I ill find this hard to explain so please bear with me..
I was playing Doom today and i noticed the majority of props in that game are 2d sprites that always face you.
http://images1.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20050625063929/doom/images/thumb/9/93/Burnbarr.png/448px-Burnbarr.png
I was wondering if anybody know how i might make a flat static shape create the same effect in 3dsmax, Nifskope or the Geck?
Isnt this how the games grass works?..

Also miny question.. I notice the Geck does not have a combine plugin option like tescs did.. Do i really have to start a mod over every time The geck closes or is there another way of continuing a mod??

Thanks!

I think those are called BillbBoard textures/models. Also the bushes are like that as well. I'm not sure how you could do it, but look at the bushes and see how they are set up, it may be a start.

Also, if you want to continue a mod after closing the geck, perhaps you should save it?

To edit an existing mod, that button that says 'Set Active Plugin' on the loading screen might help if you click it.

I have opened up a bush in Geck and found, they use .spt files for the the mesh and any dds for the texture.
I have no idea how to create a .spt file or how to edit one but i will keep looking.
Also thanks for the help.

gnomon do aa tutorial called create pixie dust using sprites http://www.thegnomonworkshop.com/store/product/764/Pixie-Dust-Using-Sprites
the techniques are more or less what you want a search my bring up something similar hope this helps

Interesting.. maybe the effect i am looking for is somewhere in 3dsmax. Dont have 15 to spend on the tutorial but it gives me a few ideas.
Thanks

The .spt files are made with a program called http://www.speedtree.com/. I'm not too familiar with the program, but it appears that it creates 3D models for trees/bushes.... not just simple 2D sprites. I'm pretty sure all of the trees/bushes in Oblivion were made with this program too...

Yes, i gave Speedtree a go, but it seems to much of a complecated process to replecate an effect that has been in use for decades now.

Basically you create the mesh normally, often it will be a flat plane mesh but it doesn't have to be.

The you create a bone, name it something like billboard. make the mesh a child of that node.

export as normal

open in nifskope, rclick the node that was the bone, block>convert>NiB...>NibillboardNode

there are several viewing modes to billboards, you'll probably either use always_face_camera or rigid_face_camera depending on how you want it to behave.

Or you can just create the billboard node in nifskope and make your mesh a child to it. you might have to fiddle with rotation of the mesh to get it to be facing the intended direction. but thats it really. nothing special to it.

My lightsabers and particularly the laughing man mods I made for F3 might be of some use to decipher the function you are after.

Speedtree won't be useful unless you are making trees.