* Help me with Creating Units

[Lancer6969]

Can someone tell me how to create new units and how to add factions to the game? I am a computer programmer, so I can catch on very quick.

[Lancer6969]

How do you create new units using the unused units, and how to you implement the buildings that are unused.

[Kekvit Irae]

BACKUP YOUR FILES

To create a new faction, read this thread in its entirety: http://www.totalwar.org/cgi-bin....;t=6671 (http://www.totalwar.org/cgi-bin/forum/ikonboard.cgi?act=ST;f=5;t=6671)

To create new units follow these steps:
1. Open up your unit_prod11.txt file in Notepad and search for a unit that is a close match to what you want to create. To create a new heavy spear chucker, simply find the Bonnachts (found in the Viking's unit_prod11.txt file).
2. Highlight it all, right down to the beginning of the next unit under it.
3. Select Copy.
4. Scroll down to the point where the unit list ends and emptiness begins. If you have word wrap off, it wont be too far down.
5. On the line under the last unit, hit Paste. You now have an exact copy of the Bonnacht unit in the file. Save the file.
6. Download and install Gnome's editor from the Org's download tools.
7. Open up the unit_prod11.txt file with Gnome editor and edit the stats of the new unit (all the way down at the bottom of the list) however you please.
8. Rename the unit to something other than Bonnacht. Just dont put any spaces in the name. In this example, we'll choose the name SpearChuckers. Save the file.
9. Open up Windows Explorer and go to your MTW directory. Go to the Battle\UnitIcons\ directory and copy the file Bonnachts.LBM and paste it in a temporary directory.
10. Rename the file to SpearChuckers.LBM (remember, the file names must match that of the unit name) and move it back into the UnitIcons directory.
11. Go to the campmap\ directory and do exactly the same thing with Bonnachts.bif files in the Info_Pics\Units\ directory and the Review_Panel\Units\ directory, copying/renaming/moving.
12. In the Textures\Men\ directory, search every directory in there for references to Bonnachts*.txt and repeat the above. In this example, you should have a SpearChuckers.txt in the ActionsPage\ directory, and a SpearChuckers_W.txt and SpearChuckers_S.txt file in the NewPeasants\ directory.
13. Because the weapons are hidden from view until they fire, Bonnachts dont require files in the Items\ directory. However, If you choose to create a unit that has their weapons and shields visable at all times in battle, repeat the above by copying and renaming the directories of the unit you are imitating to the unit you are creating. Example: In the ArabInfantry_S.txt file, you will see the number 2. Look in Items\Shields2 (note the 2), and you'll see ArabInfantry directory. Copy and paste it into a temp directory, rename it to your new unit, and move it back. Do exactly the same thing with ArabInfantry_W.txt (which has a 5 in it, so you should look in Items\Weapons5&#92http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif.
14. Go back to the root MTW directory and look in the Loc\Eng directory. Open up Names.txt in Notepad. Scroll down (or run a search) until you find this:
[Bonnachts_Singular] {Bonnacht}
[Bonnachts_Plural] {Bonnachts}
15. Copy it and paste it at the end of the unit list, just a few more lines down. Rename Bonnanchts_Singular to SpearChuckers_Singular. In fact, rename all four Bonnachts references to SpearChuckers. Again, watch the spelling and capitalization. Save the file.
16. Open up Descriptions.txt in the same directory with Notepad and run a search for [Bonnachts_desc]. Copy the whole line and paste it at the end of the unit list just a few lines down, exactly the same way you did with the Names.txt file.
17. Rename Bonnachts_desc to SpearChuckers_desc, and then edit the description however you please. Just remember that since the unit description box in the game has to sliding bar, you have to limit the description of the unit. Otherwise the game will cut off the excess part, leaving you with an incomplete description when you view the unit. Save the file.
18. Open up the DEADPAGE COORDS.txt file with Notepad in the Textures\Men directory.
19. Run a search for Bonnachts, and highlight and copy that line and the numbers under it, and paste it at the bottom of the list. Rename the now-pasted Bonnachts to SpearChuckers. Save the file.

