WAX File Generator

Overview:

The tool is under development, as is the documentation. Here is a video update on the progress:

Please check back soon for more information.

Enemies and other sprites in Dark Forces are in the WAX file format. Effectively they are a series of bitmap images, adhering to a set palette, with position data and ordered in to sequences - ie Walking Side Left, Ranged Attack Front, and so on. Editing these or creating a new one from scratch has generally been a very time consuming process. Especially with early tools available to the mod community. The goal of the Wax File Generator is to streamline that process with a purpose built collection of rigged 3D models, easy customisation options and templates for the various enemy types in the game, with added idle loop options for animated background characters.

While it is a Blender based tool, it has been created to be simple for users with no prior 3D knowledge required. All the core functionality is in a custom UI panel on the right hand side of the main 3D view-port. Switching enemy animations, randomising full outfits, selecting a specific alien species or Imperial armour type - it's all there.

Before we begin, there are a few things to download.

Download Requirements:

Before we get started, there are some tools to download:

1) Blender: https://www.blender.org/download/ - current version (4.4 at time of writing, multi platform)

           or if need be https://download.blender.org/release/ for any and all previous releases.

2) WAX/FME Convertor (by Jereth Kok): https://df-21.net/downloads/utilities/waxconverter/waxconverter.zip (Windows specific)

          Note: Requires .NET 6.0 - Version 3.2 - June 2024 Release

3) The template files, available here: (Insert link here when files complete)

The template files consist of one main Blender file and a 'Render' subfolder. Inside the 'Render' are a series of specifically named _***_Template folders. Please do not rename these as the folder naming structure is referenced by both Blender and Wax Convertor for this process to be as smooth as possible.

The general process is as follows:

• Load the Blender file and use the script to create a character combination you want for your level
• Render out the frames - the script should select which render sub folder for you automatically
• Run the Photoshop / Gimp script to trim the images before loading Wax Convertor
• Open the render sub folder - for example \Render\_TROOP_LH_Template - and open _TROOP_LH_Template.wproj in Wax Convertor
• (Optional) Make any minor tweaks required to position / colour palette file selection, defaults should generally be fine
• Click 'Create WAX!'

Initial Blender Setup:

First things first, install Blender on your machine. This can be as simple as downloading the .zip option and extracting to a folder on your desktop if you don't intend to use Blender often. Once that is done, there are two settings to check in the preferences to make the process smoother.

Go to 'Edit - Preferences' from the top menu bar. Select 'System' on the left, then choose a Cycles Render Device up the top if available. Cycles will run fine on a CPU only, but it's significantly faster if one of these options are available.

Select 'Save & Load' on the left, then check 'Auto Run Python Scripts'. If not selected, you will need to run the rig ui script and character ui script each time you load the Blender file.

Blender will automatically save these preferences for future use, so you can now load the Blender file.

Dark Forces "WAX File Generator" UI:

The core of what you will be doing to create a character for use in the game is in the Blender UI, with the custom scripted panel. If you don't see the custom panel on the right of the screen with the obvious Dark Forces Character Creator title art when loading the file, please see the above section about enabling auto run of Python Scripts, or manually set the script running from Blender's Text Editor.

The UI is split in to six main sections. Each can be collapsed or expanded with the arrow on the top left of the sub panel, next to the title. Each UI option has a tool tip written if you hover over with the mouse, but hopefully the buttons are pretty straight forward in most cases.

Panel 1: Character Animation Options:

First and foremost is the 'Select Animation Set' drop down menu. This changes the animation on the character (and importantly the frame range of the render) to give you an equivalent Dark Forces enemy type. Most options have a left handed and right handed (LH / RH) option, just for visual variety. Functionally they are the same. All animation sets now work with 8x view angles for melee attacks, ranged attacks, pain / hit reactions and idle animations. This is to support the newer 'teams' feature, where enemies can fight other enemies within a set of rules defined by the mod creator.

Current Animation Set / Enemy Type Options:

Enemy	Notes
TROOP	Standard Stormtrooper replacement. There is an added melee rifle butt attack as an option if using custom logic.
REEYEES	Gran (Ree-Yees) logic replacement. Includes both melee and Thermal Detonator attacks.
IDLE 1-4	Four options for Idle animations, for use with static NPC characters. This also includes hit reactions, acknowledging the player (ie, attack with no damage through custom logic) and death if the level author chooses. Otherwise use 'ANIM' in the level editor as in existing / older levels.
PROBE DROID	Template for flying enemies. Best with a custom logic, but can be a replacement for vanilla Probe Droid. Also largely works for the Dark Trooper Phase 2, but may cause some hitbox / projectile alignment issues.
BOBA FETT	Speaks for itself - animation to work with Boba Fett vanilla logic, but with more frames for an animated jetpack and a large rocket launcher that is somewhat more believable than a pistol with infinite rocket ammo.
GAMGUARD	Replacement for Gamorrean Guards with an animated shock stick. There is an added ranged pistol attack as an option.
UNARMED WALK	Through custom logics, you can create an NPC that casually walks around the area without really acknowledging the player. Logic example included in the files.
FUSION CUTTER	Similar to 'TROOP', but with the Fusion Cutter visibly used as the weapon. This includes a melee attack with the weapon.
MORTAR	Similar to 'TROOP', but with the Mortar visibly used as the weapon. This includes a melee attack with the weapon. There is a sprite replacement included for WSHELL.WAX to work both directions, as the vanilla Mortar was only ever fired from the player's view.
CONCUSSION (BOSSK)	Replacement for the BOSSK logic, with an added option for a melee attack with the weapon. There is a sprite replacement included for CONCEXP.WAX as well as a concussion rifle projectile. There is also a custom projectiles.json to make use of the custom projectile.
PISTOL (OFFICER)	Officer logic replacement. There is an added melee animation as an option.
REPEATER	Similar to 'TROOP', but with the Repeater visibly used as the weapon. This includes a melee attack with the weapon. Mod makers may want to make use of the 'Burst Fire' options with the custom logics.

