Poking around the mesh files

[BrandonM]

So, I was bored again so I started to look through the .mesh files in detail.

If you look in the _units folder you will of course see the folders that contain the .mesh files of all the in game units. These .mesh files are collections of other .mesh files (the weapons, heads, arms, etc). Open one in a hex editor.

If you look in the weapon_library, you will find the .meshes of the weapons. Open the unit you opened weapon in the hex editor as well.

You can find the hex values of the weapon meshes in the _unit meshes (I know we already knew they were in there). I don't mean just the name, but all the actual data of a weapon mesh matches the data in the _unit mesh. Which makes sense, because we know it contains the weapon info.

What happens if you find all the references of one weapon in the _units mesh, and replace it with another weapon? I don't know, I haven't got that far yet, but I imagine it might be possible to replace weapons with other weapons (and update the .modeldb to point the weapon attachment texture to the right file)
It's a serialized file, just like the .modeldb, so my fear is that there is meta data (like the string lengths in .modeldb) that might make it much harder to replace weapons.

Ok, going back to working on my toolset now.

BrandonM

[variag]

Great clue. Please keep posting your progress and findings, as this could be very helpful in the long run. I was planning to change weapons for the creation of some unique units, but thought the mesh editor would be required. Now maybe it will not have to be such a long wait. Cool

[PurpleScotch]

Good work you are doing there, continue, continue it looks like we're getting something here .

[cmptrgy412]

Well here's something... if you open up some of the meshes with only one part such as the javelin, or the stakes you will see the default word "GenMesh" at the beginning. On a quick google search I receive a lot of stuff about CrystalSpace meshes, so I'm going to go a head and look a little more see if they used this mesh or just a coincidence.