<link>https://www.loverslab.com/blogs/blog/2245-skyrims-animation-shenanigans/</link><description><![CDATA[<p> Been dabbling in making animations for Skyrim, and the information on how to do that is few and far between. Let's do something about it. </p> ]]></description><language>en</language><item><title>Rigs update for 2024.1https://www.loverslab.com/blogs/entry/21151-rigs-update-for-20241/ I've updated my Cascadeur to 2024.1, and noticed that there was something weird going on with the directional controller of the lower body, so here's a quick fix for that:

 

man rig 7 - 2024.1.casc

 

rig 32 - 2024.1.casc

 

Btw, make sure to take advantage of their offer to claim a free 2-year if you qualify 🙂

 

Quote

If you registered before March 1, 2024, you're eligible to claim a free Cascadeur Indie license for two years, valued at nearly $200. The Indie license is a significant step up from the old Basic version, offering unrestricted animation exports and access to advanced features that were previously unavailable in Cascadeur Basic.

 

]]>21151Sun, 24 Mar 2024 20:00:19 +0000Updated my Cascadeur rigshttps://www.loverslab.com/blogs/entry/20878-updated-my-cascadeur-rigs/ I've updated my Cascadeur rigs.

 

GIF13-02-202413-38-10.gif.f47c124d9e9cd21fa7b9726cd947dd7c.gif

 

After 5 trillion tries, managed to make the AI resting pose (not the t-pose) to at least have some semblance of human posture (hopefully);

rigged the Spine1 bone correctly;

re-did the Skirt bones so everything should behave now;

Rigged all the twists and pauldrons, so the arms rotate nicely now;
finally figured out how to stop the mid-section of the torso from distorting on regular poses;
re-positioned a few of the points, so it behaves better;
got in a root constraint so the root position might be exported (turned off by default, though, as I don't use it often except for the paired ones);
numerous other small tweaks that I forgot about already.
 
rig 31 - root_constraint_twists2.casc
 
man rig 6 - root constraint+twists.casc
 
Happy animating.
]]>20878Wed, 21 Feb 2024 21:54:00 +0000How to edit existing animations from Skyrim in Blenderhttps://www.loverslab.com/blogs/entry/20529-how-to-edit-existing-animations-from-skyrim-in-blender/ I'm using Blender 3.6.something.

 

1. Install Havok Content Tools (google HavokPcXsContentTools_X64_2010-2-0_20101115, it's fairly easy to to find it) & grab the archive i've attached: 

Blender_to_skyrim_in_39_easy_steps.7z

 

2. In Blender, Edit -> Preferences -> Add-Ons -> Install button, install blender_niftools_addon, and tick the box so it's active.

 

3. If you've installed Havok Content tools in a non-default folder, edit the _convertSEtoLEtoKF.bat and set the correct path there.

 

4. Put the .hkx animation into the _SEtoLE_KF folder, click the convert bat file, this will get you a .kf file (and an LE version of the same animation, btw).

 

5. Open the SAE.blend with Blender, after opening File -> Import -> NetImmerse/Gamebryo (.kf) and pick the kf file that you've got earlier.

 

6. Apply the scripts (select each one and click the play button next to them) at the bottom of the window, in this order:

2 DeleteScaleKeys, 01 EditingViaScript, 02 Framerange

 

Spoiler

blender_sc.png.419c1a8365f0e1e83beeb34ac63413e4.png.a92580e1e1d27bdca9909eeb40bde602.png

 

If your animation has an animation object and you wish to see it for reference or something, import it from the Import menu -> NetImmerse/Gamebryo (nif)

 

... draw the rest of fucking owl ...

 

7. When finished, File -> Export -> FBX, save it in the FBXImporter folder

 

8. Run Export.bat in that folder, collect your animation from the HKX sub-folder.

 

Iirc, it creates them in 64-bit SE format, should you need an LE version, re-visit part 4.

 

There's even a video on YouTube utilizing this workflow (although I usually skip the notepad+ python part, as it deals with quivers and weapons):

 

Credits for the tools I've packaged -

*.bat's,

FBXImporter,

hkxcmd,

niftools

Skyrim Animators Guild discord for the rig,

@OpheliaComplex's thread from which I've grabbed it.

 

Have fun.

]]>20529Thu, 11 Jan 2024 08:34:03 +0000Cascadeur to Skyrim animation creationhttps://www.loverslab.com/blogs/entry/20521-cascadeur-to-skyrim-animation-creation/ Creating new animations for Skyrim today doesn’t require a version of 3DS Max from way back when the dragons roamed the earth, extensive knowledge about animating, IK bones, rigging, and all that terribly smart stuff.

 

Please welcome, Cascadeur, the AI-powered animating software.

 

ezgif-5-6e1c24eb20.gif.6b61fc5d56fdb39bf1a2e268d2ba7c83.gif

 

1. Download & install Blender https://www.blender.org/download/ (you’ll need it to export to Skyrim - I'm using the 3.6 version)
2. Download & install Cascadeur https://cascadeur.com/download (there's a free version with some limitations, that'll be more than enough for most of Skyrim's purposes)
3. Download this pack Cascadeur_to_skyrim_in_42_easy_steps.7z
4. Open Cascadeur, open the rig (*.casc file) with it
5. draw the rest of the fucking owl
6. When finished, File -> Export FBX -> Without Meshes, save your animation, close Cascadeur.
7. Open Blender, install the zip add-on (Edit -> Preferences -> Add-ons -> install button), turn on the newly installed add-on, and in it's settings set the path to the x:/<yourpath>/Blender/blender-hkx.exe.
8. File-> Import -> FBX, pick the fbx exported from Cascadeur, it’s going to load a pile of triangles – that's normal. Make sure they are selected (must be orange-coloured & not grey)
9. Switch to Pose mode at the top of the window, make sure all the triangles are selected here as well (blue this time), adjust the timing to match the keyframes at the bottom, click File -> Export –> Havok animation (*.hkx)
10. In the new window, set the Scale to 1.0, and both Skeleton fields to x:/<yourpath>/Blender/skeleton.hkx from my archive (you need to enter or copy the path there manually, but it should save what you’ve entered for next time), click Export.
11. Enjoy your new animation. Test it in-game, or check it out first with hkxposer, or any other hkx preview tool.

 

Easy peasy.

 

In order for this to be even easier, I've even recorded a small video ?
https://vimeo.com/877221061

Please note how I've screwed up step 8 a little at 1:42, and accidentally de-selected the skeleton, so my first export failed with an error, don't be like me ?

the rest of the procedure is correct, though

 

A good overview video with a slightly annoying presenter, outlining Cascadeur's knobs, switches and cool tricks:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MKwDf5MH-LY

 

There's a number of ready-made rigs for Cascadeur on the Nexus: 

https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/users/7316623?tab=user+files

 

I've also made a couple of other rigs, male & a paired one, for the Devious Devices NG discord, if you need those, ping me here or come chill with us there and grab them from: 

https://discord.gg/VCkBRbJ6sb

 

Credits for the animation exporter tool that I'm utilizing:

https://github.com/jgernandt/blender-hkx

 

Have fun! ?

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