Hard time rememebering how to install skins and meshes...help pls...

[kingb33]

I guess it's been waaay too long...i cant remember how to install meshes and skins.  I  googled it but it's not making sense based on what im seeing in the zip files.  Can someone help me please?

EXAMPLE:
I downloaded this zip file: Kraven the Hunter

inside the zip file is all this stuff:
character.nif
character.nif.bak
character_org.kf
keyframes.kf
note.txt
skins


now it seems to contain the skin and the mesh? i guess?

now i know this i the path where i put stuff:
C:\Program Files\Irrational Games\Freedom Force\Data\Art\custom_characters

but what do i create? a folder named Kraven the Hunter?  the read me file says it uses the Male_basic_furcoat mesh? but i dont see that in the zip file...?

and there is another read me file in a folder that says:

Skin Name: Kraven the Hunter
Mesh Model: male_basic_furcoat by The Beyonder included.
Mesh location: Included in zip file
Author: Courtnall6
Email: Courtnall6@hotmail.com
Universe: Marvel

Do i just create a folder named "Kraven the Hunter" in the custom_characters folder? unzip the stuff into that folder and all done? I will just work?  I'm having some pc monitor refresh problems so i cant test it yet...

Im super confused...can someone explain really clearly how to install meshes and skins please? I downloaded a bunch but am having no luck....

Thanks!!!

[Tomato]

in this case, pretty much, though you might have to do Kraven_The_Hunter instead, just to be safe.

Essentially, what you need to do to get all meshes and skins in order is:

Put your character.nif and your .kf file (either character.kf or keyframes.kf depending on the ff version exported) as well as any mesh documentation and related files (such as head.nif or a max file) into the mesh folder, or your Kraven_The_Hunter folder in this case. Then you put your .tgas in "Kraven_The_Hunter\skins\skinname" where skinname is either "standard" or whatever else (IE: Black Spiderman vs. regular). C6 has step it up for you here, but better you know now then have issues later.

[kingb33]

 
I tried tried to install 3 characters i downloaded but im getting this huge white box for all 3 of them...which i assume means i don't have the mesh? but in all 3 zip files there is a file called "character.nif"  isn't that the mesh file?

Basically this is exactly what i did:

Downloaded this file:
1)Red_Robin_skope_DM.zip
2)Created a folder named Red_Robin_skope_DM in the custom_characters folder
3)Unzipped the content of the zip file into the Red_Robin_skope_DM folder i created

This is what was in the zip file:
skins
character.nif
keyframes.kf
readme.txt

Then started up FF and got a big white box for him....and i did the same thing for the other 2 and got the same result.

What am i doing wrong?    

Also when you create a a folder for a character you download does the folder name need to match the zip file name or something?  How does the naming conventions work? Do they require underscores?

Thanks....!

[Shogunn2517]

Which are you downloading exactly?  Where are you downloading them from?  Did you read the readme file and make sure they are for  and not for  ?

[kingb33]

I dont remember where i downloaded any of them.  I was just downloading a bunch of stuff but i dont ever remember seeing any thing saying any of them were for Third Reich

Here are the only things the read me files say:

For---
Red_Robin_skope_DM

the readme only says:
____________
Skope by detourne_me
Original Meshes: Owlman_Ren, WolverineBlue, Shining_Knight by Renegade, Quasar_syn by Unfluffy Bunny, Hawkman_tf, Mister_Terrific_tf_GA by Tommyboy, Gambit by Gni, Grendel_tj by Texas Jack
Keyframes by Renegade, Texas Jack, and Grenadier


For---
kraven_the_hunter

the readme only says:

Mesh Name:             Male_basic_furcoat

Modified/Created by:   The Beyonder
Date Created:          07/02/02
Original Mesh Used:    male_basic

Polycount:             ?
Standard Skin by:      Paradox
Keyframes Used:        male_basic

Tga Scheme:            male_basic.tga
                       male_basic_refl.tga
                       male_basic_glow.tga
                       male_basic_lightmap.tga

and skin file says:

Skin Name: Kraven the Hunter
Mesh Model: male_basic_furcoat by The Beyonder included.
Mesh location: Included in zip file
Author: Courtnall6
Email: Courtnall6@hotmail.com
Universe: Marvel

[Shogunn2517]

Okay, in that: "C:\Program Files\Irrational Games\Freedom Force\Data\Art\custom_characters" should be your Kraven folder.  In that folder should be:

character.nif
character.nif.bak
character_org.kf
keyframes.kf
note.txt
skins

Actually, what I just described is what you described, I realize.  However, I'm running FFvTTR and you are not.  I am not the most intelligent one about these matters to ask, but try removing "character.nif.bak" and "character_org.kf" from that folder(deleting it or place it out the folder otherwise).  I would imagine(though I could be wrong) that the game is not reading the character.nif file you have... In fact, I'm confident I'm wrong.  But do it anyway and see what happens.

[Previsionary]

The character.nif.bak COULD BE the original, unmodified nif, meaning it may be the FF1 nif before it was converted. The mesh/skope in question, however, seems to be for FFv3R, which may be your problem.

[kingb33]

Well i got Kraven to work...but i dont get why i had to do what i did.  

I had to go find this mesh (which the readme file says its the mesh it uses):

Male_basic_furcoat

i then created a folder in custom_characters called Male_basic_furcoat

then i threw the Kraven skin in skins folder and it worked...

