Unpacking Med 2 Total War

[brymht]

I'm an old shoe at modding RTW. Attempted to modd a few things in kingdoms. All the mod tutorials mention "Unpacking" the files. These files don't appear to be packed in RTW. Is there an unpacking tool out there?

Also, the only thing I've yet to mod is the models and animations. 3ds max is expenssive. What other tools do modders here tend to use?

[socal_infidel]

To unpack, Medieval 2, look in the following folder:

SEGA\Medieval II Total War\tools\unpacker

You should see the following batch files:

unpack_all.bat
unpack_americas.bat*
unpack_brittania.bat*
unpack_crusades.bat*
unpack_teutonic.bat*

Just double-click, hit yes at a few prompts and the game will unpack itself.

*If you have this Kingdoms campaign installed.

The files are unpacked to folder structures which are basically the same as the RTW folder structure (if not the same, I've never modded RTW, just M2TW).

As far as modelling/animations. These should get you started.

For modelling:

If you don't have 3DSMax you can use Milkshape (http://chumbalum.swissquake.ch/ms3d/download.html) - which runs about 20 US Dollars or so.

This tool - grumpyoldman's MESH converter (http://www.twcenter.net/forums/downloads.php?do=file&id=1276) converts the M2TW .MESH files to .MS3D files, which can then be edited in Milkshape.

This .dds to texture converter (http://www.twcenter.net/forums/downloads.php?do=file&id=1347) will allow you to convert the .texture files to .dds files which can then be edited in PS.

In the alternative, you can use GIMP (http://www.gimp.org/downloads/) which is free to edit the .dds files. To do so, you'll need this GIMP .dds plug-in (http://nifelheim.dyndns.org/~cocidius/dds/)

For animations:

The M2TW animations can be downloaded here (http://www.twcenter.net/forums/downloads.php?do=file&id=1686)

To edit the animations, you'll need these utilities (http://www.twcenter.net/forums/downloads.php?do=file&id=1469) created by KnightErrant.

In general

If you're new to Milkshape and M2TW modelling/skinning, you should download this Guide written by Alletun (http://www.twcenter.net/forums/downloads.php?do=file&id=1672). It's a very comprehensive and in-depth introduction to unit creation using Milkshape.


I may be forgetting a thing or two. But that should be it for the most part. Hope this helps.

Cheers

[brymht]

Good god man!

That may be the single best and most complete resonse anyone has ever gotten on this forum.

[Tellos Athenaios]

You should also enable file-first in your preferences. Otherwise the game will keep running with files from the packs rather than the unpacked (and modified) versions.

[brymht]

um, how do i do that?

[Tellos Athenaios]

Like this:


[io]
file_first = true

In the .cfg file you use.

[Ibrahim]

woe is me..even the cheapest CAS exporting program is 20$..wish it were free..
say, any fprograms that can import/export files of the CAS types:beam:

[Tellos Athenaios]

Yes that's the program Vercingetorix became a modding comunity legend for. :beam:

Check the modding tools/guides thread by myddraal (sp?), on te RTW modding fora of The Guild.

EDIT: It's for importing/exporting to/from 3dsmax, though.
EDIT2: DL link from the TWC : http://www.twcenter.net/forums/downloads.php?do=file&id=141

[Ibrahim]

I know of that mod, tellos, I mean programs (like milk shape) that with the Vercingetorix mod, can export units + is for free. I have a g-max, but it only imports, not export..:embarassed: :shame:

[Bboy4life91]

To unpack, Medieval 2, look in the following folder:

SEGA\Medieval II Total War\tools\unpacker

You should see the following batch files:

unpack_all.bat
unpack_americas.bat*
unpack_brittania.bat*
unpack_crusades.bat*
unpack_teutonic.bat*

Just double-click, hit yes at a few prompts and the game will unpack itself.

*If you have this Kingdoms campaign installed.

The files are unpacked to folder structures which are basically the same as the RTW folder structure (if not the same, I've never modded RTW, just M2TW).

As far as modelling/animations. These should get you started.

For modelling:

If you don't have 3DSMax you can use Milkshape (http://chumbalum.swissquake.ch/ms3d/download.html) - which runs about 20 US Dollars or so.

This tool - grumpyoldman's MESH converter (http://www.twcenter.net/forums/downloads.php?do=file&id=1276) converts the M2TW .MESH files to .MS3D files, which can then be edited in Milkshape.

This .dds to texture converter (http://www.twcenter.net/forums/downloads.php?do=file&id=1347) will allow you to convert the .texture files to .dds files which can then be edited in PS.

In the alternative, you can use GIMP (http://www.gimp.org/downloads/) which is free to edit the .dds files. To do so, you'll need this GIMP .dds plug-in (http://nifelheim.dyndns.org/~cocidius/dds/)

For animations:

The M2TW animations can be downloaded here (http://www.twcenter.net/forums/downloads.php?do=file&id=1686)

To edit the animations, you'll need these utilities (http://www.twcenter.net/forums/downloads.php?do=file&id=1469) created by KnightErrant.

In general

If you're new to Milkshape and M2TW modelling/skinning, you should download this Guide written by Alletun (http://www.twcenter.net/forums/downloads.php?do=file&id=1672). It's a very comprehensive and in-depth introduction to unit creation using Milkshape.


I may be forgetting a thing or two. But that should be it for the most part. Hope this helps.

Cheers
srr but how do i find these files?
unpack_americas.bat*
unpack_brittania.bat*
unpack_crusades.bat*
unpack_teutonic.bat*
in the tool folder, i only found the unpack_all.

[bobbin]

You don't have Kingdoms installed therefore they won't be there, just run unpack_all.

Remember to check the readme file for the unpacker as there are a few files that need deleted before the unpacked game will run.

[Bboy4life91]

ty for answering and i did have MTW2 Kingdoms install...i have the gold edition on so i install all the mods plus the original MTW2...wen i run "un_pack all" only the MTW2 pack files are there.