The Workshed

[Alan The Magic Goose 14]

Or would it work to do it the other way around and change the model name to P_VisasBB?
Or am I going to need to re-export either way?

[Kexikus 995]

No it wouldn't. As you'd replace the vanilla P_VisasBB model in that case and you want to keep it for the animations. So your model needs a unique and new name.

[DarthParametric 3,784]

The AuroraBase was already named correctly, VisasAssassin. You just failed to properly rename the original P_VisasBB binary model (and also had a wrong filename on the ASCII, but MDLOps doesn't care about that).

[Guest Qui-Gon Glenn]

Beautiful Whitney Houston references!

 

 

Nice model/skin too!

[Alan The Magic Goose 14]

Okay so I'm confused. What's the next step from here? I do appreciate all the help. Sorry,  I'm a slow learner. Haha

[JCarter426 1,215]

The Model Name™ is what the Aurora/Odyssey Base is named in 3ds. Whenever you compile with MDLOps, it looks for that, regardless of what you name your ASCII file. So in this case, VisasAssassin.

 

When you run MDLOps to convert ASCII to binary, it looks up your ASCII's model name and then tries to find a binary MDL & MDX with the same name. So it can copy missing data over as previously mentioned. So you need a binary MDL & MDX with that name. That's the only time it cares about file names. You can name the ASCII to whatever you feel like.

 

So, if your model name is VisasAssassin, to compile it you need:

• An ASCII named whatever you feel like. I usually go for a scheme like VisasAssassin-ascii_v1.
• VisasAssassin.mdl (renamed from the game's P_VisasBB.mdl)
• VisasAssassin.mdx (renamed from the game's P_VisasBB.mdx)

Also, I believe the ASCII file extension has to be .mdl for MDLOps. I've had it hang up on .ascii files.

[Alan The Magic Goose 14]

lol it seems even after properly naming everything I can't get it to work properly. I'm a failure, guys. Haha

[sELFiNDUCEDcOMA 98]

lol it seems even after properly naming everything I can't get it to work properly. I'm a failure, guys. Haha

 

 

Welcome to the world of KotOR series modding, where the tools and pipeline is dated and incomplete, simple changes have overly complicated workflows if not being impossible to do, and most of the technical knowledge about the game model format and how to effectively use these tools, largely resides in the heads of a few modders  .

 

But I'm sure that the problem can be resolved, as it is nothing that hasn't been managed before and your getting some experienced and insightful help.

 

The work looks good so far; definitely consider reworking the Visas head texture to better match the new threads.

[DarthParametric 3,784]

 

 

[Alan The Magic Goose 14]

Yeah, I'm still having the same problem. Even after properly renaming.
I'm wondering if I'm doing something else wrong or if my exported metadata is somehow making the load of the ASCII hang in MDLOps.
But upon further inspection, it's hanging on every read and write. Is there an option that I screwed up?

Someone also said to try a new head so this is the concept for it. It ended up coming out really European when I wanted more half Asian.
:|

I do like the messy bob although a more clean look would be easier to model.

Sorry for the late update, I've been sick since Yesterday so I'm just working on this when I can. But I appreciate all the help. When I do figure this out, I'm going to throw you guys credit on the actual mod.
You guys are the best.

[DarthParametric 3,784]

Yeah, I'm still having the same problem. Even after properly renaming.

I'm wondering if I'm doing something else wrong or if my exported metadata is somehow making the load of the ASCII hang in MDLOps.

But upon further inspection, it's hanging on every read and write. Is there an option that I screwed up?

I used the ASCII you posted earlier in the example above. You are using the original binary copy of P_VisasBB on your end, right?

[Alan The Magic Goose 14]

Yeah. I had a separate folder set aside just for that purpose. Do you think if I re-extract with KOTOR Tools that would fix it?

[sELFiNDUCEDcOMA 98]

Yeah, I'm still having the same problem. Even after properly renaming.

I'm wondering if I'm doing something else wrong or if my exported metadata is somehow making the load of the ASCII hang in MDLOps.

But upon further inspection, it's hanging on every read and write. Is there an option that I screwed up?

Someone also said to try a new head so this is the concept for it. It ended up coming out really European when I wanted more half Asian.

:|

 

I do like the messy bob although a more clean look would be easier to model.

 

Sorry for the late update, I've been sick since Yesterday so I'm just working on this when I can. But I appreciate all the help. When I do figure this out, I'm going to throw you guys credit on the actual mod.

You guys are the best.

 

A new head would definitely work better with the new body, and I do like the above design. However, creating a new head is even more a complicated workflow to creating a new body. You may be better off finding an existing head that matches the above, and then modifying that one with a new texture in order to replace the existing one. Someone else who has done it can speak from experience as to what is possible and how difficult it is to clarify.

 

On a side note "The Miraluka were are a near-Human species that differed from Humans in that they lacked eyes, only retaining vestigial eye sockets." From: starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Miraluka

 

Personally I don't like the no eyes or only eye sockets look. And would be perfectly fine with her having eyes that don't look like they actually see anymore. White pearly orbs for a non-dark sided character, off-white -- like grey rotting teeth -- for a dark side character. But, I raise the point as someone likely will as it wouldn't strictly be SW Legends "lore."

