Jedi Outcast Skinning for Beginners
Part five of five

Making Bot Support
Sounds
Readme File
Places to go for Feedback
ZIP-ing Up Everything to Submit to Download Sites



Making Bot support
To add extra functionality to your skin, you should set it up so it can be used as a multiplayer Bot (ie. a computer controlled enemy in an MP map).

This is very easy to do using a freeware utility called Botmaker. You can also write your botfiles manually in notepad/wordpad. The advantage of the "hard way" is if, say you want your character to have similar attributes to an existing character - just open up the existing botfiles (.jkb), change a couple of things around (the taunts, say) and save with a new filename.

Download botmaker 1.2 here: http://jediknight2.filefront.com/file/Bot_Maker;3799 or here 

Unzip the files in the botmaker.ZIP and launch botmaker.exe
Roll your mouse over the attribute names to get a description of what the value in the box stands for. Try and be "realistic" with your bot's attributes. Not every character needs an ultimate powered bot with the fastest reflexes, highest accuracy, best sabering skills.

You can't load in a botfile and edit it in botmaker, so make sure you remember what your values are because it's likely you'll need to tweak some of your values after playtesting.

For some characters you can just steal existing Raven bots - eg. My AT-AT Pilot is based on the existing Tie-Pilot bot. If you're making a lightside jedi bot, you can just use the existing Luke Skywalker (or some other Jedi) bot, though it will look better if some of the sayings on being shot / killed are altered using notepad/wordpad.

Once you have generated your .jkb botfile using botmaker, or renamed and tweaked an existing bot file using wordpad, you need to set up your character so it can use the botfile.
Go to your \GameData\mods directory
C:\Program Files\LucasArts\Star Wars JK II Jedi Outcast\GameData\mods

Create a new subdirectory \botfiles\
C:\Program Files\LucasArts\Star Wars JK II Jedi Outcast\GameData\mods\botfiles
Put your .jkb file in this directory.
Create a new subdirectory \scripts\
C:\Program Files\LucasArts\Star Wars JK II Jedi Outcast\GameData\mods\scripts
Make a new file in notepad (or extract an existing .bot file from a downloaded skin ZIP file)
For the ORP the .bot file looks like this;

{
name "oldrepublicpilot"
model oldrepublicpilot
color1 1
personality /botfiles/oldrepublicpilot.jkb
//Old Republic Pilot - new bot! Light Side...
}

You can cut and paste the above into notepad, and save as oldrepublicpilot.bot

So change the name and the model to reflect the skin you've made. ie. The name of the directory where your skin files etc are stored;
C:\Program Files\LucasArts\Star Wars JK II Jedi Outcast\GameData\mods\models\players\oldrepublicpilot
make sure the "personality" points to your .jkb file that you made using botmaker / adapted using notepad.
the stuff after the // is just a comment - you can put anything there.


So now you have three directories off your \mods\ subdir;


Remember we need to re-PAK oldrepublicpilot.pk3 because we now have the bot support directories & files that needs to be included.

Open PAKscape, locate your 3 folders in the C:\Program Files\LucasArts\Star Wars JK II Jedi Outcast\GameData\mods directory using your file-manager, and drag them into PAKscape


Save the pk3 as oldrepublicpilot.pk3 in your C:\Program Files\LucasArts\Star Wars JK II Jedi Outcast\GameData\base directory, and test the the bots.
You spawn a bot by going into a MP map, hitting Esc to get the menu, choosing "add bot" then cycle until "oldrepublicpilot" becomes visible, and clicking "Create Bot";



Sounds

I won't go into making custom sounds now, though may put a supplemental tutorial on that if anyone demands it. Almost all the in-game sounds are footstomps, weapon sounds, death screams, pain screams etc. What I recommend is finding an existing Raven character with similar attributes to your character, and having your model use that same sounds.

eg,
for a "creature" skin, use Bossk's or Rodian's sound
for a imperial non-armored skin, use the imp officer sounds
for an imp trooper, use the stormtrooper sounds
for a female skin, use Jan or Tavion etc.

