID matching that of the outputted shän for the ship and you now have a ship in NOVA with no data, dësc, or picts.

5. To add the pict, dësc, and data, you should create a ship pict and target pict, and paste them into the file with the ship. You can experiment around a little, since those boxes in res are for the graphics. But if you don't want to do that, take the Index ID of the ship, and add 3000 for the target and 5000 for the shipyard picts (the Index ID is the normal ID - 128, and is usually displayed in the resource if you open it). The dësc is the same way, only you add 13000 for the shipyard and 14000 for the bar dësc. The data you need to add is within the shďp resource, and you can learn all you need to know about it in the bible.

And you're done, and have just compleated your very own ship. Please don't ask me to make ship graphics for you, I'm not very good at it and don't really want to.

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I am ME hear me roar!
Meeoowwwww

For PC the process is slightly different (and I'm no expert, but here goes):

1. Same deal.

2. For PC there is one program for your plugin needs - EVNEW. You will need to make a bitmap grid of your frames, left to right, top to bottom like a book. There are a variety of programs that you can use to do this, but unfortunately it is manual and highly irritating.

3. Also EVNEW. Personally I disagree, and the bible information, while useful and a must-read is not nearly enough. The only way to learn so far is trial and error, unfortunately. I hear a document that explains process and definition may be released in July. That would be nice.

4. Read the EVNEW document on how to import a picture into your plugin. It has to do with the name, like pict_1000. The rest of the stuff is not necessary to do, it is already a viable plug (as long as it works).

5. More or less the same deal.

Basically the process is easier in some parts and harder in others. The grid alignment is annoying, the ship rotation preview (enRleDeRle doesn't exist on PC) isn't happening, so a lot of things have to be done the hard way. As the PC dev crowd is small, things will probably stay that way. No Novatools is sadistic torture for all PC users. Trial and error in Nova is NOT FUN.

Edit: ranting

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'truly, if there is evil in the world, it lies in the heart of mankind.'
-Edaward Morrison

(This message has been edited by omeomi (edited 04-14-2004).)

Quote

Originally posted by Meaker VI:
**This tells what you'll need to make ships and their graphics.

1. There is no specific ship-graphics editor for NOVA. The plug editors and the graphics editor are not one in the same. You must use another 3D graphics program to create ships/picts. Such programs include Bryce, Mechanisto, Strata, POV-ray, etc. Sprites are usually rendered in 36 different views, 10ş of change to a view starting at 0ş and going clockwise.**

Do you know the exact camera position (coordinates) for Bryce 5 to have the same view as the original Nova ships? I create ships with Bryce and I never found the exact position only a "nearly as original" position.

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Hey, check out the new version of my plug-in. It`s called PlugPackV16.
You can download it (url="http://"http://www.ambrosiasw.com/cgi-bin/vftp/dl-redirect.pl/PlugPackV16.sit?path=evn/plugins&file;=PlugPackV16.sit")here(/url)
More information can be found (url="http://"http://www.plugpack.buchholzchris.com")here(/url)

(This message has been edited by Terek E`Ban (edited 04-14-2004).)

Quote

Originally posted by Terek E`Ban:
**Do you know the exact camera position (coordinates) for Bryce 5 to have the same view as the original Nova ships? I create ships with Bryce and I never found the exact position only a "nearly as original" position.

**

45° or an isometric view will do, it´s also important to get the lighting right.

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And then there were silence.................

Listed for the most part in ascending price (or estimated price in USD):

(url="http://"http://www.povray.org")POV-Ray(/url) (free), (url="http://"http://www.wings3d.com")Wings 3D(/url) (free), (url="http://"http://www.blender3d.org")Blender(/url) (free), (url="http://"http://www.alias.com")Alias Maya 5.0 Personal Learning Edition(/url) (free - not full featured w/ watermarks), (url="http://"http://www.softimage.com") Softimage XSI Experience(/url) ($19.95 - not full featured w/ less obtrusive watermarks than PLE), (url="http://"http://www.eovia.com/home.jsp")Eovia Carrara Studio 3(/url) ($399), (url="http://"http://www.maxon-computer.com/")Maxon Cinema 4D 8.5(/url) ($595), (url="http://"http://www.strata.com")Strata 3DPro 3.9(/url) ($695), (url="http://"http://www.eovia.com/home.jsp")Eovia Amapi 7 Pro(/url) ($799), (url="http://"http://www.rhino3d.com")Rhinoceros 3.0(/url) ($895), (url="http://"http://www.softimage.com")Softimage 3D 4.0(/url) ($1495), (url="http://"http://www.newtek.com")Newtek Lightwave 3D 7.5 - soon to be 8.0(/url) ($1595), (url="http://"http://www.softimage.com")Softimage XSI(/url) (no price quoted, but probably more expensive than Lightwave), (url="http://"http://www.alias.com")Alias Maya Complete 5.0(/url) ($1999), (url="http://"http://www.discreet.com")Discreet 3D Studio Max 6(/url) ($3145), (url="http://"http://www.alias.com")Alias Maya Unlimited 5.0(/url) ($6999)

If you are a student and can prove it with a current ID card and/or receipt of enrollment in the current quarter/semester, the prices can be significantly lower for the expensive programs.

