3D modelling - HELP!

[Fyron]

You might want to skip Doga and start with a modeler that will be capable of making ships useable in SE5 (such as Wings3d)...

Randallw said:
Will current software for SE4 models be usable for SE5 models?

Depends. Doga is not, but a large portion of modelers (hard to say whether it is the majority or not) have used "game" modeling programs that will be capable of making models with low polygon counts, thus will be useable in SE5.

[CovertJaguar]

I've not used it, but you might try GMax. It is basically a scaled-back Version of 3D Studio Max that is offered for free, for game modding. It can model, but lacks the rendering capabilities of 3D Studio Max. Just something to look into.

EDIT: Maybe not, I looked a little closer and it appears that it will only export to specific game formats. Whether or not one of those formats is .x or a format that can be convert to .x easily I do not know.

EDIT2: I know for a fact that it will export into M3D.

EDIT3: Look what I found, GMax to X-File. I appears that gmax can be made to export to x-file. Happy Modeling.

[AgentZero]

Or you can try http://www.gentrycitylimits.com/DemoSoftwareA.htm for a demo of Bryce 4. The setup the guy's got for downloading/installing it is a bit annoying, but I'd personally recommend it for beginners. It's only real drawback is a lack of export capability, so there's really no way of getting Bryce models into .X format. I've just posted a question on the Bryce forum to see if the upcoming Version will address this or not.

[Ed Kolis]

K-3D (http://k3d.sourceforge.net) supports .X, is free, and is quite powerful (there are some advanced matrix features and stuff I don't even UNDERSTAND ); unfortunately I can't stand the user interface (it seems to take about 40 clicks in various arcane places to get ANYTHING done! ). However, the developers are working on a new UI for Version 0.6 of the program, and I'm going to try out the CVS Version; if I can make a Windows build of it and it seems useful even in its development state I'll let you know...

[TurinTurambar]

Thanks for all the support and replies folks. I started DOGA and have already built a Troop for the ragtag fleet. (Oh wait... do we still need a troop?)

The question is: Now that I've modelled it in DOGA, how do I turn it into a file that can be viewed here? I know next to nothing about this stuff. I think this does .X whatever that means.

So now what?

Thanks,
Turin

[TurinTurambar]

Didn't know what else to do so here's a screenshot.

Turin[img]/threads/images/Graemlins/icon42.gif[/img]

[Ed Kolis]

Ooh, nice