I would like to know where i can get a good 3D modeling program so i can start making 3D models. I have seen a few 3D modeling programs, such as 3DS Max, and Moray, But you need to pay for them :rolleyes: Does anyone know where i can get a Registration key for Moray, or a warze site that has 3DS Max it would be greatly apreciated. Oh, and if anyone knows of a good free 3D modeling program, that would be great too.

My first sugestion is; Make sure you are comited to the program, before you start to use it, swithching from one program can be as bad as starting all over again- it can be very difficult learning a new interface.
I'm not sure where you can get a free 3d program, Have you tried moray/povray, technicaly you have to pay for it, but there is a long introduction period and theres nothing you can do with the registered version of Moray/povray that you cant do with the unregistered. Remenber to download both moray, and povray, cos one is the engine, and the other is the controls- the engine is difficult to use on its own.
Another plus is, moray can use models from 3d cafe- so you can get a bit of a head start.

What program do you use to do your 3D modeling. I really want to start modeling, i have a very strong interest in it. Is there a steep and long learning curve wile starting out 3D modeling, i dont really want to have to spend a year learning how to model.

You use a program called "corel dream 3D" right? would you be willing to upload the setup files on to some webspace if i set it up? I am asuming you have broadband.

Unfortunately I don't have broard band- My internet access is very slow- and uploading enough of corel dream to make it usable would take forever.

Learning to 3d model is not so difficult, after about three atempts you can usualy get something that is presentable. The real key is to get good source material, good projection drawings will enable you to make almost anything you want. After you have been using a program for a few months you will probably see an improvement, but its realy only in the speed in which you can do a model. To start with making a 3d tank model could take all weekend, and you will be tempted to take short cuts; that why some pepoles first models look bad, cos at first it can be frustrating, you just want to get it finished in one sitting- but later you can finish any model (of the detail needed for Civ III- ie not very) in an hour.

If you are interested in corel dream, my version came with corel 8, I think they are on corel 10 or 11 now, so you should be able to pick up corel 8 quite cheap perhaps second hand, or from a computer shop; I got mine free as part software package when buying the PC.
Its not realy the best program for the job, and other people I've asked say its difficult to use and not very rewarding compared to other programs. I only use it cos I don't have to pay for it and it doesn't take up much room on the PC (Iv'e got a crappy PC with not very much Harddrive space) and Iv'e been using it for about two years...

Try these 2 links.
Moray (www.stmuc.com/moray/index.html) is a shareware 3D modeling program for POVRay (www.povray.org/download/) which is the freeware renderer. I would suggest downloading the old versions (specifically v3.1) at the bottom of the page. This is the program that Kinboat uses and is pretty easy to learn (although I'm still coming to grips with it). All I now need is someone to help me with the Paintshop Pro prog. The palettes are giving me hell.

Hope these links help.

There are many different 3d programs out there. Some of them are especially devoted to making models for games. These often don´t have very good renderer, effects etc. but they are easier to use when making game models because you won´t have to deal with such complicated interfaces.
Before you do units for civ3 you could try to make models for 3d games (shooters), e.g. Quake3. You will find a lot more help for doing models for games like Quake than for civ3. You will then also learn the simplest way of making models (you work directly on the mesh, that means you create all the polygons with your mouse). Even for games like civ3 it is not needed to make hyper realistic models with 100.000 polys because you won´t see the details in the game.
In my opinion it is easier to first create models (weapons) for 3d games than making 3d models and use them for 2d games (I did my first models for use in Quake3).
You have to keep in mind that you will need to animate your models which is often not the case when you do weapons for 3d games.
Anyway, here is a link which will point you to a forum post in a quake related forum. There are many, many links for making models, modelling packages, skinning them, animation etc.

http://www.map-center.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=3;t=000040

You should look there and try out different 3d programs.
If you seriously want to do 3d modelling you could buy student versions of the 3d programs (some have them). Those version are a lot cheaper but you have to meet certain requirements.

Hope this helps.

What I always advise people to do is to buy magazines like Digit, computer arts, 3D world, etc (or whatever they sell outside of the UK). As well as often giving away free software (I got Poser 3, Amapi 3D v4, Strata 3D, DSculptor amongst others for free), you get user support and often a big discount off the next version of the product.

I'd make more units for civ3 myself, but I can't stand the size and the horrible file format (plus I'm dead lazy).

By the way, I wouldn't start asking for key codes for pirate applications here, it's the quickest way to get a thread closed.

You can get a free version of Maya from www.aliaswavefront.com .

Search for the Personal learning edition or something - it ain't for commercial use but AFAIK you can use it for modelling.

The Maya PLE is good for learning it, but in my version you can't export, and anything has a watermark over it, bummer.

Let's declare CFC an educational institution, and mass licenses for cheap! :lol:

Think about it, we will make TF the headmaster ;)

Glare what do you need help with?

Thanks for the help guys. i did a little research last night and found a couple of 3D modeling programs for free, i think ill give some of them a try. As for asking for key codes, its just a habbit, i have to much pirated software. (I hope no one that works for a law inforcment agency visits this forum.) :lol: