HIVE

yes, i really want to learn

well, i'll have you know that even if i tell you some tools and tricks, there will still be some trial and error on your part.

anyway, what you need is the game, magos model editor, mdlvis converter, sometimes notepad, and mdlvis.

model editor and mdlvis are usually the tools to edit the model with, its start and end, while the converter shifts between the game-ready and text-version, which is for finer, or fiddly edits

one more tool that could help you is the matrix eater, which can quickly extract and save a mdl model

Ok

Where exactly can I download them?

from hive tools section, of course. you might need to do a bit of browsing

its in the 'maps and resources' tab

Ok, I have those tools, so... When we start?

well let's see what you wanna work with.. there are two ways to take a model out to edit. First is to use model editor's MPQ browser to find the model and then save it for editing by copying/renaming an existing model file, and then saving your model over with the model editor. the second and maybe easier way is to use matrix eater to fetch a model and save it as a mdl file, and then just use mdlx converter to make it mdx

as for the model itself, its your choice what you wanna edit

Understood

m'kay, lemme know if you get stuck on something.. editing models is really just selecting those 'dots' that the mesh is made of ( vertices or vertex, they are called) shifting them a bit and seeing if that works, or if it mangles the model :b

Ok

lemme know if something doesn't work. sometimes model editor or other program need a certain system file to work

but on model editing, its really you doing trial and error, so.. have backups

OK, keep teaching :v

well have you done anything yet? .u.

well i'd tried to edit the face of the archer in the ridden hippo but it messed :c

well try again, don't get discouraged xD ya kinda need to practice something to get good at it. or, if something doesn't work well, then try to transplant a different mesh to it

Ok, but can you tell me how to do it??

which programs are you using again? oO
good ones that would allow you to edit a war3 model directly are mdlvis and 'matrix eater'

but yeah, it is about you messing up enough times that you become very familiar about what not to mess up xD your messes probably don't look different from when i was starting.. its all about just shaping the mesh

Well i tried to used Mdlvis... But it looks that i need to practice xD. Anyway, I will practice.

cool but there is much to do in model-making, like making and rigging new stuff, setting it up to show/hide in various animations, setting up the new pieces to use the texture they should.. or heck.. even combining and frankensteining models together Ouo

all of these i can explain, as a single topic, but it is good to look up tutorials too. ya just need to know what you want to do. and that's usually done by imaging what you want to build

Oh, i see, model making is just Imagine and then Victor Frankenstein xD