Bridge Commander Universe

ChessMess · **Posted**: 03-09-2005 08:18 AM

Greetings!

You may or may not have heard about the Wikiverse initiative that is underway at Star Trek Gaming Universe. If not then you can read the announcement post right here.

I would like to call upon the superbly talented modding members of BridgeCommanderUniverse.com to help define and contribute to the Bridge Commander section of the dedicated modding wiki we call Starbase Alpha. It is our hope that together all of us can help to build a fantastic modding information resource for the Bridge Commander modding community!

We are trying to outline the sections of the Spacedock Alpha wik that will contain the information that is most relevant to the modding community. The thread defining this can be found by clicking here, which is located in this board dedicated to discussions of the modders wiki.

Thanks to everyone who contributes in any way to this ambitious and worthy effort! Any help in spreading the word about the effort to the Bridge Commander community is greatly appreciated.

Thanks everyone!
ChessMess

**gamesfunk** · **Posted**: 03-09-2005 12:50 PM

First of all, welcome ChessMess to BCU!

Second, it's sounds great, but if I read and understand it correctly, you want to do a wikipedia-like dictionary of 'how to mod', modding results and so on...

Like:
3DS Max, by Discreet, is a expensive, but good program to model.......
The CG Sovereign, made by Chronical Guy, is currently the best Sovereign-class ship availble. The ship is made to look as canon as it can be. etc. etc.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but that's what I can understand of it...

Gamesfunk

ChessMess · **Posted**: 03-09-2005 02:46 PM

Thanks for the warm welcome gamesfunk!

Spacedock Alpha, the codename for the modding wiki, is a wiki targeted at all of the moddable Star Trek games, which include Bridge Commander. So for each game a section of the wiki is dedicated to everything that pertains to modding that game. Information on how one would add a new ship model to the game, what are scripts and how are they used, how to add new bridges, modifying the AI. Everything that modders need to know for modding the game either on a small level, such as adding a new bridge, or a large level such as creating a Bridge Commander II mod should be available. This includes tutorials, tool descriptions w/links to resource sites, resource sites for things such as bridges and ship models, and anything else that would help someone mod the game.

In my post at the beginning of this thread I indicated that I had made a Bridge Commander post at STGU to help define the sections of the wiki where we want to capture the information on how to mod BC (we can do this here as well, where its done isn't important). I've created an initial layout based on my very very limited knowledge of BC modding. I'm posting here to let everyone know about the effort and get modders involved in defining and creating the content.

We can define the layout of data here just as easily as we can there, it makes no difference. Once we have a base structure of the data we want to capture for BC modding, I can create the outline in the wiki and then we can start to fill in that information.

If there is information that is helpful for modders across games, then that information can be stored in the wiki as well, but not under a specific game section. Your example on ways to make your ship model more cannon would be something that would fall under that scenario. If there is specific info on this that pertains only to Bridge Commander then that could be noted and inter-linked between the BC section and the General information section.

However we need to start this journey of documenting BC modding by first defining what is important to capture. That is the purpose of this thread and the thread on STGU.

Spacedock Alpha is going to be a fantastic resource for all the modding communities that exist in the Star Trek gaming world! One location you can go to learn how to mod BC, Armada, EF, SFC and others has never been created before. This effort will bring modders from all the different games together in a truly synergistic way, creating something that will benefit the community for years to come!

Adonis · **Posted**: 03-09-2005 03:40 PM

Well first of all welcum ChessMess Grin

OK, I think we should start with something simple, like torpedo and pulse weapon scripting, that's the easiest stuff to do that I can think off...

I could write a tut for that in like 10mins lol...

So whatcha say?

ChessMess · **Posted**: 03-09-2005 06:14 PM

Thanks for the welcome adonis!

Tutorials are great additions to the Wiki!

There will definetly be a BC Tutorial section and that would be a great addition to the BC Tutorial section of the SDA (Spacedock Alpha) wiki. The great thing with this being based in a wiki, everyone will be able to easily add tutorial because of the open editing nature of the wiki (we don't plan on requiring user accounts to add/modify wiki information).

We still want to outline the structure and if you take a look at this STGU thread you'll see that Sim Rex has made a wonderful entry to help us do just that.

Modding Wiki Layout section: Bridge Commander

With all the BC modders looking and contributing to the outline we'll have the BC section ready for data capture before any other game (wtg guys!).

