ManSh00ter ManSh00ter

[MOD] Sins of a Solar Empire: INVASION (new screenshots, May 28th, 2012.)

[MOD] Sins of a Solar Empire: INVASION (new screenshots, May 28th, 2012.)

Previously known as "The Last Stand"

 

 

Sins of a Solar Empire: INVASION is an addon project aiming to expand upon the existing universe of the Sins of a Solar Empire, providing original and high-quality content on top of the original game. Aside from the new content, the addon will also include multiplayer-friendly gameplay changes as well as reworked or new visuals/sounds.

ETA: To Be Announced

Planned changes/content will include:

  •  A new playable race, created to the highest quality standards. The Xin are a race of utterly alien origin, and the massive fleets of their living, semi-sentient ships have been ravaging the galaxy for millenia. Countless races have perished under their onslaught - and now TEC, Advent and the Vasari will have to face this terrible enemy and win - or die trying.
    Assume the role of the defenders and try to stem the tide of death and destruction, or take command of the invading armada and destroy the impertinent insects wherever they choose to make their last stand. 
  • Volumetric Explosions & Damage Effects, providing not only greater excitement to your space battles by transforming all explosions and persistent damage effect into true 3D affairs, but also better visual cues as to how the battle is going, enabling you to spot at a first glance the hotspots and even the level of damage on particular ships.
  • Dynamic Battle System, where each ship class' strenghts and uses are not determined only by its stats and abilities, but also by its flight characteristics. Certain ship classes will be able to move during fleet battles, which, coupled with the reworked stats of all ship classes should prevent "cookie-cutter" or "spam" strategies.
  • New Ship Classes for the new faction, ranging from specialist ships such as the Warmaster or Emperor Battlecruiser all the way to Titans acting as mobile superweapons capable of facing down an entire fleet on their own or even destroying an entire gravity well in one powerful surge.
  • Reworked Balancing, aiming to further focus various ship classes on their roles, removing any overlapping advantages which ultimately make one ship type or the other the ship to produce. Changes will also include increased gravity wells as well as greater class difference in turning rates and top speeds in order to further accentualize fleet placement, strategic positioning of forward bases and other such details which a great admiral make.
  • New Planet Types, which will also be visually enhanced, primarily by increasing their size in order to make them a true centerpiece of a given sector. New planet types will provide greater variety without providing game-breaking advantages to players.
  • Enlarged Gravity Wells which, coupled with the dynamic nature of space combat, will challenge players to an even greater level, requiring careful placements of planetary defenses and orbital structures, as well as fleets.
  • Unique Structures for the new faction, ranging from formidable Heavy Defense Batteries to deployable Outposts which will be capable of guarding even sectors around otherwise uninhabitable astronomical bodies such as stars or gas giants.

==MEDIA SECTION==

 

==SCREENSHOTS==

 

==TRAILERS==

DRONE SPOTLIGHT I

A short ingame exposition of the Scout, Assault and Siege drones.

 

 

 

==BACKGROUND LORE==

Pangalactic War Timeline 

Clicking the above link will lead you to the download of a .pdf document detailing the rich and dynamic history of the factions which will play a major role in the Last Stand mod, so if you are into background lore, be sure to check it out!

 

==UNIT INFORMATION==

 Pending.

 

4,165,983 views 1,794 replies
Reply #1651 Top

Bigger, Faster And More Awesome

I am pleased to announce a, for me as an artist as well as a mod developer, pretty big breakthrough in the workflow which will hopefully not only result in an increase in the quality of remaining art assets which need to be done for the mod, but also drastically shorten the amount of time required to finish the mod.

As some of you may be aware, modeling organic models can be very time consuming. Maintaining proper edge flows, smoothness as well as detail can be difficult at the best of times; and time considerations can severely cramp your style when working on game models which need to meet certain technical standards (namely polygon counts, properly unwrapped UV maps - which in turn require properly constructed meshes etc.)

Well, I always strive to learn the latest and best techniques to improve my own style. That's the only way to grow. So it happens that I have adopted a radically new workflow for creating organic models which resulted in such speed that I managed to create three brand new models this afternoon - a task that would require a week of my modding time before.

Not only that but the new workflow made it possible for me to step away from traditional polygon modeling and actually sculpt the models, resulting in a much more organic, smooth and evocative forms.

You can see the results of one such attempt here - the top row are the wireframe shots of the initial version of the Praetorian Drone, which I finished last week. The bottom shots are the new model which will be used ingame. The model was done in about 30 minutes, with another half hour spent on cleaning up the mesh.

The new model is 8000 polygons heavy, which for a endgame superweapon is well within limits. Ingame shots coming soon!

Reply #1654 Top

Reply #1655 Top

First sculpted models made their way in the game:

The Torpedo Cruiser and a group of remodeled Attack Drones:

Reply #1656 Top

Amazing... The models you've made are simply mind-bogglingly creative for being organic (an incredibly tough thing to create) and the textures just bring them over the top. I simply cannot wait much longer to play this!

Reply #1657 Top

*in whiny voice*

Are we there yet? I have to go potty!

Reply #1658 Top

We'll get there when we get there!

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Reply #1659 Top

New screens:

The Orator Envoy cruiser - Xin don't use diplomacy much, but they can if it suits their needs. Seen here is also a Praetorian Elite Drone, a special, endgame superweapon the player can race for instead of Titans.

Reply #1660 Top

Looking very nice!

I've been following this mod for a few years now, everytime hoping that you posted the download link for the mod. The way your models look and the thoroughness you display, I'm sure the mod will be worth all the waiting!

 

 

Reply #1661 Top

I sure am doing my best to justify the wait! :)

A few more ingame shots of never before shown models:

 

Reply #1663 Top

Most impressive.......

Reply #1664 Top

Reply #1665 Top

Wow, I'm surprised to see  you still at it after all these years!

Excellent work as always Mansh00ter, hopefully we'll see this finally come out in the near future.

Reply #1666 Top

Nothing but pure WIN m8.

Reply #1667 Top

Banthracis, would be kinda anti-climactic to quit now, wouldn't it? ;)

More shots. Ships are pretty much DONE. I'm hoping to wrap up graphical assets by the end of the month.

 

Xin Battle Group Xin Battle Group

Taskmaster class carrier cruiser Xin Battle Group

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Reply #1668 Top

I don't suppose we can have a 'screen shot of the day' sort of each day until new years / Christmas? |-)

Reply #1669 Top

Wow--the models and artwork alone make this a must to play.  Nice job.

Your models and mention that they don't care for diplomacy made the think of the "456" from Torchwood:Children of Earth".

The 456 look a bit like your models.

Reply #1671 Top

*whistles* :drool:

Reply #1672 Top

LOL suddenly reminded of a Morning Star or Mace for some reason when I look at that XD

Reply #1673 Top

I like the way this is looking. How long have you been working on this in total?

Reply #1674 Top

Darn...I thought you were releasing it.

Reply #1675 Top

Soon (TM).

Squeezing every bit of free time I have into making it happen... so think of it this way... in addition to the upcoming official expansion, you will also get another free one. Makes it easier to wait. :p

 

Redlighting, three years. :P