Making a 'simple' weapon mod, having trouble, need help please

[drewsbrew]

Hello all,

So I'm nearing the end of making my first mod for Skyrim, it's just a sword for now, basically I'm just trying to learn the process with this mod. Anyway, I think I'm almost done... I have been following this tutorial primarily;

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HA6A9Hy4usM

I created the mesh in 3Ds Max, I created my texture files in gimp, put it all together in NifScope, all while carefully following all of the instructions of the tutorial. The one and only thing I did differently was I added a specular map to the alpha of my normal map (following the instructions of two other tutorials) and the only reason why I did that was because specular maps weren't covered in the video I linked. I can't imagine what it is that I've done wrong and/or missed, but there must be something because when I try to load my .nif file into the creation kit I've got a big exclamation point inside a red box. I asked the maker of the video, and he told me that the problem 'may' be resolved by saving the project and simply reloading the creation kit. I tried that, and I still have the same thing. I'll include a screen cap if it will help someone help me figure out what I did wrong. Thanks in advance to anyone who is kind enough to help me with this! :smile:

 

Edited May 26, 2015 by drewsbrew

[nhackett]

you can use a vanilla .nif of a similar weapon and import a .3ds file into a nitrishape node, but my money is on incorrect paths to your textures.

[drewsbrew]

Thank you for responding to this. If you're right, and the problem is incorrect paths to textures, how do I fix that?

[Aikospacerogue]

Wide guess because I'm no pro; go into the NIF file of the sword,expand the Nitrishape's under BSlightningshadeproperty you'll find BSshadertextureset .

 

Open that and see if the textures are in place, if they are not, click the purple flower and locate them. For universal use its best to delete anything that comes before 'textures' so the links look something like

 

'textures\actors\character\male\MaleBody_1_sk.dds'

 

and not

'c:/programs\yourname\steam\apps\yakkety jada/godknowswhat\IthinkIplacedSkyrimhere\data\textures\actors\character\male\MaleBody_1_sk.dds' so if you chose to upload it to nexus other people won't have to di ginto the NIF.

 

Maybe this helps ;) Good luck man !

[gezegond]

That usually happens when there's something wrong with the nif file. Make a static using your nif file, then move it to render view, and it will give you an error usually. The error can help you find the source of the problem.

[nhackett]

and make sure you have your textures placed in skyrim's data/textures folder. something like data/textures/myTextures/mySwordTexture.dds. if you still find an error in the CK, the .nif file must be corrupt. save or export your mesh as .3ds and use nifskope to import it on a vanilla mesh.

 

a link to my steam guide on weapons: http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=211267339

 

read the section: Using Nifskope

[drewsbrew]

Thank you all so much for helping me with this, and I am happy to report success at last! After trying all of your suggestions I finally decided to start all over with the NifScope stuff, following a different tutorial. Here is a link for anyone who is interested;

 

 

Anyway, everything seems to be working now and hopefully I can have the mod up on the nexus in a couple of days!! :) Thanks again to all of you :)

[drewsbrew]

I just wanted to make one last post here to once again thank everyone who helped with much needed advice, and to provide a link to the completed mod just in case any of you were interested in seeing it. On the down side, the sword didn't turn out as well as I had hoped, but on the up side I know what I have to do to fix it w00t! Anyway, here is the link;

 

http://www.nexusmods.com/skyrim/mods/66365/?

[nhackett]

the mesh is badass, i love it.