Questions about what Modding program to use

from Sins Forums

If I wanted to create a new spaceship for the game, what 3D modeling program is best to use?

 

Is there a free version of this program or do I need to buy it?

 

If I need to buy it, is there a free program out there I can use to create and design completely new ships?

 

What about creating textures for new ships, what program(s) should I use for that?

 

Is it easy to create and add new ships to the game?  Is there a guide out there that walks you through how to do it?

 

Is the game moddable enough that you have complete creative freedom when designing units?  For example, can I place firing points anyhwere on the ships I want?  Could I make it so there are multiple types of starbases (military, economic, diplomatic, scientific, space colonies for people to live on (think gundam), etc?)  Could I make a new class of ships called super capital ships which are twice as big and powerful as capital ships now?  Could I add 5 more capital ships to the game?  Could I create a death star that could destroy planets and/or suns?

 

Would it be possible to mod the game so much that all planets exist within a suns grav well and that players can move anywhere they want within that suns gravwell including to the different planets (and moons if they can be added) so that each solar system was in essence a large map where you would move units around and you could build an etire line of defenses if you wanted to?  Jumping would only occur between solar systems?

 

Just questions I have b/c I don't know anything about modding, but I have cool ideas, but I can't realize these ideas without the neccessary tools.

 

Thanks

modding
2,609 views 4 replies
Reply #1 from Sins Forums Top

The developers use Softimage XSI to create the models for sins. There is a freeware version called XSI Mod Tool. However models saved from Mod Tool may, or may not convert to mesh format with the forge tools. I have had no success converting from mod tool, but others in the sins community have had success.

There really is no "free" way to mod sins. However you can do it "cheaply".

Modeling for sins is easy, and you can use virtually any modeling program available to create your model. Milkshape 3d is dirt cheap, and wings 3d is free IIRC. I personally use 3d studio max. However for best results you will need to finish the model in XSI according to the modding documentation provided with the forge tool set. So if you plan on modding strictly sins then XSI mod tool would be the best place to start. We cant walk you through learning how to model. That is something you will have to research yourself. There are plenty of online tutorials for XSI.

Texture creation/editing for best results use Adobe Photoshop. However i hear Gimp is a good freeware image editor.

The game is very moddable, but there are some hardcoded aspects that may, or may not annoy you. There are only 9 capital ship slots in game. Phase lanes are hardcoded. Gravity wells are hardcoded (only 1 planet per gravity well). Weapon firing arcs are hardcoded, and non-adjustable. Entrenchment lifted some restrictions on ship movement. As far as replacing the ship models, and textures themselves that is very easy to do.

Firing points are very abstract. the game only sees forward, left, right, and back firing arcs.  IIRC all points fire from a 180 degree arc, and can only be placed pointing 0, 90, -90, and 180 in XSI. We also found out the hard way it sees "Up", and "Down" as well. If you leave the hardpoint alone it will fire at ships on top of you. If you flip a hardpoint upside down it will fire at ships below you.

There is much you can do in sins, but as far as "full" freedom? I never seen any game that had total creative freedom.

Reply #2 from Sins Forums Top

Major, don't hog all of the answers, but really, it takes quite a while to learn though

People usually focus on specific areas they want to mod, either on the effects, research or ship and their attacks

I suggest you look thru every thing before you start or else you will get lost.

Focus on one area at a time, whether be creating new ships or creating new abilities

Start11 - Customize the Start Menu and Taskbar in Windows 10/11.
Reply #4 from Sins Forums Top

Quoting Mooster, reply 2
Major, don't hog all of the answers, but really, it takes quite a while to learn though
End of Mooster's quote

God forbid people get their questions answered in a thorough, timely fashion. I, for one, decry this in the pursuit for more useless +1 forum numbers.