Help! I can't use any downloaded models/skins

01-30-2006, 02:02 AM

OK, so you've probably heard this a thousand times by now, but I've scoured the forums here for hours and still haven't found any solutions.

I've tried to download several models and skins from this site and others, but I cannot seem to implement them into anything. I've tried putting them into a map and all I get is the green and black checkered box and a message saying "Cannot load xxx.mdl". I've also tried putting them directly into war3patch.mpq and the unit is just invisible ingame. I've made sure every file is put in its correct directory. My main goal is to insert Whitehorn's "Retro DeathKnight" into the patch mpq and replace the undead HeroDeathKnight, so that whenever I play, I will use the retro version.

I'm running v1.20c with The Frozen Throne.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

01-30-2006, 02:08 AM	#2
Whitehorn	If you alter your MPQ files and play online you will be banned for hacking :P Read these tutorials: http://www.wc3campaigns.net/forumdisplay.php?f=651 If you still have problems, you will have to detail what you do - we can't read your mind, nor can we do much more than tell you how to do it. Those tutorials explain how we do it, and it works for us.

01-30-2006, 05:25 AM

ugmo_joe

Thanks for the list of tutorials. I'm just about to go through them and work out what I'm doing wrong. Oh, I don't intend on playing online; I never have. That's why I want to modify the MPQ files. Kind of a personal modification I suppose. Any further tips on doing so if I don't succeed would be of help.

Thanks again.

BTW
I just tried out your tutorial on importing models using your LichBlademaster and it worked. However when I tried the exact same method for your Retro DeathKnight, I was again presented with the green and black checkered box. I even tried changing the model and skin directory to one of its one ("DeathKnight\DeathKnight.mdx; DeathKnight\DeathKnight.blp").

I do not mean to offend when I suggest that there might be something wrong with the model/skin perhaps? I have tried loading it in Warcraft 3 model editor/Warcraft 3 viewer and it loads up perfectly.

I have followed the tutorial to the letter, but it just won't work. Any more help would be greatl; especially on adding the RDK to the right MPQ etc.

BTW2
I just tried the same method mentioned in your tutorial with your Tainted Fiend and it hasn't worked either.

01-30-2006, 08:23 AM	#4
Whitehorn	The model and texture, as stated, should have no filepath - DeathKnight.mdx and DeathKnight.blp I will check the model over later. The fiend works.

01-31-2006, 05:35 AM

ugmo_joe

It worked finally!

Sorry if I kicked up a fuss for nothing, but I didn't see anywhere that DeathKnight.blp and DeathKnight.mdx needed to be in the root rather than in a subfolder (ie. "wc3imported" or "DeathKnight"). I've also managed to import the model successfully into War3Patch.mpq. With a little editing of unitUI.slk, now when I train a Hero DeathKnight I get your one instead :). The fiend also works (it required to be in the root).

The only problem I have now is that when I give the DeathKnight any aura ability, the aura appears above him. Is there any way to rig the model so that the aura appears properly below him?

Thanks again for all your help.

Attached Images

	war31.jpg (546.6 KB)
	war32.jpg (469.8 KB)

01-31-2006, 08:56 AM	#6
Whitehorn	What attachment point does the aura use?

02-01-2006, 12:59 AM	#7
ugmo_joe	I honestly don't know. I looked around through the tutorials on how to find out such a thing and came up with nothing. I've haven't modded much of Warcraft III so I don't exactly know what I'm looking for. Where can I find out? Thanks.

02-19-2006, 12:56 AM	#8
ugmo_joe	Sorry to double post, but how do i find out what attachment points the aura uses, and how do i change it?

02-19-2006, 06:09 AM

oBs3rv3r

Quote:

Originally Posted by ugmo_joe

Sorry to double post, but how do i find out what attachment points the aura uses, and how do i change it?

I really want to help you, but I can't tell you how you can find what attachment point the aura uses. However I can tell you that I *think* all auras use the origin attachment point of a model, since these normally are positioned sort of in the center, just below the feet of the model.

Now, as for your problem: I imported the model into gmax and looked at the origin attachment point. It looked fine (looked like it was positioned where it should be). So I tried to import it into WE and give it an aura special effect, by using triggers. I told WE to attach it to the origin attachment point. Then, when I tried it in-game, it appeared above him, just as when you tried to give him an aura.

