Look here regarding problems getting VanillaMod to work or to verify installation

[FactionHeir]

This is a step by step tutorial on how to get VanillaMod to run. This is as simple as I can imagine it to be, but if you think this is not so, let me know! ~:)
Thanks to gardibolt for helping me put all the scattered info together :bow:

A. Download VanillaMod (http://generalsun.dreamhosters.com/uploads/files/VanillaModv0.93.zip) (currently 0.93)
B. Download the hotfix (http://generalsun.dreamhosters.com/uploads/files/VM0.93to0.93b.zip) (0.93b, which also includes 0.93a so you don't need to download that)
C. In the directory where your MIITW is located, create a new folder called VanillaMod
D. Unzip the download of VanillaMod, sending the files to that new folder you just created rather than whatever default your unzipping program uses.
E. Unzip the download of the hotfix into that new folder, saying "Yes" to overwrite existing files.


1. Find your medieval2.preferences.cfg, which should be in the main MIITW file
2. Make a copy of the file in another folder, such as the VanillaMod folder you just made
3. Rename the copy VanillaMod.cfg
4. Open VanillaMod.cfg in NotePad
5. Add the following to the top of the file:
[features]
mod=VanillaMod
6. Save the file and close it
7. Move the file back to where you copied it out from
8. Run the mod using VanillaMod.bat (has to be in the same folder as VanillaMod.cfg) that is included in the archive
9. Alternatively you can make a shortcut to VanillaMod.bat (which should be in the same folder as VanillaMod.cfg) and then place the shortcut (not the bat file) on your desktop for easy access


Have you ever unpacked your game? If you did (or are not sure) check for whether you have
data\descr_geography_new.txt
data\descr_geography_new.db
and delete them, or your game will crash

Are you running a non-English version of M2TW?
If so, and you experience a CTD whenever you click on certain units, copy events.dat and events.idx from the original M2:TW/data/sounds folder to the M2:TW/VanillaMod/data/sounds folder to fix it! (Thanks Empirate for the solution!)

[FactionHeir]

Please also note that you may need to create a folder called VanillaMod in your Medieval2 directory before inserting the data folder from the archive as otherwise it won't work. The initial 2 releases of the mod had the folder already but the newer versions require you to create the folder first

How your Medieval2 directory should look like:
https://img233.imageshack.us/img233/5863/vmsetupin5.jpg

[Mahgnus]

Hi

When ever I start up the game, the campaign works great however any battle I enter, I insta CTD =/ Any idea?

[FactionHeir]

Have you ever unpacked your game? If you did (or are not sure) check for whether you have
data\descr_geography_new.txt
data\descr_geography_new.db

If you do, delete them.

Outside of that, are you using XP or Vista and does your installation look exactly like the above?
Also, how did you generate your VanillaMod.cfg?

[Mahgnus]

Have you ever unpacked your game? If you did (or are not sure) check for whether you have
data\descr_geography_new.txt
data\descr_geography_new.db

Tyvm that worked

[gardibolt]

A bit more VanillaMod for Dummies, putting in one spot things that are scattered about:

A. Download VanillaMod (currently 0.93)
B. Download the hotfix (0.93b, which also includes 0.93a so you don't need to download that)
C. In the directory where your MIITW is located, create a new folder called VanillaMod
D. Unzip the download of VanillaMod, sending the files to that new folder you just created rather than whatever default your unzipping program uses.
E. Unzip the download of the hotfix into that new folder, saying "Yes" to overwrite existing files.


1. Find your medieval2.preferences.cfg, which should be in the main MIITW file
2. Make a copy of the file in another folder, such as the VanillaMod folder you just made
3. Rename the copy VanillaMod.cfg
4. Open VanillaMod.cfg in NotePad
5. Add the following to the top of the file:
[features]
mod=VanillaMod
6. Save the file and close it
7. Move the file back to where you copied it out from
8. Run the mod using VanillaMod.bat (has to be in the same folder as VanillaMod.cfg) that is included in the archive
9. Alternatively you can make a shortcut to VanillaMod.bat (which should be in the same folder as VanillaMod.cfg) and then place the shortcut (not the bat file) on your desktop for easy access


Have you ever unpacked your game? If you did (or are not sure) check for whether you have
data\descr_geography_new.txt
data\descr_geography_new.db

If you do, delete them.

