23 replies to this topic

[Umbrella Secrets]

I'm trying to bone my MCV and I created four dummy objects for the huge wheels and when I try to bind the model with the bone icon it does this:
It gets all messed up and pieces of my model go everywhere.

Edited by Umbrella Secrets, 15 September 2010 - 23:14.

[Pav:3d]

Generally with boning ( ) you use the attach icon (the one 2 buttons to the left of the space warp button).

Binding to space warp has a different use (I think anyway)

[Umbrella Secrets]

I think that worked I used the "select and link" button I tried to go by what you said.
Btw do you attach every in the model?

Also what is a skeleton?

Edited by Umbrella Secrets, 16 September 2010 - 00:11.

[SquigPie]

Yes, boning MCV's is very hard.

Oh, that's not what you meant!

[Golan]

Funny...

Anyways, in order to rig a model for TW properly, you need to use a WestwoodSpaceWarp, commonly known as WWSkin. Every other technique is a waste of processing power. The only reason not to completely WWSkin a model or part of it is
A) The model only consists of a single, rigid shape. The auto-generated hierarchy/links is the same as a WWSkin-based one then.
B) Part of your model needs to be shown/hidden based on a game situation (muzzleflashes, upgrades etc.). These sub-object need to be separate from the main mesh in order to reference them properly in code. If they have moving parts themselves, it is advisable to WWSkin the subobject as well but independently.

1. Place a WWSkin somewhere in your scene. This is a dummy object so it doesn't matter where exactly you place it, so it's best to place it where you can easily see/select it but a bit away from your regular model.


2. Place Bones wherever you need them. Usually, this means a single bone at the pivoting point of every rigid subobject. If your model has pieces that don't move, make sure to create a single bone for these too. If some of the bones are meant to form a hierarchy, make sure to link them (e.g. barrel->turret->chassis)


3. Select the WWSkin, hit AddBones, select all Bones of your scene and klick OK.


4. If you haven't already, convert your model to an EditablePoly or EditableMesh and merge everything into a single object (see the notes on subobjects above). Then, select BindToSpaceWarp and drag from your model to the WWSkin.


5. You can now link Vertices to Bones by selecting the Vertices and either using LinkToBoneByName and selecting the corresponding Bone from the list or hitting LinkToBone and selecting the Bone in the viewports. Make sure to link ALL vertices to Bones.

6. Go to the Utilities Tab and select the W3DTools (you might have to add this button first. Hit the Configure Button Sets Button, add a new Slot and drag the W3DTools from the list to the new slot). Select all Bones of your scene and deselect ExportGeometry. Then, select all meshes of your scene and deselect ExportTransform.




Note that if you want your model to be selectable in game, you also need to add at least one OBBox

Edited by Golan, 16 September 2010 - 20:47.

[Umbrella Secrets]

Oh okay, I noticed though when I looked at EA's flametank that it was not boned, so if there is a simple animation do I not have to bone it?

[Sgt. Rho]

unless it's a deforming animation, you don't need to bone it, however, it is convenient as it lowers the ammount of drawcalls.

[Umbrella Secrets]

Thanks for all of the help
btw Im not sure if I'm using the right dummy object but is it located under "helpers" section under the create tab to the right of max?

Edit when I try to link the vertices to the dummy object nothing happens.

Edited by Umbrella Secrets, 16 September 2010 - 20:45.

[Golan]

Sorry, the pictures were in reverse for some reason. oO
See the Rig01.jpg for where you can find the WWSkin.

Edited by Golan, 16 September 2010 - 20:47.

[Umbrella Secrets]

Okay so this is how to bone, this is all the information I've collected...
First you put green dummy objects to where you want to animate
2: Then put a WWSkin crossbone on max
3: Add bones to the WWSkin
4: take your attached model and bind it to the crossbones
5: select the vertices of your model and hit link to bone and then select the green dummy object

That is where I'm stuck and that is what I've done so far

[Golan]

What do you mean by "stuck"? Note that there is no visual representation of the link. The WWSkin will only show it's influence in 3DSMax if you are in the animation mode on a non-zero frame manipulate a bone.

[Umbrella Secrets]

I can't link the selected vertices to the green box dummy

[Sgt. Rho]

Click "Link to bone by name", then select the name of that dummy.

[Umbrella Secrets]

How do you tell if it is linked?

[Sgt. Rho]

move the animation slider to frame 1 or higher, then animate the bone. If the vertexes move with the bone, they're linked.

[SquigPie]

Umbrella Secrets, on 16 Sep 2010, 1:13, said:

I'm trying to bone my MCV and I created four dummy objects for the huge wheels and when I try to bind the model...

Pav:3d, on 16 Sep 2010, 1:46, said:

Generally with boning ( ) you use the attach icon (the one 2 buttons to the left of the space warp button).

Sargeant Rho, on 16 Sep 2010, 14:59, said:

you don't need to bone it, however, it is convenient as it lowers the ammount of drawcalls.

Golan, on 16 Sep 2010, 23:15, said:

What do you mean by "stuck"? Note that there is no visual representation of the link.... manipulate a bone.

Umbrella Secrets, on 17 Sep 2010, 5:58, said:

How do you tell if it is linked?

Sargeant Rho, on 17 Sep 2010, 5:41, said:

Click "Link to bone by name", then select the name of that dummy.

Sargeant Rho, on 17 Sep 2010, 6:22, said:

move the animation slider to frame 1 or higher, then animate the bone. If the vertexes move with the bone, they're linked.

Oh god I can't stop laughing.

I'm sorry, I really am, I know you're being serious but I just can't stop laughing!

I hate my sense of humor

I'm just gonna leave now.

Edited by SquigPie, 17 September 2010 - 06:24.

[Sgt. Rho]

Oh you

[Destiny]

This thread is going to end up on FS's list of most sexually suggestive threads



Otherwise...maybe making the wheels stick out like that might be detrimental to boning, I'd say the 'normal' wheels you see on cars and stuff is easier.

[Libains]

SquigPie, on 17 Sep 2010, 7:14, said:

Umbrella Secrets, on 16 Sep 2010, 1:13, said:

I'm trying to bone my MCV and I created four dummy objects for the huge wheels and when I try to bind the model...

Pav:3d, on 16 Sep 2010, 1:46, said:

Generally with boning ( ) you use the attach icon (the one 2 buttons to the left of the space warp button).

Sargeant Rho, on 16 Sep 2010, 14:59, said:

you don't need to bone it, however, it is convenient as it lowers the ammount of drawcalls.

Golan, on 16 Sep 2010, 23:15, said:

What do you mean by "stuck"? Note that there is no visual representation of the link.... manipulate a bone.

Umbrella Secrets, on 17 Sep 2010, 5:58, said:

How do you tell if it is linked?

Sargeant Rho, on 17 Sep 2010, 5:41, said:

Click "Link to bone by name", then select the name of that dummy.

Sargeant Rho, on 17 Sep 2010, 6:22, said:

move the animation slider to frame 1 or higher, then animate the bone. If the vertexes move with the bone, they're linked.

Oh god I can't stop laughing.

I'm sorry, I really am, I know you're being serious but I just can't stop laughing!

I hate my sense of humor

I'm just gonna leave now.

Please do mate, there's so many better places to talk about boning. Primarily with a woman. Shoo!

[deltaepsilon]

shit, accidentally made a post while trying to edit my sig

Edited by deltaepsilon, 17 September 2010 - 09:37.

[SquigPie]

My god! What have I started?

AJ, on 17 Sep 2010, 11:15, said:

Please do mate, there's so many better places to talk about boning. Primarily with a woman. Shoo!

What if I'm not into women?

Edited by SquigPie, 17 September 2010 - 09:46.

[R3ven]

SquigPie, on 17 Sep 2010, 5:42, said:

AJ, on 17 Sep 2010, 11:15, said:

Please do mate, there's so many better places to talk about boning. Primarily with a woman. Shoo!

What if I'm not into women?

You said it, not us.

[Umbrella Secrets]

Now that I read the quotes from what all we said I can't stop laughing.

I just had a hard time linking it and I got stuck that is all...

It is working now btw thanks everyone. They were linked I just didn't know that you have to move the slider from frame 1 to something.

Edited by Umbrella Secrets, 17 September 2010 - 12:37.

[Wizard]

Hilarity or not, this isn't the place for purile humour.

Umbrella Secrets, if you have anything else you need to ask, then please start a new thread. This one is over.