[TUTORIAL] Import M3 Heroes of the Storm to Blender

[Met@]

Hi guys, someone asked how to import models from HotS to blender, but this 3D software doesn't have a lot of plugins to do it. I'll share with you my researches and how I personally do it for me.

Tools

• CascView
• Blender
• Addons for Blender (links in the section dedicated to this program)
• Heroes of the Storm game folder
• 3DSmax 2012 and up (for the second technique)(if you take a lower version, you'll need an older plugin)
• This addon for 3DSmax

Extract models from the game

First, you need to have the game installed.
Open the Casc Viewer, click on

Game Storage, and select your game folder.


Now, explore the folders and choose the model that you want. In my case I'll take Uther.


Now, right-click (or F5) on it to extract the model.


Choose your folder and save it.

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Direct to Blender

I've searched on the web after some plugins for Blender, but have not managed to make them work. Some are too old, others not compatibles, etc...

The new M3 file format from HotS is a little bit different of M3 files from StarCraft, so SC modders are using a converter to make the models compatible with their tools..

• Heroes M3 To Sc2 M3 Converter

Here's some M3 blender plugins, maybe you'll have more chance than me to make them work :

• This one is 5 years old, so I think it can possibly work with older versions of Blender.
• This second seems more complete and more up to date.
• This last is normally compatible with the 2.71 version.

Sadly, no one was working for me (and I don't have time to test all blender versions with all plugins), so I've chosen the second solution.

To Blender with 3DSmax

3DSmax part

I don't really like this program for now, I have not taken the time to understand all the tools, but I can use it for simple things.

So first, open 3DSmax. Click on the MAXScript pannel and choose Run Script.


In the new window, you'll see the scripts that you can run. You can just drag and drop the M3 addon in this folder, or add it manually in your program folder (in my case " C:Program FilesAutodesk3ds Max 2013scripts " ). And open it.


Go to the right side of your screen, in the tools section. Switch to Utilities and click on MAXScript.


Scroll down to see the new pannel called TM's M3 Import (v2.1) and choose Select file.


Choose your file and open it.


Once your file is selected, check what you want to keep in the model (bones, animations, etc...) and import it.


Now you have your model.


You can export it in *.obj file, click on the Autodesk logo and choose export.


Choose a name and the file format to open in Blender later.

Blender part

Now launch Blender, go to import option and open your file. And here it is ! In my case, I have a blue pill (hitbox). Your *.obj will be like a *.fbx, it will keep all the informations like materials, bones, and animations. Just keep and remove what you want.


And voilà.


After that you can work on the modell as you wish. Let's paint Uther with abdalrahman9's technique. (all the red is the material color, not the weight paint)


And I rework the face to fit well with the human model.

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I hope it was helpful, and good luck.

[Zebraka]

Thanks for the tutorial
I have one question Met@, have models the good size ratio to "work" in WoW ?

[Skarn]

They are quite high poly. The only problem might be that they're made for MOBA games with the view from above. So, they may look a little bit dwarwish (wrong body proportions, very wide and not tall enough) like all the WC3 models. Though, I am not sure.

[Zebraka]

@Skarn yeah i know, that's why i ask ^^

[xJKz]

Thanks, I've downloaded 3DS Max and, I got the obj file.
And, now. A question, the weight paint. How can I do something good ? I've never used the weight paint...

Nice tut by the way.

So, can you do or can you link me a tutorial please ?
Thanks you...

[xeriae]

Wait hold on.... How about animation rigging. I assume you have to do the old way with mdlvis?

[phantomx]

They are quite high poly. The only problem might be that they're made for MOBA games with the view from above. So, they may look a little bit dwarwish (wrong body proportions, very wide and not tall enough) like all the WC3 models. Though, I am not sure.

They look fine in wow I haven't found one that looked "bit dwarwish" even the mounts look fine.

I've even added some to WC3 but that is a top down via how ever you can zoom in and see it looking fine.

[Met@]

Thanks, I've downloaded 3DS Max and, I got the obj file.
And, now. A question, the weight paint. How can I do something good ? I've never used the weight paint...

Nice tut by the way.

So, can you do or can you link me a tutorial please ?
Thanks you...

Wait hold on.... How about animation rigging. I assume you have to do the old way with mdlvis?

I personally use this tutorial => http://modcraft.io/viewtopic.php?f=20&t=9087

I've never did or used weight paint before, so I try some things, I think you can find some good tutorials on youtube.

And for the size and proportion of the models, I don't really know, because I don't finished the transfert.

But it seems the models are good, like phantomx said.

[xeriae]

Thanks, I've downloaded 3DS Max and, I got the obj file.
And, now. A question, the weight paint. How can I do something good ? I've never used the weight paint...

Nice tut by the way.

So, can you do or can you link me a tutorial please ?
Thanks you...

Wait hold on.... How about animation rigging. I assume you have to do the old way with mdlvis?

I personally use this tutorial => http://modcraft.io/viewtopic.php?f=20&t=9087

I've never did or used weight paint before, so I try some things, I think you can find some good tutorials on youtube.

Oh yeah.... that tutorial, I remember it . Anyways. I've failed 3 times already so I'm waiting, hopefully someone comes up with a better way or a vid series since this was like really really hard >.<

[Alastor]

i try to contact flo for example if he can help with that m3 from heroes converted to SC2 format ...

i downloaded 3dsm but ffs i dont  want to convert every single model thru it i will continue in digging way for blender only

[xeriae]

i try to contact flo for example if he can help with that m3 from heroes converted to SC2 format ...

i downloaded 3dsm but ffs i dont  want to convert every single model thru it i will continue in digging way for blender only

It takes like a second to "convert"? I don't see how this is an issue :/

[Alastor]

beacuse model from heroes converted to SC2 isnt working for SC2 blender IO scripts
and since i dont know structure of SC2 m3 i cant tell where is problem but this is not for 1st time when i meet problem about intern problems with structure itself ...

[xeriae]

beacuse model from heroes converted to SC2 isnt working for SC2 blender IO scripts
and since i dont know structure of SC2 m3 i cant tell where is problem but this is not for 1st time when i meet problem about intern problems with structure itself ...

Honestly don't waste your time trying to convert through blender, you'll save a bunch of time doing it through 3ds max then export as fbx. All bones will export so all you really have to do is rename and weight paint. Or I might have mistaken everything and you are trying to do something else... either way

[Alastor]

The point is simple

"GTFO with retarder 3DSM"

i want it directly to blender without detours

[Alastor]

They are quite high poly. The only problem might be that they're made for MOBA games with the view from above. So, they may look a little bit dwarwish (wrong body proportions, very wide and not tall enough) like all the WC3 models. Though, I am not sure.

BTW quality of these characters is only a little bit (rly little bit ) better then quality of HD models converted to LK
models ar same way poly constructer its just the texture is 1024x1024 which is for Wow very optimal