X2 Backgrounds

[Rosta]

Hi, I would like to ask you all for numbers of backgrounds in x2, how do I know which number is bound to the background?
I would like to create some map but I cannot do that when using unknowns backgrounds.
Where I could find it?

[Shadow dream]

Backgrounds are more complex than you might think right now. Maybe you know something about the "sky-box". Here it's similar: you have a cube with a sphere in it. this sphere has multiple textures that represent the background. Sonetimes its wide nebulas, sometimes only a single star. The Backgrounds are named in the map. there you can find the bodies.

re-mapping a background is not that funny. I'd rather recommend you to replace the textures. it has a similar effect and depending on the texture it might look brilliant too

Shadow

[Rosta]

I don't know, what you think, but I need only numbers for map. For example XUniverse and so on, not models like Sky Boxes. I don't want create Sky boxes.

[Shadow dream]

there are many maps. from 438-533 are nebulas. I don't know the numbers of the remaining backgroundfiles...
best way was to extract the cat/dat files so you can directly view the textures (in tex\true)

Shadow

[Rosta]

I tried exactly 483 - 533 but don't work. I tried numbers in X2 Editor and work numbers about 0 - 110. And this is problem, how find numbers, so to work?
Otherwise, I've extracted files from all .cat/.dat files.

[Shadow dream]

I tried exactly 483 - 533 but don't work. I tried numbers in X2 Editor and work numbers about 0 - 110. And this is problem, how find numbers, so to work?
Otherwise, I've extracted files from all .cat/.dat files.

er, well I didn't really understand this one.
you have extracted all files already? So it you already did so, why don't you have a look in the file "%your.directory\tex\true" then? you should be able to see all textures there and change them to your liking. all you have to do then is re-pack them into a new modfile (path: tex\true) and have fun with your work

Shadow

[Rosta]

I understand you , but don't you understand me.
OK
I explain simply stated.
1. Open X2 Editor
2. Open Galaxy Editor
3. Add Sector
4. Change Subtype of Background and here is problem, I don't know numbers of backgrounds.
Do you understand me?
I don't want play with textures and backgrounds, only change number of subtype in the galaxy editor, nothing more.

[Shadow dream]

aha! now that was clear enough

the subtype is a number built from the sky-box-body-number. so here you have two options:
1.) get a look at them in gmax (where you could change them if you wanted)
2.) compare sectors ingame. then look which number the wanted sector's background's subtype is and note it in the new created sector
I hope this isn't as hard as for me to understand what you ment all along

Shadow

[Chris Gi]

Why don't you use the in-game galaxy editor? You can cycle all available backgrounds and see what fits best...

By the way: numbers are from 0-114 in X2Editor, or 1000-1114 in in-game GalaxyEditor.

[Rosta]

in-game galaxy editor is through script editor, no?
if yeah, so it I don't want, because I can't write scripts, but
X2 Editor is easier, no?
I open it 01001.bod through gmax, but me show cube with no walls, why?
I try other files of background but it turned out well

[Shadow dream]

1.) No. If you are in the games main-menu (you started it but you havent started the map) you type the secret password of the script editor, then you chose start -> galaxy editor. It has nothing to do with scripts, unless you want to create new objects. Finding the correct background should be possible with the correct hotkey or menue entry
I'm not familiar with it, so I can't really help you there... only know handling nebulas ^^

2.) X2Editor is basicly the same thing. you just don't see it emediately ingame. it's a "slow-option"...

3.) that's odd. maybe something didn't work correctly? As long as the others work right there should be no problem at all

Shadow

[Rosta]

secred password is Thereshallbewings, no?
If yeah, I tried it, but don't work
And I tried 3ds max 7 but it is the same

[Chris Gi]

secred password is Thereshallbewings, no?
If yeah, I tried it, but don't work

Yes, that's the word you have to type in. Last time I activated the galaxy editor, I had to choose "START", and had to type the "Thereshallbewings" in the menu where you can choose difficulty or custom map. There was a little sound confirming the activation....

I open it 01001.bod through gmax, but me show cube with no walls, why?

Actually, that's how sector backgrounds are build: a cube, and within the cube are actual background nebula bodies. But Gmax is not the right tool to give you an impression of the background.

I sometimes use the BodViewer with the "Transparency Option". This is a quite good tool to see the background. However, because it only works with bodies, it has a limited use for this: the body numbers don't correspond to the numbers of the backgrounds (background numbers correspond to the cut-file).

[Rosta]

How can I change background in ingame? I have enabled trancparency, but don't show textures

[Chris Gi]

BodViewer needs the extracted textures from the archives. You can set the texture path (it's one of the buttons at the top) accordingly.

To change the background in ingame-galaxy-editor: go to the sector map. By pressing "v" you can cycle the backgrounds. (I think, it's the only key for cycling the backgrounds, there's no "back" key. But you can check the online-help in the ingame-galaxy-editor...)