[xjllm7]

hi faction heir. i have followed the instructions to the letter but the mogols still appear on turn 3! i have the emergency fix installed but it doesnt seem to work. :help: anways, i think that this mod is really awesome except for the overly rich AI, great challenge tho.

[FactionHeir]

Hi xjllm7,

Can you please confirm the timestamp of your descr_events.txt found in your VanillaMod\data\world\maps\campaign\imperial_campaign\ folder?

It sounds like you may possibly not have applied the fix correctly, as checking my archive, it is fixed.
Timestamp should be: 10.06.2008 10:41

Also, is this a savegame you loaded where they appear turn 3 or a new game? The fix applies to new games only.

[xjllm7]

; historical events and when they occur
;
; Events are followed by a category, and a label
; labels are used as lookups into historic_events.txt for title and body strings,
; and also as image names for the event picture
;
; Currently supported categories are:
; counter - just increase a counter
; historic - Just generates a message and increase a counter
; volcano - triggers a volcano if there is one on the map at the position specified
; plague - triggers a plague in settlements at the specified positions
; emergent_faction - triggers the emergence of the given faction. This faction must be marked
; as emergent in descr_strat.txt
;
; event descriptions are followed by a date (year as offset from starting date) or a date range
; and either a list of positions, or list of regions. Each position/region specification must appear on
; a seperate line below the date


;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;
;;;;;;;;;;;;; TEST CASES ;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;
;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;

; ------------ CORE GAME EVENT --------------
;event historic mongols_invasion_warn
;date 2

;event earthquake earthquake_aleppo
;date 2
;position 257, 73

; ------------ CORE GAME EVENT --------------
;event historic gunpowder_discovered
;date 2 4

;event historic earthquake_silicia
;date 4
;position 232, 76

; ------------ CORE GAME EVENT --------------
;event plague black_death_hits
;date 266
;position 281, 163
; NOTE - ALL BLACK PLAGUE EVENTS WORK LIKE THIS ONE.

; ------------ CORE GAME EVENT --------------
;event historic timurids_invasion_warn
;date 16

;event historic earthquake_in_alexandria
;date 2
;position 230, 38

;event historic earthquake_in_aleppo
;date 2
;position 257, 73

;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;
;;;;;;;;;;;;; EVENT LIST ;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;
;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;

event historic first_windmill
date 50

event earthquake earthquake_in_aleppo
date 58
position 257, 73

event historic science_alchemy_book
date 64

event historic first_european_paper
date 72

event historic first_magnetic_compass
date 102

event historic first_wheelbarrow
date 120

event historic science_maths_zero_europe
date 122

; ------------ CORE GAME EVENT --------------
event historic mongols_invasion_warn
date 128 144



event earthquake earthquake_in_silicia
date 188
position 232, 76

event historic first_mechanical_clock
date 200

; ------------ CORE GAME EVENT --------------
event historic gunpowder_discovered
date 210 220
movie event/gunpowder_invented.bik


event historic first_eyeglasses
date 206

event earthquake earthquake_in_alexandria
date 222
position 230, 38

event earthquake earthquake_in_alexandria_2
date 232
position 230, 38

event historic football_banned
date 234

event historic first_sawmill
date 248


event historic first_public_clock
date 254

event historic science_weather_forecast
date 256

; ------------ CORE GAME EVENT --------------
event plague black_death_hits
date 266
position 281, 163
position 258, 134
position 233, 117
position 278, 109
movie event/black_death.bik

event plague black_death_1
date 268
position 278, 101
position 258, 104
position 213, 92
position 216, 88
position 209, 73
position 230, 38
position 232, 76
position 150, 70
position 132, 76
position 131, 92
position 120, 99
position 133, 104
position 146, 108
position 136, 111
position 157, 82
position 168, 95
position 190, 85
position 191, 71
position 175, 87
position 194, 99
position 93, 95
position 77, 73
position 92, 83
position 97, 114
position 105, 104
position 121, 122
position 129, 119
position 160, 108
position 249, 44
position 246, 76
position 241, 65
position 232, 76
position 245, 85
position 251, 57
position 254, 51
position 214, 65
position 202, 57

