How do you change the appearance of NPCS?

[Dracomies]

I've noticed that there is a mod that changes the appearance of Morrigan and Leliana.

 

I am quite interested in knowing the process involved in changing the NPCS in the game. I know that it has something to do with the toolkit, but I am not very adept at understanding the directions for the toolkit. It isn't as straightforward as GECK. Can anyone tell me the process involved in changing an NPC. If you could do so, I would be so grateful and I will look to revamp all of the NPCs in DragonAge as I have done in Fallout 3.

[jwvanderbeck]

I've noticed that there is a mod that changes the appearance of Morrigan and Leliana.

 

I am quite interested in knowing the process involved in changing the NPCS in the game. I know that it has something to do with the toolkit, but I am not very adept at understanding the directions for the toolkit. It isn't as straightforward as GECK. Can anyone tell me the process involved in changing an NPC. If you could do so, I would be so grateful and I will look to revamp all of the NPCs in DragonAge as I have done in Fallout 3.

 

There are essentially three things that contribute to the appearance of an NPC.

Race & Gender

This is the most obvious, and is simply a matter of setting the Race and Gender properties on the creature resource

 

Equipped Items

By default most creatures are naked. However, you can add items to its inventory and then tell the creature to equip them. By doing this you can give the NPC clothes, armor, weapons, etc which affect its appearance.

 

Head Morph

Lastly the NPC can be given a head morph. Think of it as molding a head and then sticking it on your NPC :)

 

You might take a look at this tutorial I wrote:

http://dragonagemodding.wordpress.com/2009...rs-camp-part-1/

 

It involves creating an NPC and covers these things I mentioned.

[Dracomies]

I've noticed that there is a mod that changes the appearance of Morrigan and Leliana.

 

I am quite interested in knowing the process involved in changing the NPCS in the game. I know that it has something to do with the toolkit, but I am not very adept at understanding the directions for the toolkit. It isn't as straightforward as GECK. Can anyone tell me the process involved in changing an NPC. If you could do so, I would be so grateful and I will look to revamp all of the NPCs in DragonAge as I have done in Fallout 3.

 

There are essentially three things that contribute to the appearance of an NPC.

Race & Gender

This is the most obvious, and is simply a matter of setting the Race and Gender properties on the creature resource

 

Equipped Items

By default most creatures are naked. However, you can add items to its inventory and then tell the creature to equip them. By doing this you can give the NPC clothes, armor, weapons, etc which affect its appearance.

 

Head Morph

Lastly the NPC can be given a head morph. Think of it as molding a head and then sticking it on your NPC :)

 

You might take a look at this tutorial I wrote:

http://dragonagemodding.wordpress.com/2009...rs-camp-part-1/

 

It involves creating an NPC and covers these things I mentioned.

 

 

Hmm. I guess I have another question. How would I change preexisting NPCs? I believe your instructions teach you how to make a merchant from scratch. But I was wondering how I could get to the menu where I can actually see Morrigan or another preexisting character and change their appearance. Then, I'd like to know how I could save it and have the changes reflected in Dragon Age. Is her file listed in some folder?

[kevinwastaken]

You create a morph in the toolset then save it. Then, still in the toolset, you export that morph. Give it the same name as the NPC whose face you wish to replace.

 

 

The list of NPC morphs can be found in the "packages\core\data\face.erf" module, which you must open in the toolset. The filenames are somewhat self explanatory.

 

(I don't know if it's possible to edit an existing morph, since it would require the .mrh file for that character afaik.)

[Dracomies]

You create a morph in the toolset then save it. Then, still in the toolset, you export that morph. Give it the same name as the NPC whose face you wish to replace.

 

 

The list of NPC morphs can be found in the "packages\core\data\face.erf" module, which you must open in the toolset. The filenames are somewhat self explanatory.

 

(I don't know if it's possible to edit an existing morph, since it would require the .mrh file for that character afaik.)

 

Ok, this thing is way too complicated. How do you rotate a morph so I can see it in all angles?

 

Also, is there a way that I could just use the Character creator and then have that face put on an NPC?

 

Also, let's say I want to edit a Morrigan face. In this case..what I've been trying to do is download another "user-made Morrigan face" and make tweaks to it. When I open it up in the Toolset, I get this.

 

http://img163.imageshack.us/img163/8862/morrigana.th.jpg

 

How do I open it up so I can actually see her face in the morph?

[kevinwastaken]

To rotate and zoom a morph in the toolset, hold down the mouse wheel.

 

Regarding your last question, we're in the same boat there. I have no idea if it's even possible. It will likely require some sort of 3rd party tool to be able to manipulate .mor files, unless I completely missed something in the toolset.

[Dracomies]

To rotate and zoom a morph in the toolset, hold down the mouse wheel.

 

Regarding your last question, we're in the same boat there. I have no idea if it's even possible. It will likely require some sort of 3rd party tool to be able to manipulate .mor files, unless I completely missed something in the toolset.

 

Thanks bro. The rotate feature helped!

 

Man, I just need to figure out how to change actual NPCs in-game. It's driving me nuts because I know I can make all of the NPCS 10 times better...but I just don't know how to make them work. I'd like to know..for example....how to change Morrigan's eyes to a different color..have it saved..and reflected in-game. Once I know how to do that I can change any NPC.

 

:wallbash:

[kevinwastaken]

I'd like to know..for example....how to change Morrigan's eyes to a different color..have it saved..and reflected in-game. Once I know how to do that I can change any NPC.

 

:wallbash:

Well you can do that, but not by editing the morph per se. Open the file "hf_genfl_morrigan.mor" from the face.erf module. You can edit this file and change the values corresponding to different facial features. The only drawback is you won't be able to see your changes until you save your changes and load up DAO.

 

Changing things like eyes and haircolor is easy, but changing things like noses and chins becomes a little more tedious. Hopefully someone around here knows some secret that I don't about face editing...

[Dracomies]

I'd like to know..for example....how to change Morrigan's eyes to a different color..have it saved..and reflected in-game. Once I know how to do that I can change any NPC.

 

:wallbash:

Well you can do that, but not by editing the morph per se. Open the file "hf_genfl_morrigan.mor" from the face.erf module. You can edit this file and change the values corresponding to different facial features. The only drawback is you won't be able to see your changes until you save your changes and load up DAO.

 

Changing things like eyes and haircolor is easy, but changing things like noses and chins becomes a little more tedious. Hopefully someone around here knows some secret that I don't about face editing...

 

 

Hmm...where do I find the "face.erf" module?

[Dracomies]

I think I found out how to do this. I went on Bioware's website and did some research. Now to work on some new character designs.