I need a DECENT tutorial how to start

[CroixRunejr]

[sorry if this is the wrong place, I have went through the tutorials that this forum had, went onto a search engine and looked around, nothing seemed to contain the information I need]

 

Hey, thanks for reading my pitiful cry for help! I will basically explain what I need, then what I've experienced, so that you may understand the rage/frustration I have gone through, all day.

 

I have been looking forward into getting into modding for a while now. I finally decided to sit down (a few days ago) and begin learning how to create Meshes, Textures, Mods, Scripts, ect. I have finally given up today and decided to make a post, asking for help. There is by far an overwhelming of *NOT* helpful tutorials sites out there. I have been through 10+ Tutorial videos specifically for Skyrim, several others explaining how to do FONV/TESIV:O mods, as well as tutorial pages.

 

Now, my main problem has lied in the fact that NONE of the tutorials have explained how to set-up these programs, nor have they explained how they got their meshes, got their textures, or the terminology they are using. I'm not a school taught programmer/designer, so I would need a basic "Step 1: Set this file as your main file" or "Step 1: Import XXX.YYY item to begin an edit." But not only do I need a small explanation on how to set up the damned programs, but I need a quick, all-be-it, detailed tutorial explaining the uses of the tools in the programs, how to use it/what it's used for.

 

I have created maps and lines of coding for other games, but Skyrim is by far the most complex I have found. Also, the most elusive when it comes to tutorials.

 

OH, BIGGEST *Expletive* PROBLEM I HAVE:

Can someone post a list of Programs I will need?

Every tutorial or page I find never SAYS what you need, may provide a link to a dead page or what not.

 

The Programs I have been able to understand I needed.

Nifskope- 1.1.0 RC5-i686-w32 (Latest Version I believe)

Skyedit0.05a (No tutorial seemed to have used this, this was on the official site)

FO3 Archive Utility (I understand what this does, but info from a Smart person would be awesome)

[trees415]

[sorry if this is the wrong place, I have went through the tutorials that this forum had, went onto a search engine and looked around, nothing seemed to contain the information I need]

 

Hey, thanks for reading my pitiful cry for help! I will basically explain what I need, then what I've experienced, so that you may understand the rage/frustration I have gone through, all day.

 

I have been looking forward into getting into modding for a while now. I finally decided to sit down (a few days ago) and begin learning how to create Meshes, Textures, Mods, Scripts, ect. I have finally given up today and decided to make a post, asking for help. There is by far an overwhelming of *NOT* helpful tutorials sites out there. I have been through 10+ Tutorial videos specifically for Skyrim, several others explaining how to do FONV/TESIV:O mods, as well as tutorial pages.

 

Now, my main problem has lied in the fact that NONE of the tutorials have explained how to set-up these programs, nor have they explained how they got their meshes, got their textures, or the terminology they are using. I'm not a school taught programmer/designer, so I would need a basic "Step 1: Set this file as your main file" or "Step 1: Import XXX.YYY item to begin an edit." But not only do I need a small explanation on how to set up the damned programs, but I need a quick, all-be-it, detailed tutorial explaining the uses of the tools in the programs, how to use it/what it's used for.

 

I have created maps and lines of coding for other games, but Skyrim is by far the most complex I have found. Also, the most elusive when it comes to tutorials.

 

OH, BIGGEST *Expletive* PROBLEM I HAVE:

Can someone post a list of Programs I will need?

Every tutorial or page I find never SAYS what you need, may provide a link to a dead page or what not.

 

The Programs I have been able to understand I needed.

Nifskope- 1.1.0 RC5-i686-w32 (Latest Version I believe)

Skyedit0.05a (No tutorial seemed to have used this, this was on the official site)

FO3 Archive Utility (I understand what this does, but info from a Smart person would be awesome)

Well, what I can say is this. The kind of modding that is going on right now requires an incredible amount of expertise in general graphic design. This is mainly due to the fact that all the mods that have been released up to this point have been created without the use of an official developer kit, known as the "Creation Kit". Without this, the list of tools needed is relatively long and the knowledge needed to devise any sort of mod is huge and incredibly overwhelming. Most of the mods being produced at the moment are relatively basic in scope, and most of them are basic re-texture mods that people have cooked up through basic modeling in 3ds max or via photoshop. Until the creation kit drops, modding is incredibly tedious and is likely to be frustrating and unsatisfying for the average Joe.

But do not fret, because Bethesda is set to release the Creation Kit any day now. When it does, it should be the only thing you have to learn how to use in order to create your own mods, and will hopefully make modding more efficient yet expansive.

Edited January 25, 2012 by trees415

[Dragten]

All depends on what you want to do...

 

For 3d things:

$$$ - 3d max

Free - Blender

 

For textures:

$$$ - Photoshop

Free - Gimp

 

Then comes extra plugins.

 

It will be easier to help you if you listed exactly what you do not understand.

As, when you say that you dont know how to import a file, we have no idea what program you want to import it into. But generally, all programs have an import option under main ("file") menu.

 

In my opinion, the elder scrolls are the easiest games to mod, from what I've tried. If you want something really complicated, try modding Arma2 ;)

[whiterabbit0]

http://www.thenexusforums.com/index.php?/topic/534407-modding-armor-for-chsbhc-bbp-tutorial-for-3ds-max/

 

This is a good starting point. Obviously cherry's mod probably isn't your desired starting point but, the general process of importing stuff into studio max, doing stuff to it, then exporting it & patching it up to be game ready with NifSkope is all the same regardless.

[jet4571]

As for the general tool use and setup such as 3ds max/Blender and Photoshop/gimp google the program name and the word tutorial and you will have millions of choices. add beginner between the program name and tutorial and you will find what you need to know to start a mod. If you dont start with the basics the more advanced stuff will be overwhelming. There are even tutorials on installing plugins. That's why the Skyrim tutorials were not so helpful since they expect you to have a basic knowledge of the programs being used.

[zerther]

All depends on what you want to do...

 

For 3d things:

$$$ - 3d max

Free - Blender

 

For textures:

$$$ - Photoshop

Free - Gimp

 

Then comes extra plugins.

 

As far as extra plugins n script stuff go, this is what I've seen people use to create cool things already

 

Scriptdragon

Skyrim script extender SKSE

There is also a tool made to kinda mod skyrim already... but i forgot the name... skyedit? or something. not as good as a ck of course, but if you cant wait a few days have at it.

[Dragten]

Script Dragon and SKSE are extra 'tools' for scripters that wish to use more functions, which are not originally in the game. It is not a thing for beginners.

 

For plugins, I meant thinks like: nVidia DDS plugin, nVidia normal maps plugin, NIF plugin, etc.