IWTE - Units in Blender/Milkshape

Tips and instructions for working with RTW and M2TW battle map units and strat map characters via IWTE and Blender using the .dae format - December 2020 version onwards.

The .dae files used for the Collada import/export can also be used with 3ds Max, however, max users absolutely have to use the OpenCollada plugin and file format when importing/exporting files, max comes with the AutodeskCollada file format by default which neither imports nor exports files from the game correctly.

• For queries about these functions please ask here.
• For information on working on M2TW Settlements in Blender see IWTE - Settlements in Blender
• For general tips on working with Blender see Blender hints and tips

Export and Import M2TW .mesh Units

The most useful method of export involves matching the unit .mesh with its skeleton basepose and one or more animations.

The drop-down menu in IWTE allows a unit .mesh to be merged with its basepose skeleton and one animation. A task file is needed to allow combining of animations and is the only way to also incorporate weapon animations.

The drop-down menu options, and alternative IWTE Task button positions are shown below:

Select 'Unit mesh to date' if you have the "full" version of the .cas anims (the ones the game re-packs). Select the 'Unit mesh/skel/casanim to dae' option if you have the versions unpacked using XIDX.

Select the double mesh option for unit meshes that have both a main and attachment texture. Select the single mesh option for most other cases (e.g. standard mounts).

You will be prompted to select the model .mesh first, then the basepose.cas for the skeleton (full cas version) or the unpacked skeleton file (unpacked version), and then an animation.cas file that is compatible with that skeleton (this will need to be in the same format as the skeleton, full or unpacked).

Export/Import by Task Process

To generate a .dae file from .mesh and .anims via the task process you will need a text file ending in _task.txt which starts with the mesh to dae command, run the task file by selecting the 'IWTE Task' > 'Select Task File' buttons. See example below for mesh_to_dae (the extra line breaks have been included just to show the body/weapon pairing):

<task_id>                              mesh_to_dae 
<mesh_file_full_path_in>               C:\M2TW\mods\devkit\data\animations\EB_Slinger\numidian_slinger_lod0.mesh 
<mesh_double_texture>                  yes  
<cas_file_types_in_list>               body weapon
  
<cas_file_full_path_in_default_list> 
C:\M2TW\mods\devkit\data\animations\EB_Slinger\EB_Slinger_basepose.cas 
C:\M2TW\mods\devkit\data\animations\EB_Slinger\Weapon\w_EB_Slinger_default.cas

<cas_file_full_path_in_action_list> 
C:\M2TW\mods\devkit\data\animations\EB_Slinger\EB_Slinger_stand_A_idle.cas	
C:\M2TW\mods\devkit\data\animations\EB_Slinger\Weapon\w_EB_Slinger_default.cas 

C:\M2TW\mods\devkit\data\animations\EB_Slinger\EB_Slinger_attack_missile_ready.cas	
C:\M2TW\mods\devkit\data\animations\EB_Slinger\Weapon\w_EB_Slinger_attack_missile_ready.cas 

<directory_out>                        C:\M2TW\mods\devkit\data\animations\EB_Slinger  
<dae_file_name_out>                    EBslingerAnims.dae 
<create_text_file>                     yes 

Please see the IWTE example control processes.txt file that ships with IWTE for further details/instructions.

Running the task will generate you a .dae file with the animations joined together with an additional 'basepose' frame added at frame 0, to aid editing. The task will also auto-generate for a reverse dae_to_mesh_****_task.txt file for you, this will list the start and end frame positions of all included animations and the names of all the files that will be re-created from the .dae. The names and frame positions can be edited to suit any changes you may require before running the return task.

When creating the task files it is common to make minor errors in the file names/paths that mean IWTE cannot find all the elements! If you get an error message whilst running the task you'll get a chance to read the error message (which is easier in the command window) - you can then click "Ignore" to keep IWTE open, fix the name/path/file issue in the .txt file and try running the task again. The error message should indicate which file it couldn't find. If you forget to add the file extension and try and get it to open a folder you'll get an 'access violation' type message.

