New addon - Aloft - custom nameplates

Malan · 04/09/07, 1:59 PM

Just found this on WoWAce!
I've always *hated* the standard blizz name plates, they don't show up very well on my widescreen monitor for some reason, even with clearfont enabled and there is no way to change them at all.
http://www.wowace.com/files/Aloft/Aloft-r32189.zip
From the wowace thread on Aloft -
http://www.wowace.com/forums/index.php?topic=5618.0

Aloft is an addon that allows you to customize and enchance how nameplates and nameplate casting bars appear in the game.

It is a fully self-contained addon, however it can take advantage of the following addons if they are installed:
1. Prat.PlayerNames - if this is installed, then Aloft can use the database to color player's nameplates according to their class
2. MobHealth3 - Health text of mobs can be displayed right on the nameplate.

The customization options in Aloft allow you to change the size, shape, anchors, font, font options and color of just about every aspect of the inbuilt nameplates.

Aloft also enhances the display by providing options for:
1. Health Text - you can display health percentage, health, or health deficit right on the nameplate
2. Spell name - Aloft will place the spell name right on the casting bar
3. Spell casting timer - Displays the remaining casting time

If you want additional texture options, make sure you install SharedMedia

Aloft is still a work in progress, but is significant enough to warrant its own official thread/discussion now.

Kazanir · 04/09/07, 2:05 PM

I wonder how much work it would take to color nameplates of mobs based on whether they are targetting you, a healer, or a DPS class...

Apate · 04/09/07, 2:55 PM

Cool, that looks more flexible than Nameplates Modifier. I'll have to load it up later on, thanks!

Pater · 04/09/07, 4:14 PM

Awesome. I was wondering about this just the other day. I was afraid it was part of the 3d world and nonmanipulable. I'm definitely giving this a whirl. Thanks!

Andeh · 04/17/07, 9:58 PM

My raid leader is the guy who's heading this project. It's under very active development, both by himself and other members of the Ace community. If you have feature suggestions, I'm pretty sure he checks the thread about it on the Ace forums. There are some technical limitations due to this not being an area easily accessible by mods.

nuno · 04/18/07, 7:37 AM

Very cool, will definitely check it out.

Xaev · 04/18/07, 3:50 PM

I started using this one last week and it's brilliant. The cast bar alone is an amazingly nice feature.

Malorum · 04/18/07, 4:04 PM

Ill definitely have to try this out.

Cel · 04/21/07, 3:42 PM

I've got this working, but it seems to miss a name plate or two from time to time, even in 5mans.... any ideas how to fix this?

Dotts · 04/22/07, 5:19 AM

I have always been very anti nameplates as it clustered upmy screen too much but now I have been converted. I compliment the makers on their hard work.

virtuzoso · 04/22/07, 1:13 PM

I have to say, this is one excellent mod. Nice Job.

Cel · 04/22/07, 2:11 PM

No one else has had the problem of name plates randomly reverting back to blizzard's default? I'll get a SS soon.

◊ Kyth · 04/22/07, 3:29 PM

Originally Posted by Cel

No one else has had the problem of name plates randomly reverting back to blizzard's default? I'll get a SS soon.

Yes, I do.

Cel · 04/22/07, 3:39 PM

Any luck in figuring out if it's an addon conflict or some such?

EDIT: Screenshot of the problem I'm having:

• frmorrison · 04/22/07, 5:43 PM

Originally Posted by Cel

Any luck in figuring out if it's an addon conflict or some such?

I know some of the Ace authors are working on 2.1 fixes and put them on WAU, so perhaps you updated to the 2.1 version of Aloft.

It is a good idea to backup your addon folder, just in case something like that happens.

• alcaras · 04/22/07, 8:37 PM

Back in beta there was "increased nameplate range" option -- and you could see casting bars of folks you didn't have targetted in the nameplate.

Do you know if these features (increased range, casting bars on non-targets) is doable via a mod?

I love Aloft thus far by the way, having class colors on name plates alone is amazing.

• alcaras · 04/22/07, 8:42 PM

Originally Posted by frmorrison

I know some of the Ace authors are working on 2.1 fixes and put them on WAU, so perhaps you updated to the 2.1 version of Aloft.

It is a good idea to backup your addon folder, just in case something like that happens.

I wish WoWAceUpdater had an option to auto-backup your addon folder.

jimrockford · 04/23/07, 7:58 AM

When I installed this it broke my Cryolysis, hopefully its fixed in a future release

Cel · 04/23/07, 9:40 AM

Originally Posted by jimrockford

When I installed this it broke my Cryolysis, hopefully its fixed in a future release

I updated in hopes of fixing my problem stated above, but it broke Bongos when I did so and gave me 2 WoW critical errors while trying to get it running.

Somewhere this mod isn't playing nice with stuff I have installed. :P

Edin · 04/23/07, 10:08 AM

Originally Posted by Cel

I updated in hopes of fixing my problem stated above, but it broke Bongos when I did so and gave me 2 WoW critical errors while trying to get it running.

Somewhere this mod isn't playing nice with stuff I have installed. :P

You might want to try this http://www.wowace.com/files/!Surface...-r32787.11.zip
it seemed to fix bongos working with aloft for me.

Northerner · 04/23/07, 3:57 PM

Great project idea! I was actually under the assumption that we couldn't manipulate the nameplates as well. Thanks for the efforts to date and I'll be looking forwards to other potential uses most certainly.

Cel · 04/23/07, 7:15 PM

Fun Fact: SCT now (or since I've updated, meaning this could have been put in some time ago >_>) has the option to locate heal scrolling on the health bar, rather than in your own SCT. Thought I'd pass that discovery along to people who like to mess with health bars. :P

Poke · 04/23/07, 8:21 PM

Originally Posted by Cel

Any luck in figuring out if it's an addon conflict or some such?

EDIT: Screenshot of the problem I'm having:

I had this problem until I updated MobHealth.

Sh@ft · 04/24/07, 12:28 PM

Originally Posted by Xaev

I started using this one last week and it's brilliant. The cast bar alone is an amazingly nice feature.

Probably the main reason why I picked this up. I got tired of the bugged out built-in v-target cast bars showing a slow or stalled spell cast when it was already cast.

So far I really like this mod a lot. I don't notice any negative fps hits from it as well. If you're an ace mod fan that uses V-Targets, you should definitely pick this up.

Sh@ft · 04/24/07, 12:32 PM

Originally Posted by Poke

I had this problem until I updated MobHealth.

I don't know if you're using this already but, if you're not, try out AceUpdater to keep all your Ace addons up to date.