event plague black_death_2
date 270
position 281, 79
position 259, 64
position 257, 73
position 136, 63
position 103, 66
position 71, 80
position 107, 155
position 201, 109
position 74, 104
position 55, 88
position 109, 147
position 78, 90
position 115, 143
position 120, 144
position 113, 131
position 163, 124
position 94, 157
position 132, 126
position 119, 133
position 148, 147
position 143, 120
position 138, 139
position 125, 131
position 104, 134
position 94, 130
position 102, 126
position 235, 32
position 291, 70
position 251, 73
position 265, 80
position 150, 40
position 90, 101

event plague black_death_3
date 272
position 205, 125
position 196, 114
position 99, 181
position 102, 74
position 90, 162
position 142, 187
position 106, 164
position 157, 136
position 172, 122
position 148, 147
position 141, 154
position 141, 166
position 174, 136
position 192, 140
position 163, 143
position 228, 2
position 268, 13

event plague black_death_4
date 274
position 235, 169
position 202, 179
position 181, 174
position 188, 186
position 167, 183
position 169, 151
position 217, 139
position 212, 162
position 189, 158
position 155, 155
position 244, 158

event historic first_blast_furnace
date 270

event historic grote_mandenke
date 282

; ------------ CORE GAME EVENT --------------
event historic timurids_invasion_warn
date 288 304

event historic first_piano
date 320

; ------------ CORE GAME EVENT --------------
event historic world_is_round
date 320 328

event historic first_oil_painting
date 340

event historic science_de_docta_ignorantia
date 364

; ------------ CORE GAME EVENT --------------
;TRUE TIME event historic world_is_round
;TRUE TIME date 366 374

event historic first_printing_press
date 374

event earthquake earthquake_in_naples
date 376
position 157, 82

event historic malleus_maleficarum
date 406

event historic science_da_vinci_ornithopter
date 412

event historic first_watch
date 430


; ------------ OLD EVENT EXAMPLES --------------
;event volcano eruption_at_vesuvius
;date 99
;position 103, 65

;event plague plague_in_asia_minor
;date 173
;position 192, 68
;position 200, 55
;position 190, 80



here it is. i did not know where to look for the timestamp so i pasted the whole descr_events here.
yup i started a new game but the mogols still appeared.

[FactionHeir]

This is the correct file, yes. It is odd that Mongols appear at turn 3 for you though, since this file only has references to turn 1 (date 2, commented out, thus inactive) and the real date.

That suggests that either your descr_events.txt is in the wrong folder or your bat file to run VM points somewhere else.

Can you make a screenshot of your M2TW directory (where your medieval2.exe etc are) and of your VanillaMod\data\world\maps\campaign\imperial_campaign\ folder for me please and post the links to them here? (use any uploader, like imageshack)

[xjllm7]

https://img375.imageshack.us/img375/618/screenshot0021xh8.th.png (https://img375.imageshack.us/my.php?image=screenshot0021xh8.png)

https://img379.imageshack.us/img379/4433/screenshot0011nu0.th.png (https://img379.imageshack.us/my.php?image=screenshot0011nu0.png)

[FactionHeir]

Hmmm they all look correct... :shrug:

But...wait you are using Vista right? I think that the old events file is still present then...can you unhide all files and find the old events file (and any other old files for M2TW or the mod) and delete them?

[xjllm7]

yes i am using vista. erm.. how would i know which is an old event file that should be deleted?

[FactionHeir]

Hmmm I suppose the surest way would be to delete the VanillaMod folder completely and then look for hidden related things you delete as well. Then reinstall it.

Of course you can just delete any hidden file instead as there should be none in VanillaMod. Actually, I imagine you started from 0.93 right? In that case, just delete each and every file you can also find in the 0.93to0.93b folder and then move them back from the downloaded archive.

[xjllm7]

many thanks factionheir! :beam: i'll try it in awhile and let you know how it went.

[FactionHeir]

No problem, I'm here to help out! If you run into any problem, let me know!

[xjllm7]

hello once again. i have done as you asked and the problem was solved! now i can finally enjoy the vanillamod. i created an account specifically for vanillamod. i've always liked the things the vanilla way. :laugh4: last question before i go. is there a sure way to check that the mod is working perfectly?

