Wednesday, July 31, 2013

ME3Explorer Bug Warning: Texture vs Mesh replacement conflict

Current as of July 31, 2013.

Howdy folks.  Just a heads up if you are using the newest version of the ME3Explorer, there is a bug which breaks the ability to use both mesh mods and texture mods at the same time.  If you try both you will likely get black texture bugs and errors.

Official bug report thread.

If you are using Texmod as your current method of texture replacement, you have nothing to worry about!

I will update again if I learn otherwise.


Update 08.04.2013: SVN 473 should be fixed.

A detailed explanation from Ottemis on the current state of ME3Explorer.  This is relevant to both mesh and texture mods, users and modders alike!

Friday, July 19, 2013

Mass Effect Legacy Hairstyles

Some folks have expressed an interest in the old ME2 hairstyles, so here they be!

These all replace the same unused model and texture so you can use it on Shepard and not have it conflict with any NPC hair.  I thought about replacing existing models (like the new Kelly hair, which looks drastically different) but you start running into all sorts of stability and texture compatibility issues, so it's femshep only for now.
The ME2 cyberbabe has already been ported by voodooseason!




Instructions for all 3 (only one may be installed at a time):

1. Follow the installation instructions HERE

2. Use Gibbed to mod the following hair mesh and textures following this guide: link
BIOG_HMF_HIR_PRO.Hair_PROCustomCute.HMF_HIR_PROCustom_Cute_MDL
BIOG_HMF_HIR_PRO.Hair_Short02.HMF_HIR_PROShort_Diff

3.  Use the included Texmod to fix the textures.


Credits:
Classy and CustomSxy textures from Kani Hime's ME2 Better Hair.

Created with ME3Explorer.

Monday, July 15, 2013

Mass Effect 3 Mod: Default Jane Hair for Custom Femshep

This mod fixes the clipping from using default Femshep's hair on a custom character. I spy, a proper hairline.




I tried replacing the same style, but it wasn't changing in game for me, so I replaced one of the unused old meshes, the custom cute.


1. Follow the installation instructions HERE

2. Use Gibbed to mod the following hair mesh and textures following this guide: link
BIOG_HMF_HIR_PRO.Hair_PROCustomCute.HMF_HIR_PROCustom_Cute_MDL
BIOG_HMF_HIR_PRO.Global.HAIR_Long_Diff

***

Uploaded UPK file: DOWNLOAD



Sunday, July 14, 2013

Other People's Mods!

I will be updating this post with everything shiny I come across!

ME2 Cyberbabe for ME3 by Voodooseason
Mods by Voodoo

James Does Not Flirt mod!
DOWNLOAD PAGE
Silly James.  You don't flirt with the Butcher of Torfan.
Disclaimer. I love me some Shega.  Just not all of my Shepards agree.

[ME3 Hair#1] by Kani Hime
DOWNLOAD PAGE

Saturday, July 13, 2013

General Post: How to install PCC file mods

This is the manual way, if you only have loose PCC files.
If there is a .mod (dotmod) file, you can install automatically with ME3Explorer.

You will need:
A mod.
ME3Explorer.  Download it here.

By default files are located in
C:\Program Files (x86)\Origin Games\Mass Effect 3\BIOGame\CookedPCConsole

Back up the PCC files you are replacing.

Replace your default PCC files with the modded ones.

Open ME3Explorer and run TOCBinUpdater.



Click File and Check PCConsoleTOC.bin


Your PCConsoleTOC.bin should be located in:
C:\Program Files (x86)\Origin Games\Mass Effect 3\BIOGame

It should find updates to the changes you've made.  Hit yes and a 'done' window should pop up.  Close ME3Explorer.


To Uninstall:
Replace your modded PCC files with your original backups.
Run TOCBinUpdater again.

Troubleshooting:
Common Issues:
Infinite loading is a sign of a TOCBin update error.
Sometimes the TOCBin goes wacky and won't work despite being updated with ME3Explorer.  Try  throwing away your PCConsoleTOC.bin manually, then running "repair install" through Origin to replace it - this will completely revert your game.  Then try to install the mod again as normal.

If you can load un-modded saves but modded saves crash to desktop it's likely a Gibbed save error.  Make sure there are no extra spaces before or after the codes you have changed.

If you've really broken your game beyond repair, go into Origin and right click Mass Effect 3 for the "repair install" option. This should revert your game to its original state.

Any additional technical problems with ME3Explorer should be directed to the official forums: http://me3explorer.freeforums.org/

Thursday, July 11, 2013

Mass Effect 3 Mod: Cool Sims Hair #4

DOWNLOAD HERE

Optional: .mod installer for ME3Explorer Mod Maker
This will only replace the Aller's hair mesh, making it compatible with other mods that also edit the BIOG_HMF_HIR_PRO.pcc.  You will still need to use the tpf.




INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Follow the installation instructions HERE


2. Use Gibbed to mod the following hair mesh and textures following this guide: link
BIOG_HMF_HIR_PRO.Hair_PROJessica.HMF_HIR_PROJessica_MDL
BIOG_HMF_HIR_PRO.Hair_Short02.HMF_HIR_PROShort_Diff

3. Run the included Texmod or the textures will not display correctly.

Changelog:
07.12.2013: Version 1.1 uploaded. Fixed some clipping and weighting issues.  Updated texture to better match default hair textures and be more true to color.
...

Created with ME3Explorer mesh importer
3dsMax 2012 and the UDK
Thank you Anto for permission to port your hair to ME3.
Original hair source: www.coolsims.net

Monday, July 8, 2013

Mass Effect 3 Mod: Kasumi Dress


This mod replaces the dress with the ME2 Kasumi DLC dress.
Retexture for ME3 by Ottemis.

Option 1: ME3Explorer .mod install

.mod DOWNLOAD

1. Install the .mods with Mod Maker in ME3Explorer
You can download ME3Explorer here.

Open ME3Explorer.

In Tools open Mod Maker.
(If it's you're first time using Mod Maker you might need to create a texture tree. Under Developer Tools run Texplorer and it will automatically direct you to create a tree. After this is complete you can install files with Mod Maker.)

File -> Load Jobs -> select .mod files
Run -> Run All


*this only replaces the dress file, not the entire PCC, so it is ideal and compatible with other mods i.e. buff femshep or outfit replacers (so long as the outfit being replaced is not the dress.)

Option 2: PCC install; old method


1. Follow the install instructions HERE

2. Run the included tpf with Texmod or it will use the original dress textures.

Known Issue: The Citadel DLC uses the same set of textures for the party dress.  Don't run the texmod during the forced dress scenes, or it will use the wrong textures! 
If you know how to edit the coalesced, a workaround is changing the ID of the dress to 100, so when the outfit is forced on, it will reference the base game dress and not the Citadel version.

Mass Effect 3 Mod: Leather Jacket for Femshep


This mod replaces the dress with a female version of male Shepard's leather jacket.
Hand texture cleaned up by Ottemis.


1. Follow the install instructions HERE

2. Run the included tpf with Texmod or the jacket will have the dress textures.

Known Issue: The Citadel DLC uses the same set of textures for the party dress.  Don't run the texmod during the forced dress scenes, or it will use the jacket textures!

From Progman Omega on the BSN

Sunday, July 7, 2013

Modder Resource: UPK files for ME3Explorer Mesh Import

An added note for permissions!  If you are a modder and interested in repacking my files and sharing them, you have my okay.  Please just credit me for exporting and making assets compatible, and always credit the original source (Bioware!) :D

This is a modders resource only.

It's just not feasible for me to make every mesh into a mod for general use, so I thought I'd provide what's the  biggest roadblock to most people: the UPK files and textures.  These can be used to replace meshes using the ME3Explorer.


Tutorial on using ME3Explorer mesh import.  The section on using the UDK can be skipped.

I am using the newest SVN.

The textures will also need to be replaced either with ME3Explorer-texplorer or Texmod.

I should add an extra note, a lot of the textures are just ripped from the game files, they will need to be modified to work.  The spec maps might not always be compatible, and the normal maps will need to be in DDS V8U8 format.

Kasumi Dress. Textures by Ottemis: DOWNLOAD


Asari Commando Armor: DOWNLOAD

Removed asari head from MP mesh.

N7 Adept: DOWNLOAD

Mask removed.

Femshep Leather Jacket: DOWNLOAD

Resized for the female model.

Breather Mask: DOWNLOAD

Liara's mask, 'head wings' removed.

Aria's Armor: DOWNLOAD

Liara's Alternate Appearance Pack Armor: DOWNLOAD


ME2 Jack Alternate Appearance Armor: DOWNLOAD

Fit neck to femshep.

ME2 Jack's Breather Mask: DOWNLOAD

Fit to femshep.

Tela Vasir Spectre Armor: DOWNLOAD


ME2 Miranda Alternate Appearance Armor: DOWNLOAD
Fixed clipping - fit neck to femshep.

Miranda's Default Outfit: DOWNLOAD
Fixed clipping - fit neck to femshep.

Female "cat6" armor from the Citadel DLC: DOWNLOAD
Made the upper arms a bit larger (srsly tiny!)

