Difference between revisions of "Developing Successful Mods"

''3D Modeling Program'' - These are one of the basic things you should learn to use, even if just to a premature standard. Using them, you can create your own structures to import into the CS, which for many modders, proves their mods to be above the usual standard of mods around. You can use basically any 3D modeling program for this; Blender (Advised), 3DS Max, Maya, Wings3D... Ect. I personally use Wings3D as it's pretty intuative to use, but with that comes it's basic functions. Maybe first time users should dive straight into the deep end with Blender. I can't seem to work Blender since it's so different to Wings, but maybe someday I'll find it easier to use than Wings. It's completely up to preference.

''NifSkope'' - What're you going to do with your new model without NifSkope? NifSkope acts as the conduit to allow new material into the CS, from lighting to particle effects. It can seem pretty complex to use at first, and I'm still no expert, but learning can be fun - especially with particle effects. Certainly a tool you'll want to learn to use fairly well, unless you enjoy frequent crashes and dirty models.

''Visual Art Program'' - You'll probably want to learn how to make your own textures to suit your own models at some point, and these programs will let you! I'm not talking microsoft paint, I'm talking Adobe Photoshop (If you can afford it, or get it elsewhere...) and GimP. Learning to use these won't just benefit you in modding, but probably for more daily tasks aswell. Having said this, it's a real pain to learn to use to an amazing standard, and can be pretty thought-intensive at times (Well I feel it is!), but I guess some people are born creative, and others not. Not necassary, as you can use the perfectly allowable and proven to work textures that come with Oblivion or Morrowind, and you're entitled to these, as long as you keep them with in the game respectively (Apparently there can be some troube to be had if you mix Morrowind textures with meshes for Oblivion and visa versa... I don't see why, but it's been reported).

''BSA Unpacker'' - This utility can be used for, apparently, quite a lot of things, but I've never used it for more than getting the textures, sounds, meshes and other data out of the Oblivion compressed files. This is... pretty useful when you want to make your own meshes and textures, and especially with NifSkope - They're key examples of how to make things tick, and what good examples of models and textures are. I'd search the Wiki for this BSA contraption though, I'm no expert, even though it's a really useful gizmo.

''Oblivion: Shivering Isles'' - Okay, fine, it's not a utility. At all. But! It is a really good example of how Oblivion should and can look! If you haven't got it, I'd recoment borrowing it or buying it, it's not that expensive anyhow. The textures are pretty amazing, NifSkope files use some more advanced techniques, and with this and vanilla paired, you can find a file with just about anything you may want your own mesh to do. It's a good example of a well made, well thought game with rewards and motivation to continue play, immersive quests (to an extent), room for expansion via mods and some quality matierial! Don't be scared to use it, Bethsoft allowed you to the minuite they included the content in the CS. And when they said you could...

 

''Audio-Altering Program'' - These things don't really help too much, but can make your mod a mile appart from others. With these you can make your own music, edit and alter other sounds to fit your purpose, and basicly play with all the audio that comes with Oblivion. Even though they're not so great for making your own music, it's fine for altering existing ones. There's some really neat universal functions, so they can be fun to tinker in! I'd suggest Audacity. It's the only free one that I've found to be effective with what I want to do, and I haven't heard of any other good ones - Maybe ask around if you grow tired of Audacity, or need it for something more.