The 3rd Age

Build anywhere mod (buildmod)

Build anywhere mod (buildmod)

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Tools of the trade

Avatar of Hostile

Hostile

Category: Other
Level: Beginner
Created: Monday May 5, 2008 - 15:30
Updated: Monday May 5, 2008 - 16:50
Views: 9176
Summary: This article presents all the tools you are going to need in your quest to edit BfME games

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6 votes

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EA Games Software Development Kit
This Mod SDK contains w3d tools, documentation and other useful developer tools to greatly enhance the production of your mod projects for the The Battle for Middle-earth, The Battle for Middle-earth II, Command & Conquer Generals, and Command & Conquer Generals Zero Hour. Absolutely needed if you're creating new art for your mod.
written by © 2006 EA Games



Modding Programs by Gil Galad
Various programs developed specifically for BFME game editing. Those include a HordeBuilder, a Faction Creator, and many other great programs.
written by Gil Galad



Final Big Editor 1.4
A program that is necessary to "extract" files from the BIG files. An absolute must if you are going to mod the game. Open the program, open a BIG file, highlight the file to be extracted, and click edit. You will see the extract command there. You may extract the entire BIG file at once if you choose. This version now supports BFME. It also contains a .dds and W3D preview.
489K Zip format written by Mathius Wagner



CSF Editor
A program that will enable you to edit/add strings to BFME 1. Strings are basically the text you see within the game. This is needed if you plan on adding new units or changing the names of existing ones.
Note: BFME 2 uses STR files instead of CSF files. They can be edited with any text editor, like notepad.
219K Zip format written by Scorpio9A



Asset Builder 2.0
A program that will enable you to add new textures and models to the original asset.dat file. It is a stand alone program. Drag your new assets into the window and use the append function. Click save and save the new asset.dat to a safe place. Do not rewrite your original, just replace it with the new file you create by saving it.
1.8 Meg EXE format written by Sy



XCC Mixer
This Program combines the first two so you can extract BIG files and edit the CSF file. I've used it on and off but it's a good tool. This version in particluar supports BFME.
675K Zip format written by Olaf van der Spek



DDS Plugin for PS
This plugin for Photoshop will allow PS to import and export .DDS format that is used throughout BFME. Another must if you are going to mod the game.
264K Zip format written by UNKNOWN



Targa Plugin for PS7
This plugin for Photoshop will correct the short comings of PS7 when using Targa (TGA) formats. Prior to PS7 TGA was handled correctly. This should fix known issues with PS7 in regards to handling TGA formats.
15K Zip format written by UNKNOWN



Cameo Mapper
This program enables you to map the coordinates of images to be used ingame. It will then save the results as an INI file to be placed in the proper location. You may map more than one image from a file.
See 2-D Artwork for how to set up your 2-D artwork for ingame use.
1.44MG Zip format written by Mastermind



W3D Importer
This plugin works for both Gmax and 3DS Max and will allow you to import models from the game into the modeling program. It will also import animations. I found this to be the best W3D importer avaliable.
See Models for more information on modeling.
11K Zip format written by Coolfile



Chillskinner
This plugin is for Gmax and will aid you greatly in skinning your models as long as they are low poly. It allows you to weld vertices and unfold the sides. Excellant for structures for BFME. Seeing the site is no longer up I hope this helps. No support from this site on how to use it.
See Models for more information on modeling.
675K Zip format written by Chillskinner



BFME WB Molds
This is a resource that includes some terrain molds that can be added to World Builder for BFME. Place these files in the Data/Editor folder and this will enable terrain molds for BFME World Builder. These are useful for making terrain. Load them and click Mesh Mold tool and they will be there.
52K Zip format provided by Deezire



GMAX
This is a free 3-D modeling program that you will need to make and export your models to BFME. This is a direct link so that you can download it and it is for free. You also need RenX.


RenX
This ultimate tool is needed because this will give Gmax (above) the ability to export W3D files. This is a gamepack from Renegade that uses the same format as BFME. So read the readme files and place this file into the proper place. .EXE file will do that. There is no other way to export to W3D format.
24.9MG exe format provided by EA Games



Hex Editor
This tool will allow you to open files and manipulate them. This is necessary and only recommended for advanced users. The current use for it is to change the headers on .bse files that are saved from World Builder. The game uses all caps in the header but WB saves in lowercase.
89K exe format written by UNKNOWN



TGA Viewer for Windows
A nice plugin that allows thumbnail views of TGA files in MS Explorer. It's been a big pain till I found this handy tool.
written by GMAN



DDS Viewer for Windows
A nice plugin that allows thumbnail views of DDS files in MS Explorer. Another big pain till I found this handy tool.
written by UNKOWN

Links / Downloads

 HitsAdded
TGA Viewer for Windows2096May 5, 2008 - 15:57
DDS Viewer for Windows1738May 5, 2008 - 15:57
RenX Editor2020May 5, 2008 - 15:57
GMax 3D2167May 5, 2008 - 15:50
Chillskinner1602May 5, 2008 - 15:49
BFME WB Molds1530May 5, 2008 - 15:49
Chillskinner1201May 5, 2008 - 15:48
W3D Importer1717May 5, 2008 - 15:47
Cameo Mapper1571May 5, 2008 - 15:47
Targa Plugin for PS71338May 5, 2008 - 15:46
DDS Plugin for Photoshop1437May 5, 2008 - 15:44
XCC Mixer1639May 5, 2008 - 15:44
XCC Mixer1318May 5, 2008 - 15:44
Asset Builder 2.02038May 5, 2008 - 15:43
CSF Editor1172May 5, 2008 - 15:41
Final Big Editor 1.43014May 5, 2008 - 15:40
Modding Programs by Gil Galad2720May 5, 2008 - 15:37
EA Games BfME Software Development Kit1760May 5, 2008 - 15:36

Comments

Display order: Newest first

modboy451 - Monday November 14, 2011 - 17:38

Np :D

Halanor - Monday November 14, 2011 - 17:17

@modboy451 thanks a lot mate... :D

modboy451 - Monday November 14, 2011 - 14:31

@Halanor, start with the articles on the site in the modding section, you need FinalBig to open the files... there are a multitued of tutorials there to help you... try messing with a bit of the code or trying one of the beginner or intermmediate tutorials.

Halanor - Monday November 14, 2011 - 13:27

CAN ANYONE TELL ME HOT TO START MODDING?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????

Liam Rogers - Monday January 26, 2009 - 17:55

thanks for the tools of the trade, i'd've been all over the place looking for this stuff :D

ched (Team Chamber Member) - Saturday June 14, 2008 - 19:26

@Jeth: I should have fixed the link now.

@GFire: GMAx is a "free 3D modeling program"

Rob38 (Team Chamber Member) - Saturday June 14, 2008 - 9:30

Nice list of programs in one easy location. Great idea.

Gfire - Thursday May 8, 2008 - 19:46

It's just the way you worded it... weird.

Jeth Calark - Thursday May 8, 2008 - 19:15

DDS viewer for Windows link doesn't work. =(

Gfire - Tuesday May 6, 2008 - 18:24

Do you have to pay for Gmax usually?

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