I'm new to the whole modding sort of thing, so I figured I'd try tinkering around with a weapon mod I like so much. When I tried changing it from a two-handed sword to a one-handed sword, it worked... sorta. I managed to change the properties to the right values (I think) but the model was... well, missing in a small sense. I could "draw" the sword and swing it, but the model was still attached to my back as if it were a sheathed two-handed sword.

Said weapon mod was created using the CK and I used the CK to try and change it. If asking for help on something like this is against any sort of rules (I have no intention of publishing it nor do I have any intention of trying to claim to be its author, I simply want to adjust it to my personal tastes) then simply delete the thread and I'll leave this alone. If not, then could someone give me some pointers and tell me what I'm missing?

Edit: Ignore the title please. Apparently I screwed up yet again... It's meant to be "How do I change a two-handed sword into a one-handed sword?" I can't seem to get anything right tonight. @_@

you need to use a 3rd party program like nifskope

open up your 2-hander in nifskope and export the weapon model as an obj. then open an existing one-hander that looks similar to it. select the one hander weapon model's NiTriShape and import the obj of the 2-hander in its place. save and import into the CK


you cannot change a 2-h to a 1-h in the CK alone, it just wont work. you have to "trick" it

Hrm... I don't know that any one-hander looks similar to what I'm trying to change, so that might be a problem. I almost feel it might be better for me to make a request out of this... Hrm. *think think*

As opposed to what alternative? Just saying.

You aren't "tricking" anything. You are overwriting the 3D data of one nif with the data of another, thus changing the visual of the weapon. No trickery here.

If you do this with a glass greatsword and a glass sword, you simply overwriting the 3D data. The rest of the nif dictates that "This is a sword and here's how the game uses it". What the 3D data is has no barrings on this.

Would it be better if I simply linked to what I'm wanting to alter to my personal tastes? Forgive me for being "stupid" but reading how to do this sort of thing isn't how I learn; I'm a visual learner. So since I doubt anyone would have the patience to show me via a stream or something, please bear with me on this. Is this above mentioned method going to work? Replacing a one-handed model with the two-handed model? Mind you, this weapon is a stand-alone from what I can tell; it doesn't replace anything in the game.

it is a trick, or more specifically a "hack" at best.

the 3D swap only allows you to use the weapon node and collision data of the 1hand weapon on a 2hand sword. it's a ***tty way of doing it, but for now, it's the only way.

You don't need to export then import an OBJ file to make it work, infact just like with OB you only need to change one line in the NIF.

Open up the NIF, find NiStringExtraData under the BSXFlag, change it from WeaponSword to WeaponBack, save.

Now all that's left is the CK work. Done it this way myself a few times.

A follow up question on the answer from InsanitySorrow:

• What does the "WeaponBack" designation mean? At first glance, I wouild have assumedWeaponGreatSword;
  
  • is there a reference to the various valid entries?
    
  • I also noted that the field we are discussing is labled a Text field, something thta usually involves comment data, not actual parameters.
• Won't this just change the looks?
  
  • I assume CK changes to two handed type will be necessary, along with the appropriate tie-ins to skills needed, etc.

Thanks for any additional information,
- WDF01 -