View source for Crash Course on Adding Custom Meshes to Multiplayer Maps

{{RF1Tutorial|Goober}}

This crash course tutorial will walk you through the easiest way to use custom static meshes (clutter) in your multiplayer maps.

Notes:
* This guide assumes you already have a functional static mesh in [[.v3m]] format.
* The first 4 steps are technically optional, but properly positioning your mesh will be difficult if you decide to skip them.
* In step 1, you technically could use any static mesh filename used by a stock clutter object (list in [[clutter.tbl]]). The bench is always my go-to, so it's the example I used in this tutorial.
* I recommend taking a backup of your map file before following this tutorial, so you can always revert back if something goes awry.

Steps:
# Name your static mesh "bench.v3m" and drop it into \Red\meshes\ inside your root Red Faction directory, then restart RED.
# Open your map, and place the clutter object "bench01". It should appear as your custom mesh.
# Position the clutter object with your custom mesh as you like in your map, then save your map and close RED.
# Rename your static mesh (which is currently "bench.v3m") to something unique - "gbrtrashcan01.v3m" or something - and move it out of your \Red\meshes\ folder. (put it somewhere you know where to find it - you'll need it again soon)
# Reopen RED, and your map - you'll notice that your custom mesh is a bench again.
# Go to Object mode, and place a [[RED Event List#Switch_Model|Switch_Model]] event (in Modifiers) and open its properties window. Set "Filename" to the filename of your custom mesh ("gbrtrashcan01.v3m" in my example). Hit OK to close the Properties window.
# Place a [[RED Event List#When_Dead|When_Dead]] event (in Catalysts).
# Link the When_Dead event to the Switch_Model event, and link the Switch_Model event to the bench clutter object (the one you positioned in step 3).
# Save, create a packfile, close RED.
# Open your level's vpp packfile (in [[Descent Manager Toolkit#VPP Builder|VPP Builder]]) and add to it your custom static mesh ("gbrtrashcan01.v3m" in my example) as well as any textures your mesh requires. Save the vpp packfile.
# That's it! Launch the game and load your map. You should see your custom mesh where the bench otherwise would be.\

NOTE: Keep in mind that your custom mesh is still the clutter object you originally placed - bench01 in my example. This means it maintains any and all settings configured for that clutter class in [[clutter.tbl]] - material, life, debris, corpse mesh, etc. Given that, you may wish to use a [[RED Event List#Make_Invulnerable|Make_Invulnerable]] event to stop it from being destroyed, and/or browse through [[clutter.tbl]] to find an existing clutter class that has the settings you want for your custom mesh.

[[Category: Red Faction]]
[[Category: RF1 Editing]]
[[Category: Tutorials]]