Bones not appearing when importing nif into 3DS Max 2012

[vermillion73]

Hello all,

 

Im attempting to rig some armor I made, but cannot get the bones to appear when importing an existing .nif so I can use those bones for my armor.

 

Heres my import settings.

http://clip2net.com/clip/m97148/thumb640/1345373278-beb3c-14kb.png

 

Heres what the model should look like with the bones.

http://clip2net.com/clip/m97148/thumb640/1345373433-5a794-687kb.png

 

Heres how it appears when I import a model, no bones :(

http://clip2net.com/clip/m97148/thumb640/1345373278-4afc9-206kb.png

 

Anyone know how to get the bones to appear?

 

Fyi Im using 3DS 2012, with niftools 3.7.1

Edited August 19, 2012 by vermillion73

[DizzasterJuice]

I'm not sure I'm understanding what you're trying to do but if you need bones to rig a new model, don't use an existing model for bones. "Import/Merge" the skeleton.nif from data/meshes/characters/_male to your new model. Then check "Remove Unused Bones" when you export it.

When you try to import an existing mesh you need to have both the model and the skeleton.nif in the same place or you will get an error message that it can't find the skeleton and it will import without it.

[vermillion73]

  Quote

When you try to import an existing mesh you need to have both the model and the skeleton.nif in the same place or you will get an error message that it can't find the skeleton and it will import without it.

 

That was the problem, cheers!

 

Was attempting to using a technique for quick n dirty rigging without weight painting a friend taught me years ago, cant seem to remember the exact steps tho so I think Ill have to use the standard 3ds rigging technique.

 

+1 kudos

[vermillion73]

Heres another quick question seeing as how Im perusing a faster rigging route, could I use the skin wrap modifier instead of weight painting the standard way? What kind of results would I get?

 

[Edit]

Figured it all out, can rig in under 5 mins now, no weight-painting needed. If the moderators wish to close this thread go for it :)

Edited August 19, 2012 by vermillion73

[vermillion73]

To anybody reading this, the problem seems to be with max 2012. If you wanna rig armor for fallout, use 09 or 10. Im fairly certain this is because the nifscripts for 2012 are still in early development where as 09 an 10 have been out for some time now :)

[DizzasterJuice]

I skinned this mesh, the shirt and the shorts, by exporting the mesh as nif with no bones then imported it and copy and paste a skin from another similar mesh. I didn't have any problems with the "shortcut" skinning technique in max 2012 so maybe it's something else?

http://newvegas.nexusmods.com/images/35627/