But i dont get why i had to do all that?  

Because in the zip file for Kraven the hunter there already is a .nif file.  called character.nif  ---isnt that the mesh file already? why did i have to go find Male_basic_furcoat?

Ugh confused...

How come just making a folder named kraven_the_hunter in custom_characters didnt work?

[Xenolith]

My folder is just called Kraven the Hunter.  It's the same skin/mesh you downloaded, but I'm using it in  .  I'm guessing you had to use the pre-Nifskoped mesh "male_basic_furcoat" because you can't use the 'skope, as Previsionary suggested.

[kingb33]

Should i be using Third Reich?  What is the difference anyways?  I mean i know its an expansion...but like what are the benefits of using it?  Aren't most of the characters out there for download for the old version? Or no?  I haven't been in the scene for years so im totally out of it.

LikeI went here and downloaded 'Red Robin'

http://heroforce.freedomforceforever.com/afghanant.html

All is in the zip file is:
readme.txt
skins
character.nif
keyframes.kf


But all i get is a big white box...so should i assume it's for third Reich?  How would i even know that? The page where i downloaded it doesnt say it is...

Thanks for the help

[Xenolith]

That skope was made for   but it might work in  .  If you see the word "skope" in the readme, then you can be pretty sure it was intended to be used with  .  Renegade only made meshes for   once it came out, but most of the older ones still work in the new game.

is a different game than  .  It has improvements, but it lacks some things too.  One great thing for   is Freedom Force X 3.3, which really adds a lot to the game.  It has a watch mode where you can just sit back and watch your heroes slug it out.  I'm sure most folks would recommend that you pick up  .  I think it will save you a lot of headaches with this whole mesh/skin thing.

[kingb33]

I actually have a copy in the closet somewhere...i only used it a couple times before i moved onto other games.  Yes all i really do is like to "watch" the heroes fight it out....im a huge comic book fan.  So Third Reich is better for that then huh?  What is this Freedom Force X 3.3?  Do you just install it?  In 3rd Reich can you choose how many characters fight?  Like maybe 7 vs 7?   I hated the 4 hero limit in FF.  

Also i guess ill have to go back and redownload everything.  So the best way to identify if a character it's for 3rd reich is to look for the word skope?  What else can i look for? Other than the web page saying it is obviously...but im finding a lot of websites arent doing that.   And i assumming the installation of characters is basically the same?

Also 1 more question, are there a lot of characters out there for download for 3rd Reich?  Im just worried that it may limit the amount of cool characters i can download...

Thanks

[Shogunn2517]

Since you're starting over from scratch, and you don't have anything, and if you can find it, I would suggest going with FFvTTR.  It's not an expansion.  It's a sequel.  Outside of an original story with original characters, FFvTTR has slightly updated graphics and modeling.  There are some annoyances in differences, but it's overall better.  In regards of the modding community FFvTTR has more options.  There are meshes that only work with FF and there are meshes that only work for FFvTTR.  The vast majority of meshes that were made for FF can be converted and used in FFvTTR.  There are some meshes that can work for both without being converted(I think).  Take for instance, Renegade's latest work was made for use only in FFvTTR.  Some of his earlier work was for FF.  Some like Superman and Captain Marvel work in FF.  Others like Hulk, Red Hulk and others only work for FFvTTR.  But just about anything that works in FF can be converted or simply ran in FFvTTR.  Like I said, there are a few that do not work, even after being converted(it might just be my inability, but I could not converted Captain Atom).  Like I said there aren't that many and for those that do not, there are more than plenty of high quality meshes out there that do work.

On the other hand, there's little to nothing you can do to get some of the greatest work out there(ie Renegade) to work at all in FF. And like with what Xenolith was saying, the fan made expansion(the essential expansion to FF or FFvTTR) is FFX3.  Yes, you install it like anything else.  It can be found in the links you saw on your other thread. 

[kingb33]

Thx for the info...is there a utility out there i can download to do conversions easily?  Or are most of the characters im going to find at the FF websites to download already converted for 3rd Reich probably? What is the character vs. character limit for watch mode in 3rd Reich?  Do the hero recipes work the same like in the old FF? 

Thanks again!   

[John Jr.]

Most of the meshes are for  but they an be converted for  with EZ Nif Converter, you can find it (and other useful tools) here:
http://www.alexff.com/goodies.php

Alex has a great FAQ, it helped me a lot when I started:
http://www.alexff.com/faq.php

The games have slightly different Hero Files, they have different attributes too and the energy system is very different, but I know most of Alex's recipes work for the two games.
Hope it helps.

[Shogunn2517]

Actually in my opinion, half the fun is in making the hero files myself.  I might use a receipt that's out there, but I'd much rather make my own.  It depends on how you want to play your game really.  If you want to gear yourself towards more of a gameplay model, the files at aff are good.  I, go for more of the "comic centric" model.  My files are enormous and pretty ridiculious by most standards(only one character in my game can beat my Hulk and that's Galactus(who no one can beat).  But it's up to you.

Don't forget: http://ffx.freedomforceforever.com/downloads.htm (of course that's for FFvTTR).

[Xenolith]

I think some folks found a way to have up to 99 characters slugging it out.  You can set up teams.  This is with FFX 3.3.  That's pretty much all I do.