So I'm having a look at ATC for use in future scrim planning, the only problem is that there are no overview pictures to use as the base maps. Well, I lie there are a few but not many and they are all zoomed out too far to be very useful.

 

Does anyone know either where I could get better overview pictures of the maps. Or probably more likely/useful how one goes about making their own?

 

I figure I could go into battle recorder files and use the free camera to take aerial screen shots but that would still leave bits of the HUD on it wouldn't it?

 

Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.

 

EDIT: Where did the base image for this http://www.bigdgaming.net/showthread.php?t=1756 come from?

Edited October 16, 200717 yr by mrchickenfool

That came from the PR forums. Maybe check out the guide? There might be pictures in there if you are lucky.

This is old, so don't know what maps they have but you could give it a go. If its not available might want to ask over in that thread.

 

If you want to take shots from BF recorder you can get rid off all the hud using console commands.

Edited October 16, 200717 yr by cann0nf0der

Ahh I was just about to make a thread about this , if we could study the maps in detail it'd give us a great advantage , good thinking cap.

If you want just the map itself, go commander, turn off all icons, screenshot, and then snip off the unwanted edges.

 

That's how I do it.

" renderer.drawhud 0 " (EDIT: for some reason these forums put a space after u in drawhud)

this command removes the hud all together but you might not be able to get a good screen layout with the smog/cloud thingie

Edited October 16, 200717 yr by invisible.moose2010

Lucid's way work's if you start going into extreme detail of the extract pin point you want your sniper/spec ops what ever to go then me thinks you better off playing a RTS. ^_^

Large map overview is found here:

C:\Program Files\EA GAMES\Battlefield 2\mods\pr\levels\<mapname>\client.zip/Hud/Minimap/inGamemap.dds

(Does not have flag locations, if you want them, do Lucid's way, but this way has higher detail)

 

To open .dds files, you need the .dds plugin for photoshop, found here:

http://developer.nvidia.com/object/photoshop_dds_plugins.html

 

For aerial pics like the ones I did for the server status (down the bottom of the main page) and PR stats and whatnot, you need to:

 

Create a local game on the map you want

Open console (~), type: game.allowfreecam 1

Then restart the map, typing in console: admin.restartmap

Then spawn

Then suicide

Then you should be able to move your camera around. You might have to press space first, and you might not have to spawn.

To get rid of the hud, type in console: renderer.drawhud 0

Then screenshot away.

 

As for importing it into ATC, there should be a readme or something on their website, or google should be able to help.

 

Edit: by looking at the screenshots on ATC, it looks like they have removed the fog from the maps. This gives a much greater view distance for better planning, but to do it you need to edit map files and if you don't do it a certain way, you won't be able to join the servers because you edited the gamefiles.

Edited October 16, 200717 yr by fAithleSs

If you want just the map itself, go commander, turn off all icons, screenshot, and then snip off the unwanted edges.

 

How do I turn off all icons?

 

EDIT: @Ancient Thanks, what is involved in editing the map files to take out the fog? Would it require a large amount of modding experience?

Edited October 16, 200717 yr by mrchickenfool

Icons are taken off by Left Alt (default), but can only be done if the Hud is turned on. You can then turn off the hud, but turning the icons on and off can only be done with the hud on. (stupid)

 

Removing the ingame fog I belive can be done by copying the mod folder to a new mod folder and calling it PR_EDIT or something, then editing the map files in there. You then open up the sky.con file in the server.zip file in the map folder, then change the distances of the fog to some huge number. Doesn't remove the fog, but it would seem like you had. I personally haven't done this, but I'm pretty sure that is how you do it.

Wolf, I got good pictures with good perspectives of key areas by downloading a particular demo of that map, pausing it straight away, then I flew around taking snap shots. Try that.

http://www.realitymod.com/forum/battle-planner-t17759.html

Nice find Photo, Now the only problem is which one is better? ATC or Battle planner?

Try em both and decide for yourself ultimately its your choose now you have some 4 things to choose from.

I'm interested in what the other clan captains/planners/commanders think too as it would be best if we all used the same medium.

How do I turn off all icons?

When you're commander and in your commander screen, there is a whole bunch of buttons along the bottom that dictate what you will see. A series of filters if you will. Click 'em all to off.

What about taking a screenshot of the IG map then editing out the background like so:

http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/dd155/nedlands1/AssaultonMestia64.jpg

Thats the type of pic I use most often you just need your flag icons and grid reference anything extra is overkill in my book.

Naa, good way to show vehicles on the map. Only prob is you see it for one side . I retract my comment, overkill. Clear big picture though, did you have to expand it?

Naa, good way to show vehicles on the map. Only prob is you see it for one side . I retract my comment, overkill. Clear big picture though, did you have to expand it?

 

Switch sides, take the same pic, cut out the vehicles for that side, overlay them onto the original map pic and voila, vehicles for both sides...