I thought that was quite odd, so I looked at the attachment point's pivotpoint (in the .mdl). I counted down from 0 to 63 (the ObjectId of the attachment point), and when I found it the co-ordinates looked fine (they weren't exactly 0, 0, 0 but pretty close). Then I tried setting them to 0, 0, 0, just to be sure. Still, the aura appeared above him. I looked into the .mdl file again and scrolled down to the pivotpoints again. Then I noticed that the pivotpoint just after the one I'd set to 0, 0, 0 had co-ordinates just like the one I'd changed, but with a much higher Z-value. So I tried to change it to 0, 0, 0. I then saved, converted and imported.

Then, when I imported it into WE and tried it out the aura appeared where it should. I guess I must have counted wrong the first time I set that one attachment point to 0, 0, 0. I have now changed that one back to it's former value, just to be on the safe side.

Anyway, if Whitehorn checks this thread and sees this he should correct it. I could upload it here right away, but I don't think I'm permitted to do so, since I'm not the author of the model.

Hope this helps you.

Attached Images

dthkatt.jpg (145.8 KB)

02-19-2006, 10:19 AM

#10

ugmo_joe

OK, I found the reference in the .mdl file you were talking about. However, I have no idea which point I am supposed to be changing. Could you please point out exactly what numbers you changed? Thanks again for all the help.

Code:

Attachment "Origin Ref " {
	ObjectId 63,
}
Attachment "OverHead Ref " {
	ObjectId 64,
}
PivotPoints 82 {
	{ -0.254494, 0.0714708, 15.4728 },
	{ -14.8863, 1.1016, 77.9695 },
	{ 17.2384, 1.10167, 79.998 },
	{ 35.7905, -11.1558, 82.2527 },
	{ 32.596, -11.1586, 60.8435 },
	{ 34.7158, -11.157, 39.4076 },
	{ 33.8258, -11.157, 13.8116 },
	{ 35.7281, 13.3589, 82.2677 },
	{ 32.4105, 13.3616, 60.8689 },
	{ 34.5798, 13.3599, 39.4058 },
	{ 33.7972, 13.3599, 13.799 },
	{ 56.3941, 1.10174, 94.2441 },
	{ 84.6134, 0.664712, 105.867 },
	{ -39.5381, -15.9205, 89.7411 },
	{ -33.8291, -14.6669, 60.5736 },
	{ -42.0393, -13.4667, 43.8465 },
	{ -35.6308, -12.6617, 13.2573 },
