| The Grapple Project (Animations needed)[message #279397]
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Fri, 06 May 2011 17:43 
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 Sandro |
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Messages:420
Registered:November 2008
Location: Mars |
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Hi to all..
Just recently I started to code this famous feature - "The Grapple" system.
The aim of this feature is to enhance close combat system and brig new possibilities and playability to JA2.
Basically this feature is going to work like this:
* You can grab and hold an enemy soldier, so he can't do anything (can only try to get free).
* If he fails to get free he loses his turn (lose APs).
* While you hold him in grapple, you can either punch him or wrestle his weapon out (you wont lose the grapple).
* Walking away, being hit, equip weapon etc will release the grappled enemy.
* The victim and the "grappler" are still on their respective tiles.
* You can only grapple the victim if you stand the tile next to him (not diagonally) - similar as using first aid kit on a teammate.
* The grappled victim doesn't fall down if you keep punching him and he loses all energy (he falls if you release him after though).
* If you keep punching him enough in grapple to get his health to zero, he falls down unconscious (with 1 hp actually) and if not given first aid, he will die in 10-20 turns (useful for looting him, could be turned off to kill him instantly)
* If the grappled victim is hit by someone else than his grappler, he still remains grappled
* Grappling, getting free from grapple etc. is based on Attributes, Traits and soldier Level
Progress:
By now I can say the feature WORKS.
So far, the coding was easier than I thought. In its current state, it's experimental, yes, but it does work - you run to enemy, use hand cursor on him and grapple him, end turn, he either get free and start processing you, or makes an attempt, fails and lose his turn.
I don't have animations (or rather STIs) for it yet, but managed to prepare everything for them. I had to use existing STIs by now. Made some compromises in the code, but I'll tweak everything later. Right now enemies are not able to use it, but I plan to enable it for them too.
Animations needed:
The main issue.
Took me an hour to figure out how JA2 animation system works, duh. But I can see that now, it's actually funny.
All I need are the STIs. Which is the reason I post this. I saw some ppl here already made some new animations, so I would like to ask if anyone would be willing to co-work on them with me.
Future plans:
As I learned how animation system works, I see many new possible features which can actually be created - like:
* Kicking/stomping enemy lying on the ground (no need to crouch).
* Martial Artists able to throw grappled enemy (could be so much fun, probably much harder to code though)
* Usable stationary machine guns.
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So.. my question is..
Is there anyone who is already proficient with making merc animation STIs here, who would want to help me with it?
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| Re: The Grapple Project (Animations needed)[message #279398]
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Fri, 06 May 2011 17:57 
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I know the Russians have a lot of animations that they used for various modifications. You may want to see if you can scrounge up something.
They are at the A.I.M. website.
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| Re: The Grapple Project (Animations needed)[message #279403]
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Fri, 06 May 2011 19:09
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Yes here:
Link
Some of the animations have to be opened via winzip or opening new tabs/new windows.
Btw, get Mozilla Firefox and install the FoxLingo addon.
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| Re: The Grapple Project (Animations needed)[message #279493]
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Sun, 08 May 2011 05:36
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| Hawkeye |
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Messages:2439
Registered:October 2005
Location: Australia |
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Pixel by pixel was how it was done back in the day. However JA2 was probably a combination of pre-rendered graphics, from a 3D package such as 3DS Max, Lightwave ect. which was then touched up in a paint package. D-Paint and D-Animator used to be the king of pixel based animation for games, but is now very old, suitable only for indexed art and the old resolutions it runs at will make your eyes water if you spend much time with it :yikes:
I haven't used many pixel-pushing programs for a while, though recall a package called 'promotion' that had good D-paint style tools, as well as Paint Shop Pro/Animation Shop. A combination of using Photoshop then turning frames into animated gifs is another possiblity (that's how I do new Merc faces) but it is not the most ideal set up for figure animations, especially if you have a lot of movements/frames to draw.
Most of the artists here and those who have come and gone before generally seem to be going down the 3D route entirely, which means creating a 3D model of a merc then animating a rigged skeleton structure and finally rendering out animation frames to make into .Sti's. It's a lot of work, especially if you want a complete range of animations, and is no surprise people have been wary of embarking into such a job or giving up halfway through.
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| Re: The Grapple Project (Animations needed)[message #283631]
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Thu, 16 June 2011 19:29
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| Taro_M |
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Messages:292
Registered:November 2008 |
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I strongly suggest you to download what I already uploaded (tutorial and model). While its still unfinished, working with it wont change much. I already made some of the difficult parts of model creation, creating model itself, skeleton for it, rigging all the stuff etc. The only thing that is left is posing, and its best to leave this to someone who knows how model should move (ie. you  ). Dont get me wrong, I know you have a lot of better stuff to do, but posing model itself isnt really that hard or time consuming, since JA2 uses about 10 for animation (at arrange).
So, while model is unfinished its still very much usable.
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Master Sergeant
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