[Question] What can I do to help?

[AnRK]

I've had enough of rooting round the community mod forums telling people that their work is good and I can't wait to see it in PR, without really having any constructive criticism to make, or any help to offer.

So I was wondering what I could do to help the community based on firstly; what the community needs; and secondly; something I can do with freeware and that isn't going to take loads and loads of time to get to grips with. Not that I'm really THAT busy, but I spend enough time on the computer as it is.

Obviously alot of talent is required to do any of the jobs you guys do well, but I'm not the most persistant of people if something is overwhelmingly difficult to get to grips with (which is why I play bass guitar...), but I'm quite happy to persist to be good at something when I can do it to an extent (also why I play bass ).

[space]

DL GIMP, learn how to use it.

Get plenty of plugins, too.

Then help Spacemanc, Hugh Jass, etc, etc to colourmap their maps so they look great.

Its something you can practice on the smaller maps without too much difficulty, too.

Ive spent over a 100 hrs learning how to do my colourmap and you would struggle to do it with free software ( It will look perfect when finished )
Looking on the forums, most people seem to ask for help with skinning models, so out of all the things, I would say thats whats needed most. Bear in mind that its not easy though.

[Pride]

If you are restricted to freeware, i'd say mapping, as the BF2Editor, and other useful programs like Terragen are free.

The community mods will all need good maps once they get into PR.

[Z-trooper]

I'd reckon that most community factions have about 2 solid maps in the works.

[space]

If you are restricted to freeware, i'd say mapping, as the BF2Editor, and other useful programs like Terragen are free.

The community mods will all need good maps once they get into PR.

Mapping is definitely the most satisfying as well. If youre bored with doing one thing on the map - theres always something else, completely different you can do on it.
Whatever you decide to do, be prepared to go through ALOT of frustration and spend ALOT of your free time, with no gaurantee that anything you make will ever be used.
Its all good fun though - honest

[Z-trooper]

Mapping is definitely the most satisfying as well. If youre bored with doing one thing on the map - theres always something else, completely different you can do on it.
Whatever you decide to do, be prepared to go through ALOT of frustration and spend ALOT of your free time, with no gaurantee that anything you make will ever be used.
Its all good fun though - honest

Replace mapping with any other modding word and you have our story seriously.

I've tried mapping - didn't care much for it myself, but what you describe I feel for modeling and texturing.

Its a preference thing like everything else in life I guess

[Wolfe]

What inspires you? What makes you think "this part of the game needs to be better"?

For me, it was deviation. The fact that players could run/shoot as quickly as they could move/click their mouse frustrated me especially for a "realism" mod. After months of suggestions on the forums, I decided to stop talking and start doing. The only problem was I had no clue how to "do". I had next-to-zero modding experience and absolutely zero knowledge of how BF2 worked.

I asked a few devs where the deviation files were located and then looked at them; a mass of codes and numbers with no logical order. Slowly, code by code and number by number, I researched what each one did. Online documentation was rare and often incorrect, so most of my learning was by trial and error; change something then see what it does in-game. It's time consuming, frustrating, but when you get positive results, it's rewarding.

Anyway, whatever you choose to do, make sure it's something that inspires you... because the BF2 engine will test your patience and its your inspiration is often the only thing that keeps you from tossing your computer out the window.

[Scot]

Well I've started trying to texture and map(very bored this summer) and so far am just getting to ropes with it, its fun, but follow tutorials(**** all tuts on texturing though :\) for the beginning, and don't expect to be a pro in a day.

[AnRK]

To be honest what I'd like to see more of in in-game is animations. Although I've heard plenty about it being one of the more difficult of modding disciplines. Other then that I'd probably go for mapping.

I'll have a little mess about with BF2 Editor and see what I think. If I don't like it I'll what else there is other then modelling, cos everyone seems to be doing that at the moment.

If there's any free programs to skin with I'll probably have a bash at that too.

[space]

I know that quite recently there was only one or two animators for PR, so Im sure help is needed there. It would be great to see a good molotov animation.

[AnRK]

It'd be nice to do, it just seems like one of the more difficult tasks, and the kinda thing that freeware isn't going to be able to cover (probably).

[Scot]

Sort of off topic, but what do people use to animate??

[marcoelnk]

the bf2 editor afaik there is an animation editor inside it at least so i assume thats the one which is being used.

[Pride]

Animations are created in 3DSMax.


Mapping is near enough the only free choice.

[Z-trooper]

Animations can be made in most 3d packages, its just that 3dsmax has some good import/export tools for it.

[Masaq]

Remember, never eat the yellow snow.

[Scot]

Too late...