As I've mentioned before I'm working on a complete overhaul of the German infantry in the game, this consists of a number of bits

• A database to simplify editing and creating the units and their equipment, ranks, etc, etc
• An exporter which creates the text files that the game uses from the database
• Textures
• New squads, split into natural (and historical) firing teams
  

I was hoping to get something done that could be shared properly before going away for 2 weeks on Tuesday, but as this is unlikely now I think I thought I'd share some pics of work in progress.

First of all the new squads - what I've done is split them up into two (or in a few cases three) teams. One for each LMG team and another with the rifle/SMG team (squads with no LMG I've just split down the middle). This may not seem like much, but it makes a big difference to gameplay - you can double click on each natural unit, order them to give covering fire etc, then double click on the second half and get them to move without worrying about accidentally sending them off. You can kind-of do this already by assigning keys, but it's very fiddly and not as quick as simply double clicking. Hard to show in a pic, but here you go - and early war rifle squad, lmg with 2 assistants and the rifle team commanded by the man with smg:



Now all of this would be a bit dull without new uniforms, so I've been working on them too. I've almost finished setting up my photoshop templates, done most of the tunic variations, now working on the camo smocks, then just have the parka sets to go, plus some without marching boots. Here's a sample of the ss-camo, with one random one from the tunics (the SA texture):



From top to bottom, left to right: Peas 44 B, Italian camo trousers; an autumn plane tree pattern; smock made from Italian camo; palm trees with clumps (autumn); a summer plane tree pattern; palm trees with clumps (summer); SA Militia (Styria - used in anti-partisan operations in Slovenia, later merged into the Volkssturm); a summer burred edge pattern; another autumn plane tree pattern. These are still works in progress (things like shoulder boards, collars and insignia haven't been worked on these yet), but should give some idea of the range I'm aiming at.

Both the textures and models are fairly low resolution unfortunately, but I think they still look OK in the game and fine unless you get too close - this is the one from the top left:



Have fun
Finn

Looks great Finn

Good job FinnN, looking forward to seeing these in game.

Do you plan to do something similar with allied uniforms? Allied airbourne units immediately come to mind, British paras with camo smocks & red berets & US airbourne with old glory on the arm would both be very useful.

Great stuff FinN!

have a great holiday btw

I may do, but I'm probably more likely to flesh out some of the countries that see little in the way of detailing in games - such as the Poles (1939 units, units in French, British and Russian uniforms, partisans, Home Army, etc). If someone can decipher the .msh files I'd really like to look at adding more countries too, as at the moment we're limited by the 3D models - it'd be especially useful to be able to move heads from one model to another as well as the 'hooks' which attach field equipment to the main model. Adding things like patches to arms and so on is pretty easy in any case, so I'm sure we'll see some soon. Also there's already a British para model with beret (and a US marine camo model).

The database/exporter I have should work for creating units for any of the countries (currently I've only tested it with creating German units), and in the bigger picture I gradually want to put together first a random battle generator and then finally some sort of campaign engine. That's some way down the line though. Once I think I have the database structure pinned down properly I'm intending to share it together with the exporter so it should be quite easy for anyone to create extra infantry units then.

Have fun
Finn

Cheers - I need one, if only to get away from this rain! It's the end of June!!!! Gahh!!!!

Have fun
Finn