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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