[Guide] Fix your Helm

[schlumpf]

And today: Just another helmfix-guide.


Prelude:

• Objective: A helmfix for a Orc Male to Night Elf Male conversion.
• Tools used:
  
  • MyWarcraftStudio (check for a new version)
  • Batch Renamer
  • Windows Explorer (if you dont have this, stfukekethxbai) and of course:
  • the ModelEditFix
• Time: 10 Minutes? dunno.
• Explanation: "\.." means a folder called ".." on your HDD, but since i dont know your comp, i cant give you the full path. so as example: \wow\ means your wow-directory.

Here we go:

Step 1: Setting up folders and getting the data.

1. Create a folder / folders called: "\helmfix\ITEM\ObjectComponents". In this folder create a new file. A Textfile or whatever. So you have in total: "x:\...\helmfix\item\objectcomponents\new textfile.txt" for example.
2. Open myWarcraftStudio.
3. Open \wow\data\patch-2.mpq
4. Extract the ITEM\ObjectComponents\HEAD-folder to the created one. To extract you select the folder in myWarcraftStudio and rightclick it > "Extract Folder", go to the "\helmfix\ITEM\ObjectComponents" folder and select the file. press save.
   Maybe there are two folders with that name. Its important to extract EVERY folder called like this. Non-case-sensitive.
5. Do the same for \wow\data\patch.mpq and \wow\data\common.mpq

Step 2: Organizing the mess. Deleting senseless things.

1. So you got around 4019 files in this directory. That are a few too much
2. Rename the folder to "head_".
3. Create a new folder called "head".
4. Go into the "head_"-folder. Press ctrl-f (search, if the hotkey differs on your system). Search for *.m2 (all files).
5. Copy these files into the "head"-folder.
6. You should now got ~3390 .m2 files in \helmfix\ITEM\ObjectComponents\head on your HDD.
7. Delete the "head_" folder and all contained data.
8. Rename "head" to "head_"
9. Create a new "head"-folder.
10. Now search in the "head_"-folder for your NEW race/gender-combo. in this case: NiM. The combinations are the following:
    
    • BeM -> Blood Elf Male, BeF -> Blood Elf Female
    • DrM -> Draenei Male, DrF -> Draenei Female
    • DwM -> Dwarf Male, DwF -> Dwarf Female
    • GnM -> Gnome Male, GnF -> Gnome Female
    • HuM -> Human Male, HuF -> Human Female
    • NiM -> Night Elf Male, NiF -> Night Elf Female
    • OrM -> Orc Male, OrF -> Orc Female
    • ScM -> Undead Male, ScF -> Undead Female
    • TaM -> Tauren Male, TaF -> Tauren Female
    • TrM -> Troll Male, TrF -> Troll Female
11. Copy the files you found to "head". (The new, empty one.)
12. You should now have ~154 files in the "head" directory.
13. Delete the "head_" one . You just need the "head" folder.

Step 3: Batch it, baby!

1. Open the Batch Renamer you've downloaded.
2. Navigate to your "\helmfix\ITEM\ObjectComponents\head" directory on your HDD.
3. Enter the new race/gender-combo in the box after "replace" and the OLD race/gender-combo in the "with"-box. In this case: "Replace NiM with OrM".
4. Hit "Go!" and run!
5. Now you got a lot of files, that are all named like "Helm_Circlet_C_01_OrM.m2".

Step 4: Pack it like Beckham!

1. Open myWarcraftStudio again.
2. Hit "Pack (P)" | "Create MPQ archive".
3. Save it in the \wow\data folder.
4. Name it patch-h.mpq. Or something else with patch-[a-z3-9].mpq.
5. Now add a placeholder:
   
   • Pack (P) | add file to archive.
   • Select any file on your HDD (not a big one) as a placeholder.
   • Add it.
   • Rightclick it in the treeview.
   • Rename file to "ITEM\ObjectComponents\placeholder".
6. Open the created folders.
7. Rightclick on "ObjectComponents", select "Import Folder". Now select a file in your "\helmfix\ITEM\ObjectComponents\head"-folder.
8. Give it some time. (Only if your PC isnt that fast )
9. Rightclick the "placeholder" and remove it.
10. "Pack (P) | Sort Listfile". (not necessary )
11. "Pack (P) | Save and close archive".

