Model system
Contents
Overview
Importing models
Materials
Detail levels
Meshes can be grouped into detail levels using the lod pixelsize directive:
lod 100 mesh hull_low.dae lod 200 mesh hull_med.dae lod 1000 mesh hull_hi.dae mesh landing_gear.dae
A detail level will be picked if the approximate size of the model on screen is less than pixelsize (for the highest level it does not matter as long as it's larger than the others). Use the modelviewer to find optimal sizes.
You may specify any number of detail levels in any order, they will be sorted according to size.
Animations
Attachments
Models may have special "tag point" Group nodes where other models may be attached. You may define a tag point in Blender by placing an Empty object and giving it one of the predefined names.
The system is meant for attaching equipment: guns, cargo pods, turrets...
Example: A generic gun model attached to a point "tag_gun_right":
The actual list of available names has not been determined yet.
Collisions
By default, the collision mesh of a model is the bounding box of all the meshes. For more control, you can import a custom mesh using the collision directive in the model definition:
collision collision.obj
Decals
Decals are meant for customizable insignia on spaceships and changing advertisements on space stations. Up to four unique decals are available for a model (multiple identical decals are allowed). Place a piece of geometry, usually a flat quad, with proper UV coordinates and name it decal_01, 02, 03 or 04. The game will then use a special material on the geometry.
Other special nodes
- Labels
- Thrusters
- Billboard lights
New systems that need to be developed
Lots of them :)
- Lua API
- System to handle attachments
- Tag points may be rotated in code to implement target tracking guns
- System to handle spaceship logos, station advertisements and shipyard UI to customize your ship
- UI to paint your ship and a system to give faction-appropriate colour schemes to NPC ships
- Building sets
- etc
