This is the official release post and i advice evryone who wants to share a link to the mod to share this post. It basically tells you how to avoid all Troubles, so please don't direct link. This will also be updated in case there are bugfixes.
1. Introduction
-> I originally created a very primitive Version of this mod for a good laugh with one Person. Sharing it on Tumblr made it so popular so i decided, even tho i didn't Play DA:I yet (i own it tho) to finish this to the best i can do at the Moment and give a couple fo fans the Chance to realize their favorite alternate universe.The original Version had no face rig, therefore no expressions and the materials were all ugly and too dark.
I eventually worked around most of the uglies and got this done. I hope you can enjoy it ^_^
2. Installation
-> Before anything you will need the DLC check update by WarrantyVoider. It's jut two .dll files which you need to place in the same folder as your ''MassEffect3.exe'', usually this is something like ''d:\Program Files\Origin Games\Mass Effect 3\Binaries\Win32\''. Download them here and copy the two .dlls and paste them into said folder.-> Download the Cullen mod from one of the links in the download section of this post and paste the folders into ''d:\Program Files (x86)\Origin Games\Mass Effect 3\BIOGame\DLC\''. If you did this right a new folder will appear in that folder called ''DLC_CON_CULF''.
-> Use this guide to use Texmod with ME3. And use the CullenMod.tpf file, then run the game.
-> Start a game with default male Shepard. This will still show the old Sheploo face but don't worry, ingame you'll have Cullen.
-> IMPORTANT: While using this mod, do not attempt to play with a custom male shepard or a female shepard of any kind. The textures will look all wrong. Also check section of 'Known Issues'.
Turning off the Cullen mod is very easy tho! Just put an ''off_'' at the beginning of the DLC folder and don't use the CullenMod.tpf! This will prevent it to load in your game and evrything is back to default.
This mod is incompatible with most Shepard and Kaidan texture mods! Shepard uses Cullen's edited DA:I textures and Kaidan will not change to any modded textures in the romance scene. (Adjusting textures to the new UV layout of the romance model should be easy tho, as it uses the usual layout, just scaled down.
3. Modding Log
-> Creating this mod needed me to work around a few 'uglies'. They took some time to figure out and i post them here for anyone who wants to replace Shepard in the future and runs into troubles:- Default Shepard has a skin color multiplied to the diffuse. If your new face has a already skin colored texture, but the skin is supposed to be much lighter than default Shep's, this will be your first problem.
The face does not use any mask map to tell the game where to apply the skin color and where not. You can't stop it from multiplying the skin all over the face. However, the scalp uses a mask and prevents skin color on the teeth! When you set up your mesh in ME3 Meshsplorer (use the old Meshsplorer, not the new ver 2 one) make sure you change the head material to the scalp one! I had to use Female Shepards Scalp material on Cullen, because for unknown reasons changing the mask on the male one didn't do anything. - Use 3ds max .fbx export and import the .fbx to UDK. 3ds Max .psk exporter is fine when working on outfits and other models that only have one material, but faces usually have around 3 materials. The PSK exporter merges them all, making it impossible to set different textures for face, eyelashes and eyes.
- Don't ever consider using blender for modding if you are a newbie and think if it's better to learn blender or 3ds max. I do all my mods in the good old Blender 2.49b, export to latest Blender version, to export a .fbx, to import that into 3ds Max to scale it and to then export a .fbx again to import it into UDK. I'm fine with this cause I use Blender for XNA stuff but if you have the choice don't...just don't.
- Really don't use blender.
- Romance models can be bitches. You face the same skin overlay problem if you want to replace Shep's romance model. No mask, skin multiplied all over. You can avoid this by using Kaidan's material, but for some reason this requires you to make Shepard's romance body texture A LOT darker. Also you will need to edit UVs on both Shepard and Kaidan, because they both will load the same texture.
- Kaidan's romance model is a bigger bitch than shep's cause for some reason you cannot change its materials. Well you can, ME3 explorer lets you do it, but no effect shows ingame.
To avoid this you need to merge all of Kaidan's materials to one and make it load into UDK BEFORE the eyes. This sounds like such a minor issue but i spent hours trying to move the damn Body mesh above the eye one. (If you don't manage to his eyes will have the body texture and his whole body will be a giant slimy eye-mess. Believe me, it's not beautiful) - Make sure you scale your head model so the eyes and mouth are kinda on the height of default Shep's ones. Otherwise eyes may derp around outside the head due to animations or your LI kisses your chin.
- Normal maps are important and sexy
4. Known Issues:
- Female generic NPC scalp textures are grey. Sorry for this but i tried to fix it and failed.
- Everyone has grey eyes. I may find a work around for this if i check back on this mod in the future but at the moment i'm too tired to fix this.
- Small bits of his back hair are clipping through some helmets. Sorry for that but...helmets are so rare they werent worth the hassle of reimporting for the 9th time.
- Texmod and not permanent textures: Sorry but texplorer probably just hates Windows 10. It trashed all my .pcc's last night and i ha to reimport all meshes -_- In a second run it didn't update all textures even though the not-updated textures have the right format and all. So you gotta use Texmod.
5. Download
-> Full mod (face and one additional outfit): drive.google.com/file/d/0B0tDY…
-> Ressources (if you are curious or want them for whatever reason): drive.google.com/file/d/0B0tDY…
If you have any question regarding modding feel free to ask me. I'm happy to help^^
Also if you find bugs feel free to report!
Hope you have fun with this and thanks for downloading ^_^
~ Angela
Visit my Tumblr(for ME3 mods and random crap)
Visit my DeviantArt (for renders of OCs and some fanart)
