PLEASE HELP! Editing character M2-models.

[thesixth]

Hi!
I'm trying to edit some character models and I have a few questions on this.
 The absolute hardest thing to come by is a converter for the M2 files.
 
That said, I mean I have only found very few that works.
 Most of them are unspecific in what Wow-version is required and most of them just doesn't work. (At least with the character models)
 
I have tried a tool calles just "ModelInjector", which, due to poor description from the author or releaser, after some detective-testing around with different wow-versions, appears to work with M2 models from the 2.4.3 client. This tool gives me a Nightmare of geosets jammed stuck all over the model, and it's a pain in the @$$ to use.
 
Currently, I'm using TP's HiResModelTool 3.5, trying to edit models for the 3.2.2a client.
 This is the only option I have found that makes the different geosets "hideable" in model editing softwares.
 
I'm going to describe my current modeling process with a little depth, but if you want to cut straight to the case then please scroll down to the ### markings.
 
What I do is I disable all options in the TP HiResModelTool to get a clean obj-convertion to work with in 3ds max 2010, edit the model, export to obj and convert back to M2 with the TP HiResTool.
 My issue is that this doesn't work about 90% of the times.
 
Often, I edit the model-OBJ in 3ds and I can't inject it in the M2 with the HiResModelTool.
 It either freezes upon reading verticles from the obj, or tells me that the OBJ and the M2 differs in numbers of verticles.. in other words, the injection fails and the operation is canceled. (Note: I don't add verticles to the model, it's just bullshit from TP HiResModelTool)
 As when trying to edit the Tauren Male Model, I end up with a funky OBJ-file with random verticles going everywhere in a 3ds chaos. In theese cases, the freshly M2-converted OBJ file cannot get converted back to M2, because the file is messed up.
 
###
 My question is this: What tools are the absolute best ones to use when editing the character models for WoW???
 If theese tools demand a different version of Wow than my current 3.2.2a, then which version should I have to make model-editing to actually work??
 
PLEASE, help me with this!!
 

Note: You might find this post also on ownedcore.com since Ive posted this question there prevously.

[thesixth]

Are there no recommendations regarding tools for model editing?
I've searched all over the net, trying this and that... someone's gotta be able to help me out?

[Vel]

MDLvis: difficulty 5  5.
Features:
*fully Custom animations or modify blizz animations.
*Fully custom geosets (hairstylesbootsgloves e.t.c)


Blender: difficulty 2  5.
Features:
*Fully custom geosets (hairstylesbootsgloves e.t.c)

--
other ways do not know.

[thesixth]

MdlVis doesn't seem to work for me, but I got a few scripts and then blender did...Excelent!
I was kinda hoping to do this in 3ds Max though.
^^
Anyway, you just made my day!

[Steff]

You need to use an 2.4.3 model as source for MDLvis. Dont work with 335.

[Vel]

i have wotlk alpha| wotlk beta, Which are most models of wotlk in tbc m2 format

[phucko1]

If I edited a 2.4.3 model in Mdlvis will it pass convertion properly?

[Vel]

No, need move on "dummy":
1) model info block (in notepad)
2) Sequences (in notepad)
2) geosets (ctrl +c, ctrl +v in mdlvis)
3) bones (in notepad)
4) pivot points (in notepad)
5) bind bones to geosets(by hands in mdlvis)
6) convert
7) ....

[Mjollna]

Oh thx for the tip about the alpha/beta lk models, I didn't pay attention to that... Useful to know

[phucko1]

So exactly what things would I have to edit in notepad?

[Vel]

for example(to mjollna) (see attach)
---
@Pphucko1:

there are too many nuances that briefly write about it. When I made my first custom NPC, I spent 2 weeks to learn to MDL format. It was only later that I was able to successfully convert it.

[Mjollna]

@Vel : Thank you ! I'll have a look at it.

@Phucko1 : there's a tutorial here for mdl editing : viewtopic.php?f=20&t=32
That's the one I used to convert my "base model".

[phucko1]

Mjollna, doesn't help me as I still have no idea of what I should edit. I got TigonMale as mdl from TBC but when I move 1 single vertice the animations stops working.

[thesixth]

Hi everyone!

I could change the Topic Prefix to [SOLVED] since the original question of gravity already is answared, but there's too many related, interresting dialogues going on.

By the way, I have a question:

In Blender I can edit the models, but it's so time consuming. At least with my methods and I do not know Blender very much, but I'll learn as I go.

I use a combination of "H", "alt+H", "shift+H" and the "/" on the numpad to easily switch to "seeing what I'm doing".

I can successfully edit one "object" ámong the geosets, which is very good - but - some are connected. Ex: if I want to edit the back of a character model, I have to edit the back separetly, then edit each of all of the capes separetly to "fit" the new back, so to speak...
This is very disturbing since all the vertexes of ex: both the back and the cape, have their "points" (sorry, don't know the terms) located at the very exact spot. Theese vertexes should be able to be dealt with simultaneously IMO. There's probably a way to do this, question is how??

Is there some way to edit several geosets simultaneously?