Epistolary Richard
11-01-2005, 13:07
This is the first of an irregular column to gather up some of the recent events of the Org modding community. Got news? A mod update? Recruiting for your team? Has your mod been overlooked? Send Epistolary Richard a PM to get items included next time.
https://img375.imageshack.us/img375/9559/bbb063gy.th.jpg (https://img375.imageshack.us/my.php?image=bbb063gy.jpg)https://img399.imageshack.us/img399/3918/11fj2fz.th.jpg (https://img399.imageshack.us/my.php?image=11fj2fz.jpg)https://img347.imageshack.us/img347/4513/naptha6lt.th.jpg (https://img347.imageshack.us/my.php?image=naptha6lt.jpg)https://img384.imageshack.us/img384/5445/mercghost3wh.th.jpg (https://img384.imageshack.us/my.php?image=mercghost3wh.jpg)
Mumakil attack from LOTR:TW (https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?t=56428); Yari Cavalry from Jidai no Ran (https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?t=56266); Naptha throwers from Chivalry (https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?p=971751#post971751); Ghosts from Blue Lotus (https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?t=41920&page=29)
Modding News Roundup
Barbarian Invasions
With the arrival of the Barbarian Invasions expansion a wealth of new opportunities are open to modders... as well as some new-found difficulties. Below you'll find tutorials for how to mod hordes, add new religions and cultures.
But our old methods of unlocking factions (https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?t=55192), modding the map (https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?t=54972), animations (https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?t=54722) and adding buildings (https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?t=55654) and more (https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?t=55365) stopped working. Plus, we needed the helping hand of CA's Jerome Grasdyke to help us through the -mod command line switch (https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?t=55119).
Thanks to the efforts of the community most of these problems have now been overcome, either in the threads above or below.
Unlocking factions (https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?t=54670)
Creating the map_heights.hgt file needed to make new maps (https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?t=55074)
But! There are still problems in regenerating the map.rwm file (https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?t=55831).
JSGME, the new Mod-Switcher?
But for those with v1.2 who can't take advantage of the -mod switch another possibility has emerged, the JoneSoft Generic Mod Enabler, which seems to have all the advantage of Vercingetorix's Mod Switcher without the requirement of generating a .rmd file. Invaluable help for modders working on several projects at a time.
Check it out here (http://www.twcenter.net/downloads/db/?mod=687)
Lord of the Rings mod beta released
LOTR:TW have released a beta version of their mod allowing custom battles between the various factions of Middle Earth. See the Mods Released section for link.
CA solicits questions for a Modding FAQ
Psycho V - one of the moderators at the official site - is compiling a list of questions (https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?t=56148) to pass along to CA about how to mod RTW.
Please try and make your questions as specific as possible and, before you post a question, ask around to see if the answer is already known. CA may only be able to answer a few of the questions they're posed, so let's try and make them quality.
Gmax cancelled
But if you're quick, you can still download a copy (https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?t=56446).
Enough with the enums!
Long known by some, but not by others - including myself - _enums files (https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?t=55654) (usually modded when adding a new unit or building) do not appear to be referenced by the game - so you don't need to mod them anymore.
New on the Scriptorium
Tools
HGT-Converter (https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?t=56442) from alpaca
Essential tool for making new maps for BI and 1.3
Settlement Export Script (https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?t=55251) from dsyrow1 (SignifierOne)
The long-awaited script to enable painless settlement editing from the maker of Rome - the Eternal City
Traits and Ancillaries Validator (https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?t=55732) from Malrubius
Catch all those trait & ancillary bugs with this tool from one of the community's foremost VnV modders
Tutorials
Adding & Editing Battlemap Models (https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?t=56440) from [cf]Adherbal
A quick rundown on the process from the leader of Chivalry TW
BI: Putting your RTW units into BI (https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?t=56409) from skeletor
BI: Campaign maps from a small part for 1.4 BI (https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?t=55804) from SirNateofWessex
Monkwarrior's original tutorial updated for BI
BI: The Complete Guide to Creating A New Culture in BI (https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?t=55112) from Dol Guldur
From the modder who brought you the complete guide to edb
BI: Adding a new religion in BI (https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?t=54858) from alpaca
BI: How to edit hording (https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?t=54896) from Meneldil
Editing and creating new particle effects (https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?t=55912) from shifty157
Modding smoke trails, explosions and more
RTW Modelling Video Tutorials (https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?t=54542) from Professor420
3DSMax tutorials in video format
Reference
The Holy Grail for Scripters has been updated with the official docudemon files from BI from CA's JeromeGrasdyke
http://www.totalwar.org/Downloads/Rtw_Uploads/RTWupload/BI_docs.zip
Who also gave us the long-hidden available_ui_elements.txt (https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showpost.php?p=929325&postcount=5) file
Mods Released
For RTW v1.2
Lord of the Rings Total War v1.0b beta
Discuss - https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?t=56428
Forge - https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?t=51562
https://img329.imageshack.us/img329/2899/troll21ow.th.jpg (https://img329.imageshack.us/my.php?image=troll21ow.jpg)
For BI
BI Extra Hordes and Unlocked Playable Factions Mod v1.3 (https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?t=54943) by professorspatula
https://img27.imageshack.us/img27/408/hordemod45xh.th.jpg (https://img27.imageshack.us/my.php?image=hordemod45xh.jpg)
Revisio Cartae Geographicae (https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?t=55579) by Seleucos I Nicator
An improved map for BI from the renowned Seleukos.