Now, with any luck, you will have a new unit, the Spear Chuckers, at your beck and call. Just remember to assign it to a faction by tinkering with the Gnome editor and the unit_prod11.txt file.


To transfer a building from the VI campaign over to the original campaign (or vice versa), repeat steps 1-7. Open up the VIKINGS_build_prod13.txt, copy the lines relevant to the building you want, open up CRUSADERS_build_prod13.txt and paste the lines in. Then just tinker with the Crusader build_prod13.txt file until you get the right requirements set.


(I think think should be eligable for a sticky somewhere here or the Dungeon, since I havent seen a step-by-step for making new units)

[Lord Krazy]

http://mysite.freeserve.com/lordkrazy/images/1-picture3.gif


In the image above you can see a frame from a unit annimation


As you can see it has 2 weapons and 3 shields
The unit in the annimation may only use the weapons and shields present in the same .bif file
( the annimation file in textures men )

The coordinates in the weapons and shields text files
coinside with the position of the items on the bif.

The first line added to these files corresponds
with the men\items\ weapon1 and \shield1 folders.

The second line with the \ weapon2 and \ shield2 folders
and so on

weapons.txt
45,242,74,247,1,2 weapon1
44,248,122,254,2,2 weapon 2


shields.txt
1,223,19,254 shield1
24,240,40,254 shield2
24,213,40,237 shield3

(these coords are just an example ,I can't tell by just looking at it .) :-D

The unit has a _weapon.txt and _shield.txt also .

The number or numbers work the same way .
if it has a 1 then it uses weapon one
which means the items folder for this unit will be weapon1.
The files you need to use (copy) should be from a unit from the sme bif
that uses the same weapon .


RomanGuy_W.txt
1
(this means weapon1 is used)

RomanGuy_S.txt
2

(this means shield2 will be used)


This is a generalization but it might
help to get you started.

I hope it's not too uber freaky for ya .

The thing is these files were never really made
with the intention of humans doing much too them
I could be wrong but I don't think some bod sat at a computer adding these numbers manualy.
If they did they must have been uber freaks http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif
so it's only natural the explanations sound a bit
out of touch. I'v tried to explain this stuff many times.
Every time with the best intention of explaining it
as simplisticly as possible. However I find it hard
to be simplistic and informative .
I was the guy that figured out how to add them in the
first place for the demo. That was a year ago and I still
can't explain it without a song and dance.
So just take it in bit by bit and you'll get there . http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

Regards

LK http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/smokin.gif

[sprucemoose]

Ello again

sorry for not replying but ive have now managed to create my new unit from the gothic footknight.
i have a problem now that when in battlefield mode the unit bounces as if its selected and when they move the top half disapears,other than that they work fine no CTD or errors.

any surgestions peeps?

[Lord Krazy]

Quote[/b] (sprucemoose @ Aug. 02 2003,07:58)]Ello again

sorry for not replying but ive have now managed to create my new unit from the gothic footknight.
i have a problem now that when in battlefield mode the unit bounces as if its selected and when they move the top half disapears,other than that they work fine no CTD or errors.

any surgestions peeps?
Wrong actionpage for the bif you selected ,
or the other way round . http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

LK http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/smokin.gif

[Simovek]

Hi guys, I tried creating a new unit by using the ChivFootKnights and renaming the stuff and everything.

However I am also CTDing and getting an error message when I open the training window.

I try to open the training window and a message pops up that says something like "Sardaukar (My new unit) is listed as CATHOLIC, requested (something or other) from campmap/review panel/units/catholic but couldn't find it or something.

But, I do have the file I need to in Campmap/review panel/units and there is no such thing as campmap/review panel/units/catholic.

Then, when I try to look at the unit description, the game CTD's with no message at all.

Can anyone help?

[Lord Krazy]

Quote[/b] (Simovek @ Aug. 24 2003,00:01)]Hi guys, I tried creating a new unit by using the ChivFootKnights and renaming the stuff and everything.

However I am also CTDing and getting an error message when I open the training window.

I try to open the training window and a message pops up that says something like "Sardaukar (My new unit) is listed as CATHOLIC, requested (something or other) from campmap/review panel/units/catholic but couldn't find it or something.

