3ds Max: Custom Shield

Saiz's Custom Shields How To Guide: V 1.7 With Pics

In this tutorial I am using 3dsmax 7. 3ds max 6 users might have some difficulties, but 3ds max 8 users Should be alright. If you have any questions visit the original discussion thread on the Elder Scrolls forum.

Tools Required or would be useful

CIV4 Nif Exporter for 3dsmax 6 and 7.

Note: Max 7 plugins should work for 8 too

3dsmax 30 day trial
NifSkope
Texporter-outputs uvs in an easy way to texture

There is currently no .Nif exporter for Maya, an importer can be found here it is not compatible with Maya 7

1. Select a reference shield. Pic

2. Export that shield as a .obj and import in to 3dsmax Pic

3. When imported click on the model in the perspective window. Then rotate -90 on the x axis, 12 degrees on the y and -7 on the z], that should have straightened out the shield Pic Pic2

4. Now you can delete everything BUT THE HANDLE Pic

5. Make your custom shield now. Pic

6. Then uv map your new shield and the handle. Now output the uvs and texture it.

7. After you are done texturing save as a dds and using a blinn texture click on the diffuse box and select bitmap. Now select the texture you made. Pic Pic2

8. Now click the handle and rotate y from 12 back to 0, and the Z from -7 back to 0 Pic

9. Now you can select your New Shield and rotate the y to -12 and the z to 7 If done correctly the new shield and the old handle should line up. Other wise move your shield back so they match up. Pic Pic2

From now on thanks to EdgeofForever

***Note: First- make sure you DON'T flip your DDS's. Civ4 takes care of the coord stuff for you.

10. You'll need Max and the Civ 4 plugin. Export with original images selected. Pic Pic2

***Note: The error "WARNING: Map, "01 - Default", has a DIFFUSE MAP with alpha in the image, but has no OPACITY MAP. Please add the same texture as an OPACITY MAP to apply alpha." is uncommon but whenever I export ignoring that error the mesh still functions fine for me.

11. Load up NifSkope, and load the .nif file you exported. MAKE SURE YOU HAVE A TEXTURE BLOCK ALREADY IN THE FILE. IF NOT, YOU EXPORTED WRONG. Copy the NiTriStrip branch. Now load a default shield from the game- like a imperial guard shield - in the same instance of NifSkope (A new window doesn't work for me). Pic Pic2

12. Paste your branch.

Pic Pic2

13. Now go check NiNode, expand the "children" subdirectory. Change Num Indicies to 2. Click on the Indicies bar below it. Pic

***NOTE: Make Sure you have Block Details turned on you can do this by view and select it or you can press f2

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14. Right click, update array. If you haven't, expand indicies. Right click the new slot and change it to the block number that your copied NiTriStrips received look for the number of the block you pasted in

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15. Click the old mesh, right click its NiTriStrips, go to flag. Check hidden.

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16. Click your new shield and right click NiTriStrips and select flags and select Collision Detection continue

17. Finally, make sure the texture node of YOUR mesh (should have been copied over with NiTriStrips) is going out to the correct dds. Save the file. This is your dds texture and path

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Thanks Edgeof Forever

Now back to CS

18. Load the Oblivion.esm file

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19. Now Select armors

20. Right Click and select New

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21. Now on the right for the models for both the view and world models select the .nif you saved.

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22. Now In the list select Shield.

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