Name: Eyecandy Variants Expansion (EVE) HGEC Body Selector and Stock Equipment Replacer

Version: 1.0

Date: March 2009

Category: Models and Textures

Requirements: Oblivion Patch 1.2.0.214, Oblivion Mod Manager (for OMOD version, though highly recommended regardless)

Author(s): TESEyecandy.com Forums

Forum: http://teseyecandy.com/forum/index.php

Description

===========

Replaces the vanilla Oblivion clothing and armor to match several versions of the HGEC female body.

Overview

=======

The Eyecandy Variants Expansion (EVE) HGEC Body Selector and Stock Equipment Replacer replaces the original female clothing and armor files for vanilla Oblivion with versions conformed to several variations on the HGEC female body created by RAIAR (http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=15802), which is itself based on the original Exnem's Eyecandy body (http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=10171). The Shivering Isles and Knights of the Nine are also supported by this pack, but not required. This mod is designed to be easy to install and as user-friendly as possible, but it is still a complex modification to a complex game. You are advised to read all instructions before proceeding. EVE supports the following body options:

Upper Body:

HGEC Normal E-Cup: This is the default upper body in the HGEC v1.1 pack, the Normal option, not the more muscular Fighter option.

HGEC Normal C-Cup: This is the alternate C-cup option for HGEC v1.1

HGEC EBE E-Cup: This is the Extra Buff Edition (EBE), a variation on HGEC v1.1 created by MadCat221. It is a more muscular version similar in build to the original Exnem body. EVE's creators decided to use this rather than the Fighter version of HGEC v1.1.

Lower Body:

HGEC Normal: This is the default lower body in the HGEC v1.1 pack

HGEC Wide: This variant has wider hips and a somewhat larger rear; in the pack of alternate lower bodies for HGEC, it is the LL option.

HGEC EBE: This is a more muscular lower body for use with the Extra Buff Edition upper body.

The E-Cup equipment conversions and all Lower Body conversions were primarily done by Grhys. The C-Cup conversions were done primarily by Sm0ken1nfin8. EVE is designed so that any combination of these options can be used. All of the necessary files to install these body replacers are included. If you already have the HGEC body installed, or are using a variant of it that is not directly supported by EVE, you can install only the equipment replacer files. These conversions take a lot of time and effort, so we cannot provide direct support for every variation on the HGEC body that is out there. Hopefully you can find an option that is reasonably close to your preferred body. If, for example, you use the HGEC D-Cup version, you might install either the Normal E-Cup or Normal C-Cup equipment, depending on your preference.

Both an OMOD version and a manual installation version are available. The OMOD is designed to allow the user to easily change which body options are installed. It also makes uninstalling EVE much simpler. This is the suggested installation. The manual install is for users who do not care to use OMODs and/or who know exactly which options they want and do not see themselves changing their minds very often. Both contain the following plugin files:

Main Plugin:

EVE_StockEquipmentReplacer.esp

In vanilla Oblivion, several armor and clothing sets do not have distinct female meshes for every item (particularly cuirasses). Males and females use the same 3D model. The Steel cuirass is the perfect example. EVE adds distinct female versions for many items, and this plugin must be active for those to work. In general, it should probably go toward the end of your load order. Some mods (like Oscuro's Oblivion Overhaul) change the statistics of many vanilla items and will conflict with this plugin. We will be providing support of OOO, but for other mods, this file contains a {{BASH:Graphics}} tag in its description so that you can use Wrye Bash to make a Bashed Plugin that combines the changes in this file with changes in other mods. If you are doing this, EVE_StockEquipmentReplacer.esp should load before any conflicting mods. For more information of Wrye Bash and why you should be using it, visit its website (http://wrye.ufrealms.net/Wrye Bash.html).

Optional Plugins:

EVE_KnightsoftheNine.esp

This adds a distinct female version of the Armor of the Crusader in the Knights of the Nine mod. It should load after Knights.esp and (if you are using the Unofficial Mod Patch) after Knights_Unofficial Patch.esp The only potential conflicts are with other mods that alter Knights of the Nine, and those are relatively rare.

EVE_KhajiitFix.esp

There is a bug in Oblivion with the texture paths for the Khajiit race. By default, the males and females use the same texture for their feet. Normally, this is okay, but it causes texture problems with most body mods. If you are already using HGEC or Exnem's Eyecandy body, you probably already have some fix for this. This plugin is mainly for those who are entirly new to this. It also includes a {{BASH:Body-F}} tag in the description for use with Wrye Bash, as this will conflict with other plugins that alter race information (Beautiful People, Elaborate Eyes, Ren's Hair, Corean Hair, Robert's Male Body, etc.)

EVE_ShiveringIslesEasterEggs.esp

This is a holdover from the Exnem Stock Clothing and Armor Replacer by Grhys. EVE_StockEquipmentReplacer.esp makes Thadon's Robe, Syl's Dress, and Haskill's Suit playable and adds female versions of the Thadon and Haskill outfits. Unfortunately, you cannot acquire Thadon's Robe or Haskill's Suit in regular play, and Syl's Dress may not be available depending on which quest branch you follow in Shivering Isles. This plugin hides these three items in the Shivering Isles. You can just play and possibly stumble upon them yourself, or you can scroll to the bottom of this file for directions to them.

