| | [Tools] Useful software for modders |  This thread is  pages long:  1 2 3 4 · NEXT» | 
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| VokialBG 
  
      
       Honorable
 Legendary Hero
 First in line
 
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|  posted January 05, 2008 10:40 AM |  | Edited by VokialBG at 12:00, 28 Dec 2008. |  
 
| [Tools] Useful software for modders 
 
  
 As you see by reading the title, this thread is created for software, used by modder for creating different modification in - textures, scripts... etc. The thread aim to be software list, where modds give links (screens, descriptions...) of the programs they like and use in practice.
 
 I'll classify your suggestion for the list in different categories - image and texture, icon, script editing (I'll add more if needed).
 
 Finally we'll have useful list useful for newcomer in modding and for every one who want to try something new.
 
 Notes for the list:
 
 - Only freeware and OP software (shareware & Co. only if they are very special and/or common)
 - No cracks and software keys (Its not only unhonestly and to correctly, but also its in contradiction with the CoC's)
 - Do not blame the modders if a programs from this list have virus, scan everything with anti-virus when download (not everything is uploaded on own server so...)
 - When you suggest new program for the list its obligatory to post download link, name (of course) and simple description (what is the caregory for your program, why you like it, something specific)
 Its best (but optional) if you post screen, and authors web.
 
 Post here your favourite programs
  
 Textures (.DDS), Other Images and Icons (.Ico)
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 Adobe Photoshop Plug-ins
 
 authors:  nVidia
 Size: 4200 KB
 Download
 
 
   Plug-in needed my Photoshop users for editing .DDS 
 DDScv 1.11
 authors: Bluehair
 Size: 493.6 KB
 Download
 
 
   The program convert ".DDS" texture files into way more popular file formats (".bmp") 
 DXTBmp 4.00.84
 
 author: MW Graphics
 Size: 938 KB
 Download
 Screen
 
 
   Very simple program for .DDS converding, good for fast alpha exporting. 
 GIMP 2.4.2
 
 author:  The GIMP Team
 Size:  14824 KB
 Download
 Screen
 
 
   The free Photoshop, great program for image editing. 
 Paint.net
 
 author: Warren Paint & Color Co.
 size:  85KB
 Download
 Screen
 
 
   Free image and photo editing software 
 Windows Texture Viewer
 
 author: nVidia
 size:  85KB
 Download
 Screen
 
 
   Simple DDS Viewer. 
 IconCool Editor 5.64 (!Shareware!)
 
 author:  Newera Software Technology Inc
 Size:  13370 KB
 Download
 Screen
 
 
   One of the best .ICO editors 
 3D
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 Granny Viewer
 
 author: RAD technology
 Size: 2048 KB
 Download
 Screen
 
 
   3D Models and Skeletons viewer. 
 Sounds (+ Music themes)
 __________________________________________
 
 Audacity 1.2.6
 
 author: Rare Ideas, LLC
 Size: 2345 KB
 Download
 Screen
 
 
   Free, open source software for recording and editing sounds. 
 Script editors (.XDB, .TXT...)
 __________________________________________
 
 [1] Kudaz v2.1.0.1
 
 author: Suzuki
 Size: 1352 KB
 Download
 
 
   Easy to use and very light script editor. (Have no colours for text) 
 Archivers
 __________________________________________
 
 7-Zip 4.57
 
 author: Igor Pavlov
 Size: 840 KB
 Download (More localizations and versions for Linux here)
 Screen
 
   OP archiver.  (used for opening the data.pak) 
 WinRAR 3.71
 
 author: RARLAB
 Size: 1178 KB
 Download (See for localizations here)
 
 
   The most common archiver. (used for opening the data.pak) 
 Hex editors
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 Artmoney SE
 
 author: System SoftLab
 Size: 250 KB
 Download
 Screen
 
 
   Game cheating software, but it is good in-memory hex editor with system of filters. 
 Hiew 7.47
 
 author: Eugene Suslikov
 Size: 160 KB
 Download
 Screen
 
 
   Hex editor (for .exe, .dll edits) 
 Resource Hacker 3.4.0
 
 author: Angus Johnson
 Size: 541 KB
 Download (For localizations click here)
 Screen
 
 
   Nice and easy editor for .dll edits and icon swaping. 
 Others
 __________________________________________
 
 Power Calculator
 
 authors: Alcibiades & TSoD
 Size: 30 KB
 Download
 Screen
 
 
   Spreadsheet for calculating creature power. More info here. 
 
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| magnomagus 
  
       
       Admirable
 Legendary Hero
 modding wizard
 
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|  posted January 05, 2008 02:01 PM |  |  |  
 
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| GenieLord 
  
      
       Honorable
 Legendary Hero
 
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|  posted January 08, 2008 01:01 PM |  |  |  
 
| An excellent list!  Very useful for beginner modders. I have almost all these programs on my computer, and it would be almost impossible modding without them...
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| Wulfstan8182 
  
   
     Famous Hero
 , eh?
 
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|  posted January 10, 2008 04:40 AM |  |  |  
 
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| fiur 
  
    
      Promising
 Supreme Hero
 Map Creator
 
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|  posted January 10, 2008 06:28 AM |  |  |  
 
| well I was "tweaking" around with winzip/winrar just a little tonight and this is what I found....
 if you wil create an new name.h5u file you must use winzip  (to get the correct "file" codec.......
 after you have created that file then you can use winrar from now on to modify that file.....
 and another thing I've tried with diff. compression modes
 first I created an file with no compression... (file size app.1.1MB)
 then I used compression mode:fastest and wow the file size now 347kB.
 okay then I started the game and the texture had the exact same quality.....
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| Gnoll_Mage 
  
     
      Responsible
 Supreme Hero
 
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|  posted January 10, 2008 01:25 PM |  |  |  
 
| The compression ratio of the zip does not affect the quality of the files inside it. Zipping is lossless i.e. it preserves all the data. The process whereby it does this but still makes the files smaller is quite interesting. The game unzips the resources in memory so that it can use them (I would assume) - the compression ratio would make this step slightly slower, but that ought to be all.   ____________
 
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| Wulfstan8182 
  
   
     Famous Hero
 , eh?
 
