Tracer Mod

[Paul59]

Here is a simple mod to replace the original tracer graphic with something a bit more colourful.

http://www.mediafire.com/file/148km7ijv ... r.rar/file

When downloaded and extracted the file contains 4 folders:

Tracer Green: This gives green tracer fire as normally used by the Soviets. Ideal for use in BA2.

Tracer Red: This has a red tracer effect, as used by the Western allies. Ideal for the original Battle Academy.

Tracer Yellow: An alternative yellow effect, for those who do not like the Green or Red colours.

Tracer Original: The original Battle Academy tracer graphics, in case you want to revert to the original effects.


Installation: All the above folders contain a Data folder. Just select the tracer colour that you want to use, and copy and paste the Data folder into your Battle Academy main folder and overwrite the original Data folder. That is all you have to do!

My Data folders are set up with the correct internal folder structure to make things really simple for you, and it will place the tracer.tga in the correct place without you having to do any searching, just copy and paste the Data folder.

My folders only contain one file, the tracer.tga file, so none of the other Battle Academy files will be overwritten. If you do not like the coloured tracers, just install the Original tracer.

One slight complication is that some Campaigns ie; The Desert, The Bulge and some user created scenarios, have their own tracer.tga in their file structure. So to use these new tracer effects with those campaigns you would have to copy and paste the new tracer data file into the appropriate Campaign folder.

Here are some screenshots:

Green



Red



I have gone for a subtle effect, I did try a more stronger colour, but did not like it. The result was more like Star Wars! The green is very difficult to make out in the screenshot, but is more noticeable in game.

By request, here are the brighter tracers:

http://www.mediafire.com/file/1w7p2arnd ... s.rar/file

And these are the extreme coloured tracers:

http://www.mediafire.com/file/c1tdbwqan ... s.rar/file






cheers

Paul

[Paul59]

I have updated the original post after I discovered this:

"One slight complication is that some Campaigns ie; The Desert, The Bulge and some user created scenarios, have their own tracer.tga in their file structure. So to use these new tracer effects with those campaigns you would have to copy and paste the new tracer data file into the appropriate Campaign folder."

[PoorOldSpike]

Thanks but can you tell me how to open it?
I downloaded it from Mediafire onto my Desktop and it calls itself an 'Adobe Acrobat Document (.rar)', and when I click on it I get a 'Cannot open' message and some mumbo-jumbo about 'unsupported file'.

[Paul59]

Thanks but can you tell me how to open it?
I downloaded it from Mediafire onto my Desktop and it calls itself an 'Adobe Acrobat Document (.rar)', and when I click on it I get a 'Cannot open' message and some mumbo-jumbo about 'unsupported file'.

The file is compressed, that is quite normal procedure when posting files for users to download. You will need a file compression program like Winrar, 7-Zip or WinZip to extract it. If you don't already have one on your PC, I think you should be able to download one for free from the internet.

[PoorOldSpike]

Okay thanks I've muddled through and the tracers work fine in BA2, I'll swap them around for different scenarios to suit the lighting conditions and summer/winter etc, and shall also have a try at modifying them further myself to try to get insanely bright and thicker firework displays..

[Paul59]

Okay thanks I've muddled through and the tracers work fine in BA2, I'll swap them around for different scenarios to suit the lighting conditions and summer/winter etc, and shall also have a try at modifying them further myself to try to get insanely bright and thicker firework displays..

The intensity of the effect is governed by that Alpha layer I was talking about. Basically, making the alpha layer brighter makes the effect brighter.

If you want that effect, I can add the brighter tracers download to the post above.

[PoorOldSpike]

The intensity of the effect is governed by that Alpha layer I was talking about. Basically, making the alpha layer brighter makes the effect brighter.
If you want that effect, I can add the brighter tracers download to the post above.

Thanks yes, if you can add brighter versions it'd put a smile on my face bigger than a wave on a slop bucket..
Sadly we were never taught anything about computers at school back in the 1960's stone age, and I never even owned a computer til I was 35 years old in 1983.
I once signed up for a free computer course but the tutor kept rattling on about databases and spreadsheets (yawn) and I thought "what the hell am I doing here, how will this help me play wargames?" so I walked out..

[Paul59]

The intensity of the effect is governed by that Alpha layer I was talking about. Basically, making the alpha layer brighter makes the effect brighter.
If you want that effect, I can add the brighter tracers download to the post above.

Thanks yes, if you can add brighter versions it'd put a smile on my face bigger than a wave on a slop bucket..
Sadly we were never taught anything about computers at school back in the 1960's stone age, and I never even owned a computer til I was 35 years old in 1983.
I once signed up for a free computer course but the tutor kept rattling on about databases and spreadsheets (yawn) and I thought "what the hell am I doing here, how will this help me play wargames?" so I walked out..

I have added the brighter tracers to the bottom of the first post.

I also got my first computer when I was 35, but that was 1996. I have never taken any computer courses, I have picked up stuff along the way, I can do a quite a bit with graphics and some other things that are useful for modding, but the rest I haven't a clue!

[PoorOldSpike]

I have added the brighter tracers to the bottom of the first post.

Wow very nice, I'm a PC dummy and always will be..

[Paul59]

I have uploaded an even brighter set of tracers to the bottom of the first post!

cheers

Paul

[PoorOldSpike]

Here's a shot of Paul59's yellow tracer in action during an exchange of fire between machine gunners..