Samara's Suit: DOWNLOAD

Mass Effect 1 Heavy Armor (upk for male, female, and ashley + fixed format norm/spec & folder of ME1 diffuses): DOWNLOAD
All assets belong to Bioware!  I have extracted them, and in some cases edited the meshes as noted 
for use on Shepard, for personal modding purposes only.  Have fun with them!

Links to Other Stuff

Guide to Creating Texmods by Ottemis

Porting Hair to ME3 with 3DS Tutorial by Ottemis

ME3Explorer Fan made toolkit.

HR Textures by Ottemis

Texture Mods by VoodooSeason

Mass Effect Jane REBORN Project Default Jane headmorph mod.

All Thumbs production Nice texture mods for Mass Effect and other games.

Mass Effect 3 Armor and Casual Appearance Codes

Color and Eyebrow Guide by Corora With screenshots.

Mass Effect 3 Gibbed Save Editor

Lazarus Mod Utility to return Shepard to a more ME2-like appearance

ME3 Texture Modding Video Tutorials

Femshep.com

Nhaneh's Guide to Importing Custom Shepard into 3DS Max

...

Friday, July 5, 2013

Ashley's Hair Mod




INSTRUCTIONS:


1. Follow the install instructions HERE


2. Use Gibbed to mod the following hair mesh and textures following this guide: link
BIOG_HMF_HIR_PRO.Hair_PROJessica.HMF_HIR_PROJessica_MDL
BIOG_HMF_HIR_PRO.Hair_PROAshley.HMF_HIR_PROAshley_Diff

Changelog: 
7.12.2013: Uploaded version 1.1.  Fixed weighting to address the crashing issue.

8.16.2013: Edited version by anotheraza, with sideburn: project page

Texmod

Texmod is a program which lets you temporarily replace game textures.

There is a great deal of information on Texmod out there through a quick Google search so I will not write much on the subject.

As it relates to Mass Effect 3, it requires a special workaround to function with Origin.

I have included a batch file (which automates the manual process detailed below) and short instructions in the Texmod resource folder of my default femshep mod.
You can download it here.

Manual Instructions:

1. Copy your Texmod.exe into the folder where your MassEffect3.exe is located (Program    
    Files/OriginGames/MassEffect3/Binaries/Win32)
2. Rename your Texmod.exe into MassEffect3.exe and the MassEffect3.exe into MassEffect3bak.exe
3. Through Origin, click the game icon to launch
4. Instead of Mass Effect 3, the Texmod program should load
5. Go back into your game folder and change the exe files back to their original names (Texmod.exe and
    MassEffect3.exe)
6. Go back to Texmod, load the desired tpf, and browse for 'target application' MassEffect3.exe
7. Click 'Run' in Texmod to launch the game

Sundance31us on the BSN has uploaded a nice detailed PDF instructional with pictures. Download is at the bottom of their files page. Check out their desk frame mod while you're there! http://social.bioware.com/project/8081/

For a much more in-depth description of how to create texmods check out Ottemis's Guide to Creating tpfs.

Thursday, July 4, 2013

Brooks' Hair Mod

DOWNLOAD HERE



1. Follow the install instructions HERE

2. Use Gibbed to mod the following hair mesh and textures following this guide: link
BIOG_HMF_HIR_PRO.Hair_PROJessica.HMF_HIR_PROJessica_MDL
BIOG_HMF_HIR_PRO.Global.HAIR_Long_Diff

Tuesday, July 2, 2013

ME3 Femshep Texture Overhaul

This mod has been replaced by: ME3 Character Texture Overhaul which includes male support.

I have replaced most of the female textures in the character creator with improved versions and packed them in one texmod.



Inside this mod:
Female complexion sliders - all three complexion settings (diffuse and normals)
Eyes - new irises
Eyelashes by Eranen
Eyebrows - Cleaned up, a few were altered for a more natural placement
Makeup Mask - The most notable change here is the eyeliner to look more like Mass Effect 2
Female Wrinkle Mask - Smoothed for less extreme frown lines
Male Wrinkle Mask - Smoothed to fix ugly pixelation

There is a visible seam around the hairline which is present in the base game.  I have not been able to remove it completely.

Thank you to Eranen on the BSN for permission to bundle their Eyelashes Redone mod with this.  They are by far my favorite!

Pictured gray Alliance sweater and HD N7 Armor are mods by Ottemis - Official Thread

complexion 3
fullsize
complexion 2
fullsize
complexion 1
complexion 1 before & after

More pics from users:
complexion 1 by JamieCOTC
fullsize
complexion 1 by AislinnTrista http://aislinntrista.tumblr.com/


Changelog:

07.06.2013 Uploaded Version 1.1; added missing male wrinkle mask

08.22.2013 Added a link to .mod file put together by Ottemis