148 lines
8.3 KiB
Markdown
148 lines
8.3 KiB
Markdown
# wgt01 — Build Status & Notes
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Progress log for the **Westgate Urban Foundation MVP** tileset (prefix `twu01`).
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Spec: [KICKOFF.md](KICKOFF.md). How NWN needs things shaped: [../AGENTS.md](../AGENTS.md).
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_Last updated: 2026-07-04._
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---
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## What exists — the generator kit (`generator/`)
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One source of truth (`tiles.py`) feeds four tools; the two NWN emitters need no
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Blender, so they're directly testable.
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| File | Role | Needs Blender? |
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|---|---|---|
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| `tiles.py` | **Single source of truth**: 40-tile table, 12 materials, the 12×12 test map, and all pure derivations (paint / height / walkmesh quads / `.set` corner+crosser mapping). `PREFIX=twu01`. | no |
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| `build.py` | Builds `westgate_urban_foundation_mvp.blend` — 40 tile collections (`VIS_`/`WOK_`/`BLOCK_` + edge custom props), `TILE_EDGE_METADATA` text block, `PREVIEW_tile_library_grid`, `PREVIEW_12x12_test_district`. Editable preview only (quads OK — the exporters triangulate). | yes (4.0.2) |
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| `make_mdl.py` | **Shipping model path.** Pure-Python `.mdl` + `.wok` + solid-colour `.tga`: faces triangulated, one `trimesh` node **per texture** (each with `bitmap`+`tverts`), embedded `aabb` walkmesh. | no |
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| `make_itp.py` | `twu01palstd.itp` (GFF `ITP ` via `nwn_gff`) — the palette the toolset needs to register the set. | no (needs `nwn_gff`) |
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| `make_wok.py` | Pure-Python ASCII `.wok` emitter (verts+faces+surfacemat+AABB tree); shared `aabb_node()` reused by `make_mdl`. | no |
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| `make_set.py` | `twu01.set` (INI, **CRLF**) from the tile grammar; field order/values mirror stock. | no |
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| `export_mdl.py` | _Alt path, not shipped._ Neverblender export — **flattens** multi-material tiles to one unloadable material, so superseded by `make_mdl.py`. | yes + addon |
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`flake.nix` exposes these as apps + a dev shell (pinned **Blender 4.0.2**,
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`neverwinter-nim`, `cleanmodels`).
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## Pipeline (commands)
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```sh
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cd wgt01
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nix run .#mdl -- mdl/ # .mdl + .wok + .tga (shipping models)
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nix run .#set -- twu01.set # twu01.set (CRLF)
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nix run .#itp -- twu01palstd.itp # palette (needs nwn_gff)
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nix run .#build -- out.blend # optional: editable .blend preview
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# nix run .#export -- out.blend mdl/ # alt Neverblender path (flattens materials)
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```
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## Verified (2026-07-04)
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- **models (`make_mdl`)**: 40 `.mdl` + 40 `.wok` + 12 `.tga`. Each `.mdl` has
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`newmodel`, `classification TILE`, AuroraBase name == resref, one `trimesh`
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**per texture** with `bitmap`+`tverts` (tris), and the embedded `aabb`
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walkmesh. E.g. `st_s` → 3 trimesh nodes (swlk/curb/wcob); `cp1` → 1 with
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`bitmap twu01_wcob`. Walkmesh surfacemats: 4 (`wok_Stone`, walkable) / 7
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(`wok_Nonwalk`). Matches the stock `trs02` tile structure field-for-field.
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- **`.itp`**: `twu01palstd.itp` round-trips through `nwn_gff` — `ITP ` type,
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40 named entries. Names render, but the **structure is wrong** (flat folder of
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raw tile resrefs → unplaceable, no Terrain/eraser folder). See Diagnosis below;
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needs a rebuild to the 3-folder Terrain/Features/Groups shape.
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- **`.set`**: CRLF, 40 tiles, 3 terrains (`cobble`/`raised`/`canal`), 2 crossers
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(`ramp`/`canal_edge`). `Version=V1.0`, stock field order (`WalkMesh=msb01`,
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lights=1, `VisibilityNode=A`, `ImageMap2D` last). Corners/heights from each
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tile's N/E/S/W edge grammar; non-walkable tiles → `PathNode=N`.
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- **install path**: `~/Documents/Neverwinter Nights/development` is a symlink to
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`~/.local/share/Neverwinter Nights/development` (the toolset's real dir); one
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`nix run .#dev-install` stages all 94 loose files there.
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### Why the models were rebuilt (2026-07-04, pass 2)
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The Neverblender export produced tiles the toolset couldn't load — **no `tverts`,
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no `bitmap`, a dangling `materialname` (>16 chars, no `.mtr`)** — and it
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**flattened** each multi-material tile to a single arbitrary material. NWN needs
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UV'd, bitmapped, one-texture-per-node trimeshes. Fixed by generating the `.mdl`
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in pure Python (`make_mdl.py`) with full control, plus the required
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`twu01palstd.itp`. Symptom that surfaced it: blank tileset name + "could not
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create area" in the New Area wizard.
