The Official UDK 'Starting Guide & Help Thread!'

[Hollow]

Ok, so after reading many topics and threads on here, last and most notably the 'Serious Theory' thread. It seems everyone is ready and willing to move to UDK or at least learn it until Valve pulls their finger out, so this thread can be the hub for such a cause!

Here we can help and advise each other of the many aspects to UDK and 3D Modelling or come to ask the small occasional questions when a whole seperate topic doesn't really require it.

Let's help each other all learn to be proficient UDK mappers/modellers! (and coders - sorreh cheesemoo0)

(I do acknowledge there is the 'Useful Resources thread', but this is more akin to the 'simple questions thread'. Also this whole forum section needs a kick up the arse).

[Gary]

Awesome man. So is this basically a "Simple Questions thread" for the UDK?

I was wondering something, when modifying the code(UnrealScript?) under core and other stuff. Do you have to redo these edits for every (monthly!) update? Or is there a way to port these?

[Smurftyours]

I know this is probably a stupid question and I could easily figure it out from my modeling experience, but whats the best way to get the lightmap UV on your models? I have never really tried making a model with two uv channels so I personally wouldn't know how.

[DonPunch]

Create a 2nd UV channel, then remap your uv with no over lapping faces. also make sure you have like a .02 border on it.

uv channel 2 in max and maya will be uv channel 1 in udk which is default for lightmaps

[BubbleQ]

Witch is the first file/program I need to download?

[Hollow]

You could pick any software for the modelling but really you should get Maya or Max because UDK imports autodesk .FBX natively so it's ridiculously easy to get your work straight in with no fuss.

you can download UDK first if you wanted, but all you could really do is make blockout geometry and get used to the interface till you can import meshes into the scene.

[cheesemoo0]

I was wondering something, when modifying the code(UnrealScript?) under core and other stuff. Do you have to redo these edits for every (monthly!) update? Or is there a way to port these?

Monthly updates will rarely break your code. I've been running the same code for 4+ months and I haven't had anything break. To "port" them you just move your source into the new folder.
You won't be modifying the "core." You always extend from a class and override what you want different.

Don't forget coders Hollow!

[Gary]

Thanks Cheesemoo!

[Ich 666]

One question from a UDK n00b modeler: What is a lightmap UV? Id guess its the equivalent to hammers light maps, except you can define it for every single uv group. Am I right? Does it need to be properly unwrapped or is everything just overlapping each other for the lightmap?

[Smurftyours]

Lightmap must be on the second or further UV channel and it must have no overlapping faces. A good way to create one is after unwrapping your model collapse the modifier to it and add a new UVW modifier with a flatten map.

[dissonance]

1) how do i alter player attributes? mainly, i want to be able to look all the way up and all the way down. i'd also like to change headbob amount and walk speed.

2) after extruding bsp faces, how can i tie them together so that they "act as one" when it comes to texturing?

3) what's the default texture resolution for world geometry, in pixels per unit?

4) what are the default units, anyway (in terms of player height, doorway width, height of one building-story, etc.)? i've googled this and can't seem to find consistent answers.

[cheesemoo0]

1) You would have to mess with Unrealscript. The UDK forums will offer answers to all those after a forum search. To change the walk speed change the variable GroundSpeed (in the Default Properties section) to your desired speed in the Pawn class.

[DonPunch]

player hieght is 96

[dissonance]

player hieght is 96

are you sure? this prism is 96uu tall, and i can look over it without jumping.

[DonPunch]