https://img442.imageshack.us/img442/2644/carthage7il.th.jpg (https://img442.imageshack.us/my.php?image=carthage7il.jpg)
Pax Brittania v2 (https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?t=54854) by King of Atlantis
An expansion to Borsook's mod with adjustments and skins for the Brits
https://img52.imageshack.us/img52/8355/org24ay3ft.th.jpg (https://img52.imageshack.us/my.php?image=org24ay3ft.jpg)
Latest Mod Previews & updates on the Org
Age of Vikings and Fanatics - latest update (https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?t=56028)
Citadel Total War - Introducing: the Ottoman Empire (https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?t=53990)
Europa Barbaroum - Countdown to Open Beta: Getai (https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?t=54719)
Blue Lotus - latest screenshots (https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?t=41920&page=29)
Chivalry Total War - the Jihad (https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?p=971751#post971751)
& Poland, Kiev & Novgorod
(https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?t=56233)& the Kingdom of Cilician Armenia
(https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?t=55773)& the Reconquista (https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?t=55285)
Byzantium Total War - Update #1 (https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?t=55504)
Imperium Total War - Re-presenting Imperium Total War (https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?t=55017)
Troy Total War - latest update (unit renders)
(https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?t=56066)& New Trailer (https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?t=55700)
Imperia Romana - Roman, Romano-British and Sassanids Unit Progress (https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?t=56179)
Pax Romana - Introducing Pax Romana (https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?t=56131)
Some New Mods announced
Farewell Sengoku Jidai, Hello Jidai no Ran (https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?t=56266)
It's with great sadness that we learnt that Duke John was finally closing the doors on the development of Sengoku Jidai. Fortunately for us, a new mod set in the same period has burst upon the scene entitled "Jidai No Ran (https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?t=56266)" (also known as the Shogun Mod).
https://img500.imageshack.us/img500/4879/shogun2ub6fp.th.jpg (https://img500.imageshack.us/my.php?image=shogun2ub6fp.jpg)
The mod is being headed up by Prometheus (the modeller of Res Gestae (https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/forumdisplay.php?f=116) and EB fame) with kagemusha co-ordinating the historical team.
Caius Britannicus Presents: "THE CRUSADES" (https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?t=56109)
The former RTR co-ordinator focuses on the wars of the Holy Land and is already producing some fine results
Attilla Reloaded's True Late Roman Army mod (https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?t=56155)
Dark Ages Total War (https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?t=55634)
Islamic Conquests! (https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?t=55757)
Mod Recruitment
Modding in a team can be an awesome, exciting experience allowing its members to develop a mod far greater than the sum of those it could individually (of course, it can also be a soul-destroying experience of wasted hours, bitter conflict and broken promises).
Either way, the brightest, most innovative mods today are being produced by teams of modders - each working and developing in their own specialities. They can be great places to learn skills from the masters of the field, get to know new people and make those vital contacts with modders who you can then interest in your own modding ideas.
If you're keen to work with any mod team just contact their leader and see if you can help out.
**********Are you a modeller?*********
There is a huge shortage of modellers within the community and virtually every mod team desperately needs more (or even one!) as modelling is required to make any significant changes to units within the game. If you are a competent modeller you would be welcome in pretty much any project in which you had an interest, and you would be able to make sure that any personal project of your own could be completed and fail because of this lack.
The community strongly encourages everyone able to take an interest in modelling and you'll find several guides available to help on the Scriptorium (https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/forumdisplay.php?f=110).
The only programme currently able to create models for RTW is 3DSmax, however it is $$$ :sad:. A free 30 day download is available - however that's not nearly enough time to get useful results. You can extend the length of your trial by uninstalling it when not in use. Also, there are means by which models can be converted from the now-unavailable Gmax into 3DSMax, so if one team member has 3DSmax he can convert models from several different team members.
