rig won't attach

@dragongirl
I just followed the above instructions using another version of blender on a different operating system and it didn’t work.
so here’s the file with the rig attached, a weight map for the head and the bones reparented except the tongue. Also I parented the tail to the hip.
crystal-test.blend (1.74 MB)
you need to clean up the weight maps. Let me know if it works ok.

nope. still didn’t work.

when you say it didn’t work. do you mean you tried to add the armature ?
the armature has already been added, just select the armature go into pose mode and move some bones.

sorry…i didn’t see the next page of the forum…
but yes the file you put up is working. thank you.
so do you know how i could fix this with other models?

I tested your scene again.
I deleted the subsurface modifier, this can be added later.
I separated the teeth from the main mesh and moved them to another layer.
Select the dragon. In edit mode select a point. Choose select linked or ctrl L. Then P or mesh /vertices/Separate then chose selection.
then I moved the dragon to a new layer and applied the armature
next I renamed the vertex group “teeth” to “master head” and removed the lower teeth from the vertex group.
I put the teeth in the same layer as the dragon selected the teeth then the dragon and joined them using Ctrl J or from the object menu /join
I tested this a few times and it work without fault each time.
So it may be something you’d want to try with the original file.

i’ll give it a go