[FactionHeir]

Glad its working for you now!
To check if its working, see if you can build diplomats from the get-go or whether they are greyed out (as they should be) and whether you can recruit 2 of each agent type each turn ~:)

[xjllm7]

its working perfectly! :2thumbsup: keep up the good work factionheir! will be looking forward to the next (hopefully better version) of VanillaMod :laugh4:

[FactionHeir]

Next one will have a large very historic map with historical names of settlements and provinces as far as Ron and I can research ~:)

[xjllm7]

thats cool! are there any other changes besides the map to look forward to?:2thumbsup:

[FactionHeir]

Possibly, but currently focussing on that mainly.
If you have something to suggest though, please do let me know in the Suggestions thread.

[cambovenzi]

ok guys, mod sounds good, im givin it a shot.
it took me a little longer than i thought it would to get all the files in the right places.
i had to pull the .bat file out of the vanillamod folder, and put it into the main one(!?)
thats what the picture shows, and the only way i got it to work. i just think you could have made it more clear in your step-by-step directions, if that is infact what was supposed to be done.
anyways, thanks for the mod.

[cambovenzi]

messed it up.:oops: sent a PM.

EDIT: ty sir, working perfectly.

[John_Longarrow]

Just as an FYI, so that I can keep using my normal config file I've made a couple small tweaks to the VanillaMod.bat that you may find interesting.

First I created a little file called VanillaMod.Hdr.
This file has only the following in in;
[features]
mod=TestMod

Second, I changed the VanillaMod.bat file as follows; I added
copy TestMod.hdr+medieval2.preference.cfg VanillaMod.cfg
before medieval2.exe @VanillaMod.cfg


This means any change to the existing preferences gets carried over.

I just figure that anyone who's interested will find this handy.

[FactionHeir]

Very good find, I wasn't sure how to add a header, thanks ~:)

[MrG]

I don't think the mod is working for me. When I start a game I can build diplomats at the beginning. This means its not working correct? I have v1.3. Is the packs folder suppose to be empty?

[MrG]

https://img16.imageshack.us/img16/6108/picture1qxr.jpg

https://img15.imageshack.us/img15/7137/picture2poj.jpg

[FactionHeir]

You want to have the bat file in your main m2tw folder together with the medieval2.exe so it can find it.

Also, since you are running Vista, please make sure that when applying 0.93b over 0.93, it does so correctly rather than continue to use the 0.93 files that become hidden.

Hope that helps.

[MrG]

Ok i moved the bat file over but I can still train a diplomat at the start as Portugal. How would I check the .93b? I downloaded the patch from the first post?

[FactionHeir]

First post of this thread has 2 links. You need both.

Have you verified in Vista that the files you got are not simply not being used as tends to be the case? Some people had problems with Vista running the mod until they sorted it out by changing a few system settings.

When you run the bat file, do you get the command line popup that sticks around while it loads the game?

[MrG]

I have both files, when I run the .bat file the command link is: C:\Program Files\SEGA\Medieval II Total War>medieval2.exe @VanillaMod.cfg
it sticks around..
Do you know of a method to see if the files are being used, or the system settings? Im confused on that part.

[FactionHeir]

In the bat file, you only need medieval2.exe @VanillaMod.cfg (I don't think there should be a space between @ and V)

How many turns can you build a brothel in? If its 2 you are not using the files.

[MrG]

Woot I fixed it!
I went and I edited the permissions in the properties of the Sega folder (allowing users/admin users full control). Then I went and changed my folder settings via the control panel to allow all hidden folders to be seen. Last I reinstalled the mod files and copied over the extracted bat and cfg files to the main folder.

i pieced together what to do through here: http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?t=89969

Also the bat file still launches with the same code.

Thanks for your help, time to go play your mod.

[FactionHeir]

Glad you got it sorted ~:)
Hope you like it!

[Fierro]

I can't get this to work.

Here is what I am doing.

1. Create VanillaMod folder. inside F:\Medieval II Total War\
2. Unzip the VanillaMod download into VanillaMod.
3. Unzip the fix into VanillaMod overwriting files.
4. Put a copy of medieval2.preferences.cfg on the desktop
5. Rename this copy of medieval2.preferences.cfg to VanillaMod (have tried both renaming it to VanillaMod and VanillaMod.cfg)
6. Open the new VanillaMod.cfg on the desktop into notepad and add
[features]
mod=VanillaMod
7. Save the file and put it back into F:\Medieval II Total War\
8. In F:\Medieval II Total War\VanillaMod run VanillaMod.bat

What happens is I get an DOS prompt window that comes up but goes away immediately followed by absolutely nothing.

