Level of Detail Models

[Springheel]

Tels, we need to establish a folder for the LOD models before 1.04. I've made a folder in models/misc/lod_models/... Does that work for you? You can either put all the models there or break it up further /lod_models/furniture, etc, if you prefer. Since mappers won't generally select them from the model viewer, it's not as important how they're organized.

[Tels]

Tels, we need to establish a folder for the LOD models before 1.04. I've made a folder in models/misc/lod_models/... Does that work for you? You can either put all the models there or break it up further /lod_models/furniture, etc, if you prefer. Since mappers won't generally select them from the model viewer, it's not as important how they're organized.

 

I'll do whatever you say in this regard. Do you want to move the model files, or should I do it?

 

Also, do you say that we only move the "lesser LOD stages" there and keep the "original model" where it is?

 

For new models, we can move all of them there, but for old models we need to keep the original where it is. That would lead to the situatin that "modelfoo" is sep. (modelfoo in models/kitched, but modelfoo_low in models/misc/lod_models), but f.i. modelbaz is entirelyin models/misc/lod_models)

 

So my proposal would be to keep the originals where they are and only put lesser stages into lod_models, and for new models do so, too, put the original wherever it belongs and only move the lowpoly version(s) into lod_models.

[Springheel]

So my proposal would be to keep the originals where they are and only put lesser stages into lod_models, and for new models do so, too, put the original wherever it belongs and only move the lowpoly version(s) into lod_models.

 

Agreed.

[Baddcog]

Yeah, best to have to good looking model where mapper will see it and use it. Then the LOD is basically an in game only thing (unless a mapper has a strange desire to use a lower lod version in their map, in which case they should be punished by having to dig for it, lol)

[Tels]

@Springheel: I do not see the new folder yet.

 

Did you mean "models/darkmod/misc/lod_models"?

 

Also, if possible, I'd use "models/darkmod/misc/lod/" as this is shorter to type and doesn't contain "models" twice.

[Springheel]

Ok, the folder is now up. I can't remember how to move things in SVN, though.

 

edit: scratch that, SVN is down....again.

[demagogue]

Must have just happened then, since I committed something hardly 20 minutes ago.

[Springheel]

I spoke too fast. It sat at zero for a while but went through eventually.

[Tels]

I spoke too fast. It sat at zero for a while but went through eventually.

 

Ok, thanx, I get onto it over the next days.

 

For Linux users, it is:

 

svn mv file/on/old/path/filename.som file/on/new/path/newfilename.som

 

Of course, all occurances of that file name in maps and entities must also be changed, which can be a challange..

[Springheel]

Tels, this model:

 

D trunk/models/darkmod/misc/lod/weed_dandelion01_lowpoly.lwo

 

needs to stay in the nature folder. I know it looks like a LOD model, but it's actually been there for years, and has been used in several maps going back to St. Lucia. If it's moved then you have to find all the maps it's been used in and fix them, which doesn't seem worth the effort.

[Tels]

Tels, this model:

 

 

 

needs to stay in the nature folder. I know it looks like a LOD model, but it's actually been there for years, and has been used in several maps going back to St. Lucia. If it's moved then you have to find all the maps it's been used in and fix them, which doesn't seem worth the effort.

 

Ah, ok, I suspected it already, but forgot to post yesterday night. Moved it back now.

[Baddcog]

Spring, could you rename or add to the name of the thread (Level of Detail)? I tried searching lod but search function...

 

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Anyway, it's almost impossible to trace down any conversations on this subject. Recent mapping/modelling has made me (re) aware of issues with LOD in TDM.

 

1: I seem to have put the medium LOD stage of my wrought iron hanger in models. Then the high and low versions in the LOD folder for the entity. Recently I had placed it in my map as a model and was wondering why i wasn't seeing the change in game. DERP. Also wondering why it seemed lower poly than it should be.

 

i know I took quite a break there but i made them and even forgot you had to place an entity. Now that can be fixed just by renaming the models and fixing the names in the def (basically making any used hangers hi poly and adjustments in the def shouldn't break maps).

 

SO...

 

How can we make it easier on mappers to choose LOD models (we obviously want to push this feature).

 

Are any mappers using the few we have?

 

 

2: OK, well I guess it's just one issue. but still... make LOD's, they are stashed away in entity/static/blah blah.. And with only a few models is it worth it for people to look?

LOD's are so much work and if mappers aren't aware what's the point? (i know future perf. etc... but realistically)

 

We can tag entities as having LOD stages (but the mapper already knows if they can find them), but the mappers are looking at models. how can we tag THEM to say 'has LOD entity'?

 

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it's somewhat like people saying 'I didn't know TDM had difficulty settings'. but at least that is in a main menu up front. if they don't see that they aren't paying attention.

 

But LOD's are just hidden. It's like TDM's dirty little secret.