Converting high-resolution unit models into low-resolution models in Mod Tool

[Giftheck]

So, you've created an awesome unit model for use in SWBF. You've enveloped and weighted it. There is but one problem. It's high-poly enough that if there are so many on the field at once, your models are reverted to 'low-res' versions you've defined in your ODF. Now that won't do, will it?

There are ways and means around this. schMEe can 'hack' your model to become a low-res-mapped version. Only trouble is that, by its own confession, schMEe is not always 100% good with this. So I will take you through the process of mapping it to the low-res skeleton within Mod Tool.

First, open your model in Mod Tool. Save it as "yourmodelnamehere_lowres". Find your "DummyRoot" and hide it. Hide "bone_root" as well.

Now open your weight editor. You will need to reassign certain points to different bones. This is because certain bones do not exist in the low-res skeleton and will automatically remap themselves to "DummyRoot" if they are still assigned:

Code Select Expand

bone_l_toe
bone_l_foot
bone_r_toe
bone_r_foot
bone_l_hand
bone_r_hand
bone_l_clavicle
bone_r_clavicle
bone_a_spine
bone_b_spine

The solution is easy: you need to reassign any points weighted to these bones to different points. I will detail below what bones should be remapped to where:

[spoiler]bone_l_toe/bone_l_foot > bone_l_calf
bone_r_toe/bone_r_root > bone_r_calf
bone_l_hand > bone_l_forearm
bone_r_hand > bone_r_forearm
bone_l_clavicle > either bone_l_upperarm or bone_ribcage dependant on which bone is more suitable (IE stormtrooper armour straps are more suited to bone_ribcage but shoulder areas should be mapped to the upperarms)
bone_r_clavicle > either bone_r_upperarm or bone_ribcage
bone_a_spine > bone_pelvis
bone_b_spine > bone_ribcage[/spoiler]

Once you've done that, it's time to export it and test it.

[Led]

Thanks for the tutorial!

[Giftheck]

You're welcome.

This can actually be done with stock models too, but there's a few more hoops to jump through as the stock models import with everything visible, bones and nulls included.