How do you use their sounds in your model?
Using PKUNZIP or pakscape, look through assets0.pk3 until you find the required animsounds.cfg file (you can see if it's the right one by the path on the right (PKZIP))
eg. For my Old Republic Pilot, I'm going to use the Bespin Cop sounds;


So I just extract animsounds.cfg straight to my C:\Program Files\LucasArts\Star Wars JK II Jedi Outcast\GameData\mods\models\players\oldrepublicpilot directory. There may already be an animsounds.cfg file there from the original model you used as the base for your skin (in our case the "prisoner" sound file), so just replace / overwrite it with the new one.


Remember we need to re-PAK oldrepublicpilot.pk3 because we now have the new animsounds.cfg file that needs to be included.

Open PAKscape, locate your 3 folders in the C:\Program Files\LucasArts\Star Wars JK II Jedi Outcast\GameData\mods directory using your file-manager, and drag them into PAKscape, again save as oldrepublicpilot.pk3

Readme File

All publically downloadable JO mods must include a readme.txt file / disclaimer in the ZIP file.

Here's a sample blank one to fill out (courtesy massassi.net) - massassi.net/submit/sample_jk2_skin_readme.txt , and here's a blank one at jediknightii.net. You don't need to redo the readme for each site - the basic info is the same, minor variations in the sample readme's are irrelevant.

Below is Massassi's blank readme.txt file


<INSERT DATE HERE>
 ================================================================
  Skin's Name             : <NAME HERE>
  Author                  : <YOUR NAME>
  Email Address           : <YOUR ADDRESS>
  
  Skin's description      : <DESCRIPTION HERE>
  
  
  Other info              : <OTHER STUFF>
  
  Additional Credits to   : <George Lucas, etc., etc.>
  
  Thanks to               : <PEOPLE TO THANK>
  ================================================================
  * Construction *
  Base                    : <New skin or modified existing skin>
  Editor used             : <What editors you used>
  Known Bugs              : <Any bugs>
  Build/Animation time    : <Time>
  
  
  * How to use this skin *
  
  <INSTALLATION INFO>
  
  * Copyright / Permissions *
  
  THIS LEVEL IS NOT MADE, DISTRIBUTED, OR SUPPORTED BY LUCASARTS ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY LLC.  ELEMENTS TM & © 
  LUCASARTS ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY LLC AND/OR ITS LICENSORS.
  
  <Other Legal info about the use of your skin, etc.> 



Here's my Old Republic Pilot readme.txt all filled out to give you an idea... Note that it doesn't match the massassi.net sample 100%, but all the necessary info is included.
 
 

== File Info ================================================= Title : Old Republic Pilot from KOTOR Filename : oldrepublicpilot.pk3 Author : jp-30 E-Mail Address : jph@hansen.net.nz Website : The Force.net Games Forum - http://boards.theforce.net/board.asp?brd=10005 Description : Old Republic Pilot as seen in early screenshots for the forthcoming Bioware/Lucasarts game "Knights of the Old Republic". This is a reskin of the Raven "Prisoner" model, recycling, tweaking and recolouring some textures that came with "Jedi Outcast" with a few brand new textures thrown in for good measure. Includes team colours, "oldrepubicpilot" bot and utilises "bespincop" sounds. Programs used : Modview, Paint Shop Pro, Botmaker1.2, Notepad Thanks to : The people at theforce.net's games forum who have been following the tutorial where this skin was used as the example to teach skinning to absolute beginners. You can see the way it was created, step by step, for yourself here; http://www.theforce.net/games/jo/skinning.shtml Special thanks to Night4554 for uploading it from the forums to the JO section, and converting the markup to HTML. ========================================================== * Installation * Unzip the file "oldrepublicpilot.pk3" into the GameData/Base directory of wherever you installed Jedi Outcast. Then go into the game and select the skin from the Player Setup Menu. ========================================================== Feel free to distribute this skin in any format but you MUST include this file. If you wish to include it in a skinpack or a level, that's fine, but please drop me a note & let me know what the skinpack is and where it's being hosted. THIS SKIN IS NOT MADE, DISTRIBUTED, OR SUPPORTED BY LUCASARTS ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY. ELEMENTS TM & (C) LUCASARTS ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY.



