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The purpose of this guide is to instruct users in the art of modeling for use in Age of Mythology Extended Edition. While this guide makes use of only beginner level 3D modeling skills, you will find that these are sufficient to address most AoMEE modding projects. Modeling necessarily requires a discussion of texturing which will be covered in some detail although specific 2D art skills will not be covered. This is not intended to be a comprehensive guide to 3ds Max - we will only be using a tiny portion of the program’s functionality. However, frequent references are made to more advanced topics and guides where appropriate. This guide assumes basic familiarity with EE’s mod manager[aom.heavengames.com] as well as basic elements of anim modding.

Table of Contents

Required Applications

Introduction to Modeling: Basics

1 Static Models
1.1 Importing
1.2 Viewport Controls
1.3 Editing Attachpoints
1.4 Applying Textures & Materials
1.5 Object & Sub-Object Editing
1.6 Creating New Sub-Object Geometry
1.7 Creating New Object Geometry

2 Texturing
2.1 Using Existing Textures & Materials
2.2 Creating Simple Texture Maps
2.3 Creating Unwrapped Maps
2.4 Player Color
2.5 Texture Baking
2.6 Binary Transparency Textures
2.7 Specular, Gloss, & Normal Effects
2.8 Ghost Textures
2.9 Icons

3 Animations
3.1 Vertex Animation
3.2 Biped Animation
3.3 Rigging & Skinning
3.4 Combining Animations
3.5 Animated UV Maps

4 Exporting to EE & Common Errors

5 Porting Models from Other Sources
5.1 Typical File Formats & Useful Applications
5.2 Example 1: Age of Empires III – Working w/ Granny Animations
5.3 Example 2: Halo 3 – Assigning Material IDs
5.4 Example 3: World of Warcraft – Working w/ FBX Animations
5.5 Optimizing High-Poly Models
5.6 Ethical Use

6 Alternative Model Files
6.1 GRN Files: Granny 3D
6.2 LNG Files: Lightning & Beam Effects
6.3 PRT Files: Particles
6.4 DCL Files: Selection Circles, Footsteps, & Dynamic Lighting

7 Special Topics
7.1 MTRL Files: Materials
7.2 BTI Files
7.3 BTX Files
7.4 Sprites
7.5 LGT Files
7.6 Skyboxes