What is the best way to model a tank that could be used multiple times without it slowing down the game when more that 5 are on screen?

Depends on what you mean with without slowing down.

Every extra object causes slowdown of course.

5 at ones, I'd say they can even have up to 3.000 or 4.000 polys if they shall be detailed. Skin size 512x512 should be enough, for a FPS where it has to be good from really close distance maybe even 1024x1024.

And very imporant if they are the basis of the game, make LOD models with less polys and smaller textures.

I have created my LOD models; e_tank_0,e_tank_1 ,e_tank_2 ,e_tank_3.

But in my level they dont seem to change... Do I have to define something to make them change?

It all depends on your target computer... without that information, your question is pretty much pointless. You could be talking about running it on a P2 400Mhz, or a P4 Core Duo 2.93Ghz...

What are your target specs...?

When you say target specs... it is slightly obvious... what are the average spec of today??

1 Ghz Low end p3
2 Ghz Med end p3
3-4 Ghz High end p4

Come on.. who seriously plays games on a 400mhz anymore?

So i should think i would aim it at the 1.8 Ghz area.

I would have to agree. I mean even E-machines which are not all that great of a PC are now stocked with a 3.2 Anthlon AMD and 512mb of Ram. The lowest specs you should aim for should be about 1.8 to 2.5ghz. Just my 2 cents worth... GS out.

I personally own a 533Mhz pentium 3, and two of my friends own pentium 3 733Mhz computers. They are out there... dont just assume that no1 uses them anymore.

The specs you aim for are totally up to you... I agree that no gamer playing current games, or even second-gen games, runs a P2, but you should also not aim for the highest of high-end computers either, because they are a minority. A growing minority, given, but still a minority at this time.

Personally, I aim for 1.4 Ghz Celeron as the minimum Proc specs, and 2.4 Ghz Pentium 4 as the best specs for Proc. then, I test it on a P3 733Mhz just to see if it works .

Anyways, if your going for 1.8, then yea, you have some leway. I would also suggest 3000-4000, closer to 3000. Depending on how much other stuff you have in the scene.

And sorry, but I assume nothing... a habbit I find helps in most cases.

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without that information, your question is pretty much pointless.

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Im sorry for my rude remark, if it was taken that way.

you said the models don't seem to be changing... that could be that the LoD distances are too far and aren't really doing much. LoD distances can be set via code (do a search; sorry but i dont have access to it at the moment) and for testing purposes you may want to change the colours of the skins of different LoDs to make the change obvious, and then change them back when you are satisfied with your settings.

the manual also has a page on optimising code. it just tells you what to avoid and what alternatives can be made (for example, bones animation is slower than vertex, so if you have a huge amount of characters on screen, use vertex animation).

julz