Creation Kit (general-ish questions)

[gheedorah]

Ok before I break something (hopefully I haven't already?), I'm just trying to figure out how to edit a mod. I have Animated Fairy Wings. I downloaded Creation Kit through Steam, ran it once before I figured out I'd need to launch it through MO. Added it as an executable in MO. Launched it, selected Skyrim.esm and AnimatedFairyWings.esp (or whatever it's called). The description says it doesn't have any dependencies, so I figured this would suffice. Got an error about a missing mipmap for something bronze, so before I set off clicking yes to a bunch of crap I didn't understand, I canceled out, and confirmed I wanted to exit.

 

So, for starters...I didn't just screw up my Skyrim.esm did I? I didn't modify or save anything, just exited before it even finished loading it.

 

Second, is there a guide to get me started? What I've found online is for fixing spell names and other unrelated matters. I studied graphic design long ago, so I'm sure I can ham-hand my way through tweaking these textures (all I want to do is desaturate them a bit and possibly make them a bit more transparent),  but I can't figure out how to get it loaded up and running.

 

(Third, should I be worried about the error message about missing mipmaps? They were when still loading Skyrim.esm, according to the little ticker at the bottom of the window.) The first time, I said "Yes" to the first error message (not "yes to all"), and another message for another problem popped up directly after. Hit "No", and exited. Second time, x'd out. Both times, got a confirmation box asking if I was sure. Is something wrong with my Skyrim.esm, and, did I cause any damage/changes by partially loading it? Can't see how it would, but who knows.)

[Shadowhawk827]

OK, even if it has no dependencies, you have to upload Update.esm also.  Don't ask why, it's Bethesda, LOL.

 

When the CK starts up you'll always get a ton of error messages, even if you've cleaned your master files.  It's very unlikely you damaged the Skyrim.esm file though.  If you did, it's a simple matter of verifying files via Steam.

 

Here's the bad news...  Texture and mesh work is the one thing that the Creation Kit can't do.  Keep in mind this is my weak area with modding.  Somebody may be able to give you a better answer.  You need something like 3DS Max for that.  What the CK *can* do with textures is swap the already existing texture files for other vanilla texture files.   To add a totally new texture, you have to create it elsewhere and then drop it into the kit, then link it to the mesh.  Custom meshes, by my understanding, have to be made in something like 3DS Max, then run thru NIFscope to link them or make them compatible with Skyrim textures. 

 

As limiting as that sounds, the Creation Kit has a TON of meshes and textures built into it.  Every asset used to build the game is available for you to use.  It's simply a matter of learning to find them and learn how to put them together.

 

As far as tutorials...  I always recommend that people start with the CK basics series that Bethesda put out:

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gDKivlGmia4&has_verified=1

 

For the very basics on meshes and textures, Elianora has a tutorial on YouTube also.  If you studied graphic design before, you can probably follow it a little better than I did, LOL

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xbeg5MevJL0

 

Darkfox 127 and Gopher also have YouTube channels with extensive and usually well done tutorials on all aspects of modding Skyrim.

[gheedorah]

9 hours ago, Shadowhawk827 said:

OK, even if it has no dependencies, you have to upload Update.esm also.  Don't ask why, it's Bethesda, LOL.

 

When the CK starts up you'll always get a ton of error messages, even if you've cleaned your master files.  It's very unlikely you damaged the Skyrim.esm file though.  If you did, it's a simple matter of verifying files via Steam.

 

Here's the bad news...  Texture and mesh work is the one thing that the Creation Kit can't do.  Keep in mind this is my weak area with modding.  Somebody may be able to give you a better answer.  You need something like 3DS Max for that.  What the CK *can* do with textures is swap the already existing texture files for other vanilla texture files.   To add a totally new texture, you have to create it elsewhere and then drop it into the kit, then link it to the mesh.  Custom meshes, by my understanding, have to be made in something like 3DS Max, then run thru NIFscope to link them or make them compatible with Skyrim textures. 

 

As limiting as that sounds, the Creation Kit has a TON of meshes and textures built into it.  Every asset used to build the game is available for you to use.  It's simply a matter of learning to find them and learn how to put them together.

 

As far as tutorials...  I always recommend that people start with the CK basics series that Bethesda put out:

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gDKivlGmia4&has_verified=1

 

For the very basics on meshes and textures, Elianora has a tutorial on YouTube also.  If you studied graphic design before, you can probably follow it a little better than I did, LOL

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xbeg5MevJL0

 

Darkfox 127 and Gopher also have YouTube channels with extensive and usually well done tutorials on all aspects of modding Skyrim.

Hey thank you very much for your response.

 

I loaded up after posting this last night and ran around playing for a few hours with no problems, so I'm assuming I didn't break anything. I always thought validating messed up...something...for mod users? So I never presume to try it. But it seems irrelevant at the moment anyway.

 

Bummer I can't do the edits with Creation Kit, but thank you for the links. Watching Elianora's video now. Why is the whole world a sucker for a foreign accent?

 

 

[Shadowhawk827]

Because it's exotic.  Exotic = sexy.  :-)

 

One of DarkFox127's videos is working with NIFscope also.  I think he's taken over half of the tutorials on the creation kit wiki and made them into video tutorials. :-)   The only video of his that I felt was poorly done was the one on porting mods from OldRim to SE.  He was a little scattered talking about all the steps, and some things have changed, mainly with SKSE using mods.