But, I do have the file I need to in Campmap/review panel/units and there is no such thing as campmap/review panel/units/catholic.

Then, when I try to look at the unit description, the game CTD's with no message at all.

Can anyone help?
Total War\Medieval - Total War\campmap\Info_Pics\Units
is where the image goes for the descriptions

No idea about the catholic connection to
the review_panel unless you made it a building http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/confused.gif

LK http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/smokin.gif

[barocca]

Quote[/b] (Simovek @ Aug. 23 2003,18:01)]... try to open the training window and a message pops up that says something like "Sardaukar (My new unit) is listed as CATHOLIC, requested (something or other) from campmap/review panel/units/catholic but couldn't find it or something...
um, that makes no sense, something unusual happening thats for sure,
I have occaisionally seen similar illogical error messages,

Can you please run the game and try again, and please write the entire error message down word for word,

mayhaps we can recreate the problem, and mayhaps find a solution.

cheers,
B.

[spmetla]

Hey guys, I've been trying to add a unit to my own mod for quite some time now without any success. I've done everything you have gone over in this thread at least 10 times with no luck. I've checked and rechecked the spelling. And here is my problem.

My new unit "Skutatoi" shows up on the camp map and the custum battle selection screen. The description and name all come up, but for some reason each time I try to start a battle with one of my skutatoi in it crashes to window without an error message or anything. It lets the map and everything load up, and I can be in the map floating around checking stuff out, but the moment I press continue for the deployment phase I crash to windows. Everything for the Skutatoi is copyed from saracen infantry so right now it is still an muslim unit.

Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated thanks.

[The Blind King of Bohemia]

Have you checked the armour level for the unit? Go to the unitprod file, if its zero that will explain the crashes, change it to the same as the Saracen inf, or anyone you like http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif That problem always pissed me off http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wave.gif

[Duke John]

Did you make the uniticons for your new unit? If you don't have the unit icon in Battle/UnitIcon, the game will crash when pressing continue.

Cheers, Duke John

[spmetla]

The armor is the same as SaracenInfantry which for me is 2. I've got the same unit icon for the saracens as well. Everything in the textures is exactly the same as the saracen inf except renamed. I changed all the nessasart Loc/Eng files. It has the same review panel and info pic as the sar inf.

Like I said, I've gone over everything discussed here several times and I'm just totally baffled.

[Duke John]

The problem is that you think that you have done everything but you have missed something. I'm still making mistakes and I've added quite a few units, ranging from just copied entries to completely new with new unit graphics. And there are times, that I wonder and wonder what is wrong, I'm 100% sure that I did everything correctly but the solution is pretty simply:

Forget everything what you did, and controll all the entries you made. Did you make all the necessary files, are the file formats correct, did you make a spelling error, etc. Verify everything, make a list of all the things and check them one by one. You may think that you did everything correctly, but MTW is only a program which means it will work if the input is correct, if it isn't it crashes.

Cheers, Duke John

[Sainika]

Maybe some of you can explain the problem I've faced when adding to "crusaders_unit_prod11" units from viking_unit_prod (I want to add bonnachts, welsh bandits as my early campaign begins in 800AD). I use Gnome editor and just paste and copy units stats (all of them with changes in several columns like required buildings etc). But then when I start the games it crashes immediately with a notification "Unknown unit type encoutered". I check all data but with the same results. As I understand bonnachts or welsh bandits ARE the standard units and all the necessary info already exists. So I can't figure out the cause of the problem. Does anybode face that kind of trouble?

[dclare4]

Question chaps, I want to mod the Bowman (Longbow) unit into a 17thC musket armed infantryman and thanks to Duke John I've been able to finally import the Bmp to Bif format. The problem is I want to replace the longbow with a musket but not having to draw and redraw the musket, rather to have it like a weapon (like the crossbow or arquebus weapons) attachment. Could anyone tell me how to do this with the Longbowman?