Step 5: Run it!

1. Run WoW with an updated ModelEditingFix.
2. Have Fun.

And again: Feedback!

I dont know why I should do this without getting any feedback. I dont mean, you have to +rep me, a "thanks" or "I dont get step 3,6." is enough.
When you have Questions, ask them. As long as they arent stupid or answered before or in the guide.

Thanks for the feedback so far.

Mistake by me, removed at 15:55 on 24.08.07 (gmt+1):

I wrote helm instead on head all the times in the directories. Please correct this in your fixes. The Updates got DarkOrange. I'm sorry for this, it was at ~5 AM :|

Helmfix Compilation

If you made a helmfix, pleas upload it to rapidshare or whatever and give us the link. It will be added to the first post.

Here we go:

• Undead Male to Human Male
• Night Elf Female to Undead Male
• Orc Male to Undead Male
• Orc Male to Blood Elf Male (by Cetto)
• Tauren Male to Draenei Female (by Elementhun)
• Human Male to Dwarf Male
• Undead Male to Bloodelf Female (by Dragonfly17)
• Undead Female to Undead Male (redone by Laokon)

I hope the guide is understandable.

-- schlumpf

[aws]

Thanks for the guide I'm going to try it out. Basically I'm a total newb regarding model changes, sofar I've managed to change my male gnome into a male undead. The head was too big, I'm guessing this will fix that.

I'm just wondering, when I delete the files for the gnome->undead change, will this have affected anything (the head size change)?

Guess it's a total newb question, would appreciate an answer if you have the time =)

[schlumpf]

I'm just wondering, when I delete the files for the gnome->undead change, will this have affected anything (the head size change)?

If you delete the data, everything will be as it was. So every gnome is a gnome again.

[aws]

Just finished doing every step, without succes, my patch-h.mpq fails I think. Still the same ol' big head, gonna try it again hopefully with more luck.

edit: I redid step 4 again, still not working

''Rightclick on "ObjectComponents", select "Import Folder". Now select a file in your "\helmfix\ITEM\ObjectComponents\HELM"-folder.
Give it some time.
"Pack (P) | Save and close archive".''

that ''give it some time'' confuses me since it's like instant here, think thats where it's not working or something. Tho it says 153 files succesfuly added. Anyways thanks again for this guide gonna hit the bed and try tomorrow I guess.

[dando]

Looks very nice, will try this out later. Keep the good work up.

[aws]

Just tried this again today, did every step perfectly without any errors, still not working for me, anyone else that tried this and worked? ;o

[serania]

Really nice guide , i would surely do this if just MyWarcraftStudio worked on my computer ^^ +rep

[schlumpf]

Mistake by me, removed at 15:55 on 24.08.07 (gmt+1): I wrote helm instead on head all the times in the directories. Please correct this in your fixes. The Updates got DarkOrange. I'm sorry for this, it was at ~5 AM :|

I hope this removes your problems.

One other thing. This thread might be used as compilation too. So if you made a helmfix, pleas upload it to rapidshare or whatever and give us the link. It will be added to the first post.

[Stolle]

Really nice guide, I appreciate it very much - thank you for putting so much effort in.

Altho - I would love to know if: "Undead Female to Undead Male (I'm not sure. Might be the other way" What way that is, currently I have UD Male > UD female and I need this helm change badly.
So if you could help me with that I would be very thankful.

[schlumpf]

its "Undead Female to Undead Male". but i dont know it for sure, because i just found that thing somewhere in my archives. so it may be "Undead Male to Undead Female". just download and try. if its not the one matching for you, do it yourself.

[Stolle]

Only thing is; I dont know where to put the file. And if it diesnt match, can i just delete it?

[schlumpf]

/wow/data, yes.

[Stolle]

Thanks alot!

[Stolle]

I just tried that one; And im afraid it's right, it's as you say: UD Male -> UD Female head switch. You can change that to avoid confusion by other people.

If you have time I would love if you could do the UD Male -> UD Female helm fix for me, only if and when you have time though. I dont have any programs and im new to this and i need all the help i can get tbh.

Great guide nontheless!

[schlumpf]

then get the apps. they are all listed in the prelude. with links!