Skins for installed characters.

[daglob]

Is there a way to include new skins on the basic characters that come with Freedom Force? I figure I could extract them from the archive, add the new skins, then re-archive them, or just have the un-archived meshes in the custom character folder, but is there an easier way?

[GogglesPizanno]

Just create a folder for the character wherever you keep your character meshes, then create the standard "\skins\{skinname}" folder and drop the skins in there. You don't have to include the mesh or kf or anything as it will still be read from the archived ff file, But when the game is run, it will read the new skins you added just like normal.

You just need to make sure that the character directory you create matches the directory name that irrational used in the archive.

[Panther_Gunn]

You just need to make sure that the character directory you create matches the directory name that irrational used in the archive.

Specifically, that would be the Data\Art\library\characters\ folder.

[GGiant]

You just need to make sure that the character directory you create matches the directory name that irrational used in the archive.

Specifically, that would be the Data\Art\library\characters\ folder.

Like this:
Data\Art\Library\characters\minute_man\skins

[GogglesPizanno]

Just for clarity, as I'm getting confused now.  :wacko:
If you have a minute man skin, you can include it in 1 of 3 different locations and it will work, and will be available in any game you play (Mod or otherwise). I prefer the second two as it keeps custom skins together with your other custom meshes and skins. I'd just use whatever path you currently keep you meshes in to keep everything together.

1. \Data\Art\Library\characters\minute_man\skins
or
2. \Custom\Art\library\characters\minute_man\skins
or
3. C:\Documents and Settings\<username>\Local Settings\Application Data\Irrational Games\Freedom Force vs the 3rd Reich\Custom\Art\library\characters\minute_man\skins

If you want the skin be be specific to a MOD then you would put them here:
\<modname>\Art\Library\characters\minute_man\skins

[daglob]

Many thanks to you all.

[JKCarrier]

Another thing to keep in mind: If this is for  :ffvstr: then the new skins need to be in DDS format. If they're TGA, then the standard skin will always override them for some reason.

[Protomorph]

Another thing to keep in mind: If this is for  :ffvstr: then the new skins need to be in DDS format. If they're TGA, then the standard skin will always override them for some reason.

The game engine checks for a skin in dds format. If it finds it, it gets used. If not, it proceeds to look for a tga, then jpg, then gif until it finds something it likes.

[GogglesPizanno]

The game engine checks for a skin in dds format. If it finds it, it gets used. If not, it proceeds to look for a tga, then jpg, then gif until it finds something it likes.

Thats true, but if one of the skins is DDS format (such as the standard one) and the others are TGA then while the other TGA skins are valid and will work in character tool etc... when played in game, the engine will default to the DDS skin (at least in some cases).

Like JKCarrier I've had this happen with custom meshes -- where removing/converting the DDS skin fixed the issue.  So the game is a bit twitchy about it, I just don't know what the specific cause is.

[daglob]

Thanks again, guys.

[Feransil]

I'm glad I checked the forum before posting about this same problem. So despite all the great advice mine still aren't showing up. I downloaded a DDS file extension plug-in for Photoshop, changed the tga files into DDS, but instead of not being overridden by the default skins, they aren't showing up at all now.

Any advice on what to do?

[GogglesPizanno]

Do the skins show up in Character Tool but not in game, or do they not show up either location?

Maybe if you described exactly what skins you are trying to use and where you are putting them (directory paths etc), that might help to narrow down where possible issue may be.

[Feransil]

They show up in the character viewer, in game making the character, but when you go into the campaign or rumble room, they default back to the base character skin.

It's a Iron Man skin for Microwave and a GTA3 guy skin for the Clint model. I've tried putting them in all the different directories that you listed above and keep encountering the same problem.