Adding custom texture to a modified armor. Some advice please.

[MadGame0ver]

So basically what i've done is i've gone into the Creative Kit and duplicated the orcish armour, but modified it to be just as good as the daedric armour and renamed it to Warlord armour.

So i've just made a modified armour, very basic stuff. Oh and it works btw... before someone says anything... >_>

 

The problem that i can't seem to get my head around, is trying to add a custom texture that I downloaded from the nexus:

http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/downloads/file.php?id=2136 <-- Contains simple .dds files only.

I know with vanilla armours/meshes, as long as you just place the .dds (texture) files in the right directory they just over-right the default textures of the .nif file.

But what is it i have to do to add a custom texture to my modified armour?

 

So far the only thing i've tried is placing the .dds files in a directory that i thought made sense. E.g.:

Mesh directory: C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\skyrim\Data\Meshes\Armor\Warlord\ <--- Contains copied and modified .nif files from the skyrim .bsa (orcish armor meshes).

Texture directory: C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\skyrim\Data\Textures\Armor\Warlord\ <--- Contains the .dds files from the retexture mod.

Setting it up like this i thought the textures would simply link up to the .nif files. Guess it's not that easy... *sigh*

 

I've looked all over the place and haven't been able to find anything that gave me a clue as to what i should do next to solve this. The ONLY thing i've found is suggestions that I have to open the .nif files and change the texture paths... or something...

When it comes to modding meshes with Nifscope and such am a bit of a philistine so please bear with me...

[Daedthr]

Hey MadGame0ver,

 

You say that you renamed and modified its in-game stats so I'm assuming thats its still the same item in the game (same base ID, same ref ID and is still generic orcish armor). Surely if its still the same item you would replace the texture in the orcish armor directory and not make a new directory. If you made a new item however could you not pick your items texture in the menu where you set its stats etc. I have not tried editing armor in the Creation Kit yet but in Oblivions Construction Set when you made a new item you were prompted to choose the texture and type the filepath into the menu where you made the item. If however this does not work in the Creation Kit you would as you said in your post, have to change the file pats for the texture which I would think you'd be able to in blender if you don't like nifskope, although at some points you may have to use nifskope. If you wish to know how to change the file paths in blender, please PM and I'll reply later. Also if you replace the texture in the orcish armor directory you should make sure the name of the custom texture is the same as the default one.

 

Daedthr

 

P.S Will this armor be for your personal use in-game or is it going to be generic (all sets of orcish armor will have the custom texture), because is its for your personal use you need to make a new item.

[MadGame0ver]

@ Daedthr

 

I duplicated the armor in the creative kit before changing the stats which gave it new base ID and ref ID's, this makes the armor personal. The only thing that it shares with other armors atm are the .nif files. I'll give Blender a go and try some stuff out.

If things don't work out i'll PM ya. Cheers for the info ;)

[chain83]

@ Daedthr

 

I duplicated the armor in the creative kit before changing the stats which gave it new base ID and ref ID's, this makes the armor personal. The only thing that it shares with other armors atm are the .nif files. I'll give Blender a go and try some stuff out.

If things don't work out i'll PM ya. Cheers for the info ;)

 

To modify the mesh of an armor, place the nif-files in the correct directory (like you are doing) with the original name.

To make a brand nw armor that doesn't replace the current in-game armor, give the nif-files new names.

The same foes for the texture/dds files.

 

To hook up the textures there are two ways of doing it that I found:

 

1. In the Object Window, go under Misc/TextureSet. Create a new texture set, and assign the correct textures (remember environment map). This texture set can then - in the CK - be applied to any object (let's say your modified armor object). If you weren't modifying the mesh you could actually have applied it directly to a copy of the orcish armor in CK without even touching any nif-files! To assign it, fin the nif/model from inside CK and open it so you get the "Model Data" window. Your TextureSet goes under "Alernate Textures". :)

 

2. The other method shouldn't require a TextureSet, but requires you to have nifskope. Open the model in nifskope. Find the textures in the Block List (probably under NiTriShape > BSLightingShaderProperty > BSShaderTextureSet). In the Block Details window (bottom) open Textures and you will see a list of the texture paths referenced by the model. Change those paths to point to your new textures.

 

---

 

Only done this once myself, but worked for me. Here's my mod that adds a unique copy of the dwarven armor just like you are trying with the orcish: http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/downloads/file.php?id=9958&

If you are stuck, you could open up the .esp and look at how I did it. Filter the Object Window to look for anything with "obsidian" in the name. :)

Edited February 18, 2012 by chain83

[MadGame0ver]

Ah did it! Already had nifskope open and I messed around with the model properties, changed the texture paths and done! Cheers for the advice guys.

Had no idea .nif files had these many properties to them, although my lack of knowledge of 3d models didn't help... >_<

Well there we go, got my awesome looking warlord armour! Now to have some fun.