Help with reading Variant models

[Havie]

Hello, Im trying to put together some of the new aspects of war hammer modding,

Im not exactly used to how we can only read text for the variants, and not knowing how everything comes together, I was hoping someone could explain a few things.

First what im looking at is a custom units from another mod to build off of, the text can be found here:

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

<VARIANT_MESH> <SLOT name="head" >
<VARIANT_MESH model="VariantMeshes\wh_variantmodels\hu1\vmp\vmp_wight_king\head\vmp_wight_king_head_01.rigid_model_v2" imposter_model="VariantMeshes\wh_variantmodels\hu1\vmp\vmp_wight_king\head\vmp_wight_king_head_01.rigid_model_v2" />
</SLOT>


<SLOT name="helmet" >
<VARIANT_MESH model="VariantMeshes\wh_variantmodels\hu1\vmp\vmp_wight_king\head\vmp_wight_king_helmet_04.rigid_model_v2" imposter_model="VariantMeshes\wh_variantmodels\hu1\vmp\vmp_wight_king\head\vmp_wight_king_helmet_01.rigid_model_v2" />
</SLOT>


<SLOT name="body" >
<VARIANT_MESH model="VariantMeshes\wh_variantmodels\hu1c\chs\chs_sorcerer_lord\torso\chs_sorcerer_lord_torso_01.wsmodel" >
<META_DATA>audio_entity_type:wh_vampire_male_LH</META_DATA> <META_DATA>audio_armour_type:heavy_metal</META_DATA></VARIANT_MESH>
</SLOT>


<SLOT name="legs" >
<VARIANT_MESH model="VariantMeshes\wh_variantmodels\hu1c\chs\chs_sorcerer_lord\legs\chs_sorcerer_lord_legs_01.wsmodel" />
<VARIANT_MESH model="VariantMeshes\wh_variantmodels\hu1c\chs\chs_sorcerer_lord\legs\chs_sorcerer_lord_legs_02.wsmodel" />
</SLOT>


<SLOT name="cape" >
<VARIANT_MESH model="VariantMeshes\wh_variantmodels\hu1c\chs\chs_knights\cape\chs_knights_cape_01.wsmodel" />
</SLOT>


<SLOT name="weapon_1" attach_point="be_prop_0" >
<VARIANT_MESH model="VariantMeshes\wh_variantmodels\hu1c\chs\chs_props\chs_knights_lances_1h_02.wsmodel" />
<META_DATA>audio_melee_weapon_type:axe</META_DATA></VARIANT_MESH>
</SLOT>
<SLOT name="weapon_2" attach_point="be_prop_1" />
<SLOT name="shield" attach_point="be_prop_2" />
<SLOT name="weapon_3" attach_point="be_prop_3" />
<SLOT name="weapon_4" attach_point="be_prop_4" />
<SLOT name="weapon_5" attach_point="be_prop_5" />
</VARIANT_MESH>

I get that the head and helmet is of the Wight_King
the body and legs are from a sorcerer_lord
the cape is from a chs_knight


Items I dont understand are:
Under Body

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

" <META_DATA>audio_entity_type:wh_vampire_male_LH</META_DATA> <META_DATA>audio_armour_type:heavy_metal</META_DATA></VARIANT_MESH>"

what does the audio here mean? assuming the second one is when he is hit the clanking sound, first is voice in combat?


The weapon attach points

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

"<SLOT name="weapon_1" attach_point="be_prop_0" >
<VARIANT_MESH model="VariantMeshes\wh_variantmodels\hu1c\chs\chs_props\chs_knights_lances_1h_02.wsmodel" />
<META_DATA>audio_melee_weapon_type:axe</META_DATA></VARIANT_MESH>
</SLOT>
<SLOT name="weapon_2" attach_point="be_prop_1" />
<SLOT name="shield" attach_point="be_prop_2" />
<SLOT name="weapon_3" attach_point="be_prop_3" />
<SLOT name="weapon_4" attach_point="be_prop_4" />
<SLOT name="weapon_5" attach_point="be_prop_5" />"

how does this come into play, in shogun 2 the weapon models were assigned separately from the character mesh.

Next the Size?

This character is very large in game, what controls the size of the units?
I also remember reading somewhere that re arranging armor pieces on other variant models is tricky in war hammer because of the different size creatues and races in this game. How does this all come together?


Lastly

What the best way to preview model pieces, back with shogun 2 you could use tweak and do a unit preview and check and preview all different parts, is this not possible with warhammer? there has to be a decent way to make a proper work flow, no?


Thanks for your help.

[kelstr]

Yes those are audio types

I don't quite remember all of the weapon slots by memory... 1 is left hand, 2 is a 2h weapon like a pile, 3 is right hand, 4 is shield on the forearm, 5 is on the back of the unit... something like that... I prolly messed up a few of those there, but you get the idea.

Size of a unit is set in the units variant table... under DB-Units Variant Table... 2nd to last colum on the right.... that changes unit size.

No way that I know of to preview... I make changes then load the game

cheers
keletr