New models for map creation

[Franck83]

Or, an update of the LoadBlueprint function that accepts another argument (and is fed this argument too, when selecting a map): the path to the map folder. Then add in the part where it searches through those folders too. That would work too and make it local - allowing any props in.

We just tested that with Speed2 and it worked. But as Speed2 mentioned: "it would allow to sneak in any bp, including unit bp and that could be abused"

Nice to hear !

Can you speed2 provide us this feature as a small mod ? An 'Unlock Custom Map Ressource' Mod will be a cool tool for map makers and map beta testers.

So everybody can active this mod and will be able to test a custom props/texture map (performance...). Then if it's fun, we can add theses props to FAF so it will not need the mod anymore.

[nine2]

That sir, is a good idea.

Make a convention for map names. It should have a keyword that means the mod is required

[ozonex]

... to test a custom propos/texture map...

Textures and decals works just fine. Only props are the issue, but its bigger thing to think about if and how we should allow for custom props.

Allowing for custom blueprints to work on map will allow for many custom map behaviors. It sounds powerful, but such map cant be ranked and there is no good way to check if map has such custom things. Someone will add just some nice looking rocks, where someone other may add big gun at center of map that shoot nukes at everything.

But anyway, FAF map editor is now supporting all that custom assets. I will release new build soon, so from my side its finished.

[Franck83]

... to test a custom propos/texture map...

Allowing for custom blueprints to work on map will allow for many custom map behaviors. It sounds powerful, but such map cant be ranked and there is no good way to check if map has such custom things. Someone will add just some nice looking rocks, where someone other may add big gun at center of map that shoot nukes at everything.

Not a problem in the map beta phase. Is it still a matter when props are added to FAF and the mod desactivated ?

[ozonex]

Not a problem in the map beta phase. Is it still a matter when props are added to FAF and the mod desactivated ?

We are not even sure if it will be ever added.

Allowing for blueprints in maps will force to make all maps unranked and then verify if map can be ranked.

Adding prop files to FAF update will be server killer. Everyone will need to download all of them every time something is changed/added. Textures and models are quite heavy. Also who will decide of which props are good for FAF?

Best will be to load only PropBlueprints from map folder, but this may not be possible.

[Franck83]

Ty a lot for your work ozonex, it's a key part of unlocking quality content for map creation.

Allowing for blueprints in maps will force to make all maps unranked and then verify if map can be ranked.

Adding prop files to FAF update will be server killer. Everyone will need to download all of them every time something is changed/added. Textures and models are quite heavy. Also who will decide of which props are good for FAF ?

Best will be to load only PropBlueprints from map folder, but this may not be possible.

Let us try to think in solution...

Maybe the dev team can find something to secure here ?

About ranking : can we desactivate the mod to rank a match ? There is no problem if map ressources are added to FAF, no ? I'm not sure to understand why all map would be unranked if the mod is desactivated. Can we have a precise answer on this (props are already part of FAF ressources...so ?) ?

About ressources usage : we must admit that is unrealistic to increase map ressources at no size price. Most games are over 25go size today. But we need to do it smartly. Why not a Map Ressources Councillor or a Map Ressources Councillor team or maybe this can fall in speed2 scope ! Passionate map makers that are accurate to check props models efficiency and to propose a map to be ranked.

Everybody agree that map making is a survival feature for FAF, no ? Custom props will skyrocket map creation to another level.

Hope we can find some cool solutions here.

[Jip]

Or, an update of the LoadBlueprint function that accepts another argument (and is fed this argument too, when selecting a map): the path to the map folder. Then add in the part where it searches through those folders too. That would work too and make it local - allowing any props in.

We just tested that with Speed2 and it worked. But as Speed2 mentioned: "it would allow to sneak in any bp, including unit bp and that could be abused"

I'm not entirely sure about this. As long as only the blueprints of the current map are loaded, it should not be an issue. Because if I have different blueprint files than my opponent, wouldn't that cause a desync? And hence, make the error (the cheating) visible to everyone? I am not sure about this, however.

