Just a newbie to modding asking a few questions..

[Kreig13]

OK, I'm no Stranger to getting and using mods, but obviously, that's a far cry from creating them. I tried to give it a shot in oblivion back in the day..but I just took one look at that thing, and It was over. I had no idea where to begin.

 

Now, the G.E.C.K has some good support with their site and whatnot ,but something I've been looking around for and wondering about , is the textures. For instance, I do love me an AR-57 or G46C. Or even moreso, I'd love to make my own guns...so how the hell does one go about making a texture of their own? Is it possible to build them from scrap? use a basis?

 

Is it more coding? Or is there some sort of program that kind of allows you to use, building blocks of a sort, kind of like in garrys mod, where you can use various existing items, or perhaps just various shapes you can manipulate, throw together, and paint with a texture?

 

please, enlighten me.

[Rekicker]

*snip*

Or is there some sort of program that kind of allows you to use, building blocks of a sort, kind of like in garrys mod, where you can use various existing items, or perhaps just various shapes you can manipulate, throw together, and paint with a texture?

*snip*

 

That would be awesome, actually. Kind of like having the Spore engine inside the GECK! Unfortunately, the harsh truth is that you'll have to create your custom weaponry in a 3D modeling program (Blender or 3DS Max are recommended for this task). Then you'll have to UVMap the thing and break it up into digestible bites for importing into NIFSkope. Then you'll have to code in various stats of the weapon along with its ammo.

 

Simply put, if you're looking for easy, this ain't it. However, if you are undaunted, this comprehensive guide will be invaluable in your task:

http://geck.bethsoft.com/index.php/Creating_A_Custom_Weapon

 

Good luck and happy modding!

[nikokurk]

Now, the G.E.C.K has some good support with their site and whatnot ,but something I've been looking around for and wondering about , is the textures. For instance, I do love me an AR-57 or G46C. Or even moreso, I'd love to make my own guns...so how the hell does one go about making a texture of their own? Is it possible to build them from scrap? use a basis?

 

It looks like you may be confused about the difference between textures and meshes. Meshes are 3D models and textures are the paint on the models.

Retexturing is fairly easy, at least compared to making new or even altering existing meshes. Bethesda archives all the meshes textures voice data sounds etc. in their archive files. These files can be found in C:\Program Files\Bethesda Softworks\Fallout 3\Data by default unless you put them somewhere else when you installed the game and have the extension bsa. The textures that come with the game are in the file Fallout - Textures.bsa

 

To extract these files you will need the FO3_Archive_Utility. You can find it and every other utility you need here

 

Falout 3 Nexus Categories

 

under utilities. Choose the files you need and the utility will extract and create the necessary subfolders for you where they belong.

 

Note only extract what you need this conserves disk space and makes it a lot easier for you to find the files to work with them latter. If you must extract everything then extract them to a different folder.

 

Now you will need a good paint program. I use Photoshop and the NVIDIA released DDS plugin. If you don't have Photoshop you will need to download GIMP also in the Utilities Category from Fallout 3 Nexus. Just follow the links. You will also need the GIMP DDS Plugin to view and work with the files which vcan be found at the same place. Also recommended is the GIMP normalmap plugin found here

 

Gimp Normal Map Plugin

 

This is not absolutely necessary but if you don't want your textures to look funny get it. By funny I mean the the old texture might bleed through as a shadow beneath your new texture. This can be very annoying under certain light conditions. See this article for a brief tutorial.

 

The Elder Scrolls Construction Set Wiki

 

Open the GECK. In the left pane of the Object Window open Items then Weapons choose the weapon you want retextured. Right click on it and choose preview to make sure this the item you want to retexture then close. Double right click to edit and assign it a new ID and Name and close click OK and yes to to new object.

 

Note the ID must not have any spaces or special characters.

 

You now have a weapon that is an exact clone of the one you opened but without your new textures.

 

Now back to the Object Window expand Miscellaneous and Click on Texture Set. Right click in the right pane and choose new. Assign it an ID, again no spaces, but a bit different than the new Object you created. Highlight Diffuse in the list and then click on the edit button under texture. Browse to where you created your new texture and choose it. You will notice that the Filename for the Map Diffuse is now populated. Do the same thing for Normal/Gloss click OK.

 

You now have a new Texture Set, and your new Object. Now you need to link them. Navigate back to your Object Weapon and double click to edit. Open the Art and Sound Tab click on the Edit button under Model You will see a space for Alternate Textures. There will be two columns on with the 3D Object name. Right click on the appropriate item in the list and choose New a drop down menu will appear. Scroll down to the Name of the Texture Set you created and double click. You have now linked your new item with your new textures. Do that for each part of your weapon. Rotate the item in the preview pane and admire your handiwork.

 

Now place the item somewhere close to where you are in the game. Vault 101 cave interior is good. Save your file. Close the GECK. Open your game and run and pick up your weapon.

 

Hope that helps.

[343guiltymc]

If modeling was so easy, we wouldn't have so many weapon mods with bad textures and/or mesh.