[WIPz] Vvardenfell Glass : IV - Oblivion

» Mon Apr 25, 2011 9:01 am

I have been waiting for this mod from the very beginning... It is STILL not finished, and now this...
I feel like crying...
:sad:

Plus my hard drive with ALL my mods (700+) went :nuke:

» Sun Apr 24, 2011 6:06 pm

Simply: awsome, awsome, awsome! Bring this mod to life!

» Mon Apr 25, 2011 9:45 am

sad day

» Mon Apr 25, 2011 3:21 am

Any update on this?

» Sun Apr 24, 2011 9:20 pm

dam .... to bad they just didnt share what they had .... now who knows when it'll be done

» Mon Apr 25, 2011 5:43 am

Update: I added a new PSU but it burned up as soon as I turned it on. Apparently the old PSU destroyed the motherboard. I have also confirmed that everything in the PC except the video and audio board is completely fried. All 3 hard drives have burned up http://thenexusforums.com/index.php?s=&showtopic=138897&view=findpost&p=1190778.

I have bits and pieces from older backups but my automated backup did not include the Oblivion Data folder which was simply too large to fit on my external drive with my other data.

I cannot afford to send the drive off to a data recovery shop so my last hope is to take the electronic board off another similar hard drive and replace the burned board. I have not found ANYTHING on the Internet on how to do this or if it will even work. Most all places simply say to trash it if the electronics do not work. I would have started doing that last night except I do not have a star-shaped tool that is small enough to fit the screws on the hard drive...my tools are just one size too big! Grrrr...

If anyone knows of an article that talks about swapping EIDE hard drive boards to revive a dead drive, please let me know.

If this last-ditch option fails, I will see if jcarl904 can be contacted to get copies of the latest files I shared with him.

I'm doing http://thenexusforums.com/index.php?showtopic=140552...although it will likely not be ready for use until the end of this year.

EDIT: FYI - If the drive cannot be recovered, the plugin, heavy shield and a couple of the weapons will be lost but that is the minority. It just took a LONG time to make the plugin and structure the mod, file structure and all the variations. It can be re-made once I can start modding again.

Thanks (well...actually, sorry)
LHammonds

» Mon Apr 25, 2011 12:55 am

That svcks man. I know the feeling, I lost 2 hdd when my PSU died. I thought I was being smart by buying a cheap PSU, but I was proven wrong. Now I'd rather buy a crappy video card so I can have a solid PSU. That's been my motto ever since and I have not had a single PSU die on me. I've not burnt any other components since for that matter.
I'm not saying you bought a cheap PSU he

I'm just saying I know how that feels to break a computer because of a faulty PSU.

For what it's worth, you don't have to be sorry about anything. We should feel sorry about what's happening to you. If and when you start doing those great meshes, I'm sure we'll all support you as best as we can. For my part it'll be moral support, as I have no idea how you can swap your hdd baord to another hdd

» Sun Apr 24, 2011 9:00 pm

SWEET !!!!!!

I found an obscure backup of all my blender files on my work PC of all places. I cannot remember why I had them here but I am sure glad they are here. That means all weapons, light / heavy shield, GND meshes and source textures are A-OK. AlienSlof sent me back the subset of weapons I gave her and the original male armor but now I have the source files again. I also have the original plugin I made a LONG time ago when it was still bugged with a crash problem that Brandon fixed for me but at least that is a good start. If the drive cannot be fixed, I will see if jcarl904 can send me the updated heavy armor version. I am almost certain that the one I am looking at is the original and not the latest version. I was going to alter it for a female version but my progress towards that end is not a problem if lost.

(kind of a lesson-learned project).

Keep in mind that all the lessons I learned the 1st time I did this means that when I start going after it again, I will not be making the same mistakes of trial and error that I did in the past (such as directory paths being too long for the game to recognize them...this was a major time-killer)

LHammonds

NOTE TO SELF: I remember why I do not like posting on this site. "Authorization Mismatch" sux when you take too long typing a reply.

» Sun Apr 24, 2011 11:42 pm

SWEET !!!!!!

FYI - I have all the sources from 08/07 where I was helping JCarl with rigging. Your stuff may be newer though.

» Mon Apr 25, 2011 6:23 am

FYI - I have all the sources from 08/07 where I was helping JCarl with rigging. Your stuff may be newer though.

