Mags, I warned ya! This is what happens when you inspire me! Now I'm up 'til all hours of the night kitbashing.

Mags reminded me of a few Star Wars novels where Han Solo goes to look up some old smuggling buddies. They're on an asteroid that's been bored into and modified to be a space station/smuggler's den.

With the blend of natural and artificial terrain, You'll have regular CaveWorks stuff and full-blown First Light sections all to themselves.

But what about those areas where the two terrain types meet? As you venture through the base, you're bound to find areas that cross the line, and have technology built right into the very stone foundations of the asteroid!

Start with a normal FL door, but cut it to the width of the outside of the door slider frame.



Next, cut off one of the caveworks tunnel section ends (the outward facing one. Leave the inward facing side alone). Glue it on top of the FL door frame.



With the door out, you'll notice there's a bit of overhang of the cave creeping in at the bottom of the door, for a nice ambiance.



Then glue the whole thing onto the tunnel section's end.

Once it's on, you'll have a choice as to what type of flooring to use, depending on how "rustic" you want it to look. For the FL floor, just cut out an appropriately sized section of an FL corridor. (I modified the file in PS to save on ink.)





I'll probably glue the natural cave floor to the tunnel section, and keep the FL corridor floor as a "drop in" mod.

Ya know Aleph...

That works doesn't it. And suprisingly well.

Iif you were to oh...make Ice Caves by adjusting the hue of the CaveWorks set you'd end with a good representation of Hoth. Just need some of the transparencies from the FL:Expansion to do some of the computer displays from the command center.

Cool man!

-Floyd

- Hell's Teeth, Aleph - you've been inside my head!

Aleph13 wrote:

Very well done indeed! You've seen exactly what I saw.

(grimble mimble that's what you get for not keeping your powder dry mumble telling everybody your precious ideas all and sundry grimble beat to the post grumble godda burn the lot and start something new, etc...)

No, honestly it looks really good. Do carry on so I can see where you take it. I tell you, it can make an ace little Star Wars set up!

MAGS

*EDIT* Yes, and I'm really flattered. Makes a nice change to have some genuine input. I know, if I posted stuff I would make a proper contribution, but I've got several irons in the fire and some are a bit radical, so... in the fullness of time.

*EDIT* How about an underground R'nR module: tables and chairs, a bar, little stage for the Jacks, etc...

*EDIT* wrote Spoo.

See, Aleph? Spoo thinks you're wonderful too!

That's a mighty slick setup. I'm going to have to put that on my list of ideas to steal.

mmm, hoth base

Thanks, guys! I'm quite pleased with how this one turned out.

Man, I can't freakin' wait for the file exchange section of the WW Store to be up, so I can get 'hold of some Ice Caves! Man, I hadn't even thought about Hoth! That'd be too cool. (Oh, gawd. Sorry 'bout the pun)

Mags, it just goes to show you that you should take some pics and post 'em!

Aleph13,

THere was a thread on ice caves and photoshop filters (or something) done by Denny. If you could find this thread it would give you the Hoth look that you seem to have hit upond.

*edit*
I found th thread and here is the redux from the boss


Lord Abaddon of Wormwood

Damm...Don't you see that...It's that why they put that new Forum...to make you buy set's that you didn't think that you need...

Thanks, Lord Abbadon! I forgot that the process had been posted! I remember the conversation, though. Good find!

Interesting.

Get back to your moving!

I was going to mention the Hoth Ice Cave Mod as it happens, but I do think CW photographs really well as it stands. Oddly, I was watching The Inseminoid Movie last night (very poor film) but Aleph's work came to mind in the underground archeological dig, which had floors like the FL floors Aleph's used. Small world! (galaxy/universe, whatever)

MAGSMAN

*EDIT* Can I ask what happens to *lock* a Topic, as with EbbTide's What have you done today? thingie? I rather liked that one; a good focus for guys' work... (No doubt I'll look like a complete cone-head when I hear the 'Oh so obvious answer' )

Meanwhile, thanks BH for the Dice Tower info. The Cave Works looks excellent as does the Monotaur in his element.

And as I can't quote FlOydski, ace wee car, dice, etc...

*EDIT* Cheers, FlOydski: Caught up with it finally! (I knew I'd blush )

Mags.



A new thread has been created: "What Have You Built Today? - June"

But I know what you mean with the intersting conversation abruptly ended with a "Locked"...

-Floyd

Lets call this a part of the WorldWorks "giving back" series. I love the energy you guys bring forward with creative kitbashing. I've retooled some of the texturing on the door for you guys. Wish I had time to do more (A full ice cave is still on my list of to-do's). Enjoy

http://www.worldworksgames.com/flsnowbash.zip

Thanks for the extra work, Boss! And you with so much else on your plate!

