I’ve already stated I’m not much of a tutorial writer, but after the tutorial the allowed me to fulfill my dream of skinning EaW with simple TGA editing just like in BFII was smashed in the memory wipe, I’ve decided to write a new one. This will be a tutorial on how to change the skin on a stormtrooper, and code it as an elite stormtrooper. You will need: *EaW(duh) *FoC(optional)(if you ever hope to put your skin on the internet, or use it awesomely) *.MEG extractor *A .tga editing tool that can edit Alpha channels (*cough* Photoshop *cough*) *http://eliteforce2.filefront.com/file/DDS_Converter;29412 *A hex editor (I use Hexedit) *ALO viewer(optional) Ok, if you haven’t already(*gasps*), extract Textures.MEG, Config.MEG and Models.MEG. Go into the textures folder you just created. Find EI_TROOPER.DDS. Copy it. Rename it EE_TROOPER.DDS, or something like that, BUT MAKE SURE IT HAS THE SAME AMMOUNT OF LETTERS. I’m not going to write a photoshop tutorial, so work your magic. BUT FIRST the Alpha channel. Select any part of the skin. Make sure it’s the part(one of the parts) that you want to change to player colors. Now, with that selected, switch the alpha channel. Fill your selection of the Alpha in white. Once you’re done with that, select the all the white parts on the alpha channel, and ‘select inverse’. Then you can do anything to the rest of the skin(not the alpha!) You can still edit parts with the alpha channel, but I don't recomend it, especially if you want to make the skin dark! Once you’re done, save it, and open up the DDS converter. Convert it to .DDS. Wow, that was hard! Then, go into the new Models folder. Find EI_TROOPER.ALO, Copy it, and rename it ELITESTORMTROOPER.ALO or something like that. Now, here’s the easies part. Open up hexedit. *cues scary music* Ok, so that’s the hardest part. ;D Find all references to EI_TROOPER.DDS,(use the find button) and change them to EE_TROOPER.DDS. If you make a mistake….*gestures to comp graveyard* ;D Then, make sure EE_TROOPER.DDS is in data\art\textures, and ELITESTORMTROOPER.ALO in data\art\models. If you have the ALO viewer, open it, go into data\art\models, and check out your model. If you are displeased, make some changes to the skin. Now, time for the coding! Go into your new config folder, and find GroundInfantry.XML. Put it in data\XML. For this tutorial, your elite stormy will replace the field commander guard. Replace <GroundInfantry Name="Squad_E_Field_Commander_Guard">
<Variant_Of_Existing_Type>Squad_Stormtrooper</Variant_Of_Existing_Type>
<Text_ID>TEXT_UNIT_COMMANDER_GUARD_E</Text_ID>
<Tactical_Health>70</Tactical_Health>
<Projectile_Fire_Recharge_Seconds>0.6</Projectile_Fire_Recharge_Seconds>
<Score_Cost_Credits> 250 </Score_Cost_Credits>
<Create_Team>Yes</Create_Team>
</GroundInfantry> with <GroundInfantry Name="Squad_E_Field_Commander_Guard">
<Variant_Of_Existing_Type>Squad_Stormtrooper</Variant_Of_Existing_Type>
<Text_ID>TEXT_UNIT_COMMANDER_GUARD_E</Text_ID>
<Tactical_Health>70</Tactical_Health>
<Projectile_Fire_Recharge_Seconds>0.6</Projectile_Fire_Recharge_Seconds>
<Score_Cost_Credits> 250 </Score_Cost_Credits>
<Create_Team>Yes</Create_Team>
<Land_Terrain_Model_Mapping>
Temperate, ELITESTORMTROOPER.ALO,
Urban, ELITESTORMTROOPER.ALO,
Arctic, ELITESTORMTROOPER.ALO,
Volcanic, ELITESTORMTROOPER.ALO,
Desert, ELITESTORMTROOPER.ALO,
Forest, ELITESTORMTROOPER.ALO,
Swamp, ELITESTORMTROOPER.ALO EI_TROOPER_Sand.ALO
</Land_Terrain_Model_Mapping>
<No_Colorization_Color> 225, 225, 225, 225 </No_Colorization_Color>
<Projectile_Fire_Pulse_Count>3</Projectile_Fire_Pulse_Count>
<Projectile_Fire_Pulse_Delay_Seconds>0.15</Projectile_Fire_Pulse_Delay_Seconds>
<Projectile_Fire_Recharge_Seconds>1.0</Projectile_Fire_Recharge_Seconds>
<Targeting_Fire_Inaccuracy> Infantry, 1.5 </Targeting_Fire_Inaccuracy>
<Targeting_Fire_Inaccuracy> Vehicle, 5.0 </Targeting_Fire_Inaccuracy>
<Targeting_Fire_Inaccuracy> Air, 15.0 </Targeting_Fire_Inaccuracy>
</GroundInfantry> Now, have a look at <No_Colorization_Color> 255, 255, 255, 255 </No_Colorization_Color> If you change those numbers, it’ll change the color of the parts of the skin white in the alpha in GC. It goes like this <No_Colorization_Color> amount of red, amount of green, amount of blue, 255 </No_Colorization_Color> So have fun experimenting with that. In skirmish, that’ll be replaced by the player color. Next(and most fun) step: If I wrote this tutorial right, and you followed it right, Play Empire at War, start a game as the Empire, and watch your field Commander squad! Now, I ask you to look at other tutorials, and experiment more. Soon you’ll see your own skinpack sitting on EaWfiles next to my own. NOTE: I'm really afraid I made a mistake...If you find one, please tell me.