OMOD Installation

============

1. Copy OMOD file to (install folder)\Oblivion\obmm\omod\. If you are currently using any custom body mods or equipment replacer packs, make sure you have a backup copy. EVE may overwrite them, depending on which options you install.

2. Start Oblivion Mod Manager.

3. Double-click the name of the mod in the right-hand side of the OBMM screen.

4. The mod will decompress. Be patient.

5. The mod will ask if you want body textures installed. If you are already using HGEC, you will probably want to choose 'No.' The textures included in EVE come from Exnem's original mod and an older hi-rez pack by Gizmo (resized to the same resolution as Exnem's). They are not the best available by far, but if you are new to body mods they will suffice. There are far better packs on TESNexus and other mod sites.

6. You will be prompted to choose an upper body from the three available options, either with or without underwear. Based on this choice, the mod will install the corresponding clothing and armor files. You can also choose not to install an upper body, should you want to use a version of HGEC that isn't directly supported by EVE, the D-Cup for example. In this case, you will be prompted to choose which replacer set you want for the clothing and armor. You will most likely want to pick the option most similar to the upper body you are using.

6a. Special Note: If you select either C-Cup option, you will receive a second prompt, asking if you wish to use optional Dermal Exposure meshes. In the E-Cup options, there are a few meshes (see Details below for a full list) that have been further modified to expose the shoulders, a little bit more cleavage, etc. Nothing racy, really, we just wanted to show off the HGEC body a little better. Sm0ken1nfin8 wanted these to be optional for his C-Cup replacer. Choose 'Yes' if you want to see a tiny bit more skin. Choose 'No' to use the meshes that are closer to vanilla Oblivion.

7. You will be prompted to choose a lower body. It works the same way.

8. The mod will finish installing. EVE_StockEquipmentReplacer.esp will be added to your plugin list and activated. The optional plugin files will not be active by default. Activate the ones you need and adjust load order as necessary.

9. The icon beside the mod should now be blue. Congratulations, the mod is installed.

Notes: If you already have a female body mod or body mod related files (textures, etc.) installed as OMODs, you do not have to deactivate them before installing EVE. You can choose to install only the Equipment replacers, or you can let EVE overwrite the other mods if you want to use body files or textures from this mod.

OMOD Uninstall

=========

1. Start Oblivion Mod Manager.

2. Double-click the name of the mod in the right-hand side of the OBMM screen,

click Yes. The icon should turn green.

Manual Installation

=============

1. Extract the manual installation archive into a temporary location

2. Copy the plugin files to (install folder)\Oblivion\Data\

3. Copy the folder Textures\ to (install folder)\Oblivion\Data\ You will need these regardless of the choices you make next.

4. If you wish to install body textures, open the folder Body Textures\ Inside you will see a folder called Textures\ Copy this to (install folder)\Oblivion\Data\

5. If you wish to install a female upper body or lower body provided in this pack, open its folder (Upperbody HGEC EBE E-Cup Underwear\ for example) and copy the Meshes\ folder inside to (install folder)\Oblivion\Data\

6. To install equipment replacer files, open the folder for upper body option you want (Equipment Replacer Upperbody HGEC EBE E-Cup\ for example) and copy the Meshes\ folder inside to (install folder)\Oblivion\Data\ Now decide on a lower body option, open the appropriate folder, and copy the Meshes\ folder contained within to (install folder)\Oblivion\Data\

6a. If you use the Normal C-Cup equipment replacer and wish to install the Dermal Exposure files (see OMOD install above for details) open the folder Equipment Replacer Upperbody HGEC Normal C-Cup Alt\ Copy the Meshes\ folder inside to (install folder)\Oblivion\Data\

7. Start Oblivion Mod Manager or, if you don't use OBMM, start the Oblivion launcher and click Data Files. Activate EVE_StockEquipmentReplacer.esp and any optional plugins you wish to use. Adjust load order as necessary. Congratulations, the mod is installed.

Manual Uninstall

============

To manually uninstall this mod, you will have to delete the files it added to your (install folder)\Oblivion\Data\ folder manually. At this point, you may seriously ask yourself why you did not install it as an OMOD.

Details

======

--For the most part, the replacer pack installs new meshes that override the old Bethesda female meshes. Some equipment had no distinct female version (male and female use the same mesh file), so a plugin must be used to add one.

