[EdrickV]

Here is exactly what I did in a very simple test:
Put in a sphere primative. Glued a local light to it as a sibling. Named the combined object detail0. (TS1 changed that to detail.)
Put in a cube primative. Glued a local light to it as a sibling. Named that combined object detail1. (TS1 changed it to detail,1 but it still worked.) Saved the scene and converted via PCS. Hadn't bothered to texture it so it looked a little wierd in ModelView32, but the sphere came out as the first lod and the cube as the second. I did not group the cube to the sphere or vice versa. The only grouping I did was gluing the two local lights to the two objects. Same thing for a shield except you name it shield.

[TrashMan]

As far as I know, you don't need lights for objects such as fighters or cruisers (only rof turrets). You can convert objects (LODS) without the local lights. Right?

[StratComm]

Originally posted by TrashMan
As far as I know, you don't need lights for objects such as fighters or cruisers (only rof turrets). You can convert objects (LODS) without the local lights. Right?

I don't know.  If you look at almost any model out there, you'll see a local light for every object, including the LODs, debris, and main hull.  Convert a model to COB and see how it's broken down; that's how I learned to build heirarchies.  I've just always figured that its better to be safe than sorry.  As for using the scn file in PCS, I've never trusted it completely.  I glue up my models so that it is all in COB format, as I have gotten far too many error messages when trying to do it the other way.

[TrashMan]

I got it.
PCS bugs me again. I made the Phoenix fighter (all lods, and debris) and converted it - the problem is PCS screws up one wing!
I'll try changing the model a bit and converting again...
And it mixed LODs 1 and 3, even tough I named them right and put them in right groups......

[TrashMan]

Abot the engine flames..
The shape doesn't matter, right?
And do I make them only for LOD0 or all LODs?

[EdrickV]

Originally posted by TrashMan
As far as I know, you don't need lights for objects such as fighters or cruisers (only rof turrets). You can convert objects (LODS) without the local lights. Right?

If the model consists of a single object with no submodels, PCS probably won't convert it. If you glue a light to said object, PCS can convert it. Models where you have submodels glued to the main object, you need a light for each submodel I think otherwise you lose all but one. From what I've read, PCS uses lights to tell where a "branch" on the hierarchy tree ends. No idea what happens if you try converting a model with multiple single object LODs (like a fighter) without any lights. PCS might balk with the "You didn't group these objects" thing.

[TrashMan]

What can you tell me about making engine flames?
Does the shape matter?
Do i make it only for LOD0 or all LODs?
Where does it go in the hierarchy?

[EdrickV]

Only engine stuff I've done is the engine glow, not the thruster sub-objects. Try converting some FS2 models to cobs and check them out.

[TrashMan]

I'm currently adding turrets to the Iowa. Can I put them on the sides (multi-barrel ones)?
Tell me so I can finish this!:confused:

[EdrickV]

You haven't read my Turreting 101 page yet have you? I've been told that, turrets on the sides of ships do not work right yet. I haven't verified that myself or tried finding ways to get it to work. May fiddle with it today.

[TrashMan]

Does anyone else know for sure?

[EdrickV]

The best explaination I've seen is here:
http://www.hard-light.net/vwbb/showthread.php?threadid=6013

Look at the bottom of the page.

[TrashMan]

DARN!