Places to Go for Feedback

It pays to get feedback as you're progressing on your skin, as others can often make good suggestions that you fail to see as you're so "close" to the project.

Be aware though, especially for your first skins, that some people can be extremely rude about your work if it isn't up to a "professional" standard. Just ignore these people. Make it clear you're an absolute beginner, that this is your first attempt at a skin etc, and hopefully some helpful people will happen along.

Also be very careful about posting pictures of your skinning if you've used a custom model and haven't received the author's permission to reskin it. You're likely to get crucified!

a) JediCouncil.net Games Forum;

Probably best to ask in one of the following two threads;
Jedi Outcast Skinning for Newbies (a step-by-step tutorial)
Jedi Outcast: Editing - a beginners guide

If you say you've been working on the Beginner's Guide to skinning and have popped in for feedback, you'll hopefully get the most "friendly" and non-abusive comments out of all the places you could go for feedback.
If you're brave though, and/or need answers that only the expert skinners can provide, you might like to brave some of the dedicated modding site forums...

b) Massassi.net forums

Note: Make sure you skim the forums for existing threads for your topic. Making redundant threads is not the way to get the experts to respond to you kindly. Tell them you're a beginner, and they might go easier on you!

http://forums.massassi.net/
Use the [link=http://forums.massassi.net/cgi-bin/forumdisplay.cgi?action=topics&forum=3.+Jedi+Outcast+Editing+Forum&numb er=17&DaysPrune=2&LastLogin=]JO Editing forum[/link] for technical questions
Use the [link=http://forums.massassi.net/cgi-bin/forumdisplay.cgi?action=topics&forum=3.+Showcase&number=5&DaysPrune =2&LastLogin=]Showcase forum[/link] for feedback on completed or near-completed skins.

c) jediknightii.net forums

Note: Make sure you skim the forums for existing threads for your topic. Making redundant threads is not the way to get the experts to respond to you kindly. Tell them you're a beginner, and they might go easier on you!

lucasforums.com/forumdisplay.php?forumid=163
Use the Skinning forum for technical questions. (They have lots of very specific forums; skinning, modelling, general editing, coding, beta testing, requests etc all have their own forum. Make sure you ask your questions in the right place!)
Use the Showcase forum for feedback on completed or near-completed skins.


ZIP-ing Up Everything to Submit to Download Sites

Different sites have different requirements as what they require in the ZIP - especially when it comes to the included JPG screenshot files. Some require 1 JPG, some 2 JPGs, some want the JPGs in the ZIP file, some want them attached separately, some don't need them at all. So make sure you read and understand what each site wants from you before you submit the file!

Also some sites are much faster at putting files up than others. Massassi seems to be the fastest (within a day or two), jediknightii.net can be slow (it took them two months to get my AT-AT Pilot up). I don't know how long jk2files & lucasfiles take...

Basically what you need to do is use pakscape to make a .ZIP archive that contains;
readme.txt.
oldrepublicpilot.pk3
screenshot.jpg
(some places like jediknightii.net require the JPGs attached to your submission email separately, and not included within the .ZIP. Massassi requires TWO screenshot JPGs within the ZIP.


Once it's all working as we hoped, open a new archive in PAKscape, and drag in your [/b]oldrepublic.pk3[/b] file, your readme.txt file, and your orp-screenshot.jpg file(s) (if necessary).
Save as oldrepublicpilot.zip (not .pk3!)

