This is just a quick tutorial for the ones, who already know about modeling and only need 3ds Max with NeL Plugins as an exporter

Prerequisite: 3DS Max 2012 x32 Nel Plugins installed for 3DS - (DL: http://dl.kaetemi.be/ryzom/bin/nel_plugins_3dsmax_2012_x86-0.10.0.7z )

After you imported your model successfully inside 3ds max (i recommend fbx for imports) you have to do:

(you can always press (Z) to move the camera directly to your selected object)

check for material ID (Media:Outsider2.png)
- add 'Edit Poly' (not 'Editable Poly') from dropdown list, press (5) to enter the element mode, select all of your object (strg + a) and in the Material ID box the ID has to be between 1 and 100 in generell or it will not be supported well later, so change it to 1 when no mat ID is necessary
auto smooth your object (Media:Outsider2.png)
- (still in element mode and with everything selected) scroll down to 'Polygon: Smoothing Groups' and select 'Auto Smooth' with a generell value of 45,0 - if this won't work fine enough for your model, use the numbers of poly groups
resetting XForm (this is important to export your model as a .shape later) (Media:Outsider3.png)
- go to 'Utilities' (hammer icon) > Reset XForm > Reset Selected
- go back to 'Modify' (second icon) > Right click on XForm > Collapse All (this should now end in 'Editable Poly') (Media:Outsider4.png)
You are done here :-)

(press (M) to open the material editor) (Media:Outsider5.png)

right click in the view and add:
- Materials > Nel Material
- Bitmap > Your texture file
  - combine your bitmap with the Nel Materials 'fTexture_1'
- Bitmap > Your specular file
  - combine your bitmap with the Nel Materials 'fTexture_2'
preparing Nel Material for ingame usage
- in Nel Basic Parameters:
  - changing Ambient and Diffuse color to 'white' and Opacity to '100'
  - changing Specular color to 'white', Level: '2', Glossiness: '9'
- in Nel Material
  - change Shaders Type to 'Specular'
  - unmark (disable!) 'Enable water splash' - Please don't ask me why it is autmatically enabled. Maybe they were just water junkies :-)
- in Nel Textures
  - recheck that all texture files are fine
  - check (enable) 'SpecularMap'
make your texture/shader shown in 3ds Max
- right click on your texture or shader in the VIEW-Screen and select 'Show Shaded Material in Viewport'
You are done here :-)

go to 'Utilities'
- select 'More...' > 'Nel Export' (a new list appeared called 'Parameters')
- make sure you have your model selected and choose 'Export model'
- give your file a good name and save it as a NeL shape file (*.shape)
Yes! You are finally done :-)

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