Tutorial: Create your own models

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How to create your own models for Empires

Note
This tutorial isn't complete yet and can contain errors. Use at your own risk!

Step 1. Setup

Set up a folder to place your projectfiles and materials. I used VTFEdit and converted the .VTF 's to TGA 's, because your model editor don't know the VTF format. Make sure you used the same filenames (except the ending, like .TGA ).

Step 2. Create your model

You can use any modeleditors like

3D Studio Max
XSI
Milkshape
Misfit Model 3D

but you need to convert your model to a smd file at the end.

Texture your model and save it as smd-file.

Step 3. Prepare for compiling

Create a shortcut to studiomdl.exe, you can find it in <path to steam>\Steam\steamapps\<your steamname>\sourcesdk\bin\ep1\bin

Note
<your steamname> ist your Steam loginname. (ex: bob123 , \Steam\steamapps\bob123\sourcesdk\bin\ep1\bin)

Note
<path to steam> is the path to your Steamfolder (ex: C:\Program Files (x86)\ )

Rightclick your newly created shortcut and select Properties

Append this to the path in the Target-field:
-game <path to steam>\Steam\steamapps\SourceMods\Empires
click OK.

now place your smd file (my is named nf_radar.smd ) in this folder \Steam\steamapps\SourceMods and create a new file in the same folder named Empires.qc .
The Empires.qc file tells studiomdl how to handle your model. Use for example notepad to create this file. Copy and paste the example below, modify it, select Save As... . and save it as Empires.qc (make sure its not Empires.qc.txt !)

example content of Empires.qc

$modelname nf\buildings\radar\nf_radar.mdl
$cdmaterials nf\buildings
$staticprop
$scale 10.0
$body studio "nf_radar.smd"
$sequence idle "nf_radar.smd" fps 30
$collisionmodel "nf_radar.smd" {
$Mass 20
}

explanation of Empires.qc

$modelname is the path and name of your model as mdl. The model nf_radar.mdl will be placed in \Empires\nf\buildings\radar\nf_radar.mdl after compiling.

$cdmaterials is the path to your materials (VTF 's). Here it's \Empires\nf\buildings.

$scale Scales your model by this factor.

$body main-smd

$sequence smd with animation

$collisionmodel smd file with a collisionmodel

Step 4. Compile your model

Execute your created shortcut to studiomdl. studiomdl will compile your smdfile to mdl format and place it in the specified folder.