All programs needed for modeling and skinning here

All programs needed for modeling and skinning here

Greetings. Due to the continued ignoring of posted stickies, I will repost my modeling program guide.

Here is a list and link for every program needed for effective modeling and skinning.

For modeling, you will first need the Warcraft 3 Art tools. In there is the important plug-ins and import and export scripts for certain 3d programs and a pre-knowlegde-needed walkthough. This site, and Warcraft III Campaigns has more user-freindly walkthroughs available.

Next you will need a 3D modeling program. Discreet (now Autodesk) 3DS Max 4.0 and 5.0 are the preffered programs, since those were the ones that were used to build the original Blizzard models, and are the most and easily compatable with the art tools. However, those are older versions (3ds max is now at 7.0, which WILL NOT WORK with the art tools) you can try visiting Discreet's 3d max site and contact them about resellers to get the older versions. You can probably get versions 4/5 for cheaper then 7.0. If you do get max, and want to import models from other games to work on. there is a compprehensive plug in site here

Other modeling programs used are Milkshape and Gmax(which is no longer free) and Blender, although those are much more difficult, I hear, with importing, exporting, and anim making.

After a model is made, it will be in .mdx file format. Models will be needed to be converted to .mdl (which can be read with wordpad) for tuning and certain types of editing (such as assigning skins, ect). The mdx/mdl file converter can be found here.

Now for skinning programs. First, any imaging program that can convert files to and from .tga (targa) format is needed. Adobe Photoshop, and Paint Shop Pro, are popular choices because not only can they do that, but they are great art and imaging programs as well, which is ideal for skinning. DO NOT MAKE SKINS WITH MS PAINT! You WILL need a decent quality art program for skin making.

Editing existing models:

Oinkerwinkle's Tools are a great substitute for major modeling programs, and are free as well. But, they are only for editing existing models. Such tools include vertex modifiers, geoset mergers and animation transfer programs.

When you want to edit an existing model, you will need to extract the model from wc3's mpq archive. This can be done easily with War3Viewer since it has a built-in mpq extractor. If that program doesnt work, you can do it the old fashioned way with WinMPQ.

Skins will need to be in .blp format in order to be read by warcraft. A program will be needed to convert images from .tga (must be a 32 bit .tga) to .blp format. War3Viewer can do this.

Thats it in a nutshell. Mods, if any more peeps ask about programs for modeling and skinning, just link them to this.
-VGsatomi

EDIT: Oh, one more thing. If you are one of those "But I dont wanna pay money" kind of people, then that's when I bring in my old saying: "You get what you pay for. You don't pay anything, you don't g...." Well, I'm sure you can figure out the rest of that for yourself.

EDIT by DDNGW: new model editor availible if your a do-it-yourself-er regarding geomerges/model converting. great program btw.

GMAX is no longer available... However if u need I could provide u with working link to gmax but I think it will be illegal...

Models

AAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I have all MACINTOSH computers. No modeling for me!!!!!!!!!!

I will have Vectorworks 12 probably today...costs $2500...with Renderworks...only $1000 cause I'm upgrading from old version...only reason I'm getting it because I have a large farm and have an ariel photo of it which I map roads and stuff on...also have it for building houses. I'm sure nobody has ever even thought of using this for modeling, probably not even heard of it either...but just in case, do you think there is any possible way of making models with this (I think I can make models, but the only animations are by making a Quicktime movie which won't work for modeling) and then having someone else do the animatons

PEONMASTER

Try to find some exporter like obj or something and send someone to animate it

Re: All programs needed for modeling and skinning here

VGsatomi
Next you will need a 3D modeling program. Discreet (now Autodesk) 3DS Max 4.0 and 5.0 are the preffered programs, since those were the ones that were used to build the original Blizzard models, and are the most and easily compatable with the art tools. However, those are older versions (3ds max is now at 7.0, which WILL NOT WORK with the art tools) you can try visiting Discreet's 3d max site and contact them about resellers to get the older versions. You can probably get versions 4/5 for cheaper then 7.0. If you do get max, and want to import models from other games to work on. there is a compprehensive plug in site here

Where do I find these? Milkshape is to complicated -.-
It would probaly be easier with these im hoping...

admin VGsatomi... do I still need the Warcraft 3 Art Tools after I downloaded the "new model editor"?

Nope, you dont. it's a completely independent program.

i have the new modeler but no matter how much i try to import my models they show in the modeler but are invisible in the game, plz help!!!!!

Okay i am only interested in animating existing models, so i need 3dsmax for that ? I only got version 7, so this will work or not ?

Seven's nigh-useless

You want 5 or 4 for animation, or Milkshape

Okay i got milkshape, but the art tools only work with 3dmax 4, which i dont have, so how do i convert the mdx files to files that milkshape can read ?

There's a Milkshape exporter out there somewhere

I suggest question RDZ firstly, he's very skilled in Milkshape

He hovers around here from time to time. Check around in the model forums for a Milkshape topic recently, he had a fair few posts there

Okay, i was told that anmiated existing modles isnt possible with milkshape, and since my 3dsma7 version is my friends i cant change it against a 4 or 5. Mhhh so all thats left to do is starting a request ?Im sure that the animators only take the requests of those comunity members who have much influence and not the one of a lil noob like me.

Nah, they only take the requests they're interested in

Hey, where can i find 3ds max 4/5? i have only 7,6 and not working 4...