**gamesfunk** · **Posted**: 03-09-2005 07:13 PM

Thnx for the response and the clarification, ChessMess!

Gamesfunk

Adonis · **Posted**: 03-09-2005 08:28 PM

OK, ine stupid question tho lol...

is Wiki been made already, and if yes where should I go to upload my tut?

ChessMess · **Posted**: 03-09-2005 10:06 PM

It is not open to the public at the moment. I wanted to get the base structure laid out first. I believe that participation in the effort would be high if people came to the site with a sense of what information they could contribute, rather then facing an empty page.

**starforce2** · **Posted**: 03-09-2005 10:37 PM

I can probably whip up a tut on coverting sfc ships to BC, and scaling properly.

JimmyB76 · **Posted**: 03-10-2005 04:00 AM

ChessMess · **Posted**: 03-10-2005 10:07 PM

Thanks, I think I will!

/pours a cold one

Any chance we could make this a sticky? or maybe a global announcement?

Sim Rex has made a good outline, does anyone think it needs to be added to? Is anything missing?

**Nebula** · **Posted**: 03-10-2005 10:34 PM

this is such a great idea

Adonis · **Posted**: 03-10-2005 10:35 PM

**Sim Rex** · Moderator Age: 26 Zodiac: Joined: 11 Apr 2002 Posts: 1714

**Trim** · **Posted**: 03-10-2005 11:37 PM

Cool a fellow Hoosier, welcome to BCU Chessmess. Wink

Adonis · **Posted**: 03-10-2005 11:42 PM

JimmyB76 · **Posted**: 03-11-2005 12:15 AM

SuB-CommandeR HuggY BeaR · **Posted**: 03-11-2005 03:28 AM

1. Welcome ChessMess
2. About what time will this wiki be up and accessible to the public? Probably gonna be a When its done

response, but im talking soon, or never, or within the next aeon...

MLeo · **Posted**: 03-11-2005 04:03 PM

ChessMess · **Posted**: 03-11-2005 05:21 PM

Thank Trim! What part of the state are you in? I was born in Indy but moved south to Madison. Have lots of family in Indy still though.

Huggy, The BC section is absolutly kicking every other section's rear in terms of getting it defined. I had hoped to have all the games outlines created before opening it up but I will probably just move ahead as I don't want to slow you guys down. There is loads of sub stuff to do on the wiki but I'm only one person so we will probably 'go ugly early' rather then ' go perfect later'. You guys are flat out amazing me both in terms of how open and welcoming it is here and how fired up you guys are in making this happen! You guys rock da house!

Ok based on feedback here and at this thread at STGU here is the current layout:

\ main
........\ BC
..............\ Files and Directories
..............\ Art
....................\ Ships
....................\ Crew and Uniforms
....................\ Bridges
....................\ Planets
..............\ Scripting
....................\ Foundation key features explanation
..........................\ "Stock" Features
................................\ Extensions
..........................\ FoundationTriggers
..........................\ FoundationTechnologies
................................\ TimerDef
................................\ ShipDef
................................\ TechDef
..........................\ Modifications
................................\ Submenu
................................\ Bridge Submenu
................................\ New Bridge Plugin
....................\ Ships
.........................\ Hardpointing
.........................\ Plugins
....................\ Projectiles
....................\ Sound Plugins
....................\ Bridges
....................\ AI
.........................\ QuickbattleAI
.........................\ Mission AI
....................\ Mission Scripting
....................\ Star systems
..........................\ Placement Editor
..............\ Sounds
..............\ Tutorials

Ok is all this correct? Are there areas we can furthur define/add to? If you opened a book and this was the index, do you think you could find all the relevent data necessary to mod the game?

ChessMess · **Posted**: 03-11-2005 05:24 PM

......./ Common Problems

Another section where you could outline common problems people run into and fixes for them.

Adonis · **Posted**: 03-11-2005 05:54 PM

...as I said earlier dude, I think that there should be a general modelling and texturing guide/tutorial section, that isn't under any of the game sections, and the modeling and texturing sections for each game should contain only data that goes for each game, like specular maps (BC), way of applying illumination maps in SFC and BC.

