We are now starting to prepare to our final run to get Discovery v4.86 (Discovery Issue 14) complete. The team of developers is almost assembled, but we are seeking for additional help in a number of areas.

First of all, if you know how to model and are aware of graphic design basics, and (even better) have some previous experience with Freelancer modding, you could help us with designing new stations, ships, NPC constumes, and commodity icons for the game. Please note that ships are much lower priority than stations and other stationary space objects (satellites, weapon platforms etc.) right now. We have lots of ships, but have to build stationary objects from the same few components than Vanilla Freelancer had. This is not very good.

Note that we're looking for people who will not simply model objects and deliver them for other developers to complete, but for those who are willing to learn the complete process of getting their models into the game (texturing, fixing bugs, optimizing textures, creating a hitbox, adding hardpoints). Same applies to icons and NPC costumes, although these are lower priority than models. Also, when submitting a model to us, please remember to contact our more experienced modellers (Gurjiv, Jinx, Doom if he's available) in order to know specifics about submitting.

Also, I need all system submissions ready before March 20 (2010, yes!), and everyone who is going to submit systems or propose significant changes into systems should contact me within 5 days from now, before March 8. Right now, I have basic submissions of the following systems:
Koeln by Blodo
Tottori by Seth Karlo
Omicron-94 by Seth Karlo
Omicron Mu by equanimitee
Poole by Ktayn and BaconSoda

And I'm aware of the following system editing plans:
Kusari expansions by Dab (awaiting initial submission)
Minor additions to Omicron Lost by Atreides2 and Panzer
Minor additions to Omicron-91 by Seth Karlo
Saar submission by Blodo
Londonderry submission by Linkus
Omicron Minor and other Nomad-related submissions by Treewyrm
Minor additions to Duesseldorf, Stuttgart, Hamburg and Omega-54

About all other system edits and additions: send me a message as soon as possible using the igissmail@gmail.com mail address.

We will release more information on the mod development later. Release dates or time frames will not be available for some time from now, so please don't request those. Thank you.

Igiss, can you please tell us a aproximated release date?

Dab just handed over Sigma-59 to me last night, I'll try my best to make the March 20 deadline.

Soon™. Don't rush the devs, please, nothing good comes out of it. The guys do stellar work, aren't being paid, so no rush, eh? Gets out when it gets out, but seems it should be soonish™ because of the system submission deadline.

This is great news Im wondering, will there be any graphical mods added to 86 like the bloom mod dll we already have?

I will like to be part of the Dev team and willing to learn how to model better, texture and make costum hitboxes and hardpoints. I have a lot of experience on modeling, but I am so eager on learning to texture very soon, since i have 3ds Max (Full Version ).

I'm not rushing anyone, chill out! I'm just asking for my personal knowledge...

AKA, he want's to know how much money he needs to get and save before the route he uses comes crashing down.

I wish they'd lock these threads.
+1

Says the moderator.



They only tell you when it actually happens. Get used to it.

Does this mean you're willing to teach those who are willing to help, but have little to no experience?

Exactly what I was wondering.

I can mod Morrowind, Oblivion and Fallout 3 like hell, but all my attempts with Freelancer end in failure..

I got a few ships to submit when I get time. Should be sometime over the next couple of weeks.

When I get back to my computer I'll be willing to help other people learn how to get their models ready for the game.

I've learned a bit about infocard stuff, I might be able to help out in that regard...

Still working on getting our ship submission ready, texturing and hardpointing arent quite finished yet.

i can probably help you make icons

but i got no idea at all on how to get them coded for game usage unless its simple HTML image code (<img src=link>)


PS: got Photoshop CS3, also pretty experienced with it.

You guys rock! thank you all one more time for make discovery better day by day!

Just what I was wondering. I love doing that kinda thing, but annoying to learn in an all new environment.
(Yes, probably a bit late for .86, but for future projects)

Hey, I'll do my best to aid in what I can, I already sent Cannon a bug that needs a look at...which I think he ignored me but who knows.

But yeh whatever i can find to help I will help.

I can, erm, do Word documents?

But seriously, if you guys have anything for me to do, I've got next week off from school for spring break, so I'll be doing nothing but pirating NPCs and "protecting Liberty" for a week. Might as well contribute to 4.86, eh?

I can model...sort of, but I need proper tutelage in the rest of the process.

And write. I'm capable of proper spelling and grammar. (Though not so much late at night as now.)

Icons are .3db files with the picture added as a texture and properly scaled on one side. I can teach people if need be.

I am also waiting on the Benitez for the update they want me to do to Omicron 94, I would like to get that finished some point soon. I also need to get Mu done ASAP then, if I've only got a few days... looks like this Sunday will be busy for me.

Regarding '91, Zelot never confirmed what he wanted done, does he still want me to update defences around that jumphole?

-Seth

I think that some experience with advanced modelling and photoshop design is a necessary pre-requisite. As for "willing to help", it mainly applies to bringing your models into the game itself. We cannot really teach you how to use 3dmax, milkshape, photoshop etc. But we can provide info about Freelancer-specific tools and requirements.

as Igiss stated. i currently do not have the time to spoon feed the most basic details of 3d modelling and the likes to anyone willing to learn, id expect people to have at least the basic understanding of how to model, how to make sure the mesh is optimized, about the symmetry tool, making sure mesh is error free etc even if they dont know how to texture. furthermore, those who have an express interest in this, please send me a pm on the forums so i can co-ordinate some of the stuff a bit better allowing everyone to work together (im not home, nor do i have access to skype for the entire weekend + monday so no use sending me a pm on skype).

I can have a go at writing infocards.

