How To Edit WC3 Models With All FREEWARE (ie: now)

[Bone_Bag]

I finally found out how to edit the DoTA hero models (I am making a wallpaper) by using only free downloadable software!

I. First you need to download the three pieces of software:

1. 3d Modeling Software: blender.org - Get Blender
2. mdx/blp Extractor: Warcraft 3 Viewer - Wc3C.net (scroll down and click in the download link)
3. mdx -> obj converter: http://wi-fizzle.com/downloads/wc3/modelconv.zip

II. Install blender and then extract the other two softwares to wherever you like

III. Ok, now we are ready to grab a model!

1. Open Warcraft3Viewer, and Click File->Open MPQ->wc3 directory(C:\Program Files\Warcraft III)\War3x.mpq
2. Find your model by pressing Ctrl+F
3. Click on the "Extract MDX" button and save it off somewhere (remember where :P)
4. (optional - for textures) Click on "Extract (and convert) textures used by MDX file" and save them off (remember where :P)
5. Now run modelconv (it runs in dos (cmd)) and convert the files to obj files (easy way to do this is to copy the address from the explorer window and then right-click on the dos's title bar and say Edit->Paste)
6. Run Blender, and Click File->Import->Wavefront (.obj), then find the obj file and click Import Wavefront OBJ, and then click OK.

There you go, if you need help with Blender, there are a lot of guides (including the UV image mapping).

Have Fun!

(screen shots coming...)

[Bone_Bag]

A PrtScrn of blender, the mesh has a problem but I'll post more when I get it :]


Edit 2:
Fixed mesh, images were moved :blush:

A PrtScrn of a render, 1 more to come


Edit 3:
Another render at another angle


Hope you enjoy NOW THERES PROOF... not that I needed any...

The model is really chunky, but you can turn on Sub-Surfacing (3d smoother) and then on top of that if you don't like the shapes (i.e.: boobs) you can edit the model.

O yeah 1 more thing: the alpha (transparency) works too if you see the bottom of PA's cape thing and the weapon, but I haven't got all of the black out as you can see if you look closely; also the cape has a partial transparency which shows here too: if you need help with the transparency just let me know I have all the Blender settings in a file and the alpha file needs to be a certain way and... yeah ok that's all just let me know

[yokr1984]

this helped me a lot, tyvm.

edit: cant run blender on my system, I run vista 64-bit. Any newer versions available ?

[Bone_Bag]

Originally Posted by yokr1984

this helped me a lot, tyvm.

edit: cant run blender on my system, I run vista 64-bit. Any newer versions available ?

ywvm

About the 64 bit issue, they currently have a zip where you extract everything and then run Blender out of a folder: direct zip download link (13.5mb) (as of 11/3/2009) Note: there are still minor missing functions/unworking functions as: FFMPEG, OpenAL and Quicktime.

EDIT: you have to have the visual c++ 2008 spi redistribution package for 64 bit (~5MB): (opens external link in new window)

If you want to check the download page here it is:
blender.org - Get Blender

Enjoy!!

[Kraivo]

please help me. Can somebody convert to obj all DoTa characters?

[Bone_Bag]

nope, not AFAIK good luck.