Using the base game models/.nifs

[hoax2]

I'd like to be able to make my own activators etc using the base game models; but when I go to edit the Model /.nif im not sure where to look in the folder structure to find them. Could someone outline the process I should use to select them?

[michaelhester07]

You need to extract the game base files from the bsas in the Data folder if you want to work with the models.

 

Get a BSA extractor like BSAOpt to open them.

[flobalob]

You have to extract the models from the .BSA files before you can create a NEW type of objext of an existing item e.g.

 

In my mod I have added usable crates (using the existing artwork) I had to do the following

 

1) Download a utility to extract the models from Meshes.bsa ( I used BSAopt

2) Extract the files to somewhere (NOT in your Skyrim directory, 'cause there are thousands of them)

3) Find the model that you want ( in my case it was \meshes\clutter\common\cratesmall01.nif amongst others)

4) Copy the file to your skyrim \Data\meshes directory (maintaining the directory structure - for me \data\meshes\clutter\common\)

5) Select an existing item in the object window of the correct type and double click it (for me this was an existing container)

6) CHANGE THE ID - Do this first to prevent screw ups later.

7) Click the Edit button next to the model (this moves from object type to object type, see attachment)

8) Browse to the .nif file that you copied to \Data\Meshes\...

9) Change whatever else needs changing and clik OK (select Yes to a new form)

 

Once the item is in your mod you can (if you like) delete the .nif from your data directory as Skyrim will find the original model in meshes.bsa again.

Edited February 22, 2012 by flobalob

[hoax2]

Perfect, thank-you both..

Kudos to you flobalob for details and links.

Edited February 22, 2012 by trebtreb