after reading through this entire section im not sure what the problem is.

i had the same problem with the tutorial map so i created a simple box (to rule out geometry) and attached these materials to it:

Material 1:
example_tutorial\sky - Multi/sub object:
Sub Material:
1: +sky(standard),
2: example_terrain_ground(Multi/sub obj.)

what i'm thinking is that it's not the model but the exporting process that i'm screwing up. it doesn't allow me to save as jms under "export" or under"save as". my levels are going to the file path: Halo Custom Edition\data\test\tutorial\models. when i click JMS export on the bluestreak box and the "save" menu comes up none of the current files are there, only the ones i attempted and failed to export.

Bluestreak sometimes messes up. Also, this is how you should have the materials set up:

1. +sky (no sub material, just name the material +sky and it works)
2. that seems right, but make sure there's a shader for it to use named that.

Also, make sure that you linked the map to a box named frame, or else it won't export.

That's all I can think of, because I haven't used Bluestreak in a long time.

it seems to have worked but now after using tool, i don't have a .scenario file in guerilla, only the bsp tag

well then make a scenario with that bsp in guerilla.

how?

create a new scenario tag in guerilla.