Managed to get a pic of the changes to the background I've been doing. With JimiMadrid's permission, I'm using his background as the basis for the changes.
This is a "key" to help ID the changes I've made. Everything from medals, to rank, to rates and even some of the special abilities. I'm not too sure about the radar one yet since it seems to be somewhat "gamey" to me, but we'll see.
Wherever possible I've used actual WW2 rates or images. The "Diamond-T" is based on the "Trainer" rating given to petty officers, so I figured it would fit for this particular case.
In the case of the others, I've just given a "golden sheen" to the ratings for the enlisted folks since the source file had a nasty looking "weave" pattern for the warrant stuff. As a result, the "Gunner" is actually the GM rating and not the exploding cannon ball emblem. Same with the props and anchors.
Here's a list of what I've done the graphics for (or still need to do):
Original UbiSoft Name = New Naming Convention
--------------------- ---------------------
Ability-Master-Engineer = Damage Control Officer ==STILL NEED TO DO==
Ability-Sharpshooter = Gunnery Officer ==DONE==
Ability-Torpedo-Specialist = Torpedo Officer ==STILL NEED TO DO==
Ability-Medic = Pharmacist's Mate ==DONE==
Ability-Engines-Expert = Diving Officer ==DONE==
Ability-Propulsion-Specialist = Chief Engineer (this is the default one that comes with the boat) ==DONE==
Ability-Theoretician = Training Officer ==DONE==
The WIA is the wounded icon. It's meant to represent a hospital ship, hence the green stripe and white background with the red cross emblem. That was the general paint scheme used during the war for US hospital ships. Don't think the portholes came out too well, though. The railing on the upper side didn't come out well in this particular image because I'm using a brownish tint for a background. The actual image doesn't have any background (it's transparent like the original one).
The KIA is the icon you get over the picture when the crewmember is killed. It's meant to represent the flag as draped over the crewmen before they are sent over the side when burried at sea. It places the stars over the person's left shoulder. As a combat veteran myself, I thought this would be a better option than some skull and crossbones thing.
The ranks are from the internet. There was an image I found that had the ranks in a smaller size with good detail, so I didn't lose much when I shrunk them even more for the mod. You have to squint to see the difference in the WO and the CWO, but then again, it's the same with the LtJG and the LT as well. In-game it's a bit more apparent.
The CPO eagle is actually silver, as it was during the war, so that's why it looks a little different.
All ranks have the Boatswain mark since that's the most "generic" of the ratings. In reality the rating would be on the rank, not on some other area of the sim like we have it here. At least we have it now.
I'm still trying to figure out how to get a screenshot done when in port. I hit the PrntScrn key on the keyboard, but that doesn't work. I'd like to post some pics of the stuff in-game, but apparently only the screenshots you do when on patrol actually work.
Any suggestions?
ElCid97
