Starting Places

[BentonGrey]

Howdy guys.  I've got some meshes that aren't playing well with the FX I've got.  It seems that they are lacking a weapon node or something, as the FX start at 'weapon,' but when this mesh uses them, they just start out in the ether.  How can I go about creating or moving whatever it is I need to create or move to get the FX to start where I want them using Nifskope?  I'd rather not have to copy and change dozens of FX and sound entries, so it strikes me that I might have an easier time of it with Nifskope.

[Tomato]

If the fx is attached to the weapon node, you should just be able to move or create the weapon node on whichever bone or object you want the attack to come from.

[BentonGrey]

Alright, thanks 'Mato.  That is more or less what I was hoping would be possible.  Now, I understand the theory here, but I can't seem to get it to work.  I should just be able to copy the branch of the weapon node, go to an object, and paste it onto it, right?  Whenever I do that, it ends up on the bottom of the list, not attached to anything in particular.  When I try to attach it to a bone, like Bip01 Spine, it gets put into the list of children where I can't get at it.  Neither one seems to actually create a usable weapon node.  Can someone give me some direction here?  I'm afraid I'm a bit lost.

Also, how can I create a weapon node when one does not already exist?

:EDIT: Alright, I had some success moving the node, by copying from the name, NOT the "editable mesh" line, and pasting, ALSO onto the name.  However, I pasted it on to the middle of the character's chest, specifically onto an object there.  However, the FX is coming from the character's right hand now.  This is an improvement, as the FX was previously coming from the empty space to his right, but it isn't quite what I'm after.

[Tomato]

Did some tinkering, I think I figured out part of why you're having problems

-When you're attaching the weapon node to an object, you can't attach it to "Editable_Mesh"/"Editable_Poly". You can only attach it to the main node... male_basic, sword_1, etc.
-Attaching a weapon node to an object that has a niskininstance is pointless... the weapon node doesn't inherit it, so you're better off attaching it to a bone in say, the hand, and moving it to the tip of the sword or wherever you want it to be manually (again, edit the weapon node, not the editable mesh. that's only there so you can see where the weapon node will actually be). You CAN, however, attach it to a node that's been attached directly to the biped.
-Attaching multiple weapon node won't do any good... FF will find the first one in the nif and attach the FX to that.
-What do you mean by "in the list of children where I can't get at it"? It's SUPPOSED to be a child to the bip, just like any other piece you're trying to skope.

[BentonGrey]

Alright, thanks to 'Mato's very patient help, I was able to get the weapon node from Tommy's Melter_TVLite moved and working properly.  It turns out that, in nifskope, the value collumn can overlap the name column, hiding tons of info and various entries.  Anyway, that's working great.  However, I've had a devil of a time trying to get LP's Black Widow skope to play nicely.  She didn't have a weapon node (at least that I could find), so I copied one from the Melter, positioned it in the same way, but she still isn't working properly.  Does anyone have any advice?

[Amazo Version 2.2]

if i'm reading your post right, what about taking a "weapon node" from a nother female mesh and adding it to black widow. that may work better than pulling from a male mesh.

[BentonGrey]

Thanks Amazo, that's a good idea!  Fortunately, LP came to my rescue with a tweaked mesh.