Character Modding

[kingfisher13]

Hey,

I would like to find a way to view and maybe modify my own character that I created. I've heard there is a model viewer for Oblivion, but I don't know where to get it, if it can open personal character models, or the location of my character model. Basically, I want to view, perhaps pose, and maybe even export my character into a 3d modeling program. If that is possible, I will be able to mod. If not, I still would like to be able to look at my character, with the face, hair, and textures I gave her. Is there a way to do this? I don't necessarily need the armor and accessories, but if that is also possible, please tell me.

Thanks

[LFact]

You can use NifSkope to see .nif files. However, the facial features are determined by:

1. Base head mesh shape

2. Facegen slider values(including racial base)

 

If you want to export Facegen-created face for any 3D modelling programs, you have to use at least FaceGen Modeller retail version(not free demo version). Thing is, I haven't found any reliable .fg exporter for Oblivion save files. You can try focon, but it has issues with some save files, especially if your character is from any custom race that uses custom head. Also, it may not reflect some facts, like racial base Facegen values.

Rather, using console command 'showracemenu' to change any facial feature would be easier, but without care, this console command can mess character stats.

 

For body, body meshes are 'universal'. This game allows only one body shape per gender, regardless of race. Means, if you installed a female body with E-cup, all women will have E-cup breast. There're severeal body replacers out here. search for them, and pick one if you don't have any.

[kingfisher13]

Thanks for the quick response. I got Nifscope, but I found it doesn't really have the capacity to load all of the body meshes at the same time. Also, I would like to try focon, but I don't know where the save file is located. Is it posssible to take the whole character, face and all, from the save file at the same time?

Thanks

[LFact]

You mean, seeing your chracter outside of the game? Actually, I couldn't understand what you really want. There's no 'personal character model'(As I said, facial features are determined by head mesh and Facegen values). Each race uses assigned head model, head and body textures, and 'hard-coded' body models.(Most of racial resources are assigned in Oblivion.esm, and you can change it, make it a plugin, use that plugin) If you want to change assigned head model or textures, you can use Construction Set to change existing race or make your own custom race. Of course, if you want to make new model, then you will need 3D modelling tool like 3D MAX or Blender(But remember, only a few people can make completely new head mesh due to technical reasons).

[kingfisher13]

Ah, yes...

I was wondering if there is a location Oblivion keeps the face and texture settings I set when I designed my character, that's more what I meant. What Im really trying to do is view the model outside of the game, with my face shape, texture changes, etc. The body I want I have a mod for, so as long as there is a way to put all the pieces together in a model that looks like my character in game, and view/use it outside of the game, Im good. Again, being able to import it into 3ds max would be great, but not necessary. For me, modding comes after character ripping. I have 3ds Max, and Nifscope, and I can probably get a hold of facegen, I just don't see how that will fit them all together, textures, face shape, and body, without some serious messing around. I was hoping someone had made a tool for ripping characters and textures, like has been done for other games. If not, I can try the combo you suggested, I just need to know the location of the save files, what exactly they save, how to get the modified face textures out and export them, and how to combine and export the body meshes together in nifscope, and get the body textures as well.

Thanks again

[kingfisher13]

Okay,

Change of plans,

I tried focon, and got a really disgusting, freakish output in facegen. It didn't save the actual skin color either, just the makeup. At this point I really don't care about putting my character into 3ds max, I just want a way to view the character out of the game. I think 3ds max is a lost cause. As it turns out, there is no way to get a copy of the real version of facegen for free, as the only free version cannot be upgraded. As I said before, the focon tool doesn't work right either. Do the construction tools have something in them to do what I want? This is somewhat frustrating- has no one in all the time this game has been out, ever created a character viewer? All the help that you can give would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

[LFact]

I don't think you can export face shape as you want. This game uses FaceGen to create character face, and I don't think there's any proper exporter to FaceGen(But you can import FaceGen made face into your save file). humanhead.nif(or any other custom head meshes) itself does not hold such information(it's just base mesh for facial feature).

 

For body and other things:

All vanilla resources are packed into several .bsa files. You can use BSA command or Oblivion Mod Manager to extract a BSA file, or pack your resources into new BSA file.

 

Body meshes you're looking for are all under:

- Data\Meshes\Characters\_male\

(Human head mesh is under Data\Meshes\Characters\imperial\)

And textures are under:

- Data\Textures\Characters\(Usually Race Name)

(Note: All vanilla human races, High Elf and Wood Elf share same face/body textures by default)

 

Textures are in .dds format. So you need anything that can view, edit DDS, like Photoshop or Paintshop Pro with nVidia DDS plugin.

 

**Perhaps you can try utility like '3D Ripper DX' to capture whole character model.

[kingfisher13]

I was thinking the same thing with the 3d ripper DX, but the problem is DX takes over 1000 texture files from the game, and it is impossible to find the specific textures for my character among those 1000. I can pull of getting the character model, but I would need a way to grab the textures for my character- Does the save file contain a copy of the .dds texture with the tone and makeup modifications of the character? if so, how do I extract the .ess file? is there some sort of tool out for unzipping it? If there is not, I can always attempt to find the face texture in the huge selection of image files 3d ripper extracts. I would prefer not to do that though, that could take hours. Just curious if you are familiar with the setup of 3d ripper and oblivion- does the actual character model that you see when you play have its own face texture, complete with tone/makeup? Or is the game constantly pulling those modifications out of the save file and applying them to the standard texture?

[LFact]

does the actual character model that you see when you play have its own face texture, complete with tone/makeup? Or is the game constantly pulling those modifications out of the save file and applying them to the standard texture?

 

All characters, regarless of PC or NPC, from certain race will share same face/body texture(these textures are already assigned in Oblivion.esm, or normal .esp if the race is modified or custom one), so in a way, the character you see does not have its own textures and models. The FaceGen data, including skintone values are saved into your save file, I think.

 

**Vanilla NPCs have their own facial color texture(No, not skin texture you're seeing), and it's the reason you cannot adjust skintone of them without replacing those textures with dummy ones.

[kingfisher13]

does the actual character model that you see when you play have its own face texture, complete with tone/makeup? Or is the game constantly pulling those modifications out of the save file and applying them to the standard texture?

 

All characters, regarless of PC or NPC, from certain race will share same face/body texture(these textures are already assigned in Oblivion.esm, or normal .esp if the race is modified or custom one), so in a way, the character you see does not have its own textures and models. The FaceGen data, including skintone values are saved into your save file, I think.

 

**Vanilla NPCs have their own facial color texture(No, not skin texture you're seeing), and it's the reason you cannot adjust skintone of them without replacing those textures with dummy ones.

 

Thanks for the help- I was finally able to use 3d ripper DX to take my character and the textures out of the game into 3ds max. The textures I had to modify a bit, as you said they are default, but it all worked out in the end.

Thanks again.