I need some help starting.

[CooDy]

As mentioned above, I was wondering if someone would help me start (what has to be done for a model to be implemented)
(i dont need a step by step procedure just a few basics, so thet I get the feel for it. Thanks.

Oh, if any of you need help with something I'd be more than happy to help (if you dont mind a protge) I think that jhexen is suffering serious neglect, I dont know what makes doom so damn popular and hexen so unpopular if anything it should be vice versa.

Ok, that pretty much sums it up. Hope to hear from you soon.

*book*

[Chilvence]

Hmm, do you need help getting started on modelling, or do you just want to know how import a model into Doomsday?

If its the former, then I guess you'll need some tools. Gmax (http://www.discreet.com/products/gmax/) can be had for free, and is sort of a stripped down version of 3dstudio MAX. Maya personal learning edition (http://www.alias.com/eng/products-services/maya/maya_ple/index.shtml) is a similair sort of deal, only for Alias' Maya modeler. I personally havent tried either of them (yet) because I like this program (ftp://jfiles@server1.thefourwinds.net/jdoom/models/tools/q2mdl911.zip), but it causes most modelers to grimace when I show it to them *grin*. To get to grips with them, I suggest googling for tutorials, read as many as you can until you start making sense of it. Start simple as possible so that you dont have to worry about making terrible errors, and just follow the learning curve at your own pace.

The other thing that will help you is a reasonable drawing skill. Don't try to model something complex unless you can draw it first and know where all the details are going to be. Modeling the Hexen items directly from the sprites is very frustrating (It's the mistake I made, that caused me to get frustrated and give up a while ago...). You dont have to be Da Vinci, the purpose of drawing them first is so that you have a good feel for how you want the model to be before you start; it's much easier to just erase part of a pencil drawing than it is to change a model halfway through making it...

Good luck, let me know if you want anymore help. I will try as best as my limited experience will allow...

[CooDy]

Hey thanks, you covered the modeling bit, I have alredy started to do some work on 3d studio max, I like it, though Ill need some getting used to, nnow I only need the file formats of the models and textures and how to implement them into the doomsday frame. Thanks for the drawing tip.

[Chilvence]

The current format is Quake 2 md2. But jDoom is in a heavy state of flux at the moment, so we may be getting the more flexible md3 format soon. DaniJ666 uses MAX, so he should be able to hook you up with exporters for both. Texture format is PNG, which is nice for lossless compression and alpha channels.

A detailed explanation of how to set up the models in Doomsday is available at www.doomsdayhq.com, under the ded reference link on the bottom right of the page.

[CooDy]

Thanks again, this should get me going. I'll do my best to get some work done. I think I'll start with static scenery such as statues and braziers, looks like its much easier to make a static model than an active one. Hope that hasnt yet been done by anyone.

[Chilvence]

Actually, Cain has made quite a lot of Hexen models. I'm not sure what he has or hasnt done, but I havent seen him here for a while so its impossible to find out. The best thing is probably to start with anything you like, then if it has already been made, we can always choose between the two for the official pack.

I should point you towards this thread, in any case: http://forums.newdoom.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=20982

There you will at least find the models that we know have been done.

[CooDy]

Well, thaks for telling me, he pretty much covered everything as far as I can see :)

Cain if you are reading this I'd like to know how long it took you to do all that remodelling. Its really good.

Ill have to check out what else is there to model, or Ill just refurbish the 2D textures, I have some experience with that.

Its funny, but when i installed the Cains pack my P600 started to "lag" on 1024x768 resolution. Didnt think I'll ever need a new computer just to play a game older than the computer.