For unit models that do not have any elements weighted to the 'weapon bones' you only need to run the process with

<cas_file_types_in_list> body

and supply the main skeleton basepose and animation.

If the mesh has a weapon weighted to weapon bones use the body weapon example shown above.

If the mesh has both a weapon weighted to weapon bones and a shield weighted to bone_shield etc use

<cas_file_types_in_list> body weapon shield

and supply the main skeleton, weapon animation and shield animation baseposes and animations in sets of three in order.

Note: a lot of models that are apparently using fs_test_shield according to their battle_models.modeldb entry don't actually have anything weighted to bone_shield, making the shield 'anim' irrelevant.

UV Mapping for Double Texture Units

The mesh format for both double and singled textured units in M2TW is actually exactly the same with just one set of uv's that should range from 0 to 1.0 in both horizontal and vertical axis.

If you assign two textures to a unit in the battle_models.modeldb then the game expands out the horizontal axis of the uv maps so that the area from 0 to 0.5 is used to cover 0 to 1 on the first texture, and the uv's from 0.5 to 1.0 on the horizontal axis are used to cover 0 to 1 on the second texture.

Milkshape/.mesh converters use the texture (Main or Attachment) assigned to a mesh group to determine which section of the uv map the group's uv coordinates will be moved to, with Main texture co-ordinates compressed into the 0>0.5 area and Attachment texture co-ordinates compressed into the 0.75>1.0 section.

The IWTE mesh to .dae for Blender process works differently. The texture assignment process is used purely so you can view the mesh groups with the correct relevant texture. The 0>1.0 horizontal uvs are expanded to 0>2.0 if you use the process for 'double textures' and then compressed back to 0>1.0 on the return to .mesh.

In Blender the uv mapping to the two textures will look like the image below.

To see the 2nd texture under its uv's open the sidebar (n) in the uv screen and select the 'repeat texture' button. In Blender it is possible to partially assign some triangles from a group to the 1st texture and some triangles to the 2nd texture, if you do that please remember to also move the uv's to the appropriate zone.

Export and Import .cas Units/Characters

The process for this is similar to the .mesh Export/Import process described above, the button locations are shown in the below image:

Use the 'Animated cas_mesh to dae' button if you have the full versions of the animation files, e.g the type supplied by Caliban that M2TW itself re-packs. The first file requested will be the .cas 'mesh', e.g. the one with the body model in it. The second file requested will be an animation file, if you do not have a suitable animation file just click 'Cancel' to close the selection screen. Use the 'Animated cas/dae' button for all unit/character .cas files even if you aren't going to load an animation.

If you are using RTW or are using M2TW but only have the skeleton/cas files unpacked using XIDX use the appropriate '* casmesh,skel,casanim to dae' button. The first file requested will again be the .cas 'mesh', e.g. model. The second file requested will be the skeleton file (as produced by XIDX using extract_skeletons). The third file requested will be the .cas animation file (as produced by XIDX using extract_animations).

These processes will generate a .dae file in a /to_dae sub-folder where your IWTE.exe is located. You will also have two task files generated in the /iwte_tasks sub-folder. The dae_to_cas one provides a default task file for reversing the process and generating new .cas files. The cas_to_dae one allows you to repeat the process you just did by simply running the IWTE Task, you can also adapt that task file to load multiple animations. The following is an example task file for cas_to_dae with multiple anims, and using rtw skeleton and anims, note that if the file path/name has spaces the entire path needs to be inside " ", also note the skeleton name does not have a file extension, direction of \ or / doesn't matter:

