Freshly uploaded to Renderosity Freestuff, my [ Chedi Building Blocks (Beta version)](http://www.renderosity.com/mod/freestuff/details.php?item_id=63704)

Are you looking for an ancient monument for your Asian jungle/mountain scenes?
Can't find one that quite fits the bill?

How about building one of your own then?

The Chedi Building Blocks are four very simple morphing props. But don't let the simplicity fool you! I've included three example chedi created from these blocks to give you an idea of what you can do. The three textures used (plus an extra white marble one) are also included, along with the UV mapping template. All four blocks use the same simple UV map.

Each CBB loads at the origin and is about twice the height of your standard human figure. Creating your own chedi is a simple three step process.

Load one of the four CBB as your base, scale it as required (do not move it at this stage), apply the morphs to get the shape you want, and apply textures/bump as required.

Load another CBB, scale it as required, move it vertically upwards so it appears to sit on the previous one, apply the morphs to get the shape you want, apply textures/bump as required, and when you're happy, parent it the previous CBB.

Repeat the above step as many times as required.

Please remember that this is a BETA version.

If you run into any problems, or have any suggestions to improve it, please let me know. Feel free to post problems/suggestions to this thread

If you manage to create a nice-looking chedi from these CBB, feel free to post an image here too.

Issues I'm already aware of...

1. There's no underside to the building blocks. That was a deliberate design decision, but may need rethinking...
2. The material name in each CBB is 'Null'. I should rename this in each CBB.
3. The 'AdjustCornerSize' morph for the Cross Quadrate CBB stretches the faces unevenly. I need to correct this morph target.
4. There are no plan-view morphs included. This is an oversight - I forgot to include them.
5. The PP2/PZ3 files are quite large because the object/morph target geometry is embedded in them. I should try using external geometries.

I'm also planning to add a selection of 'top-pieces' in Thai, Khmer, Burmese, and Tibetan styles, because these are tedious or impossible to create from the four blocks.

the pz3 files will be even huger, as they may have the embedded geom for the lites, BION.

So, after some of the beta-test modifications get made, we can look forward to the return of the chedi?

I hadn't thought of that! Just had a shuftie at the PZ3s and there's lots of unnecessary (for me) stuff. So once I've externalized the geometries I'll take at look and do a bit of spring cleaning,

This project is very much a WIP. I'm going to post most of my 'progress reports' to this thread on the DAZ Freepozitory forum (main reason - you can casually look at that thread, whereas you need to log in to see this one!)

I'll be checking this thread for feedback regularly too though!

Quote - So, after some of the beta-test modifications get made, we can look forward to the return of the chedi?

Yes indeed - this beta version is just a warning to those on the dark side that their days are numbered. Soon there'll be a chedi in every render... :biggrin:

 

(and they fly too! They don't just look like rocketships by chance.... )

...and just in case you haven't spotted it yet there's an extra crumbling plaster on brick texture set (just JPGs at present, no .MT5 or MAT pose files) in the Renderosity Free Stuff [ here](http://www.renderosity.com/mod/freestuff/details.php?item_id=63714)

 

Use that free ivy generator program,  and whether it's the fourth moon of Yavin or Angor Wat, it'll fit right in.  :-)

Great idea! And I've already got it somewhere - but where did I put it... ?

Just a note that this project's not been forgotten - it was put to one side for a few months because my brain overheated! In response to a nice comment on the DAZ thread about a 'CBB Steps' block I'd been playing with I've done a bit of work on them. As a result a CBB Steps (beta version) has now been released.

Next step - a fresh look at some ideas for pagoda-style blocks, prayer flags and Khmer/Burmese/Thai style top-pieces (more info in my DAZ  thread http://forum.daz3d.com/viewtopic.php?t=160393). And more steps. I'll have to try my hand at a naga staircase...

And I found that ivy generator, so I can now grow some plants for the chedi.

Sounds like fun!