Natterforme

I do have one more question and that should tie this thread up: if Im in the CS and I make a plugin, I cant seem to save over it. It just says that that plugin is already in use and it will not let me save anything. Any ideas as to what I did wrong this time? XD

It works!!! That did the trick concerning the parenting of the bones and the scene root problem. But I will be making it lighter in the normal map because the the shadows are heavier than I envisioned them to be. It should also hide some of the angular points too after I go in and smooth those out a bit^^. It is indeed a good day!

Thx for taking a look at it for me and responding so quickly. I know you must have been busy if you live in the States(cause of Memorial Day) and I thank you very much for your help. Quick question though. Should I just get in the habit of using a maximum compatibility skeleton to create my content from now on so that the CS and Blender play nice with each other? Also, Ive been having trouble trying to create clothing so if and when I finish this series of masks I might ask for help again^^.

Thank you for your feedback so far. I sort of knew about the textures in the .nif file and that the file paths could be altered in nifscope. I have had no luck so far in making my mask appear as of yet. But I have good news to be shared as well. I figured that maybe the problem might be ingame instead of with my model/textures. I discovered that with another test mod, that nothing that took up extra slots were showing up either. I know I should have done it earlier, but Im going to do a complete reinstall of the game and clear out all my mods, keeping save games of course. Hopefully, something will turn up and my problem will smooth itself out on its own^^. Will pm you if anything further arises or if I fix the problem. *Update* Ok so I have reinstalled oblivion with shivering isles and all the standard patches(unofficial one not included), as well as obmm, obse, and the construction set again. I have fixed my amulet problem so they now properly display. However my mask still fails to show up in the game, although it does show up in nifscope properly with textures. I will check my normal map again because I think we have narrowed it down to that because when I open the nif in blender the texture fails to show up in the texture options;unlike the test mask(the modders' resource mask set by demonizzer I think) which shows the textures correctly.

So I should work from the textures folder to begin with? Also, Im getting myself confused with the normal map vs. the texture. Do I create the normal map from my .dds file and just throw them both into their subfolder? What I guess Im asking is, how does the nif know to use both my .dds texture image and my normal map? Thanks for all the help so far ^^.

I was just looking at the wiki for solutions to my problem about textures. I want my mask to take the amulet slot(for example). Does this mean that the texture has to be in \texture\clothes\amulets? Or can it be in say: textures\clothes\unique_modname_here?

Ok Ive tried almost everything I could think of. Ive made the mesh, added a basic blue normal map, added a texture, made a nif file, placed the nif file and the .dds textures in the meshes/textures folders, made the items in the CS, put it in a lock box in the arena and activated the .esp file. The esp works and the item is in the box when I open it. However, when I wear it, nothing shows up(I dont get the CTDs anymore) and it doesnt appear in the game work if I were to simply drop it in the game. What would you do in my situation? I need some steps to follow because Im running out of ideas. Thanks for your help so far ^^.

If I just fill out the male model slots, will they still work for females if the item is a non gender specific piece of equipment(like a mask or belt)? Also, is there a limit to the size of the +2 uv? As in, is there a point were it gets too big and can cause lag, glitches, or other problems? Thank you for your help ^^.

Ive done some more testing and I believe my base skeleton actually might have something to do with it as well. Some of my capes are not showing up, even when the mask is removed. Ill do a clean install and try again. If anyone has thoughts or ideas, I would be very greatful^^.

Ive fixed it so that I can open the chest and wear the item without causing a CTD but the mask is still unseeable. I changed the texture file path and still no luck. It might be the tecture having to be a size of 2. How do I check that? Would it have failed to convert to a .dds in photoshop if the dimensions were wrong?

Now everytime I activate the .esp file I CTD when I enter the cell and get within a range where the box would be visible to my character. I cant reach the box to even open it.

I did think about how my armor might have hidden the mask and I did have a test character go shirtless to test. Unfortunately, that wasnt the case and it still remains unseen. Thanks for the info about the models btw. Also, the selection screen has the three model input slots for both male and female. Does this mean that if nothin is put in one it will not appear with that gender? testing this now.

Good news!!! I have exported the mask and added a texture that, I believe, is the proper size. However, the mask still refuses to show up when I wear it but it ISNT causing my game to CTD anymore. This makes me really happy even though I havent quite gotten there yet. But now Im pretty sure it is only a texture or alignment problem at this point. When creating a new piece of clothing, how do I make sure the meshes and textures meet up and work together? When I was looking at the Greey Cowl item screen, there was a biped model, a world model, and a model to place the icon image. I didnt mess with the icon image but its very possible I might not have put something right in the other two. Any ideas?

Ok I have now successfully turned my image into a .dds file and will be applying shortly. Wish me luck ^^.

Downloading now.....

I have Photoshop CS5, do you know what the plugins are? Is paint.net free?

I dont have any texture files lol XD. I used an image to uv map my mask using project from view. The texture shows up in blender when I switch to textures but I dont know how to turn them into .dds files to put into the game. Do I have to export them seperately or save them in a unique way?