[DarthParametric 3,784]

Yeah. I had a separate folder set aside just for that purpose. Do you think if I re-extract with KOTOR Tools that would fix it?

Presumably you derived the base model you rigged to by decompiling the vanilla model, so I can't see that being the problem. And as such you can obviously decompile, which should notionally rule out a problem running MDLOps. You didn't change the ASCII? You have hide extensions turned off in Windows Explorer so you can be sure the filenames are right?

[DeadMan 103]

Yeah, I'm still having the same problem. Even after properly renaming.

I'm wondering if I'm doing something else wrong or if my exported metadata is somehow making the load of the ASCII hang in MDLOps.

But upon further inspection, it's hanging on every read and write. Is there an option that I screwed up?

Maybe something is wrong with file path? In my experience, MDLOps HATES spaces and non-English characters in file paths.

[Alan The Magic Goose 14]

Double checked the file names, File paths and everything. Haha. I have no idea what I did wrong here. Haha

[JCarter426 1,215]

I think you'll have to rename VisasAssassin.ascii.mdl to VisasAssassin-ascii.mdl or such. MDLOps was hanging up on me for the same reason. It wasn't liking any other dots.

[DarthParametric 3,784]

It would also be wise to utilise a folder outside the OS drive. It's unlikely to be related in this instance, but Windows is extremely pissy about permissions, especially in Windows 10 with the nerfing of admin privileges.

[Alan The Magic Goose 14]

Sorry guys, it appears that I'm at an impasse. After following all the directions you guys have shared, I still can't get passed the loading step.
I don't know what's wrong. I even double checked permissions and ran everything as administrator.

I'm sorry. This is equally frustrating for me as I'm sure it must be for you guys. I wouldn't be surprised if it is a Windows 10 issue. But I'm going to keep plugging away until I find a solution that works.

Thanks for your patience.

[DarthParametric 3,784]

I compiled it on Windows 10, so that shouldn't be the issue (in theory). I can just give you the one I compiled, but of course that doesn't solve your root issue.

[Sith Holocron 2,478]

 

 

Someone also said to try a new head so this is the concept for it. It ended up coming out really European when I wanted more half Asian.

:|

 

I do like the messy bob although a more clean look would be easier to model.

Making a new head is going to present it's own unique challenges but if you're going forward with that, I hope you'll not mind a few thoughts presented for your consideration.

 

I like the design - but as SiC mentioned might be brought up - there's something to be considered about the eyes.  So I thought I might mention a few options which you could consider.  (I will point out beforehand that if you decide to ignore these, I think going with your original option is cool as well.)

 

1) The Miraluka lack eyesockets

 

In the comic Unseen, Unheard,  we get to see Visas before and after her wounding by Nihilus.

 

 

 

This is before Katarr is totally wiped clean of life.

 

And here she is, after her wounding aboard the Ravager.

 

So there's that to keep in mind, for the canon obsessed.

 

2) Going a different way - by sticking closer to reality

 

Had you considered basing the model on the actual voice actress? Kelly Hu would be natural place to begin . . .

 

 

Or if you prefer to see view in color . . .

 

 

However, I'm enjoying seeing what you're coming up with. Best of luck!

[N-DReW25 1,336]

I'm just going to leave this here- http://deadlystream.com/forum/files/file/101-visas-unmasked/

 

Might come in useful if you get permission.

[Alan The Magic Goose 14]

I compiled it on Windows 10, so that shouldn't be the issue (in theory). I can just give you the one I compiled, but of course that doesn't solve your root issue.

I'd hate to ask, but if you could just so we could move on I'd be eternally grateful.

I'll still work on it. Maybe it's exclusively on my end. I have had a series of complications with Windows 10 not completing certain tasks but they're rare and it's hard to tell what's a Windows 10 issue and what's a software issue.

But if I do find the solution I'll be sure to post it here.

 

And as much as I love the sockets look, I would have a hard time making that look decent. Especially considering that she's a romance option. I think that that's one of the unholy trinity of features that makes something look truly inhuman in the negative sense.

 

Maybe we can compromise, however, perhaps a regal cloth that goes around the eyes? Additionally if I were to edit an existing head mesh, it would likely end up looking more like:

 

I do think the OV actress is fine, but I think I'm feeling inspired on this one.

And hopefully, this isn't coming off as an Asian fetishization. But I see the Miraluka culture as something similar to Eastern Asian cultures (historically not contemporarily speaking).

But as a more literal representation of the spiritual aspect of Eastern Asian Buddhist traditions.

 

I also considered an Indian look but ultimately concluded that Asian just makes more sense.

After this set is finished I'd open up a discussion on the rest of the ladies of the EbonHawk. (Except for Kreia. She's perfect.)

 

[DarthParametric 3,784]

And as much as I love the sockets look, I would have a hard time making that look decent. Especially considering that she's a romance option.

That's why Obsidian put a bag over her head.

[Guest]

Say what you will but I think she looks gorgeous in that last comic panel.