[TUTORIAL] [Legion] Converting Models Legion Build 20810

[Nupper]

Blizzard Applied some updates to M2 in Legion Build 20810 or Higher

1.go into one with m2s
2.open it with 010 editor and don't load templates.
3.on the top line you should see MD21 and MD20
Delete stuff Prior to MD20 remmber do not delete MD20 itself

Example:


Should end up with this:


Save

Then use the Converter you normally use.
Recommended Converter:
viewtopic.php?f=59&t=9104

[MR. Farrare]

nice work Nupper

[schlumpf]

Please note that this will break as soon as one no longer knows file names which might happen during Legion beta still. Also, see the wiki for an explanation of what this removed stuff actually does.

[spik96]

Please note that this will break as soon as one no longer knows file names which might happen during Legion beta still. Also, see the wiki for an explanation of what this removed stuff actually does.

You believe this chunking of data is the first step towards the removal of many things in the previous MD20 structure, don't you ?

[schlumpf]

You believe this chunking of data is the first step towards the removal of many things in the previous MD20 structure, don't you ?

No, MD20 is totally fine and will stay. Filenames will be gone soon though, probably. This change is the change required to allow to render models without ever referencing them by filename. The previous alpha build even crashed as death skeletons were no longer referenced by filename and then MD21 files for them weren't pushed yet. There was literally not a single reference to the filename in the client anymore, and this is where the whole thing will progress up until the point where even the filename hash is removed from the manifest. For creature models etc it already can be nulled out with no influence on the client whatsoever.

[spik96]

Filenames will be gone soon though, probably. This change is the change required to allow to render models without ever referencing them by filename.

But then how will the new client works ? I do not see what the mechanisms have become. Or what they were. I mean, there must have been a reason for the name to be added.
Note : to be 100% clear, you are of course talking about the model name in MD20 structure ?

So the problem would be that older clients need a unique name that we won't be able to get from the file itself. And retroporting tools will need to ask for a unique name to the user or generate it in some way.

[schlumpf]

But then how will the new client works ? I do not see what the mechanisms have become. Or what they were. I mean, there must have been a reason for the name to be added.
Note : to be 100% clear, you are of course talking about the model name in MD20 structure ?

So the problem would be that older clients need a unique name that we won't be able to get from the file itself. And retroporting tools will need to ask for a unique name to the user or generate it in some way.

I am talking about all filenames alltogether, not only the name in the MD20 structure. If you actually looked up in the wiki what the chunks you are removing here do, you'd see that the chunks contain file ids, not file names or hashes. Older clients require .skin/.anim files that are named with the same prefix as the model itself. With the removal of filenames, those just don't exist anymore, and tools need to be adapted to work without. I really hope that Blizzard goes the full way of removing the filename hashes as well. That way, there would just not be any way to get back to the original filename and all you'd have is an id that points to a few other ids.

[Nupper]

this is why i don't make Tutorials because someone has always turn it into an arguement.

[Valtorei]

Just a quick question... What program did your link go to as it's broken now? I was using M2Mod to convert Legion M2's and what not, but it consistently claims that my .m2 files are corrupted.