Ok, Ive been looking it over since yesterday and I can get the item in the game and in my inventory now. The only problem is that when I put it on(amulet slot as a test) I still get a CTD. I looked around and found some information on my uv map and saw that it might have been incorrectly aligned. Im going to redo parts of my model to make it easier to uv map and then come back and try again. If ANYONE thinks they might know a solution, please let me hear your thoughts. I know that it has to be a simple problem. Question to anyone: if you use an image to create a uv map from, does it still need to be turned into a .dds file? This mod does not yet have one and I am curious. I think this could be the missed step and I could really use some kind advice^^. Thanks in advance to all!

I ve been tinkering with it and Im beginning to think it has to do with the textures. The problem is that I cant find out how to properly export a nif that has projected on textures. If this is what is messed up, that would explain why it isnt showing up. I am getting something into the game, but I cant see what it is yet.

Ok, when I first put in the item I noticed in the cowl's menu that it had several placements on the body. Starting from the top it was something like head, hair, and so on, finishing at tail. When I tried it the first time I had it on hair and the hair disappeared. The second time was on head and it removed my head entirely. The third time was an amulet slot(at least thats what I think it did) and it caused a CTD. If I want a mask, what is the best place to put it? Head, cape, ammy, tail slot? I still havent been able to resolve the issue yet^^.

Ok, I have some simple problems with creating my own(and very first^^) mod. I am working on a series of masks that have been giving me many problems. I have created the model for my first one and I am satisfied with it. This is the list of things that I have gone through so far, and feel free to point out any errors: I have made the model in blender 2.49b. I then proceeded to select it and project it onto my image texture. With this image texture on, I then brought in a standard body, weighted the mask to the head bones and did all the proper parenting. After that, I aligned the mask to where I wanted it to be(out of weight mode) in front of the face. I deleted all of the extra body while keeping the bones, selecting everything that needed to be selected and exported it out into a nif. I have tried numerous times to bring it into the game by putting it in the area in a box. I have renamed and created an new box, as well as using the grey cowl as a base before importing the new nif file, removing all of its scripts and enchantments. These are the areas that I believe to have a potential conflict: 1. the texture in improperly uv mapped somehow 2. the model is improperly aligned or weighted 3. the model is using the wrong space or is being told to be somewhere it is not So far my most successfull attempts have been when I get both the box and the item ingame in the arena. But the three times I have pulled out the mask and worn it this has happened: 1:loss of hair, 2:complete loss of head, 3: CTD. I know it is probably a simple problem but I cant figure it out from any tutorials I have looked at and I have been through many. Any help, feedback, comments, or words of encouragement would be very much appreciated^^. Thanks in advance!

News, news, news!!!! A toolset has been announced for Skyrim, meaning there will be mods to make!!! Before now, it was hope and speculation, but now it is confirmed! I myself believed that Skyrim would have a toolset to begin with so I was not very surprised, but for those of you on the fence, well just check out the article for yourself, which can be found on the TESNexus homepage.

I can not agree with you more on this note. It is really nice to be able to have capes and cloaks and scarves and hoods, but what makes them convincing are real time physics. I have high hopes that this will be a standard non issue because Bethesda has been looking for ways to make their games the best rpgs and several have come out since the release of Oblivion that incorporate this feature. With any luck, wind in Skyrim will give all our clothes a more realistic windswept feel. Regardless of whether or not you believe it, I think Bethesda has been looking at TesNexus, PlanetElderScrolls, and other fansites to incorporate some of the best modded features into Skyrim. That is not to say that I believe that Skyrim will simply be a game of old ideas. I have no doubt that there will be more than enough new material and lore to expand the overall universe, but that is not to say that Bethesda can't give players what they want. No doubt complicated game mechanics such as combat and physics will be new and unique, but I think it is safe to say they will incorporate mounted combat and a more user friendly interface between systems. As for level of difficulty and game maturity, I might be a little biased when I say that I would prefer a more adult game. Those who would argue agianst this choice would be right in saying that a larger demographic of players can be reached if a teen rating can be achieved, which would be good for sales. But it is in my opinion that an M-rating could give more artistic and creative freedom for the developers, allowing for more gore and more appropriate language for certain settings. This is not to say that I wish for a game without taste, but giving Skyrim a Teen rating would immediatly kill any chance of a meaningful combat system, leaving it to be as uninspiring as Oblivions was: hack and slash- left click, button mashing snorefest, or as Tom of Toonami said of Morrowind: "Boring." For a good example of what I mean, or for those who wish for another rpg to spend their free time on during the wait, check out Demon's Souls. It shows the capability of an rpg to be both dark and fun to play. Be warned though; there is only one setting: hard. You will die a lot on it but will feel like a God if you beat it, or at least I did. On another note, a little bit of news. Those of you who do not already know, head on over to youtube and search Skyrim and you should find, somewhere, an interview with one of Bethesda's developers as he gives you a tour of their facilities. Whether or not this is a preview of more to see on Skyrim, or perhaps something more to come on their newest rpg, Hunted: Demons Forge, who can say. In any case, check it out if you haven't already and get pumped! I would not be surprised if they had a rock garden and waterfalls for mediation and team discussion. As for me, I have recently saved up enough money to be in the market for some of that new hardware I mentioned earlier. So show your specs and we will see if I can do better some time soon perhaps (fingers crossed). Previous post is still in effects, so I would still like to hear your opinions, hopes, wish lists and so on!!!^^