<task_id>                                           cas_to_dae                                               
<cas_mesh_file_full_path_in>                        I:\M2TW\M2TWcopy\mods\IWTE\to_dae/from_dae/ALEX_companion_cavalry_lod_1.cas 
<directory_out>                                     I:\M2TW\M2TWcopy\mods\IWTE/to_dae               
<dae_file_name_out>                                 ALEX_companion_cavalry_taunt.dae        
<cas_animation_file_format>                         rtw                                                 
<create_text_file>                                  yes                                                
<create_task_file_from_input>                       yes                                                
<task_file_full_path_out>                           I:\M2TW\M2TWcopy\mods\IWTE/IWTE_tasks/dae_to_cas_alextaunt_task.txt  
<skeleton_unpacked_file_full_path_in>               I:\M2TW\M2TWcopy\mods\IWTE\testthings\animations\rome_animations/fs_swordsman
<cas_file_full_path_in_action_list>                                                                               
"i:/m2tw/m2twcopy/mods/iwte/to_dae/from_dae/lid_57_04 taunt 2.cas"                                             
"i:/m2tw/m2twcopy/mods/iwte/to_dae/from_dae/lid_57_06 taunt 1.cas"                                             
"i:/m2tw/m2twcopy/mods/iwte/to_dae/from_dae/lid_57_07 taunt 3.cas" 

To get amended units/anims back into game you will need to 'export' 'collada' from Blender or 3dsMax. The .dae file created will have the same structure whether you're converting to Mesh/Cas model, and Full/XIDX packable anims, so you need to use a task file to specify the format to be returned. The automatically generated return task file will have assumed you want the same format that went in, so the task file above will have generated this return file:

<task_id>                                           dae_to_cas                                     # to read dae file and generate *.cas files
<dae_file_full_path_in>       i:/m2tw/m2twcopy/mods/iwte_v20_12_c/to_dae/ALEX_companion_cavalry_taunt.dae   # *.dae file to read in. i.e. change to collada name exported from Blender
<directory_out>               i:/m2tw/m2twcopy/mods/iwte_v20_12_c/to_dae/from_dae                  # directory to put new created files
<cas_mesh_file_name_out>      alex_companion_cavalry_lod_1.cas                                     # *.cas file to be created
<cas_animation_file_format>           rtw                                                          #  format of cas to be created by dae (rtw or full) 
<cas_unpacked_skeleton_scale>         1.0000                                                       # cas unpacked skeleton scaling
<overlap_frames>                      no                                                           # overlap frames selection used to create the dae (not used on import)
<cas_file_name_out_anim_split_list>                                                                # cas anim files start and end frames
"lid_57_04 taunt 2.cas"                                 1   79                                                          
"lid_57_06 taunt 1.cas"                                80  162                                                          
"lid_57_07 taunt 3.cas"                               163  237                                                          
#<end_frame>                                        237                                            # Last animated frame (use to see full animation in blender)

 if you're trying to convert format, instead of rtw you need to use:
<cas_animation_file_format> m2  #for M2TW anims re-packable by XIDX

<cas_animation_file_format> full  #for M2TW anims re-packable by the game

If you want an M2TW mesh back instead of a .cas model use the

<task_id>   dae_to_mesh

instead of dae_to_cas

Creating a simple Multi-weighted Section

NOTE: This will not allow you to import a typical M2TW unit with complex weighting directly into RTW!

NOTE2: This only works properly in-game if the MODEL is scaled 1.0, strat models that are normally scaled down x0.7 need to be reduced in size so they can be used at 1.0 scale.

Contrary to popular belief .cas files allow a limited amount of vertexes to be assigned with weighting to two bones per vertex, for more details about the limitation see the Cas Models page. Also contrary to popular belief bone positions can be moved as well as rotated in RTW animations, however, the multi-weighting feature and bone movement might not work well together.

The limit of 100 vertexes in a multi-weighted .cas section appears to be a hard coded limit, IWTE will currently try and split any such group into separate sections. It is highly recommended that you only attempt to have a few multi-weighted vertexes, such as having a ring of 50/50 weighted vertexes at the Upperarm/Torso junction to smooth out shoulder movement. Cas files with multi-weighting must use the model_flexi_m setting to work in-game. They should work in-game for RTW unit models and for M2TW strat models, however, the .cas models created with this are unlikely to convert/load successfully with any tool other than IWTE currently. Other existing tools do not export the multi-weighted sections from vanilla models.

