Editing in Game Appearence or .BAM Files

[Guest Flame Outlaw]

Heya I'm new to editing Baldur's Gate files and I'm currently creating a new character for the 6 way lan party that I'm going to.

 

The character I'm making is Red Sonja, the npc Sirine is very similar but their are many diffrences. I would like to create a new one completely because I dont want to overwrite the Sirine and have her look exactly like my character.

 

I have acouple of programs I've been useing to edit it, very tediously I might add, I've been useing Sword Coast Keeper to select the character appearence to the Sirine after I was done editing it, DLTCEP to extract edit and reimport the files when I was completed and BAMWorkshop to edit the animation frames Pixel by Pixel.

 

Their in lies one of the problems I can't see myself editing 450 some odd frames. Is their some other way I can edit these? Maybe a program could create a 3D render and be able to select the joints for movement? Or is their another way altogether?

 

Also when I'm done with that is their a way I can make my character link to it without overwriting an existing .BAM file? Ex. I can make my character look like any other NPC and PC in the game but I don't know how to make it look like one I created.

 

Another problem is I would like to have a picture in the inventory area as well if you could tell me that also I would greatly appreciate it.

 

Basicly I would like my own completely custom character =).

As of right now the situation looks hopeless so if anyone could provide some insight I would greatly appreciate it.

 

If someone wants to help over msn messenger, please just send me a private message saying your msn or yahoo address and I will add you.

[Domi]

The short of it is that yes, you have to painstakingly edit every frame. No, you cannot add a new animation into the game, you have to replace an existing header. And, on top of it, Sirine won't have enough animations to suit a protagonist ie weapons/armor etc). Paperdoll is iirc somewhat easier, you might want to take a look at Longer Road or Moiness Avatars - they have new paperdolls added. I would suggest as an easier way for you is to use Moiness avatars for long-haired females, replace hair color on it with the pure red. And imagine that your sirine got a dress.

 

And if I am wrong, let the more competent modders correct me But I did have a tragic experience trying to add one of Moiness already premade sets as a new Animation. It resulted in creating a likeness of BG2 water elemental upon selection with some funky color on it.

[Flame Outlaw]

Well I don't need to do the armor one but having a diffrent look for each type of weapon would be nice.

 

I'm very surprised no one has gone through this and tried to import a brand new skin.

 

Thanks for your help mate, I just hope I can get 3DS Max to make a 3D image of the edited Sirine that looks like Red Sonja ( I have it from 8 diffrent angles so maybe).

[Domi]

I'm very surprised no one has gone through this and tried to import a brand new skin.

 

Because it was tried before without success; you will have to replace an existing animation (ie for all Sirines), just like Moiness is doing with replacing say all female elven wizards Avatars or all vampires etc.

[Guest Guest]

That's so strange I would think it would just be changing the file name in other parts to be able to do this, or some other very easy tweaks.

[Flame Outlaw]

Sorry, that was me.

[Domi]

There is a list of Headers in one of IDS files (I think it was IDS, can't remeber off hand). Each Header defines an array of animations for a particular avatar. The problem is that you cannot add a new Header to that list. You can just replace one that exists already. Hard-coded issue, I suppose, or something to that extent. At least that was the case when I tried to add a new animation in a good year or so ago. I took the array that worked just fine when an existing header was replaced by simply renaming all the frames and over-writing the old ones; added the header to the list, it became selectable on the CRE; selected it on the CRE. Summoned CRE. Observed an elongated bluish-colorish blob walking on the screen instead of a lovely long-haired female.