[Black Wolf]

Specifically, how to extract the models and maps without using Milkshape? Is it even possible?

[Dysko]

Have you already tried to go to The Lancers Reactor?

[Black Wolf]

Of course. But the sheer mind boggling complexity of modding Freelancer means that there's an immense amount of information and utilities to sift through - I figured it'd be quicker to post here - after all, I know a lot of HLPers play (or played) FL, and I figure at least a few of them might have figured out how to grab the ships.

[TrashMan]

Don't know of any converter...the ships are in a .sur format while the textures are in a .mat file.....ships in milkshape format are easiyl imported, but the other way around? 

[Nuke]

this is why i quir modding lancer. it just sorta sticks you in to programs whicha re so worthless as to make truespace apear usefull.

[TrashMan]

NAH..that's not it...the real problem is the community there is kinda slow..

I aksed 3 weeks ago if annyone can point me to a tutorial on making flaers and destructable ships parts (If I'm gonna put a capship in, I want it to done right) and still no answer...

[Getter Robo G]

The ONLY was to extract ships from FL is with an outdated version of Milkshake version 1.66 and their plugin from the Lancer's site, Period...

If you upgrade MS it will not work with it anymore.


I used to keep 2 copies of MS one current and one for FL only...

[blackhole]

Freelancer modder to the rescue! *cue lame entry music*

the ships are in a .sur format

No. Freelancer models:

.cmp file - contains actual ship mesh and its wireframe view for targeting - Use a cmp importer/exporter in milkshape
.mat file - contains the textures - Use a MAT importer/exporter in milkshape
.sur file - triangle list for collision detection. - There is a SUR file editor, but it still suffers from bugs and is not maintained very well

All ships also have an entry in shiparch.ini defining their stastics. To be buyable on a planet they must have a package defined in a market file and have that package referenced in a base's file.

Specifically, how to extract the models and maps without using Milkshape? Is it even possible?

No. This has created a problem on lancers reactor where a whole bunch of people wanted a milkshape keygen for obvious reasons.

If you upgrade MS it will not work with it anymore.

Not nessacarily, I believe they have updated it. I've personally imported a CMP model with milkshape 1.7 (once, and never again. i hate milkshape)

NAH..that's not it...the real problem is the community there is kinda slow..

Right you are, and several of them are assholes too.

this is why i quit modding lancer. it just sorta sticks you in to programs whicha re so worthless as to make truespace apear usefull.

You can use any program you want to make models, you simply need milkshape to convert it to cmp. Of course, thats not saying much, since milkshape has to be one of the worst modeling programs ever and getting your hands on it without shelling out money you shouldn't have to shell out is nothing short of torture.

Also, freelancer isn't nessacarily complex. The modding scene is complex. Freelancer itself uses a rather simple system. INIs, models, effects, and several types of UTF files. Of course, i've modded freelancer for 5 years, but its not too hard. Unfortunatly freelancer has become a modfest. People make mods, and no one plays them. Boring as hell. I remember back when i started... twas the most awesome place ever...

I love freelancer so much i started my own project that was supposed to remake an open-source version of it the way it was ment to be, but, uh, thats a loooooong story (and not a very happy one).

[TrashMan]

Well, modding freelancer isn't that hard, but it ain't no picknic either.

To properly put a ship in with all data you need to a edit a dozen files or so...

[Nuke]

it say its slightly harder than modding freespace, slightly easyer than modding descent, but not nearly as hard as modding an fps game like quake or unreal engine games.

[blackhole]

These Guys might be able to help.