These are the dates on the NIF files I have. (first versions I received were 2007-08-24 for light and 2007-08-29 for heavy I believe)

Light Male files:

Boots.nif - 2007-10-15
Cuirass.nif - 2007-09-13
Greaves.nif - 2007-10-15
Helmet.nif - 2007-10-15

Heavy Male files:

Boots.nif - 2007-10-15
Cuirass.nif - 2007-10-15
Greaves.nif - 2007-10-15
Helmet.nif - 2007-11-03

LHammonds

» Mon Apr 25, 2011 6:09 am

These are the dates on the NIF files I have. (first versions I received were 2007-08-24 for light and 2007-08-29 for heavy I believe)

Yours are newer than what JCarl sent me. I did make modifications to the greaves to match Roberts v3 but JCarl declined as he didn't want to get into supporting any body but vanilla (as I recall). Glad to see you back and hope you stay with it. Its strange but I drafted a PM yesterday asking if you were opposed to me starting the Glass set from scratch. I didn't send it for some reason and then you show up. Weird. I think I conjured you.

» Sun Apr 24, 2011 8:23 pm

You worked on this at leisure until the inevitable (that always seems to happen with computers) happened.

It's coming on two years of this mod being a Work In Progress. And while I'm sure we all appreciate the work the whole team put into this... I must repeat how this is now being squandered, since you just don't have the time to dedicate to this.

Please... let someone else who is as qualified as yourself and http://www.tesnexus.com/articles/article.php?id=163 take over this, or at least give your blessing to someone like Hel Borne, who would like to start back up the project from scratch.

» Sun Apr 24, 2011 11:28 pm

I too had a version of the models from when I received them to maybe look at some UV-ing and/or texturing. But yours are definitely newer so, yeah. Glad you were able to find them!

» Sun Apr 24, 2011 8:08 pm

Zero_Phoenix, thanks for being my manager and putting the screw on me anytime you felt it necessary. I have explained the circumstances over and over but still you insist on trying your best to torque me off. It is not working...so please consider this your official notice of being fired as my acting manager.

To everyone else,
I am truly sorry this mod and others have not been completed yet but I am NOT sorry for where I have placed my priorities in life.

I finished the majority of my home upgrade and started getting back into what I enjoyed doing in my free time: Modding. When the PC died, it was quite painful as I had(have) no money at that point to buy anything else. The economy isn't helping either and I would appreciate people not trying to "guilt" me into going back on my word. IT IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN. I will finish this mod unless jcarl904 decides to fire me and take the project back over. Even if I fell of the face of this Earth, it should be apparent that jcarls files are in the hands of several modders (6 that I know about) so the project "could" be finished by somebody else.

I also do not see why I would need to give a "blessing" to anyone to make their own mods. If Morrowind Glass is the baddest armor out there, I am certain people would not mind seeing several different implementations of it by various modders. Nothing is stopping anyone from creating their own mods except themselves. Granted, it would be nice to get help and I was offered such help just before my PC died. I was in the process of preparing the mod to be worked on simultaneously by other modders. I am preparing a private forum to hold the source files so multiple modders can work on it at the same time...much like I did with Spartan 300 and Lost Paladins.

EDIT: When I finish rounding up all the latest versions of the models and textures, I will send a PM to those that already have jcarls older copies so they will have the same files I do. (This is in addition to the soon-to-be private developer forum)

LHammonds

» Mon Apr 25, 2011 8:47 am

Zero_Phoenix, thanks for being my manager and putting the screw on me anytime you felt it necessary. I have explained the circumstances over and over but still you insist on trying your best to torque me off. It is not working...so please consider this your official notice of being fired as my acting manager.

If me asking nicely and noting you being more then qualified to do the job, but busy... "torques" you off, I'd hate to see how you react to the nexus posters. >.>

» Mon Apr 25, 2011 1:29 am

First posted updated.

Zero_Phoenix, take a look at what you have posted thusfar just in this thread alone.

EDIT: Thanks Corepc for sending the Glass Atronachs back my way so I do not have to re-create them!

» Sun Apr 24, 2011 8:37 pm

If Morrowind Glass is the baddest armor out there, I am certain people would not mind seeing several different implementations of it by various modders.

I totally agree with this, and it's been somewhat of a disappointment that more haven't tried their hand at it. I think part of the reason for this is that there has been word that a mod for it was already on the way, along with pictures out there of it looking pretty sweet. This is by no means Conan_Lon's fault, but it's an assumption that needs rethinking. When I watch the demonstration videos linked here I can't help but want jcarl's models as they are, and yet they're certainly not the end-all be-all glass armor.

