"NO-MAN-DOWN" 1.0

New armor type for Rainbow Six

Oct. 4, 1998, by Mark Kundinger

----------------------------------------------

WHAT DOES THIS DO?

This adds one new type of armor to the 22 or so that are already in Rainbow Six.  This new body armor protects much better than even the heavy armor in the game (hence the name, "No-Man-Down"), and it looks different, too.  As far as I know, IT ONLY WORKS IN THE SINGLE PLAYER CAMPAIGN.


HOW DO I INSTALL IT?

First, make backup copies of these Rainbow Six files:

data\kit\models.itm
data\kit\uniforms.itm
data\text\kit\english\uniforms.txt
data\text\kit\english\un_swatuber.txt

Then, simply extract this ZIP file to the same directory that Rainbow Six is installed into.  The default directory is c:\Program Files\Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six\.  Make sure you extract with the extra directory information intact, or it won't work.


**WARNINGS and LIMITATIONS**

I don't think this will affect multiplayer games at all.  You should also theoretically be able to use this and a weapons mod withouth problems.  This is theoretical, lemme know if you have problems!

I couldn't figure out a good way to implement this in multiplayer (either co-op or adversarial).

I wasn't able to radically change the way the uniform stops bullets, make noise, or affects the speed of travel.


HOW CAN I MAKE A MOD LIKE THIS?

Here are the general steps:

1)  in the "kit" directory, find the .eq file for an existing piece of armor.  Look at it, change it around, and give it a new name.  I increased the armor values a lot.  For a while, I also had it make the team members move around like terrorists, but that got old.

2)  go in a directory that has the models for the different uniform types, like "characters\team_hrt".  Take the .skl, .bcl, and the three (3) .crp files for whatever model is the shape you want to use, and copy them and give them new names.  You've just created a clone of the prototype uniform.

3)  it's probably a good idea to actually make your new uniform look different.  To do that, you need to make new "skins" for the model you're using.  First get an idea of what they should look like.  Use the RSB extraction utility made by PorkinS to look at the textures used for existing uniforms.  Then, use a graphics program like Paint Shop Pro, Photoshop, or even MS Paint to make some new textures to replace the old ones (and give them new names, or you'll mess up existing uniforms).  Also, this is the part where artistic talen would be handy.

4)  now you actually need to make your new model use the new skins you made.  This is the icky part.  I loaded up a hex editor (Norton diskedit) on each of my three new .crp files.  Searching near the bottom, you find it specifying several different .bmp files.  Change the names of these old files to the names of the new ones you made above.

5)  make a new bitmap for the inventory select screen, and put it in the "bitmap" directory.

6)  now you have to do some housekeeping.  in the "kit" directory, update the uniforms.itm and models.itm with the new information for your new uniform.  Also, in the "text\kit\english" directory, you'll need to update the uniforms.txt file, and add a new un_whatever.txt file that describes your neat new stuff.

6)  if you did everything right the first time (heh) it should work fine now.  Load up the game, try out the new armor, see if it works, see how it looks, and see how well you can shoot at it.  Make some ovservations, then revise your stuff, and repeat.


THE END

I'd be glad to hear feedback, comments, or suggestions.  If someone can figure out a way to let people to select their uniform in multiplayer adversarial games, I'd REALLY like to hear from you.

If you want to get PorkinS RSB opener, go to http://rsb.gameplex.net

Oh, and I realize that, for some, making really heavy armor available in the single player game is a "cheat".  It probably is, but I just wanted to see if this was possible.

-------------------------------------------------------------

Mark Kundinger a.k.a "Easy Rhino"
mtk@texas.net
October 4, 1998
http://lonestar.texas.net/~mtk/r6/