animation Need advice/resources for animating dragons using 3DS Max 2013 (with bonus ABC challenge)

[meatslinger]

I'm really interested in making some creature animations for SexLab/SLAL, particularly to create animations for "size 0.2" dragons, for which a few animations already exist thanks to folks like MadMansGun. The long-term objective is to put a new creature type into the game called "Wyverns", simply being a formalized, immersive version of what you get if you run "setscale 0.2" on a dragon, as both a mid-level hostile creature but also as something that can attack you and do sexy-times with your character if you lose (thanks to mods like "Defeat"). Idea is they'd otherwise fly around and throw low-level spells at you like Firebolt, Flames, Frostbite, etc.

 

I digress. What I'm after, first and foremost, is advice from other animators and modders on rigging up the dragon model in 3DS Max 2013 and how best to integrate it with a penis from Animated Beast Cocks (ABC), by factoryclose. I figured the gargoyle dick is a good base to work with. Are there rigs or skeletons for 3DS out there already that I could use to get started on the dragon body itself, or advice on making my own rig? I've already got the NIF imported, but the bones are all separate and loose, so my next step is to make something with limits and structure. I've got the Havok tools installed and everything is otherwise set up to process NIF files nicely; no troubles getting the model in, and I can make a simple "static model moves x units forward" animation as output. I'm also decently well-versed in CK, and more than willing to Google to fill the gaps in my knowledge. I'll confess that though I've got years of experience making solid models in CAD programs (SketchUp, AutoCAD), I've never animated something before. I just figured I should politely ask if someone else has a viable dragon rig/controller already that they might be willing to share, or tips on making a fresh one with minimal frustration.

 

Thanks in advance!