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~If you can't find it? Learn to make it.~
Getting Ready
Installing the Scripts - Start
Locate and unzip your m2mod file. Within you should find a folder called Scripts, and in that an addons folder, open this and copy the files you find inside.
Now go find where you installed Blender 2.62, and navigate to Blenders Scripts\addons folder. Here is my file path for example "C:\Program Files (x86)\blender-2.62-release-windows32\2.62\scripts\addons".
Paste the files (not folders) you copied into here.
Open Blender 2.62
Click - File > User Preferances > Addons
Scroll down and activate both:
Import-Export: Export: M2 Intermediate (.m2i)
Import-Export: Import: M2 Intermediate (.m2i)
Installing the Scripts - Done
Set up a Desktop Folder to keep files organized (it sucks to over write your work). Here is how my folder looks. 1-4 are also folders.
1 Orig M2
2 Orig M2i
3 New M2i
4 MPQ File (mod version ex:XL)
M2Mod.exe
M2Mod.ini
Getting INTO Blender
Extracting models from WoW
Locate the art.MPQ within your WoW data folder. Open this with the MPQ Editor and extract the "Character" file path to your "1 Orig M2" folder that you made a second ago.
If you move a .M2 file be sure to move all .SKIN files associated with that also. Treat the .M2 and .SKIN files as one file. But you should not need to move them manually, all of these programs will take care of them correctly if you let them.
For support visit my guide thread over at Azerothica: Support will be hosted as soon as this guide is fully tested.
(I keep my support over at Azerothica to keep all of that togeather instead of answering questions twice or more)
Tools Needed
Python 2.6 - This must be installed for Blender to be able to understand the scripts.
http://www.oldapps.com/Python.php?app=6c62c123d248a48dccbaa4d3edc12680
Blender 2.62 - 3D Modling Program (it is free)
x32 - http://download.blender.org/release/Blender2.62/blender-2.62-release-windows32.zip
x64 - http://download.blender.org/release/Blender2.62/blender-2.62-release-windows64.zip
Ladiks MPQ Editor - Lets you open, brows, extract, and build files that wow can read.
http://www.zezula.net/en/mpq/download.html
M2ModV4.5 and Scripts
http://download983.mediafire.com/ac6od2sfi6bg/3emn79awj1ecgz3/M2ModRedux.zip
Here is the site i found this link on, you may find some mroe usefull info in it there (like this tool can be used to convert Cata/Mop models for WOTLK) http://modcraft.superparanoid.de/viewtopic.php?f=59&t=7450
Blp Viewer - This will let you look at a BLP image to see what one you want.
http://jonathankoff.com/Public/BLP_Viewer/BLP_Viewer_1.3.zip
Blp>Png / Png>Blp Converter
http://www.wowinterface.com/downloads/download14110-BLPConverter
Video tutorials for blender in the works.
M2modv4.5 no longer has an .ini file you have to mess with...it has a UI that should be self explanitory
Top image: New M2mod4.5
Bottom Image: Old M2Mod.ini
as you can tell you treat these 4 lines just the same, just leave the ones you would normally start with a # blank.
Convert M2 from game to and M2I for Blender-
Top Line: Find your races M2 that you extracted and put in your "1 Orig M2" folder
Line 2: click the 3 dots and navigate to your "2 Orig M2i" folder, for a file name type "xxxxFemale" xxxx= race (Human/Troll/BloodElf/etc.)
Line 3: EMPTY
Bottom Line: EMPTY
CLICK GO!
Open M2I in Blender
1. Open Blender 2.62
2. File > Import > M2 Intermediate (.M2I)
Open your skin in Blender and apply it on your model
you should already have a nude mod with skins downloaded at this point.
1. navigate to each of the races you want to edit and find one BLP that skins the entire body, the right side should be chest to legs, upper left arms/hands/ lower left is face. (if the face/bottom left corner is black that is ok)
2. put these files in the same folder inside of your "1 Orig M2" folder named "Skins"
3. open Blp > Png converter. drag all of the blp images to the button that says "Decode" (the left/green side). This will have made a PNG copy of the skins.
