rdBPtools Tutorial 12 – Using rdBPtools with Epics ISMs

Last Updated: 31st October 2022

If you’re wanting to use rdBPtools to help you build assets for a project and you don’t want to use the rdInst ISM manager but still do want to get the speed increases the Instanced StaticMeshes give you – you can, using Epics Merge Actors tool.

These are not quite as fast as rdInst ISMs, and the Randomization is done in Blueprint, so is not as fast as the C++ version, but often with careful consideration and planning you can achieve good results.

Step 1. Create your asset

Create your Blueprint asset in the way you would normally, it doesn’t matter if you have Randomization and/or rdInst style instance static meshes as they will be converted in the next step.

Step 2. Copy to Level

Once you’re happy with your Blueprint assets, simply run the “Copy To Level” tool from the BlueprintEditor toolbar (or from the Context Menus). If you’re wanting randomized versions (you loose the ability to do it at run-time once using the Merge Actors tool unless you do some Blueprint coding) – tick the “Enable Randomization”.

Step 3. Open the “Merge Actors” tool

Now you can select all those output actors, Right-Click and select the “Merge Actors” option from the Context Menu.

From the Window that opens, select the 3 tab for the Instance Static Meshes, you can use the defaults for the tool. Then click “Merge”.

There are Options at the bottom of that window (as seen in the Image) – you can select your own base class if you wish and change some other options such as whether it has Editor-Only components too.

Step 4. Done.

Finished, now you’ll have a new Actor Blueprint containing the Instance Static meshes.