This is a read only copy without any forum functionality of the old Modcraft forum.
If there is anything that you would like to have removed, message me on Discord via Kaev#5208.
Big thanks to Alastor for making this copy!

Menu

Author Topic: [TUTORIAL] Converting Animated Models.  (Read 12606 times)

phucko1

  • Contributors
  • Creator of Worlds
  • *****
  • Posts: 523
    • View Profile
[TUTORIAL] Converting Animated Models.
« on: September 30, 2013, 04:21:06 pm »
Hello, I will explain the process of converting an animated model with the use of Milkshape (MDL Exporter), MDXTOM2 (Lazy), 010 Editor, MDLVIS, Pythonresizer and WC3ModelEditor+ a TBC WoW Model.

First step is ofcourse to download these tools. Which I now have taken my time to link for you lazy people that maybe can't bother to google.

MDL Exporter for Milkshape: http://www.wc3c.net/attachment.php?atta ... 1153288123
MDLVIS English: http://filebeam.com/885ca24eb5bd0a7b103c80008be09c6f
MDXTOM2Lazy: download/file.php?id=192
010 editor: http://www.sweetscape.com/010editor/
PythonResizer: download/file.php?id=233
TBC Model: http://scorpionshare.com/download/1607/Ogre.rar
WC3ModelEditor: http://www.hiveworkshop.com/forums/tool ... tor-62876/

Alright. Once you have these downloaded let us get started.

1. Export your model to Wavefront .OBJ from 3dsmax/Blender/Maya or other 3D Modelling tool you are using.
Import this model into Milkshape 3D and then export it using the MDL Exporter.

Like so:



2. Now your model should be able to open in MDLVIS. If it is not, look at my tutorial for unanimated models for more information on converting OBJ > MDX/MDL. Open your model in MDLVIS, select all vertices and hit F2 to check if the UV-Map is alright.

Like so:



3.  If everything looks okey, simply close this model down and then open the Ogre.m2 model. Save it down as Ogre.MDL.

4. Now open your model again, select all vertices and hit CTRL-C or Edit > Copy.

5. Open the Ogre.MDL and paste your model to this model and then click detach as new geoset.



6. Now delete all the geosets of the ogre model so only you're part is left.

7. Go into Sequence Editor and then delete all the bones of the Ogre model aswell as all the animations.

8. Now make your own skeleton by hitting CTRL-B to make an armature/bone. Remember to attach vertices to bones.

9. You have to build your skeleton in a specific way otherwise it won't work. This picture explains it a little bit but it is not as complicated as the picture looks like.



To explain this in an easier way it works like this: You have to start by making bone 0 = at the bottom. Then bone 1 in the center of your model and the parent of this bone will be bone0. If a parent of a bone has a higher boneid then the childbone it will crash. (For example if Bone10 is the parent of bone 7 it will crash.)

10. When you have your skeleton done you can start making your animations, the only thing I can give you a tip for about this is copy the first frame of the animation to the last frame, otherwise your animations will look weird in-game even if it looks good in MDLVIS.

Now open your model inside the WC3ModelEditor and delete all textures except the one that tells you "Are you sure you wanna delete this texture" same with Materials. Also delete the Camera.

11. Once you've done all these things you can finally use the MDXTOM2 converter, simply drop your model on it and it will give you a m2 and a skin file. Open the model in WoWModelViewer and you will see that all animations are now named "Stand". This will be bad in-game since the game won't know when to do your animations, since they're all listed as stand. To fix this:
Open your model in 010editor and go to the sAnimations section at the bottom and simply change their type of animation to Run, Walk whatever. But you must also change their id in the AnimationLookup_Table.

For example in AnimationLookup Table it will say 0 = 0 and 1 = -1 and -1 for everything else aswell.

0 = Stand animation.
1 = Walk Animation. So you must put the id of your walk animation at the line that says "1"  instead of -1.

12. Use the PythonResizer and your model should be resized to good size and now it should work in-game.
« Last Edit: October 05, 2013, 04:50:22 pm by Admin »

phucko1

  • Contributors
  • Creator of Worlds
  • *****
  • Posts: 523
    • View Profile
Re: [TUTORIAL] Converting Animated Models.
« Reply #1 on: September 30, 2013, 04:21:36 pm »
Delete my old tutorial about this.
« Last Edit: January 01, 1970, 01:00:00 am by Admin »

PhilipTNG

  • Contributors
  • Creator of Worlds
  • *****
  • Posts: 709
    • View Profile
Re: [TUTORIAL] Converting Animated Models.
« Reply #2 on: October 02, 2013, 06:16:20 am »
Love the drawing for the rigging. ^_^, I'm sure many will find this useful.  I'm not near ready to try any of this stuff out yet.. still need to do the basics of simple weapon/helm/shoulder mods first before I step up to this plate. ^_^

Thanks a ton for listing links for all the tools you used in your demonstration. ^^
« Last Edit: January 01, 1970, 01:00:00 am by Admin »

MR. Farrare

  • Registred Member
  • Creator of Worlds
  • *****
  • Posts: 963
    • View Profile
Re: [TUTORIAL] Converting Animated Models.
« Reply #3 on: October 03, 2013, 12:21:15 pm »
Quote from: "phucko1"
Delete my old tutorial about this.
the MDX to M2 crash
« Last Edit: January 01, 1970, 01:00:00 am by Admin »

phucko1

  • Contributors
  • Creator of Worlds
  • *****
  • Posts: 523
    • View Profile
Re: [TUTORIAL] Converting Animated Models.
« Reply #4 on: October 03, 2013, 07:55:33 pm »
Add me on skype "Governor Mod", Raeef.
« Last Edit: January 01, 1970, 01:00:00 am by Admin »

