Unit Makers Tome of Knowledge

[Alletun]

Unit Makers Tome of Knowledge

Hello ! After answering many questions in the workshop (where many of them were largely the same) i decided to make a big tutorial about unit making and doing graphics. Hopefully this will help newcomers and provide a few tips to veteran unit makers.

The first 3 chapters are meant for those completely new to either graphics or modding. The remaining chapter go more in-depth of unit making. I've also added a "Project overview" chapter that goes through the entire process of making a Paladin from the warhammer universe. Also included is a trouble-shooting guide where I've answered the most common questions from the workshop.

Based on your input I will keep expanding this book. So please, if anything is unclear or you want anything explained more thoroughly, don't hesitate to say so.

You can download it here:
http://www.twcenter.net/forums/downl...o=file&id=1672

1.3 released, 12. april 2008:
The newest version is now up !!!

The tome have been upgraded to version 1.3. New features:

* The workflow have been streamlined to reflect the newest tools.
* Added chapter about how to use 3dsmax in your pipeline instead of milkshape.
* Rewritten parts of the UV chapters as some people would get confused as to when to use lithUnwrap.
* Expanded the FAQ. Now it answeres 21 of the most common questions!
* Lots of other minor tweaks to make things easier to understand and read.

If you're using 1.2 i suggest you upgrade to 1.3 now

[SpaceUnion]

Dude, this is great. I've only skimmed through parts of it but it looks very comprehensive. Perhaps this will end the surge of "invisible units" and "jesus-stance unit" questions.

Very good job Alletun, I would give you rep but apparently I haven't been spreading it around lately. Oh well, well done nonetheless.

[Dimitri_Harkov]

+rep!

[ccllnply]

Do you really need Photoshop. Oh and +rep

[Socal_infidel]

Do you really need Photoshop. Oh and +rep

GIMP has most of the same functions as PS. And it's free.

Oh, and Alletun rocks! Whatta guy!

[Brancaleone daNorcia]

[Alletun]

updated to version 1.1

The major addition comes on page 58. Here i've added a section that explains how you get your models, skeletons and animations from milkshape to 3dsmax! This will vastly improve the way new animations are created since you no longer need to rely on milkshapes animation tools (which are horrible!).

animators start your engines!

[Caesar Clivus]

Dude, you are a GOD! I'd give you some rep but it says I need to spread some more around before giving you another point

[Alletun]

updated to version 1.2

added chapter 6a that teaches you how to model a more complex shape in milkshape: a helmet for Rohan. The same technique can be applied to heads etc.

here is the helmet:

[SigniferOne]

Nice Alletun, you just keep coming. +rep

[Megalos]

Thanks Alletun! Great work!

I was wondering if you could explain the uv mapping of weapons better to me?

Everything else works great, but weapons have a different .texture set.

Could you explain the entire process of uv mapping weapons/shields to the point of getting it to the stage of skinning them.

Thanks again!

[Immortal Darkness]

im trying to make the highlanders mounted. And im following your guide.
but the game ctd when i start it.

this is my modeldb:

19 mounted_highlanders
1 4
54 unit_models/_Units/EN_Highlander/highlanders_lod0.mesh 121
54 unit_models/_Units/EN_Highlander/highlanders_lod1.mesh 900
54 unit_models/_Units/EN_Highlander/highlanders_lod2.mesh 2500
54 unit_models/_Units/EN_Highlander/highlanders_lod3.mesh 6400
1
8 scotland
72 unit_models/_Units/EN_Highlander/textures/en_highlander_scotland.texture
70 unit_models/_Units/EN_Highlander/textures/en_highlander_normal.texture
44 unit_sprites/scotland_Highlanders_sprite.spr
1
8 scotland
69 unit_models/AttachmentSets/Final European Light_scotland_diff.texture
69 unit_models/AttachmentSets/Final European Light_scotland_norm.texture 0
1
5 horse
12 MTW2_HR_Mace 0
2
17 MTW2_Mace_Primary
14 fs_test_shield 0
16 -0.090000004 0 0 -0.34999999 0.80000001 0.60000002

my descr_unit:

