Is it possible to use a variety of body meshes?

[Dr Pepper]

I've been able to access the body textures (dds files) with Tes Construction set and created a variety of folder options to give npcs different body textures. But i have not been able to find the path that utilizes the body meshes (shapes and sizes, nif files). So far it's a "one size fits all" with the exception of the mods that can do this with spells. But I like to give my companion npcs different nif.shapes as well as dds.features. Can anyone help me with how the nif files are accessed?

[Rennn]

I think you'd need to create a custom race for the companions, and then make them use the meshes that you want. I don't really know how it works, but I think that's how it's generally done. I don't think Oblvion lets you change meshes within the same race.

[SineWaveDrox]

I do not believe that is possible in Oblivion without the use of scripts, though I have no experience in that area.

[Nephenee13]

I've been able to access the body textures (dds files) with Tes Construction set and created a variety of folder options to give npcs different body textures. But i have not been able to find the path that utilizes the body meshes (shapes and sizes, nif files). So far it's a "one size fits all" with the exception of the mods that can do this with spells. But I like to give my companion npcs different nif.shapes as well as dds.features. Can anyone help me with how the nif files are accessed?

 

Short answer: You can't.

 

Long answer: You can achieve the illusion of this via clothing, and it is possible to script NPCs to use different body meshes, but its not simple.

[kingtitan]

Like you said, there is a way, you have to use a spell. But contrary to what was stated earlier in the thread, it is not possible to make a race use a specific body type (unfortunately). You have to employ the use of scripted mods to change the bodytype to be unique.

[DrakeTheDragon]

To further evaluate this, the only known way nowadays is to create the "illusion" of it being that way, by abusing the fact that in Oblivion your body comes with your clothes, and as such you can change your appearance by clothing items, as in "wearable bodies".

You can use scripts to make it so those wearable body meshes stay equipped all time, but every effect will be gone as soon as you equip a different item containing a different body mesh underneath again.

 

So it's either don't allow to wear anything "not safe to be worn", as in only allow specifically adapted items with fitting body parts included to be equipped, or devise a way to dynamically exchange every item you equip by one with the proper body part included.

The latter of course requires one to create an adapted NIF file for just about every Vanilla or custom mod-added item in existance... or going to exist in future... in other words, an "infinite" amount of files to adapt... luckily those approaches rather work like, what's adapted can be worn, what isn't can't, so you only need to have adapted counterparts for everything you're actually intending to wear, or adding more and more adapted NIF files to your collection over time.

 

The most sophisticated mod project into this direction I found is the True Body Shapes mod, assigning sets of body meshes and adapted clothing/armor items on a per-race basis.

My mods do the same, but they're far too unfinished and still too convoluted to be used on a broader basis. But the concept is there, if anybody's interested in taking a look.

[Grabstein]

I've been able to access the body textures (dds files) with Tes Construction set and created a variety of folder options to give npcs different body textures. But i have not been able to find the path that utilizes the body meshes (shapes and sizes, nif files). So far it's a "one size fits all" with the exception of the mods that can do this with spells. But I like to give my companion npcs different nif.shapes as well as dds.features. Can anyone help me with how the nif files are accessed?

 

 

Okay, are you trying to give, for example, each race a different body type? Meshes and textures can be "bound" with NifScope.

[kingtitan]

I've been able to access the body textures (dds files) with Tes Construction set and created a variety of folder options to give npcs different body textures. But i have not been able to find the path that utilizes the body meshes (shapes and sizes, nif files). So far it's a "one size fits all" with the exception of the mods that can do this with spells. But I like to give my companion npcs different nif.shapes as well as dds.features. Can anyone help me with how the nif files are accessed?

 

 

Okay, are you trying to give, for example, each race a different body type? Meshes and textures can be "bound" with NifScope.

 

Regardless, it is still impossible for races to have predefined specific body types.

[Dr Pepper]

Just wanted to thank everyone for the replies. Gave up on this and have gone on to armor variations. Thanks again

[Harvald]

Hi friends,

 

Perhaps i know a way you can do it. Its not a real a way to create an alternative NPC but it works. Make a copy of your characters/_male folder change the name and put it in data\meshes wherever you want. Put the alternative meshes add the hairstyle and the face you want in your new folder then create a new creature. You can't change the face mesh so you have to chose a nice face. Name the Creature with te name you want. Make a copy from the AI of an existing CM-Partner and get over the scripts. Its not a Person in Oblivion, because he/she is a Creature but it will work. I made, for my own use, some CM-Partners this way before I gave up CM-Partners. You even can give him a unique fighting style by using alternative animations. A Shogun fighting style looks very nice, while all other characters do vanilla.

 

Happy modding

 

Harvald

Edited March 23, 2012 by Harvald