Need Map Finished

[Sarsstock]

Well ToT is a good idea, but are maps directly tranferable as well? If not, then we'd have to either re-do the map ourselves, find an appropriate map or enlist somebody to make a new one.

However, it is much easier to recolour and manipulate units and icons with the 256 bit colour scheme.

[fairline]

Do you have PSP Sarsstock? If so there is a retouch tool (a hand icon in PSP7) on the left menu bar wich allows you to recolour easily. This can only be used on 24-bit (or is it 15-bit?) per pixel images and therefore can't be used with MGE images but can with ToT gfx. You can increase colour depth to 24-bit by selecting 'colous---increase colour depth' on the PSP7 menu.

There is a dos-based converter by Angelo Scotto which turns MGE scenarios into ToT-compatible ones BTW

[Sarsstock]

Well, to answer your question no, sadly I don't have PSP, as good as Photoshop is I do realize PSP would come in handy for jobs such as this. In any case, I'm glad you've taken an interest in this thread my friend, as you are no doubt the king of units.

Here are afew I've cooked up using the ToT pallet, so they probally won't work if you tried to use them in an MGE scenario, not without the colours being compressed down to 8 bit. We have 2 SWAT units, the SWAT style Quebecois Militia, and two humvee's from the Orange Country Rangers.

I've composed a little story behind those humvee's. When California declares independance, a 22 year old young woman from a wealthy family decides to enlist in the new California Armed Forces. Due to clerical and beurocratic bungling, she and many of her friends are rejected. She then uses her personal fortune to purchase a small fleet of H2's, has them outfiteed with gun turrets and bulletproof armor, then after enlisting crews for the H2's she launches a series of attacks that brings several towns in Southern California still loyal to Washington under Californian controll.

Think of it as a combination of Joan of Arc and Roosevelts Rough Rider's in the 21st Century.

[Sarsstock]

I think I'll start devoting more time to this scenario, as every other game I had in development has since fallen apart. I think we should try to come up with some other idea's for wonders and improvments in general.

Maybe Canada can have a "Medicare" wonder that brings happiness to one extra citizen. California of course can have "The Govenator", which makes 3 extra citizens happy to reflect Arnold's popularity.

[Sarsstock]

Here's a possibility for a police station icon, or possibly a SWAT Station.

[Sarsstock]

I just realized, if we include all the civ's we want which are:

1) Canada
2) Quebec
3) Grand Alberta
4) Nunavut
5) California
6) USA
7) Florida

We're still going to have a crowded game map. Even in ToT, maybe we could make the game a tad less complicated for us to write if we drop one of two of the above mentioned civ's.

[Patine]

I didn't realize there was so many utilities needed to convert stuff to ToT (but I have seen them all here and there). I do like your 'Joan of Arc' style idea for the H2's, actually, Sarsstock. I think if anyone's dropped, maybe Florida, as they'd likely be an annoyance to the US at best (though I would like to wrangle all seven if possible). And thanks Fairline for you're contributions.

[Sarsstock]

Do you have any other ground unit suggestions wish descriptions of what they might look like?

[Patine]

Well, my cousin, who's actually in the forces, says Canada makes extensive use of Leopard tanks, which I believe are German made, as the mainstay offensive armor, whereas the US, of course has the M1A1 Abrams, both of which may still be in service in 10 years (hell, Israel still uses M48's, and they were introduced in the Korean War, for instance). I think maybe a Jeep with a gun turret rig should suffice for Western and Quebecois makeshift attack ground vehicles, though possibly also a armored car (the kind banks use) with a top-mounted gauss gun for motorised infantry, though the Jeep would be alpine, whereas the armored car should stick to the roads. I'm not fully familiar with APC models used by the US and Canada today, I'm afraid. US Marines, however, would be quite significant, as would their GI's. US Army Rangers could have both alpine and paradrop, and Canada's JTK could also be represented. I think Mexican Infantry should also be there, though would be barbarian-only units defending (not moving or attacking from) Mexican cities in the Southwest of the map (in fact, the barbarian flag would be the Mexican flag as I see it). Thus, Mexico would be neutral, but put up a defensive fight if attacked (I don't really know what Mexican army troops look like, however). Floridan/Cuban militia, I imagine, would look kind of like Marlon Brando in some parts of 'Apocalypse Now' with a Cuban flag shield. Most of the above should be easy to find images for, I think. A final note, though, perhaps, given gang participation in events in Haiti recently, 'gang units' would spring up if Los Angeles were taken (kind of like partisans, though specifically triggered with the events text), which would have dark skin, gang-style hip-hop clothes, and an AK-47. Just some ideas.

[Sarsstock]

Well, at least I'm sure we can find some good Leopard's and Abrams battle tanks. I know for a fact that the Americans will still be relying on the Apache Attack Hellicopter, on a count its replacement the Commanche has been scrapped.

I like your idea for Los Angelas gangs. I'll also try to whip something up for that bank armored car unit, though I'm not sure where I'd be able to find one. I suppose I can modify one of Curt's WW1 armored cars, as the Germans model does resemble a modern day bank armored car. Also, do you know where I could find a modern looking jeep? Though I suppose there isn't that much of a difference between a modern jeep and the kind that saw service half a century ago.

[Sarsstock]

Here's a thought.... a Boeing 747 air transport. Do you think we have the skill to make one of perhaps we could find somebody to make one for us?

[Sarsstock]

Before I forget, here are those Canadian Naval units complete with the shield of our grand navy.

[Patine]

I think both the Jeep and armored car could easily be adapted from World War era vehicles, like you said. I myself can do no more than minor touchups reliably with the bitmap editor, so whether 'we' can design a Boeing 747 is entirely your call. A Quebecois river gunboat should resemble one used in many Third World Countries and should be able to be found (I recall a scen about the modern Congo having a good one). I would not use B-2's or B-52's for the US, even though they'd exist, for the same reason I wouldn't use nukes; frankly, the Pentagon wouldn't conscien carpet bombing its own territory; A-10's and F-117A's, however, are within reason. We could also say that Cuba has supplied the Floridan rebels with a precious few MiG-21's, mostly for air defence interception. I think the US Navy should effectively be reduced to FFG's, DD's and SSBN's; larger ships are out of the scale of a mostly land-based homeland revolt.

[Sarsstock]

Here are some possibilities for the official infantry of Canada and Grand Alberta. Both are originally Typhoon's creation, with the Grand Albertan uniform made to resemble a more 1980's Canadian armed forces style.

I also included the shield of the Canadian Armed Forces.

[Patine]

They both look good! What are your opinions on my several unit suggestions above?