Does Torque support character deformation?

#1 This
May be what you were looking for.

#2 Thanks, I was thinking about this resource but believe that I would have a problem since I need to modify different parts of a character randomly. I suppose I could use this for each body part and then morph each one independently. Only problem is then I need to maintain different objects with parent-child relationships.

#3 You could use skeletal animation, have a separate dsq animation for each axis of each bone and then control the motion with script by applying the different animations... not sure if that's a good idea though.

#4 Ok, here comes a really stupid idea I'm sure, but...

Since the character only needs to be updated occasionally, what if I were to create an .obj file at runtime in code and then save it to the hard drive, then use the Obj2dts.exe app located elsewhere on this site to create a dts file without animation. Could I then use a dsq file to apply the animations?

I've never dealt with dsq files and am not sure if this would work or not.

#5 Why not just stuff your animations directly into the TSShape, rather than going through a silly reload dance?

Or do it all procedurally and ignore the existing TS animation code?

#6 I was not able to find much info on loading a TSShape object manually in the forums (this probably would have been the best choice), chances are doing it procedurally is going to be my best bet.

#7 Unless your not explaining your self all the way, I cant think of why you cant just use the morph resource and morph each body part randomly.

#8 Sorry for not making myself clear. I am creating characters that will evolve over time from children to adult and of course gain weight along the way. In your opinion would Morphing permit this type of control?

#9 Have you checked out how this game does it's character customization?
www.garagegames.com/mg/snapshot/view.php?qid=996

#10 I'm not really sure, although I think you need to do more than just scale the model to make the player look older. You should have one whole animation from youth to adult.

#11 @John - Loading a TSShape is easy, you just call ResourceManager->load(). :P

Manipulating 3space shapes directly is a little trickier but if you're going for a professional quality experience for your users it's the way to go.