Otherwise, I think Aleph just mentioned ephellee'ex is born! My eyes might be deceiving me.... Beyond mere excitement. I'm ten years old and it's Christmas!

MAGSMAN

Well Get Crack'n... it's something i want too...


Nice bash, and cool idea Aleph13

Genghis Ska wrote:


Yeah, cool ideal Aleph13!

MAGSMAN

I'm very happy to have re-ignited this idea! This is very, very impressive, Denny!


Don't you mean "ephellee'arre?"

Denny, you the MAN!

Now I'm torn between making a normal cave base or an ice cave base...

Depends on your committment. An ice cave'll take an awful lot of work converting everything. I certainly couldn't do it, but I'm barely computer literate. The ordinary, but with Aleph's mods, would be my choice. I think it looks really well with the doors, floors an' all.

MAGSMAN

Regular cave base or icy cave base is almost the same amount of work, actually.

The only difference is that you need to convert the graphics in Photoshop first. But once you record an action to automate the process, it's rather quick.

Either way, I can't wait to see pics!

I think that's rather the point, Aleph: I can't do it so I don't know what I'm talking about!

But since you mention it. I tried to copy a file from Reader to Paint Shop Pro (I know, Sesame Street software) and it just errored all over the place: said the file was *read only*... So, how? Please?

I'm doing the insomniac posting again so I simply must crash.

BTW: I think I know what at least part of your reply is going to be. We'll see. You'll have me savvy, yet. (Or maybe not... )

MAGS

PS: I like your ice thing with the screen and bridge a lot. But somehow, to me, it looks sort of fey, fairytale, almost - nothing wrong with that for a romantic setting. Just a thought. I still like the original with the floor and door the best, and that owes nothing to its origins, you simply did it well, and the warm rock suits the conversion better for me.

Maybe is something with the pdf file being protected...or maybe is something with the version of the photoshop...I've done without problems a few times...only got problems with pdf files being protected (so you can't play with themmm )

Mags, I'm afraid I can't help you with Paint Shop Pro. I only used it for a short while before getting Photoshop, and I never tried to import any PDFs with it. Sorry!

Hopefully, some of the other guys will know what the solution is.

That's what I thought the answer was going to be.

But, surely, everyones' downloads are pdf protected? That's what I don't understand. How do you import 'em, regardless of paint software? (The others are all photo shop copies, albeit behind the times and not so hot in some areas)

Unless... Doh! - Scan in prints and do 'em like that. Some loss of quality, but... god I'm a fool!

Thanks, you did help in the end, both of you. Made me think! (which is always dangerous)

MAGS

*EDIT* For some supposedly half-intelligent human being I amaze myself at the sheer depths of my stupidity. It's just thinking: can't do it, end of - not: there must be a way.

*EDIT* This'll make you chuckle! To save ink I was already scanning stuff in (see, half the answer) but I was making paper masks covering all but the piece I wanted. See, old-fashioned thought patterns!

If photoshop will not OPEN the pdf file, try Illustrator if you have it.

If not.

Open the file in Adobe Reader. You should have a graphics copy/select tool. Select a portion of the page (I blow mine up to at least 150% so that when I shrink it down I can maintain a decent DPI) THis makes me have to copy half a page at a time, but when it's protected this is all you can do.

I then merge the two pieces, and shrink it down to it's proper size, then mess with it all I want.

I have increased the Cargo Bay on FL this way. Made a SUPER long corridor..etc.

The last method is to have the full (ie paid for ) version of Adobe Reader.

Which in and of itself is really cool.

Again, the best way is to open PS, and choose the open file option.

First, legacyicon, thanks for all that info, it is really helpfull.

Trouble is, most of my older apps are for my old G4 Mac which I reluctantly gave up on, though I still have it. I just haven't been able to afford new stuff.



That is what I'm thinking. I'll have to check it out price-wise. Since I bought the (amazing) new computer I'm tight for cash: I really need a seperate hard-drive for back-up to my massive graphics files. They are cheap these days but it's all dough!

Thanks again.

MAGS

As long as you're saving up for software, why not just save up $90 (what's that? 50 pounds?) and get Photoshop Elements?

It's got all but a few of the more advanced tools (like the Healing Brush), and more than enough for everything you'd want to do, Mags.

I guess you're right, Aleph. Trouble is, I've got this dumb Luddite complex when it comes to buying software: if I can't hold it in my hands like a box of paints, I begrudge the cost. Sign of old age and being a generation out of step. Stoopid, yeah?

MAGS

Well, you're already contemplating a full version of Adobe Reader.

I just think that you'd get a thousand times the use from Photoshop Elements.