Psychophat's weird way to multi-models with unique skins
for modders: same models with different skins
History notes: Basically I learned this modding stuff the wrong way, I should have just asked and somebody would have just answered me only if I've been patient to wait. But I was eager to play with the skins I've created for each different terrain. And suddenly it hit me, toink* "Look at the Ammo box, Luke" and I got an idea somehow to know how the developers did two ammo's for one gun. Thinking about the logic behind it, both ammo boxes have the same model only that their skins are different. So since I've already extracted the gamedata (follow ShadoWarrior's guide for SFV usage) I've look at the each of the text files and search the name for that ammo.
Question: Why didn't I just searched at the forums on how stuff adding is done?
Answer: Overwhelming eagerness, I scrapped the whole idea of reading over hundreds of post and just followed my logical senses.
Path-finding notes: So I found it in several locations, Hoorah!!! Next step look for light armor . . . chaching! . . . found them. Opened another text file to post in my notes and info and location paths, I opened almost every each one to look for similarities and paths. Found that it all leads to text files under models directory. Proceeded to opening the text file . . . err . . . garbage all over. Good thing my text editor is also a binary/hexadecial editor and while it opened it prompted on what to do with the format, so I left it as it is. So hmmn . . . I thought for awhile . . . there is a path inside this text file but there are lot of garbage in them too . . . think a lot more . . . maybe if I just hex (hexadecimal) the values and left the format as it was the game will just follow the path and won't notice my changes. So following my notes there are lot of .txt files found under the models directory for one armor. Okay gamble . . . lets do this . . . while I prepared to make copies of the original and placed them in a separate directory tree which corresponds to the same locations as they were fetched. I also posted a question on the forums regarding hexing the files under the models directory if a hexidecimal editor would work. Then continued to completing my task to make copies of the following:
The MOD contents
share\configs\units\armour_sr.txt
strategic\configs\stratgame\equipment\equipment.txt
tactical\models\armors\humans\human_light_female.txt
tactical\models\armors\humans\human_light_helmet_female.txt
tactical\models\armors\humans\human_light_helmet_male.txt
tactical\models\armors\humans\human_light_male.txt
tactical\models\armors\humans\human_light_backpack_female.txt
tactical\models\armors\humans\human_light_backpack_male.txt
Note: make copies of the above under tactical models and rename them to whatever except keep the character count as it was. eg: human_light_male.txt to human_light_maxx.txt where xx is a value. Well actually you can rename it to what ever as long as in your "armour_sr.txt" and "equipment.txt" file the filename and path are correct. Or you can follow this for simplicity's sake. I did differently on my mod.
Localization pack (not necessary but req. if you will add info on items)
systems\pack.txt
languageindex.txt
Your custom skins
tactical\textures\units\humans\bag_human_light.dds
tactical\textures\units\humans\lightsoldier.dds
Note: when you add your skins do rename them to match what you have hexed on the .txt files under the models directory. eg: bag_human_light.dds and lightsoldier.dds to bag_human_lflec.dds and lflecsoldier.dds, with this you've have just made your link to your custom skins.
Question: How did you know which files to copy?
Answer: I didn't actually I just followed the notes I have, there are paths under the data on the armor it keeps pointing to some text file under models directory, but some are named none or effect or something which my senses tell me nah, looked back at notes sometextfile.txt file under models which I opened keeps pointing to the .DDS file, ahah* follow the .DDS this is the one. Since I already know that .DDS is the Direct Draw format of my skins and skinning the added armors was my objective.
continuing on: I was prepared all files have been copied, went back to working on my skin templates some more. Then check the forum for response alas one has responded, rman. He said that some prog. can view them, wow cool . . . tried it . . . just my luck I wont run however I try. Still rman said "Of course, old-fashioned hex-editing also works" hah* I knew it hexing always is the best way to cheat things. Heheheheh . . . posted some more on the forum regarding my problem with the modelviewer. As I was trying to make the modelviewer work I already started on my notes again that if change I this and then what else. Okay I got almost everything pretty much covered inside those binary text files.
Compiling...
...done
...testing, geezus what did I not do? I covered mostly everything even the item info part. Looked at forums again ah "ShadoWarrior's Guide to Modding AS for Beginners" good, I'll read it again okay no help. Downloaded ShadoWarrior's mod extracted it and then compared hmmn . . . I think I got everything right which I did actually hmmn . . . what the . . . sweetgeezus . . . why? Checked up on the forum again, OH* a new topic . . . whats this drake88's "Adding a new weapon" too much data . . . so many unknown data was talked there, I'm not a coder, yet . . . chaching*, array value, remembered my php about arrays . . . oh my gosh, neglected that one. Adjusted the value on "armour_sr.txt" and "equipment.txt" found that there wasn't an array count on "pack.txt" posted this problem for I might have accidentally removed it or something when I was copy and pasting to my notes.
Compiling...
...done
...testing, heheheh . . . I knew it I was right to "follow the dark side eeps, I mean the path to the .DDS files". It worked I have several armors now and they have skins in them too which matches the skins I've already done for the light armor. Now I have them working even on my custom weapons which the only difference was the skin so that it'll match in-game with my skins for any terrain mission I go to.
Conclusion: If your are lost from at any point in my weird guide kindly post at our project topic for your problem and I will try my best to guide you . . . Heheheh heh . . . the psychoway that is. Also you can download a working sample of my mod by clicking here. I didn't include all of the armor skins and weapon skins in this thou, but eventually you'll understand which and what are needed to be modified.