title: 3D models on a Node.js server
body: <p>I'm making a 3D game, and I was told <a href="https://gamedev.stackexchange.com/questions/29384/how-to-implement-physics-and-aoe-spells-in-an-mmo-game">here</a> and <a href="https://gamedev.stackexchange.com/questions/29887/collision-detection-in-multiplayer-games/29889#29889">here</a> that I should always perform collision detection on the server-side. Now, the problem is that I don't know how! Collision between players on a flat plane are easy, because players are represented by a cylinder, but, how do I do collision detection when the map itself is a model with hills and so on? Is is possible to somehow import a 3D model on a Node.js server? And then, say I do have the model imported, are there some collision detection libraries, or will I have to do the math myself? (My last resort would be <strike>converting the models to JSON</strike> (models are already converted to JSON) and then reading in all the vertices, but that would be a pain.)</p>
  
  <p>The models are made in Blender and can be converted to .obj, .dae or <strong>.js (JSON)</strong> (this is what I currently use).</p>
  
  <p>If there are no such modules, that allow the models to be imported and collisions to be checked against them, I guess I could make it myself. In that case, please do provide some hints, or further reading on how to test if a point is colliding with an object defined by some vertices.</p>
  
  <p><strong>EDIT:</strong> The "map" will have objects on it, like trees and houses. I was thinking, maybe even caves. It will also have hills and what-not, but a heightmap is out of the question I guess.</p>