MR. Farrare

  • Registred Member
  • Creator of Worlds
  • *****
  • Posts: 963
    • View Profile
Re: [TUTORIAL] Converting Animated Models.
« Reply #5 on: October 03, 2013, 09:43:03 pm »
Quote from: "phucko1"
Add me on skype "Governor Mod", Raeef.

i dont use skipe often but if i use it i will add you but i use facebook and youtube alot so if you have an account plz tell me and i have a lot cool models from the legend vanel and the converter worked fine but still when i cant morph into it i will give you the models ok plz reply if you have a youtube channel or a facebook and sorry for my english im trying to get better in it like in modding ^^
« Last Edit: January 01, 1970, 01:00:00 am by Admin »

phucko1

  • Contributors
  • Creator of Worlds
  • *****
  • Posts: 523
    • View Profile
Re: [TUTORIAL] Converting Animated Models.
« Reply #6 on: October 03, 2013, 10:49:43 pm »
Did you follow all steps of this tutorial? Couse you have to. (Except for Step 1)

Also Vaanels models have like 180 bones. MDXTOM2 converter supports 60.

And no, I don't have a youtube and I don't feel comfortable giving out my personal facebook profile on Modcraft :P.
« Last Edit: January 01, 1970, 01:00:00 am by Admin »

MR. Farrare

  • Registred Member
  • Creator of Worlds
  • *****
  • Posts: 963
    • View Profile
Re: [TUTORIAL] Converting Animated Models.
« Reply #7 on: October 03, 2013, 11:38:21 pm »
Quote from: "phucko1"
Did you follow all steps of this tutorial? Couse you have to. (Except for Step 1)

Also Vaanels models have like 180 bones. MDXTOM2 converter supports 60.

And no, I don't have a youtube and I don't feel comfortable giving out my personal facebook profile on Modcraft :P.

ok pm me
« Last Edit: January 01, 1970, 01:00:00 am by Admin »

The_Tauren

  • Registred Member
  • Polygonshifter
  • *****
  • Posts: 53
    • View Profile
Re: [TUTORIAL] Converting Animated Models.
« Reply #8 on: June 08, 2014, 06:26:16 pm »
This works with WoW alpha models, yes? The mdxtom2 lazy converter's link isn't working. I'll try google, but could you reupload it?
« Last Edit: January 01, 1970, 01:00:00 am by Admin »

Alastor

  • Contributors
  • Creator of Worlds
  • *****
  • Posts: 1105
    • View Profile
Re: [TUTORIAL] Converting Animated Models.
« Reply #9 on: June 08, 2014, 07:01:57 pm »
Quote from: "The_Tauren"
This works with WoW alpha models, yes? The mdxtom2 lazy converter's link isn't working. I'll try google, but could you reupload it?

here you have Lazy and Clasic MdxtoM2
« Last Edit: January 01, 1970, 01:00:00 am by Admin »
No matter how fast light travels it finds the darkness has always got there first and is waiting for it
Star Citizen Referral Code : STAR-XNFS-HVL9

The_Tauren

  • Registred Member
  • Polygonshifter
  • *****
  • Posts: 53
    • View Profile
Re: [TUTORIAL] Converting Animated Models.
« Reply #10 on: June 08, 2014, 10:25:07 pm »
Thanks!
« Last Edit: January 01, 1970, 01:00:00 am by Admin »

The_Tauren

  • Registred Member
  • Polygonshifter
  • *****
  • Posts: 53
    • View Profile
Re: [TUTORIAL] Converting Animated Models.
« Reply #11 on: June 09, 2014, 09:55:38 pm »
Sigh, noob question, but how come I can't open my .mdx in blender? The first step speaks about exporting the model to wavefront .obj from a 3D modeling tool, but I can't even do that? o.0

Er. After some googling it seems I need to convert the file into a .3ds to make it work. I'll look around and see if I can get answers. I'd appreciate help though! Thanks!

EDIT* On second thought, I don't think this tutorial will help me with what Im' trying to do. I think the .mdx from WC3 and the .mdx from WoW Alpha are too different to be able to convert them both the same way.
« Last Edit: January 01, 1970, 01:00:00 am by Admin »

Alastor

  • Contributors
  • Creator of Worlds
  • *****
  • Posts: 1105
    • View Profile
Re: [TUTORIAL] Converting Animated Models.
« Reply #12 on: June 09, 2014, 11:45:55 pm »
(Blender) --> OBJ/3DS --> MDX --> MDL --> (MDLVIS) --> MDL --> MDX --> M2
« Last Edit: January 01, 1970, 01:00:00 am by Admin »
No matter how fast light travels it finds the darkness has always got there first and is waiting for it
Star Citizen Referral Code : STAR-XNFS-HVL9

The_Tauren

  • Registred Member
  • Polygonshifter
  • *****
  • Posts: 53
    • View Profile
Re: [TUTORIAL] Converting Animated Models.
« Reply #13 on: June 10, 2014, 12:22:18 am »
I have a .mdx though, not a .obj ?
« Last Edit: January 01, 1970, 01:00:00 am by Admin »

Kiun

  • Registred Member
  • Polygonshifter
  • *****
  • Posts: 50
    • View Profile
Re: [TUTORIAL] Converting Animated Models.
« Reply #14 on: July 15, 2014, 12:33:29 am »
Thanks for the tutorial phucko1.

Do you know something about attachments?
I'm trying to add attachments to my custom model but I can't make weapon appear.
« Last Edit: January 01, 1970, 01:00:00 am by Admin »