	{ -39.5382, 18.1236, 89.7411 },
	{ -33.8292, 16.87, 60.5736 },
	{ -42.0393, 15.6697, 43.8465 },
	{ -35.6309, 14.8648, 13.2573 },
	{ -50.5959, 1.10145, 89.4012 },
	{ -67.1837, 1.10144, 61.0863 },
	{ -69.9245, 1.10144, 46.5997 },
	{ 1.36881, 0.560549, 109.067 },
	{ -3.20432, 9.33355, 106.509 },
	{ -3.02082, -9.41531, 106.366 },
	{ 2.50186, 0.557561, 113.821 },
	{ -3.51708, -3.50125, 145.163 },
	{ -3.53722, 5.18246, 145.314 },
	{ 4.74703, 0.569245, 139.45 },
	{ 10.0304, 1.09248, 151.119 },
	{ -3.65063, 20.0152, 135.245 },
	{ -5.18483, 33.0565, 135.421 },
	{ -7.77022, 44.9466, 137.007 },
	{ -2.82793, 36.2562, 124.395 },
	{ -0.53776, 25.411, 125.374 },
	{ -3.60317, -17.44, 135.908 },
	{ -5.65774, -30.2161, 135.489 },
	{ -7.70491, -43.4872, 136.172 },
	{ -3.97359, -48.332, 135.256 },
	{ 53.3229, -48.4613, 132.774 },
	{ -2.67563, -34.9984, 126.058 },
	{ -0.503907, -23.1037, 125.846 },
	{ -39.2525, 1.10152, 91.0882 },
	{ 8.68666, 19.238, 82.39 },
	{ -7.51732, 18.9857, 60.6741 },
	{ 7.82281, -17.3369, 81.6508 },
	{ -8.55109, -15.988, 60.1854 },
	{ 34.2026, -11.7253, -0.908094 },
	{ 34.5726, 13.1102, -1.23064 },
	{ 93.4672, 1.92473, 104.01 },
	{ 40.6363, 1.17483, 77.5663 },
	{ 7.59309, 25.0755, 80.1305 },
	{ 7.21555, -22.5367, 80.508 },
	{ -32.4232, -14.1237, 0.950243 },
	{ -32.3751, 14.7498, 0.910814 },
	{ -38.795, 1.17501, 83.3386 },
	{ -1.56299, 0.546456, 123.343 },
	{ 8.12442, 0.725939, 139.996 },
	{ -2.9316, 49.9983, 137.481 },
	{ 65.3223, -47.3663, 133.282 },
	{ -8.17385, -48.4803, 136.445 },
	{ -1.73403, 1.13759, 0.401718 },
	{ -1.73403, 1.13759, 169.319 },
	{ 20.037, -46.9331, 134.588 },
	{ 57.195, -47.363, 132.589 },
	{ 12.0207, 1.60836, 17.4267 },
	{ -1.73402, -0.624651, 130.572 },
	{ 12.8137, 17.5918, 8.42563 },
	{ 18.6365, -12.4559, 8.49739 },
	{ -6.25936, -11.9747, 8.58389 },
	{ 6.39201, 17.1786, 8.53934 },
	{ 9.00218, 1.12738, 156.361 },
	{ -38.8052, -14.2812, 5.56641 },
	{ 10.0968, 26.453, 5.56641 },
	{ -64.5309, 69.2725, 5.56641 },
	{ -103.676, -10.6139, 5.56641 },
	{ 21.574, 54.386, 5.56641 },
	{ 61.9608, 0, 105.929 },
	{ 3.23942, 0, 115.051 },
	{ -4.15004, 3.7032, 0 },
}

