Long story short... someone wants this skin, but there is no Aoshi model. There is a Dante model - which is very close, but needs a few alterations. Dante's author is busy w/other projects, but sent the necessary files to create Aoshi.

So... can anyone point me to a few places modelers might hang out so that I can put out a request for the necessary changes?

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Well that depend on how long you are willing to wait for this model.

1. You can try the Jk2files Forums... some good modelers hangs out there
2. You can also try the LucasForums... though I'll doubt you'll find what you want
3. There is also... the Bête

The third option will take more time though

- Beast

I'm doing a skin of the dante model and from the hours I've spent starring at it it looks to be almost exactly what you need, no alterations needed, and just a tweek on the nose.

It is. Almost exactly. I was so lucky to find it. Even the nose is perfect, judging by other pics I've been sent. There are just a couple of places that need "smoothing out".

• The hair is too, too close. But, it's too long in back and has those layers sticking out. Aoshi's is shorter through there and forms to the neck.
  
  
• The coat is nearly perfect for Aoshi, except that Dante's sleeves are rolled up, with the cuffs sticking out at the elbows. The shirt sleeves seem to extend far enough to make up for the for the rest. In fact, the Dante skinner didn't completely cover that part. (The belt could be done w/skinning, too, I think. The other coat details, of course, only I would miss.)
  
  
• The calves. Aoshi has a sleek, pencil-legged look that extends to the top of his shoes. The top-of-the-shoes part can be done w/skinning, also. But, Dante's pants stick out at the top of the boots. Kinda ruins the "sleekness" factor.

I wouldn't prevail upon you Mr. Bete, considering how many other projects you're working on, unless you're just really, really, really interested. It would be nice to know about how much work/time you think it would entail, tho. Doesn't seem like much, so I'd be willing to wait a bit.

For the sake of comparison...

Well Infi.... it also depend on what file the 'creator' of the Dante model shared with you.

If you have in your possession, the original 3D Studio Max file with the model already 'weighted'... then this will be a breeze... I think about an hour or 2 of modeling and some testing... so this could be done in a day.

But in the case of you NOT having those file... then I would have to import the model.glm file (of the Dante Model) into 3D studio Max... and it means I'll have to redo completely the weighting of the model and that could take me a complete day... and some extended time of testing... So the second option, would be more like 2 weeks to a month for this project (because I don't have enough free time to spend that day in only 1 day )

Waiting for your reply

- Beast

Well, he sent two files: dante.3DS and dante.max. I'm hoping that means it doesn't have to be imported and re-weighted. Then, all it would need is a little less wind under the hair, removal of the coat cuffs and smoothing of the pants.

then it should be a breeze... a walk in the park... well kind of easy.

So you can always send me the files and I'll see what I can do.

- Beast

Well... here is what I got

If you like what you see Infi... you can get the 'model.glm' here

You shouldn't have problem skinning him (if you're doing the work)... but you'll have play around with the 'head.tga' to find out which part is displayed and what part aren't... cause I deleted some of the polygons and I don't really know which part of the head.tga file they were using. For the legs... it should be OK... but for the arms... be advised that I also deleted some polygons there... but it's kind of hard to explain how it will affect the skin file.

I'll give it a try...

The rolled up sleeve were like 'cylinder' that were put on the arm... so I deleted the 'top' and 'bottom' of these cylinders and rescale them so they would fit the arms. But in the 'body.tga' file, where you will find the skin for the arms... 2 lines won't be displayed on the skin (watch example below)... so watch out for the continuity of the skin.


Arm Skin:

----------------
Displayed (shoulder to elbow)

---------------
Not displayed (was the top of the cylinder of the rolled up sleeves)
---------------
Displayed ( was the side of the cylinder of the rolled up sleeves)

---------------
Not displayed (was the bottom of the cylinder of the rolled up sleeves)
---------------
Displayed (elbow to hand)


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well... I hope you understand... if you have any questions... PM me or write back here

- Beast

Ah, Le Bete. What would we do without him? Judge for yourself. (Though far from complete.)





The hair polygons that were deleted appear to be the long portion covering the neck. No problem.

Thank you so much!

Looking Good Infi...

Keep posting you progress... I want to know how this will turn out

- Beast

Looking VERY good, I would also like to see how this turns out

Can you imagine how cool it would be if we could change what the actual blade of the lightsaber looked like? (As in, mod it to look like a steel sword).

Then we could have some really epic battles with nifty weapons like broadswords, bastard swords and epées. *drool*

Actually, you can. Such modifications are posted on JK2. If all goes well, Aoshi will come complete with a Samurai sword to use if he so desires - sounds and all.

Wish me luck!

I wish you luck Infi...

And if you need a modeler to forge your this samurai sword... you know who to ask

- Beast

(Somewhat getting off topic but .. )

In response to EQ ...

You and I were talking one day about why we would possibly choose a different admin mod than Academy ... THAT'S the very reason why. Many other admin mods contain support for additional mods that allow us other saber hilts, player sizes, etc. without making the game unrecognizeable.

The problem is, all those mods require something on the client side (as they have added pieces not in the game ... just as with custom skins, to see them, one has to have them).

The more interest I see in such things, the more I will hunt -- I'm completely OK with a new admin mod these days (feeling the need for a change).

