Perhaps I should have clarified that using a stock setup is fine...as long as it is your own...
How are you to learn anything until you do it from scratch...as well, there are so many different rigs depending on desired animation, deformation, games vs. film, etc...
and, YES I do automate the process...not the actual skeleton, but scripts aid me in mirroring, re-naming contraints, expressions, etc...
thanks for your reply...have fun with your LOTR! it looks amazing...congrats!
PS: I know a dude named Colin at WETA, met him at Sheridan...his last name is on the tip of my tongue (I think it is Doncaster?)...Do you know him?
...you were bent...
www.bentllama.com