Deforming multiple objects at once

[Shoggoth]

Is it possible? I've got this ruined house, see, and I want it to be in the process of being "displaced" by the large tree stump on which it's been built, to the point at which the ground underneath it is bowed upward, causing the house to bend slightly. Unfortunately, the house is made of several objects, each floor, story, and ceiling being separate. I know how I'd do it if it were all one object, but I really hope there's an easier way to do this than merging all the objects, editing, and then separating them again.

[Aloys]

Use a lattice modifier.
You can bind several objects to a single lattice so it's pretty easy and efficient.
- Make a single Lattice object, add a couple UVW points and shape it like the deformation you want to obtain
- Add a Lattice modifier to one of your objects
- Select all your other objects and then select the one with the Lattice modifier
- Ctrl-C and copy the Lattice modiffier.
Applying a single effect to dfifferent objects in Blender is often a problem, thankfully in this case there's a simple solution.

[Shoggoth]

I actually tried that soon after asking, and it kind of worked, but I couldn't get exactly the shape I wanted. I ended up starting over, deforming the bottom-most mesh and then snapping the vertices together from the bottom up, by hand. It wasn't as time-consuming as it sounds, and I'm happy with the result. Thanks!

[J'Kla]

This looks like it could be a good one for the wiki?

[D'Lanor]

Not exactly. Our wiki was never meant to be a Blender wiki. It is primary about building ages for Uru using PyPRP and other GoW tools. The main page of the wiki is already heavily polluted with stuff that should be in a completely separate "general Blender" section.

[J'Kla]

At the moment it's almost impossible to build an age without using Blender somewhere in the process even if all you are doing is importing a 3DMax model.

I have to agree we probably need some sorting and pruning.

While these methods would be applicable to a Blender Wiki they are things that are useful to your trainee age builder and the focus of the Blender Wiki leans towards animation and video production.

Do you think we should have a section that deals with Blender generalities? I have tended to avoid links to other Wiki's only they are subject to change of relevance, but there would be no problems if any piece included a link to the relevant Blender Wiki page if one exists.

If the instruction like this one has evolved in the forum because an age builder couldn't find the answer elsewhere surely it is a candidate for the Wiki?

I was just suggesting the Wiki option here as I didn't want to just dump it in the Wiki for the very reasons you suggest.

[Shoggoth]

It would make for a pretty short article, honestly. I think there's plenty of information elsewhere on how to use lattices. My problem was that my brain farted; I made the mistake of assuming that, because I could only target one object at a time with the Lattice modifier, I wouldn't be able to get the same deformation on multiple objects (all the modifiers I routinely use, e.g. decimate, subsurf, give results dependent on the geometry of each object). I realized what to do myself, but I couldn't get the lattice I used to deform the meshes exactly as I wanted, so I guess if a whole article were written on precisely and predictably deforming meshes with lattices, that might be useful. I'm pretty sure something like that must already exist, though.

[J'Kla]

I'm pretty sure something like that must already exist, though.

The point I am making follows the idea that the information on the tools you need for "Age Building" are in one resource a short item where you can find it is better than a long one lost somwhere in cyberspace.

[boblishman]

I have to agree with D'Lanor.
This is not an Age Building issue.
Not remotely.
It is a MODEL making issue which belongs in the Blender forum.

As D'L says, the wiki is already clogged up with too much "Blender" stuff. Yes, you need Blender to Age Build .... but this is the Writers Guild ...not the "Blender Users Guild" ... and I think we are in danger of putting off new Age builders if the wiki is all chocked up with advanced Blender stuff that they do not need to start Age building...

god knows ... there are few enough builder left as it is ... without putting off potential new ones ...

ever heard the phrase "too much information" ...?

[ZURI]

I may be overstepping my bounds here a bit, but as a NEW member of the Guild - I thought I'd share my experience here. D'L and boblishman made good points. It's a very troublesome endeauvor to navigate the old parts of the forum (for a newbie). However, at the same time, a good chunk of Blender tutorials available online are completely USELESS for new writers like myself. (In hindsight I now know that I have absolutely NO use for a fluid dymanics modifier..... WTF!?! It looks cool, but unless I get the idea of making an animated movie, it's just garbage....

When I first happened upon this forum and decided to join, I thought it best to devour every Blender tutorial I could find. In retrospect, I'm beginning to regret that decision . I have managed to clutter up my head with so much useless (to me) garbage that I'll probably never, ever use. For example, I've spent countless hours writing an age just to find that I will probably have to start completely from stratch. At this rate, I'll be retired before I've released an Age. (I'm only 32!) Talk about frustrating!! This time around, it's not about the Journey for me, it's all about the Destination.

Now I'm pretty much starting over - trying to learn only those tools that are supported by the pyPRP plugin. (I am quite aware that the plugin is in a state of evolution and will continue to change.) This is expected, until Cyan releases some code to our developers - but the learning curve is still far too steep. I'm getting the impression that you (1) need to be a Blender Guru or (2) a programmer to write an Age that will even begin to look like professional quality. I spend more time cussing at blender because it's not doing what I think it should be doing, than I do making real progress.

While this has probably already been done in one form or fashion - I would like to see a part of the wiki that lists all the tools that we (as writers) DO NOT need to learn. There are myriad Blender lessons and forums out there, but they don't really benefit us much. It's sensory overload.............

Thanks for letting me rant.. Again, no disrespect or admonishment from me towards anyone. This is just a topic that I can really relate to.

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