Mesh/Cas/Engine - MaxScript version of GOAT tool

[johnwhile]

The tool is designed to work directly with *.mesh and *.cas file in 3dstudio max.

the scripts

Milkshape_utilities (workinprogress).ms used to work with milkshape and 3dstudio, i can't meke a plugin version because the *.dll must be compiled for each 3dsmax version...
MeshCas_utilities.ms used for mesh (soldier, mounts, engines), cas (animation , NOT stratmap and similar) , modelreferencepoint , modeltraversablenetwork (not completed)
Vegetation_utilities.ms used for vege_model, worldterrain, worldvegetation, worldpatchfinding
Building_utilities.ms used for building

Download Page

VIDEO TUTORIALS WITH SRT SUB (ITA + ENG)

Use VLC (free and portable version) and select Ita or Eng subtitles, Windows media player isn't a good programm...
Mesh (basic):
Animation (basic): https://dl.dropbox.com/u/47659776/Tu...on%20Basic.rar
Build Siege Engine (advance):
Auto LODS generator : comment #191

ATTENTION

now the script don't apply a default texture map for normal mesh's unit, but read also the material name to export the different string. Reading some original file i found this relations:
"caratterlod0" --> for Lod = 0
"caratterlod1" --> for Lod = 1
"caratterlod2" --> for Lod > 2
the same for "siegeenginelod0"

If dropbox link are dead is possible this issue

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[+Mr.Crow+]

italian do it better!...+rep my friend

[Slaxx Hatmen]

Interesting. So this means that you directly import a .mesh file to 3dsmax without going through Milkshape? I happen to own both but I'd like to cut out the middle-man if it's possible.(Not dissing on Milkshape, just saying.)

[johnwhile]

This is important especially to work with new skeletons and siege engine. In fact the goat have some bug re-importing siege engine mesh. The innovation is that now we can work very well with animations and we can create a lot of tools to work better

[Slaxx Hatmen]

Sweet.

[DAVIDE]

is this for buildings there?

[Marcus Agrippa Vipsanius]

+rep my friend

[johnwhile]

is this for buildings there?

no, i make this script because i need a better tool to work with animations for De Bello Mundi Mod and to resolve some problem of new skeletons. KE is disappeared and i can't understand his tool.
So i want always share what I do with the modder's comunity... maxscript is the future

[boboav]

Very good, + rep

[johnwhile]

add --> *.cas file of models_effects folder (models_missile folder not tested... but is a heredity of RomeTw so not used in med2tw)

[alin]

Great stuff, exporter works just fine until now. Changing the basics but the new ability to save the normals is great for me.

Thank you for the tool, hope you'll be able to fix the rest of it and keep up the good work.

[johnwhile]

thanks, infact is and alpha version, i must complete the problem of dependent skeleton so i make two options:
1) Import only bone assignements: don't utilize skeleton but only the bone information in the mesh file (utilize it only for build units)
2) Import with skeleton : utilize it only to work with animations tool, the script rebuild the skeleton with skelexport informations, this file contain the skeleton information. you can make it with Goat tool or with my script, you can extract from cas animations

Issue1: the game utilize multiple skeleton: infact some bone like bone_shield0 , bone_weapons01 etc.... aren't in the standard animations cas but in a kind of secondary skeleton, i found it in the folder "weapons" in each animations pack... so it's a little complicated translate in max....

Issue2: the game utilize a 2x1 texture size for normal unit, 1x1 for siege engine and 1x1 for mount. The siege engine version of mesh are recognized so i make a correction factor, the units and mount version are the same (in the GOAT this distinction is made with "mount_" mesh's name ) so i decided to do a correction factor for standard units.

The mount units aren't a 2x1 scaled UVW texture so don't make mistakes: the mount has always the 1024x1024 texture but in max, when exporting, remember to scaled the uvw coordinates !
Remember that Figure and Attachements texture DON'T EXIST, it's just a game shortcut, it scaling and doubling the texture and merges two 1024x1024 textures in one: 2048x1024 and then scaling it in a 1024x1024

[alin]

Yes I noticed the two options and I thought that was the reason to do just assignments.

I wonder what's the purpose of those extra bones or what they were thought for but they might be in handy some day.

Too bad about the mounts, I was really hopping they also have a 2*1 UVW space for atachements. This kinda sux since it will introduce redundancy in some cases but well there's nothing to do but to use 2048*2048 textures instead 1024*1024.

Yes I noticed this the hard way as at first I thought material IDs was used to apply the two textures and didn't knew it's just a helper thing for the exporter. However it's a bit weird as they use the 2.0*1.0 space to apply the textures and not the 1.0*1.0 UV space as it would be normal however I presume it scales it to 1.0*1.0 in the game.

Well if you can manage to find a way to make it skeleton independent then that would really solve the last problems with battlefields units and would make everything possible. For EB2 work was halted on siege units because of this.

[johnwhile]

for the siege engine now you can import end export the exactly skeleton, in the Goat i don't understand why KE use a human skeleton... but the same issue: you must first extract the *.skelexport file from some cas animations to utilize and build animations.
the siege have a different mesh but the script tell you the version.

but The first reason of script is to see the enormous possibilities and efficient of 3DStudio Max... i don't make encrypted or compiled version, i put ALWAYS THE PURE SOURCE CODE :-)

[alin]

Indeed, it's also commented which is rarely seen and helpful for others, me at least, to understand.

I don't understand either which is the reason it was problematic. Can you also animate siege units or just import a model with a custom skeleton?

[johnwhile]

obvious , the animations of siege engine are identical to normal cas animations, you must create the .skelexport from some siege engine's animations or build it by scratch and then you can make all what you think, isn't necessary build all keyframes like meshImportExport (made by KE), the script is more dynamic.

The only things is that you must build the basapose and default animations with zero movement to avoid the crash... for de bello mundi i have utilized the old meshImportExport script but now you can do the same things with two clic !!!

I know, you would need a tutorial but now I'm doing the script for the world file, so I have not time....

[alin]

I see, thanks.

Actually there's no need just wanted to know all the abilities of the new tool so I know what I will be trying.

[johnwhile]

I see, thanks.
Actually there's no need just wanted to know all the abilities of the new tool so I know what I will be trying.

PS: i create the Uvw dialog, now can import correctly the mapping if you chose the variant.
In importing dialog the "siege engine options" aren't necessary because the script auto-assign the right uvw correction , but the mount and units variant are identical so i put a nice dialog

[alin]

Great! Great work with this.

I'll test it right away.

[johnwhile]

if you found some bug in the skeleton or animation tell me because is a very chaotic functions of script...