[Scooby_Doo]

Oh I think I might see what the first problem is.  You used a point helper "helper" for your helper object, I always use the dummy object.  Not sure if thats the exact problem but we'll see.

[chief1983]

Hmm, jacek's been working on this same model actually (assuming that's the Carrack), it'll be good for him to read this in case he was missing any of the same stuff.  And if bobbtman can get some basic conversion skills going too, that'd be awesome.

[Scooby_Doo]

Solved it...

Here's what I had to do (you'll need to do it with each turret):

Hide everything but that specific turret (the mesh, it's helper, firepoints...)
delete the helper, firepoints and firepoint
rotate the turret so that it faces straight up (or in your case, as about straight as it can get)
Remember the rotation angles.
Do an reset-xform on it, collapse the mesh again to make the changes permanent.
Create a dummy object (Helpers->Dummy) it'll make a box, the size doesn't really matter
Use the quick align (Ctrl+A) and click on the turret mesh.  It'll place the dummy box where the center of the turret is.
Name this dummy box "helper", clone it as "firepoints" and again as "firepoint" (all three boxes should be at the same spot)
Link everything up like you did before.
Finally rerotate the turret back to it's original angle.

It is possible to do this without rotating the turret, but it requires that one of the dummy objects (not sure which one, helper???) be rotated at the same angle as the turret.  This is why I just build the turrets facing straight up, of course mine are recyclable, on your model that doesn't work.

[chief1983]

Cool beans.

[bobbtmann]

Thanks! I'll give it a try!

[JGZinv]

How do you produce glow points using PCS2?

I've got my model exported to DAE and it evidently opens without crashing the
known universe in PCS2...

Additionally, is Bob's PCS guide in terms of dock points still accurate?

Furthermore... From looking at a cargo crate, it would appear that only the
LODs, path, and dock points are required to actually get a "object" into FS2. Is this correct?

I'm making essentially a bouy, with a large glow in the middle. No flight abilities.

Any way to adjust for windows settings utilizing a different DPI? Several of the menus are unreadable
due to the different text size.

[chief1983]

You don't _need_ LODs, dock points, or paths.  You can pretty much just have a detail0.  But then what would it do?

[JGZinv]

Look pretty and waste resources at distance...

ok one question down. 

[Scooby_Doo]

How do you produce glow points using PCS2?

http://www.hard-light.net/forums/index.php/topic,63643.0.html
Jump down to step #20 Glowpoints

Additionally, is Bob's PCS guide in terms of dock points still accurate?

Sorry can't help you there

Furthermore... From looking at a cargo crate, it would appear that only the
LODs, path, and dock points are required to actually get a "object" into FS2. Is this correct?

detail0 is the only thing absolutely necessary.  Paths just help the AI moving and docking is use only when docking.

I'm making essentially a bouy, with a large glow in the middle. No flight abilities.

Does it have any subsystems?  If not, then LODS are the only thing you need.

[chief1983]

Also, maybe you should have opened up the buoy then

[JGZinv]

To be completely honest, a while back in order to cut down some of the extra bloat
I essentially butchered the VP files and combined them. What's left is a bit
of an unfinished mess that needs refinement.


Scooby - I'm amazed I missed that #20, I've scrolled all over that thing and
have been sitting at "LODs" for a bit.  Glows still are not completely clear
as to how they will work, particularly the PCS2 part. However I'll give it a shot first.

No subsystems... just a structure in space.
Looks like this minus the glow I need to add.

[Scooby_Doo]

Don't think I've seen that happen before.  You might want to try xform resetting the helper and the glowbank.  (remember to detach any children from them first and reattach afterwards).

Umm what just happened to the message I was responding too??? 

[JGZinv]

Something ate it...  
Nah actually I deleted it just after I posted it because I realized
that I didn't have the linking setup properly.

New question though, which might be pcs2 related.


Edit - nvr mind... I seem to have a habit of seeing my mistake after talking about it.
*sigh*

[chief1983]

Dude, that happens to me all the time.  Just get in the habit of talking to people about your problems, whether they care or not.  You'll save hours of wasted effort.

[JGZinv]

Yeah, I'm a very firm believer in "if you have tried all resources at
your disposal, and can't get anywhere ask for help."
On the other hand I don't like to seem like a nag or a fool either. *sigh*
A double edged sword.


Anyway, here's a question then. Backslash, myself, and probably Scooby all
could use to know how paths and docking points work.

So is PCS2 able to do these now without issue, and if so, is Bob's old PCS1 site
instructions still valid? That'd probably get us most of the way I think.
I'd rather learn the right way, rather than just keep copying from other models.

Moment of inertia calculating seems to have worked fine for me so far btw.

I've also asked for some additional information on how do you setup a glow point
in PCS2. The Max end according to the tut is covered... but I'm at a loss as to the pcs2 end.
Bob's old site doesn't even have a section on glows. Shame that thing can't get revised.

Edit *  OK still have some questions on glows.

What do these do and what is their usage?

Parent Subobject
Type
Properties ($glow_texture=  syntax used here?)

What are the requirements for the graphic? PCX,DDS, etc... size... color restrictions?
Is there a way to make the glow fade, or use animated files?

Is there a list of average mass values for fighters.. caps, weps?

The model above I setup with a table with surface shields, yet in game there's no effect
displayed when a weapon hits it. The shield does have a value, but it acts like it's only hitting hull.
Is a modeled shield mesh required even if you only want surface shields ?

[JGZinv]

In the instance of having a fighter with a shield mesh bubble....
I'm seeing that when you fire at the front... the rear quadrant reacts.
Same with the right side make the left trigger..

Seems it's all inverted even though the mesh is the same through conversion.
Any idea on a solution?

[JGZinv]

Solution to above - ship was rotated 180 degrees.


I'd also like to announce that I'm making a fighter tutorial for noobs starting out with Max from a
"never touched it" viewpoint. I plan on going all the way through till the model is in game
(sans tabling).

Basically I wanted something that explains the why, and not just "click this and that."

However, I could use some help with the paths and dockpoints explanation, as again I don't know if
Bob's old stuff is still relevant.

The questions on glow points above...

If there's a faster method of get a shield mesh to resemble a form fitting oval.. or other conforming method
other than scaling and editing the shield mesh by hand - that would be helpful as well.

I'm at page 34 already, probably will make a PDF out of it. Expect the length to be over 50 pages.
I'm up to the point of creating subsystems now.

So if you guys want some kind of documentation, I need a few things filled in okay?

[Akalabeth Angel]

Every time I hit save the thing crashes. Well, it saves the file, and then crashes. I hit debug and that doesn't do anything either.

I do have a new video card since my last intel inadequacy. Got an old one off my buddy. Version used is 2.1 Alpha (Jan 4 2009)

[chief1983]

And the 'alpha' in the build name didn't tip you off?  Get 2.0.3 (preferably the one with DAE support).  2.1 Alpha was never stable enough for everday use by itself, although the build does have a couple of nice features that mostly work.

[Akalabeth Angel]

And the 'alpha' in the build name didn't tip you off?  Get 2.0.3 (preferably the one with DAE support).  2.1 Alpha was never stable enough for everday use by itself, although the build does have a couple of nice features that mostly work.

Oh I thought I had the latest version of the software. Guess I'll have to look again.