More Modding Support?

[cross888 10]

Those who would like to play Arma 3 before release have the opportunity to participate in the Arma 3 Alpha. Set on the island of Stratis (20 km²), the Arma 3 Alpha features a limited selection of playable content – including 4 single player showcase missions, 2 co-operative multiplayer scenarios and a subset of weapons and vehicles. The powerful scenario editor and

modding support are also present

.

Hiyar,

I was wondering when BI is going to release some new modding tools and some more sample models. Not that I'm saying you haven't assisted the community in any way you've done more then most.

I live off the principle that if you don't ask you don't get and and the answers always no till you ask.

Sample models for example:

Tracked Vehicles

Some more Charicator models for clothing etc.

And maybe the Stock Bluefor Plate carrier?

I'm aware there's already sample models out there like the vest and naked guys legs and arms i was just wondering if BI could release something more user friendly? Also is there an estimated time of arrival for the new tools if there are any?

Thank you.

Ps not sure if there was a thread for this but I searched any way and my search came up inconclusive.

[Messiah 2]

Well, modding support is available in so much that A3 allows you to mod it. The developer tutes we've had thus far on characters and wheeled vehicles are far and beyond anything we've ever had before from BIS, and are superbly written (Thank you Petka).

Someone in the deepest and darkest of threads, it was mentioned that the tools would be ready when they're ready, but that the gentlemen and ladies involved in refining those for public consumption (we've always received a slightly toned down version of O2 - that once meant you had no extrude function) were also involved in A3 development, and their time is inherently better spent coding (one assumes) the engine than producing a set of tools for us as quickly as possible.

The current tools work fine(ish). If I can assume anything (and I've been doing this for the better part of ten years) then rigging a tracked vehicle is not that different to a wheeled vehicle, and therefore the tutorial that's been released. The bogies, returners and idlers are just wheels at the end of the day, they use dampers just as a car would, and armoured vehicle turrets are no different from any A2 ones. I hope that we've left rotating texture tracks behind and have fully modeled ones now, so I'll leave that to a BIS explanation.

Very little has changed, besides physX and a few visual bells and whistles - the old tutorials still work, the old sample model will tell you 99% of how to create an addon and rig it, and petka's tutorial fills in the rest.

However, don't misunderstand that I'd love to see new sample models, that goes without saying. I've long asked that for A2 it would be just as informative for BIS to release basic square blocks, single view LOD with the correct rigging, naming conventions and memory points - we don't need a 15,000 face beautifully textured P3D to understand the basics... just something, well, basic :) (I've had a mind to do a series of basic models like this myself, but never found the energy)

Edited April 11, 2013 by Messiah

[cross888 10]

Roger dodger Messiah.

I still wouldn't mind some more sample models to examine how things work. Some fella released his M16 as a sample and that helped tons with weapon creation in a template kind of way.

[Messiah 2]

Aye, see my edit, more sample models are always great, but I assure you that the original sample models, the tutorials we've had (I forgot to mention we also had a weapon one too) and the kind souls on this forum do a sterling job of filling in many a blank.

[Binkowski 26]

There already is a plate carrier sample model... it's the tactical vest. Gives you enough to understand how to get YOUR work into the game.

I think they should update visitor. IIRC that's one of the reasons OPX left the community years ago is BI's lack of updating the Visitor software for island makers.

[cross888 10]

There already is a plate carrier sample model... it's the tactical vest. Gives you enough to understand how to get YOUR work into the game.

I think they should update visitor. IIRC that's one of the reasons OPX left the community years ago is BI's lack of updating the Visitor software for island makers.

Didn't VBS2 Have a map generator?

Or any easier way to make terrain to Tailor operations to troops.

[Messiah 2]

True, but there is a rather difficult conflict of interests at stake with Visitor, given they're selling Visitor 4 at a hefty price, whereas O2 doesn't really compete with programs such as 3DSMax and the like.

[kremator 1065]

Just make our visitor4 for Arma3 only able to make Arma3 content and not be able to export/import VBS content.

[sproyd 2]

Patience is a virtue. BIS are expecting to release Beta in Q2 which will have loads more content. Btw we are in Q2 right now so in the next 3 months. If you are lucky you may even see more official content prior to Beta launch.

[cross888 10]

Patience is a virtue. BIS are expecting to release Beta in Q2 which will have loads more content. Btw we are in Q2 right now so in the next 3 months. If you are lucky you may even see more official content prior to Beta launch.

I might be dead by then. ;)

I aimed the question at BI to try and get some gen out of them. Its not about being inpatient its about time management, I'd rather get as much done as soon as possible, and MOD tools and More Example Models would speed up the process significantly.

Why reinvent the wheel?

[seamusgod 1]

a sample pack containing arma 2 mlods would be great. mainly the marines, so we can cannibalize their iotv for a head start on getting more current grunt gear into the game.

[[frl]myke 14]

I think you misunderstood what "Mod Support" as advertised for the alpha means. It means that A3 Alpha already can load and use user created content aka Mods & Addons.

I'm sure you do understand that BI Developers actually have higher priority tasks to do. Rumours say they have a game to develop.

Meanwhile the community is already pretty active to figure things out by themself, you can find those bits and bytes in the editing section.

I'm sure BI will extend the BIWIKI as soon they have free manpower to assign to this task. At least they did in the past and i don't see why it would be any different this time.

I think there isn't much more to say so i think it's safe to close this thread.