This .ZIP archive is the file you submit to the various websites (well, with or without the JPG's depending on what site you are sending it to).

a) jediknightii.net

jediknightii.net/files/index.php?link=submitfiles

File Submission
If you would like to submit a file to JKII.net to be posted on our file archives. We comply with a few simple requests
1. Please include a readme file following the form available here
2. Attach a few screen shots of your mod in your e-mail.
3. Finally submit your mods to files@jediknightii.net. subject=File Submission



b) massassi.net

massassi.net/submit/#skins

Skins for Jedi Outcast:
Skin submissions should be sent in ZIP format and should include all of the following:
All the skin-related files in a PK3 file
A readme file with a description and the necessary info
Two screenshots of your skin in action
Screenshots should be in JPG format. If you're going to use someone else's skin as the base for yours, get their permission first. If you don't and submit it anyway, we'll remove it and we won't post any submissions from you again. We may not catch it immediately, but we will find out about it.
Send skin submissions to levels@massassi.net.




Note: When I submitted my AT-AT Pilot skin to massassi, I began to recieve spam emails almost daily. It's not massassi's fault, some automated email harvester script gathered my address from the front page, where it was included with the details of my skin. I recommend giving massassi a hotmail email address different to your primary address, or doctoring your address with "nospam" or whatever so the harvesters collect a corrupted version of your address that any human who wanted to contact you would be able to correct - eg. jp-30@isp.co.nz-nospam instead of jp-30@isp.co.nz

c) jk2files.com

jk2files.com/file.stuff?body=SubmitFiles

Submit Your Files

Please follow the following rules when submitting files to us, if you don't we won't be fast in getting it posted:
Author
Please include your details (nickname / website url / email addy) so we don't have to dig through the readme.txt
Important: If you did not create the file, don't send it in! Only the original creator of the file may do that!

Read Me file
Please include a readme file in your zip file. We prefer a simple .txt file so everybody can use it. Try not to use .doc and .rtf etc.
The readme.txt should include the following info:
Installation instructions - e.g. extract file(s) X to gamedir/GameData/base)

File info - This will help our admins and also the visitors in understanding what your file is for (mainly with scripts / mods).

Developer name, website and/or email

Feel free to also include your kudo notes your "why the heck did I make this file" notes and all the other "stuff"

PK3 it!
We've had several .bsp files sent to us. We ask you however to please send us your files in a pk3-file with the right directory structure!

ZIP it up, and zip it up like you should!
Zip up your PK3 file, include you readme.txt and send it in! And please do not use directory structures in your zip files! We've had many submissions that had a Program Files/Gamename/etc. structure in it. Please realize that a lot gamers put their games in a Games folder, not in the standard Program Files directory. Besides in most readme's it says "extract to dir X" and not to the root of your harddrive which it would be when you use a Program Files dir structure.

Screenshot (jpeg!)
If you send along a screenshot (preffered) please make it a jpg file and DO NOT put it in the zip file. This is a waste of bandwidth for all of us. We've had submissions with 1.3 Meg bmp files for a 300 KB skin
For most maps we do a little review and we'll take a screenshot or additional screenshots ourself, but to get your file up ASAP you should send along a screenshot yourself.

In the near future, weŽll have a developer section where you can sign up and add the file yourself!

For now:
Send your Jedi Knight 2 / Jedi Outcast Files (utilities, maps, skins, mods, models, scripts, etc.) to files@jk2files.com

Note: We will not be uploading files that containt files from other games. If we do find out your file has ripped files from another game then we will delete the file (or not upload it whichever the case is)

Thanks,
- The JK2Files.com Team



d) lucasfiles.com

Lucasfiles.com don't specify how they want the files, so just send them the same ZIP you sent massassi or jediknightii.net
lucasfiles.com/submission.php
There's a bunch of legal stuff (as you'd expect on a Lucas officially sanctioned site), just follow the instructions as they pop up. You'll probably have signed your soul to LucasArts by clicking on the "Accept" button, but what's your soul worth anyway?


There are other sites too, that will put up your work, but those 4 mentioned are the most popular...




OK. That's it. If you need help or clarification with any of this, post below.
Sorry it took 10x longer to finish the thing off than I first imagined (weekly tutorials!) , but that's life... jp-30



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