"Bodyslides - but download the original" - Why?

[Doc_Ctdm]

Can someone explain to me why bodyslide conversions almost always say "You have to download the original first?"

Because as far as I can tell, you shouldn't need to. Unless they come with special textures, the bodyslide stuff should handle everything you need to get the stuff into the game.

And if they do need unique textures, then why aren't they just packaged with the conversion? Is it a permission thing? Because it seems to me like if someone gives you permission to Bodyslide-ify their mod, then the need for textures would be understood and included in that permission. I don't get it.

And I've gotta say, it really turns me off downloading a mod that comes with a big pile of dependencies. Convenience is the whole point of bodyslide conversions, after all.

But maybe there's something I'm not understanding. So I'll ask about it.

[Mister X]

As far as I can tell:

1) The original file will provide meshes, textures and everything. a BS conversion simply provides the information about how to handle a mesh.

If the author does allow to use a mod as base for your own work, but doesn't allow to copy or alter the original stuff, then yes, it's a permission and copyright thing

 

2) In my point of view, not convenience but individualization is the whole point of BS. So if you simply want an armor with the default CBBE look, you most probably won't need any BS files at all. If you wand an individual body shape, then you need to fire up BS.

[travelmedic]

Not to mention, a BS only mod may not have an actual esp file in it, meaning that your clothes or armor wouldn't even show up in the game.

[Mez558]

Mister X answered this perfectly and politely.

 

25 minutes ago, Doc_Ctdm said:

it really turns me off downloading a mod that comes with a big pile of dependencies.

 

Don't buy it then.. Oh wait, it's free.

?

 

 

[NoNickNeeded]

For me it is a matter of respect.

Even if I have the permission of the author to theoretically bundle all his files into my conversion, I don't like to do it.

I much prefer to only provide the bodyslide files, so that the original authors still get the exposure they deserve. I doubt many people would go to the original author's outfit mod and drop a like/endorsement if the conversion doesn't need any of the original files. Not to mention that if it's from Nexus, you can't even endorse without having downloaded it in the first place.

 

As far as the techical goes: If you only pack up the BodySlide files, you still need the textures and if present xml and esp files from the original. Meshes will be created out of the BS files when you build them in BodySlide.

Also not all parts of an outfit need conversion. With helmets for example it doesn't matter if they were made for UNP, CBBE or vanilla, so there's no need to convert and then include them in a download.

[XOB]

A bodyslide conversion doesn't include the meshes, textures or ESP. It usually only includes the conversion files.

[Doc_Ctdm]

15 minutes ago, XOB said:

A bodyslide conversion doesn't include the meshes, textures or ESP. It usually only includes the conversion files.

The textures I can understand, and the esp makes sense (at least in cases of non-replacers), but it's my understanding that the original .nif meshes for the outfit are not required at all for Bodyslide. Someone can correct me if I'm wrong, but I'd thought that as long as the appropriate shape data .nif is in the Bodyslide ShapeData folder, the [outfit]_0 and [outfit]_1 meshes will be generated by Bodyslide without the involvement of the originals.

[NoNickNeeded]

You are right Doc_Ctdm.