Redesign of all HQ and support factories

[Saver]

Thx

[Saver]

Hello, I have a question regarding the Lod1 models.

Can't these be omitted for large objects and the value of LODCutoff increased from 200 to 500?
How many frames are saved by this feature? I'm asking because I'm still creating them for the Aeon's airframe, but perhaps these models are negligible. Or rather, the optics with the 500 LodCutoff of the Lod0 model are always better than the low-poly version.

Here is an example:
LODCutoff=200

After zooming out beyond the value 200, Lod1 appears.

(Please note this is already my improved version)

Here is the adjustment when the value is set to 500.
LODCutoff=500

I'm curious about the answers

PS: The update for the Aeon Air Factory will be available tomorrow.

[Nomander]

I just tested ~83 Cybran T3 HQs and the LOD1 model had ~50% the frametime increase of the LOD0 model. So if there's a lot of factories from multiple players or a huge base (coop would be the largest hit on performance imo) it can definitely have an impact.

You can check the frametime by going to the console and typing in ShowStats, then expanding the "Frame" section.

[speed2]

Thats a very specific scenario, not even coop has that many factories that would be visible at the same time, even with the increased LOD

[Saver]

Here's the new version of the Aeon air factory.

I think the idea of ​​the FAF team's baseplate is great. This element was chosen excellently for quick differentiation. My task was to give the HQ factories a bit more visual appeal.
Unfortunately, I had a bit of a hard time with it again, as the texture didn't allow for as many customizations as other factories, but everyone can judge the result for themselves. Here the result should be more reminiscent of a shrine.

As usual, here is a small comparison.

Thank you for the answers regarding the LOD1 model. Since the value can have a significant impact, I will always adjust it. I've therefore reviewed all previous models again and made a few small improvements. Here's just a small picture.

If there are no further additions, I will now devote myself to the Cybran.

[BlackYps]

I'm not yet sold on the new Aeon land factories. Especially the HQ looks too bulky. To me it feels like a UEF engineer's attempt at making an Aeon building. It has this massive, bulky aesthetic. I'm also not sure if I like the raised platforms, although I also have to say that the complete flatness from before looks a bit weird as well.

Having said that, I do like the general design ideas you have. For example, the white shields in the corners are very nice, although I would scale them down a bit, because right now the low texture resolution is quite noticable.
I am sure that with some more minor adjustments we can have a great result.

Could you change your mod to make the original models available as well? Just as another building would be enough, it can even be non-functional. It would make comparisons between the old and new much easier.

[Saver]

@BlackYps
Hello, and thanks again for your feedback. I'll go through your message one by one Why did the Aeon Land factory turn out like this:

I'd read in many posts about all the factories that the HQs didn't look powerful enough. And that's already true for the base model of the Aeon.
The best way to see this aspect is to look at the factories from the side.
As I wrote, they imagine these buildings as a temple. That's how the idea for the design came about.

This also explains the change in the base platform. All land and air factories in SC are high platforms. Only the Aeon Land has not. However, since it should fit the faction, I've made it more similar to the air factory.

I'm happy to reduce the side panels again. What do you think about 3/4 of the current size?

Lastly, I'll focus on the current mod. I think your suggestion is great. However, I'd leave the mod as it is, since people are already using it in the game. I'd therefore like to create a second test mod where all factories can be built. If I have enough time, I'll be able to upload it this evening (my wife still has a say on that, though ^^).

Normal:
Savers Factory Rework

Comparison:
Savers Factory Rework +FAF

By the way, this work is now celebrating its halfway point - Bergfest (that's what we say in Germany).

[Saver]

@BlackYps

Hi, I got some time ^^

so here's your mod- test- version.

Unfortunately, there's still a bug in the mod. See the image from the game. All upgrade variants are always displayed, even though I renamed them in the blueprint. But maybe I missed something.

Well, that should be enough for the test

I haven't changed the Aeon Land factory yet, though. But I think that's enough work for today.

I hope you enjoy testing it. And don't be surprised, I've adjusted almost all factories. So, from T1 to T3 UEF and Aeon

[BlackYps]

Thank you for that mod! Don't worry about the technical issues, it's fine enough for testing.