JB

A bit off topic:

I feel like this could be really interesting... having a new admin mod, that could support a sword mod or something like that... but we might hurt a rodian's feeling... that so like the fact that this game is aout Star Wars and not Final Fantasy

- Beast

We can't please everyone ..

However, there are plenty of other benefits of having custom hilts and such that are Starwarsian and aren't built into the game as shipped ... much like the skins we create.

I'm going to start digging again. It's been awhile since I've looked for what's out there.

JB

i liked omnimods hilts, but i heard about the backdoor which is a bad thing, so thats a no go. but the hilts were cool. u could have two sabers, a twin saber, or even two twin sabers. they had new specials as well (AM TAUNTS modified) and the grappling hook and jetpack were fun. also, the hilts had one that let one saber be normal, and the second be backwards. hard to explain. just say the blade faced backwards basically, and looked really cool. if there is a mod out there to do this without jepoardizing the servers security, that would be cool. but if not, im cool with the one we run now. (except maybe sometimes Terminator would spice things up, but if not i just go to the dragon server to use guns;) )

We could always just use a mod that allowed these things (similar to Xero's request, but I'm not sure I liked that mod.. ). Dueler's Mod or JediMod 1.2 would be great, for they are simple mods with basically grapple, custom saber blades, and hilt "skins" as additions. (More to describe JediMod.. didn't Dueler's have Jetpacks?) Anywho.. something like that would work, if we were so inclined as to adding things without any real troubles or hassles rising.

We'll move this discussion back to another forum ... back to Ashoshi ..

Or you could "split" the mod topic off to a post of its own. That way nothing in the way of mods gets lost. Won't you lose all those nice admin commands using another mod, tho? Is it worth it to use swords and such that people can easily just download?

But then, a change of pace would be nice. :\

Indeed.. a little jolt every once and a while keeps you on your feet. And .. your heart from stopping .. again.

Heh. "Master of Wit".

I just noticed a brand new JA+ Mod located here that you might want to look into for the JA server as well. It says that the DFAs have been changed along with a slew of other things - and I do mean a slew.

Worth a look see, anyway.

EDIT ===

NVM. It's a complete rip-off of JAR.

Little Aoshi update.... Beast has already come through with yet another new version of the model. (Thank you! Thank you! Perfect!)

I think I've made all the necessary changes to the coat - a belt, a backflap and a little work on the top of the shoulders. I also gave him his trademark frown and a bit of a new hairdo. Hair's still a mess, tho. Okay, I'm workin' on it!

I know I have yet to extend his pants over his shoes. But, if you have any other suggestions for him, post it now... PLEASE!

you should really do his trenchcoat 'collar' thinige... in orange and such...

It would give him something more... than just a regular trenchcoat... which is cool anyway though

- Beast

Thank you, Beastie. Great idea. I'm trying to pull that off on the little lapels that stick out in front there. It didn't work too well on the coat itself - too flat. First I have to find out where the rest of that is coming from. Then, I'll take it more toward orange as you suggested. You're right. That would give it a lot more contrast and interest, methinks.

I've been looking at that coat trying to figure out what else I'm missing. It occurs to me now....

There are no buttons! No button holes! No way for the poor guy to zip up when it's cold out. And judging by his hair, he just came in out of a pouring rain.

Well, that's what I'm gonna tell everybody, anyway.

That collar.... Kinda like this? Also, I've been thinking about the team skin.

I really want to keep the coat the same color. He won't look like Aoshi otherwise. Make the outfit red and blue. (His pants will show from the back.) If so, should I also maybe put a team icon on one or the other shoulder of the backflap on that duster, you think? Hmmm.

Sorry Infi... I let this one slip... for some unbknown reason it did not show up as 'unread'...

But for the 'team support'... I understand that you want to keep this coat the same color... what you could do, is:

- Get just a 'simmer' of a red/blue taint in his dark hair (keep the hair really dark, but give him some red/blue 'highlights' )

- Change the colore of the outfit is good to (his sweater beneat the coat)

- Put a logo, or team 'symsols' on his back or shoulders

- Change the color of only the collar (from orange to red/blue)

I think that one or many of these idea put together would do the trick nicely for this skin...

As always, let me know what you decided to do and post some screenies

- Beast

All great ideas. Don't think I'll mess with the hair, tho. It's messy enough. I'll give 'em a go, but he looks really lousy in game -- at least to me. I think I'll ask for some beta testers (on their own machines) to give me some insight. 'Cause as is... oi!

It's now for JA, also. The Requestor decided to uninstall JO. We shall see.....

He's not too bad, but I can do no more. Unfortunately, my best isn't good enough to make this one what it should be. That long cardboard hair layer that came with the Dante model has beaten me. The coat? Meh. The suit? Pff! Had it with that.

He won't be released unless and until he looks a whole lot better (and as much like Aoshi as possible). And that, my friends, will take far better talent. (That's not meant to be self-effacing. It's just fact. A good Aoshi cannot be a one-person project.) So, if you - or someone you know (who's a really good graphic artist) - cares to take a crack at it, I'll put it out there somewhere for a few other hands to work on a bit.

I really love this character now and I'm not even into Anime! He must be perfect, I say! Or, no dice!