Just re-read your post, sorry about that ;).
kpc model edit requires textures to be in kpc format. If you can get said texture into pcx format, try importing it into the kpc dedit. It has to be **imported** by the editor into the skins folder to be converted, simply placing it into the right folder won't work. If your pcx texture shows up in dedit as a dtx file, the conversion worked, so it can loaded in kpc model edit from there.

for all its clunky crashiness, dedit is unavoidable if you're dealing with lith. Save every change no matter how small.

U can export pcx versions of dtx files using dedit. Then you'll need a dtx plugin to turn those back into dtx. Chances are you won't be able to open the pcx files even if u have a pcx plugin for like PhotoShop. I have to open the pcx files using paint shop and then I use PhotoShop because there's a plugin for it to make dtx files. But you'll have to make those pcxs bitmaps so u can import them into dedit and add mask files to them to export them as correct dtx files for like weapon view models. Other models don't require masks in their skins unless its needed for certain effects like transparency. Don't even think about messing with those skins. I hope I'm scaring u away from this madness. Its for your own good.

I just wanted to rip the Ancient One's model and skin for use in other games :V

Looks like I'll always be 1 post behind pikacommando.

Use the show app to save as tga.

There's no way to use it in other games because there no way to convert old ABC models unless u have the same modeling software they used on the game back in 1999. U can't find it anywhere. I've looked.

Wasn't there a plugin for 3DStudioMax?

No its for 3ds not 3dsmax. Its the old version from the late 90s. Trust me its just not possible without 3ds from 1999 or milkshape 3d from around that time. Can't remember the version but both are non existent. I've searched everywhere. No luck.

I wonder if JoeV still has it someplace.

If he does and u can get it please share it. It'll open up a little more room for adding some other features that I wanted to add but couldn't due to a lack of software.

There is actually a way. It's the abc23ds.exe included in the tools files, but for some reason I can't run it. 3ds2abc.exe runs just fine though.

EDIT: Oh wait, it does not support MAX.

EDIT 2: This is an interesting thread, but the links are dead

I've searched the entire Transfusion forum. So I've seen every page of that dead Blood 2 mod. Like I said its just not possible to do any modeling without the exact same programs that they used to make the game. Even having versions of milk shape close to the one in 1999 wont let u get what u want all the time. I think a copy of 3ds from 1999 is the only sure fire way to get all that u can done properly. That's what they made the plugins for and that's what we got to use. This game is a huge headache to mod. Why do I continue???
I forgot to mention I have those plugins for milkshape but they don't work without a really old copy of milk shape. I'm sure Kurt still has them but I'm not going anywhere near him. Dudes weird.

That kind of attitude will get you nowhere. Maybe staying positive and solving the problem together as a community can help you feel a little better.

Besides, once I'm done porting the Ancient One model to 3DS Max I'll go away.

I'm not the one who wont support the community. Its Kurt. Before u speak know what you're talking about. Asking Kurt more then 3 questions gets you chewed out. I know. If anybody around here is supporting the community its me. I'm the one recreating features from mods long since dead to release a source code to the world that will show how to do so much more with this game. There's only one source code from a mod that was released and thank God for the guy that released it. Wherever u are Tren, thank u. Without that I would have gotten no where. Not trying to bite your head off but I won't stand for anybody to tell me I need a better attitude to help this modding community. I'm surprised I haven't gone completely nuts trying to do the crap I've accomplished. My attitude is as good as its gonna get after going to Hell and back to bring the source code for features from the Darkact mod to anybody that wants them.

u will not be able to do anything with the ABC models unless u find a copy of 3ds from 1999. If u want to help the community find that first.

Back in the day, AutoDesk used to include trial versions of their software in various publications, like the Bible books. It looks like a 3rd party seller on Amazon has the 3D Studio Max R3 Bible for $21.

I'm not seeing anything for a plain, vanilla "3D Studio", but that might be an avenue you could peruse, if you haven't considered it.

That particular book says it has "demos", it might actually have a fully functional version of the software that is good for like 30 days.

Just a thought.

Good find man. That's a very good idea. May be the only way really. I've sent Joe v a message about the software we need. I should hear back from him later or tomorrow. He's one of my beta testers for version 5 of Extra Crispy. I hope he has a copy that fully works with the old lithtech ABC model format.