02-19-2006, 10:51 AM

#11

oBs3rv3r

Quote:

PivotPoints 82 {
{ -0.254494, 0.0714708, 15.4728 },
{ -14.8863, 1.1016, 77.9695 },
{ 17.2384, 1.10167, 79.998 },
{ 35.7905, -11.1558, 82.2527 },
{ 32.596, -11.1586, 60.8435 },
{ 34.7158, -11.157, 39.4076 },
{ 33.8258, -11.157, 13.8116 },
{ 35.7281, 13.3589, 82.2677 },
{ 32.4105, 13.3616, 60.8689 },
{ 34.5798, 13.3599, 39.4058 },
{ 33.7972, 13.3599, 13.799 },
{ 56.3941, 1.10174, 94.2441 },
{ 84.6134, 0.664712, 105.867 },
{ -39.5381, -15.9205, 89.7411 },
{ -33.8291, -14.6669, 60.5736 },
{ -42.0393, -13.4667, 43.8465 },
{ -35.6308, -12.6617, 13.2573 },
{ -39.5382, 18.1236, 89.7411 },
{ -33.8292, 16.87, 60.5736 },
{ -42.0393, 15.6697, 43.8465 },
{ -35.6309, 14.8648, 13.2573 },
{ -50.5959, 1.10145, 89.4012 },
{ -67.1837, 1.10144, 61.0863 },
{ -69.9245, 1.10144, 46.5997 },
{ 1.36881, 0.560549, 109.067 },
{ -3.20432, 9.33355, 106.509 },
{ -3.02082, -9.41531, 106.366 },
{ 2.50186, 0.557561, 113.821 },
{ -3.51708, -3.50125, 145.163 },
{ -3.53722, 5.18246, 145.314 },
{ 4.74703, 0.569245, 139.45 },
{ 10.0304, 1.09248, 151.119 },
{ -3.65063, 20.0152, 135.245 },
{ -5.18483, 33.0565, 135.421 },
{ -7.77022, 44.9466, 137.007 },
{ -2.82793, 36.2562, 124.395 },
{ -0.53776, 25.411, 125.374 },
{ -3.60317, -17.44, 135.908 },
{ -5.65774, -30.2161, 135.489 },
{ -7.70491, -43.4872, 136.172 },
{ -3.97359, -48.332, 135.256 },
{ 53.3229, -48.4613, 132.774 },
{ -2.67563, -34.9984, 126.058 },
{ -0.503907, -23.1037, 125.846 },
{ -39.2525, 1.10152, 91.0882 },
{ 8.68666, 19.238, 82.39 },
{ -7.51732, 18.9857, 60.6741 },
{ 7.82281, -17.3369, 81.6508 },
{ -8.55109, -15.988, 60.1854 },
{ 34.2026, -11.7253, -0.908094 },
{ 34.5726, 13.1102, -1.23064 },
{ 93.4672, 1.92473, 104.01 },
{ 40.6363, 1.17483, 77.5663 },
{ 7.59309, 25.0755, 80.1305 },
{ 7.21555, -22.5367, 80.508 },
{ -32.4232, -14.1237, 0.950243 },
{ -32.3751, 14.7498, 0.910814 },
{ -38.795, 1.17501, 83.3386 },
{ -1.56299, 0.546456, 123.343 },
{ 8.12442, 0.725939, 139.996 },
{ -2.9316, 49.9983, 137.481 },
{ 65.3223, -47.3663, 133.282 },
{ -8.17385, -48.4803, 136.445 },
{ -1.73403, 1.13759, 0.401718 },
{ -1.73403, 1.13759, 169.319 },
{ 20.037, -46.9331, 134.588 },
{ 57.195, -47.363, 132.589 },
{ 12.0207, 1.60836, 17.4267 },
{ -1.73402, -0.624651, 130.572 },
{ 12.8137, 17.5918, 8.42563 },
{ 18.6365, -12.4559, 8.49739 },
{ -6.25936, -11.9747, 8.58389 },
{ 6.39201, 17.1786, 8.53934 },
{ 9.00218, 1.12738, 156.361 },
{ -38.8052, -14.2812, 5.56641 },
{ 10.0968, 26.453, 5.56641 },
{ -64.5309, 69.2725, 5.56641 },
{ -103.676, -10.6139, 5.56641 },
{ 21.574, 54.386, 5.56641 },
{ 61.9608, 0, 105.929 },
{ 3.23942, 0, 115.051 },
{ -4.15004, 3.7032, 0 },
}

There you have the unchanged list of pivotpoints. In order to set the position of the origin attachment point to where it should be do the following:

Open the .mdl file in Notepad
Go to "Edit -> Go to" (the tab next to files)
In the popup specify line: 14171
In line 14171 change the values of the numbers seperated by commas to 0.

So you should have:

Quote:

