Dynamic character creation

[Code_Man]

So i kinda thought for a long while to make character creation systems and t3d offers a whole lot in terms of doing things.

I think it would be helpful if we could make some kind of prototype system but i have no idea what it is exacatly.

What i thought of is using the builting system of putting pieces together as a script from a set of possible inputs.

I have quite a few cc0 character models i could donate for the task and work up some sort of tool if i know more what im aiming for.

There are so many ways it can be done in and outside t3d so im open for any suggestions, im also somewhat competent in processing model data so im very flexible.

Im very inexperienced with animations and the like, im finding out how all that works still, but t3ds halfbroken model editor makes it hard and my assets are flakey so its experimental.

It would help me if people kinda let me know what they think a builtin character creation tool would do and look like, but lets start simple with swappable parts for bodyparts.

[fLUnKnhaXYU]

I hope you get some responses . I imagine a lot of ideas have been crossed on this subject . So , I'd like to say that the current demo model really it do not have options other than color where just choosing a well colored or brilliantly lit tile of the suit color will be sufficient .

Edited February 18 by fLUnKnhaXYU

[Code_Man]

For starers my idea is to just hack the model editor and use it as base to make a new tool where you can swap bodypars and suchforth.

We just have it load models as usual and do it for a few such as torso, head, etc and you can mix and match from a set of loaded assets for each bodypart slot.

The output will be a script file using the TSShapeConstructor functionality to make a new model, but only programistically/virtual so no actual shape is generated(can be done too).

Later on if this works, animations and bones and the like could be edited in it too so you can make them move differently too.

Perhaps this could be integrated in part with the regular shape editor in some way. perhaps a character creation mode or something that can be enabled or some sort of plugin.

I havent gotten round trying much for myself yet, i know from the script reference there is a whole lot you can do with models if you really think about it, this being one of them.

[Duion]

I think Torque has the ability to hide model parts, so you make a 3D model with multiple parts like clothing already on it and then in the engine you hide/unhide what is needed but I never tried that function, but someone told me that is possible.

Regarding dynamic character looks like chaging face and such that is done by bones, so you add bones into the face and then you can change it in the engine, I heard that is how other games do it.

[Duion]

Ah I forgot you can also mount objects to the player so in case you want to rebuild TF2 hat simulator you can do that, just mount the hats to the head.

[fLUnKnhaXYU]

your opinion on , addMesh where one might acquire an object then add the appropriate mesh to some place or say select an available/appropriate mounting position . personally I think Id like the add an object with its possible ambient animation and maybe some datablock stuff . or both ? like are available through the scriptious . right Sir ?