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## Testing in the toolset — no `.hak` needed
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The toolset reads loose files from **`~/Documents/Neverwinter Nights/development/`**
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(confirmed present). One command does build → export → `.set` → stage:
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```sh
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cd wgt01
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nix run .#dev-install # -> build/ (inspectable) + installs 40 .mdl/.wok + twu01.set into development/
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```
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It replaces only the `twu01*` files in `development/` (leaves everything else
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alone) and keeps the intermediate outputs in `./build/` for inspection. Then in
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the toolset: create a small area using the `twu01` tileset, place tiles, walk-test
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pathing/heights. (Packing a `.hak` with `nwn_erf` is deferred until the set is
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validated.)
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## First-pass caveats — tune before shipping
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- **PathNode** is a placeholder (`A` walkable / `N` non-walkable) — verify creature
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routing per tile shape in the toolset; real pathnode letters matter.
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- **Textures are flat solid-colour `.tga`s** (one per material, KICKOFF "geometry
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not art"). They double as an in-toolset grammar read-out; swap in real art
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later without touching geometry.
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- **No minimaps** — `ImageMap2D` refs exist in the `.set` but the `.tga`s don't
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(skipped by decision; Westgate doesn't use them).
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- **Substitutions**: `RA_C` = straight-ramp geometry; `STA` = smooth ramp WOK
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proxy over stepped visual; `SW_C/T/X/E` share the straight-sidewalk visual.
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- `MAT_void_black` is defined but currently unpainted (11/12 materials realised).
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- Corner terrain is a heuristic from edges — hand-tune adjacency in the toolset.
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## Git
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Branch **`wgt01-tileset-kit`** (`main` still unborn — `git branch -f main
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wgt01-tileset-kit` to promote). Commits:
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- `60af184` — build guide + 40-tile generator kit
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- `1284f15` — real `.mdl`/`.wok` export via Neverblender
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## Diagnosis 2026-07-04 — palette names show but nothing paints
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Tiles now carry names, but they're **not selectable/paintable**, and the standard
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**Terrain** section (paint terrains + eraser, Raise/Lower) is missing. Root cause,
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confirmed against the working `wut01palstd.itp` + `wut01.set` (see ../AGENTS.md
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§2.3 for the full model):
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- The toolset has **two placement systems** and our `.itp` uses neither correctly.
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Ground is laid by **Paint Terrain** (the toolset corner-matches and auto-picks
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the model); the palette only **click-places `[GROUP#]`-backed prefabs**. It never
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places raw tile models.
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- Our `.itp` is **one flat folder of 40 raw tile resrefs**, no Terrain folder, no
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`eraser`, and the `.set` has **`[GROUPS] Count=0`**. So: none of the 40 entries is
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a feature/group → unplaceable; and with no Terrain folder there's no paint/eraser
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UI. `wut01` (123 tiles) lists only its **21 groups** in the palette and paints the
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rest as terrain; its `PRIMARY/SECONDARY RULES` are `Count=0`, so rules aren't the
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blocker.
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**The real palette (verified):** `MAIN` = 3 category structs `{ID, STRREF folder
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label, LIST}`; leaves `{NAME, RESREF}`. Folder 8282 = **Terrain** (leaf RESREF =
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terrain/crosser *name*, plus a magic `eraser` leaf STRREF 63291); 63261 =
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**Features** (1×1, RESREF = first-tile resref); 63262 = **Groups** (N×M).
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## Next passes
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1. **Rebuild `make_itp.py` + `make_set.py` to the real structure** (../AGENTS.md
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§2.3):
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- `.itp`: a **Terrain** folder (each `tiles.TERRAINS`/`CROSSERS` by name + an
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`eraser` leaf) so terrain-painting + eraser exist; a **Features** folder with a
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1×1 entry per tile we want click-placeable.
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- `.set`: add `[GROUP#]` (1×1 feature) entries backing those Features leaves
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(`Name` == palette NAME, `Tile0` == that tile's index).
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- Then in the toolset lay ground via **Paint Terrain** (cobble/raised/canal), not
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by clicking tiles.
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2. Walk-test → tune PathNodes, crossers, corner terrains; add a tileset TLK if
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we later want localized palette names (local `NAME` strings suffice for now).
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3. **Textures (art pass, separate note).** Source assets live in
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`/home/vicky/Blender/` (e.g. `textures/`, `PBR_Procampur/`, `td_floor/`,
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`new_floors/`, `pd textures main lib/`). Map each `MAT_*` in `tiles.TEXTURES`
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to a chosen texture, replacing the flat solid-colour `.tga`s. **Downscale to
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≤2k** — NWN handles 4k textures poorly (perf/artifacts). Geometry is
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unaffected; only the `.tga`/material path changes.
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4. Pack `.hak` (`nwn_erf`) once validated.
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