MomawNadon78

But if we had lets say 5 different types of "special" terror missions for the specific terror site maps, lets say only 10 specific maps, then we could have 50 different strategies, which would be chosen randomly during each game - which means you might not play all 10 maps during one game, or play all the same "special" missions in one game, but you would get a few of them, based on how far you have progressed or how many aliens you've killed/UFO's shot down or something along those lines. Which yes, could be FAQ'd, but there is always someone who is willing to waste his/her time to do something like that.

The specific terror site maps would only be used randomly, so as not to get the same map each time you play the game, plus have some different terror missions to choose from so that the battle changes each time. But the bulk of terror missions be played out on the typical terror map, built randomly from a kit of buildings and environments. And we can use the specific terror sites for the "special" terror missions, like govt kidnapping, govt meetings with the aliens, and so forth.

Well, I am new to the project, but have been taking the time to read up on a mess of these threads and want to put in my two cents. I don't think making site specific terror missions is a good idea. It just adds more and more models to the game. Using the random map generator and combining it with a model pack for a terror mission is the way to go I think. But I say for the model pack, its different for each region. So with these ideas to take photos of our places we live in, we use that for ideas, influences, not as textures. For example, a terror site in Germany would have typical German architecture. Or attacking China would have some typical Chinese architecture. Make different model packs for different regions. Not too detailed, but at least it would make for a bit more realisitic feel. And its also easy to find images of regional architecture. I didn't ever really mind the fact that there were only 5 or 6 different buildings for each terror map in the original. But I think there could be plenty more for the random map generator idea. But again, I think it should be region specific. Not interiors so much as exteriors. And for other terror missions I got some ideas. I like the previous ideas of a mall or a truck stop. I also like the idea of seeing the alien ship. It would be a good way to recieve a great bonus at the end of a terror mission to capture the alien ship. Maybe we have the aliens "retreat" to the alien ship and take off after losing 75% of their troops? So it isn't always a win-win situation. You could win, but still lose as the aliens took off and snatched 10 civilians. Also, terror missions should be taking place at a site where there is a large gathering of humans, therefore spreading terror among civilians. Places like malls, truck stops, parks(just grass parks or amusement parks), movie theaters(although I guess it would be hard to have movies playing, but think about how cool it would be to have to try to find all the aliens in the dark, ), concert or sports stadiums, any place that will have a crowd. I think we need to throw in a few of those types of maps(later on in the development of the game of course). Also, the skyscraper/office building idea. I like this, but throw a little incentive into it. My idea is that the building that is under attack would be a MAJOR contributor to the X-COM project. Like the building that is under attack is the headquarters of the company that is supplying you with your weapons. Aliens could find this info out, since they are also trying to steal away your governments. Aliens land on top of the building, going in to capture the head exec or just kill everyone. Marines land at the front door and have to fight to the top. But to make the models easier, only have it no more than 5 stories. Plus, who wants to fight his way up 10 floors, checking each one as he goes? Trying to make sure no alien is sneaking down the elevator while you take the stairs. Modeling a typical terror site after a certain location sounds like a good idea, but I don't think we should do it. Then people would get too wrapped up in, "Oh look, its downtown Savannah(where I live). I know that spot. Thats where The Rail Pub is(my bar). Did they put it in?" and not really be playing the game. Besides, mapping and modeling a certain location and making it true would create a "fixed" map that would get old after playing it 3 times, as you would use the same strategy each time you played the map. OOOOH! New idea! You could use certain locations for some terror sites. We could model a specific location, like downtown Savannah, and use it for a terror site that is specific to something. For example, through X-COM's contacts, its discovered that the aliens are going to meet an influential government official in Savannah so you fly there to kill or capture the aliens and to expose the government agent, granting you a money bonus on the next month. Or you find out that a high government official will be in Savannah and the aliens are sending a raid to kill/capture the official, and you fly in to protect him, granting a money bonus the next month. Or if you fail either of those, you lose money from that govt the next month. But these kinds of missions only happen after reseaching a certain thing, or after you have started to kick some alien donkey and they are stepping up their activity and trying to find you. That way, we still have these site specific maps, but they are randomly generated each game, to avoid playing those missions over and over again. Thats all I got for now. I'm gonna start tackling the modeling of some things, X-COM base, alien base, and buildings for missions.

Thanks for the invite. I'm kinda drunk right now, so I will look over everything tomorrow(sunday) and check out what ya'll got and see what I can work with. I'll get to work on some things during this week. Since I have this arch background, I tend to do things in a measured manner, not in the comp art kind of free form, eye-ball manner. I like to measure things out to exact, or close to exact, dimensions. I'll probably ask for some more specifices on sizes of maps and buildings this week. I can model in 3dmax using 1m squares, or I can get my autocad license renwewed and model it in that and import it into 3dsmax. I'll figure it out this week and let ya'll know whats going on and hopefully, time permitting, get some basic layouts done by next weekend. I tend to be creative during the most unlikely times, so me starting tonite on thinking about what I can work on is a good thing. I'll probably wake up at some random a.m. time and think to myself, "damn, thats a good idea" and model it during the day. Thanks for recruiting me, and I'll get to work tomorrow(sunday) and start putting up some sketches. -Momaw Nadon PS: MomawNadon78 is my AIM screen name, so if anyone has any questions/requets for me, I'm usually signed on, so just IM me. PPS: I have almost 800 bitmaps/jpegs/tiffs of textures on my hard rive that I have used to create my own tectures if you want me to share them.

And finally, this last project was a 3d modeling for gaming course I took over the summer. This was my base entrance for the video game we created. I created all the textures for this last one if you would like to see those too.

And then a third image of a different project that I made a short animation for.

And here is an interior shot of that house.

As I said in the "Would you like to be a part of" post, I can help out in environment modeling if you guys would like me to. Well, here is something of mine from a little while back. This is a house I designed back in high school and have gone back to every now and then.