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|  posted January 13, 2008 09:43 PM |  |  |  
 
| about the granny viewer, what exactly does it view? geometries?   ____________
 
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| VokialBG 
  
      
       Honorable
 Legendary Hero
 First in line
 
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|  posted January 13, 2008 10:06 PM |  | Edited by VokialBG at 22:07, 13 Jan 2008. |  
 
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| Gnoll_Mage 
  
     
      Responsible
 Supreme Hero
 
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|  posted January 13, 2008 11:40 PM |  |  |  
 
| Yes, Granny can view skeletons and animations for those skeletons too. As said in Vokial's link, in the skeleton menu you can press "Show joins" or something, "Show joint names", "Show bone connectors" etc.. Because Nival use their own format for geometries and aigeometries, the viewer doesn't read them. To remind people, if you want to view geometries you need the mesh2wrl program (link?). However, only skeleton viewing is actually useful really. ____________
 
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| Wulfstan8182 
  
   
     Famous Hero
 , eh?
 
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|  posted January 14, 2008 12:14 AM |  |  |  
 
| Nival is retarted. first, they mix up the DDS files so it's impossible to find anything, then, they make effects soooooo complicated, and now, they use their own file format for geometries. that's smart. They really made it hard for modders to have fun.   ____________
 
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| sith_of_ziost 
  
    
      Promising
 Supreme Hero
 Scouting the Multiverse
 
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|  posted January 14, 2008 02:46 AM |  |  |  
 
| It just takes a trained mole to find all the files, and I consider myself a pretty good finder. But, I agree Nival is starting to get...stingy. ____________
 Steel Yourself for War
 
 Next Set: Mirrodin
 Beseiged
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| Landsknecht 
  
   
   Adventuring Hero
 Askin' for war :p and payments
 
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|  posted January 15, 2008 02:35 PM |  |  |  
 
| mm. Nival released tools to view character models. 
 but
 1. WHICH programs do we use to create creature models. make animation sequences? ... or anything neccessary to "shape" new units, buildings, and settlements?
 3D studo max? or else?
 which versions?
 2. How do i add new units, city, and factions? gimme links if it's gonna be long long long.
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| Cepheus 
  
      
       Honorable
 Legendary Hero
 Far-flung Keeper
 
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|  posted January 15, 2008 02:37 PM |  |  |  
 
| That's the problem... you can't.  Even if you do create a .ma file (models / animations) you can't put it into the game, there's a converter or something you need which only Nival possesses. ____________
 "Those who forget their history are inevitably doomed to repeat it." —Proverb, Might and Magic VIII
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| Landsknecht 
  
   
   Adventuring Hero
 Askin' for war :p and payments
 
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|  posted January 15, 2008 02:59 PM |  |  |  
 
| And NIVAL didn't release it as yet? |  
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| Wulfstan8182 
  
   
     Famous Hero
 , eh?
 
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|  posted January 15, 2008 11:54 PM |  |  |  
 
| yeah, Nival made their own format for the geometries, which is really gay. but about animations, there is a tutorial on making them, take a look in the QP awarded threads in Modders Workshop. and there is a New Creatures framework which allows you to add 130 more creatures. just browse through the forum, it won't be very far away. hope that helped.   ____________
 
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| Gnoll_Mage 
  
     
      Responsible
 Supreme Hero
 
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|  posted January 16, 2008 12:14 AM |  |  |  
 
| I don't think we can make new animations can we? 
 Edit: Actually I take that back. We can add new animations and skeletons into the game. But that's not a lot of use.
 
 Don't forget, Ubisoft is talking to Nival about the possibility of adding in completely new creatures. Well, so they say anyway.
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| Wulfstan8182 
  
   
     Famous Hero
 , eh?
 
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|  posted January 16, 2008 12:27 AM |  |  |  
 
| are you saying they are going to make yet another addon?   ____________
 
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| Gnoll_Mage 
  
     
      Responsible
 Supreme Hero
 
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|  posted January 16, 2008 12:52 AM |  |  |  
 
| Heh, doubt that very much. Which is why I doubt that they will formalise addition of new creatures to the game, because it would mean releasing a whole new exe and stuff, which they won't do imho. ____________
 
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| Wulfstan8182 
  
   
     Famous Hero
 , eh?
 
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|  posted January 16, 2008 01:40 AM |  |  |  
 
| yeah, but they might aswell make it downloadable. the file would be too big tho. it would still be small compared to some of the downloadable MMORPGs on the web tho. ____________
 
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| landsknecht 
  
   
   Adventuring Hero
 Askin' for war :p and payments
 
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|  posted January 16, 2008 01:45 PM |  |  |  
 
| Quote:yeah, Nival made their own format for the geometries, which is really gay. but about animations, there is a tutorial on making them, take a look in the QP awarded threads in Modders Workshop. and there is a New Creatures framework which allows you to add 130 more creatures. just browse through the forum, it won't be very far away. hope that helped.
  
 
 ngewwwwwwwww!
 i still don't understand what creature framework is?
 
 putting components of A creature with B and C and D creatures to create E creatures?
 
 or what??
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