4. in blender hilight/select the chest/torso, make sure you are first in object mode to select the object then change to edit mode and press "Ctrl+A" to highlight everything. (if you plan to do a smooth body edit and not just tits be sure to select legs/pelvis, shins, and the arm)
5. open the UV mapping window, click open, and now find the skin that you extracted for your race that you converted to a PNG.
Quick tip: to get clothing and hair out of your way right click them to highlight them and hit "H" do not move or delete them only hide them. to show all hidden objects it is "Alt - H". If you select an object and hit "/" it will hide everything aside from your selection.
5. Fill out the M2Modv4.5.exe
Top Line: Find your races M2 that you extracted and put in your "1 Orig M2" folder
Line 2: -EMPTY-
Line 3: Navigate to your new edited M2I
Bottom Line: "...\4 Ready for repack CATA\CHARACTER\xxxx\Female\" xxxx = Race (Human, BleedElf, Orc, Draenei)
6. Click Go!-If your files are created continue with step 7
-If it crashes or sends out an error, or the files did not get created..CHECK YOUR FILE PATH this is often the problem.
-If your file paths are 100% correct and it still crashes? :/ it just doesn't like something about your new m2i sometimes this is just to many subdivides...but it usually indicates its time for me to restart.
7. Open the MPQ editor
8. New MPQ
9. In the top line enter a name for your mpq. For CATA it will need to be named "SoundCache-patch-enGB-15211.MPQ"
-enGB = your client version mine just happens to be enGB
-15211 = you will have some other options to number your MPQ, you should find some "place holder" MPQs that are 1kb in size, try these numbers...you may have to try a few before you find one of those numbers that work.
10. Click Next >
11. Select the second dot "Build the MPQ archive from a file or directory"
12. now find your "4 MPQ File" folder and choose it Ex: C:\Users\Teddy\Desktop\WoW modeling patch-2 files\4.0.6 - 4.3.4\40 Ready for repack Cata
13. Make sure Game compatibility is WoW - Cataclysm
14. Click Next >
15. CHANGE NOTHING...leave the numbers as they are.
16. Click Next >
17. Click Finish
18. Close the MPQ editor
19. Find your new MPQ and right click and copy it
20.find your WoW-Cata game folder and navigate to the "C:\WoW-Cata\Data\Cache"
-It will either need to go in the Cache folder or the enGB folder. for some reason not all of my mods work in both folders. Some work in one but not the other, so try the other if the first does not work.
21. Paste your MPQ
22. Make sure the MPQ has the name format "SoundCache-patch-enGB-15596.MPQ: if you have multiple mods that effect the same model/texture the latter will always be used in-game (-15596.MPQ will over power -15592.MPQ) if they do not effect the same file than all is well.
23. Launch your 4.3.4 game client FIXED EXE and test your mod. DO NOT LAUNCH WITH LAUNCHER.EXE Launch with WoW.EXE
-If it worked CONGRATS on your first body mod.
-If not? go back and check all of your steps.
You will need a Fixed.EXE from Azerothica to use Model Edits with Cata. http://www.azerothica.com/downloads/fixed-wow-exes
Although there is no reason these should not work with private servers this is not posted in support of those but as a learning aid for modeling.
I would suggest finding a repack that you may also learn some programing, DB managment, or Server managment skills.
Getting OUT of blender and back in the game.
1. Make sure all objects are no longer hidden with "Alt+H"
2. Select all objects with "Ctrl+A"
3. Export as M2i/M2, be sure to export it to your "3 New M2i" folder. And name it along the same lines of your orignal Ex: BloodElfFemale1.m2i (notice i added the 1), this is just to keep track if you end up making more than 1 model for each race for different versions.
4. open your M2mod4.5.exe.