Heroes of Might and Magic Community
visiting hero! Register | Today's Posts | Games | Search! | FAQ/Rules | AvatarList | MemberList | Profile


Age of Heroes Headlines:  
5 Oct 2016: Heroes VII development comes to an end.. - read more
6 Aug 2016: Troubled Heroes VII Expansion Release - read more
26 Apr 2016: Heroes VII XPack - Trial by Fire - Coming out in June! - read more
17 Apr 2016: Global Alternative Creatures MOD for H7 after 1.8 Patch! - read more
7 Mar 2016: Romero launches a Piano Sonata Album Kickstarter! - read more
19 Feb 2016: Heroes 5.5 RC6, Heroes VII patch 1.7 are out! - read more
13 Jan 2016: Horn of the Abyss 1.4 Available for Download! - read more
17 Dec 2015: Heroes 5.5 update, 1.6 out for H7 - read more
23 Nov 2015: H7 1.4 & 1.5 patches Released - read more
31 Oct 2015: First H7 patches are out, End of DoC development - read more
5 Oct 2016: Heroes VII development comes to an end.. - read more
[X] Remove Ads
LOGIN:     Username:     Password:         [ Register ]
HOMM1: info forum | HOMM2: info forum | HOMM3: info mods forum | HOMM4: info CTG forum | HOMM5: info mods forum | MMH6: wiki forum | MMH7: wiki forum
Heroes Community > Heroes 5 - Modders Workshop > Thread: [Tools] Useful software for modders
Thread: [Tools] Useful software for modders This thread is 4 pages long: 1 2 3 4 · NEXT»
VokialBG
VokialBG


Honorable
Legendary Hero
First in line
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)
__________________________________________

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
__________________________________________

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
__________________________________________

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.


------------------
____________

 Send Instant Message | Send E-Mail | View Profile | PP | Quote Reply | Link
magnomagus
magnomagus


Admirable
Legendary Hero
modding wizard
posted January 05, 2008 02:01 PM

For sounds you may want to add: audacity and ogg vorbis
____________
MMH5.5 Downloads | MMH5.5 Translations | MMH5.5 FAQ

 Send Instant Message | Send E-Mail | View Profile | Quote Reply | Link
GenieLord
GenieLord


Honorable
Legendary Hero
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...

 Send Instant Message | Send E-Mail | View Profile | Quote Reply | Link
Wulfstan8182
Wulfstan8182


Famous Hero
, eh?
posted January 10, 2008 04:40 AM

cool! QP!
____________

 Send Instant Message | Send E-Mail | View Profile | Quote Reply | Link
fiur
fiur


Promising
Supreme Hero
Map Creator
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.....  
____________

 Send Instant Message | Send E-Mail | View Profile | Quote Reply | Link
Gnoll_Mage
Gnoll_Mage


Responsible
Supreme Hero
posted January 10, 2008 01:25 PM
Edited by Gnoll_Mage at 13:26, 10 Jan 2008.

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.
____________

 Send Instant Message | Send E-Mail | View Profile | Quote Reply | Link
Wulfstan8182
Wulfstan8182


Famous Hero
, eh?
posted January 13, 2008 09:43 PM

about the granny viewer, what exactly does it view? geometries?
____________

 Send Instant Message | Send E-Mail | View Profile | Quote Reply | Link
VokialBG
VokialBG


Honorable
Legendary Hero
First in line
posted January 13, 2008 10:06 PM
Edited by VokialBG at 22:07, 13 Jan 2008.

It allows to view the skeletons, more info in Nelgiriths post here
____________

 Send Instant Message | Send E-Mail | View Profile | PP | Quote Reply | Link
Gnoll_Mage
Gnoll_Mage


Responsible
Supreme Hero
posted January 13, 2008 11:40 PM
Edited by Gnoll_Mage at 23:41, 13 Jan 2008.

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.
____________

 Send Instant Message | Send E-Mail | View Profile | Quote Reply | Link
Wulfstan8182
Wulfstan8182


Famous Hero
, eh?
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.
____________

 Send Instant Message | Send E-Mail | View Profile | Quote Reply | Link
sith_of_ziost
sith_of_ziost


Promising
Supreme Hero
Scouting the Multiverse
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

 Send Instant Message | Send E-Mail | View Profile | PP | Quote Reply | Link
Landsknecht
Landsknecht


Adventuring Hero
Askin' for war :p and payments
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.

 Send Instant Message | Send E-Mail | View Profile | Quote Reply | Link
Cepheus
Cepheus


Honorable
Legendary Hero
Far-flung Keeper
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

 Send Instant Message | Send E-Mail | View Profile | Quote Reply | Link
Landsknecht
Landsknecht


Adventuring Hero
Askin' for war :p and payments
posted January 15, 2008 02:59 PM

And NIVAL didn't release it as yet?

 Send Instant Message | Send E-Mail | View Profile | Quote Reply | Link
Wulfstan8182
Wulfstan8182


Famous Hero
, eh?
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.
____________

 Send Instant Message | Send E-Mail | View Profile | Quote Reply | Link
Gnoll_Mage
Gnoll_Mage


Responsible
Supreme Hero
posted January 16, 2008 12:14 AM
Edited by Gnoll_Mage at 00:17, 16 Jan 2008.

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.
____________

 Send Instant Message | Send E-Mail | View Profile | Quote Reply | Link
Wulfstan8182
Wulfstan8182


Famous Hero
, eh?
posted January 16, 2008 12:27 AM

are you saying they are going to make yet another addon?
____________

 Send Instant Message | Send E-Mail | View Profile | Quote Reply | Link
Gnoll_Mage
Gnoll_Mage


Responsible
Supreme Hero
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.
____________

 Send Instant Message | Send E-Mail | View Profile | Quote Reply | Link
Wulfstan8182
Wulfstan8182


Famous Hero
, eh?
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.
____________

 Send Instant Message | Send E-Mail | View Profile | Quote Reply | Link
landsknecht
landsknecht


Adventuring Hero
Askin' for war :p and payments
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??

 Send Instant Message | Send E-Mail | View Profile | Quote Reply | Link
Jump To: « Prev Thread . . . Next Thread » This thread is 4 pages long: 1 2 3 4 · NEXT»
Post New Poll    Post New Topic    Post New Reply

Page compiled in 0.0727 seconds