Post by Creelien on Sept 12, 2019 19:54:08 GMT
This is the tutorial for swapping whole models in DMC 3. It is probably the simplest mod to perform, and a good place to start learning how to mod the game since these steps will have to be done in near about everything.
Tools Required: Here (Check This Post for download links to the tools you need.)
Simple Model Swaps
These are swaps that use files equal to or less than the original file size.
1. Backup your GData.pak file. Most important step evar. Make a backup of GData.pak. You can find it in the data folder of your DMC3SE root directory*. I recommend you make a backup folder for all of the files you're going to need to backup eventually. Now is a good time to create that, and put a shiny new GData.pak copy in there.
*For most Windows users, this is in your Program Files folder.
*For Steam users you can find it in the Program Files>Steam>SteamApps>Common folder.
2. Rename GData.pak as GData.afs and open it with AFS Explorer. Renaming the file will allow it to be opened in AFS Explorer. Once you have successfully renamed the it (you will likely get some warning about changing file extensions - just ignore it and continue.) go ahead and open it up with AFS Explorer.
3. (Optionial, but recommended) Export all the pl0** files into a sub folder in the backup directory you created. This will save you time in the long run, and provide you with backups. Create a sub directory in your backup folder named Characters for these files. Then, in AFS Explorer, right click on the pl0** files one by one and select export to extract them to the Characters folder you just made.
4. Select the model you want to use as a replacement and copy it into the data folder. Pretty self explanatory. Pick the model you want to use from the Character folder you created and place a copy in the data folder.
*The file identification thread will tell you what the models are. Find that here.
5. Rename the model file you copied with the name of the model you want to replace. For example, if you wanted to replace default Dante, you would rename the model you copied over to pl000.pac.
6. Import and replace the file in Gdata.afs using AFS Explorer. Back in AFS Explorer, right click on the model you want to replace. Select Import and import the file you just renamed in the previous step. Using our example from above, you'd click pl000.pac in AFS explorer and select the new pl000.pac you renamed.
* If the model is the same size or smaller than the original model in the AFS file, this step will go through without a problem. If you get an error, refer to the Increased File Size section. Most of your first model swaps will require the extra steps there.
7. Update GData.afs I hope you made a backup in step one. If so, go ahead and overwrite the file using the Update option from the File menu. If not, create a new one and then make a backup of the original. But really. You should have already made a backup in step 1.
8. Rename GData.afs as GData.pak. This turns the container back into something the game can read again. Congrats! You just swapped out your first model!
9. Test it in game. Always the final step. Go ahead and load up DMC 3 and make sure your swapped model appears where you expected it to. If you followed these steps (and had no errors) you should see the results of your swap.
Increased File Sizes
These are the extra steps required if you want to swap models with one that is of a larger file size than the original.
1. Rename GData.pak to GData.afs and open it in AFS Explorer. You should be familiar with this from the steps above.
2. Copy the model you want to swap in from your backup Characters folder into the Data folder. Rename it with the name of the model you want to replace. Again. Same as the above.
3. Reserve more space for the larger model in AFS Explorer. This isn't difficult. Just a little tedious. In AFS Explorer, go to the Advanced menu and select Modify reserved space. This will open a new window that lists the files in the container, their current sizes and the sizes reserved for them. Click on the file for the model you are trying to replace. This will highlight all of its info. At the top of the window you will see a box with a number in it that matches the number under Modified res. slot. Click the up arrow beside this box to increase the reserved space (in bytes) for the model until its just large enough to contain the model you're trying to swap in.
4. Regenerate the the afs file and save it as a new file. To do this, click the button that says Regenerate AFS! This will prompt you to save the regenerated AFS. You can't overwrite the original, so name this new .afs file something similar, such as GData2.afs. When its finished saving, click ok on the prompt that results, and then close the window and exit AFS Explorer.
5. Rename the original GData.afs and then rename the one you just created to replace it. Rename GData.afs to something that the game won't recognize such as GData1.afs. Then rename the .afs you regenerated from the step above to GData.afs - effectively replacing the original. Now the game will load this one instead.
6. Swap the model into the .afs file using AFS Explorer and update it. Same as the steps before. Open your new GData.afs in AFS Explorer and click on the model you want to replace. It should now let you import the model you wanted, assuming you reserved enough space for it. Once that is done, update the .afs file and exit AFS Explorer.
7. Rename GData.afs as GData.pak and test it in game. If everything went according to plan, you should see the results in the game.
