General initiation of 3D Studio Max
So, the stupid thing is I have 3D Studio Max 6, so somethings can be different! And some things i do complicated where they works easier, but this Tutorial is basically for the general elements of 3dsmax and should help beginners to understand other Tutorials better.
And sometimes this technics are also useful...
Naturally an map is not build in one piece, it´s splitted in quadrates that you combine later, but this is only a help to understand the basics so it doesnt matter. (You can use this on a one piece map and on a splitted map!)
In 3D Studio Max you have 4 windows. You can change the view of each window while right clicking on the status on the top left of each window and then change it under "Views". Only one window is active you can change the active one while clicking into an other. (If you use the left button you will lose your selection!)
On the bottom right of the Programm are different functions, they make the work easier! - With the lens you can zoom in and out (there are also shortcuts like shift + Mouse but i like the other way better), the hand is to move the camera without changing the angle of vision, the circle with the 3 arrows is called Arc Rotate with that you can change the angle of vision.
The cube with the ckequered field is " Zoom Extends All", that will change alle windows that you can see ALL (or you could see but some things are invisible from the back side!) - fine when you extend something, or when you lose your orientation.
The 2 quadrangles extend the active window to the Maximum or back to standard vision. (This function you will use often because it is easier to work when you have a bigger view!)
So... for the time being enough to the general programm.
General things for map creating
You can start a map with a plane or with a flat box.
This things you can create with:
a)Create Standard Primitves Plane/Box
b)At the Symbol with the mouse cursor with the star in the toolbar. (Red circle on the picture)
Under it you see the register Object Type now. There you can choose Box and Plane. You can insert them by click pull in one of the windows.
Most times they haven´t the right size - for that is the Modify Register- that is the blue quarter circle next to the mouse cursor with the star. (The red circle on the screenshot below) so that something in here you have to select the object. (How you can do that pleasant is listed below)
Now i made an Plane.
In the field with the green circle you can change name and basic colour (you only have to change it when you cant see it as well because we will put some textures on it)
You can select somethings by clicking the left mouse button on an object. (The key on the top bar with the mouse cursor in it have to be yellow) or, i think its better with the shortcut "H" and then select manual or type in the first letters. (You can also see hidden objects in the list!)
In the parameter-rolloutmenu - turquoise circle - you can change manual length and width (if you have an box also height.) the rest is still unimportant - beside the number of faces, because there is an Limit. But you will never reach them with a plane so have no fear of it ;)
Here you can also change the Length and Width segments - it´s very important! Because here you can set up how much parts your level should have - with that you can do more modification options. On every cut surface of the segments there will be an Vertice - that we use to vary the level!
so when you want that the level looks roundly and when you want much details - choose many segments (Total Segments = LengthSegs*WidthSegs - you can forget the Heigth segments because you never want to edit them because the PC will never walk 90% uphill) if you only want a raw form, choose not so many. I advise at the beginning only every 5 - 10m one Vertice (You can ever input more but more vertices need more computing power to create them)
If you want to see the segments (and also the cut surface (Vertices)) you can change the viewport into the wirframe mode (next screenshot orange circle) (SHORTCUT "F3"). Later you will model in that view because it´s clearer.
Because the last 2 sections were a bit much, here are some nice tips.
Gothic uses the cm unit. If you want you can change that under Customize/UnitsSetup.
If you want to Move something, you can do that like that:
a) Select, Right Click, Move
b) In the top bar der is a button with 4 arrows. (Next screenshot blue circle)
then there appear 2 axes that you can move together or parted.
And you should now what size your level should have because its not so easy to change it later.
Now you make a Plane with 150000cm * 150000cm - it will be walkable - but i only want to demonstrate mountains. (If it´s to big in the window press the Zoom Extends All Button)
If youre sure now that the size and the orientation of the map is ok then we will select the map and right click/Convert/Convert to Editable Mesh (turquoise circle)
Now the Modify Panel will change (if you forgot where it is 2nd Screenshot, red circle) in place of length and so on we now have some different.
(You can minimize the Rollouts by clicking on the line)
Now der is a drop down list that is called Editable Mesh this is the window where all modifiers of the mesh were shown. (Dont worry if you dont understand it now it´s still unimportant)
Now we will roll out the rollout menu thats called "Editable Mesh" now there are 5 selections. (Vertex, Edge, Face, Polygon and Element) we only need the first one (vertex) and the fourth one (polygon).
When you click on the first now (vertex) then everywere appear blue points (blue circle) that are the Vertices.
Dont Panic if you have more or less then me on the screenshot here. My map is not normed und couldn´t be use wise in Gothic. (It´s only 15m * 15m big) You only choose an bigger/smaller object or you have more Length/Width segments then me.
With that Vertices we will do a lot of things now - you cann move them up and down (Valleys,Mountains or Rivers) you can also do caves.
If you want to copy some vertices then select some of them (you can select more by holding ctrl) then move them as you hold the shift key. Then there is adialog if you want to copy them as an new element or as an new copy. We choose as element.
If you want to combine vertices use the Weld function in the "Edit Geometry" rollout (green circle). You have to select the vertexes you want to combine then you type in the radius and then press selected.
The perfect radius depends on the space between the vertexes you want to combine. If you did something wrong you can use ctrl + z to go one step back.
It also works with the to arrows below "File" on the top left.
Now theres still the Soft Selection rollout, thats pretty cool, because you can affect the vertices in steps (so all will be soft and roundly, some vertices will be affect completely, the other half and a few onloy a bit) that will do an soft transfer. (perfect for hills, and vor the ground of water areas) because the PC can easier come out of the water!
Then select Use Soft Selection the falloff is the same like the radius where the vertices will be affected.
You can change this value with Pinch - the effectiveness falls down quick and Bubble - change slowly (You have to try that out.)
The effectiveness is shown with colors:
Red - Strong affected
Orange - much affected
Yeallow - middle affected
Purple - a little affected
What i still want to say is that mountains not looks so high in the programm so make tests when you create mountains!
I think you can now do some things, only try it out. For question dont be scared of asking me :)
I hope i could help you a bit to understand the general things.
PS: The water level is an 2 sided plane works pretty good with the Clone Flip method
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Original text by Raistlin
Translated by DerNamenloseModder
DerNamenloseModder: I hope you can understand my english and it will help the english community to make more mods :)