Hello all modders and gamers out there! With a new year set to go, I am willing to bet that many of you are eagerly awaiting the arrival of The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, if the explosion of fan made wallpapers are anything to go by. Although it is true that Bethesda and company have yet to release more than a two minute trailer of their upcoming game, and speculation has added a pinch of salt to exactly when it will be released, I am sure that the majority of you are excited, to say the least. No amount of top five Oblivion disappointment lists and faulty interface controlls can attempt to quell a five year build up of rumor and wishful thinking. While we all have a list of things that we wished that Bethesda and their subsidiaries and parent companies would have done better, it can not be denied that Oblivion was and is a commercial success. And for all of you Morrowind loyalists out there, rest assured that you have not been forgotten! I once heard a youtube comment say- "Oblivion is a playground, Morrowind is home," and if anything could prove that sentiment, it would be the concept of Morroblivion. Such an ambitious project would not have been attempted if there had not been such a loyal and strong base of players and modders. But I am not here to reminiscence on a project that ultimately voilates the EULA. No, I am here to ask what will be done to prepare for the future! With Skyrim right around the corner, give or take a year, I want to know what will be done by modders and players like YOU!!!! to be ready for it. Because it is an Elder Scrolls game, it will no doubt push the graphics evelope, so if you haven't already, begin thinking of investing in some updated equipment! I know I will because there is no hope of it playing on the laptop I am using riight now. I doubt I will be able to keep it from burning up the (internal) graphics card I am using to play Oblivion on no HDR with minimum settings on permenant TLB( toggle lite Brite console command) -_-.It might be too early to say this, but place this game on your '11 Christmas list today! It is one of the few games I intend to get in the Collector's Edition. It can be safely said that what keeps Elder Scroll IV: Oblivion going is its modding community. Although others might argue the point, I believe it is one of the best modding games out there and will likely continue to be so even after Skyrim's release. As with all games, there will inevitably be some crossover from Oblivion in Skyrim, but it will no doubt be unwanted or poorly implemented, at least to begin with. This brings me to my first point in preparation for TES:V, a deep, extensive, user friendly Construction Set, or something better. Seriously, it will be important. No wish list of implementations will be complete without it. If you are religous or spiritual, pray for it. If you find yourself lacking faith, then choose a deity of your choice; Oblivion has nine. This is not a post to see what you would like to see in the new game, although I would love to hear your well worded and thoughtout opinions on the matter. Rather, I would like to hear what actual modders plan to do with the new software, assuming a best case scenerio. Morroblivion proved that people like crossover content and I would like to hear from modders who plan on REMAKING, NOT TRANSFERING their projects in the new territory. The last thing we need is Morroblivion all over again with every piece of clothing and weaponry. Animations, clothing, combat, weapons, and companions might be easier to remake into the new world space, assuming the game can be modded in this way, but castles, homes, and territories such as Elyswyr and the cities are fixed based on their believable position in the Oblivion worldspace. No one would believe it if Cyrodiil suddenly disappeared simply because the physical map can not be stretched beyond however far Skyrim's interface will extend. And on that note, is there anyone who thinks that Cyrodiil should be remade under the Skyrim territories? Should we hope and pray that Bethesda will get it right the first time, or should we begin making preparations now to make anew some of the best mods out there? I highly doubt Bethesda will implement dance controls or an mmorpg style emote and animation interace with icons and displays. Modders of actual projects, both big and small are welcome to voice their thoughts and opinions. Regardless of fears of graphics requirements, clunky interfaces, bland combat, and uninspiring storyline, there can be no doubt in my mind that it will look great and be full of bugs. But do not take this as critisism! If anything, I applaud those bugs and CTDs. Because those problems would never be found in the first place if players had not run the game into the ground trying to get as much of an emotional experience out of their game as possible. And they would never be fixed if you modders had not brought them to light! So give yourselves a pat on the back gamers, The Elder Scrolls would not exist without you. Prefered method of response: 1. General Opinion of Oblivion and Speculation on Skyrim 2. Top Five wish list 3. Top Five things about Oblivion you like 4. Top Five things you wished were different 5. Top Five Favorite Mods and why; EXCLUDING ADULT MODS/CLOTHES, I like them too but that is a different topic. Follow the forum rules, and keep it clean and PG-13; feel free to answer any or all of these, serious discussion prefered.