Model Performance – Arma Reforger

• In general, try to keep the polycount as low as possible; of course, such decision depends on the asset type and its specific use case.
• In general, the vertex density of different types of assets goes in this order of importance (descending, #1 = biggest density):
  1. weapon and gadget
  2. character and gear
  3. vehicle
  4. prop
  5. structure
  6. vegetation

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This does not mean that e.g a vehicle must always have less vertices than a weapon; it means that relative to its size, a vehicle in general has less vertices.A knife (weapon) will definitely have less vertices compared to a haul truck (vehicle)...!

• In general, create LODs using Bohemia Interactive's Enfusion Blender Tools; don't hesitate fixing them too.
  • LOD0, LOD1 and the last LOD are usually created manually, intermediate LODs being creatable by tools.

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If you import a heavily detailed 3D model as LOD0 without retouching it/creating smaller LODs,the game will keep this model in memory for as long as it will be in game's world.
Do not then be surprised by the mod's negative performance impact!

Instance

Repetitive complex elements must be split to save on memory, allowing then to assemble them in Prefabs.

🏗

This article is a work in progress!

Vanilla Values

As a point of reference, here are vanilla values for multiple common assets; be sure to aim for the general category's ballpark.

Asset	Category	LOD 0					Last LOD
		Vertices	Faces	Materials	Meshes	Bones	Vertices	Faces	Materials	Meshes	Bones
M16A2_body.xob	Weapon (Assault Rifle)	42631	49842	7	7	12	1142	674	6	6	7
AK74_body.xob	Weapon (Assault Rifle)	34614	41452	6	6	9	660	391	6	6	2
M9_body.xob	Weapon (Handgun)	14891	17515	2	2	6	213	114	1	1	2
PM_body.xob	Weapon (Handgun)	5888	7551	1	1	6	341	309	1	1	2
Binoculars_B12.xob	Gadget	4719	5774	1	1	0	56	34	1	1	0
Binoculars_B8.xob	Gadget	6919	8681	4	4	0	311	250	1	1	0
Binoculars_M22.xob	Gadget	7245	9965	1	1	0	107	76	1	1	0
Basebody_Male_Head_01.xob	Character (Head)	18932	34278	7	7	89	654	928	2	2	69
Basebody_Male_01.xob	Character (Body)	33181	57088	4	32	100	1230	1296	4	32	29
Helmet_M1_01.xob	Gear (Helmet)	7876	11342	1	1	1	156	228	1	1	1
Helmet_M1_Cover.xob	Gear (Helmet)	8391	12199	2	2	1	123	183	1	1	1
Helmet_SSh68_01.xob	Gear (Helmet)	2976	3779	1	1	1	51	70	1	1	1
Helmet_SSh68_01_cover.xob	Gear (Helmet)	3320	3673	1	1	1	50	48	1	1	1
Jacket_BDU_M81.xob	Gear (Top)	6129	7950	1	1	49	237	208	1	1	45
Jacket_KZS.xob	Gear (Top)	6016	9968	1	1	35	252	278	1	1	34
Jacket_M70_01.xob	Gear (Top)	11003	17090	1	1	48	284	205	1	1	10
Pants_BDU_M81.xob	Gear (Legwear)	4023	5554	1	1	20	117	100	1	1	10
Pants_KZS.xob	Gear (Legwear)	2856	5092	1	1	16	176	220	1	1	20
Pants_M70_01.xob	Gear (Legwear)	6129	7950	1	1	19	237	208	1	1	10
CombatBoots_US_01.xob	Gear (Footwear)	2176	3148	1	1	6	133	100	1	1	4
CombatBoots_Soviet_01.xob	Gear (Footwear)	2054	3140	1	1	9	122	100	1	1	4
m151a2_base.xob	Vehicle	34709	36022	12	12	45	131	70	1	1	0
UAZ469_base.xob	Vehicle	32826	34755	13	13	37	2658	1448	4	4	5
Barracks_01.xob	Structure	13455	11036	4	4	0	194	98	1	1	0
Barracks_E_02.xob	Structure	95272	98776	15	15	0	178	94	1	1	0
Barracks_E_03.xob	Structure	129523	119760	14	14	0	168	92	1	1	0