I want to make a memorable contribution

[Deathcom3s]

Alright, so I was doing some thinking, and I started thinking about how I've been here for a while, and how I haven't really contributed anything.

So, I want to make a contribution, particularly to Wc3 modellers. I want to create a tool that would streamline the process of Wc3 modelling (and eventually SC2). A tool that would have a large majority of the features found in commercial tools, with features made exactly for Wc3 modellers.

Who's interested? I want to know if creating such a tool is worth it.

 

[Traxamillion]

The greatest tool that could ever be made to modelers would be a tool where you can geomerge by dragging a piece and dropping it onto a bone. Basically making a model from various pieces.

 

[Deathcom3s]

I'll consider that, but I also want features that cater to scratch modelers needs, and also those who are new to modeling.

 

[Bloody_Turds]

the ability to lay uv on a 3d model in 3d XD, i had a list of tool ideas somewwhere.. but i duno where if i find ill posst

 

[Gyrosphinx]

I would like:
-basic geomerging
-bone adding and editing
-scratch modelling and editing
-particle emitter creator
-mpq extracter
-unwrapping, rewrapping etc
-what bloody_turds mentioned
-a changeable view of model (so u don't get stuck with just 3 set views like in vertexmodify)
-easy to understand basic tips and explanations of the tools avaible
-stuff to do decay anim fixes
-portrait generator (might be hard) had in mind something like u geomerge a model over some basic portrait anims and bones.
-camera adder
-basic bone sets
-converter (from mdx to mdl)
-working perfectly on Vista (this is a must, since vista using modellers often experiences problems with magos)
-more will come...

I know this list is long, but it's all my wishes for a ultimate modelling experience with only 1 tool.
I seriously want this, been thinking of requesting one just to start model better than my current tries (can't fix any anims since magos fucks up on Vista)
Plz make this and the Hive would be a better place because of u

 

[Vicboy]

I've always wanted to model, but I can't really get it without focusing on it so much (which I can't risk, I still have school ^_^)

So anyway, if you want to contribute, help us get a very easy way (like simple drag drop points) to make vertexes(?).

 

[Bloody_Turds]

most of that stuff war3modeleditor supports, although it would be extreemly usefull to be able to select verticies, in full out 3d, rather than a 2d view..

theportrait adder would be pretty cool, but its far easier to just add a camera to the model itself, than waste space on a portrait... although if it could copy the full animation, and assign it to new keys, so you can have multiple "similar" animations, but without starting from scratch

editing/moveing bones, in this 3d renderation would be extreemly nice, along with possible keyframe animations, similar to Warshape..

scratch meshing would be nice, asumeing its nice and simple to work with, although importation of other fileformats would be nice to

i deff cant stress tooltips on each feature enough...

Uv mapping on the model itself would be great

ability to speedup/slow down animations, or even parts of them

animation smoother, if possible (keeps the animations from being jerky, by adding extra keyframes, that slow down before a compleet stop, and speed up before moveing at full potential..

the vista part, isnt to hard to fix, as i got magos working fine on vista...

easy animation transfers, along with bone to bone matchup (rather than changeing the bone, any bone it cant identify, it will ask you, and show you a list of both models bones, to match the bones up manually

personally war3modeleditor(magos) is one of my favorite warcraft 3 modeling tools, and if it were to be updated with theese

war3modeleditors particle emitter part is slightly confuseing (even after quite alot of experience with it),

 

[Gyrosphinx]

how did u make magos work on Vista, mine is like really slow, just moving the view takes like 15min per cm

 

[skrab]

We already have modeling tools for Wc3.
I think makeing 3D modeling program for Wc3 would be waste of time. You can download new 3Ds Max and use Blinkboys new script to export models for Wc3.
For SC2 you need to wait till Blizzard releases his modding pack...

 

[Vicboy]

how did u make magos work on Vista, mine is like really slow, just moving the view takes like 15min per cm

If you have Windows Vista Starter watermark on the bottom right, that might be why its so slow.

Just don't make the window app touch that watermark and it will stop that lag.

 

[Gyrosphinx]

We already have modeling tools for Wc3.
I think makeing 3D modeling program for Wc3 would be waste of time. You can download new 3Ds Max and use Blinkboys new script to export models for Wc3.
For SC2 you need to wait till Blizzard releases his modding pack...

well, the point is to make the ultimate modelling tool with everything in it, instead of using 6 differnet programs for making a model.

and Vicboy, ty i'll try

 

[skrab]

I only use one modeling program.

 

[Vicboy]

So you're saying you have that vista watermark?

 

[BlinkBoy]

Just make a tool which allows you to make models from scratch. Only Geometry, leave unwrapping and animation for later. For this tool you should make a lot of modeling utilities which are not supported by Vertex Modifier, lñike Weld to Target, Collapse, Weld near vertexes, cut, Chanfer, etc. I suggest you produce your own model format that supports quads and meshes at the sametime, it would make data manipulation easier. After that add exporters to wc3's mdl/mdx and SC2's (modeling format)

It's better to start with something basic than going to something complex. Also which programming language are you using and which rendering system?

 

[Gyrosphinx]

I only use one modeling program.

wich?
EDIT: 3dsmax i bet

Also, make the program able to scale entire models, not just geosets

 

[Deathcom3s]

@Blinkboy, Of course, I wouldn't want to start off too big, I'll start with basic scratch modeling utilities, and expand from there. I'm going to program it in C++, and use Magos' MdxLib and MPQLib(I want to allow you to be able to extract models directly from the Wc3 MPQs without ever leaving the environment). As for the rendering system, I'm still undecided, I'm just brainstorming ideas for now. Would you have any suggestions?