Thanks,
Lord Clare

[Lord Krazy]

Quote[/b] (dclare4 @ Oct. 16 2003,06:31)]Question chaps, I want to mod the Bowman (Longbow) unit into a 17thC musket armed infantryman and thanks to Duke John I've been able to finally import the Bmp to Bif format. The problem is I want to replace the longbow with a musket but not having to draw and redraw the musket, rather to have it like a weapon (like the crossbow or arquebus weapons) attachment. Could anyone tell me how to do this with the Longbowman?

Thanks,
Lord Clare
Well you have to put the image one the bif ,like in the
HLPLARHM.bif . Then you need to sort the the coordinate files in the items/weapon folder.

That's a pain if you don't know what you are doing ,
but it can be done .

LK http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/smokin.gif

[Lord Krazy]

Quote[/b] (Sainika @ Oct. 15 2003,22:46)]Maybe some of you can explain the problem I've faced when adding to "crusaders_unit_prod11" units from viking_unit_prod (I want to add bonnachts, welsh bandits as my early campaign begins in 800AD). I use Gnome editor and just paste and copy units stats (all of them with changes in several columns like required buildings etc). But then when I start the games it crashes immediately with a notification "Unknown unit type encoutered". I check all data but with the same results. As I understand bonnachts or welsh bandits ARE the standard units and all the necessary info already exists. So I can't figure out the cause of the problem. Does anybode face that kind of trouble?
I just added one to see and it worked.
I made it FN_French gave it castle as the building
and that was it .

LK http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/smokin.gif

[Lord Krazy]

Quote[/b] (Duke John @ Oct. 02 2003,14:21)]Did you make the uniticons for your new unit? If you don't have the unit icon in Battle/UnitIcon, the game will crash when pressing continue.

Cheers, Duke John
This is not the case.
The game does not require lbm unit icons in the battle/uniticon folder to work.

Only the bif's for the unit icons in the review_panel
will cause a crash in battle mode . The info_pics will do the same in campaign mode when right clicking to one
if it is not present .

LK http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/smokin.gif

[Norseman]

I presume there is a limit on how many units there can be in the crusaders_unit_prod11.txt file. Is this limit known?

If so, can the number of units be increased by removing some agents or ships?

[Vespasian]

Well I have tried the step by step walk through and no joy. Actually tried it about 8 times. I am trying to modify the Patrician Mod to add Goths etc to make the Mod even bigger.

Im trying to create a new cavalry unit called GothCavalry. I have followed the step by step guide using Gnome Editor but get the same error again and again, something about missing or unknown unit parser. Anyone got any ideas?

[Hasdrubal Barca of Iberia]

hey got a question for you, when i make a new shield say

for gaz infantry and replace it with the old both high and

low resolution, the new shield flashs back and forth wth

the old shield, does anyone know what im talking about ,or

what i did wrong?

[NagatsukaShumi]

Have you editted all the frames Hasdrubal?

[Hasdrubal Barca of Iberia]

ok i see my mistake thank you http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[Nomad]

http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/rolleyes.gif
Anyone know where(in which file) you should edit the charge, defence armour bonus' etc In gnome editor the column headers state, that the fields should be edited in another file. i.e the summary and defence sheets. But I can't find/don't know where the summary and defence sheets are. thanks for any help,
http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wave.gif

[Nomad]

An amusing and Curious problem,
I've created a new unit (amongst many) the Knights of St George for the English I simply made Darkage Royal knights playable for the English in Wessex and renamed them, nothing else. Yet when they get to the battlefield they begin frantically spinning there lances like Bo staff's. Looks like they might take of once they get up to charge. Obviuosly in one of my frenetic frenzies of modding, I must have made a mistake, presumably in items/weapons. However everything seems to be there. Anyone else had spinning weapons and how did you sort it. Or should I just give them a mega defence bonus
http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/gc-jester.gif

p.s I may have edited armour and defence bonus in unit prod. Before I realised you shouldn't edit them there. Although I can't remember now and don't have the original files to check. But could this have caused an animation error.

[Duke John]

Topic unpinned

The step-by-step guide written by Kekvitirae has been merged with the Guide: Chapter 5: Units (http://www.totalwar.org/cgi-bin/forum/ikonboard.cgi?act=ST&f=5&t=17536&st=0&&#entry279491).

Cheers, Duke John