As an example of how you could easily add some transitional weighting to an RTW unit model, you could add or re-weight verts between the area assigned to the pelvis and the area assigned to the abs bones. If there is already a wide gap in this area you could add more verts, as you want as few verts that need the multi-weighting as possible, first convert the mesh in that area from tri's to quads:

If you then 'Bisect' this area or otherwise split the edges and then re-triangulate and view in 'Weight Paint' mode, you will see that Blender has assigned the new verts proportionately between the abs and pelvis:

The triangles between the two arrows, the ring of verts attached wholly to the Abs bone, and the ring of verts attached wholly to the Pelvis bone will have to be included in a separate 'type 3' section within the .cas file. IWTE will do this for you. DO NOT attempt to split the area into a separate group yourself, this will only result in unnecessary seams and additional 'named' groups which cause other problems with the game limits. Also please see the section on limitation for this, the shared verts must only be between direct parent/child bones so, Pelvis/Abs works, Pelvis/Torso will not work.

Multi-weighted sections and bone movement anims

The video here shows some effects of deliberately exaggerated bone movements during animations, where the unit model also has multi-weighted sections.

In the above picture the sections of the shoulder pad that are partially weighted to Torso/Upperarm show as stretching evenly between the two bones when the Upperam bone is moved away in Blender. (similarly for the head section which has been partially weighted to the torso) In game although these sections remain at the correct angle all the vertexes with the Upperarm as child bone have moved with it in a way proportional to the original distance between the bones, and not proportional to the new extended distance. The inset in the below picture shows what is effectively happening with the sections partially weighted to the upperarm bone following it and ignoring the extended distance

Multi-weighted sections do however behave as expected where the bones are rotated. This poor chap has had his chin and face partially weighted to his torso, as you can see the effect in game is the same as shown in Blender:

.cas animation types

The tool supports the full (never packed) versions of .cas files, as supplied by Caliban and also the ones that have been generated from Pack files by XIDX or similar decompression and splitting tools. PLEASE NOTE: The RTW and M2TW anims generated from the pack files use a different format - DO NOT pack RTW types into M2TW packs or vice-versa - check that you are generating the correct type for the game you are going to use them in! Also do not attempt to re-pack the full type (where you can see the bone names) with XIDX, they will only work if you have a full set including .evt files and let M2TW repack them from descr_skeleton.txt.

Units - General Tips

• Seams - To avoid seams in the finished model you CAN 'weld' vertexes that have disconnected uvs, in Blender use Mesh> Clean Up> Merge by Distance (without uvs ticked), and Shading> Smooth Faces. That will get you a shared normal that allows the area to look smooth. For the game IWTE will generate two vertexes at that point to preserve the uvs and set that normal as a custom normal for each.

• Anims/skeletons - In Blender you can make any alteration you like to the 'Pose Mode' this will only affect the animation frames. Do NOT, unless you know what you are doing... move or edit the bones in the 'Armature' edit mode, this will affect the bone positions in the model/anim.cas produced, and will need to be matched to a skeleton with the same bone positions. If using the "full" M2TW cas anims that the game re-packs you can adjust the bone positions for a folder of .cas anims by using the skeleton replacement method detailed below. If using XIDX unpacked/packed anims you will need to change the skeleton using other tools.

• Section Naming - For Blender the full details of the group names are stored in the name itself. There isn't a comment section like milkshape. Things that need to go back into the game as separate sections, e.g. to denote primary weapons, or alternate versions, need a double underscore __ to show where the name should be split or a space included. For M2TW mesh sections that you want to be optional, use __opt at the end of the group name.

Siege Engine Skeleton Alteration Example Process

• In top menu bar go to Model Files > Siege Engine mesh to dae > select mesh, then default cas then anim cas.

Check that the default .cas is actually the one listed as anim-default in descr_engine_skeleton.txt

also check that you're using an anim that is in use in game - some of the anims in the folder don't work.

• IWTE will have written a .dae file in "to_dae" sub-folder below your .mesh model location.

• Load in Blender by using 'file' 'import' 'collada'

• Add bones as required to the Armature - note there should only be one top level bone, e.g bone_body add all other bones as child of this, or of existing bones.

