Build & Level Integration

The BUILD tab packages your configured parts, bones, weights, and wind settings into an Unreal Engine Skeletal Mesh, creates optional Physics Assets, and connects your assets to a Level Wind Manager.

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1. Building the Skeletal Mesh

• Destination Folder: Target Content Browser directory (defaults to your asset's source folder).
• Asset Name: Output name (e.g., SK_PineTree01_Wind).
• Enable Nanite:
  • Automatically compiles streaming Nanite geometry into the generated Skeletal Mesh.
• Build Dynamic Wind Skeletal Mesh:
  • Compiles the geometry, assigns bone skinning, packages wind attributes, and creates the target asset in seconds.

Replace-In-Place Technology

Rebuilding an existing mesh replaces it in-place using FGlobalComponentRecreateRenderStateContext. Placed level actors, foliage painters, and blueprints retain their references with zero broken links or level re-population required.

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2. Physics Asset Generation

Generate dynamic ragdoll and collision physics assets alongside your skeletal mesh:

• Create with Mesh: Automatically builds an associated PHYS_ asset upon build.
• Kinematic (Follow Wind): Keeps physics bodies kinematic so they follow wind animation while registering character impacts.
• Only Core Bones: Limits physics bodies to major structural trunks and limbs, ignoring micro-twigs.
• Below Height: Clamps physics body creation above ground level.

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3. Level Integration & Wind Manager

• Place in Level:
  • Drops the built asset directly into your current level viewport at the camera focus point.
• Level Wind Manager:
  • Spawns a coordinated BP_LevelWindManager actor into your scene.
  • Automatically binds to global wind material parameter collections (MPC_GlobalWind), synchronizing foliage sway, particle leaves, and weather volumes scene-wide.
• Data Export:
  • Exports JSON and USD wind definitions to your project's Saved/ directory for pipeline archiving.

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