Introduction
This is a basic tutorial on how to make a new FRM for a critter in Fallout 2. Though this tutorial will explain the steps in taking a new critter from Fallout Tactics a lot will apply to creating new FRMs for critters in general.
Requirements
A suitable *.Spr file from Fallout Tactics, in this case we will use "environmental.spr"
Spr2Frm; along with associated programs Spr2Gif, Gif2Fr, and FrmCat
Frame Animator
RenFRM.bat
Step 1 - Making the raw FRMs
Ok in this step you will actually make the new FRMs, though these are only a 'raw' FRM as they still need to be tidied up or they just look nasty.
Copy environmental.spr into the same folder as Spr2Frm and from command prompt type the following (note: without the *.Spr file extension):
Spr2Frm environmental
Sit back and enjoy the show, this could take a while on some computers. Once the conversion is completed proceed to the next step.
Step 2 - Aligning the new FRMs
Now to adjust the alignment for all the FRMs, dont worry its not as bad as it sounds, you only have to make sure that the primary FRM is centered correctly and the engine automaticaly aligns the rest to this one. The primary FRM is the one that is named xxxxxxAA.FRM but at the moment it is called either StandBreath or StandFidget is it is available, the good thing about the FO2 engine is that is automaticly looks at the image in the FRM and lines them all up so that the feet are in the same place.
Open Frame Animator
Select 'File' and 'Open', and select the first FRM
Select 'View' and 'Hexes'
You may have noticed how the critters feet are not centred in the hex correctly; you will need to adjust the 'Frames Offset' (note the 's' do not adjust the Frame Offset yet). You can do this by clicking the 'Frames Offset' button or by dragging the image with the mouse. You should end up with something like this:
You will now need to repeat this for all six different orientations (North East, East, South East, South West, West, & North West), to save you will need to click the 'Create FRM' button. You may also have noticed that you when save the file it gives you the option to save as separate FRMs for each orientation, I think that this is to improve the loading time of larger FRMs such as death sequences. I left them all as FRM files.
This is due to Spr2Gif centring each orientation on a different point. It's not really a big problem anyway as you only have to adjust one or two FRMs, depending on what one you use, but if the critter has a FRM called StandFidgit you should use it instead as they usally look better.
Step 3 - Walking, Running & Climbing
Now the FRMs that 'walk' and 'run' require some special treatment before they will work, in fact if you do not adjust the individual Frame Offset for each frame the critters feet will just slide in the original hex when it tries to move, in fact it does it indefinitely (I had to hit the reset button on my computer to get out). This is the only really tedious step in the process now, buts its worth it. For each frame of the critter you will need to adjust the Frame Offset for each 'step' the critter takes in a given direction. Once again this must be repeated for each orientations (remembering the numbers change from positive to negative depending where on the orientation. This has to be done for all movement FRMs.
Below is a table of the frame offsets you need to use for the 'walking' animations. The numbers below represent the total distance that needs to be traveled by the critter while it is walking. To work out the offset for each frame you need to devide the distance that needs to be traveled by the number of rrames in the animation (you cant use decimals, so spread the remander out evernly in the FRM). You will need to untock the 'Lock Offests' box in the 'Edit' 'Options' menu.
For Running Frames double the distance to be traveled and edit the FPS to 18
For the climbing FRM use the following:
-2 Y for each frame (I did this on 14 frames so make it 28, though you could go a little bit more, but for this frame it doesnt really matter)
Step 4 - set the action frame
There is an a Hex offset within a FRM file that signifies when to launch an attack or use an item. By default this value is zero in a newly created FRM, which in turn makes the critters attack at the beginning of its animation rather than in the middle or when ever it should happen to be. In the animation below the critter would make the attack roll on the 1st frame instead of when its arm is extended on the 5th frame.
This value is set in Frame Animator by selecting "Edit" "Options" "Action Frame" and entering the frame number for which the action takes place. Please note that Frame Animator starts counting at 0, not 1. So the first frame is frame zero and the second is frame one etc...
Once again repeat this for all the attack FRMs, though for now only do the HtH and Melee attacks we will come back to the guns a bit later, as you will need to edit them a bit first. Please dont adjust the FPS (frames per second) yet as you only need to change this for the running frames.
Step 5 - Creating the missing FRMs
There are a few FRMs that you will need to create, as they are either not included as separate animations or not included at all in FOT. Here is a list of the FRMs you will need to make/edit. Without these FRMs you wont be able change weapons or fire the guns.
Equip weapon - C - (made from 'StandMagichigh' FRM)
Unequip weapon - D - (made from 'StandMagichigh' FRM)
Aim gun - H - (made from 'StandAtackGun' FRM)
Lower gun - I - (made from 'StandAtackGun' FRM)
Fire gun - J - (made from 'StandAtackGun' FRM)
For the Equiping FRMs I just edited the standard 'StandMagichigh' FRM and saved it as "Equip.FRM". To edit it just delete all but the middle three frames and save it as "Equip.FRM" (the rename batch file will use this name so please do save it as this filename). This will provide a quick 'movement' to give the impression of changing guns. To delete frames, select the unwanted frames and click the 'Delete Frames' button.
Now for the aim, lower & fire gun FRMs just open up the StandAtackGunname.frm and save the first segment where the critter aims his gun StandAtackGunnameH.frm, and where the critter lowers its gun StandAtackGunnameI.frm and where the critter fires its gun StandAtackGunnameJ.frm
For each of these FRMs you will need to delete the unneeded frames. Also for guns that have both a single shot and a burst mode you only need to make one set of aim and lower animations. You should also notice that most of the FRMs tend to have a transition point where there are two identical frames in a row this is where you should split the animation, but not all of the FRMs will have this so just use your best judgement. Once you have done this you will need to select the action frame for the StandAttackgunJ.frm
Step 6 - Renaming your FRMs
Now you need to rename the files into a standard that Fallout 2 will recognise, luckily I have also made a small batch file that will do this for you. Of course it will actually double up some of the FRMs as for example all of the different weapon poses will use the same 'recoil' animation but they each require their own file even though it is the same one (I copied StandRecoil.frm to each of the other recoil animations).
Anyway just copy RenFrm into the same folder as you new FRMs and double click it.
And wa-la hey-presto your done! Jsut copy the completed FRM into the \data\art\critters folder update the *.lst file and you can now create a new proto for the critter within the editor!