• Use 'weight paint' to assign vertices to bones as required.

Note - the .mesh file will only accept vertexes weighted to a max of 2 bones

use 'limit total' in 'weights' menu and set to 2 to avoid any verts weighted to 3 or more bones - (this is applied to selected verts only)

use 'normalise all' to make sure verts are fully weighted, use 'auto normalise' option whilst working also

• change animation by switching to 'animation' layout in top bar

trigger Pose mode by clicking pose running man symbol within the Armature

if you can't see bones, or the summary when you click them, in main sidebar click the pose (running man) button, select "viewport display" and select the "in front" option

when you move a bone in the pose mode use shortcut "i" in main window to open keyframe dialogue and select "LocRot"

you can delete copy or move keyframes around for selected bones in the Dope Sheet section

• Export collada - in settings check Anim is on Matrix option and 'keep keyframes' and 'all keyed curves' are selected

Temporary Note for IWTE version B:

!!!!!!!DO NOT USE IWTE Model Files > Siege Engine dae to mesh to go back.... the dae doesn't include enough info to get the mesh textures back properly!!!!!!!!

USE the "dae_to_mesh_*****_task.txt" that IWTE has written into the "IWTE_Tasks" sub-folder where your IWTE.exe is

change the .dae name you're reading in to the one you've just saved - change any other output names IF you need to

check the number of frames listed ties up with the end frame you set in collada - for version B of IWTE you need to add the line.

<mesh_compressed> no

below the mesh section. The need to do this will be fixed in version C.

• Run the task file from the IWTE Task button in top menu bar, the separate files will be saved where specified in the task file.

• If you have changed the number of bones used or their positions you will need to align all the other .cas anims used by the mesh, to do this use the skeleton replacement process explained below.

Skeleton Replacement

RTW and packed M2TW skeletons can not be changed via this method.
To replace the skeleton in M2TW where you have the set of full .cas anims that the game re-packs in the IWTE top menu bar go to:

Model Files > Cas Models > Skeleton Replacement

• On the first prompt select the .cas file containing the bones in the basepose positions you want (probably the default or basepose .cas)
• On the second prompt select the FOLDER that contains all the .cas files you want to change.

The revised files will be saved in a sub folder of that folder called "updateskeletons" they will have the same names as the original .cas files and can be used to directly replace them. Please back-up your original files before doing this, and remember that other .cas/.mesh models may be using the same files, so you may need to create a separate folder and separate entry in descr_skeleton.txt etc.

Adding bones should be straightforward, if you delete bones that had child bones then the result may be unpredictable and the resulting animations may need editing.

Bone Renaming Task

To rename the bones throughout a folder of full .cas animations use a task file. If you want to swap the names of bones you need to add an additional stage to re-name one bone to a temporary name, the example below shows how to swap bone_H_Saddle and bone_Spine names with each other:

<task_id>     cas_bone_name_change      
<directory_in>   I:\M2TW\mods\WD_PKH\data\animations\pkh_horse_marka 
<directory_out>    I:\M2TW\mods\WD_PKH\data\animations\pkh_horse_marka\changedbones   
<bone_name_change_list>                       
bone_H_Saddle          bone_H_Saddlex
bone_Spine      bone_H_Saddle
bone_H_Saddlex          bone_Spine

• The task cas_bone_name_change changes a bone name (the NEW name must not already exist in a skeleton this is being applied to)
• Directory in is optional, alternatively the task file can be placed in the directory and launched from there
• Directory out is optional, if not given a sub-folder /updateskeletons will be created

IWTE Task File Options

Text File Output

using <create_text_file> you can optionally generate .txt files that show, for information purposes only, the content of the incoming .mesh/.cas files, the default option is

<create_text_file> no  #stops any text file being created 
<create_text_file> yes  #creates a summary text file with header/trailer info, numbers of verts, texture and mesh names etc.
<create_text_file> full  #creates a full text file showing the interpretation of all the ints/floats etc in the file, with comments

External Links

• Blender
• IWTE Download
• Discussion thread.