Matrix

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"Interestingly, according to modern astronomers, space is finite. This is a very comforting thought -- particularly for people who can never remember where they have left things." - Woody Allen

(url="http://"http://htf.mondominishows.com/valentine/main.asp?seed=7375&serial;=214877")The funniest valentine I've ever gotten.(/url)

Quote

Originally posted by omeomi:
**...The only way to learn so far is trial and error, unfortunately...
**

Ahh... trial and error... I remember some years ago in 3rd grade when I discovered EV classic, and shortly after found EVedit. Oh the joyful hours spent trying to figure out how to make ships...Later to find out there was no easy way. Now I edit existing stuff.

I origionally learned through trial and error, and later (literally years of experiance later) when nova came out I found reading the bible quite helpfull. The experiance gained built that base; unfortunatly nobody will get that kind of easy experiance now. I had no problem switching to NOVA, but it seems to me that people are finding it overwhelming.

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I am ME hear me roar!
Meeoowwwww

Quote

Originally posted by modesty_blaise_us:
**

Quote

Originally posted by Terek E`Ban:
**Do you know the exact camera position (coordinates) for Bryce 5 to have the same view as the original Nova ships? I create ships with Bryce and I never found the exact position only a "nearly as original" position.

**

45° or an isometric view will do, it´s also important to get the lighting right.

**

Hmmm, ok thanks.

------------------
Hey, check out the new version of my plug-in. It`s called PlugPackV16.
You can download it (url="http://"http://www.ambrosiasw.com/cgi-bin/vftp/dl-redirect.pl/PlugPackV16.sit?path=evn/plugins&file;=PlugPackV16.sit")here(/url)
More information can be found (url="http://"http://www.plugpack.buchholzchris.com")here(/url)

Quote

Originally posted by omeomi:
3. Also EVNEW. Personally I disagree, and the bible information, while useful and a must-read is not nearly enough. The only way to learn so far is trial and error, unfortunately. I hear a document that explains process and definition may be released in July. That would be nice.

I disagree. If you can understand it, the Bible (capitalize this holy book) is ALL you need besides an editor and/not graphics stuff. It tells you exactly what you need, and if it turns out you need a resource you haven't made, then you make it, following the instructions there.

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The programmer's code of entomology: there's always another bug.
Windows users: stop asking for plugins. (url="http://"http://www.aznt.com/EVN/EVNEW/")Make one yourself.(/url)
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(url="http://"http://www.evula.org/infernostudios/search.html")Add-ons Search Engine(/url)

Quote

Originally posted by orcaloverbri9:
**I disagree. If you can understand it, the Bible (capitalize this holy book) is ALL you need besides an editor and/not graphics stuff. It tells you exactly what you need, and if it turns out you need a resource you haven't made, then you make it, following the instructions there.

**

There are really only six things that you absolutely need to be able to edit in ev/override/nova. A yourself, a computer, ev/override/nova, an editor of your choice, the EV/EVO/EVN Bible, and plenty of time to practice and test results. There come a couple qualifications. EVEdit only "works" for EV and EVO, and should not be used under any circumstance - it is notorious for doing more harm than good. EVNEW is for Windows PC's only, and currently is the only PC editor. ResEdit is the most basic tool you can possibly use, as well as the most reliable, and most well tested.

Matrix

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"Interestingly, according to modern astronomers, space is finite. This is a very comforting thought -- particularly for people who can never remember where they have left things." - Woody Allen

(url="http://"http://htf.mondominishows.com/valentine/main.asp?seed=7375&serial;=214877")The funniest valentine I've ever gotten.(/url)

(This message has been edited by what_is_the_matrix (edited 04-18-2004).)

thank you matrix for that link to the maya learning adition!

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Kestrel rocks!
If you need a plug-in tested on windows I am ready and willing to help!
(url="http://"http://homepage.mac.com/travisjames/Novashipofweek")Nova Ship Of The Week(/url)
A nail in the wall is better than two in the foot - monster house

In the interest of keeping the sanity of the developers' on this board,
ibump.

