[NSFW] STEP Female Body Replacer

[Vulgar1]

Redirish, I used CBBE instead of UNP, with SG textures and I had no seams, it looked great and I even used some other mods on top of that (like fair skin mod). But if you start messing with the CBBE body slider tool you can get seams, however those can usually be fixed with the Texblend tool, both are included with CBBE main file. Of course if you go to big or small it won't look right with clothing and armor. I'm going to look at CNHF, but from what I've seen CBBE is the most compatible with other mods. UPN coming in second.

Edited April 11, 2014 by Vulgar1

[TechAngel85]

 

• We need to test CNHF 2.5 under current STEP for starters, noting any incompat with armor/clothing clipping.
• Then we will need to test CNHF 2.5 with texture replacers like Mature Skin and others to determine which do and do not have seams.
• Where texture seams or mesh clipping are present, we need to identify the mods that are conflicting with CNHF 2.5 meshes or Mature Skin (et al.) replacement skin textures and ...
• ... determine if these mods have any compatibility options for CNHF 2.5 or Mature Skin (et al.) as applicable.

If no compat 'fixes' are available for existing mods, or if solutions result in the installation of more mods to alleviate compat issues, then we are at a roadblock and will need to create one patch for STEP that we host on the Nexus. This is the simple solution that adds the least amount of complexity to the STEP installation, and addition of a single female body replacer should not complicate the installation more than that, or we have to ditch the whole idea.

 

I agree and was already planning to start testing this one.

 

After reviewing the CNHF 2.5 page, I gather that it is compatible with but not intended for UNP armors. Meaning that it will "work" with UNP armor, but will be proportioned as UNP not CNHF. Unfortunately there isn't a comprehensive set of CNHF 2.5 armor replacers.

That's basically my understanding of it as well. The author's reply on the matter of vanilla compatibility wasn't straightforward and I didn't press it past his first reply. It sounds as if CNHF is compatible with vanilla, but "could" work with UNP. We don't want the UNP armors anyway. On that topic, the CNHF author has created some armor replacements; however, they aren't really for compatiblity as I understand it, but more for making them more properly for women. Meaning it's not an armor clearly made for a man with breast simply painted over the armor. These armors actually look quite good too! See there here: https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrim/mods/34213/

 

[z929669]

Ideally, we don't want specialized female armors. We want to use vanilla compatible armors and clothing. (see previous post)

[Vulgar1]

Ok I tested again. I used CBBE as the base and installed SG over it and I get no seams. It looked flawless from what I can tell. In the CBBE installer I picked cutom body. When installing SG I picked slim. Also when installing CBBE I unchecked the Body Slide and Texblend options as I believe those are outdated. I installed Bodyslide 2 but I haven't tried running it through MO yet. As for Texblend I don't need to use it as I have no seams, but I would like to install it anyway. However I have been unable to install Texblend with MO. I found some somewhat useful info on it through Google in a loverslab post involving repackaging and changing the destination folder in the Config.xml but nothing concrete. What would the destination output folder be? If anyone knows how to install Texblend and run in through MO please post how. In the meantime I'm going to test the 4096 SG files though I don't know how well they'll match Ethereal Elven Overhaul which even with the High res patch is only 2048.

[TechAngel85]

I know we're aiming for vanilla armor compatibility. I did want to point out those armors though because they are very nice for anyone looking for something like that.

[kryptopyr]

I see the CNHF armors as basically equivalent to mods like Better Shaped Weapons.  While not necessary, it's still a huge improvement to the shape and design of the vanilla armor.

[TechAngel85]

Ditto, but one step at a time. I'll start testing out CNHF 2.5 for vanilla compatibility this evening and tomorrow.

[redirishlord]

The only issue, I believe, with using non-CNHF 2.5 armor & clothing is that it will not display the CNHF 2.5 body rather it will show its own (vanilla, or UNP as applicable to the armor currently worn).

My concern is simply that there aren't many CNHF 2.5 armors yet made, so it may be difficult to enjoy this mod as intended. If a comprehensive set of vanilla/dlc armors were available I think CNHF 2.5 would be a definite STEP candidate, but not so much without.

[TechAngel85]

The only issue, I believe, with using non-CNHF 2.5 armor & clothing is that it will not display the CNHF 2.5 body rather it will show its own (vanilla, or UNP as applicable to the armor currently worn).

My concern is simply that there aren't many CNHF 2.5 armors yet made, so it may be difficult to enjoy this mod as intended. If a comprehensive set of vanilla/dlc armors were available I think CNHF 2.5 would be a definite STEP candidate, but not so much without.

I read something about this. How are bodies exactly connected to armors? How is it that Better Males is not affected by this; thus, working with vanilla armors?

[CJ2311]

I read something about this. How are bodies exactly connected to armors? How is it that Better Males is not affected by this; thus, working with vanilla armors?

Better males keep the same body shape.I don't know how it works exactly, but I'm pretty sure armor meshes replace the body itself.For example if you use CBBE body, and download an UNP armor, whenever anyone equips that armor, they'll get an UNP body, but their head (and I think the feet and hands too) will keep the CBBE shape; resulting in stuff like this: https://i.imgur.com/fsn1m.png

[TechAngel85]

Better males keep the same body shape.I don't know how it works exactly, but I'm pretty sure armor meshes replace the body itself.For example if you use CBBE body, and download an UNP armor, whenever anyone equips that armor, they'll get an UNP body, but their head (and I think the feet and hands too) will keep the CBBE shape; resulting in stuff like this: https://i.imgur.com/fsn1m.png

Ah, okay. Well...testing will tell for CNHF 2.5

[redirishlord]

As I understand it, and experience has shown, CJ2311 is correct. Using vanilla armors with CNHF 2.5 should give you a CNHF 2.5 head on vanilla shoulders, which in my opinion defeats the purpose. You will only see the "heroic form" in armor converted for CNHF 2.5, or in your underwear (& while Conan manages to look heroic fighting in skivvies I don't think that's what y'all are shooting for here).

[TechAngel85]

Just woke up and put a load of laundry on. As soon as I get some coffee in my system I'll start testing and post some preliminary shots....so give me about an hour. lol

[thommaal]

I'd categorize a body-mod as a gateway-mod: it's not just about the mod itself but the possibilities it opens up and its flexibility.While CNHF looks right, it's almost a cul-de-sac: there isn't much content available and no massive support group behind it that suggests a change soon. UNP/UNPB and CBBE, otoh, do have content and support. And it's easy to suggest a weight in Racemenu (already a STEP-mod) that won't differ too much from the vanilla body.Add something like mature textures and the females don't need to look like actresses in a fantasy themed porn movie.UNP/UNPB or CBBE all add lots of flexibility for further modding beyond STEP without diverging too much from vanilla with a suggested basic setting.

[TechAngel85]

Doesn't look good for CNHF 2.5:
 

 
Full Size: https://i.imgur.com/IK7Ujlf.jpg
 
I've confirmed the vanilla body is being used with the armors equipped rather than the CNHF 2.5 body. Besides the seam on the arm, the next most noticable thing is the width of the biceps which is about a 10-12 pixel difference in the above shot on the back of the bicep.

 

This is going to be true for all major replacers. Prometheus doesn't seem to suffer from the seam; however, a side view will clearly reveal the vanilla body being used again as she is given an instant breast reduction.