Trying to create LOD models.

[Odin]

1. I know hardly anything of Blender.
2. I know how to(limitedly) use the Decimate modifier.

Problem: Tremulous does not have LOD models. This causes a significant performance impact, at least on older systems. So, I am trying to create LOD models for the current 1.1.0 models in Tremulous. I have successfully imported md3 models into Blender, and have been able to use Decimate on them, however, I cannot apply the modifier because of "Shape Keys". I don't know what these are(something about animation?), and apparently you can't use Decimate on objects with shape keys. How can I get around this problem?

If anyone ever thought about doing this as well, you can make LOD models for Q3 engine games by exporting the model as the same filename as the main full-poly model, but with a _# at the end of the filename, before the extension. Example: reactor.md3, reactor_1.md3, reactor_2.md3.

[X-20]

hm.. ive toiled around in blender for awhile.. are you sure your in edit mode?

[Odin]

You can't apply modifiers in edit mode...

[X-20]

Lies, in my blender you can make/apply them in edit mode just fine at the bottem right of the blender inferface.

[Shadowgandor]

My blender can only make fruit juice and the likes

[Odin]

Lies, in my blender you can make/apply them in edit mode just fine at the bottem right of the blender inferface.

Nope, not in mine.

[X-20]

Well what version of it do you have >.> 

[X-20]

Are you sure it wont work? :S
EDIT: [selfownage] i forgot to put it in edit mode for the pic .. still its in the same place in edit mode.[/selfownage]

[tyranis]

Odin you can(in 2.5 atleast). Also, I'm not sure decimate will give you very high quality results for this application.

[Odin]

tyranis: That's what I am trying to achieve. Low-quality models for far level-of-detail. The decimate modifier works in the preview but not if I hit Apply. The results are satisfactory in the preview. I am using Blender 2.45, Ubuntu 7.04.

[tyranis]

Odin: Once you apply a modifier it modifies the mesh itself, this is probably messing up the shape keys that are used for animation. In this application, it would be feasible to remove all the shape keys since model animations would be unnecessary at long distance.

[Odin]

An example of something that does: the Reactor.

Also, when people use lower quality 3D settings in the System menu it will force higher r_lodBias modes. r_lodBias 0 uses all LOD models, starting from the main full-poly model and working up from _1 to however many LOD models there are. r_lodBias 1 forces _1 as the main high-poly model, and so on. So if people are not using the High setting for Geometric Detail(which does nothing since there are no LOD models to use for Geometric Detail anyway), they will lose animations.

Also, hitting "Play Animation" in the View menu plays the animation with the Decimate preview.

[jal]

1. I know hardly anything of Blender.
2. I know how to(limitedly) use the Decimate modifier.

Problem: Tremulous does not have LOD models. This causes a significant performance impact, at least on older systems. So, I am trying to create LOD models for the current 1.1.0 models in Tremulous. I have successfully imported md3 models into Blender, and have been able to use Decimate on them, however, I cannot apply the modifier because of "Shape Keys". I don't know what these are(something about animation?), and apparently you can't use Decimate on objects with shape keys. How can I get around this problem?

If anyone ever thought about doing this as well, you can make LOD models for Q3 engine games by exporting the model as the same filename as the main full-poly model, but with a _# at the end of the filename, before the extension. Example: reactor.md3, reactor_1.md3, reactor_2.md3.

This is the best initiative for Tremulous I've seen since I've first heard of the game. A obscure task which probably won't report you big recognition (the power of LODs is very underrated), but something that will really help everyone. Thnx even if you never get it finished.
I wish I could be of any help, but I know almost nothing about Blender.

[Jimmg]

Using the Decimate modifier is a horrible way to make LODS, I suggest against it.