Yesterday I tried putting VanillaMod.bat inside F:\Medieval II Total War\
I ran the file and the DOS prompt came up but stayed for a few seconds and the game eventually launched but absolutely nothing was changed.

Any ideas? As far as I can tell I'm following the directions. If it makes any difference I'm running the Gold Edition, I know on RTW there were some issues with people who used the gold edition when trying to run certain mods... I am also running XP so there is no issue of permissions or things like that.:wall:

[FactionHeir]

Screenshot of your file locations please, if not exactly as in first post.
Also, XP or Vista?

[Fierro]

Well, I'm not sure what, if anything, I did differently from yesterday but now I tried putting VanillaMod.bat F:\Medieval II Total War and running it. Everything seems to be working fine now. Again, I'm sure I did not do anything differently, but it works so I'm not gonna worry too much over it:2thumbsup:

[O'Hea]

disregard, I managed to fix the problem. turns out I had saved all the VanillaMod stuff under Compatability Files. I don't exactly know how that affects things, but once I moved it into the regular Medieval II folder everything worked fine.

[FactionHeir]

Heh yeah, that's Vista for you. If its in compat, it won't read those.

[Gray_Lensman]

Gentlemen:

A huge thanks to John_Longarrow and his timely post concerning utilizing a "header" file in combination with the normal default medieval2.preference.cfg in order to create the appropriate VanillaMod.cfg at runtime. That was an excellent informative post that enabled me to finalize a "Mod Installer for Dummys" Windows' installer version of this excellent VanillaMod.

Linked below is this Windows installer version of the VanillaMod 0.93 complete with the 0.93a and 0.93b files already included. This is mainly for those player/gamers who are uncomfortable or unfamiliar with manually installing Mods. This lets them enjoy the benefit of this mod without stumbling through a file management learning process.

I modified the VanillaModREADME.txt to reflect the easier installation.

Specifically:


III. Installation
Thanks to Gray_Lensman, the modification has been packaged in a Windows' Installer format that is ready to run. To install it, simply run the M2TW_VanillaMod_0.93b.exe file insuring it is correctly pointed to the main Medieval II: Total War folder (if is not already defaulted to point to that specific folder.)

It will install all the mod files into a subfolder of the main game folder appropriately named \VanillaMod.

It will also install 2 additional files into the main game folder named VanillaMod.hdr and VanillaMod.bat

At this point you are ready to run the VanillaMod as the game itself.

Note: Each time it runs it will append the VanillaMod.hdr file to the start of the medieval2.preferences.cfg which contains all your previously selected preferences and then create a VanillaMod.cfg file prior to initiating the VanillaMod game. Thanks to John_Longarrow for demonstrating this appending technique.

Run the mod using VanillaMod.bat. This should already be correctly located in the main game folder along with the VanillaMod.hdr and the previously mentioned medieval2.preferences.cfg files.

Additionally you can make a shortcut to VanillaMod.bat and then place the shortcut (not the bat file) on your desktop for easy access.

Linked below is this Windows' Installer format of the VanillaMod.

http://www.mediafire.com/?nzzzjeymdcj

Enjoy.

Note1: I thought I saw a 0.93c link earlier but I was unable to find it again or confirm that it exists. If anyone knows where I might find it I would gladly rework this to include those files also.

Note2: FactionHeir, you are quite free to download and relink it elsewhere and/or direct me to any newer files to bring it up to the latest standards. If you do happen to download and relink it elsewhere please inform me so that I can point this post to that new area and clear it off of mediafire. Mediafire though useful tends to annoy users with spamming ads.

[FactionHeir]

0.93b is the most up-to-date public version. I have a c version floating around on my harddrive somewhere though, but that would be for the map release if that happens at any stage (still need helpers!).

Thanks for the bundling though ~:)

[Gray_Lensman]

0.93b is the most up-to-date public version. I have a c version floating around on my harddrive somewhere though, but that would be for the map release if that happens at any stage (still need helpers!).

Thanks for the bundling though ~:)

Thanks for the version info. I'd volunteer to help out with other modifications but I'm still trying to get reacquainted with the M2TW gameplay itself (plus I know next to nothing about the historical background of the era).

Though I bought the game (M2TW) over 2 years ago, I've been busy modding/reworking a Civil War game which is where I learned to use this Windows' installer format.