 

[BlinkBoy]

Open GL for starters. Direct X is kinda complex to start with.

I would suggest you to start making the front/right/top viewports before going into perspective and don't rush yourself to implement texture rendering, you are making a model making tool, not a model viewer.

About the format which you must create: It must store data in an easy way to read, and it must be easy to modify as well.

Also, don't add the MPQ feuture, other tools already does that, focus only on your goal, afterwards add the add-ons.

 

[Kyrbi0]

Wow. Really cool idea, I must say. And I can definitely appreciate your drive to help. I'm not sure I disagree with skrab, but this is a great idea. More power to ya.

 

[xXm0RpH3usXx]

how about this:
make something like facegen... but for an entirely unit (one the modder can import himself and define the vertices which need to be moved himself)

http://soft.bramjnet.com/uploads/posts/1188933405_facegenmodeller_2.png

(well, no texture modification i guess, but the geometry maybe?)

 

[wugiboy]

lol the facegen looks like a complicated tool

 

[Deathcom3s]

Open GL for starters. Direct X is kinda complex to start with.

I would suggest you to start making the front/right/top viewports before going into perspective and don't rush yourself to implement texture rendering, you are making a model making tool, not a model viewer.

About the format which you must create: It must store data in an easy way to read, and it must be easy to modify as well.

Also, don't add the MPQ feuture, other tools already does that, focus only on your goal, afterwards add the add-ons.

Well, i'm an experienced C++ programmer (3+ years), and i'm familiar with DirectX and OpenGL, so it will just be a matter of which ever one fits my needs better.

Thanks for your input, i appreciate.

 

[Gyrosphinx]

but still, wrapping the skins on models in 3d would be cool as heck

 

[Vicboy]

Make it like Spore.

Add this foot made of vertexes here, add a head of vertexes here then presto!

If you made it that simple, I think people would like it.

Plus, you can download vertex compilations for more possible combination.

What I'm trying to say is.

Make it very easy.

 

[Deathcom3s]

Vicboy, that would make it too simple. We don't want a bunch of noobs doing some geomerges with premade geosets. That would probably back up the model resource section pretty bad, which we don't want to happen.

 

[Vicboy]

Vicboy, that would make it too simple. We don't want a bunch of noobs doing some geomerges with premade geosets. That would probably back up the model resource section pretty bad, which we don't want to happen.

Could you make that for me?

Honestly, I think its for the better rather than for the worst.

 

[Gyrosphinx]

ye, atleast i would be able to make some organic models then

 

[Vicboy]

And I can make models.

 

[Gyrosphinx]

also, make it easy to make buildings

sry if this counts as necroposting

 

[Leeroy]

These are the things I think should not miss, since I'm a modeller:

-ALL basic tools, such as plane, box, geosphere, sphere and so on.
-Uv Mapping.
-Rotate, extrude and so on.
-IMPORTANT: Geomerging. This misses on Milkshape and I like to geomerge.
-Possibility to edit and create bones.
-Particle emitter editor/creator.
-Features of Magos and WC3 Viewer would be really awesome.
-Unwrapping and rewrapping <---- Pl0x!
-A 4th view of the model, like in Milkshape, where you can see how the model is.
-Easy to use, no complicate stuff.
-Possibility to add a camera in order to make a portrait.
-Chance to convert from Mdl to Mdx and viceversa.
-Vista compatible.
-Animation, texture, material controllers. And why not, an MPQ browser?

All these features looks important to me, and I would be really pleased if you could complete it.
My Milkshape trial is over and I'm good at making models

Good luck.

 

[Deathcom3s]

Ok, I've started working on the basic framework of this system using C++ .NET framework. I'll start up an official thread sometime in the future.

Leeroy, all of that will be implemented eventually.

Note: Huge thanks to Magos for his MDXlib, and the source code for War3Modeleditor, it's going to save me many a headache.

 

[3rgytr54]

It needs to be Gmax² + and MDX EXPORTER!

 

[Leeroy]

Deathcom3s, I love you.

 

[Gyrosphinx]

yay leeroy, u made the perfect list, and he is doing it!!!
Deathcom3s, I love u to!!!

 

[MGCǂSpectre]

-magos has this problem - the model editor part where you are supposed to be able to change vertex positions and struff like that is always grey, I can't use that option. An option that would allow you to do it wil be great
- to be able to extract animations and import them in milkshape or other modeling progr. If I want to import a model I have in MDX I always lose the animations

 

[Gyrosphinx]

Also, it HAS to be 100% Vista compatible, but i guess it will be

 

[Deathcom3s]

I haven't been working on this project as much as i would like to be, other, more important obligations have been eating up my time (look at sig, you try doing all that crap ).

I am not stopping this project on hold, or abandoning it, i'm just saying that it is a lower priority at the moment.

 

[Gyrosphinx]

yes sir. I can't wait 'till it's finished

 

[ike_ike]

I haven't been working on this project as much as i would like to be, other, more important obligations have been eating up my time (look at sig, you try doing all that crap ).

I am not stopping this project on hold, or abandoning it, i'm just saying that it is a lower priority at the moment.

If you're reaaaally desperate, I think Guesst was working on a WC3 only model editor something like what you're aspiring to. You might be able to use the stuff he began on? 'twould slash a load of work.

 

[Deathcom3s]

If you're reaaaally desperate, I think Guesst was working on a WC3 only model editor something like what you're aspiring to. You might be able to use the stuff he began on? 'twould slash a load of work.

I know for a fact that Magos was working on a new Wc3 model editor, but eventually lost interest and dumped it, perhaps i could ask him for that stuff.

I'm already using some of the source code from the Wc3ModelEditor by Magos, but i'll ask Guesst about that, thanks for the info.