Need Mod Help

well, generaly speaking, softimage XSI mod tool (google it). to make a new race show up you got to do a lot of things, such as creating new art for the race, making sure its Player(race).entity is properly filled out, getting player portrates done, new research, buildings, units, etc. sound is a tricky one, hardly anyone has a sound mod out there and not many people work with it on the forum, last program i personaly used for sound editing as audicity (may be miss spelled).as for Particle edditing, download Forge tools in the download section, Particle forge lets you do that. thers also a ConvertData GUI on the forum that allows you to convert the .entity files of the beta and normal game from text to binart and back easily.

So explain entity files. Srry i know nothing about modding but i want to start.

we were all there at one time m8. the .entity files can be converted to binary and back using the ConvertData_Sins.exe or the ConvertData_Entrenchment.exe (depends on what game your trying to modify). theres a convertdata gui(graphical user interface) HERE. all you got to do is rename the apropriate convert data (for what group if files your trying to edit) to ConvertData.exe and select the GameInfo folder in your sins/entrenchment install directory, then select another folder to transfer the converted files to (make sure its empty). and hit exicute. then go to your new folder and open in notepad or notpad++.

Do i download softimage xsi of buy it?

You can download the aptly named XSI mod tool for free: http://www.softimage.com/products/modtool/

K i have it running but i dont know how to open the mesh files into the program. anny help?

lol it c ant open mesh files. you got to use 3DS Max and download the little plug in for it somewhere around this form and then use that to edit them. its a lot faster to use 3DS max in my opinion because you cant really open .XSI files in softimage mod tool due to it being freeware.

Ok so why are people telling me to use softimage if it doesn't work? What type of file does xsi open?

Well now i have tto download 3ds max instead? Will this program open mesh files?

The best way is to create a model with XSI Mod Tools and use ConvertXSI from Ironclad Games to import it in SOASE's format. It is to create a new model, if you want edit an existing model, XSI Mod Tools is not very good.

You can use others programs like 3DS Max and its plugin like StCobalt told you. When it's done, you will need to export your model in XSI format with another plugin and then use ConvertXSI.

XSI and 3DS Max aren't free, only XSI Mod Tools is, but it has limited functions.

Ya but what about editing existing files or texturing. I am trying to make our solar system planets like the earth and mars. i want to edit the gasgiant mesh so its planet sized. this because i cant do UV mapping.

You can edit or add textures to a planet type, i already try to add our planet from an HD 2D map, but I had a big problem and canceled it. To open an existing texture in .dds type, I used Photoshop and Nvidia's Plugin. It works fine.

The problem was the texture itself, it's a grid of 9 boxes (3 lines 3 columns), we have north pole in the medium box on first line, a deep black for the first and third boxes, idem with south pole on third line. And we have the circumference of the planet all the second line. The texture is like a cross (+) and I didn't know how to do that of my 2D map.

Me neither. Im using Photosnap. Im asking if there is a way to change the planet UV maping into normal sphere maping.

I made All our gas giants but now im trying Earth (Terran), Mars (Desert), Mercury & The Moon (Baren) and Pluto (Ice). I cant figure out where to put Venus just yet.

We are both beginner in modding, I use to modify GameInfo files, I'm not working on textures & mesh files, I think I will start that soon.

Now, you should try to ask help directly to DANMAN (DANMAN3712), the author of 7 Deadly Sins Mod, he worked a lot on planets, perhaps he can help you much.

Good Luck.

Ya but i might wait untill hes done 7DS 2.0 because im sure hes really buisy with finishing it.

I just wish there was a setting in the game to switch it from UV to Sphericam maping. That would make things a lot easyer for modders who try to make planets.

Even if they dont, i already have an idea of what i need to do. Its just that i cant open mesh files in XSI and i dont feel like going and buying 3D MAX.

I found this mod during my research: Solar System Mod, it's exactly what I was trying to do, and he works on planets sizes too. Perhaps he can help you too.

er, the plugin for  3ds max lets you export to .mesh, just so you know, so there is no transfer back to XSI. im not sure about all the limitations as far as texturing is concerned but i do know that you can edit dummy points (weapons, exhause, hanger locations, flashing lights, build effects, etc.) and export them easily to .mesh. only thing you need to do after that is user convertdata to convert the .mesh into text and choose the texture files.

Yws i am well aware of Cybdevils amazing work but it seems he has given up on his mod. I am simply continueing it. (and im tired of waiting   ).

I also am trying to make new ships. I dont know if anny of you are familliar with the program Lego digital designer but i built lego ships and they're actually realy good. I want to put them into a solar system game.

I realy dont mind witch program i use so plz try not to make a debate about this . Also i cant figure out where to import my textures on the model. Since i cant use existing mesh files im just going to make new planets. Or Spheres, and import the textures on those spheres but i dont know how.

And one more question. Is 3D MAX actualy 3D? Silly but reasonable because XSI cant turn the model with a touch of a button or ddraging the mouse you have to do a lot of clicking and stuff.

you can do that in 3DS max, its a lot easier in some versions compared to others though. 3ds is easier to use IMO but its really user preference. and also, importing .mesh and modifying dummy points and other things is also east. i dont know about the more advanced modeling capabilities but i find for what i use it for its great.