Mod team leaders - if you're recruiting you can send a PM to Epistolary Richard to insert your details here. Do include details of your mod, it's progress and the specific position you're recruiting for.
https://img375.imageshack.us/img375/9559/bbb063gy.th.jpg (https://img375.imageshack.us/my.php?image=bbb063gy.jpg)https://img399.imageshack.us/img399/3918/11fj2fz.th.jpg (https://img399.imageshack.us/my.php?image=11fj2fz.jpg)https://img347.imageshack.us/img347/4513/naptha6lt.th.jpg (https://img347.imageshack.us/my.php?image=naptha6lt.jpg)https://img384.imageshack.us/img384/5445/mercghost3wh.th.jpg (https://img384.imageshack.us/my.php?image=mercghost3wh.jpg)
Mumakil attack from LOTR:TW (https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?t=56428); Yari Cavalry from Jidai no Ran (https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?t=56266); Naptha throwers from Chivalry (https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?p=971751#post971751); Ghosts from Blue Lotus (https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?t=41920&page=29)
Modding News Roundup
Barbarian Invasions
With the arrival of the Barbarian Invasions expansion a wealth of new opportunities are open to modders... as well as some new-found difficulties. Below you'll find tutorials for how to mod hordes, add new religions and cultures.
But our old methods of unlocking factions (https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?t=55192), modding the map (https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?t=54972), animations (https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?t=54722) and adding buildings (https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?t=55654) and more (https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?t=55365) stopped working. Plus, we needed the helping hand of CA's Jerome Grasdyke to help us through the -mod command line switch (https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?t=55119).
Thanks to the efforts of the community most of these problems have now been overcome, either in the threads above or below.
Unlocking factions (https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?t=54670)
Creating the map_heights.hgt file needed to make new maps (https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?t=55074)
But! There are still problems in regenerating the map.rwm file (https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?t=55831).
JSGME, the new Mod-Switcher?
But for those with v1.2 who can't take advantage of the -mod switch another possibility has emerged, the JoneSoft Generic Mod Enabler, which seems to have all the advantage of Vercingetorix's Mod Switcher without the requirement of generating a .rmd file. Invaluable help for modders working on several projects at a time.
Check it out here (http://www.twcenter.net/downloads/db/?mod=687)
Lord of the Rings mod beta released
LOTR:TW have released a beta version of their mod allowing custom battles between the various factions of Middle Earth. See the Mods Released section for link.
CA solicits questions for a Modding FAQ
Psycho V - one of the moderators at the official site - is compiling a list of questions (https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?t=56148) to pass along to CA about how to mod RTW.
Please try and make your questions as specific as possible and, before you post a question, ask around to see if the answer is already known. CA may only be able to answer a few of the questions they're posed, so let's try and make them quality.
Gmax cancelled
But if you're quick, you can still download a copy (https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?t=56446).
Enough with the enums!
Long known by some, but not by others - including myself - _enums files (https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?t=55654) (usually modded when adding a new unit or building) do not appear to be referenced by the game - so you don't need to mod them anymore.
New on the Scriptorium
Tools
HGT-Converter (https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?t=56442) from alpaca
Essential tool for making new maps for BI and 1.3
Settlement Export Script (https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?t=55251) from dsyrow1 (SignifierOne)
The long-awaited script to enable painless settlement editing from the maker of Rome - the Eternal City
Traits and Ancillaries Validator (https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?t=55732) from Malrubius
Catch all those trait & ancillary bugs with this tool from one of the community's foremost VnV modders
Tutorials
Adding & Editing Battlemap Models (https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?t=56440) from [cf]Adherbal
A quick rundown on the process from the leader of Chivalry TW
BI: Putting your RTW units into BI (https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?t=56409) from skeletor
BI: Campaign maps from a small part for 1.4 BI (https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?t=55804) from SirNateofWessex
Monkwarrior's original tutorial updated for BI
BI: The Complete Guide to Creating A New Culture in BI (https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?t=55112) from Dol Guldur
From the modder who brought you the complete guide to edb
BI: Adding a new religion in BI (https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?t=54858) from alpaca
BI: How to edit hording (https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?t=54896) from Meneldil
Editing and creating new particle effects (https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?t=55912) from shifty157
Modding smoke trails, explosions and more
RTW Modelling Video Tutorials (https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?t=54542) from Professor420
3DSMax tutorials in video format
Reference
The Holy Grail for Scripters has been updated with the official docudemon files from BI from CA's JeromeGrasdyke
http://www.totalwar.org/Downloads/Rtw_Uploads/RTWupload/BI_docs.zip
Who also gave us the long-hidden available_ui_elements.txt (https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showpost.php?p=929325&postcount=5) file
Mods Released
For RTW v1.2
Lord of the Rings Total War v1.0b beta
Discuss - https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?t=56428
Forge - https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?t=51562
https://img329.imageshack.us/img329/2899/troll21ow.th.jpg (https://img329.imageshack.us/my.php?image=troll21ow.jpg)
For BI
BI Extra Hordes and Unlocked Playable Factions Mod v1.3 (https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?t=54943) by professorspatula
https://img27.imageshack.us/img27/408/hordemod45xh.th.jpg (https://img27.imageshack.us/my.php?image=hordemod45xh.jpg)
Revisio Cartae Geographicae (https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?t=55579) by Seleucos I Nicator
An improved map for BI from the renowned Seleukos.
