130 replies to this topic

[AmmonLymphater]

(proof of concept)

Tools used:

Erf Packer:
http://mod.gib.me/dr...fpack-rev21.zip
-- by gibbed

gff4editor:
http://social.biowar...ect/1936/#files
You will have to download the fnvhashes 7zip file as well on that page, only with it you can decode the filenames! Simply place it into the folder of the editor to make use of it.
-- by Mephales



(don't put his tutorial on other websites/forums, instead link to this Nexus thread)

Same example (as text only version):
Open an erf file (drag it on the editor exe) from the game and extract content to a folder of your choice.

Rename the files (example for Merrill and Athenril):
ef_athenril.mor <---> ef_merril.mor

You just swapped the head morphs of two characters from the game. You don't need to swap though, but I don't want two characters to run around with the same face ; )

Repack it:
Use Gibbeds Erf Packer for this:
Create a folder with a random name, here simply "test" without brackets.

Put the changed mor files into it and drag it onto the Erf Packer exe.

Place your freshly created erf file into the ovveride folder located in:
C:\Users\USERNAME\Documents\BioWare\Dragon Age 2\packages\core\override


(high-res screenshot)

Enjoy!

Edited:




Proof that elvish face morphs work on human bodies and NPCs.

Elvish champion here we come.
(or other races...)

Edited by AmmonLymphater, 14 March 2011 - 11:09 PM.

[AmmonLymphater]

What does what file:

.msh -> the polygon mesh of the model
.mmh -> model mesh hierarchy
.phy ->

.dds -> textures

.mor -> face morph file (determines the traits of a head)

.mop -> same as a .mor file, but works as a preset you can select from main menu

What erf contains what files:

face.erf -> faces of characters

Edited by AmmonLymphater, 14 March 2011 - 09:06 PM.

[evilbeefjerky]

Stupid question, which .erf file do I open?
I tried face.erf but all I get is a list of nebulous .mor files with names like z_009f886042913287.mor

Edited by evilbeefjerky, 13 March 2011 - 11:35 PM.

[AmmonLymphater]

Stupid question, which .erf file do I open?
I tried face.erf but all I get is a list of nebulous .mor files with names like z_009f886042913287.mor

Oh sorry, I didn't tell you people you need a table for the names:
"The seperate download fnvhashes-20110313.7z contains addtional filenames for the ERF reader."

It's a sqlite table containing all names that have been deciphered yet.

I thought you would notice when you download the gff4editor, it's in the description at the BW project page. Updated my OP with this so no one will miss it.
The only problem is now that for some reason the creator of the mod (Mephales) removed the table from the downloads.

I still have it but I won't upload it here until I have the okay from the mods, because it is not my work.

Or you wait until a new version gets uploaded, simply place it in the folder of the editor and you're good to go.

Edited:

Somebody already contacted the guy, you should also grab the latest version with few bugfixes.

Edited by AmmonLymphater, 14 March 2011 - 12:45 AM.

[ssd1]

Well done AmmonLymphater on a great Tut on cracking open some funky customising.

Edited by ssd1, 14 March 2011 - 01:27 AM.

[lustrianna]

Okay. i change isa's skin tone to that of bethany's but when i start the game shes still dark as night? saved the edited the face.erf. put the new one in override. am i doin something wrong?

[AmmonLymphater]

Okay. i change isa's skin tone to that of bethany's but when i start the game shes still dark as night? saved the edited the face.erf. put the new one in override. am i doin something wrong?

You can change the skin tone of her face by editing the mor file, that should work well. The only problem is that Isabella uses a custom body, not the default human female one. That means everything lower than neck is a different model and has only one set of textures. The texture that contains the colours of her outfit also contains her skin colour.

So without editing the dds textures nobody can do anything about it.

Or did you mean changing the face colour didn't work either?

[john1231]

will i be able to put on companion armors this way? ,)
like carvers body on hawke?

[AmmonLymphater]

will i be able to put on companion armors this way? ,)
like carvers body on hawke?

Sure thing, it's just extracting files, renaming them and packing them again under a new filename.

Then place the new erf file into the override folder.

I'd like to help you people with requests, but nobody can know the file name of some item just by looking at it. The best way to find his armour would probably to extract the models.erf file and look inside if there is something named carver.

Just be sure always to have the latest version of gff4editor and the fnvhashes table. They almost get updated daily and you need them for decoding the names, else you get just numbers.

Edited by AmmonLymphater, 14 March 2011 - 02:58 PM.

[john1231]

will i be able to put on companion armors this way? ,)
like carvers body on hawke?

Sure thing, it's just extracting files, renaming them and packing them again under a new filename.

Then place the new erf file into the override folder.

I'd like to help you people with requests, but nobody can know the file name of some item just by looking at it. The best way to find his armour would probably to extract the models.erf file and look inside if there is something named carver.

Just be sure always to have the latest version of gff4editor and the fnvhashes table. They almost get updated daily and you need them for decoding the names, else you get just numbers.

i dont know if im too stupid for this, but this doesnt work for me.
if i try to extract the model.erf with the above tools:
erfextract.exe tells me:
Traceback (most recent call last):
File "erfextract.py", line 17, in <module>
ValueError: need more than 1 value to unpack
(when dragin and droppin models.erf on erfextract)

if i try to drag it on the editor.exe it says
not a supported file (after giving me a lot of hash lines to choose from)

also i overwritten the fnvhashes.sqlite file from the original tool with one of the lower ones from the link you posted earlier.

you say its easy but it seems very difficult to me..
first i need to find out the name of the armor i wear (and the one i want to replace with the carver appearance) - how do i do that? from the savegame or how?
then i need to find something with carver from a file im not even able to open or extract and replace that in an editor which doesnt even open up the models.erf..

well easy is something diffrent (to me at last)

edit: dont want to sound ungratefull - im really thankfull four you help!
its guys like you why i love PC gaming soo much

Edited by john1231, 14 March 2011 - 04:04 PM.