I want to make paper miniatures from the fallout games for the Fallout Wargames rules included with Fallout Tactics. I want to have front and back designs and I was wondering what would be the best way to go about this? Would the G.E.C.K. be the best way or is there another program that lets you view characters and pose them?

I want to be able to switch weapons and the poses (croutching, aiming, running, etc.) as well as facial features and clothing.

Is this a impossibility?

I'm not sure but yes, I think the GECK may be your best bet. And you could always make a character in the game do do the poses/actions you describe. I believe that there is a console command that also allows you to take pictures.

If you want basic 2d flat pieces... You could pose the various characters (in their armor and with the various weapons), and take a screenshot from the front & back (using the console).

Crop and arrange the front & back pairs http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/jj125/Gizmojunk/paper-units.jpg; Then print them out on Cardstock, and fold them back.

If you want to get more advanced with it, you would need to use custom pose mods.



** You can also make stands for them out of a sheet of foam-core (most drugstores or office supply stores have it.). Just cut out little squares with a pen knife, and carve out a thin slot across the middle.. http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/jj125/Gizmojunk/paper-unit-stand.jpg.

That is what I was thinking I would have to do. Maybe I will try my hand at the G.E.C.K. and make a White room to do the poses so I can use photoshop and make the flats. I just hope I can get the back shots from a proper angle unless there is a console control that will allow me to rotate them 180 degrees.

Is there anyway of being able to do the same thing enemies? Like Super Mutants, Deathclaws and stuff?

The engine (unlike real life photos, makes a clear contrasting line between figure and back ground; most of the time), you could use the Magnetic selection to isolate the poses from a screenshot and certainly do this with enemies like Deathclaws. With these images, its a lot easier than you'd expect.

* Although... the 3d modeler method is more controlled, and can achieve any result you'd like. http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/jj125/Gizmojunk/deathclawAVnma.gif


Edit: I would try just using a standard [test] worldspace from the game. Load up an invulnerable PC, and spawn an enemy and record them with Fraps (both video and screen capture). See what results you get, and carve out the enemies in Photoshop. Later, you can construct the few poses you don't get in a modeler or by selectively pausing the game to catch screen shots of NPCs in mid action; but in a pose that's "close enough" to what you want.

Afterward, you can composite the NPCs over any screenshot background you wish.