49 replies to this topic

[cochran.191]

I'm trying to put together a list of tools that are used in editing/modding DA2.  Here is what I have so far:

• DA:O Toolset
• pyGFF
• GDApp
• da2tools
• TLKedit
• DA Normal Map and Height Map Converter
• ERFpack 2.1
• ERFv3 packer
• TLK Converter
• Gibbed's Dragon Age Save Generator
• Dragon Age CharGenMorph Compiler v1.2.1
• TexMod
• Lightwave import-export plugin

I also have the following stuff to help with those tools

• DA2scripts
• DA2 - human readable .mor resource
• AddItem List
• Item Properties
• Thought Process' File Hierarchy List

Is there anything that I'm missing?

Edited by cochran.191, 24 May 2011 - 08:58 PM.

[cochran.191]

I also have Thought Process' hierarchy list of files, found here, that should assist in finding the right files without having to do to much guessing.

[xatmos2]

How bout adding links and then trying to get this stickied?

[cochran.191]

Ok, I have the links. I'll add them in a few mintues. This is already a page on my website, that's why I wanted to find out if I was missing any.

[gambit51hawke]

nice job thanks for doing this

[cochran.191]

Ok, all links are up. They should all work. I tested them before I put them on here so there shouldn't be a problem. Now if someone can get this as a sticky that would be awesome.

[xatmos2]

Nice work!

[cochran.191]

Thanks! Hope this helps people. Do you think I need to add descriptions to what the tools do? Or add the other types of programs (like Photoshop/Gimp, Blender/3DS Max, Excel/Open Office) to the list?

[xatmos2]

Focus is often preferable to breadth, I would keep it limited to DA2 specific tools. If the list grows much larger you could divide them into categories based on their purpose/use, but I'd say it's sufficient as is -- just having the links in one place should be a big help to a lot of people.

[cochran.191]

Ok, sounds good. I might leave it the way it is now and when my site goes live put a link at the bottom to my tools page that includes all of this list, with descriptions, plus the other programs.

[Dubya75]

A noob question if I may: Is it possible to create a face morph in the toolset and then somehow "port" it to DA2?

[translucentwolf]

It's been suggested that you create face morphs in the Black Emporium mirror, and then extract them from the save game.

[Adonnay]

What probably helps even more is a short description of what the tools are actually used for in the context of DA2, i.e.

pyGFF - Extract resources (among others)
GDApp - Modify .gda files
TlkEdit2 - Modify .uti files
ErfPack 2.1 - Pack .erf files with subdirectories

Just an idea. So if someone comes and says "I want to modify an item's uti file." they would know that TlkEdit2 would be the way to go after they unpacked it with pyGFF. Afterwards they would repack it using ErfPack 2.1.

[Ainevethe (shantisands)]

Fantastic ! Thanks for compiling/posting this.

[cochran.191]

I have this list along with the descriptions that I will post up later.

Edited by cochran.191, 13 April 2011 - 10:19 PM.

[Xenoseroster]

What exactly is the "DA2Scripts" download thing?  I was hoping it was something that was going to let me modify base DA2 scripts but GFF editor says it can't do anything with the files?  Maybe I'm just dumb.

[cochran.191]

There are differences in DA2's script.ldf compared to DAO, so you'll want to use the da2scripts.erf (drop it in your DAO packages\\core\\patch or perhaps packages\\core\\patch_tools? or anywhere applicable that will get the toolset to load it), which will replace DAO's script.ldf/cscript.ldf with the ones from DA2. Naturally this will break some stuff for building DAO content, so remove it when working with DAO content.

[Crocodiles]

I have a question, I'm a complete noob. I'm debating wether or not to get DA2 for my mac, I'm currently on console. The mods that you see on dragon age nexus, are they compatible and I'm I able to use these tools that you've listed on my mac? I really don't want to install windows on my computer:/

[cochran.191]

As far as I know all of these tools and probably 99% of the mods are for PC only. I could be wrong but I don't think I am.

[Dubya75]

cochran.191 wrote...

As far as I know all of these tools and probably 99% of the mods are for PC only. I could be wrong but I don't think I am.

Unfortunately you are correct. Benefits of having the PC version. You can modify stuff.

[Aurellia]

You can mod the Mac version too. The Mac version is just the windoze version with wrappers that create a fake windoze env for it to run. There is an overrides dir in something like ~user/documents/bioware/da2

To use the mod dev tools of course you will need parallels.

[gusmonkey]

What tool is used to modify v3.2 .uti's? For example, to create Sunnie's evolving items, etc. I've been using a tool called 'kgff.exe', which works to some extent, but it seems that some of the files it creates cause items to disappear every time you load a save...

[elys]

gusmonkey wrote...

What tool is used to modify v3.2 .uti's? ...

tlkedit

[gusmonkey]

Thank you!

[Jakia]

translucentwolf wrote...

It's been suggested that you create face morphs in the Black Emporium mirror, and then extract them from the save game.

Anyone want to tell a n00b the step-by-step process on how to do that?