XWA models

[AdmiralToguroAni]

I often hear people talking about models from XWA and how they put them in Rebellion. Well, I found a site with all kinds of models, including a new Dreadnaught and most importantly, new designs for the Assault Frigate and Bulwark Battlecruiser! They're in MAX format, whatever that means. If you modelers want to try to make heads or tails of it for Rebellion, I'm sure lots of people, including me, would be most appreciative!

 

http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~john22/maxfile.htm

[Krytos]

First off, great find ATA

 

Max format means that the file extension is .max - compatible with Discreet's 3D Studio Max series. These can be directly converted to .3ds through Max, and then converted to the needed .x files for Rebellion.

Looking at a few of them, they're very high poly - that Bulwark model I've seen on the SWMA, and isn't optimised for ingame play.

 

Still, if anyone has the time and the program (3d studio max or anyother 3d program that reads .max format), might as well give it a shot.

 

I'd offer, though with uni started up again, I wont have the time

[AdmiralToguroAni]

Is there a way I could upload these models into gmax? If so I could maybe shrink them down or something to reduce poly count? I'd like to get these in rebellion but I dont have the cash to buy 3d Studio Max. Anyway I can do it using the free programs?

[Krytos]

Umm, not sure what formats are allowed with GMax - you'd have to check with Mask or Mad or anyone else who uses GMax.

 

As for reducing the poly count, that can be very difficult. It really depends on how well made the model is, and your skills.

Still, that's no reason not to try - better to learn on the field then never learn at all

[Mad78]

GMax can import but not export .max formated files

Nice ships but would need some work to reduce the polycount.

[AdmiralToguroAni]

okay. when I get home I'll upload these things into gmax. Can you give me suggestions on how to reduce polycount?

[Mad78]

First of you have spheres or tubes you should recude the amount of faces. I say work on feel.

[AdmiralToguroAni]

I'm in gmax now, and I selected "Import", but the .MAX file doesn't show up. Am I looking in the wrong area, or is there a plugin I need to download?

[the_mask]

Ahh, JM's old site with all the high-poly models

 

You might stop yourself that kinda trouble, ToguroAni and simply head to his new page and download the lower-poly XWA versions from there.

 

On Darksaber's site you should find a tool called opt23ds, that will allow you to convert the XWA OPT format to ... well, you guess right

(Darksaber doesn't take too kindly, if you use his models, without asking for permission first.)

 

Btw, it's much easier to make just one big texture (512x512) out of all these 30+ XWA ones and then load the 3ds model in Lith and simply move the vertex coordinates for every part (called 'Regroup xx' after conversion to 3ds) onto your new 512-sized material.

With this method I could convert lots of XWA models in ~3-4 hours (uninterrupted, /w lots of cola in my veins) a piece. The other way around takes about that many days (Ok, I took a few breaks there, too )

 

EDIT: Be sure, to check the downloads section here, first. A few of JM's models were already converted by me and are downloadable already

[AdmiralToguroAni]

I downloaded the Op2ds, but it said I need to have XWA installed in order to use them. I dont own XWA, so how do I get around this?

[AdmiralToguroAni]

Sorry about the double post, but I have an update: turns out that I only need the XWA registry to use the models on the site Mask mentioned. Is there a way of either bypassing this or getting just the registry file?

 

(please note that I am not asking for an illegal download of XWA, only a way to use the Opt23ds program that Mask mentions above)

[Mad78]

search a bit using google. I know there is a version of the program which does not require XWA to work.