Advantages of models

(Leslie Judge) #1

Please correct me! :slight_smile: If I use a misc_model then q3map2 will turn the model into map triangles. If it does then they will behave as normal brushes from the point of rendering ingame, right?

So if I understand this correctly, then what are the advantages of using models instead of brushes besides that I can use a modelling program instead of Radiant?

I’ve read once that models are rendered faster. I guess this was about non misc_models, but those which remain entities in the BSP. Is there any way to use ASE models and have them render faster? That would be a big help in FPS. :slight_smile: Thanks.

(Emon) #2

The main advantage is that you can put in excruciating detail that you can’t do in Radiant. It’s the direction games like HL2 are going in.

The only way you could increase rendering speed in JO is with a GHOUL2 model, if you turn on r_showtris and look at an NPC, the triangles aren’t drawn on the side you don’t see. Disadvantage is that getting shadows is a pain in the ass, and you have no lightmaps on the model.

(Leslie Judge) #3

That’s what I was afraid of.

That writing said something about the ingame rendering. That models (and it wasn’t GHOUL2 specific) need only one pass not like brushes. Unfortunately I can’t recall where I read this. Maybe it was here, on this forum. I’ll try to search again.

(Leslie Judge) #4

Just made a test with an ASE model as misc_model. The triangles were not drawn on the side I can’t see. At least that’s OK.

(Emon) #5

Really? Oh, nevermind then.

(megaman) #6

models proabably are often faster, because they’re vertex lit (by default).

polys are one sided, so they will be drawn just when looked upon from the ‘right’ side.

Also you can rotate models exactly the way you want, while brushes arent easy to rotate arbitrary.

(wudan) #7

Models are handled better by the engine, in general, but you shouldn’t use them for anything that you wouldn’t make a detail brush.

They get one pass, and they can be lightmapped, so they are better than brush ‘masterpeice’ work.

(Leslie Judge) #8

But wudan, if q3map2 strips out the entity information for misc_models because it turns them into map triangles, they will behave as brushes do, not? I mean will they still be handled faster?