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I am ME hear me roar!
Meeoowwwww

I play EVN, and I use EVNEW for the PC, and if I could figure out just how to make the rled and rle8 things (the annoying pics that rotate a small amount in each frame), and I think a couple other things, I could finally release a plgin I've been working on the past few weeks. THe first run through with the plug kind of.......well, probably went corrupt and casued EVN to crash while loading. curses his 300mhz laptop

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Quote

Originally posted by JamesTalon:
**I play EVN, and I use EVNEW for the PC, and if I could figure out just how to make the rled and rle8 things...
**

Well, as far as I know, you'll have to send them to someone (like me) who uses a mac and has EnRLEDeRLE so they can make those Rle's. I really don't think there is any other way, but that's probably because I use a Mac and have no intrest in finding out how to do the things I can do perfectly well now on a different platform.

If you didn't catch my hinting, send them to me in some format I can read (I like jpegs, picts...) and I'll see what I can do. Email is above ^

------------------
I am ME hear me roar!
Meeoowwwww

On that list of 3D apps, you left off Cinema 4D. I've successfully modeled exactly one ship for EVN---and that was in C4D. I found it to be easier to learn that some of the others I've tried, especially if you download a tutorial.

The demo of C4D is free, but it won't let you save anything, including renders. If you want to use the demo to make ships, you'll have to use Snapz Pro to capture the renders. That can get tricky.

If you can get ahold of the R6 version, which comes free with an older issue of a UK magazine, that is fully-featured (or at least sufficiently to make Nova ships).

------------------

I'm trying to make some new ships for Nova on the PC using EVNEW, but seeing as the PC I currently use has roughly zero ability to run 3DS Max 6 with any efficiency at all, I want to just re-use some of the existing graphics in the game.

How can I change the relevant tags for the ship in EVNEW to point to existing graphics?

Is what I am intending possible at all, or will I have to find some way of copying the relevant files and renaming them all to reflect the new ship's ID?

------------------

Quote

Originally posted by what_is_the_matrix:
**Listed for the most part in ascending price (or estimated price in USD):

POV-Ray (free), Wings 3D (free), Blender (free), Alias Maya 5.0 Personal Learning Edition (free - not full featured w/ watermarks), (, Alias Maya Unlimited 5.0 ($6999)

If you are a student and can prove it with a current ID card and/or receipt of enrollment in the current quarter/semester, the prices can be significantly lower for the expensive programs.

Matrix

**

I like the free 110 meg download Alias Maya 5.0.

------------------

Quote

Originally posted by Put name here:
I like the free 110 meg download Alias Maya 5.0.

Yeah, petty you cant actually do anything with it due to the watermarks...

------------------
'It's only when you look at an ant through a magnifying glass on a sunny day that you realise how often they burst into flames'
- Harry Hill

Quote

Originally posted by Deadweight:
**I'm trying to make some new ships for Nova on the PC using EVNEW, but seeing as the PC I currently use has roughly zero ability to run 3DS Max 6 with any efficiency at all, I want to just re-use some of the existing graphics in the game.

How can I change the relevant tags for the ship in EVNEW to point to existing graphics?

Is what I am intending possible at all, or will I have to find some way of copying the relevant files and renaming them all to reflect the new ship's ID?

**

To answer you question one shïp always uses the same-numbered shän for its graphics. However, the shän itself can be modified to point to anything you would like it to point to.

------------------
The (url="http://"https://secure.ambrosiasw.com/cgi-bin/store/hazel.cgi?action=serve&item;=breakdown.html&BREAKDOWN;_SKUID=1480")Ambrosia Mac CD(/url) with other registrations - 5$. Paying for (url="http://"http://www.ambrosiasw.com/games/evn/")EV Nova(/url) as it's such a great game - 30$.
The (url="http://"http://www.ambrosiasw.com/games/evn/tshirts.html")1337 EV Nova T-shirt(/url) - 22$. The (url="http://"http://w00tware.ev-nova.net/")NovaTools(/url) by wOOtWare to tinker with your Nova - FREE!
The feeling you're a Nova geek - priceless.
There are things money can't buy or that are free, for everything else, there's indeed Mastercard.

Quote

Originally posted by Zacha Pedro:
**To answer you question one shďp always uses the same-numbered shän for its graphics. However, the shän itself can be modified to point to anything you would like it to point to.
**

So I could make the ship I was designing point to, say, the same shän as the Polaris Striker even though my ship has a different id number? I'm using EVNEW, and the id stuff seems to all be unchangeable.

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Quote

Originally posted by Deadweight:
**So I could make the ship I was designing point to, say, the same shän as the Polaris Striker even though my ship has a different id number? I'm using EVNEW, and the id stuff seems to all be unchangeable.

**

Get NovaTools and ResEdit.
I think you may find this page helpful: (url="http://"http://www.ambrosiasw.com/webboard/Forum9/HTML/005178.html")http://www.ambrosias...TML/005178.html(/url)
I need to figure out that trick where you have a description of the link appear rather than just the link.

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