The next drop down menu for 'Select Shorter Animation Set' is for certain animations to be rendered with less frames. This is faster to render and more in line with Vanilla sprites, because secondary attacks (except REEYEES) and animated idle states are left off.

'Generate Random Alien' was the base of the whole script initially. It keeps the animation type and randomises all the visual elements of the character. This is generally spilt to head, torso, legs, armour and the respective colours for each. Given how many expanded colour palette options are now available, true 'random' can generate some pretty stark colour combinations, so some further tweaking is expected by the user. (Mostly found later in the 'Civilian Mercenary Options' panel).

Current Species Head Options:

Twilek	Duros	Rodian	Sullustan	Twilek (Alt)	Ithorian
Mon Calamari	Gran (Ree-Yees)	Quarren	Bith	Devaronian	Arcona
Trandoshan	Kubaz (Garindan)	Pyke (Syndicate)	Bothan	Chagrian	Gand (Zuckuss)
Wequay	Togruta	Aqualish (Ponda Baba)	Yarkora	Human	Falleen (Xizor)
Mirialan	Chiss (Thrawn)

Current Imperial Personnel Options:

ATAT Pilot	Imperial Army Trooper	Imperial Navy Commando	Imperial Officer	Juggernaut Transport Driver
Patrol Trooper	Sandtrooper	Scout Trooper	Shore Trooper	Snowtrooper
Stormtrooper (Standard)	Swap Trooper	Tie Pilot

Female variations are planned, but not yet included.

Wax Convertor Template:

Wax Convertor is the program that will take the sequence of png images rendered out of Blender, give them placement coordinates and assign images to sequences, and sequences inside actions. This should already be set up and ready to go for you! However, some background information on how it all works in case you need to make minor adjustments.

TROOP Replacement Template - Frame Ranges:

Sequence	Frames	Action		Sequence	Frames	Action
0	0-7	Walking Front		34	132-135	Dying v2
1	8-15	Walking Front Angle Left		35	136	Idle (single frame) Front
2	16-23	Walking Side Left		36	137	Idle (single frame) Front Angle Left
3	24-31	Walking Rear Angle Left		37	138	Idle (single frame) Side Left
4	32-39	Walking Rear		38	139	Idle (single frame) Rear Angle Left
5	40-47	Walking Rear Angle Right		39	140	Idle (single frame) Rear
6	48-55	Walking Side Right		40	141	Idle (single frame) Rear Angle Right
7	56-63	Walking Front Angle Right		41	142	Idle (single frame) Side Right
8	64-66	Ranged Attack Front		42	143	Idle (single frame) Front Angle Right
9	67-69	Ranged Attack Recoil Front		43	144-146	Melee Attack Front
10	70-71	Ranged Attack Front Angle Left		44	147-149	Melee Attack Recoil Front
11	72-75	Ranged Attack Recoil Front Angle Left		45	150-152	Melee Attack Front Angle Left
12	76-78	Ranged Attack Side Left		46	153-155	Melee Attack Recoil Front Angle Left
13	79-81	Ranged Attack Recoil Side Left		47	156-158	Melee Attack Side Left
14	82-84	Ranged Attack Rear Angle Left		48	159-161	Melee Attack Recoil Side Left
15	85-87	Ranged Attack Recoil Rear Angle Left		49	162-164	Melee Attack Rear Angle Left
16	88-90	Ranged Attack Rear		50	165-167	Melee Attack Recoil Rear Angle Left
17	91-93	Ranged Attack Recoil Rear		51	168-170	Melee Attack Rear
18	94-96	Ranged Attack Rear Angle Right		52	171-173	Melee Attack Recoil Rear
19	97-99	Ranged Attack Recoil Rear Angle Right		53	174-176	Melee Attack Rear Angle Right
20	100-102	Ranged Attack Side Right		54	177-179	Melee Attack Recoil Rear Angle Right
21	103-105	Ranged Attack Recoil Side Right		55	180-182	Melee Attack Side Right
22	106-108	Ranged Attack Front Angle Right		56	183-185	Melee Attack Recoil Side Right
23	109-111	Ranged Attack Recoil Front Angle Right		57	186-188	Melee Attack Front Angle Right
24	112-113	Pain Front		58	189-191	Melee Attack Recoil Front Angle Right
25	114-115	Pain Front Angle Left		59	192-203	Idle (animated) Front
26	116-117	Pain Side Left		60	204-215	Idle (animated) Front Angle Left
27	118-119	Pain Rear Angle Left		61	216-227	Idle (animated) Side Left
28	120-121	Pain Rear		62	228-239	Idle (animated) Rear Angle Left
29	122-123	Pain Rear Angle Right		63	240-251	Idle (animated) Rear
30	124-125	Pain Side Right		64	252-263	Idle (animated) Rear Angle Right
31	126-127	Pain Front Angle Right		65	264-275	Idle (animated) Side Right
32	128-130	Dying v1		66	276-287	Idle (animated) Front Angle Right
33	131	Dead (Corpse frame)

• Next Section: Wax Convertor

(Note: If making animations to be compatible with the original game, avoid re-using individual frames.)