Tutorial: Convert FBX to MDB/GR2

Converting FBX to MDB/GR2

Open Windows Explorer, drag a FBX file and drop on fbx2nw.exe (this file is located at the MDK directory). The outputs are:

• log.txt
• One MDB if the FBX contains model parts. The name of the MDB is the name of the FBX but with extension ‘.MDB’.
• One GR2 containing the skeletons if the FBX has skeletons. The name of the GR2 is the name of the FBX but with extension ‘.skel.gr2’.
• One GR2 animation if the FBX has an animation. The name of the GR2 is the name of the FBX but with extension ‘.anim.gr2’.

Exporting a FBX from Blender

In order for a FBX to be correctly processed by fbx2nw, you need the following:

• Check Custom Properties in the Main tab.
• If there are meshes, make sure that Tangent Space is checked in the Geometries tab.
• If there are skeletons, uncheck Add Leaf Bones in the Armatures tab.
• If there are animations, make sure that Baked Animation is the only checked option in the Animation tab.

Exporting a FBX from 3ds Max 2018

This is an example of export options that seem to work:

Constraints

The NWN2 engine imposes some constraints to the art content. Following there is a not exhaustive list of this constraints.

Meshes

• Object names can have no more than 32 characters.
• Object names must be unique.
• All faces must be triangles.

Skeletons

• Skeleton names can have no more than 32 characters.
• Skeleton names must be unique.
• The skeleton name must be equal to the root bone name.
• Skeletons can have no more that one root bone.
• Skeletons can have no more that 54 bones. Facial bones (those that start with “f_”) and attachment points (those that start with “ap_”) don’t count.