Model underground

[sccolin 4]

I am new to 3d modeling.  I have successfully used Blender to make extensive modifications to some existing models dumped vie ModTools.

I have noticed that all the models have about a 1 meter "skirt" that extends down underground from the outside walls.  I assume this is in case the model is placed on a slope and some of it is exposed then there won't be a hollow section.  However in some cases the models have pretty extensive underground sections using a lot of tris matching all the detail above ground.  If my assumption is correct, can't I just have a single piece (2 tris) covering the whole side wall?

Here's I picture of a garage model showing all the extra tris below ground (the red line).  In this case they are also double walled. 

Can I get rid of them for more efficiency?  Should I replace with a single double tri underground piece?

[Ronyx69 2,413]

Pretty sure you can delete stuff that is entirely underground and serves no purpose.

Normally buildings will take anything that ends at 0, and extend it into the ground, this is the "base" of the building under the 0 level.

If you want there to be literally nothing under 0, you would need to change the shader to NoBase.

[sccolin 4]

Thanks.  Will test.

[Avanya 2,605]

I'd recommend you get rid of them. The game will generate new ones, but I think (hope) it exports more than actually are in game. But yeah, this shows why some buildings have a higher tris than listed, as the creators listed the tris count from the modelling software before the game added those extra faces.

[sccolin 4]

Avanya - Thanks.  Will test after holidays by creating model with no "skirts".  Then redumping via ModTools. 

If CS is creating that many extra tris for every building would seem to me a significant inefficiency.

PS great models you have done.

[Avanya 2,605]

Thank you! ^^

I believe the game creates them for the foundation we see on slopes. I know ModTools doesn't export the model perfectly - at least when imported into Blender they're mirrored compared to in game.