1. Creating the geometry in XSI
FX geometry does not require collision, lowrez, shadowvolumes or even a dummyroot.
They are simply geometry, though the point to which you want to attach the geometry to a hard point on another model for example a flyer's hp_exhaust, should be at the center of the grid located at 0,0,0.
Create the geometry in the shape that you need for a custom effect, then apply your texture to it, then flag all of the polygons for transparency, freeze all transforms then click on the object and export, giving it a name.
2. Preparing your msh for Particle Editor
I won't go into how to setup or even use the Particle Editor because there are other threads containing this information in the Modding forum, but before you can load your fx geometry into PE you must pre-munge the msh.
Just place the msh and texture into one of your custom sides and then munge that side.
After munging your side go to:
- data_ABC/_BUILD/sides/[your side]
- YourEffectMsh.model
YourEffectMsh.model.req
(for more information about PE's Munged folder please search the Modding forum)
*If you try to load a *.msh into PE without the pre-munged files in the Munged folder then PE will crash.*
3. Loading your new msh into Particle Editor
Launch PE and create or open your effect and browse to and load your msh into PE and do whatever you need to.
- Example for how to incorporate a msh into your effect:
Hidden/Spoiler:
4. Adding your new effect to your custom side
Once you're satisfied with your new effect save it to the appropriate location, lets say it's a new exhaust effect for a ship in a custom side you've made, save it to your custom side's effects folder and make sure that your custom fx msh is also in your custom side's effects folder along with whatever texture it requires, unless your using common textures.
Then do whatever ODF work that you need to in order to call for the custom effect, munge your custom side and go play, and look at your new effect ingame.
5. Conclusion & result
I was determined to make an exhaust that would fit the Millennium Falcon which is what led me to do this, i'll post a pic of the Falcon's exhaust later.
This is still a work in progress because i'm still experimenting with various things, so this might be updated in the future.
Test effect msh in XSI
Hidden/Spoiler:
Hidden/Spoiler: