Character Import Guide

Uniforms, vests, backpacks, and soldier loadouts

Create Checklist

Official BI Wiki References

Primary sources used to tailor this guide. Read these alongside each step.

Required Mods & Dependencies

CBA_A3 (Community Base Addons)

Foundation library used by most modern Arma 3 mods. Required for scripted features, keybinds, and compatibility macros.

Subscribe on Steam Workshop, enable in Arma 3 Launcher before your mod.

A3_Characters_F (Base Game)

Vanilla character addon — almost always listed in requiredAddons[] for uniforms and soldiers.

Included with Arma 3; reference as requiredAddons[] in CfgPatches.

RHS (USAF / AFRF / GREF / SAF)

Optional

Optional but common dependency when retexturing or extending RHS assets.

Subscribe to the RHS packs your project extends; list in requiredAddons[].

CUP Weapons / Vehicles / Units

Optional

Community Upgrade Project — optional base for CUP-compatible retextures.

Step-by-Step Process

Install Arma 3 Tools

Install Arma 3 Tools from Steam. Object Builder, TexView 2, and Addon Builder are required for the full pipeline.

Steam → Library → Tools → Arma 3 Tools → Install
Verify Object Builder opens and can load .p3d files
Addon Builder packs and binarizes — formerly known as BinPBO

Arma 3 ToolsObject BuilderTexView 2Addon Builder

Creating an Addon

Create Mod Folder Structure

Organize as @YourMod/addons/your_addon/. config.cpp must sit at the addon folder root.

Create @YourMod/addons/ — packed .pbo files go here
Each addon source folder needs its own config.cpp at root
All model/texture paths use your addon prefix (e.g. mymod\data\texture.paa)
model.cfg lives alongside the .p3d (see Model Config wiki)

Creating an Addon Model Config

Configure Arma 3 Launcher

Enable your local mod and every mod listed in requiredAddons[] before testing.

Launcher → Mods → Add local mod → select @YourMod
Enable CBA_A3 and all CfgPatches requiredAddons[] entries
After each pack, restart the game or reload to pick up PBO changes

CBA_A3

Plan LODs & Selections

Before modelling, plan every LOD the asset needs. LOD resolution numbers only determine sort order in Arma 3 — not view distance.

Resolution LODs (0, 1, 2…): visual mesh — aim for ~50% triangle reduction per step
Geometry (1×1e13): collision — required for physics interaction
Geometry Phys (4×1e13): PhysX convex components for vehicles
Memory (1×1e15): axes, memory points, proxies, and animation pivots
View Geometry (6×1e15) & Fire Geometry (7×1e15): line-of-sight and ballistics
Hit Points (5×1e15): vertices for damage sphere placement on vehicles
Land Contact (2×1e15): ground contact points for placement

Tip

Proxied sub-models (turrets, weapons) switch resolution LOD independently of the parent

If Geometry LOD is missing, named properties fall back to the first resolution LOD

LOD LOD Resolutions

Model & Export to P3D

Build meshes in Blender/3ds Max, export via Object Builder. 1 unit = 1 metre in Arma.

Triangulate before export; check face normals and UV seams
Named selections for hiddenSelections[], hitpoints, and glass
Memory LOD: place all axes and memory points here (not in resolution LODs)
Validate each LOD in Object Builder before moving to config work

Blender or 3ds MaxObject Builder

LOD

Write model.cfg

model.cfg links the P3D to cfgModels — sections, skeleton, and procedural animations. It takes precedence over config.cpp animation defs when both exist.

cfgModels: class name matches model filename; define sections[] and skeletonName
cfgSkeletons: skeletonBones[] parent→child bone hierarchy for skinning
Animations: type (rotation, translation, hide), source controller, selection, axis
Vehicle wheels use source="wheel"; dampers use source="damper" with offset0/offset1 ±0.5
Weapons: reloadMagazine hide/unhideValue, hasOptics for folding sights, ammoRandom for muzzle flash rotation
config.cpp AnimationSources (designer) maps user actions to model.cfg Animations (artist)

Tip

Several model.cfg files can chain via inheritance (folder model.cfg → vehicle model.cfg)

Damper axis length should match the moveable suspension travel

Model Config

Convert Textures to PAA

Arma requires .paa textures. Convert PNG/TGA with TexView 2.

Power-of-two sizes: 256, 512, 1024, 2048
Suffixes: _co (colour), _no (normal), _as (ambient shadow), _smdi (specular)
hiddenSelectionsMaterials[] paths must match rvmat and PAA locations

TexView 2

Write config.cpp

CfgPatches is mandatory. Token names in CfgVehicles/CfgWeapons are context-specific — always check the reference for your class.

CfgPatches: units[], weapons[], requiredAddons[], requiredVersion
CfgVehicles covers soldiers (Man), land/air/sea vehicles, backpacks, and statics
CfgWeapons holds guns/launchers; CfgMagazines holds ammo (separate since Arma 3)
CfgWeapons Items/Equipment/Glasses for NVGs, headgear, and facewear
scope = 2 for editor visibility; inherit from the closest vanilla parent

Warning

Without a valid config.cpp at the addon root, the engine silently ignores the PBO.

CfgVehicles Config Reference CfgWeapons Config Reference Creating an Addon

Pack with Addon Builder

Binarize converts configs and embeds model.cfg. Non-.cpp files must be listed to copy.

Source: addon folder containing config.cpp
Destination: @YourMod/addons/
Enable Binarize — catches config syntax errors during pack
Copy list: *.p3d;*.paa;*.rvmat;*.ogg;*.wss;*.jpg;*.png (as needed)
Project path should match source path — setting P:\ binarizes the entire drive

Addon Builder

Creating an Addon

Test In-Game & Diagnostics

Verify in Eden Editor. Use BI diagnostics for hitpoint spheres and PhysX on vehicles.

Check %localappdata%\Arma 3\*.rpt for binarize and runtime errors
Vehicles: run hitpoint diagnostics to visualize radius spheres vs Fire Geometry
Cars: epevehicle diag mode helps tune suspension and gearbox
Test all crew positions, damage states, and wreck transition

Vehicle Hitpoint Creation

Soldier Class & Skeleton

Characters are CfgVehicles Man classes. Uniforms use CfgUniform; the soldier unit references uniformClass.

Inherit B_Soldier_base_F or faction equivalent
CfgUniform: model path, class Items for vest/headgear defaults
Skeleton must match Arma soldier bones for animations to work
Memory points: head, spine, hand for attachments and IK

A3_Characters_F

CfgVehicles Config Reference

Hidden Selections & model.cfg Sections

Retexturing uses hiddenSelections[] in config and matching sections in model.cfg.

hiddenSelections[], hiddenSelectionsTextures[], hiddenSelectionsMaterials[]
Define sections in model.cfg cfgModels for each camo/insignia slot
Test with facewear, vests, and backpacks equipped simultaneously

Model Config CfgVehicles Config Reference