https://img442.imageshack.us/img442/2644/carthage7il.th.jpg (https://img442.imageshack.us/my.php?image=carthage7il.jpg)
Pax Brittania v2 (https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?t=54854) by King of Atlantis
An expansion to Borsook's mod with adjustments and skins for the Brits
https://img52.imageshack.us/img52/8355/org24ay3ft.th.jpg (https://img52.imageshack.us/my.php?image=org24ay3ft.jpg)
Latest Mod Previews & updates on the Org
Age of Vikings and Fanatics - latest update (https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?t=56028)
Citadel Total War - Introducing: the Ottoman Empire (https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?t=53990)
Europa Barbaroum - Countdown to Open Beta: Getai (https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?t=54719)
Blue Lotus - latest screenshots (https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?t=41920&page=29)
Chivalry Total War - the Jihad (https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?p=971751#post971751)
& Poland, Kiev & Novgorod
(https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?t=56233)& the Kingdom of Cilician Armenia
(https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?t=55773)& the Reconquista (https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?t=55285)
Byzantium Total War - Update #1 (https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?t=55504)
Imperium Total War - Re-presenting Imperium Total War (https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?t=55017)
Troy Total War - latest update (unit renders)
(https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?t=56066)& New Trailer (https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?t=55700)
Imperia Romana - Roman, Romano-British and Sassanids Unit Progress (https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?t=56179)
Pax Romana - Introducing Pax Romana (https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?t=56131)
Some New Mods announced
Farewell Sengoku Jidai, Hello Jidai no Ran (https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?t=56266)
It's with great sadness that we learnt that Duke John was finally closing the doors on the development of Sengoku Jidai. Fortunately for us, a new mod set in the same period has burst upon the scene entitled "Jidai No Ran (https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?t=56266)" (also known as the Shogun Mod).
https://img500.imageshack.us/img500/4879/shogun2ub6fp.th.jpg (https://img500.imageshack.us/my.php?image=shogun2ub6fp.jpg)
The mod is being headed up by Prometheus (the modeller of Res Gestae (https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/forumdisplay.php?f=116) and EB fame) with kagemusha co-ordinating the historical team.
Caius Britannicus Presents: "THE CRUSADES" (https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?t=56109)
The former RTR co-ordinator focuses on the wars of the Holy Land and is already producing some fine results
Attilla Reloaded's True Late Roman Army mod (https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?t=56155)
Dark Ages Total War (https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?t=55634)
Islamic Conquests! (https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?t=55757)
Mod Recruitment
Modding in a team can be an awesome, exciting experience allowing its members to develop a mod far greater than the sum of those it could individually (of course, it can also be a soul-destroying experience of wasted hours, bitter conflict and broken promises).
Either way, the brightest, most innovative mods today are being produced by teams of modders - each working and developing in their own specialities. They can be great places to learn skills from the masters of the field, get to know new people and make those vital contacts with modders who you can then interest in your own modding ideas.
If you're keen to work with any mod team just contact their leader and see if you can help out.
**********Are you a modeller?*********
There is a huge shortage of modellers within the community and virtually every mod team desperately needs more (or even one!) as modelling is required to make any significant changes to units within the game. If you are a competent modeller you would be welcome in pretty much any project in which you had an interest, and you would be able to make sure that any personal project of your own could be completed and fail because of this lack.
The community strongly encourages everyone able to take an interest in modelling and you'll find several guides available to help on the Scriptorium (https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/forumdisplay.php?f=110).
The only programme currently able to create models for RTW is 3DSmax, however it is $$$ :sad:. A free 30 day download is available - however that's not nearly enough time to get useful results. You can extend the length of your trial by uninstalling it when not in use. Also, there are means by which models can be converted from the now-unavailable Gmax into 3DSMax, so if one team member has 3DSmax he can convert models from several different team members.
Mod team leaders - if you're recruiting you can send a PM to Epistolary Richard to insert your details here. Do include details of your mod, it's progress and the specific position you're recruiting for.