Module Questions

[Master Zionosis]

This has been said many times, TG is not doing the droid planet, there doing the HK factory witch is completely different.

[glovemaster]

My point is, there still making modules from scratch...

[Dashus]

No we are not. The military base and droid factory in 298TEL and 299TEL respectively already (fully) exist. We are merely implementing the content that is present in the modules. This statement applies to all the modules we are dealing with.

[Darkkender]

To answer Master Z's question. The actual model format for area models just like player animations has not been fully cracked. TG has only met with limited success if what we have seen in there screenshots is real for animations. However the problem with area models is that we haven't met much success with recompiling back our custom area models.

[glovemaster]

I thought a module file was realy information about the position (x,y and z) of the mdl's that make up the module its self, so if you create all of the mdl's required, all you would need to do would be to create the file with the infomation concerning the location of each mdl. I think the .lyt files determine that.

[Darkkender]

The Layout file defines how the different models used in an area are pieced together. Most area's consist of 10-20 different models not including the walkmesh models. Your layout file is a simple text file that tells the game how these models are placed. The actual "Mod" file contains alot of similiar data as the layout as well as various other information defining what objects are present within the module. Altogether serious module editing requires alot of familiarity with various aspects of modding the SW Knights games.

[Darth InSidious]

IMO, in some ways, the fact that we can't create entirely new modules is a blessing, as it would effectively kill new area mods.

[glovemaster]

I suppose, but this is why games are easily outdated, because people are bord with the planets/areas and the storyline never changes (Bioware tryed tho counter this with multiple endings). If we could create out own modules then KotOR wouldn't be outdated because we could change it all the time, over the years.

[Darth InSidious]

But the amount of time, effort and energy required would kill the possibility of ANY new area mods.

 

There's simply too much involved in it. There would be none made. And with reskinning and the rudimentary lightmapping that can be done already, existing areas can be used and reused indefinitely without becoming old.

[Darkkender]

I actually have to disagree with you DI. The fact that we can't create our own area models and import them into the game yet is one of many reasons that many veterans giveup frequently. The fact that nobody in the community has really picked up the reigns and continued to tackle the model format is sad. I myself started however since my own skills in programming is still very much lacking and I haven't even gotten far enough out of the gate for my goals.

 

IMHO we need to get these model formats cracked so we can do more with the game when it comes to modding. More people would take an interest in some of the aspects of modding if we could provide them the means to mod what they are good at or what they want to mod.

[RedHawke]

I have to agree with DK on this... the ability to create new modules would definitely fire me up to create a ton of things for these games.

[Darth InSidious]

So...by making it more difficult and complicated to create a new area mod, we'd attract more modders?

 

Sorry, don't see it.

 

Even if it were so, what we'd end up with would be being swamped with blank maps released as complete mods, which, IMO, aren't much better than not releasing a mod at all.

[deathdisco]

I think I see DI's point. New area with no content equals boring mod. Which makes sense with an RPG vs maps for a FPS. All though I'm sure Redhawke would have plenty of ideas if he had a new area to work with. But if we really wanted to create new areas, I don't see why we wouldn't model placeables to sit over existing areas. You would be limited to the geography of the areas we all ready have but even those could be re arranged using the .lyt file. More trouble thatn it's worth, I'm sure but theoretically possible.

[Darkkender]

I think you missed some of our point DI if we could create new area models then we likely could create new maps and many other aspects of modding that go into a new area. It wouldn't be blank maps with nothing to it.

[Darth InSidious]

We would end up with either a lot of mods like that, though, or more people would give up module editing because it would take too much time and effort to do. Yes, a few might make one or two new modules, but in the end it would be far fewer people.