And that covers model swapping basics. These are also the steps used to install other folks' mods. It's good practice, so have fun, and don't forget to backup your files!
Tools Required: Here (Check This Post for download links to the tools you need.)
Simple Model Swaps
These are swaps that use files equal to or less than the original file size.
1. Backup your GData.pak file. Most important step evar. Make a backup of GData.pak. You can find it in the data folder of your DMC3SE root directory*. I recommend you make a backup folder for all of the files you're going to need to backup eventually. Now is a good time to create that, and put a shiny new GData.pak copy in there.
*For most Windows users, this is in your Program Files folder.
*For Steam users you can find it in the Program Files>Steam>SteamApps>Common folder.
2. Rename GData.pak as GData.afs and open it with AFS Explorer. Renaming the file will allow it to be opened in AFS Explorer. Once you have successfully renamed the it (you will likely get some warning about changing file extensions - just ignore it and continue.) go ahead and open it up with AFS Explorer.
3. (Optionial, but recommended) Export all the pl0** files into a sub folder in the backup directory you created. This will save you time in the long run, and provide you with backups. Create a sub directory in your backup folder named Characters for these files. Then, in AFS Explorer, right click on the pl0** files one by one and select export to extract them to the Characters folder you just made.
4. Select the model you want to use as a replacement and copy it into the data folder. Pretty self explanatory. Pick the model you want to use from the Character folder you created and place a copy in the data folder.
*The file identification thread will tell you what the models are. Find that here.
5. Rename the model file you copied with the name of the model you want to replace. For example, if you wanted to replace default Dante, you would rename the model you copied over to pl000.pac.
6. Import and replace the file in Gdata.afs using AFS Explorer. Back in AFS Explorer, right click on the model you want to replace. Select Import and import the file you just renamed in the previous step. Using our example from above, you'd click pl000.pac in AFS explorer and select the new pl000.pac you renamed.
* If the model is the same size or smaller than the original model in the AFS file, this step will go through without a problem. If you get an error, refer to the Increased File Size section. Most of your first model swaps will require the extra steps there.
7. Update GData.afs I hope you made a backup in step one. If so, go ahead and overwrite the file using the Update option from the File menu. If not, create a new one and then make a backup of the original. But really. You should have already made a backup in step 1.
8. Rename GData.afs as GData.pak. This turns the container back into something the game can read again. Congrats! You just swapped out your first model!
9. Test it in game. Always the final step. Go ahead and load up DMC 3 and make sure your swapped model appears where you expected it to. If you followed these steps (and had no errors) you should see the results of your swap.
Increased File Sizes
These are the extra steps required if you want to swap models with one that is of a larger file size than the original.
1. Rename GData.pak to GData.afs and open it in AFS Explorer. You should be familiar with this from the steps above.
2. Copy the model you want to swap in from your backup Characters folder into the Data folder. Rename it with the name of the model you want to replace. Again. Same as the above.
3. Reserve more space for the larger model in AFS Explorer. This isn't difficult. Just a little tedious. In AFS Explorer, go to the Advanced menu and select Modify reserved space. This will open a new window that lists the files in the container, their current sizes and the sizes reserved for them. Click on the file for the model you are trying to replace. This will highlight all of its info. At the top of the window you will see a box with a number in it that matches the number under Modified res. slot. Click the up arrow beside this box to increase the reserved space (in bytes) for the model until its just large enough to contain the model you're trying to swap in.
4. Regenerate the the afs file and save it as a new file. To do this, click the button that says Regenerate AFS! This will prompt you to save the regenerated AFS. You can't overwrite the original, so name this new .afs file something similar, such as GData2.afs. When its finished saving, click ok on the prompt that results, and then close the window and exit AFS Explorer.
5. Rename the original GData.afs and then rename the one you just created to replace it. Rename GData.afs to something that the game won't recognize such as GData1.afs. Then rename the .afs you regenerated from the step above to GData.afs - effectively replacing the original. Now the game will load this one instead.
6. Swap the model into the .afs file using AFS Explorer and update it. Same as the steps before. Open your new GData.afs in AFS Explorer and click on the model you want to replace. It should now let you import the model you wanted, assuming you reserved enough space for it. Once that is done, update the .afs file and exit AFS Explorer.
7. Rename GData.afs as GData.pak and test it in game. If everything went according to plan, you should see the results in the game.
And that covers model swapping basics. These are also the steps used to install other folks' mods. It's good practice, so have fun, and don't forget to backup your files!