Polysoup, StaticShapes, Difs and DTSes basic concepts
by Steve · in Artist Corner · 06/19/2009 (7:07 am) · 5 replies
I am not an artist. I have an artist working with me, she is a good artist, but new to 3ds Max, so she is looking to me to explain to her what T3D needs. I find myself, even after combing thru old posts, sort of confused. I am wondering if anyone could please help me with the following basic concepts (all referring only to T3D):
1. Polysoup can be used for all TSStatic Shapes just by clicking the box in World Editor, the artist doesn't have to worry about anything, true or false?
2. Polysoup can NOT be enabled for StaticShape models with a click in the editor, true or false?
3. Polysoup means the render mesh itself serves as the collision mesh?
4. Polysoup CAN be enabled for StaticShapes via some other method, but what is necessary to enable it? A collision mesh? A script file?
5. If I make a building as a DTS imported via Collada, and I want an animated door on it that swings open and shut, how do I implement this? Do I need 2 render meshes, where one would be the building as a TSSTatic while the door would be a StaticShape?
6. If a building is a TStatic DTS and I enable Polysoup on it, will this enable collisions with the walls from both the inside and the outside?
7. I have seen warnings against having concave meshes. Is it the render mesh, the collision mesh or both meshes that should not be concave?
8. Is the inside corner of a building where 2 walls meet a concavity?
6. Is it still important to not have concave meshes?
7. Under what circumstances do I still need to worry about concavities?
1. Polysoup can be used for all TSStatic Shapes just by clicking the box in World Editor, the artist doesn't have to worry about anything, true or false?
2. Polysoup can NOT be enabled for StaticShape models with a click in the editor, true or false?
3. Polysoup means the render mesh itself serves as the collision mesh?
4. Polysoup CAN be enabled for StaticShapes via some other method, but what is necessary to enable it? A collision mesh? A script file?
5. If I make a building as a DTS imported via Collada, and I want an animated door on it that swings open and shut, how do I implement this? Do I need 2 render meshes, where one would be the building as a TSSTatic while the door would be a StaticShape?
6. If a building is a TStatic DTS and I enable Polysoup on it, will this enable collisions with the walls from both the inside and the outside?
7. I have seen warnings against having concave meshes. Is it the render mesh, the collision mesh or both meshes that should not be concave?
8. Is the inside corner of a building where 2 walls meet a concavity?
6. Is it still important to not have concave meshes?
7. Under what circumstances do I still need to worry about concavities?
#2
06/20/2009 (4:56 pm)
Well #2 is different than #1 because in #2 im asking about StaticShape objects but in #1 about TSStatic. StaticShapes, as I understand it, can be animated but not TSStatics. Thanks for your response, this gives me a good starting point. 
#4
06/22/2009 (11:24 am)
The only thing you ever need to worry about being concave is the collision mesh (without polysoup). If you have a corner in a building you have to use multiple collision meshs because you can't have a concave collision mesh... I havn't used polysoup, but from what i have read, you should be ok with concave meshs...
#5
06/22/2009 (1:11 pm)
Thanks. And, is there any way to enable Polysoup on StaticShapes that are animated? (not to be confused with TStatic) 
Torque Owner Mike Rowley
Mike Rowley
2. ?? Is this the same as #1? You place your shape, tick the polysoup box in the world editor.
3. True. No collision box needed
4. No. Unless you are adding the model thru a script.
5. Yes.
6. Yes
7. Collision mesh
8, 9, and 10. Don't know this one.