merging/tweaking animations

Hello,

i searched the forum /internet for hours and i still can't solve my problem.
i want to create a dragon rider. For that i want to combine two models (dragon + rider).
This is not the problem i used nifskope and right clicked on the scene root (from the rider) and choose -> block -> copy branch
I loaded up the second model (the dragon), right clicked on central bone and choose -> block -> paste branch (i got an warning message about infinite recursive links, i choose to ignore them for now, since they did not made a problem yet. Also they are only links to particle effects)
I rescaled the inserted model and adjusted its position. So the rider would be on top of the dragon.

the result:


(i could still tweak the positions of the hands and staff etc. but this is minor.)


Now to my problem:
whenever this new units attacks it uses the animation of the second model, the one of the dragon. The first model ,the rider, while correctly glued on the second model, is stiff as a stone.
I want to tweak the animation so that whenever the dragon attacks the rider does something as well. I would be fine if he would at least use his standard animations.

Now i already found a tool for merging animations: http://forums.civfanatics.com/downloads.php?do=file&id=8747
but it could not help me either (that can very well be on my part).

I hope you can.

My very thanks in advance.

Edit: If you need any further information or files, please let me know.

you basicly have two option (and i fear you will like none of them):

1. import your animation in Blender and create the animation parts for the rider

2. add rider informations to the animations file of the dragon (each animation is a kf file, atm there are only informations for the bones of the dragon, therefore the rider don´t move [there are simply no information for them], but you could add the information for the body of a rider to the dragon kf)

@Coyote
many thanks i guess i try 2)
one question: to add animation i click on the bone, go to spells and choose attach animation?
(and i have to find an appropriate animation first, i guess)

unfortunally it´s not that easy,

first you have to add the bones of the rider you want to animate to the NiMultiTargetTransformController in the nif (and set the flags of the bone correct, but if have copied them they should be fine)

after this has been done you must edit all kfs you want with animation informations of the rider

open the dragon kf and the similar (considering the animation sequence) kf of the unit you want to rip the rider animation. Than you must manual add the information for every bone of the rider you want animated to the dragon kf, if necessary you also must adjust the length of the copied animation information to match the length of the dreagon one (the are animation with fixed and with flexible length (eg idle is one of the second)). And like said you have to do this for all kfs.

there should be something about this (at least the very basics) in my nifskope tutorial

ok, i tried and failed

however i altered the bones of the rider so he looks like he is riding the dragon and i also attached him to the head bone of the dragon, so whenever the dragon moves his head the rider moves too.

it does not look so bad anymore ingame, you barely notice that he has no animations.

I reworked the textures and added an alpha layer the result can be seen here:
http://forums.civfanatics.com/showpost.php?p=9176989&postcount=57

However i do not get any further with the animation for the rider
If someone could be so nice and add some? I don't ask for fancy stuff, a gesture with the staff, a turning of the head or a flapping cape would be enough.

The files are in the attachment. (The effect of the breath is not added, it works without it too. I do have it in the mod though.)


Any help would be very welcome.