Modeling Help Needed for simple new item.

[TheBlackSilhouette]

Hello all,

 

Title says it all.  Basically I am creating a new quest mod and need a very simple model, but I am useless with 3D design programs and texturing.  

 

To clarify, I am willing to put in an effort and learn: I had no modding experience last week and now this mod project is going great.  Nevertheless, for some reason I am just really bad at creating with programs like maya, autodesk, blender, and even freaking sketchup---my work just ends up looking laughably terrible (I tried creating a coin---a coin---and even that ended up a mess).  

 

If that's bad, I'm even worse at texturing.

 

So, that said, I really need someone with literally any level of talent to help me.  The model in question (notice I am trying to avoid spoilers here) is about as simple as it gets.  In exchange for your help, you will be credited on the mod page, given all my love, and some of my time helping you with something you need (I am a master writer, have a fair range in voice acting, and now have decent know how when it comes to skyrim modding).  Thanks in advance. 

 

Cheers,

 

M

 

[DixiePig]

Hi, you can PM me if you like, or we could keep it here publicly if you think the knowledge would be useful to people in general.

I use blender for both modelling and texturing, you can get the latest version at blender.org (free, as in beer and also as in freedom).

For learning the absolute basics, CG Cookie has a free tutorial series that is short, to the point, and well produced. This will teach you how the interface works, how to navigate in 3d, how to do the basic things like moving, rotating, and scaling:

https://cgcookie.com/course/blender-basics/

 

Do that first and then I can give you specific advice for your object.

The way I learned blender was to find tutorials and just do them, operation for operation. It may seem slow at first but you'll speed up exponentially.

[Farmthat]

Need a little more information. What purpose does the object have? is it a "static" that sits in the world, stationary? or is it a weapon or clothing, etc?

 

I ask because they have very different modeling requirements. A static is by far the easiest.

[TheBlackSilhouette]

Need a little more information. What purpose does the object have? is it a "static" that sits in the world, stationary? or is it a weapon or clothing, etc?

 

I ask because they have very different modeling requirements. A static is by far the easiest.

 

Static, I'm pretty sure.  It's a collar, but one with very specific materials.  If non-static, the only thing that comes to mind would be magic effects, but they are by no means necessary.  

 

Hell with it; I'll put it in under a spoiler for those interested.  Spoilers ahead, obviously. 

 

 

 

 

The collar is of dwemmer make with aetherium around the band---sort of a dwemmer order meets crystaline chaos look.  The quest I'm working on is one to put a reason behind all the "for some reason you can't take this off" fluff attached to devious devices in order to give it some shred of impressiveness.  The first stage is to have an aetherium collar, but eventually have aetherium and soul gems tie in with all the DD type devices, including keys, and make the aetherium forge quest a precursor to crafting DD stuff (mostly keys).  

 

Aetherium fragments would become a rare drop from virtually everywhere and be required to make certain potions that quell the effect of the collar for a time (the collar is going to drain magicka, reduce skills considerably, and have other consequences; lore explanation: collars for dwemmer POWs, slaves, etc.).  

 

Essentially I am just looking for the collar now, but someone to help me with other stuff later on would be great too.  The mod is planned as a quest plugin for Devious Devices Integration and for use as a general resource/framework to build upon.

 

All told, the collar should be pretty easy: a neck-sized ring (with some dwemmer ornamental work, if need be) and some aetherium crystal all the way around the rim.  Simple, right?

 

Anyway, thinks for the interest. 

 

 

[Farmthat]

Considerably harder. Clothing is kind of a pain. The good news is that a collar is fairly undemanding, as far as clothing goes--it only has to be weight-painted to the... head bone? (Neck is too low?) It's not my area of expertise.

 

However, what you want to do doesn't require a new collar model quite yet. You could start you mod repurposing any number of existing collar models, and then swap in a new nif at a later date.

[TheBlackSilhouette]

Considerably harder. Clothing is kind of a pain. The good news is that a collar is fairly undemanding, as far as clothing goes--it only has to be weight-painted to the... head bone? (Neck is too low?) It's not my area of expertise.

 

However, what you want to do doesn't require a new collar model quite yet. You could start you mod repurposing any number of existing collar models, and then swap in a new nif at a later date.

 

Yeah, that's the plan for now.  The only problem is there is dialogue that references the appearance of the collar (because it looks like a necklace).  Not a huge deal for an alpha build, but will eventually be an immersion breaker. 

[43deadwood]

Just a thought - isn't what you need just a change of textures for an existing collar?

[TheBlackSilhouette]

Just a thought - isn't what you need just a change of textures for an existing collar?

 

Not really.  Maybe for the short term, but I have some ideas that need more unique modeling.  For the short term, though, I have rekindled my limited knowledge for a cad program I used to use.  Texturing is still going to be difficult.  The problem is I just am not blessed with talent for 3d/art design  

[Arngrim11]

What other items are you looking to add in addition to the above? Also are you looking to have it match existing atherium items? Perhaps you have some 2D artwork that inspired the idea you could share?