[NWN:EE] Neverblender + decompiling models? I really need some help

Neverwinter Nights 1 Custom Content
#1

Hello, I can’t find any information anywhere from google. How can I decompile a model, then import into Blender with Neverblender plugin?

I downloaded NWN Explorer (updated for EE) posted by Virusman. Then I opened my model with nwnexplorer, pressed the ASCII tab and exported that as ascii.mdl

Then I tried to import that into Blender (the .mdl import, Aurora), but Blender can’t see the file - what am I missing XD? The file is from CEP.

Honestly I feel this is important for many new newbies (like myself) that come to discover NWN:EE. This looks like a cornerstone step :slight_smile: for custom content creation, yet there is very little shared about it.

I found many tutoials, that teach you how to install Neverblender and all that. And then in the next step they are already importing a model - but not a word about decompiling a model so it can be imported into Blender firstplace XD sighs

Thank you and I appreciate for reading!

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#2

I spent almost 2 days trying to figure this one out XD

mdltools_batchio_tool folder (which is included by Neverblender package), so this is all I need to decompile my models?

I placed my models in the “in” folder, then ran the runme.bat this is what happens: https://i.imgur.com/Q3hfWdf.png the terminal stays open like 2 sec. displaying this, then closes. And Blender is not launching (but I have the correct config)

My settings.ini

[PATH]
BLENDER="C:\Program Files\Blender Foundation\Blender\blender.exe"
[SETTINGS]
IMPORT_NORMALS=1
EXPORT_NORMALS=1
[TOOLS]
AUTO_NORMAL=1
AUTO_NORMAL_ANGLE=0.0
FIX_UVS=1
#3

What I do when only extracting a single model is export both the compiled (gibberish!) - right-click the .mdl in the list on the left, select “Export” - and the uncompiled (readable text, ASCII) version - double-click the .mdl in the list, right-click on the “ASCII Model” tab, select “Export Text”" - and then copypaste the contents of the ASCII version into the compiled mdl. I think the ASCII export from NWN Explorer creates a .txt file, not a .mdl one.

For batch decompiling compiled .mdls, there’s the NWN Model Compiler. I’m not sure that one works for EE models, though. :thinking: I think last time I tried to compile normalmapped models with it, they just lost the normalmapping entirely.

#4

Thank you TheBarbarian! You pointed out my mistake, which was that my exported model was not truly “.mdl” even though it displayed the extension, it appeared as a notepad file. So I fixed this, and now it imported via Neverblender!

I also have to add this information: The old nwnmdlcomp does not work with NWN:EE! For that, you have to check this thread: https://forums.beamdog.com/discussion/68544/nwn-explorer - both new nwn-explorer-ee edition + new nwnmdlcomp which works with NWN:EE are in this thread!

I actually tried the nwnmdlcomp just now, it did work. But I prefer the nwn-explorer-ee (which is posted in that thread) because to me Windows terminal is too much trouble XD Linux FTW! I will test whether they output identical ASCII files and edit this post.

Alright, since it is me always asking for help :stuck_out_tongue: I will take responsibility in explaining this proccess for any newbies (as I wished someone explained it to me XD).

Required downloads:
neverblender_27-227.zip
blender 2.79b
NWN-Explorer-EE or nwnmdlcomp-EE (or find the same links in the thread atbeamdog forums)

Installing:

Neverblender: drop “neverblender” folder into “C:\Program Files\Blender Foundation\Blender\2.79\scripts\addons”. Then start Blender, go to File > User Preferences… > Add-ons (tab) > type in “neverblender” and enable it via tickbox. Then click Save User Settings button.

Using:

nwn-explorer-ee open any hak, or .mdl file. Then go into ‘ASCII Model’ tab, right click and export - be 100% sure it will save as .mdl file - and not an text file with .mdl extension in the end.

Now open Blender, and import this exported ASCII file - works just like that.

To use the cmd nwnmdlcomp-ee

Create this folder structure on your C:\ drive

C:\MdlComp
C:\MdlComp\Ascii
C:\MdlComp\Binary

And put the nwnmdlcomp.exe into C:\MdlComp

Drop any compiled .mdl files into \Binary folder that you wish to decompile. Then run this command inside terminal: C:\MdlComp\nwnmdlcomp.exe -de Binary\*.mdl Ascii\ - then open the \Ascii folder, and there you will find the decompiled models which open with notepad - and can be imported via Neverblender.

Same way, import these into Blender.

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