Use custom BSP shader materials for entity models #20

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opened 2026-03-18 02:14:51 +00:00 by kit · 0 comments

kit commented

2026-03-18 02:14:51 +00:00

Owner

Entity models currently use Three.js MeshLambertMaterial, which means they don't benefit from our custom shader pipeline (sun lighting uniforms, envmap reflections, detail textures, $color tinting, $selfillum, etc.). They also don't properly resolve VMT shader properties.

Problem

Models use MeshLambertMaterial in client/src/mdl/loader.js — no access to our uber-shader features
VMT properties like $envmap, $detail, $selfillum, $phong, $color are ignored on model materials
Sun lighting on models relies on Three.js scene lights rather than the shader's useSunLighting path
Shadow mapping (future) needs to work consistently across BSP world geometry and entity models, which requires a shared shader pipeline

Requirements

Replace MeshLambertMaterial with createBSPMaterial() in the model loader
Wire up VMT/VTF resolution for model textures through the same applyVMTProperties path used by BSP faces
Set useSunLighting: true for VertexLitGeneric materials on models (they have no lightmap)
Ensure model meshes have the vertex attributes the shader expects (uv2, color, normal)
Remove the Three.js DirectionalLight/AmbientLight scene lights once all surfaces use the custom shader

Context

BSP shader material system: client/src/bsp/material.js
Model loader: client/src/mdl/loader.js
Sun/ambient parsed from light_environment entity in client/src/bsp/loader.js
This is a prerequisite for shadow mapping — shadows need a consistent shader across BSP and entities

Entity models currently use Three.js `MeshLambertMaterial`, which means they don't benefit from our custom shader pipeline (sun lighting uniforms, envmap reflections, detail textures, $color tinting, $selfillum, etc.). They also don't properly resolve VMT shader properties. ## Problem - Models use `MeshLambertMaterial` in `client/src/mdl/loader.js` — no access to our uber-shader features - VMT properties like `$envmap`, `$detail`, `$selfillum`, `$phong`, `$color` are ignored on model materials - Sun lighting on models relies on Three.js scene lights rather than the shader's `useSunLighting` path - Shadow mapping (future) needs to work consistently across BSP world geometry and entity models, which requires a shared shader pipeline ## Requirements - Replace `MeshLambertMaterial` with `createBSPMaterial()` in the model loader - Wire up VMT/VTF resolution for model textures through the same `applyVMTProperties` path used by BSP faces - Set `useSunLighting: true` for VertexLitGeneric materials on models (they have no lightmap) - Ensure model meshes have the vertex attributes the shader expects (`uv2`, `color`, `normal`) - Remove the Three.js `DirectionalLight`/`AmbientLight` scene lights once all surfaces use the custom shader ## Context - BSP shader material system: `client/src/bsp/material.js` - Model loader: `client/src/mdl/loader.js` - Sun/ambient parsed from `light_environment` entity in `client/src/bsp/loader.js` - This is a prerequisite for shadow mapping — shadows need a consistent shader across BSP and entities