Fresh Modder on Character Models

[Achalon1]

Hello All,

 

I apologize if this seems like a stupid question, but I'm a first time modder looking to make a modification on the characters body mesh/texture. Basically I want to make the character model appear thinner in the hips/thigh area.

 

I'm pretty sure that the file I want to modify is a .msh that I downloaded in a mod package. Basically I just want to know what program(s) I need to use to make this happen. I'll be happy to read the instructions online myself on how to make it work, but with the massive amount of stuff you can do/modify/create with this setup, I'm unsure of what terminology to follow in the tutorials and what (if any) arts programs I may need.

 

This is for personal use only (as to modding someone else's work) and I would appreciate someone ponting me in the right direction.

 

Thanks,

Achalon1

[Achalon1]

OK, after looking through many... many tutorials on the subject, I have refined my question.

 

Basically what I'm not following is how to get the .msh file that I know I want to alter to something 3ds max or blender can open and fiddle with. I realize this may require some .dds or .mao or .mmh files and all what with the way they all interact, but I'm unsure how to convert to something I can play with in 3ds max.

 

Any help would be appreciated.

 

I currently have 3ds max, photoshop, the DA Toolset, and the DA tool. I think that's all I'll need right? Aside from some conversion program/scripts once I know what I'm doing...

[Achalon1]

Wow, nothing.... I'm glad getting assistance on these forums wasn't critical or anything... Not even a "You don't know poo, read the tutorials..."

 

Well you can delete this topic if you want... I'll never be comming back here.

[raughnut]

Wow, nothing.... I'm glad getting assistance on these forums wasn't critical or anything... Not even a "You don't know poo, read the tutorials..."

 

Well you can delete this topic if you want... I'll never be comming back here.

 

Give the poor little forums a chance hehe. I'll tell you what I know. wich is not very much because I'm also very new to this and had to learn by investigating hard on every single forum about dragon age that i know of haha

 

If you are looking to modify an existing model, you need the *.msh file of that model. you can use DATool to get that model.

 

Then you'll need to convert it to something you can open in 3dmax. for that, you'll need the Tazpn tools and the command line tools wich you can find in the bioware forums. those will help you to get the model preferably in fbx format because it saves the skeleton of the model together with the skin modifier.

 

after that you can import your fbx model in 3dmax using the units on "meters". after that, unhide all, and using the object selection dialog, look for a bone called GOB and on the utiilities pannel, chose reset xform and then clic to reset xform. that'll make everything the size it should be and rotated in the right direction.

 

after that, I usually "cut" the skin modifier from the modifier pannel and work on the raw mesh. there you can modify your mesh as you see fit. and when you are ready, you can "paste" again the skin modifier. I guess that only works right if you haven't added new polygons to the mesh. if you are working in a new mesh, you need to see that it is rigged properly because it may not work as you want...

 

after your mesh is modified, you can use the ChewyGumball's DAO Export script that you can also get from the bioware forums. but you need to be very careful to follow the instructions closely because otherwise, It wont work.

 

After that, I'm usually not able to see my model in the toolset, but it nevertheless, it appears in the game...

 

this is not in any way a tutorial. it is only what another self-taught newbie does... I hope It is not too late hehe.

 

Ps. oh and for adding new content into the game you can go here tutorial in the bioware forums. it is a step by step. tutorial