Adding models to Dawn of War: Modelling in 3D Studio Max
In 3D studio Max.
You need to create a folder in "Dawn of War\ModTools\DataSrc\My_Mod\Art\EBPs\Races\Space_Marines\Troops" named after your new Marine. For now copy the Space Marine folder. Then save your model in the "Reference" folder as "Ref.max". The export requires your model be called Ref.max.
Since we are editing a normal Space Marine, copying its folder saves a lot time because you just copied all the models animation files. Also since I'm not covering animation at this time due to my own ignorance, it means we have some animations we can use that are known to work. Relic gave a useful tip about Bones and Animations which I'll talk about in the Object editor part of this doc and revisit the WTP tool issue too at that time.
Once you have done texture changes, use the materials editor in max to assign the Space_Marine_Unit.tga texture to your model. If it has a banner assign the SM_Banner.tga texture to the banner part too.
Notice how your not using any of the default tgas you edited? These are used by the game later, Max does not use them.
By assigning a model a texture of its own this way and not using some other models texture from some text pack included with the game you completely by pass the need to use the WPT Tool. More on this later.
Now go to Utils in 3D Studio Max and select Max Script. Utils is usually on the right of the Max screen and is a tiny icon, one of 5 I believe. Right at the end is the utils icon.
At the bottom on the right a new box should appear. Look down until you see Utilities with "Convert to mr Area Light" listed, Change this to Warhammer Model Export. A new box called Warhammer model export will appear.
Your models name will appear next to the word Exporting. Under Files you will see the word REF. If you select the pull down box next to REF all the animation files will be listed. Just leave it on REF and consider this part a check to make sure its got your model.
If you export more than one model, the export may not register that the models changed. So my advice is to always tick force full export and click on refresh. Saves a lot of explantion when your already confused. Tick the Force full export box now then click on export.
Max will now load in all your models files and animation files from the "Dawn of War\ModTools\DataSrc\My_Mod\Art\EBPs\Races\Space_Marines\Troops\Space_Marine\Animations" folder one at a time and export them. You will see max doing this. After it loads in the last file it will take a minute or so to write the exported model to disk. Wait for it to finish before proceeding, it can sometimes look like its finished when its not. Check your computers disk activity light if thats the case.
Errors: If you get an error whilst exporting the model from 3D studio Max make sure you have a _default.burn in "Dawn of War\ModTools\DataGeneric\mymod" and possibly in "Dawn of War\ModTools\DataGeneric\mymod\Art\EBPs\races\Space_Marines\Troops" too, since this can not only stop the export from working but it can stop the object editor from working too.