No offense intended, but I also agree that the delays on this have been really unnecessary, even accepting the principle of being unwilling to release it without the quest being complete as envisioned. I'm glad to hear suggestions that a strategy has been found to get work on this started up again, whether or not the existing esp can be recovered. It will only take a couple of people to be proactive to finally get this released and would even be tempted to volunteer myself, but with my own schedule I am afraid of doing more harm to the project than good.

» Mon Apr 25, 2011 8:16 am

It will only take a couple of people to be proactive to finally get this released and would even be tempted to volunteer myself, but with my own schedule I am afraid of doing more harm to the project than good.

Yes, people with talent and an open schedule are extremely rare.

Anyways, I have sent emails to the last known address of Brandon and JCarl904 in hopes that they have a copy of the plugin...at least one that is much further along than the initial 0.1 alpha I slapped together just to show jcarl the potential of the mod. I have begun to gather my notes from old PMs, text files in old backup folders and such and started re-creating the project plan of how the mod should be designed down to the enchantments, enemy levels, locations, strengths, weaknesses and surprises.

They are all being documented on my new http://lhammonds.game-host.org/forum/ as well as all the project files being placed there for safe-keeping. My other projects were fairly safe since they each had their own forums (except the WIPs I had only on my drive). My forum will be for modders to privately share ideas and files amongst the team. I have created "Public" viewports to each of my projects in case passers'by want to see what has been publicly posted or where to find these WIP threads so they can communicate to us.

themythofstrider has already rampaged through the textures for the weapons and has done a tremendously excellent job!

Edoc'sil has offered to help with modeling but we have not really discussed any specifics just yet.

LHammonds

» Mon Apr 25, 2011 8:48 am

Weapon Textures (beta).

Battleaxe
http://i843.photobucket.com/albums/zz357/themythofanst/Vvardenfell%20Glass%20Weapons/Oblivion2009-08-0513-17-58-03.jpg
http://i843.photobucket.com/albums/zz357/themythofanst/Vvardenfell%20Glass%20Weapons/Oblivion2009-08-0513-26-30-00.jpg
Battlestaff
http://i843.photobucket.com/albums/zz357/themythofanst/Vvardenfell%20Glass%20Weapons/Oblivion2009-08-0513-18-31-15.jpg
Claymore
http://i843.photobucket.com/albums/zz357/themythofanst/Vvardenfell%20Glass%20Weapons/Oblivion2009-08-0513-21-52-51.jpg
http://i843.photobucket.com/albums/zz357/themythofanst/Vvardenfell%20Glass%20Weapons/Oblivion2009-08-0513-21-59-17.jpg
http://i843.photobucket.com/albums/zz357/themythofanst/Vvardenfell%20Glass%20Weapons/Oblivion2009-08-0513-25-04-28.jpg
Dagger
http://i843.photobucket.com/albums/zz357/themythofanst/Vvardenfell%20Glass%20Weapons/Oblivion2009-08-0513-22-50-57.jpg
Longsword
http://i843.photobucket.com/albums/zz357/themythofanst/Vvardenfell%20Glass%20Weapons/Oblivion2009-08-0513-22-42-03.jpg
http://i843.photobucket.com/albums/zz357/themythofanst/Vvardenfell%20Glass%20Weapons/Oblivion2009-08-0513-24-24-78.jpg
Mace
http://i843.photobucket.com/albums/zz357/themythofanst/Vvardenfell%20Glass%20Weapons/Oblivion2009-08-0513-22-16-17.jpg
Shortsword
http://i843.photobucket.com/albums/zz357/themythofanst/Vvardenfell%20Glass%20Weapons/Oblivion2009-08-0513-22-33-78.jpg
Spear
http://i843.photobucket.com/albums/zz357/themythofanst/Vvardenfell%20Glass%20Weapons/Oblivion2009-08-0513-19-57-50.jpg
Staff
http://i843.photobucket.com/albums/zz357/themythofanst/Vvardenfell%20Glass%20Weapons/Oblivion2009-08-0513-17-30-95.jpg
Waraxe
http://i843.photobucket.com/albums/zz357/themythofanst/Vvardenfell%20Glass%20Weapons/Oblivion2009-08-0513-20-54-15.jpg
http://i843.photobucket.com/albums/zz357/themythofanst/Vvardenfell%20Glass%20Weapons/Oblivion2009-08-0513-20-58-12.jpg
Warhammer
http://i843.photobucket.com/albums/zz357/themythofanst/Vvardenfell%20Glass%20Weapons/Oblivion2009-08-0513-21-14-37.jpg