type mounted_highlanders
dictionary mounted_highlanders ; mounted_highlanders
category cavalry
class light
voice_type Light
banner faction main_cavalry
banner holy crusade_cavalry
soldier mounted_highlanders, 24, 0, 1.1
mount fast pony
mount_effect elephant -4, camel -4
attributes sea_faring, hide_forest, can_withdraw, very_hardy, frighten_foot
formation 1.2, 1.2, 2.4, 2.4, 5, square
stat_health 1, 0
stat_pri 4, 5, no, 0, 0, melee, melee_blade, slashing, axe, 25, 1.2
;stat_pri_ex 0, 0, 0
stat_pri_attr ap
stat_sec 0, 0, no, 0, 0, no, melee_simple, blunt, none, 25, 1
;stat_sec_ex 0, 0, 0
stat_sec_attr no
stat_pri_armour 1, 4, 3, flesh
;stat_armour_ex 0, 4, 0, 0, 1, 3, 3, flesh
stat_sec_armour 0, 0, flesh
stat_heat 2
stat_ground 1, -2, 3, 2
stat_mental 8, impetuous, untrained
stat_charge_dist 40
stat_fire_delay 0
stat_food 60, 300
stat_cost 1, 320, 130, 85, 65, 400, 4, 100
armour_ug_levels 0
armour_ug_models mounted_highlanders
ownership scotland
era 0 scotland
era 1 scotland
era 2 scotland
;unit_info 11, 0, 4

and im putting it in a mod wich i installed and had already own unit made units, so it cant be anyting other than the code above
and i dont now whats wrong please help

[Alletun]

@Immortal Darkness

My time is limited this week (until friday) but i will take a look at your problem the moment i have some time.

@Megalos
UV-mapping weapons is just the same as UV-mapping any other model part. The only thing that differs is that instead of having a the figure material assigned in milkshape, it has the attachments material.
also i'll take a look at the problem you PM'ed me about as soon as i have time.

[Megalos]

@Immortal Darkness

My time is limited this week (until friday) but i will take a look at your problem the moment i have some time.

@Megalos
UV-mapping weapons is just the same as UV-mapping any other model part. The only thing that differs is that instead of having a the figure material assigned in milkshape, it has the attachments material.
also i'll take a look at the problem you PM'ed me about as soon as i have time.

Thanks for that Alletun. I should explain my problem a little more clearly:


I set my model up to how I like it, save it, and open it up in lith unwrap.

I then lay out all the parts of my model on the new map. Now, at this point do I:

A) put the weapons on the same UV map as the rest of the model save and open up again milkshape and finish the process off (adding in the comments, assigning figure and attachment materials).

B) Put all the parts of my model on the UV map except the weapons, save and close. Then put all the weapons on the a new UV map save and close. Finish off the comments and materials for both new files in milkshape.

C) Megalos is a total noob (actually he is ), and it's a totally different process.



How does milkshape/M2TW distinguish between the attachment material and the figure material?


Thanks for your time.


Mega

[Bwian]

Each material ( figure and attachment ) have their very own texture file, and their own set of UV maps. You can use the whole of the texture area for the figure texture and the same for weapon.

When you assign material 'figure' to the bulk of the body, the UV map for that texture is used. It completely ignores anything that has the attachment texture. When parts are given the attachment texture, they ( and only they ) get the UV maps for that texture applied. They are completely seperate things.

If you are using Lithunwrap, it can get a bit confusing if you show both materials at the same time. The 2 textures look as if they are sharing space... but in fact they are not. Just look at one material at a time to avoid confusion.

[Megalos]

Thanks Bwain!

That's a great help!


.....now back to my half invisble units....*sigh*


Mega

[Alletun]

@ Immortal Darkness

it should work with this code. i've changed the animations a bit to suite a mounted unit.

19 mounted_highlanders 
1 4 
54 unit_models/_Units/EN_Highlander/highlanders_lod0.mesh 121 
54 unit_models/_Units/EN_Highlander/highlanders_lod1.mesh 900 
54 unit_models/_Units/EN_Highlander/highlanders_lod2.mesh 2500 
54 unit_models/_Units/EN_Highlander/highlanders_lod3.mesh 6400 
1 
8 scotland 
72 unit_models/_Units/EN_Highlander/textures/en_highlander_scotland.texture 
70 unit_models/_Units/EN_Highlander/textures/en_highlander_normal.texture 
44 unit_sprites/scotland_Highlanders_sprite.spr 
1 
8 scotland 
69 unit_models/AttachmentSets/Final European Light_scotland_diff.texture 
69 unit_models/AttachmentSets/Final European Light_scotland_norm.texture 0  
1 
5 Horse 
13 MTW2_HR_Lance 
13 MTW2_HR_Sword 2 
21 MTW2_HR_Lance_Primary 
14 fs_test_shield 2 
18 MTW2_Sword_Primary 
14 fs_test_shield 
16 -0.090000004 0 0 -0.34999999 0.80000001 0.60000002

[Immortal Darkness]

thanks but a mounted highlander should be the same as a huscarl
but i will try it as soon as im home

[Professor S]

This really is brilliant work Alletun. Well done

[kepper]

Alletuna after dow your file i have try to open but i get this mgs
! C:\Unit_Makers_Tome_of_Knowledge.zip:
The archive is in an unknown or damaged format