Author Topic: Design software.  (Read 5359 times)

Zaskar24

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Design software.
« on: 31 December 2017, 11:06:52 »
Hello everyone. I am starting to get back into BT and like so many others here I like to either do upgrades to units or create totally custom ones. What is everyone using these days to get the nice looking sheets that everyone is posting here? I am familiar with HMP and used to have it but from what I am reading it does not work the best with Windows 10 and there might be other problems with the latest equipment. Any help would be appreciated!

Daryk

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Re: Design software.
« Reply #1 on: 31 December 2017, 13:17:22 »
Personally, I like Solaris Skunk Werks (SSW).  The latest version also comes with Solaris Armor Werks (SAW) (a separate, but similar program for combat vehicles).  It hasn't been supported for years, but has most of the stuff I use.

monbvol

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Re: Design software.
« Reply #2 on: 31 December 2017, 13:32:39 »
There is also MegaMekLab which just got a somewhat buggy update that allows it to do Dropships too.  So be warned.

Zaskar24

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Re: Design software.
« Reply #3 on: 31 December 2017, 13:54:11 »
Thank you for the information. I will look at both of them.

YingJanshi

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Re: Design software.
« Reply #4 on: 31 December 2017, 14:00:09 »
If you are playing Jihad or earlier, I'd go with Solaris Skunk Werks, it just has the most intuitive and cleanest interface of all of the various design programs. But as Daryk said, it was abandoned several years ago so it doesn't have support for the Dark Age era or Interstellar Operations (you can add custom equipment, but doing so is a nightmare).

MegaMekLab is the only current program. It is a work in progress, so it can be a bit buggy at times. But it is up to date. Also it allows the designing of everything except JumpShips, WarShips, Space Stations, and Mobile Structures. It's definitely a good program, I just never liked the interface (I'd put it halfway between the minimalism of SSW and the overbusiness of HMP).

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Zaskar24

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Re: Design software.
« Reply #5 on: 31 December 2017, 16:27:24 »
If you are playing Jihad or earlier, I'd go with Solaris Skunk Werks, it just has the most intuitive and cleanest interface of all of the various design programs. But as Daryk said, it was abandoned several years ago so it doesn't have support for the Dark Age era or Interstellar Operations (you can add custom equipment, but doing so is a nightmare).

MegaMekLab is the only current program. It is a work in progress, so it can be a bit buggy at times. But it is up to date. Also it allows the designing of everything except JumpShips, WarShips, Space Stations, and Mobile Structures. It's definitely a good program, I just never liked the interface (I'd put it halfway between the minimalism of SSW and the overbusiness of HMP).

Thank you for the reply. Along with getting back onto BT I am also jumping along with the timeline to the Dark Ages of 3145-50 and just skipping the whole Jihad

I am Belch II

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Re: Design software.
« Reply #6 on: 01 January 2018, 17:44:54 »
I always have such a problem with SSW downloading. I need to get around it.
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Zaskar24

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Re: Design software.
« Reply #7 on: 01 January 2018, 18:30:26 »
I always have such a problem with SSW downloading. I need to get around it.

I was am having the same problems. I was able to get MML to download and started looking at it yesterday. I cannot figure out how to mix Clan and IS weapons on one design yet, it is only allowing me to do either or so far. I am also trying to see if there are any cannon designs available as there were in HMP so I can work from those when doing upgrades to the designs.

Daryk

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Re: Design software.
« Reply #8 on: 01 January 2018, 19:40:42 »
Do you have Java installed?  SSW uses that...

Suralin

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Re: Design software.
« Reply #9 on: 02 January 2018, 11:43:13 »
It's been a while since I checked, but does MML do custom weaponry yet? I haven't been able to get the thing to work due to java exceptions, but if custom weapons are implemented now, I'll have the impetus to actually bother getting it sorted out.

Alsadius

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Re: Design software.
« Reply #10 on: 02 January 2018, 12:09:50 »
FWIW, I've had a slight issue getting SSW to launch properly - it'd hang at a DOS window. I wound up needing to make a .bat file to launch the software for me(just putting in the same text as on the hung DOS window, IIRC), and for some reason that works properly. I haven't heard of this problem from others, but maybe it'll be helpful.

