Fallout New Vegas

File information

Last updated

Original upload

Created by

Pixelhate

Uploaded by

Pixelhate

Virus scan

Safe to use

About this mod

A collection of notes about the Static or Havoked nif structure and manipulating nif file settings in NifSkope. All Information relate to Fallout 3 or Fallout New Vegas nif files.

Permissions and credits
A collection of notes about the Static or Havoked nif structure and manipulating nif file settings in NifSkope. All Information
relate to Fallout3 or Fallout New Vegas nif files.

The version of NifSkope used and illustrated in these notes is: NifSkope Version 2Dev7

Tutorials found on the Web, helpful posts on forum, snippets from Discord servers and results of experiments have been arranged and illustrated to provide a glimpse of how NifSkope can help you to customize and troubleshoot your nifs.

See Credits section for details.

The guide has been divided in 18 chapters, from 4 to 12 pages each with many illustrations.
An archive with all the pdf files is provided at the end.

I recommend to read them all, in order. They go in increasing complexity and you might learn something new in each of them.
Each part has been written to the best of my knowledge and thoroughly tested. Should you find errors, please, contact me with detailed explanation and examples.


Files Details
Spoiler:  
Show

01 Introduction to NifSkope
Covers the main settings of NifSkope itself to ensure an easy workflow.
02A Nif Structure - Base
Describes the basic structure of a nif, identifies its parts and how they are linked.
02B Nif Structure - Details
Useful settings detailed Nodes by Nodes.
03A Nif Texture – Alpha Properties & Transparency
How to handle see-through, cut out, and Glass effect.
03B Nif Texture - Specularity, Normal Maps & Glossiness
How they’re interrelated and how they can influence greatly the look of your object.
03C Nif Texture - CubeMap, Glow & Parallax Mapping
Use Cube Map efficiently, make stuff glow in the dark, learn about Parallax Mapping.
03D Nif Texture – NiStencilProperty, Refraction & more
Double sided textured meshes & cool effects.
04A Nif Manipulation - part 1 Basics
Everything about Insert, Transfer, Copy/paste, Paste Over, Duplicate, Remove.
04B Nif Manipulation - part 2
Transforming, Scaling, Vertices and Vertices Color manipulation.
04C Nif Manipulation - part 3 UV
All about UV Editing.
04D Nif Manipulation - part 4 Merging NiTriStrips
Reducing Draw call.
05A Nif Cleaning and Optimizing
Use Spells to make your work spotless.
05B Nif Troubleshooting
What’s wrong with my nif?
06A Collisions - Base
Types of Collision, Creation, Settings, etc.
06B Collision - Havok Material Data
Sounds, Impact FX and Decals for Havok Material.
06C Collisions - Havok notes
Specific settings for Havoked Collision
07 Destruction Data
Everything goes Boom!
08 Introduction to Particles System
Introduction to Particles, includes template. (incomplete)

Bits of NifSkopery - Complete package
All of the above in one archive

Known issue

Part 8 (introduction to Particles System) is incomplete like my comprehension of the structure and my experience with it.
Nonetheless, I feel it’s worth sharing as it can give you a start on the matter.


The NIF Block Type Wiki page is full nif details & definitions not even mentioned in this guide. Make sure to check it out!


If you're interested in creating collisions in newer Blender and use NifSkope to finalize them, see How To Make Collision For FNV guide.


Credits

Many individuals have contributed to this knowledge; from the pioneers to the latest explorers, unnamed people from everywhere answering questions and sharing their experiences trough Time.
Most of the information relayed here is coming from various sources scattered on the Internet, made available by persons having the intention of sharing them.
Some of their words and sentences have been copy/pasted with the same intention.
May they all be thanked and see this work as a homage. I can only take credit for the remaining mistakes.

My everlasting gratitude to Prensa for kindly giving detailed answers throughout years.
All my admiration to the over talented Wizards in the secret Discord server who never cease to amaze me.
Many thanks to:
Amaccuzer0
DubiousIntent
ElPascal
Hitman47101
Hopper31
JazzIsParis
Insaneplumber
KingTobbe
lStewieAl
NoBarkNoBiteNoonan
Pintocat
QuickSilver500
Macintroll
MadAce aka KICHo666
MindBoggles
Rikako aka SciRika
RoyBatterian
Tgspy
Weijiesen aka Wanamingo aka Jack Wong
Xilandro
Zilav