Calling all semi-competent animators.

[Jovias]

I say semi-competent because I think this would be a very simple project; but then again, I don't know, I'm not a semi-competent animator. In fact, I'm an incompetent animator, so incompetent that every time I open up NifSkope to do me some animatin' I end up mind-wandering until I forget what I wanted to animate in the first place. Wait, what was I going to say? ...That's right, the project.

 

 

Chapter 2: Concerning The Project

 

You ever heard of Defensive Staves? Ya know, the mod that adds a bunch of staves you use as shields (and torches) instead of weapons? You know which mod I'm talking about right? New models, custom textures, integrated with OOO. No? What am I saying, of course you've heard of it, you probably use it; and as someone who uses it you are undoubtedly aware of it's setbacks. Specifically, the animations aren't staffy enough; too shield-ish; staves should be held upright like a staff, not sideways (sideright?) like a shield; no self-respecting wizard would hold a staff sideright; and if you're not a wizard, why do you carry a staff?

 

So what I want you to do, my eager animators, is replace the shield (staff) idle animation with something more appropriate. If you want specifics, and who doesn't, I want the staff held upright with the bottom touching the ground, preferably only when the currently equipped weapon is put away (not unequipped), but whatever is easier is fine with me. Double points goes to the intrepid young modsman that rigs the PC's arm to move as if He or She is using the staff as a walking stick, you know, like a staff.

 

That is your mission my semi-competent, fully-competent, or semi-final-competent animators; and may glory and good fortune come to the artisan who completes this herculean task. Good luck gentlemen; and godspeed.

 

(dramatic music plays in the background)

 

(end of scene 4)

[alex2avs]

a picture would be good ^_^

[grmblf]

I haven't even tried to download nifskope, so my degree of competence regarding animating is nearly or below 0, but it seems to me that if you make a new animation to block with staves that anim will replace every blocking animation of that type (left-handed or two-handed), either with staves, shields or off-hand weapons, but perhaps a semi-competent animator could confirm that.

[Slawter500]

Agreed with Grmblf. I use Sephs dual wield, and if i have two swords great, but if i use a shield i still end up whacking them with it in the same way.

[alex2avs]

That can be avoided with a script.

Animating is not easy and it take some/lots of time .

You could try asking UK47 , here on TesNexus ;)

[Jovias]

a picture would be good ^_^

 

http://img688.imageshack.us/img688/5664/shieldstaff01.th.jpg

 

This is a defensive staff used with the default shield idle animation. (possibly the same as Onehandidle.nif)

 

http://img146.imageshack.us/img146/4262/shieldstaff02.th.jpg

 

This is an illumination (torch) staff presumably using Torchidle.nif. This is very close to what I want, if the staff were touching the ground it would be pretty much perfect.

 

I haven't even tried to download nifskope, so my degree of competence regarding animating is nearly or below 0, but it seems to me that if you make a new animation to block with staves that anim will replace every blocking animation of that type (left-handed or two-handed), either with staves, shields or off-hand weapons, but perhaps a semi-competent animator could confirm that.

 

It's not really the blocking animation that needs to go, it's the idle animation. The specific animations are (I think) Onehandidle.nif when a weapon is drawn and Idle.nif when a weapon is sheathed. But it would effect all shields and/or off-hand weapons just the same.

 

 

Agreed with Grmblf. I use Sephs dual wield, and if i have two swords great, but if i use a shield i still end up whacking them with it in the same way.

 

See above.

 

 

That can be avoided with a script.

Animating is not easy and it take some/lots of time .

You could try asking UK47 , here on TesNexus ;)

 

Come to think of it, if Idle.nif was changed in such a way, the PC would look as if he is holding an invisible staff even with nothing equipped; so scripting is probably necessary. Does UK47 (or any one else) take requests of this sort?

[Vagrant0]

This is not an animation issue, but instead a scripting or condition based issue. You would need someone who can detect that a staff (shield) is being used, and then force the player to use the torch idle instead of the shield idle, but keep the normal block actions. The main challenge is to just detect that a staff is being used.

 

However, this still won't do a thing in the cases where you have a dual wield mod simply because those mods overwrite normal 1 hand attacks to use both hands.

[Jovias]

This is not an animation issue, but instead a scripting or condition based issue. You would need someone who can detect that a staff (shield) is being used, and then force the player to use the torch idle instead of the shield idle, but keep the normal block actions. The main challenge is to just detect that a staff is being used.

 

There is a mod that swaps animations for weapon-type staves, maybe I could edit that script to effect shields instead; just swapping out Idle.nif for Torchidle.nif. As for the 'only staves' condition, I know Unnecessary Violence uses a script that can detect whether a weapon has "spear" in it's name, I'm not sure how it works exactly, but it might be useful.

[UK47]

:ninja: I am making a mod "Oblivion reanimated" :ninja:

My mod will replace some unrealistic animation.

New staff animations will be included :cool:

[Jovias]

:thanks:

:ninja: I am making a mod "Oblivion reanimated" :ninja:

My mod will replace some unrealistic animation.

New staff animations will be included :cool:

 

New staff animations and the promise of more? Sir, this post has lifted me from the abyssal pit of anguish and despair that the Staff Crises had plunged me into. Let it never be said that the citizens of the United Kingdom, and of Great Britain in particular, are not both generous and talented. Thank you.