Other than that, SSW/SAW are the best construction programs I've used yet.

monbvol

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Re: Design software.
« Reply #11 on: 02 January 2018, 12:33:26 »
Technically it is possible to add custom gear to MML but it does take some effort and at least a modicum of expertise.  So not really recommended.

Zaskar24

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Re: Design software.
« Reply #12 on: 04 January 2018, 18:49:14 »
So I think that I have MML sorted out and while a little clunky I can work with it. Does MML have any pre-made sheets for cannon designs? I still have not figured that out. 

monbvol

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Re: Design software.
« Reply #13 on: 04 January 2018, 20:00:16 »
I think those are all packaged with MekHQ but they do exist.

Zaskar24

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Re: Design software.
« Reply #14 on: 04 January 2018, 20:07:10 »
I think those are all packaged with MekHQ but they do exist.

Thank you for that information. I will look into that.

monbvol

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Re: Design software.
« Reply #15 on: 04 January 2018, 20:12:15 »
I will admit it does seem strange that they don't have a handy link that says "download me for the existing designs" or something along those lines right with MML.

Hammer

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Re: Design software.
« Reply #16 on: 13 January 2018, 20:29:11 »
I will admit it does seem strange that they don't have a handy link that says "download me for the existing designs" or something along those lines right with MML.

All the official MegaMekLab releases include the data files.  I'd also suggest if anyone has questions about the programs to drop into the Megamek sub-forum here.

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Giovanni Blasini

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Re: Design software.
« Reply #17 on: 13 January 2018, 21:47:57 »
On the same topic, has anyone else tried Mech Factory for Android?
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Alsadius

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Re: Design software.
« Reply #18 on: 17 January 2018, 13:38:31 »
On the same topic, has anyone else tried Mech Factory for Android?

I have - I quite like it. It's a bit wonky sometimes, but it lets me play with mech builds on the road. Also has a lot of other functions(looks like mostly force construction stuff), but I haven't gotten much use from them - not sure what they're intended for, but it doesn't fit my style well. But the mech construction is solid.

I am Belch II

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Re: Design software.
« Reply #19 on: 21 January 2018, 04:57:12 »
I have - I quite like it. It's a bit wonky sometimes, but it lets me play with mech builds on the road. Also has a lot of other functions(looks like mostly force construction stuff), but I haven't gotten much use from them - not sure what they're intended for, but it doesn't fit my style well. But the mech construction is solid.

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cawest

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Re: Design software.
« Reply #20 on: 29 January 2018, 22:45:58 »
does it work on windows 10?

Cowdragon

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Re: Design software.
« Reply #21 on: 30 January 2018, 18:02:03 »
I can't for the life of me find the download with the dropship designer. :(

I'm super familiar with SSW (and SAW) and HeavyMetalPro. However, a few years ago I used to play with MegaMek and MegaMekLab a lot. Jusr re-downloaded it and now can't remember crap about it, lol. I need to learn again!!!

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Simon Landmine

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Re: Design software.
« Reply #22 on: 30 January 2018, 19:38:12 »
I can't for the life of me find the download with the dropship designer. :(

I think that's the current Dev release, rather than the Stable release. So the Dropship design function is still a test version and may occasionally go ftang.
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Hammer

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Re: Design software.
« Reply #23 on: 01 February 2018, 23:13:49 »
I can't for the life of me find the download with the dropship designer. :(

You can it here -
http://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php?topic=60204.0

We are also in the late stages of being able to design and build Jumpships/Warships/Spacestations but that will be out in post- stable release (March/April).  After that we will being looking into the ability to build Support Vee's.
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Giovanni Blasini

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Re: Design software.
« Reply #24 on: 09 February 2018, 20:55:21 »
Is there any software out there that supports superheavy 'Mechs?
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YingJanshi

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Re: Design software.
« Reply #25 on: 09 February 2018, 21:17:23 »
Is there any software out there that supports superheavy 'Mechs?

I think the latest Dev release of MegaMek Lab does...

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Hammer

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Re: Design software.
« Reply #26 on: 09 February 2018, 23:03:09 »
Is there any software out there that supports superheavy 'Mechs?

I think the latest Dev release of MegaMek Lab does...

Yes, Megameklab supports Superheavies including Tripods.
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