Created Items and Textures

[Allannaa]

This has most likely been asked and answered before and I just can't find it. Any links to existing threads would be more than welcome if so!

 

I want to be very clear on some things before I do anything. "They" (who are "they" anyway? all these people who tell you stuff or post stuff, ya know??) say that the CK is easier to use than the CS, but frankly I disagree, though this may just be due to mindset. I am a crotchety old lady, after all. But I knew how to use that TESCS in my sleep... The CK freaks me out some.

 

First, I understand that the CK encourages use of already-made stuff, so that mods are smaller and easier to load and all that stuff. (Which wouldn't be as big a problem if we weren't forced to use Steam, but no one listens to me.... What the hell happens if someone's internet is down? That happens in the rural parts of the world, ya know!)

 

I get that, but I make items and texture items on my own with the usual modeling programs, drawing programs, and Nifskope. For Oblivion and the CS, those files would have been in (for example):

 

C: Oblivion : Data : Meshes : AllaMods

 

and

 

C: Oblivion : Data : Texutres : AllaModTex

 

 

Now, should something similar be going on with the CK? For instance:

 

C: Steam : steamapps : common : skyrim : Data

 

Or what? Because I'm accustomed to seeing Meshes and Texture files under Data. Is Skyrim different since it's based off the online stuff?

 

Should I be making a folder in the Steam directory for meshes? Should they be unpacked somewhere else? They're currently unpacked in a "Staging" folder I usually use:

 

C : tesStaging : Skyrim: Data: Mesh

 

Do I need to move that "Mesh" folder, and all its contents, into the C: Steam : steamapps: common: skyrim: Data folder? (and obviously the textures too)

 

Once that's done do I also place my own meshes and textures (in the appropriate places) in that Steam directory tree?

 

I realise these are probably eyeroll-type questions and that anyone who messed with Ob as much as I did should be able to figure this out, but... well... I can't! And because we *are* so rural, if I have to delete and reinstall Skyrim, it takes almost 72 hours on our slow tin-can-and-string internet connection, so I really want to avoid "breaking" Skyrim. (See now why I, and friends in this area, loathe being dependant on "online" for gaming? Seriously. 56k is not a fun thing to have, though it is better than nothing, amirite?)

 

Any help or links would be appreciated -- particularly help and links that don't make me deal with Steam itself.

 

Thanks so much, folks!

Edited July 20, 2012 by Allannaa

[David Brasher]

the CK is easier to use than the CS

 

This statement is a bunch of nonsense. The CK really stinks to try to use. I can think of about three things I like about the CK:

(1) The function to change your file description is not not broken like it was in the CS.

(2) You can open multiple object windows or quest windows all at once.

(3) It doesn't crash when you try to view a preview of an NPC's face.

 

 

On my computer, the file paths are like this:

 

C:\Games\Skyrim\SteamApps\common\skyrim\Data\Meshes\weapons\iron\MyNiftyIronSword.nif

C:\Games\Skyrim\SteamApps\common\skyrim\Data\textures\weapons\CheapskateBlades\MyRustyPittedIronTexture.dds

 

 

You don't need daily Internet access to play Skyrim or do modding work. You only need Internet access to install the game, update it, or to download and upload mods. I keep Steam in offline mod for weeks at a time until I decide I ought to check for updates. Your mod that you are building is safely stored on your computer and not on the Steam cloud. I think you will find that the process of building Skyrim mesh and texture mods is very much like it was for Oblivion.

[Allannaa]

Thank you, David!

 

Yes, I found out the other day (when, oddly enough, the internet was down, go figure) that I can in fact play offline which was a great relief. Now that I know, I'm a lot happier.

 

I have noticed some mods on the Steam site don't appear to work if you're not on, but then again, they're not mods I'd use much anyway.

 

From messing about with the CK I do see that the interface is mostly what I'm used to, so that's a relief, and like you, I was glad to NOT crash when I wanted to preview things. And, I notice the "search" function in CK actually works, where it didn't always with the CS.

 

The file path information you gave was exactly what I needed to know -- basically that this will work the way I'm used to, and that's a comfort. What the hell, as I said, I'm an old lady, I got no hobbies other than my games, and while I don't mind learning new stuff, I really am set in my ways.

 

Thanks again for the info, it really helps!

 

 

(and I still want to know who all the "they" are, that say all the stuff we hear! *giggle)

[Allannaa]

All righty then, I now have a new question but it's still related to making one's own stuff.

 

After several weeks of reading tutorials, going back thru my own work for Ob, and so on, I'm finally ready to play.

 

I modelled a butter churn in Daz Studio (same as I would have for Ob)

 

I painted textures for the churn in Photoshop (same as I would have for Ob)

 

I opened Nifskope, loaded the item, checked to be sure textures were still correctly associated (same, etc)

 

I saved "butterchurn.nif" to C > Steam > steamapps > common > skyrim > Data > meshes

 

I saved "churnbody.dds and churnbody_n.dds to ... > Data > textures

 

Again, mostly just like modding for Oblivion.

 

I loaded the Creation Kit, clicked Skyrim.esm and AllaTests (okay so it's a dum name, but anyway!) and set Allatests as the "active" file.

 

I opened my "blank cell" that I use to look at stuff.

 

In the Object Window, I clicked a line, opened the dropdown, and clicked NEW.

 

It popped up with a window to name the thing, and to add the NIF, which I did.

 

However, that's where the headscratching starts. First, the butterchurn, which showed up nicely in the modelling program and in Nifskope, doesn't show up in the CK. Instead I get a pale translucent diamond with a ! in the middle of it.

 

What have I done wrong, or what step have I skipped, in adding this item?

 

Any answers, or links to tutorials, would be appreciated!

Edited August 13, 2012 by Allannaa

[asdgora]

You need more editing in Nifskope.

Following this tutorial will hopefully solve your problem http://www.creationkit.com/Exporting_meshes_to_Creation_Kit