Going to start on a TF2 tool need suggestions

[Deskalada]

Hi,
Since i'm bord and have noting to do for 2 days
I feel like writing a tf2 tool
So since ive just gotten started and have no ideas

Give my your ideas [inseatnamehere]


~Update on the kinds of stuff you should sugest~
No spsific exporters for programs (Since they break on newer versions)
Apart from that anyting els is ok
unless its somting that you can already find with some reserch
Oh and what would help is wihitepepers or a .dll that can handle the file formats you are going to want the tool to work with

~current ideas~
A normal mapping algortim generator [--]
Blender vfm exporter [xx]
Texture thingey [++]

[Youme]

An alternative normal map algorithm. I find all the existing ones, well, slightly less than perfect.

Failing that: a little program that you boot up and then select what type of map you want to make, number of cps/rounds/ players per spawn/forward spawns and the name of the map and it makes a vmf with all the basic elements you need for the details you've specified. just to make starting off even easier

[Deskalada]

Do you have bytecode docs or scytanx docs for .vmf?
becuase ide need that to make it

[Haas]

script that makes those info files in many languages

[Deskalada]

Wha?
i dont understand plese explane
i cant read minds
Just posts

[Snipergen]

Dont mind haas... right haas he will write a whole dictionairy..

Better compile tools for models, like we export 1 .obj file with the textures and your program compiles to an .mdl file and all the vtf and vmts on the right places? :)

[Deskalada]

Well....
That might be a good idea
But. Ide need to know how you would normaly make a .mdl file
and ide need whitepapers on the file formats involved

--Update--
I'm going to take oh the top 3 sguestions that i like
and put them into one MULTITOOL

[MacNetron]

Make an export script for Blender so I can do most mapping in Blender instead of Hammer.
Adding lights and objects I can do later in Hammer, as well as compiling.

[Deskalada]

Make an export script for Blender so I can do most mapping in Blender instead of Hammer.
Adding lights and objects I can do later in Hammer, as well as compiling.

No.
from what i see of the vfm file it donst appear to be a 3d moudle

[A Boojum Snark]

Suggestion: edit your first post to indicate what sort of knowledge you have, what sort of stuff you CAN do, and such... because as it is you've basically responding to all the ideas saying you can't do that or you'd need more info. :/

[Deskalada]

~updated~
Happy now Mr.Anger Cookie?

[MacNetron]

^^
I think with this comprehensive info he's going to be a very happy cookie...

No.
from what i see of the vfm file it donst appear to be a 3d moudle

I think I disagree with you. The vmf looks like just a summary of all the brushes and entities you've added. Every brush is nothing more than a x,y,x pos and size x,y,z. That is a 3d model.

But it is your choice what tool you build. Doesn't matter what you build, I will be impressed if you finish a useful tool! :thumbup1:

[Deskalada]

Corret i can make a way to read summries
but i cant make a way to write non-sumrie data

[A Boojum Snark]

I wasn't being angry, sorry if it came across like that. Just was trying to help you help them help you with ideas. :D

[Immortal-D]

I've got one. Something that will convert normal textures into the cell-shaded TF2 style.

[Deskalada]

hmm now thats a thought
i'll look into that

now most likly it will need vista to run

and where sould i sumit it when done there is no tools resouce section
?

[MacNetron]

There is a section "Upload your custom stuff!" in the "Downloads" section. Still empty so you will catch the attention there. :)

[Deskalada]

ok
also i found this (http://developer.valvesoftware.com/wiki/Category:Third_Party_Tools)
if you use it rep me plese took me a long time to find and update page

[Haas]

A model resizer/rescaler with import export function!

[MacNetron]

Blender?

[Deskalada]

Ya there are some belnder plugins there

[ryodoan]

Hey, I wouldnt mind helping out, if you would like some help.

I currently am familiar with:
Visual Basic
C++
Java
Java Scripting
Some databasing

But I learn pretty fast (once you learn one programming language, they are all pretty similar).

In any case, I think that the first post should be updated as ideas come in and next to each one you can list the feasibility as you see it.

*edit* Also I have some experience working with Qt (C++ library that KDE is based off of, aka completely system independent can run on Windows / Mac / Linux you name it.)

[Haas]

A model resizer/rescaler with import export function!
Don't care how you would do it i think your know better then me this feature is requested very much (see letter to valve)

[Deskalada]

qt? well that might be helpufll but i program for functalty.
well ide like to stick to visual basic, java, basic4gl, and web based interptur languages (php html) (i use express ediotn cuz i'm cheap works fine thought becuause i use a nother language to write dlls i use vb as a warpper)

but ya ill update the first post

also i'm still doing reserch but i'm thinking that a new-kinda-normal-map-gen is what i/we are going to make

[MacNetron]

Being a Java programmer myself, I can recommend using Eclipse as IDE when you program Java. It is free and very powerful. Sun's Netbeans is free and should be great too, but I don't have experience with that IDE.

Ya there are some belnder plugins there
Not that much, and with good reason. I've done some research and I might be walking too fast. :blushing:
It appears there is a fundamental difference as the base of Hammer is brushes and of Blender faces. I don't understand it fully myself, and the info is quite sparse, so just ignore all my "want a Blender script!" requests for the moment :)

[ryodoan]

Being a Java programmer myself, I can recommend using Eclipse as IDE when you program Java. It is free and very powerful. Sun's Netbeans is free and should be great too, but I don't have experience with that IDE.


Not that much, and with good reason. I've done some research and I might be walking too fast. :blushing:
It appears there is a fundamental difference as the base of Hammer is brushes and of Blender faces. I don't understand it fully myself, and the info is quite sparse, so just ignore all my "want a Blender script!" requests for the moment :)

I actually have extensive experience with Netbeans at this point. For the last 6 months I have been working on / off on developing a Netbeans module.

Netbeans 6.0 is actually pretty nice. Lots of support for graphical controls, but I have to say Eclipse seems a bit more stable, gotten less errors on it. (as in Netbeans sometimes will bitch about not being able to "Find harness.dir" and then you gotta restart Netbeans)

[Youme]

I have a new suggestion:
A normal map painter. Not just a plugin but a tool that lets you paint straight into normal map format. so you can draw on areas to raise them, erase areas to rub them out....