Allowing for custom blueprints to work on map will allow for many custom map behaviors. It sounds powerful, but such map cant be ranked and there is no good way to check if map has such custom things. Someone will add just some nice looking rocks, where someone other may add big gun at center of map that shoot nukes at everything

True, it can be different for everyone. I'm not sure how the internals of FaF work, but if it's possible to detect that there are (any) blueprints within the map folder (at the lobby or during uploading), you can mark the map internally as unranked as an automatic feature.

Either way, I am not exactly sure whether this is possible and I don't want to give people false hopes.

Adding prop files to FAF update will be server killer. Everyone will need to download all of them every time something is changed/added. Textures and models are quite heavy. Also who will decide of which props are good for FAF?

in that case, perhaps make this a 'seperate' update? Something that is also required for FaF, but once installed, will not be installed again. Perhaps even store these files on a different server? Something from google, like Google Drive, or from a Dropbox? Again, I am not sure whether this is possible within the framework of FaF.

About the question who will decide - we as a community will! As long as we don't kill the servers with this, we can add as many quality props (and textures) as we want. Then people can decide for themselves whether they want to use them or not. We could even make a contest about it. This would be the most open version of 'what do you, the community, want to see?'.

Either way, for everyone who's reading this: all what I said above may be quite difficult to implement. Keep that in mind before you start asking about when this gets implemented, as Ozonex said, it may never be. These are just concepts right now.

[Jip]

Or, an update of the LoadBlueprint function that accepts another argument (and is fed this argument too, when selecting a map): the path to the map folder. Then add in the part where it searches through those folders too. That would work too and make it local - allowing any props in.

We just tested that with Speed2 and it worked. But as Speed2 mentioned: "it would allow to sneak in any bp, including unit bp and that could be abused"

Nice to hear !

Can you speed2 provide us this feature as a small mod ? An 'Unlock Custom Map Ressource' Mod will be a cool tool for map makers and map beta testers.

So everybody can active this mod and will be able to test a custom props/texture map (performance...). Then if it's fun, we can add theses props to FAF so it will not need the mod anymore.

I am not sure whether this can be part of any mod - it would require an update (/new hook) of the LoadBlueprint function, which (as far as I am aware) cannot be changed through mods, because the function is being called before the mods are initiated. Meaning, it would require a FaF patch - but that is dangerous without knowing ([i]all of) the consequences.[/i] I stand corrected, see the post of Speed2 below.

So everybody can active this mod and will be able to test a custom props/texture map (performance...).

For mappers, you can already test everything. Just create a new .scd file (which is a .zip, just rename the extension) where your props are inside. Make sure it is structured the same way as the other .scd files that are related to your addition (for props - check environment.scd (env.scd)). Then put this .scd file into the gamedata folder of Supreme Commander FA and the regular Supreme Commander. From this point on, they can be placed through the (official) editor and be seen in game. But only you can see them - nobody else will be able because they lack the .scd file.

[speed2]

Or, an update of the LoadBlueprint function that accepts another argument (and is fed this argument too, when selecting a map): the path to the map folder. Then add in the part where it searches through those folders too. That would work too and make it local - allowing any props in.

We just tested that with Speed2 and it worked. But as Speed2 mentioned: "it would allow to sneak in any bp, including unit bp and that could be abused"

Nice to hear !

Can you speed2 provide us this feature as a small mod ? An 'Unlock Custom Map Ressource' Mod will be a cool tool for map makers and map beta testers.

So everybody can active this mod and will be able to test a custom props/texture map (performance...). Then if it's fun, we can add theses props to FAF so it will not need the mod anymore.

[speed2]

It doesn't recognize what bp it's loading until it's loaded. The code searches for all .bp files (this mod above adds /maps folder into the search as well) and runs the files.
The bp file contains function call, PropBlueprint, UnitBlueprint etc... I haven't played with it yet to find out if it's possible to filter only prop bps from the maps folder, it might be.

Anyway about adding new props into the game path should not be such a big problem. I dont think it's gonna be too much data, also there's new patching system being slowly implemented that would send only the changed things, so everyone will have to download it only once.