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New here? I'm Roha — want a quick tour?
Comrades! Is there a guide that teaches how to create creatures? How to work with models and their stats?
Of course, thank you, but it mainly concerns importing models. I'm talking about creating an NCF creature from scratch.
What program should I use to work with models and textures, and in which file should I modify the creature's stats?
Textures are edited in Photoshop with a DDS plugin; as an old-school user with a potato PC, I use Paint.net.
By the way, what are stats? Tactical and technical characteristics?
Yes, stats are characteristics.
Added 1 hour 59 minutes ago
And what about an editor for working with models?
...The trick is that if you don't need to port a model from another game, you don't need the editor either; mods with standard models only use text files (XDB) with codes and links.
If you need to port a model, then everything is described in the guides by Psathi and Zahar, including the programs.
Added 45 minutes later
I lied - you can view models with animations in the map editor; it's also convenient to create effects there.
In Heroes, the model file structure is like this:
There is a Model file, sometimes it comes without a label, and inside it are links to files:
Material
Skeleton
Geometry
The first file points to a Texture file, which in turn points to a dds file with a normal texture – you can open it and recolor it.
Skeleton and Geometry contain data about the model, namely codes that reference the skeleton and the model.
For models from the original game, these can be written directly into the Model file itself.
Take Psatkh's mod and try to find such a file there.
You can even reference files from the original game, like the Revenger does.
1
Now about animation:
the AnimSet file
Inside this file, paths to files responsible for different animations are written.
attack00
happy
hit
idle00
move
stir00
stir01
Inside each animation, there is also a numeric code responsible for it, a path to the sound file, and a path to the EFFECT file.
0C9C5A1E-FC1C-4F9A-A2D5-F5E7C2649C9F
Global
0
0
0
1
250
To start, you need to practice on models with ready-made effects; for example, the Revengers have an attached helmet, shield, left and right pauldrons, and a sword.
In the effect file, there is a link to each attached model, specifically to the ModelInstance file.
false
1
2.5
Now about ModelInstance:
These files contain the path to the attached model, its position on xyz, rotation around the same axes, scaling, and bone attachment.
0
0
0.2
0
0
0
1
1
0
0
0
1
Head
Effects should be edited through the map editor. When you launch it, the map properties window will automatically pop up. Place a Psatkh creature on the map, select it, and then the map properties window will change into an object properties window. Find the line with the path to the mapobject file. Click on the path; a button with an ellipsis and a New button will appear – click the ellipsis.
A window with paths to the model and animset files will open. You also need to click on the animset line and select the ellipsis, then open the desired animation (idle) the same way, then the effect, and the required ModelInstance. In it, you need to change the position, rotation, and scale parameters until the model sits correctly.
That's a valid point; empty lines are not recommended in XML and should be removed.
Following the example of comments and ifrits, see http://c2n.me/49PdxzY. Where the arrows are, there shouldn't be lines; the tags should follow each other without empty lines.
in Heroes, the model file structure is like this
there is a Model file, sometimes it comes without a marker; inside it are links to files
Material
Skeleton
Geometry
the first file leads to a Texture file, and that one leads to a dds file with a normal texture – you can open and recolor it
Skeleton and Geometry contain model data, namely codes referencing the skeleton and the model
for models from the original game, these can be written directly into the Model file itself
take the Psathi mod and try to find such a file there
you can even reference files from the original game, like the Revenger
model file
1
now about animation
the AnimSet file
inside this file, paths to files responsible for different animations are recorded
animset
attack00
happy
hit
idle00
move
stir00
stir01
inside each animation there is also a numeric code responsible for it, a path to the sound file, and a path to the EFFECT file
individual animation
0C9C5A1E-FC1C-4F9A-A2D5-F5E7C2649C9F
Global
0
0
0
1
250
to start, you need to practice on models with ready-made effects, for example, the Revengers have an attached helmet, shield, left and right shoulder pads, and a sword
the effect file has a link to each attached model, or more precisely to the ModelInstance file
effect
false
1
2.5
now about ModelInstance
these files contain the path to the attached model, its position by xyz, rotation around the same axes, scaling, and attachment to a bone
modelinstance
0
0
0.2
0
0
0
1
1
0
0
0
1
Head
you need to edit effects through the map editor; when you launch it, the map properties window will pop up automatically. Place the Psathi creature on the map, select it, and then the map properties window will change into the object properties window. Find the line with the path to the mapobject file, click on the path, a button with an ellipsis and a "new" button will appear – click on the ellipsis.
A window will open with paths to the model and animset files; also click on the line with animset and choose the ellipsis, then open the desired animation (idle) the same way, then the effect, and the desired ModelInstance. In it, you need to change the position, rotation, and scale parameters until the model sits correctly.
