Help someone!... please

[Ardnived]

Im trying to add custom skins to my map (all of which have been downloaded off this site). ive been able to succesfully, download, import and apply the skin to the unit but then when i start the map the model is invisible, now ive looked at a number of tutoriols and the troublesooting that applies to this problem hasnt helped me as far as i know ive done everything i was told to.

Can anyone give me some more detailed troubleshooting, or a more indepth explanation on how to apply skins?

 

[jonadrian619]

There is a few reasons why the model is invisible.. (in my experiences)

- The skin file is corrupted (no damn way to reverse it)
- The model itself is corrupted. No way to reverse it actually.. (this only applies to downloaded models)

Or maybe the pathing for the skin is incorrect or of a different filetype.

Make sure you have typed the right path and MAKE sure that it's a .blp file of balanced quality (i mean 24 or 32 bits/pixel quality).

Hope those helped

 

[YoshiRyu]

and make sure you have save the map, close the world editor, re-open the world editor and re-open the map just after importing and repathing the skin.

 

[qwehe]

and btw skins cant do animations... so u need models

 

[Ardnived]

yes i am using models, but i dont think the files are corrupted since ive tried a number of models all downloaded off his site.

i may be using the wrong paths but the ones i use are the ones that look to be the right ones it doesnt actually be all that specific

here is an example of one of the models im trying to use: Marine Base

in this one i used the custom path, Textures\Marine.blp, for the file Marine.blp (other files downloaded with this model were Marine_Portriat.mdx, and Marine.mdx)



Also what are dummy abilities/dummy units and how do i make them?

 

[Wolverabid]

For the Marine Base model you'll need to import the three files:

Marine.blp
Marine.mdx
Marine_portriat.mdx

Notice on the resource's page how there is one texture path marked in red?

Textures\Marine.blp
Textures\Dust3x.blp
Textures\gutz.blp
Textures\Flame4.blp

That is a custom texture file: its path must be set exactly as shown on the page. The model requires the other texture files as well but those already exist in the war3.mpq file(s). If you are using Return of Chaos or your local .mpq files have somehow been damaged you might not be able to properly use all model files.

I just tested that marine; it works for me.

---

Dummy Units.
Dummy units are special units (lol, not really) meant to help you enchance the spell with better effects. For now, you must know how to create your own dummy unit in the object editor. After that, you will learn how to use them as well.

So go to the unit editor and copy-paste the footman unit. Rename it as dummy, so that you will be able to recognize it later. And now, change the following fields accordingly:

Abilities – Normal – It should include only the Locust unit ability. This will make the dummy unselectable, invulnerable and will remove its collision, allowing any unit to pass through it. By this you assure the unit cannot be detected in any way.

Art – Model File – Switch to custom and type none.mdl. This will make the unit invisible (not as invisibility, but unseen).

Art – Shadow Image – Switch the value in preset to none.

Art – Special – Delete everything there.

Combat – Attacks enabled – Switch to none.

Combat – Death Type – Switch to Can’t Raise, Does not Decay

Movement – Speed Base – Set its value to 0.

Movement – Type – Switch to Fly.

Sound – Unit Sound Set – Change its value to NONE.

Stats – Can Flee – False.

Stats – Food Cost – Set it to 0.

Stats – Hide Minimap Display – True

Stats – Sight Radius (Day) – 0
Stats – Sight Radius (Night) – 0

Techtree – Upgrades Used – Delete all.

After you have given the unit all these values you can place one on the map and notice that ingame you won’t see it. In World Editor it will appear as a box with green/black squares. That’s because the model you assigned to the unit doesn’t exist. It will disappear ingame.

 

[Ardnived]

for the marine one isnt the third file marine_portriat.mdx?

other than that everything seems to be the same as i did

(I'm using Frozen Throne)


also does that post say how to make dummy abilities? and also where can i find that post

 

[YoshiRyu]

other than that everything seems to be the same as i did

have you repathing the skin? (in the world editor, not in windows)
have you restart the world editor after import & repath?
that's the 2 critical points

PS: the dummy abilities explaination is his signature

 

[Wolverabid]

for the marine one isnt the third file marine_portriat.mdx?

Oops, edited my previous post. o.0

also does that post say how to make dummy abilities? and also where can i find that post

Yes, indeed it does!

Links that are direct referenced qutations (like the ones I have used in this thread) may easily be followed by clicking on the small arrow .gif files in them:

Those quotation reference buttons are hyperlinked to the original post itself, which in this case is Basics of Trigger Enhancing Spells

 

[Ardnived]

have you repathing the skin? (in the world editor, not in windows)
have you restart the world editor after import & repath?
that's the 2 critical points

yes i did repath the skin in World Editor, but no i didnt restart World Editor, ill try that and see if it works


Thanx Wolverabid, however that topic didnt really explain how to create one only basically what to base it off and whatr it is, and so i still am not sure how to make it so the ability is ot seen, (i want to use the ability to attach a weapon to a riflemen unit). But thats fine for now im more interested in getting the model to work

 

[Wolverabid]

Some other helpful tutorials to be familiar with (if you haven't read them yet).

• How to Import Custom Models
• How to: Import a Skin
• How to: Attach a Model or an Effect to a Unit

 

[YoshiRyu]

i want to use the ability to attach a weapon to a riflemen unit

and look the post-it about video tuto in this section, there's one about this in

 

[Ardnived]

and look the post-it about video tuto in this section, there's one about this in

What?

also thanx so muh i got the marine to work i guess restarting the editor was the key, thanx alot to both of you, but now about the dummy ability, what was it you were saying Yoshi

 

[Eleandor]

When you have just imported a model, the textures are not used yet. To make warcraft use those textures, you must refresh them by either restarting WE (the annoying way) or go to WE, file > Preferences > Video and there you change the Texture Quality into one of the other 2 options. all textures will be refreshed by doing so, including imported ones so you don't have to close WE with every import you make.

 

[YoshiRyu]

What?

in this section (World Editor Help Zone) there is a post-it "World Editor Video Tutorials"; in this post-it, there is a video about weapon attachement called "Using attachment points"
look it

 

[Ardnived]

oh okay thanx yoshi

i have another question, when adding a weapon attachment can it replace an old weapon?

 

[YoshiRyu]

no, not easily, because "old weapon" is not an attachement, old weapon is integrated in the full model

in the 3D tutorial section, there is one about "how to edit a model to remove the weapon"

 

[Ardnived]

oh damn, well ill look, but unless someone fixes the BLP tols i doubt itll help (i assume it requires BLP Converter)