Creating a Race

gramps001 · Post by **gramps001** » Fri Aug 11, 2006 7:48 pm

Hey,

Are there any tools that I should get to help me create my own race? Whats the best way to create the new textures? edit the old ones? how do I use the newly created texture and meshes? Anyone with some knowledge please give me a hand.

Greatly Appreciated!
gramps

fable · Post by **fable** » Fri Aug 11, 2006 8:03 pm

You might try this topic.

gramps001 · Post by **gramps001** » Fri Aug 11, 2006 8:08 pm

uhh

yea, didn't help what so ever Fable...

fable · Post by **fable** » Fri Aug 11, 2006 9:31 pm

Well, it's a tutorial for a quick and good way to create a race, isn't it?

gramps001 · Post by **gramps001** » Sat Aug 12, 2006 12:07 am

true

Yeah, its a quick and easy way to make a race. However, I can quickly make a race using the Construction Set althouth its not quite as polished as that is. I wan't to be able to create one from scratch, so start with the base textures that i creat then go from there.

*pays to read what i wrote*

Thankyou though for the help u did give me,
Gramps

dj_venom · Post by **dj_venom** » Sat Aug 12, 2006 6:01 am

Well, to create base textures, you would need to use an image editing program, not the construction set. It seems that the meshes in Morrowind are saved as .nif files, so most (if not all) won't be able to handle them by default. However it seems that people use the program 3D Studio Max coupled with a plugin allowing nif files to be open.

[url="http://www.uesp.net/morrow/files/morfiles.shtml"]The plugin[/url]

If you don't have studio max, you can do a google search for '.nif file morrowind', however I'm not sure how many other programs will be supported, as it seems meshes are 3d only, and 3d Studio Max is the most famous/used of these tools.

gramps001 · Post by **gramps001** » Sat Aug 12, 2006 7:45 am

is it free?

Is the 3D Studio Max freeware? If it is not then you don't happen to know of any other programs that do the same thing?

dj_venom · Post by **dj_venom** » Sat Aug 12, 2006 8:17 am

No, unfortunately it's not, it's actually quite expensive (which is why I've never gotten it). I read an article the other day regarding 3d graphics programs, I'll see if I can find it, but even then, I'm not sure if they'll accept it, because it might need a plugin. Anyway, it doesn't hurt to try (I am pretty sure one freebie was mentioned).

gramps001 · Post by **gramps001** » Sat Aug 12, 2006 9:32 am

thnks

Yea, if you could look into that for me it would be greatly appreciated!

gramps001 · Post by **gramps001** » Sat Aug 12, 2006 9:37 am

Gimp

Do you know if The GIMP, linux main graphics editor, would be able to edit .NIF files?

Magelord648 · Post by **Magelord648** » Sat Aug 12, 2006 10:07 am

Gimp can edit TGA texture files.

gramps001 · Post by **gramps001** » Sat Aug 12, 2006 10:17 am

thnk u

Thanks, so another questions then, can anyone direct me or tutor me in the best way to create the textures and what not needed for a race, then how to implament them into the new race.

Thanks,
Gramps

Magelord648 · Post by **Magelord648** » Sat Aug 12, 2006 10:38 am

I would advise going to the offical forums. There aren't alot of modders here. Only me and chu. I haven't even released my mod yet. Not me or chu do the moddling.

gramps001 · Post by **gramps001** » Sat Aug 12, 2006 10:39 am

Ok, will do, thank you for your help. Ever need anything give me a shout!

dj_venom · Post by **dj_venom** » Sun Aug 13, 2006 6:00 am

Well, it was albeit later than I planned (since you did mention you had that program), but I'll mention it regardless. From what I hear, [url="http://www.blender.org/cms/Home.2.0.html"]blender[/url], is a great 3d program, and it's free. Not sure if you can get it working with NIFs, but I'll recommend it in this thread incase people want to try it out, when searching through or anything.

gramps001 · Post by **gramps001** » Sun Aug 13, 2006 10:32 am

Gimp

Yea, I found a great quicky semi comprehensive tutorial from another forum. I can post it here later if anyone wants.

The GIMP can be used as a Mesh and Texture editor. However you need to have the proper plugins to accomodate Morrowind's .DDS and .NIF files. I was wondering if anyone here has any clue or idea where I can locate these plugins. I've tried tooling around googling it but to not real solution. If anyone has already found these sites that would be great.

Thanks,

dj_venom · Post by **dj_venom** » Mon Aug 14, 2006 12:30 am

The reason that you can't do NIF (not sure about the other type), is that it isn't a graphics file, it's a 3d file.

I tested it out, and TGA files can be opened in Photoshop, which is an image editing program. However, it cannot open NIF, as that needs a 3d editing program.

I suggest you try using the program I mentioned earlier, Blender, as that has 3d meshes worked out that should enable you to use NIF files.

gramps001 · Post by **gramps001** » Tue Aug 15, 2006 3:59 pm

*.blender

I downloaded blender, latest version, and tried to view any of the file types that morrowind has. I understand that not all types are 3d graphics files, how ever the .NIF file could not be read by blender.

When I tried to open the .NIF files blender gave me an error explaning that it was an unknown file type and could not be opened by blender. So, I started a new file and clicked save as, all files that are created with blender are saved as a *.blender file format. This leads me to blieve that you can only r/w *.blender files with blender and if you want to read *.NIF files that you will have to use a program to change the file format. Since blender is a free software, most likely there is none in existance.

There is my two cents. Anyone have any information or proof stating otherwise please do correct me.

Alas the search continues.....

gramps001 · Post by **gramps001** » Tue Aug 15, 2006 6:03 pm

Lists....Lists....Lists

Searching around and found a crap load of freeware 3D - animation editor programs.

Freebyte's Guide to...Free Graphics Software, Images, Clipart, etc.

There is the site if anyone is interested.

dj_venom · Post by **dj_venom** » Tue Aug 15, 2006 6:14 pm

First link on google, found [url="http://niftools.sourceforge.net/wiki/index.php/NIF_File_Format_Library_and_Tools"]this[/url].

Scroll down a bit to blender, and download the .NIF script plugin. That should allow you to open them.