EVE_StockEquipmentReplacer.esp adds distinct female versions to the following items (other misc changes also listed):

Blackwood Armor: cuirass, boots

Blades Armor: boots, gauntlets

Dwarven Armor: cuirass, boots, gauntlets

Glass Armor: boots, gauntlets

Imperial Palace Armor: cuirass (that's all there is), made playable

Imperial Watch Armor: cuirass, greaves, boots, made playable

Legion Armor: boots

Imperial Dragon Armor: cuirass, boots

Mithril Armor: boots

Steel Armor: cuirass, boots

Monk Robe: robe

White Monk Robe: robe

White Mage Robe: robe, shoes

Wrist Irons: gauntlets

Priest of Order Robe: robe

Zealot Robe: robe

Thadon's Robe: robe, made playable, added ground mesh and icon

Syl's Dress: made playable, added ground mesh and icon

Haskill's Suit: suit, made playable, added ground mesh and icon

EVE_KnightsoftheNine.esp adds distinct female versions to the following items

Armor of the Crusader: cuirass, boots, helmet

--The Dermal Exposure option affects the following items for the C-Cup replacer:

Huntsman Vest (lowerclass\03\)

Quilted Doublet (middleclass\02\)

Blue & Green Outfit (middleclass\03\)

Burgundy Linen Shirt (middleclass\04\)

Black & Burgundy Outfit (upperclass\02\)

Blue Velvet Outfit (upperclass\03\)

Red Velvet Outfit (upperclass\05\)

Sheogorath's Regalia

--Some UV errors have been corrected on the heavy Arena Champion raiment. Previously, all of the Arena raiments used the same mesh, same UVMap, just different textures. Because of these corrections, the heavy Champion mesh file (Data\Meshes\Armor\Champion\f\cuirass.nif) is now distinct from the other Arena raiments' mesh files.

Incompatibility

===============

This mod is not compatible with other mods that replace the female clothing or armor from vanilla Oblivion, Shivering Isles, or Knights of the Nine.

It is compatible with Robert's Male Body and should be fully compatible with any mods that replace the male clothing and armor for use with Robert's. If you are using Robert's and EVE_KhajiitFix.esp, you will need to use Wrye Bash to combine the changes they make.

If you attempt to use these equipment replacer files with female body mods not based on Exnem's or HGEC, you will see texturing issues on any exposed skin. As mentioned above, any mod that alters the statistics of the vanilla Oblivion equipment will probably conflict with EVE_StockEquipmentReplacer.esp. We will be providing support for Oscuro's Obilivion Overhaul, the most prominent example of such a mod.

This mod is fully compatible with the Unofficial Oblivion Patch v3.2.0, Unofficial Shivering Isles Patch v1.4.0, and Unofficial Mod Patch (fifteenth release). The fixes provided by these patches are integrated into the plugin files and meshes of EVE. The only fix that is nullified by this mod is the change in various robes so that they share a normal map file, thus reducing memory usage when several of these robes are in memory at the same time. If this is important to you and you know what you are doing, you can change the meshes provided by EVE in NifSkope to use the UOP textures.

Known Issues or Bugs

====================

Unsightly clipping between meshes should be no worse than in vanilla Oblivion, and in most cases is far less of a problem.

Most of these meshes were made in Blender. Because of the way it handles mesh normals, there will be a more noticeable seam between exposed flesh on equipment and other body parts, most noticeably at the neck seam. This is a minor issue. It may be addressed at a later date, but it should not hinder your enjoyment of this mod much at all.

History

=======

1.0 Initial Public Release

0.9 Beta release for the forum

Contact

=======

You can leave any questions or comments on this file's page at TESNexus (http://www.tesnexus.com) or TES Eyecandy Forum (http://teseyecandy.com/forum/index.php).

Credits

=======

All those from the TES Eyecandy Forum who contributed to this project:

Axil: support for major overhaul mods like OOO, MMM, and Frans

Corepcmmp: plugin files

Grhys: meshes, scripting, plugin files, readme

Gudwyn: scripting

MadCat221: meshes, EBE body

Morphan: meshes

Sm0ken1nfin8: meshes, plugin files

Zinni: coming up with the name for this project

Thanks also to the forum community which provided much needed support, testing, and patience throughout. This project has taken much longer than any of us anticipated or wanted, but it has been worth it.

Thanks to Exnem for the original Eyecandy Body

Thanks to RAIAR for the HGEC Body

Thanks to Bethesda for creating Oblivion and leaving it so open to user creativity.

Thanks to TESNexus.com for the a one-stop-shop resource for authors and players.

Thanks to LHammonds for the Readme Generator this file was based on.

Tools Used

==========

Blender - http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=12248

GIMP - http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=14920

NIFSkope - http://niftools.sourceforge.net/wiki/NifSkope

Oblivion Mod Manager - http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=2097

TES4Edit - http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=11536

TES Construction Set - http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=11367

Readme Generator - http://lhammonds.game-host.org/obmm/tools_readme_generator1.asp

Licensing/Legal

===============

You can use resources from this mod without asking for permission, but we ask in return is that you give credit where it is due. Do not redistribute this mod.

Spoilers

======

--Thadon's Robe:

In Highcross, Bruscus Dammus' House, look for a chest in the upstairs storeroom.

--Syl's Dress:

In Deepwallow, at the northwest corner of the village is a large mushroom tree growing over a destroyed pier. Swim down under the tree and look for an urn.

--Haskill's Suit:

In Crucible, Caldana Monrious' House Upstairs, look for a crate.