Model Conversion Help

posted on March 22nd, 2010, 10:31 pm

I'm wanting to create a series of GMAX models to be converted to STA2.  The problem is, I don't have the tools necessary to do the conversion.  I can get the models into the Star-Trek Star Fleet Command MOD format, but I cannot get the models into the Star-Trek Armada 2 SOD format.  Can anyone here help me with converting my models to Star-Trek Armada 2?

posted on March 24th, 2010, 12:49 am

If you want to do it yourself get Milkshape 3d. Its around 30 bucks if I remember corectly and you can download a ton of importers and exporters off of the site which will handle most anything you will have need for. Though Ms3d is dif than Gmax.....but thats the only option I know of other than geting an older version of 3ds max and getting the necesary import and exports.

Ms3d can be found here and it does have a free 30 day trial.

chUmbaLum sOft

posted on March 24th, 2010, 1:01 am

also for importing .mod and any .sod (along with other file formats) i reconmend ultimate unwrap its fairly cheap but it stops mesh breakages during conversion that happens with ms3d sum times

posted on March 24th, 2010, 2:45 am

Could CV (if anyone knows what that program is) covert models???

posted on March 24th, 2010, 2:52 am

As far as I know, it can't. You can save an SOD as an MOD file but it typically won't work ingame. MOD to SOD also doesn't work.

posted on March 24th, 2010, 3:50 am

its not like it really matters because the website that use to host the d/l for it is gone

posted on March 24th, 2010, 11:21 am

cv was good but had issues and there are better programs out like ms3d and ultimate unwrap (3dmax5 can be found but difficult to locate and illegal so know one can post links here plus the number of ppl who can use it is dropping due to it dsnt work after windows xp)

posted on March 24th, 2010, 4:36 pm

yeah, if you use MS3D you can easily convert .mod files, but it doesn't always work, and it is very limited. if all you want to do is convert a model straight from  SFC then definitely use MS3D(there are exporter plugins at a2 files) but for editing models, use something else

posted on March 24th, 2010, 6:14 pm

Well, right now I can't afford anything.  So I'm stuck with gmax for modeling.  I don't see the point in downloading a trial if I can't afford to unlock it at the end.  And I have had some troubles getting the exporters to work with MS3D to the point where it's not even worth the effort.  And I can't find Max 5 anywhere.  I did find some Max 5 plugins that export SOD files, but they don't work in gmax 1.2.

Ultimate Unwrap is something I haven't heard of.  What formats can it convert?  And will it preserve animations?  Thanks for the suggestions.  I'll be looking into them and I'll post the results.

PS:  Will the gmax MOD exporter preserve animations and will MS3D preserve animations with converting from MOD to SOD and vise-versa?  Oh, and if you find a gmax SOD exporter, let me know.  I haven't been able to find any.

posted on March 24th, 2010, 7:15 pm

I don't know if ms3d will, but it is free for the first 30 days, you just need to use the old version over at a2 files

posted on March 24th, 2010, 8:51 pm

As far as I know Ms3d will break animations during conversions. I believe Ms3d is cheaper than Ultimate unwrap 3d and by the looks of it Ultimate unwrap wont do half of whats needed....So if you do manage to be able to scrounge up a few dozen dollars to spare I advise getting Ms3d. I cant comment on if ultimate unwrap breaks animations or not. I do know it dosent display node hirearchies fully or corectly so somehow I doubt it preserves animations but Id ask Blade as he may have more experience with fooling with it.

posted on May 16th, 2010, 4:45 am

I may be wrong but I think there's some functions your locked out of when using the trial version of milkshape. Another thing is that although you do get milkshape running right your still going to need an unofficial SOD importerexporter as using the one available will only allow you to work with stock SOD's and not fan made ones and I'm afraid that this particular plug-in was never really released to the general public.

Sorry I don't mean to dampen things here but I'm just trying to save you the trouble of having to find all this out later on down the line. Milkshape do support animations however not when converting and saving into SOD format and you can still get a hold of ms3d, it's just that(as Blade mentioned above)your going to have to be stradeling a very thin legal to illegal line and your going to have to ask somebody who has one to get your hands on that unofficial SOD plug-in. Hope this helps some.