[3DS] Collision: the easy way out using gundalf's exporter

[gundalf]

[TITLE]Installation[/TITLE]
Download the plugins here and copy them to your 3dsmax\plugins directory. Do not copy the folder contained in the archive.

[TITLE]Max Setup[/TITLE]

Go to the "Utilities" tab, click on "Configure Button Sets". Drag the "NifProps" item into one of the slots on the right.

[GALLY]exptut01.jpg[/GALLY]

[TITLE]Creating Collision Meshes[/TITLE]

See this thread for info on how to create them. You don't need to group them, though. Go to the "Utilities" tab and activate the NifProps plugin. Select your collision mesh and check "Is Collision Mesh". Adjust the "Material" and "Layer" attributes. For a discussion of layers and materials see this thread.

[GALLY]exptut02.jpg[/GALLY]

[TITLE]Exporting a .nif[/TITLE]

Go to "File->Export" and select "Gambryo File (*.nif)". Click Save, and the exporter dialog will pop up. Adjust the options and click "Export".

[GALLY]exptut03.jpg[/GALLY]

[TITLE]Exporter options[/TITLE]

Generate Strips
Creates triangle strips from the mesh, if checked. Creates triangle lists otherwise. You should leave this checked

Include Hidden
Exports hidden objects. Note that hidden collision objects are always exported, unless the "Export Collision" option is unchecked.

Vertex Colors
Exports vertex colors, if the mesh has them.

Remap Indices
Reorders triangle strips for better vertex cache locality. You should leave this
checked.

Texture Prefix
This string is added to the beginning of referenced textures.


[TITLE]Additional Notes[/TITLE]

Set the layer value to "NonCollidable", if you want to be able to walk through your objects, while still being able to activate them.

If your collision mesh comes out deformed, go to the utilities tab, choose "Reset XForm" and click "Reset Selected". This should fix it.