I can model.. Im no good at scripting/adding stuff though..

Hello,

i have made little model of station with bit of modular spirit like FL stations have, and i would like someone to give me step by step guide how to get it into FL, i looked on your modding tutorials and they are too chaotic for me. So i have 3Ds model and i would like step by step guide how to get to FL model format.

Also some info regarding animations for doors (esp if there are some limits for lenght or something like that) would be appreciated.

Thank you.
Zee

Pic1

Not bad Zeela but it does seem a bit out of place compared to other station at the moment.

Maybe less actual curves and more straight edges?

EG, more pentagon than circle etc.


That said, it's pretty simple to get it ingame.
Get Milkshape.
Get the CMP Exporter, the SUR exporter and the MAT exporter for it (Use google)
Import the 3ds file into Milkshape.
Texture it. (You find the tga or dds image files for each texture/image that you want and rename the material in milkshape to be that. Make multiple groups and assign materials to them. Look at tutorials for a better idea.)
Hardpoint the model. (Tutorial again)
Export the CMP.
Export the SUR.
Export the MAT.

That should do everything that is needed for the model.

Test it ingame by say, replacing the cmp and sur file of a current station with it. (Try Newark station maybe).

Hunt down the bugs and eliminate them.

Ta-da. New station model done.


Now, if you want to properly have it as a seperate station model (and not replacing another) it requires a bit more work, which tutorials cover well enough.

Hello,

thank You very much for this list, thats exactly what i needed.

As for edges over circle, i was under the impression that freelancer models are edgy because it was easier on graphic card esp. for such old game, but it can be remade.

How is it with animation of doors? Or generally with animation of models? Or is it done in game engine by some operation independent on model? If yes do i need to provide some script for it? Or is this function inaccesible for modification and models can be only static?

Zee

This offer is still open, and i am now finally home, so you can either skype me or pm me here.

I'm happy to help with 2D imaging and any text. I have significant experience in programs from AutoCAD, Corel Draw, Paint.NET and so on.
I am anally-retentive in my grammar and spelling, and I can write for as long as I need to.
Also, I may be fairly new to posting - but I've been reading the Wiki's and such a lot.
And if you need me, I could probably learn 3D modelling.

Happy to help!

I can do commodity icons, if that's still needed.

Something unrelated, are you also searching for People who would make a new Image for the Game. As in Picture when you start the Game, I doubt you would like to use the current Picture.

Schlurb: You mean splash screen?

I'm assuming yes. I'd totally forgotten about that one.

I mean that. I'm willing to give it a Try as long other People will try too, I don't want to be the Person screwing up everything.

4.85 is reunion, 4.86 is what? When i see that image, its first questin i get in my mind

I guess that's a surprise.

Well, ive heard about big war with nomads etc. So i expect what i can see at server when 4.86. Even nomads started big recruting, it has a reason. But what will be the "title" thats mystery Anyway, we shall see.

Igiss told me that the same Person who made the Reunion Picture will probably create the next Picture too. I am very nervous to see it.

This will be a awesome addition to Discovery hopefully.

I dont doubt the devs magic

Correction; now i can add hardpoints and code aswell.

Any C# or C that needs handling, I can do.

Same here. I'm familiar with C# and a bit of C.

I'm not familiar with the game's code, but I can look at it and see what i can do.

I've been considering trying to get back into modding systems and weapons again, but I haven't modded since before the days of Asgard and EvolvedOnes were around (about two years) so my skills are probably extremely rusty.

I'll give it a try a bit later and see if I can pull anything out of my...

~Leo

I can do 3d modelling..

I was wondering about one thing,

I have a lot of experiance with Source Hammer (making maps for HL2, Gmod, TF2, ect)

The program features an exe that can turn map files into props (real models) i'm not sure what model format Freelancer uses, but when you run it it generated a .DX80, a .DX90, a .MDL, a .PHY, a .sw and a .VVD for the model you made.

it's not really good at making curves, such as the ones on a ship's chassis, but i'm sure it'll be great for stations, that is if the model formats are accepted/can be converted.

also, seeing as it's landscape based, if this works, and with help from some mod God, make actual planetscapes.

EDIT: 15 minutes and loads of mismatched HL2 textures later: http://yfrog.com/0ystationrp

Well i heard good things here and lot of people willing to help.

I can and would help with models , i use gmax for modelling , and MilkShape 3d+some plugins to export stuff out , UTF editor for corrections.
Thing is that i'm 12th grader and big exam is on his way .

But i promise as soon as it gets finished , ill swoop in the action around if needed.

As about level of skill:
I can't do working hitboxes for multi-compound ships.I mean , i made one and things would start ripping apart only as a result of explosions but you would never hit it with guns.

here's a "thing" made by me , just so you judge the skill

Can't find the complete thing , but it had a kaki-military skin.

Heya everyone.

A texturer here. I can model a bit, but I am unfortunately unfamiliar with Freelancer related things. I could learn if someone would be willing to mentor.

However, I'm not nearly as good in modeling than at actually texturing stuff.

So yea...

If anyone (modeler for FL) is interested in teaming up, just pop me a PM and we'll see what we can put together as a team.

Or if anyone has any untextured models waiting for a nifty coat, let me know as well.

Hey. I think my reply is a little late but I'd like to help (or learn moding anyway).I'm a modeler (still have a lot to learn.. but I think I can help). The problem is that I don't know anything about how to mod freelancer.. no idea what programs are used or how.. So If anyone wants to introduce me to the basics I'd help you guys gladly.

Hmm.. well, i know C#, VB, a little bit of C++...

I can model..

I can mod whatever you want...

If you need any extra help with the above, contact me.