Understanding the Relationship Between Bipeds and Delegates
When working with Crowd Simulation in 3ds Max, it's crucial to understand that bipeds do not directly follow the delegate. The delegate is the system that calculates trajectories, collisions, and behaviors, while the biped is merely the rig that receives that animation via the Crowd Helper and the Motion Flow / Motion Mixer system.
Common Error When Using Bipeds in Crowd
The most frequent mistake is trying to physically link the biped to the delegate. This does not work, as the correct flow is:
- The delegate calculates the movement (paths, collisions, reactions).
- The simulation is transferred to the biped as baked animation.
- The Crowd Helper system acts as a bridge between the delegate and the biped.
The delegate is the intelligence. The biped is the actor that performs the calculated movement.
How to Configure It Step by Step
- Create Delegates: Define the agents that will navigate the scene.
- Assign Behaviors: Use Seek to make them follow paths or Avoid to dodge obstacles and collisions.
- Calculate Simulation: Run the simulation so the delegate generates the trajectory.
- Transfer to Biped: Using Assign Controller and Crowd Animation Conversion, bake the animation onto the biped.
Limitations of 3ds Max's Crowd System
The integrated Crowd system in Max is useful for simple crowds but has limitations compared to modern solutions. In the past, AI Implant existed, offering more realistic behaviors, but it was discontinued. Today, more advanced options include:
- Golaem Crowd (Maya): The standard in professional productions.
- Miarmy: A robust plugin for complex simulations.
- Native Max Tools: Suitable for basic crowds and simple simulations.
Conclusion
Using bipeds in Crowd Simulation requires understanding that delegates and bipeds are separate systems. The delegate handles the logic and movement, and the biped interprets it as baked animation. By following this flow, you will avoid linking errors and achieve consistent results, although for complex projects you might need to resort to specialized plugins.