» Sun Apr 24, 2011 7:39 pm

Oh my god, that's impressive! How long did it take you to come up with these "beta" textures? :bowdown:

» Mon Apr 25, 2011 7:50 am

Wee bit too transparent IMO. Looks ethereal. Might consider limiting transparency to the very blade edges. Nice glass color and metal textures. :thumbsup:

» Mon Apr 25, 2011 9:28 am

More good news...Brandon has responded to my email and was able to send me the 0.2 version of the plugin. In the grand scope of things, it is not much further along than the 0.1 version I already had BUT it contains a fix to the flame effect on the NPCs that had me stumped long ago (caused CTD). I still need to add the 800+ entries to the plugin again but at least it will be just the mundane steps rather than banging my head on the keyboard trying to fix what had already been fixed once before!

THANKS BRANDON!

I may still be able to recover all my files if my hard drive is not phyisically damaged AND I can purchase the exact model somewhere online AND successfully transfer the electronic board from that drive to the fried one. That is a big IF but even if I cannot restore the files from my data drive, we can rest assured that there is no roadblock in the development of this particular mod! Just need time to get everything back in order again.

» Mon Apr 25, 2011 6:14 am

ATTENTION MODELERS

In the interest of saving time, I am looking to find a modeler that can create female versions of the light and heavy armors to fit the vanilla female body. Nothing in terms of "showing skin" but more in terms of fitting the shape of the female body and making certain conservative adjustments...similar to how some vanilla armor is done.

Once the female versions are complete, it would be nice to have alternate versions that fit the HGEC female body and the Robert muscular body but not necessary.

Please send resume to me via PM if interested.

Thanks,
LHammonds

» Sun Apr 24, 2011 7:32 pm

Project is back in development

Prior Threads

http://www.gamesas.com/bgsforums/index.php?showtopic=757094
http://www.gamesas.com/bgsforums/index.php?showtopic=746353 - Archived.
http://www.gamesas.com/bgsforums/index.php?showtopic=742596 - Archived.
http://www.gamesas.com/bgsforums/index.php?showtopic=736813 - Archived.

Description

This mod is a re-imagined armor and weapon set for Oblivion that is based on the glass armor in Morrowind.

Expected Release Date: When it's done.
Expected Level of Difficulty: Hard, Level 20+

Screenshot Gallery

http://s228.photobucket.com/albums/ee11/Conan_Lon/Oblivion/VvardenfellGlass/

http://www.tesnexus.com/imageshare/image.php?id=28464 models completed on 5/26/2008 (Modified 3/21/2009) http://www.tesnexus.com/imageshare/image.php?id=28465
http://www.tesnexus.com/imageshare/image.php?id=7972 model completed on 5/25/2008
http://www.tesnexus.com/imageshare/image.php?id=7973 model completed on 5/25/2008
http://www.tesnexus.com/imageshare/image.php?id=4997 model completed on 4/10/2008
http://www.tesnexus.com/imageshare/image.php?id=4349 model completed on 3/31/2008
http://www.tesnexus.com/imageshare/image.php?id=4059 (collage) model completed on 3/26/2008
http://www.tesnexus.com/imageshare/image.php?id=4059 (collage) model completed on 3/18/2008
http://www.tesnexus.com/imageshare/image.php?id=3478 model completed on 3/16/2008
http://www.tesnexus.com/imageshare/image.php?id=3184 model completed on 3/9/2008
http://www.tesnexus.com/imageshare/image.php?id=2287 model completed on 2/11/2008
http://www.tesnexus.com/imageshare/image.php?id=7975 model completed on 2/11/2008 (updated on 5/25/2008)
http://www.tesnexus.com/imageshare/image.php?id=1300 model completed on 12/23/2007
http://www.tesnexus.com/imageshare/image.php?id=1294 model completed on 12/23/2007

Videos

Vvardenfell Glass Armor Test #1 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nkoEIgpgUbs (low-res) or http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=12815 (high-res).
Vvardenfell Glass Armor Test #2 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i2YkKJfoz3c (low-res) or http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=12815 (high-res).

Features
- 8 New Enemies ranging from tough to very challenging and presented in a serial progression
- 3 New (Re-Textured) Glass Atronachs that are made of transparent material.
- 11 uniquely modified glass weapon meshes in 8 different colors = 88 weapons.
- 16 pieces of unique glass light armor (Male/Female) meshes in 8 different colors = 128 armor pieces
- 16 pieces of unique glass heavy armor (Male/Female) meshes in 8 different colors = 128 armor pieces
- 2 shield meshes in 8 different colors = 16 shields

That's 45 new meshes with 360 pieces in-game. whew!!!

I think jcarl only had one armor set in mind when he started this. muhahahaha!!!

Current Plan

Mod Varient #1 - Vvardenfell Glass Armor
- Adds unique enchanted armor that must be taken from enemy PCs. Each enemy will have a different colored set with different enchantments and different weapons.
- There will be light and heavy armor that is visually different (heavier-looking).
- Each enemy NPC carries a unique enchanted armor set and one unique enchanted weapon that they specialize in.
- When enemy NPCs are conquered, vendor shops will sell non-enchanted versions of their armor and the ENTIRE set of matching (colored) weapons.
- One set of unique non-enchanted armor that will be very close in appearance to Morrowind Glass armor.
- Various sets of unique enchanted armor will be available. Currently in Green, Red, Dark Blue, Light Blue, Purple, Orange, Black and White.
- Various sets of non-enchanted armor will be made available for purchase at vendor shops (more will be appear over time in the vendor's inventory)
- Special Spell: Vvardenfell Glass Fire - This spell is available when all pieces of an armor set are worn together. It will set the armor on fire (color based on armor color), 60 second duration, Novice in Illusion requirement, 15 foot radius of light, 100% resistant to fire, 100% resistant to frost, 50% weakness to magic.
- Special Spell: Vvardenfell Glass Vision - This spell is available when all pieces of an armor set are worn together. It will set enable night vision for 60 seconds and have a Novice in Illusion requirement.
- Estimated Size: Uncompressed: 207 MB, Compressed: 18 MB

Mod Varient #2 - Oblivion Glass Replacer
- Meshes and Green textures placed and named exactly like Oblivion glass armor which will replace Oblivion Glass with Vvardenfell Glass.
- No .esp required...thus no stat changes or anything...just a visual change.
- Estimated Size: Uncompressed: 30 MB, Compressed: 3 MB

Historical Section

While sending PMs back and forth to each other, jcarl sent me a particular PM on July 30th, 2007 at 12:37 PM

This marks the very beginning of this project and moves it from the "wouldn't it be cool" talking phase to actual development.

To-Do List

- REDO (PC CRASH): Re-enter all armor variants, NPC battles, creatures and FX spells.
- REDO (PC CRASH): Re-create folder structure.
- REDO (PC CRASH): Create color variants.
- REDO (PC CRASH): Fix all glowmaps.
- REDO (PC CRASH): Re-match fire shader effects to finalized glass colors.
- MODELING: Create helmet egm files.
- MODELING: Heavy towershield.
- MODELING: Create ground meshes for heavy armor.
- CS KIT: Add fire sound FX whenever the fire spell is used.
- CS KIT: Adjust NPC enemy levels of difficulty.
- CS KIT: Apply and adjust enchantments.
- OPTIONAL: Heavy version of armor for females.
- OPTIONAL: Light version of armor for females.
- PACKAGING: Figure out how to allow people to play with the armor if they don't want glowmaps (requires edited mesh and deleted _g.dds file).
- PACKAGING: Create final build with OMOD Conversion Data.
- PACKAGING: Upload to TESNexus and Planet Elder Scrolls.
- OPTIONAL (After Release): UFF/Robert version of the armor.
- OPTIONAL (After Release): Retexture new glass weapons to match armor.
- OPTIONAL (After Release): Create some re-invisioned Morrowind weapons.
- ~~WEBSITE: Create private developer forum and upload WIP.~~
- ~~COMPLETE: RESTORE: Put all recovered files into a single archive and distribute to various other authors for backup.~~
- ~~COMPLETE: Create special re-textured versions of Oblivion Glass weapons for each NPC enemy to match their armor color.~~
- ~~COMPLETE: Modify the original Oblivion glass weapons to make the glass transparent.~~
- ~~COMPLETE: Choose enchantments for unique armors.~~
- ~~COMPLETE: Create ground meshes for light armor.~~
- ~~COMPLETE: Hand a copy of the 1st pre-alpha plugin and files to jcarl.~~
- ~~COMPLETE: Integrate separated NIF meshes and texture updates.~~
- ~~DROPPED: Create a spell that contains the script for green-tinted view. (this would cause shader and compatibility issues)~~

Wow atleast 13 more thing to go then the one that dont have to be done very nice job ive been looking for armor like morrowind glass for a long time oblivions is just plain ugly well good luck ill be wait for it hope its done soon

» Sun Apr 24, 2011 11:48 pm

Wow! The armor looks really good! Any news on progress?