I Want To Start Modding For ARMA 3

[Leaulux 2]

Hey guys, I want to become a Modding Developer and have absolutely no experience ;)

Should I wait for BI to release the Tools for Arma 3 or will the stuff from ARMA 2 work okay?

I have already googled and searched for some tutorials to get started but most of them are outdated :o Basically I need to learn how to Model, Texture, Code, and am really enthusiastic but feel like it will take a very long time.

[arttem 1]

Yes. It take a very long time. If you don't know how to code or make models, you don't need to learn modding tool's, i guess you need to start from "3d program for dummies", "photoshop for dummies" and another things.

Cheers.

[A.Fudge 10]

EDIT** Only just noticed that this is in the Mission Editing section, in which case most of what I've written is useless. However the arma 3 editor is a lot like the previous ones. There is an arma mission bible somewhere which will definitely help with creating missions. It doesn't take very long to create a mission thanks to the editor. You don't need to know modeling / texturing (that is detailed below from before I red the forum section). Code is useful, and will make missions much better, but can be learned as you go along. **EDIT

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I not long ago started modding for the Arma engine (Iron Front) and a lot of the resources go all the way back to OFP and they were still relevant. It seems much of the old content can be converted into Arma 3 content with little problems (maybe not so much vehicles due to PhysX) so don't disregard any tutorials you find.

From what I gather most people model outside of the BI tools, and then import them in. Same with texturing. Code is another beast, but depending on what you plan on doing depends on how vital it is to know. If you wanted to create whole new modules or somthing it would obviously take priority over if you wish to create say a helmet.

Modeling I can vouch for Blender, it's free and I prefer it to other packages. If you;ve got the money or are a qualified student you can get 3DSMax for free. There are plenty of tutorials on the net. For blender I used CGCookie. They have just recorded a new 'begginers' course http://cgcookie.com/blender/cgc-series/blender-basics-introduction-beginners/

You can unwrap in these programs as well.

Texturing there is Gimp (free) and Photoshop (not free). Again there are tutorials on the net for these. Though practice is the best tutorial for anything.

When you have learned the basics there are some Arma sample models available that you can look at to see how things go together.

Code can be done in Notepad (I use Notepad ++), however there are specialised programs for arma scripting.

Yes it will take a while, but I believe it is worth it and very fun.

Edited March 7, 2013 by A.Fudge

[Leaulux 2]

Thanks for the information. How hard is it code new animations or new AI behavior?

For example, I want to make Zombies so it seems I would have to make a completely new NPC from scratch.

[Lt_Damage 0]

Animation is fairly tricky and with Arma3 the unit models are more complex. We've been given some sample models from Arma 1 and a sample skeleton, have an idea of the bone structure of the units so that we can create animations for Arma 2 but we don't have the same for Arma3 yet. I am sure with all the new stance animations and other changes that the skeleton is completely revamped so we'll need to wait before we can create an animation.

In the meantime there is nothing stopping you downloading the current tools and learning on those and trying them out in Arma2. With that knowledge you'll be able to pick up what is needed for Arma3 a lot quicker.

[loki 1]

my advice:

find a teamspeak or vent server with a group of people (clan) that does modding and scripting and hang out with them. voice comms tends to be less frustrating when learning.

good luck

[Xender 10]

Hello, im too interest in moding arma, but i don't know how to start it. (Im game dev student so im able to make something :P).

I have few questions:

1) Mods like DayZ is written as mission file or it a code written outisde a game? For example, bandages, blood bags, zombies etc it's all scripts written in mission editor and connected with assets or it's something more?

2) How to start wrtting mod or new features, from mission editor or as external files source files?