How to make a Vertex Animation
Vertex Animations are used by the game to bent bows and crossbows while shooting, or to move the strap of a shield, when putting it on your back. If you have basic skills in 3D modelling, it’s pretty easy.
You need:
- OpenBrf
- a 3D-modelling software
Regardless of wether you want to do it for a shield or a bow or whatever, the steps are almost the same.
OpenBrf is able to combine different meshes to a vertex animation in just a few clicks.
You start by opening a mesh with vertex ani in OpenBrf which is similar to your own one, for example, a bow.
Now, right click on it and “separate all frames”.
As you can see, frame0, frame1 and frame4 are similar. Only frame2 (half bent), and frame3 (bent) are different. And this is what you have to do with your own bow. Go to your 3d software, import frame2 and move and scale your bow, until it looks the same. Save it and repeat it with frame3.
Important: The point, where you grab the bowstring, has to be at the exact same place! (Actually I’m not even sure about it… but I think so
)
Export the three models (normal, half bent, bent) as .obj and import them in OpenBrf.
Now duplicate the normal one two times and put the five meshes in this order:
Normal
Normal
Half bent
Bent
Normal
Select all, right click and “merge as frames in a vertex ani”. There should be one mesh now, but it’s vertex animated
Last thing:
You have to change the “Time of frame” for every frame. Just look at the bows from Native and copy the values.
For a bow they are:
Frame0 = 0
Frame1 = 0
Frame2 = 43
Frame3 = 100
Frame4 = 200
After that, you’re done. I hope it was helpful for you