PivotPoints 82 {
{ -0.254494, 0.0714708, 15.4728 },
{ -14.8863, 1.1016, 77.9695 },
{ 17.2384, 1.10167, 79.998 },
{ 35.7905, -11.1558, 82.2527 },
{ 32.596, -11.1586, 60.8435 },
{ 34.7158, -11.157, 39.4076 },
{ 33.8258, -11.157, 13.8116 },
{ 35.7281, 13.3589, 82.2677 },
{ 32.4105, 13.3616, 60.8689 },
{ 34.5798, 13.3599, 39.4058 },
{ 33.7972, 13.3599, 13.799 },
{ 56.3941, 1.10174, 94.2441 },
{ 84.6134, 0.664712, 105.867 },
{ -39.5381, -15.9205, 89.7411 },
{ -33.8291, -14.6669, 60.5736 },
{ -42.0393, -13.4667, 43.8465 },
{ -35.6308, -12.6617, 13.2573 },
{ -39.5382, 18.1236, 89.7411 },
{ -33.8292, 16.87, 60.5736 },
{ -42.0393, 15.6697, 43.8465 },
{ -35.6309, 14.8648, 13.2573 },
{ -50.5959, 1.10145, 89.4012 },
{ -67.1837, 1.10144, 61.0863 },
{ -69.9245, 1.10144, 46.5997 },
{ 1.36881, 0.560549, 109.067 },
{ -3.20432, 9.33355, 106.509 },
{ -3.02082, -9.41531, 106.366 },
{ 2.50186, 0.557561, 113.821 },
{ -3.51708, -3.50125, 145.163 },
{ -3.53722, 5.18246, 145.314 },
{ 4.74703, 0.569245, 139.45 },
{ 10.0304, 1.09248, 151.119 },
{ -3.65063, 20.0152, 135.245 },
{ -5.18483, 33.0565, 135.421 },
{ -7.77022, 44.9466, 137.007 },
{ -2.82793, 36.2562, 124.395 },
{ -0.53776, 25.411, 125.374 },
{ -3.60317, -17.44, 135.908 },
{ -5.65774, -30.2161, 135.489 },
{ -7.70491, -43.4872, 136.172 },
{ -3.97359, -48.332, 135.256 },
{ 53.3229, -48.4613, 132.774 },
{ -2.67563, -34.9984, 126.058 },
{ -0.503907, -23.1037, 125.846 },
{ -39.2525, 1.10152, 91.0882 },
{ 8.68666, 19.238, 82.39 },
{ -7.51732, 18.9857, 60.6741 },
{ 7.82281, -17.3369, 81.6508 },
{ -8.55109, -15.988, 60.1854 },
{ 34.2026, -11.7253, -0.908094 },
{ 34.5726, 13.1102, -1.23064 },
{ 93.4672, 1.92473, 104.01 },
{ 40.6363, 1.17483, 77.5663 },
{ 7.59309, 25.0755, 80.1305 },
{ 7.21555, -22.5367, 80.508 },
{ -32.4232, -14.1237, 0.950243 },
{ -32.3751, 14.7498, 0.910814 },
{ -38.795, 1.17501, 83.3386 },
{ -1.56299, 0.546456, 123.343 },
{ 8.12442, 0.725939, 139.996 },
{ -2.9316, 49.9983, 137.481 },
{ 65.3223, -47.3663, 133.282 },
{ -8.17385, -48.4803, 136.445 },
{ -1.73403, 1.13759, 0.401718 },
{ 0, 0, 0 }, <----------------- this is how it should look (without this notation of course!)
{ 20.037, -46.9331, 134.588 },
{ 57.195, -47.363, 132.589 },
{ 12.0207, 1.60836, 17.4267 },
{ -1.73402, -0.624651, 130.572 },
{ 12.8137, 17.5918, 8.42563 },
{ 18.6365, -12.4559, 8.49739 },
{ -6.25936, -11.9747, 8.58389 },
{ 6.39201, 17.1786, 8.53934 },
{ 9.00218, 1.12738, 156.361 },
{ -38.8052, -14.2812, 5.56641 },
{ 10.0968, 26.453, 5.56641 },
{ -64.5309, 69.2725, 5.56641 },
{ -103.676, -10.6139, 5.56641 },
{ 21.574, 54.386, 5.56641 },
{ 61.9608, 0, 105.929 },
{ 3.23942, 0, 115.051 },
{ -4.15004, 3.7032, 0 },
}

Then just save and convert it back to .mdx

If you are interested in knowing why you must change exactly that line I'll give you a little explanation:

Just above the list of pivotpoints you have the attachment points listed (as you might have noticed). Since you want to change the position of the origin attachment point you'll have to see what ObjectId it has. So take a look at the place, just above the list of pivotpoints where it says:

Quote:

Attachment "Origin Ref " {
ObjectId 63,
AttachmentID 0,
}

That's the information regarding the origin attachment point. As you can see it has ObjectId 63. This means that the position of this attachment point is given on the 63rd pivotpoint.

So what you should normally do is: count from the beginning of the pivotpoints (the first line of co-ordinates) until the 63rd pivotpoint. Remember, when you start to count you must begin from 0, since the first ObjectId is 0. And, to my understanding, the pivotpoint of the origin attachment point *should* be there. However, it is actually on the next line (and I do not know why - perhaps someone can clear that up for me).

Hope this helps you. And apologies for the rather long post.

02-19-2006, 12:19 PM	#12
Whitehorn	Odd, considering this uses the Archmage model.

02-19-2006, 10:41 PM

#13

ugmo_joe

Aha! It works!

I thank you both for all your help and patience.

Quote:

Hope this helps you. And apologies for the rather long post.

No apology required. It was great that you were able to explain your changed in the .mdl file, rather than just telling me to change a couple of numbers.

P.S.
Actually, just before I went to bed last night I thought to myself, 'I bet that the row I have to change is the 63rd...'