Decisive campaigns units graphics on ATG?

Advanced Tactics is a versatile turn-based strategy system that gives gamers the chance to wage almost any battle in any time period. The initial release focuses on World War II and includes a number of historical scenarios as well as a full editor! This forum supports both the original Advanced Tactics and the new and improved Advanced Tactics: Gold Edition.

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Stratos_MatrixForum
Posts: 83
Joined: Tue Jul 05, 2005 8:02 pm

Decisive campaigns units graphics on ATG?

Post by Stratos_MatrixForum »

Wondering If is there a mod that adds "real" units to the game as for example Pz38t, Somua35, PzGrenadier for Germany... A bit like the graphics in Decisive campaigns but that we can use on ATG.

Thanks.
-If we have to retreat, where we will retreat sir??
-To graveyard!!
mgaffn1
Posts: 175
Joined: Fri Nov 20, 2009 3:54 pm

RE: Decisive campaigns units graphics on ATG?

Post by mgaffn1 »

Stratos,
hopefully I can show you some pics of a mod I am working on that will address your question. I am creating a range of SFTypes in a graphic style compatible with the "vanilla" ATGold. Nothing as cool or extensive as Decisive Campaigns, but still adds some flavor to ATGold. I'll try to get something on the forum here by Monday next week.
cheers,
Mike
Stratos_MatrixForum
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Joined: Tue Jul 05, 2005 8:02 pm

RE: Decisive campaigns units graphics on ATG?

Post by Stratos_MatrixForum »

Thanks mate! Looking forward to see that preview!
-If we have to retreat, where we will retreat sir??
-To graveyard!!
mgaffn1
Posts: 175
Joined: Fri Nov 20, 2009 3:54 pm

RE: Decisive campaigns units graphics on ATG?

Post by mgaffn1 »

here are the German SFTypes I've created for this scenario:

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allGercu..SFTypes.jpg
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Mike
mgaffn1
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RE: Decisive campaigns units graphics on ATG?

Post by mgaffn1 »

Here are some allied SFTypes (not as many as German - game is designed more as a solitaire vs. AI):

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AlliedSFTypes.jpg
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Mike
mgaffn1
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RE: Decisive campaigns units graphics on ATG?

Post by mgaffn1 »

Finally, here is an example of how these SFTypes can give a slightly more historical "flavor" to the game, representing early and mid-war units:
* NATO counters are from Webizen's mod.

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UNITComparison.jpg
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Mike
Josh
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RE: Decisive campaigns units graphics on ATG?

Post by Josh »

Cool [:D] Stosstruppen, Gebirgsjaeger, winterspecialists... etc etc [&o]
Stratos_MatrixForum
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RE: Decisive campaigns units graphics on ATG?

Post by Stratos_MatrixForum »

Pretty cool!! Can I ask how you create those graphics and put them into the game?
-If we have to retreat, where we will retreat sir??
-To graveyard!!
mgaffn1
Posts: 175
Joined: Fri Nov 20, 2009 3:54 pm

RE: Decisive campaigns units graphics on ATG?

Post by mgaffn1 »

Good question. This is rather time consuming - certainly gives me a healthy respect for the guy who did the artwork for ATGold and DC series (FYI, my background is graphics, so I may have a headstart on some of this...)

I usually look for some old photographic research, archival photos, or even photos of model tanks.
Then I will draw the basic contours of the photo in Photoshop, creating a new layer with only my linework. Then I will eliminate the photographic source imagery, erasing the original image with only my linework left. Creating an original piece of linework art with proper lineweight is the key here, keep your lines pretty thick.
I add color on a layer underneath the linework, being sure to simplify the shading - the final images are pretty small.

Then I open up one of the "FordSFTypes" from the ATGold graphics file. I know these are the correct size, and have a transparent background. I also like to overlay my tanks with existing tanks so the scale and perspective is similar. Same thing with infantry - I'll overlay a Gebirgsjager over the plain old rifleman, to insure similar scale. This will create a new layer in the Ford SFType png file.
Now I erase the original layer that has the FordSFType, so that my layer is the only one remaining. I rename the file based on what it is, say "Gebirgsjager - base"

Then I create a duplicate file with the surname "overlay" - this will be my color layer. "Gebirgsjager - overlay" From this layer you keep everything you want in color, and eliminate everything you want in the regime color. Go back to your "Gebirgsjager - base" file, and desaturate the colors. Make sure your contrast levels are pretty high on this file too, the darks being very dark and the lights being very light.

Then create your own graphics subfile, and they are ready to import via the editor.

Best way to get started is to examine the "FordSFTypes" in the graphics folder for ATGold. Look at his SFTypes, and see how he creates his art. This will make more sense once you do that.

By the way, I plan on releasing my mod on the community site pretty soon, but plan on future releases with more historical SFType graphics as time goes by.
cheers,
Mike
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lion_of_judah
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RE: Decisive campaigns units graphics on ATG?

Post by lion_of_judah »

looking forward to using these in a scenario or something, very good job!
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