My general setup would look like this (supplemental to Leo's one):

\ main
\General Moddeling
............................(Example Thread)\Modelling Basics
............................(Example Thread)\Mapping Basics (Diffuse maps only)
\General Texturing
............................(Example Thread)\Texturing Basics
........\ BC
..............\ Files and Directories
..............\ Art
....................\ Ships
............................(Example Thread)\ Applying Illumination Maps
............................(Example Thread)\ Applying Specular Maps
....................\ Crew and Uniforms
....................\ Bridges
....................\ Planets
....................\ Other Art (Like System background Textures, Projectile Textures, etc.)
..............\ Scripting
....................\ Foundation key features explanation
..........................\ "Stock" Features
................................\ Extensions
..........................\ FoundationTriggers
..........................\ FoundationTechnologies
................................\ TimerDef
................................\ ShipDef
................................\ TechDef
..........................\ Modifications
................................\ Submenu
................................\ Bridge Submenu
................................\ New Bridge Plugin
....................\ Ships
.........................\ Hardpointing
.........................\ Plugins
....................\ Projectiles
....................\ Sound Plugins
....................\ Bridges
....................\ AI
.........................\ QuickbattleAI
.........................\ Mission AI
....................\ Mission Scripting
....................\ Star systems
..........................\ Placement Editor
..............\ Sounds
..............\ Tutorials
........\ SFC
..............\ SFC1
.......................\ Art
..............................\ Ships
....................................(Example Thread)\ Applying Illumination Maps
..............\ SFC2
.......................\ SFC2 OP
.............................\ Art
..................................\ Ships
........................................(Example Thread)\ Applying Illumination Maps
.......................\ SFC2 EAW
.............................\ Art
..................................\ Ships
........................................(Example Thread)\ Applying Illumination Maps
..............\ SFC3
....................\ Art
..........................\ Ships
................................(Example Thread)\ Applying Illumination Maps
........\ Armada
.......................\ Armada1
......................................\ Art
.........................................\ Ships
..............................................(Example Thread)\ Applying Illumination Maps
.......................\ Armada2
........\ Elite Force
.......................\ Elite Force1
.......................\ Elite Force2

Hope it makes sence lol

ChessMess · **Posted**: 03-11-2005 06:04 PM

Yes, you are correct and I'll create a thread on that topic at STGU. In fact I'm creating similar threads at Dynaverse.net, Armada Fleet Command and elsewhere targetting the modders of other Star Trek games.

For BCU I only want to focus on the BC section (though anyone is *more* then welcome to go to STGU and go into the other games definition threads and contribute to those as well).

You guys here are way ahead of everyone and thus are being the shinning example of how to define the layout (and helping to realize sections in thier games they need to document as well no doubt).

**Trim** · **Posted**: 03-13-2005 11:47 AM

ChessMess · **Posted**: 03-13-2005 12:37 PM

I drive by through Jeffersonville every day on my way to work! Smile

**Nebula** · **Posted**: 03-13-2005 05:53 PM

wow it is a small world heh

JimmyB76 · **Posted**: 03-13-2005 05:57 PM

heh - you guys should get together, have a beer at some bar, and plan the world's domination...

Shinzon · **Posted**: 03-13-2005 11:54 PM

world domination was my idea... Sad

ChessMess · **Posted**: 03-17-2005 05:06 PM

Hey guys, been crazy busy so sorry for not replying sooner.

I'm going to put this structure into the modding wiki and use it as the basis for the BC section. It will be a great start for the BC modders to then go in and 'fill it up with content gold!'. Smile

I'm still soliciting feedback from the SFC community via Dynaverse.net.

I posted the same thing that I posted here at ArmadaFleetCommand in order to reach the Armada modding community, and they went and deleted the thread. Sad

So if you guys can get in touch with any Armada Modders to help get that section rolling it would be great!

Trim, anytime you want to do lunch let me know!

Thanks for everyones help! I know this is just the very very first step in creating a fantastic resource for modders, and that even more work from the modding community is required, but I think when all the various sections for all the games start to fill in this will be a tremendous resource for everyone!

JimmyB76 · **Posted**: 03-17-2005 07:58 PM

outstanding! Thumbs Up

i, for one, am quite excited to watch it grow and expand! (and help where i can)
not to mention, the prospect of all realms (sfc, bc, ef, etc etc) coalescing, IMO, is as it should be...