I thought some more about the Aeon factories and I think I just dislike changing the design of a factory where it is not needed. The idea is to basically keep the original factory models as support factories. I see that you connected the previously floating arcs, which is a nice change, but raising the platform is not really needed. It significantly changes the overal design and it's a change purely based on personal taste. It also creates the issue that the structures in the back have to be even higher to support the arc shields without units clipping into it.
I do like that you moved the structures in the back further out, this is a good change, it reduces clipping with units and makes the factory look a bit bigger without changing the feel of the design.

I have some more thoughts about the HQ: I generally like the extra elements and animations you added. As I said, I think the shields (purple) should be 1/4 to 1/3 smaller. The pillars (orange) are very nicely designed. I think I would like it better if they supported the raising arc in the front instead of these pure black things (red). I'd remove the extra terraces in the back (green) imo they make it look too bulky.

[Saver]

Phew, that's a lot of adjustments. But that's what this topic is for.

Since the modification to the base plate affects all animations, I would first adjust only the model for T3 and create it as a new unit (luckily, I've stored all the movements as Lua files in the mod for this purpose ^^).

Do you perhaps have a rough idea for how the front arch should be raised?

Then we can discuss the further changes.

@ All If you can, please participate in the discussion so we can achieve a more comprehensive result.

[Katharsas]

I personally like Aeon factories not being flat at the bottom very much. I also like that it is higher. It really looked like the odd one out compared to the other factories before when viewed from the side (what you demonstrated here: https://forum.faforever.com/post/68882 ).

But i agree with BlackYps that some of the black blocks in the HQ do not look good. Aeon is imo generally a "rounded", "organic" looking faction and the black blocks make it too blocky.

[Saver]

Hello,

First of all, thanks @Katharsas for your feedback If you have any suggestions on how I can improve, feel free to write.

The adjustment within the mod version, which also includes the FAF factories, so Rework+FAF - short for the future Re+FAF.

@BlackYps that was a great idea

!!!! Unfortunately, the last version of the T3 factory (UAB030111) can only be created via cheats. Apologies.

• Left Standard FAF T3 (UAB0301)
• In the middle the mod version with flat main platform and smaller front panels (UAB030111)
• on the right is my current version from the original mod (UAB03011)

I also have to say that the front panels need to be made smaller.

I have to disagree with the suggestion for a flat base plate, though. Unfortunately, it doesn't seem to fit. Let's put it this way: I'm having a picnic and placing things on a blanket. That's the impression I get.

But the mod is there to help you form your own opinion. So if the picture isn't enough for a review, feel free to check it out in the game. V2 is in the FAF Vault.

[Saver]

Should I replace the block columns with round ones? But keep the black and white texture of the windows?

[Saver]

Hello,

I've tried a couple of changes to the pillars and added them to the Re+FAF mod.

One with a plate-like shape:

and one with a round, white pillar:

Maybe someone else has another opinion on this. However, I like the version with the round pillars best. Unfortunately, I can't say when a particular type will make it into the main mod.

I have adjusted 3 of the 4 points that were agreed upon by BlackYps. Unfortunately, I have to disappoint you with the base plate; it remains raised.

Because I'd like to get started with the Cybrans.

[IndexLibrorum]

@Saver I think the black columns looked best, and the white pillars the least good. They look rather out of place to me, like they've salvaged some old Greek ruins for parts.

[Saver]

@IndexLibrorum
Thanks for your feedback. And I agree, it looks like Greek columns ^^. I wanted to see how it would look in-game.

I would repeat the first attempt with the black columns, this time making them a shape between square and round.

[Nory]

I think this was one of my favorite factory models. While there are some inconsistencies, the model effectively conveyed the visual weight HQs should have, as they are one of the most important units you can build.

[Saver]

Hello,

@Nory I can understand you, though; I liked the old model too.

Unfortunately, I don't see a good way to build from T1 to T3 without clipping or overloading the T1 stage. Therefore, I've distanced myself from the model.

But hey, I can't please everyone

Now, a truly final contribution to the Aeon Land Factory.

I've tried a lot, but due to my limited skills, the black columns remain. However, I've designed them even narrower.

I hope this is a small compromise.
The respective updates will follow on the FAF vault.

[Saver]

@Nory Once I've finished the project, I'll take another look at this version and experiment with it. But I can't say when I'll try it.

[Saver]

Here's my first version, recreating the old Cybran HQ similar to the original model.

This version doesn't contain any stretched textures, but it's also not quite as massive as the original.

Here are a few pictures for comparison.

The current model is now part of the mod Re+FAF.

I'll be working on the subsets in the coming days. I hope to present a playable version next weekend.