Please read this!!

[Ghogiel]

Problem is that many people don't want to go through the process of having to go up or down a few sizes for their preferred body - They would just ask some other people to do it. And while projection might be a simple fix, Blender's projection isn't very useful because it ends up flattening the mesh. So, you mostly have to do it through lattices and proportional editing.

Yeah I get that. I know several body modders were using other programs. It's more an excuse than anything else. The point being is there is a better way and looking forward is the right direction.

[El`derina]

@CrisG9

Hmm,... IDK if you comprehend the concept completely...

the idea is to use one standard body for all different bodys to be based off of.

 

why? you'd still get "ALL the different body types." AND you don't run into those random issues where mod x isnt compatible with my body mod. Those main issues being where hands/feet would not connect to armor properly. Skin textures would be distorted and all over the place.

-before you go off on me on the fixes for that, now you could very well download the packs to convert all vanilla armors to that body type or any other /fixes that were needed-BUT that doesn't solve the 'main issue' this idea attempts to fix, where armor mods are hitting all over the ball park for body mod compatibility.

 

now if the above method is followed,.. everyones happy, all body types you could want, and no issues listed above present in game for using any of the created body types

 

I really fail to see how this would limit our modders at all..

and this is the point Ghogial and the OP is trying to get across

 

EDIT: Sure we would be standardizing the way body mods are created for TES,.. but heck, why not?! Body mods were a nightmare to bother with in all bethesda games so for because of the reasons and problems listed above- and besides, this would work nicely with Skyrim. High quality work deserves high quality attension if we hope to improve on it.

 

Also, I do get the point being made on how it'll be difficult to get modders to collaberate for this... but thats for lack of trying, not difficulty.. once we get something going, they really wouldnt have a choice or nobody would use their mod due to incompatibilities

Edited November 5, 2011 by El`derina

[Ghogiel]

The only thing to really do is settle on a clean, well deforming topology and the UV layout. I personally would just say something like a modified roberts would be well workable.

 

Seeing as I have actually done this very thing before, it would take 1 sit down session to get across a good projection including textures. I found that the only problem areas are getting nipple geometry to line up for the projection between meshes, and things like between the toes. Even then I know exactly what it wants from me before I do anything, and so my first atempt should be really close.

 

like I say the only issues are UV stretching. but that already happens whenever anyone does a different body type based on another mesh... without altering the UV. But then projection texturing does actually cover that up pretty well.

[nivea]

Why HGEC is popular is because despite the bad UV, it doesn't have numerous seams that other bodies have and basically eliminates itself from a lot of UV scaling issues. Sure, you can separate the arms and legs, but now you have four additional seams to match up and hide, and if they use separate textures, now you have to get the UV scales right too. Texture painting can only go so far to hide those seams and scale problems, and while armor and clothing can be designed to cover those seams up, you still have those seams when exposed. It's just a body that doesn't have seam and scale problems like the others have, and looks nice in pictures. Now, modifying the mesh to get rid of the "dimension problems" is also possible, look at THEC or TGND and you have some rather realistic bodies designed from HGEC. Also, it was the successor to Exnem's EyeCandy and had better normals and detail compared to it, and conversions from Exnem to HGEC wasn't too hard. Not to mention the variety it brought - When Exnem was released, it was one body size, as are many of the others when they were released (UFF, BAB, Roberts). HGEC came out and it had several body types for everyone, which soon claimed the throne. The same can be said for Type 3 for Fallout too.

 

So what does that mean? If you want your body to be the one people use, you have to give variety. Even though some of it might not be of your taste, it gives you a better chance...

 

The reason for it not haveing seams appears to be the lack of detailing on most the textures, sure they have great parts such as nipples/genitals/tummy but other then that they always seem so flat... so "flawless". Which does lend itself to less seams but it also makes it look pretty flat at times.

I have no issues with people haveing any body type, it just would be nice for them all to share the same good UV map, I find Roberts to be the best layout for both male and female.

 

But really it matters little to me, I learned how to mod just to have more items for the body I used lol, so I am good either way.

[bben46]

Another reason we will have multiple bodies is that a modder sees things differently than a user. He,or she as some of our better modders are women, looks at a body mod and thinks "I could do a better job than that". Then proceeds to do it. They will never admit that any one body is 'perfect' and will always be trying to make a better one. :thumbsup:

 

Then the users decide which body they like, and one body floats up as the preferred body mod. Not because it is the 'best', but because more people use it for some reason.

 

Try to tell a modder not to make a better body just because the one we have is 'good enough'. It ain't gonna fly. :biggrin: